Volume 1 Chapter 31 Let’s Try Making an Abacus III
"What is that?"
It slipped out of my mouth before I even realized it.
In the library, as I glanced around, one book on the shelf was glowing softly.
"?? Cain? Which book are you talking about?"
Lydia reacted to Cain's muttering and asked him.
"Um, it's the blue shiny book on the right side of the top shelf."
He pointed at the blue book with a spine that's noticeably thicker than the others.
"Could this be it? It doesn't look shiny to me."
Lydia pulled the blue book Cain pointed at from the shelf and handed it to him.
"'The Book of Heroes'? What is this cliché book?"
The title "The Book of Heroes" was written in poorly done gold lettering along with "Japanese.".
"'The Book of Heroes,' huh?!"
Lydia exclaimed in surprise, raising her voice.
'Oh no, I accidentally read it out loud because I could. Looking closely, it's in Japanese!'
Cain buried his face in his hands, lamenting his blunder.
"Cain, get over here!!"
Lydia, visibly excited, literally ran into Luke's office, clutching the blue book in one hand and Cain in the other.
Cain was taken to Luke's office without any resistance.
"Dear! I'm coming in!"
It's rare for Lydia to be this worked up, already opening the door when she said "Oh.".
Inside, Luke was wide-eyed, shocked and surrounded by piles of paperwork.
"Lydia, what is going on?!"
"Lady Lydia, what's the matter?!"
Randolph, the butler, who was working with Luke in his office, also raised his voice louder than usual.
"Cain read this 'Book of Heroes' title out loud!!"
With wide eyes, Luke and Randolph looked at Cain, who was now holding his head in despair with a "Oh no" expression.
"Cain, is th, that true?"
Luke asked Cain, tongue-tied from shock.
"Yes..."
I answered, looking down.
Seeing that, Luke suddenly realized something.
"Cain, come over here."
He said, moving towards the corner of the office himself.
'Cain, is this because of the "example"?
'Maybe so, Father. I've had a bit of a headache since earlier.'
'Got it, leave it to me.'
Lydia stared suspiciously at her husband and son whispering together in the corner of the room.
"Ugh, ahem."
Luke cleared his throat awkwardly, then tried to explain while looking at Lydia.
It was clear he was just getting started.
"About why Cain can read the 'Hero's writing,' I want to keep that under wraps for a while."
Luke tried his best to hold his ground against Lydia's sharp glare.
"I-It's to protect Cain."
Luke broke out in a cold sweat as he hurriedly defended himself.
"To protect Cain, huh?"
Lydia questioned him slowly, emphasizing each word.
Luke nodded stiffly, like the sound of a rusty hinge creaking.
"Understood. Randolph, don't press Luke about what he's hiding until the time is right."
Randolph bowed respectfully.
"Setting aside why Cain can read it──Cain, this book was passed down by our family, said to be written by our Hero ancestor from 12 generations ago. But at some point, we descendants lost the ability to read the Hero's handwriting. Whether it was deliberate or accidental, no one knows now. Mother-in-law, your grandmother told me this sadly."
"Mother never told me that."
Luke looked shocked and hurt that his own mother never shared such an important secret.
"Grandmother said, 'Luke takes after his father and is good at seeing the big picture, so she left the little stuff to Lydia.' That's why she didn't tell you."
Lydia glanced at Cain and winked at him.
"Oh, so you're good at seeing the big picture, huh? Yeah, yeah."
'Hey, hey, Father? They're saying you're no good with the details. Guess it's fine if you don't mind'.
Cain watched his parents and thought, They really get along well.
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