Loren didn't reply, just glanced back at her over his shoulder.

The girl wasn't tall, wore glasses, had straight-cut bangs, and her long hair was tied into a ponytail. She was holding books in her arms, looking every bit the good student. She was quite pleasant-looking, reminiscent of the top student and class belle who also served as the study committee member back in middle school.

Upon seeing Loren, the girl froze for a moment, then immediately became excited, the books in her hands scattering all over the floor.

"Pro..."

"Shh!"

If someone discovered he was here, it would make finding the book even more inconvenient, so Loren promptly covered her mouth.

This time out, Loren was just wearing his hood and keeping his head down, not using any means to conceal his figure. Doing that would actually make him stand out more as an anomaly among the coming and going crowds.

So when the girl saw Loren's face clearly, she still recognized him.

Loren had always been an idol for all Bountiful followers, so her excitement upon seeing him was quite normal.

The girl now realized something and quickly nodded. Only then did Loren release her and start helping her pick up the books.

"What are you doing in the library? I'd think the entire library combined wouldn't match your knowledge reserves, would it?"

While crouching down to pick up books, the girl spoke to Loren in a low voice.

"I'm going to teach here, just came early to check things out."

Loren could spin lies off the cuff without a second thought, and it sounded perfectly reasonable. The girl, who already idolized him, believed it without a doubt.

"Let me show you around. I know this school pretty well."

"Alright."

Loren agreed to the girl's suggestion. Since he was already recognized, it wasn't convenient to keep searching for the book anyway. Wandering around with her might even lead to unexpected discoveries.

"My name is Paqina, pleased to meet you."

"Oh, I'm Loren, pleased to meet you."

"Your name is known to everyone. Anyone in the entire country who can read definitely knows you."

Paqina was quite lively, continuously chatting with Loren.

"How long will you stay here? When are you leaving? What will you teach?"

"I'll stay as long as I want, leave whenever I feel like it, and teach whatever I please."

Facing Paqina's questions, Loren answered each one, yet essentially answered nothing at all.

Paqina didn't mind this at all. Instead, her admiration for Loren grew even stronger.

"As expected of you, so free. I really wish I could be like you..."

"Then you'll have to study hard."

"If I study hard, can I become as amazing as you?"

"No, that won't happen. I was just saying that offhand."

"..."

The two sat at a table in the library, chatting idly.

After being shut down by Loren, Paqina only fell silent for a moment before quickly speaking up again. She opened her book and asked:

"I have a few questions that have always puzzled me. Can you answer them for me?"

"Ask first. Whether I answer depends on my mood."

Paqina wasn't discouraged; instead, she felt delighted. She hadn't held much hope from the start. For a big shot like Loren to even be here chatting idly with her was already giving her face.

And now Loren might even clear up her confusion? Paqina was already more than satisfied.

"I saw you were just looking at history books. Do you think the history you see in books is real?"

"Different books have different versions of stories. Some discrepancies are normal..."

"No, no, that's not what I mean. I'm saying, is the history being recorded now actually real..."

Hearing this, Loren's interest was piqued. He placed his hand on Paqina's head.

"You have potential, little girl. So young and already daring to discuss things that could get your head chopped off."

Paqina didn't resist Loren's action, just rebutted his words.

"I'm already eighteen, not a child anymore. I'm just a bit short, that's all. I drink milk regularly..."

Paqina was quick on the uptake. From Loren's words just now, she had already extracted the information she needed.

Loren hadn't directly answered her question, only said this question could get her head chopped off. The answer was quite obvious then.

If the Orthodox Gods were truly as great, glorious, and correct as described in the books, Loren wouldn't be saying this now.

So, the history really was fake!

This thoroughly ignited Paqina's curiosity. She pressed on:

"Then... what was the real history like?"

"Is it the opposite?"

While Paqina was still pondering what was opposite, Loren directly told her the truth.

"It wasn't the Orthodox Gods who drove out the Outer Gods; it was the Orthodox Gods who invited the Outer Gods in. It wasn't the Dawn Princess who started a rebellion; it was the gods who feared the Dawn Princess's prestige and then joined forces to kill her."

"!"

Now, Paqina completely understood why Loren had said this question could get her head chopped off. Knowing the true history, Paqina had no doubts about that.

She clearly understood that if she ever spoke these things aloud, she'd probably become nutrients for the soil in under five minutes.

It was precisely because Loren understood this that he dared to tell her. Having more people know about these things was ultimately a good thing.

Besides, Loren wasn't worried Paqina would expose him. If she did, the only one who'd die would be Paqina.

"Let me process this..."

Paqina had noticed some inconsistencies in the history a long time ago, but she never imagined the truth would be this terrifying.

And she had learned this so suddenly. Her rationality couldn't accept these explosive revelations all at once.

Loren quietly watched her worldview reassemble itself, while secretly poking a hole in every book she had brought along, confirming the Dawn Princess's Diary wasn't among them.

"Alright, I know you're a smart person. I won't say more; you understand well enough.

"Now, show me around the library. Let me see what sections they have here."

"Okay..."

Paqina stood up, though her expression had become much more solemn, far from the relaxed demeanor she had at the beginning.

Out of trust in Loren, Paqina didn't doubt his words in the slightest. Moreover, she felt Loren had no reason to joke about such serious matters.

"This side is all history books. Over there is poetry, fairy tales... The second and third floors are all magic books, containing more common spells and some insights on magic from great mages...

"The fourth floor has some biographies... The floors above that aren't accessible to us ordinary students. I don't know what's up there either..."

"If I wanted to find things like diaries, where should I go?"

"Diaries? Why are you looking for diaries?"

"The vast majority of knowledge here is useless to me. I want to find some diaries, see what people in the past thought. Maybe I can learn some interesting things."

"Diaries are with the biographies, both on the fourth floor."

"Alright, I'll go take a look when I have time."

Loren wasn't in a hurry to go check. Instead, he even walked out of the library. Paqina followed behind him, instinctively pressing her hand against her clothes as she did.