According to the shopkeeper, Sallandin was the name of her mother.

"My mother briefly worked as a trainee mage when she was young. This shop used to be a pawn shop passed down from my late father, but thanks to my mother’s connections, mages would sometimes drop by to sell magic-related items."

A pawn shop? Not an antique store?

Magical items were dangerous and difficult to evaluate properly for most buyers. That made pawning them ★ 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 ★ for money more difficult than with ordinary goods. However, since the shop’s owner was a former trainee mage, that wasn’t a problem here. Moreover, because transactions could be handled without misunderstandings and through unofficial channels, it gained popularity.

"So now, about half of what we do is regular pawnbroking, and the other half is selling items we received instead of money. Most people don’t even know what exactly our shop does. But we have enough regular mage clients and merchants looking for magical artifacts that we get by without worry."

That explained the lack of a sign or any indication on the store, as well as the shopkeeper’s apparent disinterest in attracting customers.

After briefly finishing her explanation about the shop, the owner finally began talking about what she remembered of Yuder’s grandfather.

"I remember Mr. Mel came to our shop fairly regularly at one point. I don’t know if someone introduced him or if he just wandered in. I could ask my mother, but she’s not here right now."

"..."

"What I do remember is a man with white hair and beard, tanned from the sun, walking in and asking to see any new books we had. My mother would bring out all the newly arrived books, and he’d look through them carefully and buy one or two. Sometimes he’d bring them back and sell them again. That’s all."

He hadn’t asked for anything specific, nor had he seemed to search for any particular item. The shopkeeper thought it strange that someone who didn’t seem like a mage would come just to buy books.

And that was all there was to it.

"I never really had any personal conversations with him, so I didn’t know where he lived or anything about his family. But once, I remember he came in holding a jar full of flower petals. When I asked what it was for, he said he was going to make a snack for his grandson. I’d completely forgotten until seeing you today brought that memory back."

A faint memory stirred in Yuder’s mind—his grandfather climbing up the hill with a jar tucked under his arm, smiling and waving when he saw Yuder waiting in the tree above.

"I'm sorry, but that’s all I can tell you."

"No, not at all. That was... more than enough."

Yuder answered sincerely. Just remembering a forgotten piece of his childhood made the visit meaningful.

Kishiar, watching Yuder warmly, suddenly smiled and chimed in as if something had occurred to him.

"By the way, those academic volumes he bought—are those types of books surprisingly in demand?"

"Actually, almost no one buys them. Most people drop off those kinds of books just to lighten their load while they're here on other errands. Mr. Mel was the only one who regularly came to look for that type of book... I just assumed he had an unusual taste. I imagine my mother thought the same."

An answer came from the doorway just then.

"Boy, what are you still doing out front instead of tidying up?"

"Mother!" 𝓯𝙧𝓮𝓮𝒘𝓮𝙗𝙣𝒐𝒗𝒆𝓵.𝓬𝓸𝒎

An elderly woman, looking to be around Helrem’s age, appeared in the doorway. Judging by how quickly she began scolding the shopkeeper, there was no doubt—this was Madam Sallandin herself.

"Madam Sallandin?"

Yuder asked to confirm, and she turned her head.

"Who are you? I’ve never seen you before."

"Mother, do you remember Mr. Mel? The man who used to come by now and then to buy books? These folks say they’re his family."

"Mr. Mel?"

Sallandin recognized the name immediately and her expression changed.

"He hasn’t visited in years... so his family showing up must mean... it’s what I’m thinking, isn’t it?"

"My grandfather passed away a long time ago. We came after finding out he used to buy books here, while sorting through his belongings. We thought we should inform you."

This time, Yuder replied without hesitation. Thanks to Kishiar’s coaching, he had the perfect response. Their eyes met briefly, and Kishiar blinked both eyes in a wide, exaggerated wink with a proud smile.

"I suspected as much... In any case, please accept my condolences, however late. But surely... that’s not the only reason you came. Is there something else troubling you?"

"Mr. Mel used to buy some rather peculiar books, so we thought maybe there was more to it. I didn’t really know what to say, so I was just giving them a general idea."

The shopkeeper interjected to explain the situation.

"I see. And he never said anything to the family either?"

"Apparently not. Do you happen to remember when or how he first came here?"

"Hmm. My policy is to never share client details with others, but..."

Without waiting for more, Yuder bowed his head before Sallandin.

"If you remember my grandfather... please, I ask you."

Anyone who knew Yuder would have been shocked by this scene. He wouldn’t bow even to nobles or the emperor. But to him, this moment felt far more important than any of those encounters.

"When my grandfather was alive, I had no interest in learning to read, so I never knew what kind of books he read. I only just learned after coming back. I always thought he had no connection to things like magic... but now, I want to know who he truly was."

"..."

"Please."

Amid the silence, someone beside Yuder bowed his head alongside him.

"I ask you as well."

Yuder could’ve accepted that. But Kishiar too? There was no need for Kishiar to bow and ask. Yuder glanced at him to signal it was fine, but Kishiar didn’t lift his head, even though he clearly understood Yuder’s gaze.

Sallandin let out a soft sigh.

"My goodness. I thought it strange to have suspicious folks in my shop first thing in the morning with no notice... and this is why."

"..."

"Lift your heads for now. Even if I’ve long since quit studying magic, I can still tell when someone of high status is bowing his head more than he ever would before others."

"Mother? What do you mean?"

Yuder raised his eyebrows and lifted his head.

...Did she just recognize Kishiar’s magical disguise artifact?

This was a first. Kishiar seemed to think the same, judging by the curious expression he wore as he asked,

"You have sharp eyes. How did you know I was hiding my face?"

"That bracelet you're wearing passed through our shop once. Ever since over a decade ago, there’ve been rumors in our circles about someone important trying to buy up every disguise artifact in existence. That’s enough of an answer, isn’t it?"

What looked like a tiny, unassuming shop suddenly felt like a place of much greater importance. But judging by the dumbfounded look on her daughter’s face, the only impressive one here was Sallandin herself. Kishiar’s lips curved into a smile.

"You not only have keen eyes but also a remarkable memory."

"Cut the flattery. So. Is that really all you came here for?"

"It is. As hard as it may be to believe, that truly is all."

"Hmm... Very well."

Sallandin took a seat.

"Mr. Mel didn’t come here on anyone’s recommendation. At first, he looked like just some woodcutter who happened to see something outside and walked in out of curiosity. I thought he was lost."

"..."

"Until he recognized a very, very old history book, that is."