After thinking about it for a while, Shen decided that staying inside the apartment wouldn't accomplish anything.
If his guess about the Rising Star's acting method was correct, he needed other people to recognize his abilities. Practicing alone in his room might help him become better at something, but there would be no one around to actually see it.
That meant he needed to go outside.
Preferably somewhere he could learn something useful while also earning money.
Shen put on his coat and checked the money in his pocket before leaving the apartment.
The moment he stepped outside, Backlund's familiar fog greeted him. It wasn't particularly thick today, but the smell of coal smoke still lingered heavily in the air. Carriages rolled over the cobblestone streets, their wheels occasionally splashing through dirty puddles left behind by the morning moisture.
Shen walked without any particular hurry as he considered his options.
He could look for an ordinary job. There were always shops looking for assistants, warehouses needing workers, restaurants needing extra hands, and merchants who required people to move goods around.
With his Body Control and Proficiency, he could probably learn those jobs quickly.
But becoming an excellent warehouse worker didn't exactly sound like the best way to act as a Rising Star.
Shen imagined himself standing proudly on top of a mountain of perfectly arranged crates while a group of workers applauded him from below.
His expression became strange.
"...Let's keep that as a last resort."
As he continued walking, several memories belonging to the original Shen surfaced.
Before dropping out of university, Shen had two friends he had been particularly close with.
One of them had eventually left university as well and gone into the trades. Shen hadn't spoken with him recently, but from what he remembered, the man was doing reasonably well for himself.
The other was Erica.
"Erica Halloway..." Shen murmured as the memories became clearer.
She had continued studying after Shen left and currently spent much of her time working at the university library. She wasn't simply a new assistant either. She had been there long enough to become one of its more trusted senior assistants.
More importantly, Erica occasionally tutored students in her free time.
That caught Shen's attention.
"A library..."
The more he thought about it, the better the idea became.
A university library would give him access to subjects he could never properly study with the handful of books sitting in his bedroom. If Proficiency worked as well as it had when he practiced Voice Change, then he wanted to know just how far he could push it.
Mathematics, history, literature, languages, accounting, science—whatever the library had, he could try learning it.
Enhanced Memory would make remembering what he read much easier, while Proficiency should help him understand and apply it.
Then, once he learned enough, he could try tutoring students.
If he managed to help students who were struggling with their studies, they would naturally begin recognizing his ability. If that caused even a slight reaction from the potion, he would know he was moving in the right direction.
And unlike randomly showing off his skills, tutoring could actually make him some money.
Shen's steps became a little lighter.
"Learn, tutor people, make some money, and test the acting method at the same time. Not bad."
Another memory suddenly surfaced.
Erica's family owned a tailor shop.
The Halloway family's shop wasn't particularly famous among the upper class, but it had a good reputation. Most of their customers were merchants, government workers, and middle-class families who could afford better clothing.
Occasionally, however, they received larger orders from noble households.
Usually, it wasn't the nobles themselves coming into the shop. Orders could come through stewards, servants, or other people working for those families, but that was still a connection.
Shen slowed down slightly.
Tailoring was also a skill.
If he could get Erica to introduce him to her family's shop, he could try working there as well. With Proficiency, perhaps he could learn tailoring quickly enough to surprise the experienced workers.
And if he became good enough, there was always a chance that one of his designs or pieces might eventually reach someone from the noble circles.
Nobles had money.
Money meant leisure.
And leisure meant people had time to care about fashion, music, art, theater, and all kinds of entertainment.
For someone who needed an audience, that wasn't a bad group to eventually reach.
Shen suddenly chuckled.
"Why does every plan I come up with depend on Proficiency?"
Voice Change became useful because Proficiency helped him master voices faster.
The library plan depended on Proficiency helping him learn.
Tutoring depended on him learning enough to actually teach someone.
Tailoring depended on him quickly becoming skilled enough to stand out.
Even many of the other professions he had thought about earlier relied on the same ability.
"This ability really feels like the MVP of Rising Star," Shen muttered.
A passing pedestrian glanced at him strangely.
Shen immediately stopped talking to himself and continued walking as though nothing had happened.
It had been almost three months since the original Shen had properly contacted Erica.
That wasn't particularly unusual for him. Shen rarely asked his friends for help, especially after leaving university. Part of it came from pride, while another part came from not wanting people to pity him because of his family's financial situation.
Still, they had been good friends.
Surely asking for one favor after three months wouldn't be too much.
Probably.
By the time Shen reached the university district, the surroundings had changed considerably.
The streets were wider and better maintained than those near his home. Bookstores, cafés, stationery shops, and other businesses catering to students lined the roads. Young men and women walked past carrying books beneath their arms, while the occasional professor could be spotted moving between the buildings.
The sight brought more of the original Shen's memories to the surface.
Attending lectures.
Complaining about assignments.
Borrowing notes.
Eating cheap lunches with friends.
Watching students panic before examinations while pretending he wasn't equally nervous.
There were good memories here.
Shen's expression became quieter.
The original owner had never truly wanted to leave university.
Arthur simply couldn't afford to support all three younger siblings through their education.
Elara wanted to study law.
Sera was pursuing literature and folklore.
Both had already invested considerable time into their studies.
So Shen had been the one to step away.
He had laughed about it afterward, telling everyone he was happy to escape lectures and examinations, but the memories left behind in this body told Shen otherwise.
"You weren't very good at pretending you didn't care either," Shen murmured.
Soon, the university library came into view.
The large stone building stood near the center of the academic district. Tall windows stretched across its front, and students regularly passed through the broad wooden entrance.
Shen looked at it for a moment before walking inside.
The atmosphere changed almost immediately.
The sounds of the street faded behind him, replaced by the quiet turning of pages, the scratching of pens, and soft footsteps across the wooden floor.
Rows upon rows of books filled the building.
Tall shelves stretched farther into the interior, some requiring small rolling ladders to reach their highest levels. Long wooden tables occupied the reading areas, where students sat surrounded by notebooks and open books.
The smell of old paper and ink filled the air.
Shen's eyes wandered across the shelves with growing interest.
If he could freely study here...
"Excuse me," a voice interrupted his thoughts.
Shen turned toward the front desk, where a thin, middle-aged librarian wearing round spectacles was looking at him.
"Are you a student or a member of the faculty?" the librarian asked.
Shen opened his mouth, only to pause as he suddenly remembered something rather important.
"Ugh... neither," Shen admitted.
The librarian's expression changed slightly. "Then may I see your visitor pass?"
Shen became silent.
The librarian waited.
Shen looked toward the library entrance behind him before returning his attention to the man.
"I don't have one."
The librarian's already unimpressed expression became even flatter.
Shen resisted the urge to sigh.
He should have thought about this before coming.
Perhaps he could have asked Sera or Elara about the university's visitor rules. Both were students and probably knew far more about this than he did.
Coming here without asking anything beforehand had been stupid.
The librarian adjusted his spectacles and asked, "Then what is your purpose for visiting the university library?"
"I'm looking for someone who works here," Shen explained. "Erica Halloway. Is she working today?"
The librarian studied him for a moment before saying, "Miss Halloway is currently occupied. If you have business with her, you may leave a message at the desk."
"Could you at least tell her that Shen Akivil came to see her?" Shen asked. "We're old friends."
Judging from the librarian's face, that explanation had done very little to improve Shen's position.
"Listen, young man, the university library is not a meeting place for—"
"Shen?"
A familiar female voice came from behind him.
Shen turned.
A young woman stood a short distance away with several books held against her chest.
Long black hair fell neatly over her shoulders, framing a refined face and a pair of striking emerald-green eyes. Her dark dress was simple and appropriate for work, but the simplicity only seemed to strengthen the gentle and scholarly impression she gave.
She was above average in height, with a graceful figure and an almost naturally elegant posture.
At first glance, Erica Halloway looked exactly like the sort of woman one would expect to spend her days quietly surrounded by books.
Kind, gentle, elegant, intelligent, and perhaps even a little reserved.
But Shen knew better.
He watched as one nearby student glanced toward Erica while walking and nearly bumped his shoulder into the end of a bookshelf.
Shen's mouth twitched.
Even in his previous life, Erica's appearance would have stood out. There was no denying that.
But anyone who judged her personality entirely from that gentle and scholarly appearance was setting themselves up for quite a surprise. And if they discovered her true personality and somehow liked her even more afterward...
Well, perhaps they had some strange preferences.
Erica's emerald eyes moved over Shen before a pleasant smile appeared on her face.
"Shen Akivil," Erica said as she approached. "You're still alive. What unfortunate good news."
There it was.
Shen sighed before saying, "And here I was thinking you might say that you're happy to see me."
"I was considering it," Erica replied as she stopped beside him, "but then I remembered that you disappeared for nearly three months without visiting your good old friend."
The librarian looked between them before asking uncertainly, "Uh... you know this gentleman, Miss Halloway?"
"Oh my, yes. Quite well, actually," Erica replied with a gentle smile. "He used to study here. I'll take care of this thing from here. Thank you for your professional work, Mr. Weber."
Shen glanced at her. "Why do you keep making it sound like I'm some troublesome animal that wandered into the building?"
Erica turned toward him and quietly asked, "Didn't you enter without student identification or a visitor pass?"
"Ugh... yes."
"Then I believe the description is accurate."
The librarian coughed lightly, but Shen could have sworn the man's expression had become slightly amused.
Erica adjusted the books in her arms and said, "I'm due for a short break anyway. Come with me before you give Mr. Weber another reason to throw you outside."
"I haven't even done anything," Shen protested as he followed her out of the library.
A small coffee shop stood only a short walk from the university. The place was clearly popular with students, judging from the books, notebooks, and loose papers scattered across many of its tables.
After finding an empty table near the window, Erica placed her books beside her chair and ordered coffee.
Shen ordered something cheaper.
He still had plenty of money hidden away, but spending unnecessarily had begun to feel almost criminal after living with the Akivil family's finances for three weeks.
Once they settled down, Erica rested one hand around her cup and studied him.
"I must say, you've changed quite a bit, Shen," Erica said.
Shen's attention immediately sharpened. "In what way?"
Erica looked over his face for another moment before answering, "You look a lot healthier and more handsome than the last time I saw you."
"Oh, really?" Shen replied, feeling slightly embarrassed by the unexpected compliment.
"And slightly less stupid," Erica added.
Shen's eyebrow twitched. "Can you compliment someone normally for once?"
"I did, did I not?" Erica asked with a perfectly innocent expression.
"Like how?" Shen asked back.
"I called you handsome," Erica replied mischievously. "Does that not count as a compliment from a beautiful girl?"
"Then you immediately ruined it."
A small smile appeared on Erica's face as she took another sip of coffee, clearly satisfied with herself.
This was the Erica he remembered.
For the next several minutes, the two talked about what had happened since Shen left the university. Erica mentioned several of his old classmates. One had graduated and found a government position, while another had apparently become engaged. Someone Shen vaguely remembered had failed an important examination badly enough that he decided to leave Backlund and return to his hometown.
Eventually, Shen asked about their other close friend. "How is he doing?"
"Better than you, at least," Erica replied as she set down her cup. "He complains about his work constantly, so I assume he's doing perfectly fine."
Shen laughed. "Sounds like him."
"He asked about you last month," Erica added.
That surprised Shen. "What did you tell him?"
"That you were probably still wasting your time somewhere," Erica replied before calmly picking up her cup again.
Shen stared at her. "You really have a wonderful opinion of me."
"Right. I have an accurate opinion of you," Erica corrected him.
Shen decided arguing would only encourage her.
After another few minutes of talking, Erica leaned back slightly and gave him a more searching look.
"Now that I know you're alive, why are you here?" Erica asked. "You haven't contacted me in almost three months, and you rarely ask anyone for help. Yet today, you suddenly appeared at my workplace without even knowing you needed a visitor pass and started looking for me like a lost curly-haired baboon."
Shen coughed lightly. "That last part doesn't need to be mentioned again."
"It does if it's funny," Erica replied.
"You're enjoying this too much."
"Perhaps," Erica admitted. "But you're avoiding the question."
Shen thought about how to phrase his request before deciding there was no reason to make it complicated.
"I need a job."
Erica's teasing expression faded a little. "A job?"
"At the library, preferably."
This time, Erica simply stared at him.
Several seconds passed before she slowly placed her coffee back on the table.
"Shen," Erica said carefully, concern entering her voice, "did you hit your head recently?"
His eyebrow twitched again. "No."
"Are you certain?"
"Completely."
Erica continued examining him before asking, "Then did a screw in your head finally tighten itself, or did another one come loose?"
"Why are both choices insults?"
"I'm trying to understand what happened to you," Erica replied. "The Shen Akivil I remember would rather spend three hours wandering around the city than voluntarily spend those same three hours organizing books."
"People can change," Shen said.
"In just three months?"
"Sometimes people change fast."
Erica continued looking at him suspiciously while Shen maintained an innocent expression.
Eventually, she sighed and asked, "Why do you want to work there?"
"I want access to the library."
Erica blinked once.
"To study, of course," Shen added.
Her expression immediately became concerned again.
Shen stared at her. "Why do you look even more worried after hearing that?"
"Because now I'm wondering whether I should recommend a doctor."
"Erica."
"Or perhaps a priest."
"Nothing is wrong with me."
"Did I say anything was wrong with you?"
"You were about to."
A faint smile tugged at her lips, but this time she didn't continue teasing him.
Erica knew why Shen had left university.
Most of his friends did.
The original Shen had tried to pretend that leaving didn't bother him, but apparently no one close to him had believed the act.
"If you genuinely want to continue studying, I'm not going to make fun of you for that," Erica said, her voice becoming more serious. "But if you're looking for money, the library isn't where you should go."
"Oh? Is the pay that bad?" Shen asked.
"For the kind of part-time position you could realistically get? Around five soli a week."
Shen stared at her. "Just five soli?"
"Yes."
"That's terrible. Even factory laborers get at least fifteen to twenty soli a week."
"I know, right?"
"How is that even considered a job, then?"
Erica gave him an amused look. "Most of those positions are taken by students who already receive support from their families. They want a little extra spending money, access to the library, or experience they can put on future applications. It isn't meant to support an entire household."
Shen rubbed his chin.
The pay really was terrible.
Still, money wasn't his main objective here.
"What about access to the books?" Shen asked.
Erica's emerald eyes narrowed slightly. "So that really is what you're after."
"Mostly."
"Why?"
"I already told you. I want to study."
"What?"
"Everything I can."
Erica became quiet again.
Shen could almost see the questions forming in her head.
Before she could start examining his sanity again, he continued, "I don't want to keep wasting time. Leaving university because of money was one thing, but that doesn't mean I need to stop learning altogether."
That answer caused Erica to pause.
For once, there was no immediate sarcastic response.
Shen looked down at his drink and continued, "I have more free time than I should. If I can work somewhere that gives me access to books while earning even a little money, then I might as well try."
Erica watched him quietly before a faint smile appeared.
"That was surprisingly mature of you."
"Hey, I can be mature, you know," Shen said, feeling deeply offended.
"I didn't say you couldn't."
Shen narrowed his eyes suspiciously. "Why do I feel like there was another insult coming?"
"That was just your imagination," Erica replied calmly and self-righteously.
"My, how magnanimous of you."
Imagination, my foot. She was definitely about to add another insult to my face.
Shen leaned forward slightly and asked, "So, can you help me get the job?"
Erica sighed. "I'm a senior library assistant, Shen, not the person who decides every hiring matter in the university."
"But you can recommend me."
"I can ask whether there's an opening."
"That's enough."
"I said I can ask," Erica repeated. "Don't start celebrating before I know whether they actually need anyone."
Shen smiled. "I won't."
"And if I recommend you, don't embarrass me."
"I would never do such a thing," Shen replied confidently. "Does my face look like the face of someone who would embarrass you?"
Erica gave him a long look.
Shen maintained his confident smile as if asking, Do you really think I'm that unreliable?
"Oh, I do remember that you once fell asleep during Professor Hall's lecture," Erica finally said.
"That was one time."
"You drooled on your notes."
Shen's expression stiffened. "...Why do you remember that?"
"Because I was sitting beside you."
"Then you should have woken me up."
"I considered it," Erica said. "But watching you wake up when Professor Hall slammed his book against your head was far more entertaining."
Shen stared at her in disbelief. "You really are a terrible friend."
"And yet you came to me begging for my help."
Shen fell silent.
What could he even say to that?
Endure it, Shen. Endure it. She's the key to getting a job at the library.
Erica laughed softly at his expression.
They continued talking for a while longer, and Shen carefully began asking about how the library worked.
He learned that certain sections had stricter access requirements, especially collections containing rare books or expensive academic material. Ordinary workers couldn't simply wander into every part of the building whenever they wished.
Still, even basic access would be far better than what Shen currently had.
Then he casually brought up another subject.
"You said before that you sometimes help students with their studies, right?" Shen asked.
"Yes, I do," Erica replied. "Usually first-year students or anyone struggling with subjects I'm familiar with. Why?"
"Do they pay you?"
"Sometimes. Why are you asking?"
Shen leaned back in his chair. "I was thinking that maybe I could do something similar."
Erica stared at him again, but this time Shen spoke before she could say anything.
"Don't ask if I hit my head or something."
"I wasn't going to," Erica replied.
"You were."
"Ugh... how bad of an image do you have of me, really?" Erica asked, looking slightly offended. "I was going to ask what subject you intend to teach."
Shen paused.
That was a good question.
"I haven't decided yet."
Erica slowly blinked. "You want to tutor students, but you haven't even decided what subject you're best at or qualified to tutor?"
Shen fell silent for a moment.
I mean, I do have a master's degree in programming, but this world doesn't even have computers for me to program, much less a degree I can show anyone.
"I'll figure it out," Shen eventually said.
"That's not particularly reassuring if you want to tutor students."
"I'm not saying I'll start tomorrow," Shen replied. "I just want to know how it works."
Erica explained that most private tutoring around the university happened informally. Students recommended good tutors to friends, and some advanced students earned extra money helping younger ones prepare for examinations or understand difficult subjects.
That was even better than Shen expected.
No formal position was necessarily required.
If he could prove that he knew what he was doing, students themselves could spread his name.
Exactly what he needed.
Shen felt his mood improve, although he kept his expression mostly neutral.
He wanted to ask Erica about her family's tailor shop as well, but stopped himself.
Asking for a library job was already unusual enough.
If he suddenly asked to work at her family's shop too, she might decide he genuinely had suffered some kind of head injury.
That could wait.
First, he needed to see whether Proficiency could help him learn academic subjects as quickly as he hoped and use that opportunity to test his acting method.
If it did, then he could move on to the next plan.
Erica eventually glanced toward a clock hanging on the wall and sighed.
"My break is almost over," Erica said as she gathered the books beside her. "I need to go back."
Shen nodded and stood with her. "Thanks for hearing me out."
"Don't thank me yet," Erica replied as they left the coffee shop. "I'll speak with the head librarian today. If there's a position available—or if I can convince them to let you help with basic work—I'll tell you tomorrow."
"That works."
"I still can't promise anything."
"I know."
They stopped near the road leading back toward the university, where Erica adjusted the books in her arms before looking at him again.
"I'll come by your apartment tomorrow if I learn anything," Erica said.
Shen raised an eyebrow. "You still remember where I live?"
Erica's gentle smile returned. "Unlike some people, I don't forget my friends for three months."
Shen placed a hand against his chest as though wounded. "That one actually hurt."
"Oh my, really?" Erica asked with obvious amusement.
She turned to leave, but after taking two steps, she stopped and glanced back.
"Shen."
"Hm?"
For once, there was no teasing expression on her face.
"I'm glad you came to see me. It was nice seeing you again," Erica said. "And if you really want to start studying again, that's good. Just don't give up after three days because you get bored."
Shen smiled slightly. "I'll try, but no promises."
Erica rolled her eyes before turning and walking back toward the university.
Shen watched her disappear among the passing students before putting his hands into his coat pockets.
The visit had gone better than expected.
If Erica managed to get him inside, he could test Enhanced Memory and Proficiency properly.
If that worked, tutoring would come next.
Then perhaps the Halloway tailor shop.
And after that...
Shen stopped himself.
"One thing at a time."
He had a bad habit of thinking several steps ahead before even completing the first.
For now, the library was enough.
As he started walking home, Shen glanced back once at the university buildings rising through Backlund's faint yellow-gray haze.