Tuesday morning. I quietly watched as the Professor busily gathered something.
Lecture materials, perhaps? But the first class of the semester is usually just a simple orientation, so I couldn't understand why he was moving around so frantically. It could be something other than the lecture.
When the keyword "lecture" crossed my mind, I remembered yesterday's events. My body trembled at the memory of the second-year students who seemed more energetic than awkward, probably because we'd run into each other often throughout the year.
It wasn't that I found it disgusting, but standing on the platform with all those eyes on me was a bit overwhelming. Just thinking about all those confusing questions made me feel tired already.
"What are we doing today?"
"Today... I have a third-year lecture in the afternoon. 'Magic Studies of Demon Gods.'"
Even if I attended the class with him, I doubted I'd understand anything. Maybe I could follow the second-year classes somewhat? I could probably listen to the principles of Demon God creation like a story.
While I was pondering with a serious expression, the Professor asked as he organized his desk.
"It's not that difficult. We're not teaching how to use it ourselves, but rather how it's used and how to respond to it."
"Everything seems difficult to me."
"Really? Is that so... I'm not sure. Come to think of it, you don't seem to use magic much either."
"I don't know how to use it, and I don't feel the need to...?"
Someone who's lived with magic from the beginning would probably find it very inconvenient if they couldn't use it anymore. But as someone who came from a world far from magic, I didn't feel it was particularly necessary.
Like using Warp Points instead of cars, I could just use the public facilities that were already established.
I sat quietly at the desk, swinging my legs. Perhaps because my legs were short, they swung in an arc like a swing when I stretched them slightly away from the chair.
"It's a shame you don't know how to use magic. It would be really great if I could demonstrate magic in front of the third-years during lectures."
"Why?"
"Well... if the lecture becomes popular, we get quite a bit of funding..."
The Professor's voice came out sheepishly, as if he thought he was being materialistic.
Embarrassed, he cleared his throat and slid closer to me.
"Anyway, if you say you can't, there's nothing we can do. Still, just having a Demon God there increases the students' focus, which is good. You saw their reaction yesterday, right?"
"I felt it well, but... I don't know. It seems hard for me."
"Really? Once you get used to it, you'll miss it when it's gone."
I wonder if that's true. I don't think so.
As I wore a lukewarm expression, the Professor smiled and stroked my back. I was half-sprawled on the desk, so my back must have been easy to reach.
It felt nice as I quietly received his touch. It was just that human touch, as long as it wasn't rough, felt soft and warm, creating a pleasant feeling.
So I closed my eyes. I wasn't particularly sleepy, but this moment where I could think of nothing felt good. It was more beneficial than being awake and wondering what time it was or how much time had passed.
"What should we eat today..."
The Professor continued stroking my back while thinking about lunch. I figured he was planning to eat something delicious after finishing his morning research and before going to lecture.
Afternoon. Lunch time was over. I walked through the Academy feeling a sensation I couldn't tell whether my stomach was full or not. The Professor brought just one file and patted my shoulder.
It seemed like he meant for me to hang in there this time too, which made me smile bitterly. When I laughed dryly, "Haha," the Professor whispered to me, "You can do it."
We stood in front of the lecture hall. The classroom, located more in a corner than before, looked bigger starting from the door. A space for practical training rather than theory.
The third-year students wore white with black. There was an air of sophistication. Whether it was because they had to mix in black, the black accents on distinctive parts were impressive.
Some were chatting with their groups, while others sat alone looking at their phones. Since it was the first day orientation, there wasn't a feeling of needing to try hard. That was normal.
Following the Professor, I glanced at where the students were sitting. Just the fact that someone other than the Professor had entered was already drawing attention.
With the silent gazes of students distracting me, I didn't see the platform. My foot caught on the edge and I stepped back. My upper body lurched forward.
Ah, this familiar sensation.
"Ack!"
"Urr?!"
I fell with a thud. Along with the Professor's startled voice approaching me, surprised voices came from where the students were sitting.
The fortunate thing was that I'd fallen so often that I could handle this quickly. In the beginning, I couldn't handle it and would get nosebleeds.
"Ugh..."
As I put my hands down and raised my upper body, the Professor grabbed my arm and helped me up.
"You should watch where you're going."
"No, it's just..."
Even though only the year level had changed, the atmosphere felt completely different. I couldn't bring myself to say that I'd been distracted by the gazes and hadn't seen the platform, so I let my words trail off.
With the Professor's help, I got up and tried to walk forward again. But this time, my foot wouldn't go up onto the platform properly, and I fell forward again.
"Eek!"
W-wait a minute... I was trying to watch the platform carefully this time...
"Urr, oh my goodness, I can't deal with this."
The Professor let out a sigh and quickly helped me up.
My belt must have loosened from the shock of falling once. My head was spinning. I desperately wanted to avoid having my skirt fall down in front of so many people, and I was utterly embarrassed.
With my head spinning, I felt my face burning hot from overload. Feeling like I could die of embarrassment, I buried my face in the Professor's chest as he approached me. Startled, he embraced my head, not knowing what to do.
I thought today would be like yesterday—just come in, introduce myself, and be done with it. Still, it would be a tiring day. But now things were going in a different direction, and I could only feel resentful.
But who should I resent? I should resent myself for being distracted... This is maddening. I even checked my belt carefully before coming in today...
"Urr... I don't mind hugging you, but you should pull up your skirt...?"
"..."
I had my face buried, thought for a moment, then quickly lowered my body to pull up my skirt. Then I hid behind the lectern on the platform, curling up.
I wasn't sure what I was doing, but at least it was better than facing those people. I pouted with twisted lips and angrily grabbed at my troublesome belt.
The belt seemed to have a temper of its own, refusing to fasten properly.
The Professor glanced at me and smiled bitterly. After clearing his throat to change the atmosphere, he began speaking to the students. It was similar to yesterday's content. After introducing himself, he introduced me as well.
"This child's name is Urr, a Demon God. ...Though she doesn't seem like one."
"Really...?"
The atmosphere was different from the second-years. In front of the second-year students, I had greeted them properly, but during the third-year lecture, I not only fell twice but also had the issue of exposing my underwear.
No, that's not right... My shirt is big, so they probably couldn't see, right? It probably just looked like I wasn't wearing bottoms...
While I was groaning with such meaningless desperation, suddenly a student made a suggestion to the Professor.
"She seems embarrassed, so how about letting her sit in a corner seat? It doesn't look like she'll come out in this state..."
"Hmm, shall we do that for now...? Urr, would you like to go sit in the very back?"
I felt grateful for that suggestion. It was because I had lost the courage to face the gazes of other students while standing on the platform with the Professor.
When I nodded, the Professor carefully approached and took my hand. As I trudged along, at the end of the row, a female student with ocean-blue hair waved her hand. She seemed to be indicating that I should sit next to her, so I scurried over.
Emerald-colored eyes turned toward me.
"Hello, your name is Urr?"
"...Yes."
When I nodded, she smiled.
"Really? I'm Sera. Are you really a Demon God?"
This student called Sera seemed to have recommended the seat beside her to ask various questions on her own. Still, I liked being in the corner of the back row. As I curled up with my body pressed against the wall, Sera saw me like that and moved a bit closer.
"What does it feel like to be a Demon God? I heard you break rules, but how do you break them?"
"..."
"Did the Professor buy those clothes for you? Do you always wear such big clothes?"
I didn't want to talk to anyone right now, but Sera seemed to be a talkative student. I would have preferred a student who wanted to touch my hair, saying it looked fluffy.
While I was glaring like that, Sera confirmed that the other students' attention was temporarily elsewhere and whispered quietly so only I could hear.
"...Do Demon Gods have sexual curiosity?"