"...Mmm."
I let out a small groan. Today had been particularly stressful in many ways, and the professor's touch earlier had made it an oddly unsettling day.
Though I was wearing pajamas, I still felt the lingering sensation from before, so I absentmindedly raised my hand. I pressed lightly against my chest through the soft fabric of my pajamas.
It was a kind of tingling feeling. The corner of my mouth twitched.
I shook my head. I knew perfectly well that if I allowed myself to become interested in such things, I might fall into something I couldn't escape from.
I understood that restraint existed for a reason, and I also knew why lust was counted among the seven deadly sins—because it was impossible to separate from human nature.
"..."
Before falling asleep in the professor's arms, I had slightly hugged myself to feel the sensation. Mmm, mmm. After tossing and turning several times, the professor pulled me in tightly. Only then did I stop, falling asleep with a sense of self-loathing for my inappropriate thoughts.
A Demon God's body was quite convenient. You didn't starve even without eating, didn't tire even after staying up for days, and didn't grow weak. Yet you could still eat if you wanted to and sleep if you wished, so there seemed to be no mental fatigue.
Today was another day to spend at the Academy. I put on a new shirt and skirt, tightened my belt, and hung the name tag I'd received around my neck.
Afternoon at the Academy.
Unlike yesterday and the day before, today wasn't about lecturing Academy students, so my steps led me not to a classroom but to a laboratory.
I had wondered what kept the professor so busy, and here was the answer.
The Institute Students. They were people who helped the professor with research while completing their own theses. The laboratory had a completely different atmosphere from classrooms or practice rooms. If I had to compare, it was like the professor's research office but filled with various supplies.
There was no need for orientation here. This felt more like going to work, and it seemed these students quietly came to do their jobs even when others were busy with enrollment or the start of a semester.
The professor knocked loudly on the door for them.
"Everyone, this is Urr who'll be following me around as a new... supply. She's a Demon God, so feel free to ask her questions later. But don't hit her, okay?"
Isn't hitting someone normally not allowed anyway?
I felt a slight chill, wondering if they might actually hit me if not instructed otherwise.
"Hello, I'm Urr."
Setting aside my concerns, I bowed to introduce myself. The people in the laboratory put down what they were holding and began grabbing nearby papers. Then they rushed toward me and started writing things down.
"Professor, what kind of Demon God is she? Does she have a self-chosen name?"
"...Ah, that's still unknown. She seems to be pre-self-identity formation."
"Does she bite people?"
"We're trying to socialize her for now. She probably won't bite..."
I felt slightly annoyed at the professor for not answering confidently. I'm not a dog or cat—how often would I bare my teeth at people?
The graduate students asked more questions about "Demon Gods" than personal questions about me. I felt somewhat comfortable thinking this might be how specialists viewed things.
The way they kept a certain distance made me feel more at ease.
"What's her maximum Mana output? And the minimum?"
"How many rules can she break? Just tell us the confirmed ones."
"What method does she use for life extension?"
No, I take it back.
I recoiled in horror at the barrage of questions that made it seem like they wanted to dissect me right away. The professor placed a hand on my back and rubbed it reassuringly.
Yet the Institute Students didn't stop their questions. They kept writing frantically, finding so much to note just from looking at me.
I examined each person while sweating profusely. Seeing the Institute Students with their slightly greasy hair and dark circles, I wondered if they were eating properly. Or maybe they just weren't sleeping enough.
"Um... could you please... ask questions more slowly...?"
When I cautiously asked while clinging to the professor, there was a moment of silence. All eyes turned to the professor, who smiled bitterly and tried to calm the students.
"She hasn't met many people before. Even celebrities would feel uncomfortable with people crowding around them like this."
"...Sorry."
I'd managed to speak casually with third-year students, but the atmosphere among the Institute Students was completely different from the regular education program, making me naturally revert to formal speech.
So this is what feeling intimidated feels like. I continued the conversation with that thought.
To be honest, I couldn't satisfy the Institute Students' curiosity.
I didn't know myself, so who would?
Even the professor, who repeatedly researched me to learn more, hadn't achieved any notable results. I knew so little that the professor had to name me, so other questions were no different.
On our way back, the professor patted my head.
"Good work today, Urr."
"...But I couldn't answer anything."
I slumped my shoulders. Not knowing anything while being bombarded with questions about what I didn't know made me feel exhausted. Seeing my tired eyes and deep sigh, the professor smiled.
"It's okay if you don't help with the research. Sometimes just being there is helpful."
"...Is that so?"
"Yes. How should I put it... Institute Students researching Demon Gods often feel discouraged, wondering 'What am I even researching here?'"
The professor wiggled a finger.
"The world is exposed to the threat of Demon Gods. That makes research necessary, but it doesn't change how tiring it is. But if the subject of your research suddenly appears right before your eyes, wouldn't that spark interest and make the work less exhausting?"
The professor encouraged me, suggesting we should think positively about the work.
I fiddled with my sleeve before letting it hang loose. Since today's work was done, I figured there was nothing else to do and could relax. Back in the research office, the professor rummaged around for something.
"By the way, Urr."
"Yes?"
"Could you return this book for me? I borrowed it separately before but forgot to return it."
The professor handed me a book. I reached out with my loose sleeve. Looking at the book carefully, I scanned the characters I couldn't read.
"Yes... but Professor."
"What?"
"Can I learn to read too?"
When I asked cautiously, the professor considered it seriously. But then smiled awkwardly, as if troubled.
"I'm not sure if I'll have time to teach you letters..."
"What about getting help from someone else?"
"...That should be fine, but from whom?"
"Karen from first year and... Sera from third year?"
Karen and Sera. Since I didn't have anyone particularly close in second year, only these two came to mind.
I knew Karen from before the entrance ceremony, which made me comfortable around her, and while I wasn't exactly comfortable with Sera, she had offered to help with various things, which made me lean toward her a bit.
Though she wasn't someone I disliked or avoided, I found myself easily following her for even small rewards.
Hearing the names Karen and Sera, the professor put a hand to their chin and thought seriously. Then, seemingly satisfied, nodded.
"Then should we buy you a phone? So you can contact them."
"...What? But I can't read..."
"That's true. But you can answer calls, right? You don't need to know letters for that."
With that, the professor decided where we would go after work.
After returning the book to the Library, we took a Warp Point downtown. Tall buildings lined the streets, filled with numerous shops. As we walked around, the professor held my hand firmly.
"It's over there."
"Welcome! What are you looking for today?"
Entering the phone store, I could see phones in display cases showing off their presence. They looked like ordinary smartphones you'd see in the regular world, but it felt strange knowing I was getting my own here.
"...Do you have the best one here?"
Alarmed by the professor's words, I hurriedly approached the store owner.
"S-something durable!"
"Durable?"
"Durable...?"
They both questioned simultaneously. Feeling their eyes on me, I explained nervously.
"Since I fall down a lot, I think something that doesn't break easily would be good..."
"That makes sense, but can a device really be that durable?"
"I think it would be better to just use a case. These days they have pretty good shock absorption."
Hearing my request, the store owner brought out some cases from the back and held them up to explain.
It was just a simple gel case, but given the world we lived in, I felt like it might have something special. As I stared at it, the professor placed a hand on my head and smiled.
"We'll take that then."
"I'll get it ready for you right away. These days you can activate it on the spot... First, please fill out these forms..."
The professor sat at the table and began writing various things. I held the box given to me and stared at it blankly.