The festival was just around the corner.
The Academy's vast grounds were filled with booths set up by departments and clubs. Food trucks had also arrived, suggesting that outsiders were being allowed entry as well.
Departments and clubs that struggled to create activity-based booths used designated buildings as exhibition spaces to showcase their strengths.
The small stage would feature busking performances, while the main stage would host student performances and celebrity shows. My heart raced with excitement at the thought. Just imagining eating delicious food and enjoying fun activities made me smile involuntarily.
Since the Academy was quite large, I worried about the crowds that would gather from all around.
Well, I had more pressing concerns to focus on.
"...Hmm."
I placed a hand on my chest. The brief sensation I felt yesterday remained vivid in my memory, but I couldn't feel it anymore. Everything felt normal now.
It was a sensation I never wanted to experience again. I stroked my chest and got up, determined to have another peaceful day. With a small groan, I stretched and took a deep breath.
My chest expanded fully and then deflated. If I were a frog, I might have croaked with my cheeks puffing out.
I noticed the Professor sleeping with slumped shoulders. Dark circles under his eyes suggested he hadn't slept well last night.
The Professor's morning usually began at 6 AM.
It was only 5 AM now. I quietly rose from where I was sitting. The bed was so soft that the Professor didn't notice my movement.
I approached the window, grabbed the curtain, and slipped through the gap, feeling like I was infiltrating somewhere.
I opened the door. Having a door connecting to a veranda in such a large room was quite nice, I thought. The dark sky at 5 AM was beginning to spread a blue light, heralding the coming dawn.
The brightening colors of the sky spread gradually.
Leaning against the railing, I quietly observed the scenery.
People perceive the same things differently depending on their circumstances. That's probably true for all beings, not just humans, but I felt it deeply.
When I first met the Professor, I had a strange feeling. Recalling that time was certainly painful, but I thought I could endure it by considering it the catalyst that helped me escape from that situation.
It had been a year since I started wearing normal clothes like this and stepping into the world, coming and going from the laboratory. Not a long time, but not short either. I smiled bitterly at the memory.
"Urr?!"
While I was grinning and looking outside, I heard the Professor's panicked voice. Startled, I turned my head. Perhaps because the curtain was between us, he seemed to think I had disappeared.
I slipped off my slippers and opened the door slightly. The Professor had already jumped up and was coming toward me.
"...Professor?"
"Ah, there you are."
It seemed he was about to check the veranda first because he couldn't see me. When I emerged, his expression changed from surprise to relief.
The Professor, who had been clutching his chest in alarm, approached and embraced me tightly.
Feeling his strong embrace, I stood dazed for a moment before awkwardly raising my hands to hug him back. Though I wondered what this was all about so early in the morning, it wasn't something to dwell on for long.
Yesterday, when I felt strange and panicked, the Professor had tilted his head in concern, so I figured this was an extension of that emotion.
"I'm right here."
I told the Professor this and quietly closed my eyes.
Hugging him tightly to reassure him, I felt his warmth and a pleasant pressure as I kept my eyes closed.
"Yes."
The Professor, apparently quite anxious, nodded while holding me.
I thought about how I wanted to enjoy the festival with the Professor, doing various things together.
Though the morning started with a somewhat unsettled atmosphere, everything was fine.
After composing our emotions, we went to the Academy.
On Tuesdays, there was a third-year lecture in the afternoon called "Magic Studies of Demon Gods." This was the crucial lecture that had helped the Professor create his Original. I thought such lectures were essential for anyone wanting to create a new Original.
Since it was about creating new magic based on Demon God characteristics, the class taught about Demon God habits, which piqued my interest.
I don't know if it was because I was a Demon God myself, but I listened attentively to the Professor's lecture alongside Sera.
"...Each Demon God has its own characteristics. Methods of living eternally, ways of self-healing, techniques to avoid injury—they all possess systems designed for longevity."
The Professor continued his lecture while writing large letters on the blackboard.
I nodded, trying to absorb the information. Sera, though from a different department, found this subject interesting and it affected her grades, so she nodded along while writing busily.
Glancing at her rapidly moving pen, I could see she was scribbling hastily. When I first saw her notes, they were beautifully written, but now she seemed focused solely on capturing everything the Professor said.
She looked quite impressive, laughing at jokes but remaining serious in this setting.
"Just as we instinctively close our eyes when something flies toward our face or defend ourselves with our hands, Demon Gods also have their own defense mechanisms. The same applies when they attack."
The Professor's well-organized lecture was so easy to understand that it seemed simple enough to comprehend even for someone attending a third-year course for the first time.
Of course, one would truly grasp it only after taking the first and second-year courses as well.
"Just as lions attack with their teeth and horses with their hind legs, each has its own individuality. Does anyone know what my Original is?"
With a swift motion, dozens of students in the room raised their hands.
Not a single person failed to raise their hand, which was impressive. I thought, "Our Professor is quite popular!"
The Professor smiled wryly at the students' response. He searched his pocket and took out a ring he had brought.
The lecture hall filled with sounds of awe, as if witnessing a legendary item. It seemed that just the existence of that ring was enough to identify the Professor's Original.
"This is my Original. It's a common concept among Demon Gods. The result of reestablishing through magic formulation the concept of a large vessel that humans cannot possess. It's a common concept for Demon Gods, but uncommon approaches were needed to make it accessible to humans. Magic Studies of Demon Gods is now at this stage. Being third-year students, your final exam will involve creating one yourselves."
"Ahhh."
The moment of admiration turned into sighs.
The Professor smiled. Seemingly accustomed to such reactions from students, he shook his head mercilessly.
"Now, now."
The Professor skillfully clapped his hands to change the atmosphere.
"Our Urr, everyone knows her now. It's quite adorable how this course, once mainly attended by department students, has become so popular that students from other departments want to take it as an elective or double major."
"...Eh?"
The Professor's arm extended.
At his words directed at me, countless gazes turned my way. Students sitting in front turned to look at me. Even Sera beside me glanced at me with smiling eyes.
The lecture seemed to have shifted from rapid delivery to casual conversation, making the atmosphere feel slightly relaxed.
As I sat there with a blank expression, the Professor began talking about me.
"You might wonder, 'If each Demon God has different characteristics, what characteristics does Urr have?' But Urr was a Demon God without such aggression, so I haven't confirmed anything. Given situations like this, even small personality traits of Demon Gods can be considered unique characteristics."
"Then are there some that don't have any characteristics at all? Urr might not have any abilities."
I perked up my ears slightly, but no good answer came.
Disappointed after having raised my expectations, I slumped my shoulders.
"While I haven't seen cases with absolutely no abilities, if you research with the possibility in mind, you might get good results. Viewing lack of uniqueness as a uniqueness itself is a good perspective. That's a great question. I'd like to discuss this over coffee sometime."
After answering a student's question earnestly, the Professor smiled and stared at that student.
The student froze with an "uh" and then lowered their head. Seeing this, Sera put her hand on her chin, deep in thought.
"What's wrong, Sera?"
"If I had asked such a question, would he have offered me something even if I had no goal?"
"...What?"
"The Institute, I mean."
"Really?"
I tilted my head, wondering why she suddenly brought up the Institute.
Sera glanced at me and placed her hand on my head.
"Should I tie your hair today, Urr?"
"Hmm, no, I'm too lazy today."
I shook my head. As I gathered my fluffy hair in my arms, Sera squealed and began playing with the hair in my embrace.