I desperately wished it had been just an illusion. No matter how much I reconsidered, it wasn’t a hallucination. Though I was certain about seeing a black rabbit in the field, Jin only tilted his head in confusion. Finally deciding I must be tired, he guided me to the dormitory and left abruptly after telling me to get some rest.

If only Jin was right and my eyes had deceived me…. If there truly was no black rabbit, then it must have been a magical creature disguised in rabbit form. Was this what they meant when they said I would meet one soon?

In the end, countless worries piled up, and I couldn’t sleep at all that night. It felt like blood-red eyes might emerge from the shadows the moment I lowered my guard.

“Ugh….”

After a sleepless night of tossing and turning, I greeted my first morning at the dormitory listlessly. When I returned from taking a shower to wash away my fatigue, I found boxes of clothes from Asrein piled up at my door. The perfectly fitted coat and luxurious shirt with wide sleeves that allowed easy movement were clearly expensive items. However, the aftereffects of the previous night left me unable to even feel happy about the gifts.

After roughly organizing the clothes, I dragged myself to the research lab with heavy steps. Upon arrival, I cleared my throat. No matter how tired I was, I couldn’t make mistakes on my first day. Slapping my cheeks to chase away sleep, I opened the research lab door energetically.

“Good morning!”

Until now, whenever I went to the lab early in the morning, only the copy machine and computer would greet me. But the person sitting alone in the room, surrounded by bookshelves on three sides, was none other than Asrein.

“You came earlier than expected.”

“Waah!”

Seeing his elegant face unchanged today, I screamed in surprise. Asrein slightly furrowed his brow while looking questioningly at me standing stiffly by the door.

“What’s wrong? You look pale like you’ve seen a ghost.”

“Huh? No, it’s nothing….”

How diligent of him. I closed the door carefully while letting out an embarrassed laugh. A cool breeze blew through the windows, filling the research lab with a pleasant grass scent. But even the fresh air couldn’t dispel the awkward atmosphere. His golden eyes remained fixed on the documents on the mahogany desk even as I shuffled past hesitantly. After I settled at the desk near the window, he asked.

“Did you receive proper guidance yesterday?”

“Ah, yes! Thanks to Jin explaining the directions in detail, I don’t think I’ll get lost.”

“That’s good. I won’t have to play the role of a nanny looking for lost children then.”

The conversation ended without me knowing if it was a joke or not, given his serious tone. With no immediate tasks assigned, I secretly observed Asrein. I still couldn’t believe that the person from the novel was right in front of me. While pretending to flip through books and watching for a chance to start a conversation, Asrein spoke while quickly writing on documents with his quill pen.

“Have meals at the restaurant when it’s time, and go to the main building if you’re unwell. Of course, you’re free to pick herbs from the herb garden and make your own medicine, but the risks are entirely yours. Also, while the research lab officially closes at 4, you’re free to spend the remaining time as you wish if you finish assigned tasks earlier.”

I wrote down the notes belatedly after listening absentmindedly. Compared to my previous lab life, the closing time was earlier and much more flexible, but I was worried nonetheless. More freedom meant mistakes would be clearly exposed if time wasn’t managed properly.

“Any questions?”

“No. Well, if I have any, I’ll ask Jin.”

After my quick response, Asrein glanced at me and said quietly.

“You can ask me too. That’s what a professor is for, isn’t it?”

Well… that’s true. It was because I had become accustomed to the rule that one shouldn’t bother professors with trivial matters. After finishing his instructions, Asrein stood up with a letter from his drawer, wearing pure white gloves. Is he going out? When I stretched my neck like a meerkat to look, our eyes met.

“Do you have any urgent matters?”

“Ah, no. Nothing.”

“Good. Come with me then.”

Before I could ask where we were going, I hurriedly grabbed only the ink pen and notepad from my desk and left the research lab. Asrein strode toward the secluded back of the research lab. Following the sloping hillside path down, the surroundings gradually became overgrown with trees and plants I had never seen before.

Was it my imagination? I seemed to hear animal cries in the distance. The ‘Black Rabbit Ghost Story of the Backyard’ that I had momentarily forgotten came rushing back to mind, and I instinctively moved closer to Asrein. Though it must have been uncomfortable to walk, he asked in his usual low voice, paying no mind.

“Why do you think we study magical creatures?”

I racked my brain at the sudden question. Though I knew the correct answer, I couldn’t easily understand his intention. After brief consideration, I gave the safest answer with plenty of room for escape.

“To coexist with magical creatures.”

“What a boring correct answer.”

Trudge, trudge. Looking into the distance while walking endlessly, he turned to me with calm eyes.

“More precisely, it’s to persuade.”

“Persuade…?”

“As you know, there used to be loud voices saying magical creatures should be exterminated. Huge bounties were even offered to those who brought magical creature heads, leading to the rise of magical creature hunters. They killed magical creatures for money, and the creatures who lost their territory attacked villages… It was a painful cycle.”

Though his words were far from light, he continued his explanation with the detachment of passing clouds.

“When hunting was banned, those who maintained their livelihood through it raised opposition. It would be nice if everyone were as altruistic as you, but reality isn’t like that. So research began to explain the value of preserving magical creatures. Finally, during Evgenia I’s time, it was discovered that parts of magical creature remains had medicinal properties. From that day on, magical creatures changed from targets of extermination to subjects of research and protection.”

Suddenly, a passage from the novel came to mind. People remained quite confused even long after attitudes toward magical creatures had changed so dramatically. There was strong opposition between those who resented having to now protect magical creatures that had killed their ancestors and those who claimed that human-initiated magical creature extermination was a mistake from the beginning.

“Hunting and trading magical creatures was prohibited, and all magical creatures inhabiting the Karsa Empire and its vassal states came under imperial protection. Only naturally deceased magical creature remains could be used as medicine.”

Even so, times have changed. There’s no need to wage unnecessary wars of attrition with magical creatures anymore.

“However, there are still those who conduct magical creature hunting in secret after learning the ‘true’ value of magical creatures. One of the institutions protecting magical creatures from such people is right here, Angelus University.”

Just then, looking up, I saw a glass greenhouse with a dome-shaped ceiling spread out before my eyes. My jaw dropped at the scale, easily equivalent to two or three houses combined. The maintenance was excellent, without a single water mark on the glass surface, and lush green leaves filled the greenhouse. Unable to take my eyes off the greenhouse that seemed to emit its own light, I spoke.

“Are there magical creatures inside?”

“Yes. After treatment and concurrent research is complete, we return them to their habitats.”

I suppose it’s like a modern wildlife sanctuary. After finishing his brief explanation, Asrein walked ahead toward the entrance. Suppressing my childishly excited heart at the thought of soon encountering magical creatures, I followed Asrein inside.

The first thing I saw upon entering the greenhouse was an enormous zelkova tree, reminiscent of Yggdrasil embracing the world. Red flowers covering the fields, vines climbing up tree trunks, tiny fruits resembling powdered snow – the ecosystem extending along the branches seemed exactly like a piece of nature transplanted whole. While I kept letting out exclamations with my mouth hanging open in amazement, Asrein, seemingly finding this foolish, warned.

“This place is protected by magic, so no matter how tempting things inside might be, don’t take anything outside the greenhouse.”

“What happens if they’re taken outside?”

“Well. If you’re curious, try it yourself. I won’t stop you.”

The slight upward curve of his lips was so eerily cold that I shook my head hard enough to mess up my hair. Asrein, who lightly shrugged his shoulders, navigated through the narrow maze-like paths without hesitation.

Staying sharp and following behind, we arrived at a weeping willow whose branches hung like a frozen waterfall cascading from a cliff. Looking carefully, something resembling a chestnut floated up between the leaves.

Could it be…! With trembling fingers full of emotion, I pointed at the tiny life form.

“Is that… a magical creature?”

“Yes. It’s called a ‘Dandel’ that recently came in attached to Jin’s body during an expedition.”

“Attached to his body?!”

“Dandels attach themselves to large creatures to hide from natural predators. There was a group of Kiko nearby but… hmm. I didn’t expect it would attach to Jin.”

Perhaps recognizing the familiar voice, the moment Asrein spoke, the chestnut-like creature bounced up with a ‘pop!’ When he gestured in the air, surprisingly, the Dandel that had been moving here and there between the leaves slowly approached. Thanks to the fluffy fur covering its entire body, the Dandel flying around Asrein looked like dandelion seeds dancing in the wind.

“It doesn’t seem too wary. Would it be okay if I touched it?”

“It’s a Level 5 danger magical creature, so there’s no need to worry.”

“Then….”

“However, it’s quite timid, so don’t raise your hand high – just show your palm and wait for it to approach.”

Swallowing hard, I carefully extended my hand.

“It’s okay. I won’t do anything.”

If only I had the ability to talk to magical creatures like the protagonist Iris at times like this. The Dandel seemed to have made up its mind after watching me for a while. After waiting while holding my breath, finally, the cotton-like body gently landed on my palm. Just as I was secretly rejoicing at touching a magical creature for the first time-

– NO. 62 ‘Dandel’ empathy confirmed.

A strange voice suddenly rang in my ear.

“Eek!”

Even as I looked around with hunched shoulders, I couldn’t find the owner of the voice. The startled Dandel had long since fled with its fur standing on end. What could it have been? Though I knew it was impossible, I turned my suspicion to Asrein standing beside me.

“Professor.”

“What is it?”

“Didn’t you just say something?”

“I didn’t say anything.”

Asrein, who had been calmly trying to soothe the Dandel, firmly shook his head. First hallucinations in the backyard, and now I’m hearing things too? Maybe it’s because I couldn’t sleep. Rather than raising Asrein’s suspicions, I just gave an awkward smile, when the voice was heard again.

– Activating Magical Creature Encyclopedia system.

“What?”

“You seem to have adapted quickly, speaking so casually already. Why don’t you just call me by name?”

“No, Professor. That’s not what I meant….”

What is this? What is this voice!