No wonder it felt so familiar. The contents I had diligently organized about magical creatures while reading the novel were perfectly integrated. My lips twitched awkwardly, twisted with bewilderment.

– The Monster Encyclopedia can be materialized as a book like now, but remains invisible to others’ eyes. Only you, Tae-oh, can see and touch the Monster Encyclopedia.

“Well, that’s convenient.”

Right. I decided to push aside my unsettled feelings and accept reality. I mean, I’ve been transported into a novel – having an AI that acts as a Monster Encyclopedia system in my head is nothing special. If anything, it’s fortunate. Since I can’t use magic, wouldn’t it be better to at least know the different types of magical creatures, which is my major?

While looking through the encyclopedia that might become my lifeline, I discovered a category called ‘Relationship Assessment.’

“What exactly is this Relationship Assessment?”

– Relationship Assessment indicates the level of intimacy between magical creatures and you, Tae-oh. It’s divided into 4 stages, and relationships can be developed through continuous interaction.

“Develop relationships? Me? With magical creatures?”

A delayed laugh burst out upon hearing this unexpected feature. Of course, I’m curious about magical creatures and have a strong desire to observe them. But is this some kind of dating simulation? I don’t understand how I’m supposed to develop relationships with magical creatures that I can’t even communicate with. When I nodded to prompt further explanation, the monotone voice continued.

– The Relationship Assessment function is only activated through eye contact with magical creatures. Therefore, when you perceive a magical creature alone, or when the creature is transformed into a different form, the function will not be unlocked. Please keep this in mind.

“Then are there any magical creatures with unlocked Relationship Assessment besides Dandel?”

– Currently, there are none.

Thanks to the system’s kind explanation, I understood. While the Dandel I encountered in the greenhouse showed ‘Relationship Assessment: Wary,’ the Opalus I saw on Mount Montena had its relationship assessment ‘Deactivated.’ This was simply because I hadn’t made eye contact with the Opalus.

Then, was the black rabbit that kept its eyes open for an unnervingly long time not registering because it was transformed into a different form? While pondering about the still unfamiliar Monster Encyclopedia, I asked the most fundamental question.

“So what’s the benefit of progressing relationships with magical creatures?”

– Hidden functions are unlocked progressively as your relationship with magical creatures develops.

“Hidden functions?”

There sure are a lot of functions. How useful could they possibly be? Deciding to at least hear them out, I asked in a somewhat sarcastic tone.

“I mean, unless it lets me communicate with magical creatures like Iris…”

– Communication is unlocked at the third ‘Intimate’ stage.

“…What?”

You can actually communicate with them? No, wait, communication isn’t even the final function?! I firmly believed that whether with animals or magical creatures, communication was the highest level of bonding. Like how pets understand their beloved owners even if they speak different languages. But the system said that communication wasn’t the ultimate goal of bonding.

“Then what happens when you reach the final stage?”

Though I asked urgently, the system remained silent. Had the system been physically present before me, I would have grabbed its collar and shaken it. While I fidgeted impatiently like a dog waiting for permission to eat an appetizing piece of jerky, the awaited voice finally echoed in my head.

– If a magical creature ‘Guards’ you…

“Yes!”

– You can summon that magical creature.

“…What??”

For a moment, I doubted my ears.

“You can… summon them?”

– Yes.

It was a concise and precise answer. Asrein had declared that I wouldn’t be able to use magic due to my lack of magical power. But something even more magical than magic itself was happening. Not only could I communicate with the magical creatures I dreamed of, but I could also summon them.

My heart pounded with childlike excitement, making my earlier mockery of the ‘magical creature dating simulation’ seem foolish. What did it matter if developing relationships to stage 4 with magical creatures was difficult? The mere existence of such a possibility was satisfying enough.

Unable to stay still, I circled around the book and asked the system.

“How do you summon them?”

– You must offer natural objects while calling the magical creature’s name.

“…Natural objects?”

The system went on to explain the summoning method. To summon a magical creature across space and time, a certain amount of life force is needed. Newly bloomed flowers, sunlight-filled leaves, grass breaking through soil – anything from nature that possesses life would work.

By offering these natural objects as payment, you can summon magical creatures that ‘Guard’ you. Even a fallen flower, provided its life hasn’t completely faded, would be sufficient as an offering. While looking at the trees swaying outside the window, I tilted my head.

“Is it one flower for one magical creature?”

– That depends on the magical creature’s power.

“What? Then if I accidentally summon a powerful magical creature…”

– The entire area could be destroyed.

The casual delivery of such an incredible statement made it sound trivial. But if I ever summoned a Level 1 dangerous magical creature, there would be undeniable evidence left in the surrounding area. My earlier excitement quickly deflated. Even though I didn’t have any magical creatures at the Guard level yet, I became serious with preemptive worry. The system then said:

– If you don’t wish to offer natural objects, you can offer your magical power as payment instead.

It all came down to magical power after all. If only I had abundant magical power from the start. I waved my hand in the air to dismiss the book and flopped onto the bed. Indeed, great abilities come with equally dangerous costs. But even excluding summoning, the Monster Encyclopedia itself holds tremendous value. It’s good to have insurance to protect myself in this dangerous world.

“For now… I should keep this secret.”

Though it’s an ability that probably no one would believe anyway, it must not be discovered by anyone.

***

Though I was surprised by the sudden appearance of the Monster Encyclopedia, thanks to going to bed early, I greeted the morning with a much better complexion. Although there was still time before work, I headed to the lab early. In the early hours when morning dew hadn’t yet disappeared, Angelus University was dead quiet. Thinking Asrein wouldn’t be there, I flung open the door energetically. The lab was just as quiet.

“Good morni… Oh? He’s not here.”

It was too early in the morning, so Asrein wasn’t here as expected. Instead, there was a map of Angelus University on the desk. Jin must have left it there before leaving work yesterday. After securing the map with books so it wouldn’t fly away, I closed the lab door. With a pounding heart, I muttered into the empty lab.

“System?”

– Yes. I’m here.

Haha, this is it. This is what I wanted. The confirmation that yesterday wasn’t a dream made me laugh involuntarily. In a good mood, I circled around the lab once and discovered books messily placed on the desk. How unusual for the perfectionist Asrein to forget to organize his desk before leaving.

“I’ll do it for him.”

Humming a tune, I started cleaning without being asked. Leaving the open books untouched just in case, I stacked the scattered documents and books in a row. Even with minimal effort, it looked much more organized, making me feel satisfied. Having been in lab life for several years, being good at organizing was only natural.

Finally, while tapping several thin books together on the desk, a paper suddenly fell from between them. When I hurriedly looked down, I spotted a white envelope sealed with a bright red lily-shaped wax seal. Though I didn’t know much about the family histories of this world yet, that symbol was extremely familiar. And for good reason…

“That’s the seal used by House Ameli…”

Could they be exchanging letters with the Count starting today? No way. Asrein, who doesn’t even want to share a meal with him, wouldn’t personally write letters to the Count. Then what is this? Come to think of it, Asrein also had a letter when we went to the greenhouse yesterday. Is he really exchanging letters with Count Ameli…? Why?

No, I should pick up the letter first. Hugging my unresolved curiosity, I looked down at the desk again. But in the brief moment I looked away, the letter had vanished. It had disappeared cleanly and silently without a trace.

“What? Where did it go!”

I got down on my knees to look, but the letter was nowhere to be seen. Moreover, seeing that the wax seal hadn’t been broken, it seemed even Asrein, the recipient, hadn’t checked its contents yet. Anxious about losing an important letter, I thoroughly searched not only under the desk but also around the bookshelves. However, there wasn’t even a speck of dust, let alone the letter.

“…I’m doomed.”

I fell into panic, pulling at my hair like when I accidentally deleted an assignment right before submission. I could only stand dazed in the middle of the lab, rolling my eyes aimlessly.

At that moment, I felt a strange gaze from between the bookshelf and the wall. Simultaneously, an eerie sensation touched my skin, instantly causing cold sweat to form. I wanted to bravely turn my head to check, but my tiny heart pounded loudly, announcing its presence. In the end, I only slowly turned my eyeballs toward the narrow gap.

And I made eye contact with a being that shouldn’t be in the lab.

“How… how are you here…”

It was the black rabbit I saw in the backyard. It was hiding in the shadows. Its eyes, red like cornelian cherry fruit, glowed eerily bright. Whether I let out a strange cry from being startled or not, the rabbit didn’t move an inch from its spot. Meeting it without warning made it even more certain. The black rabbit is a magical creature. Moreover, it’s an especially dangerous one since its danger level can’t be gauged from its appearance alone.

“Sy, sy, sy, system.”

– Yes, Tae-oh.

“Can I possibly learn about the magical creature I’m looking at right now…?”

– The magical creature cannot be detected, so it cannot be searched in the encyclopedia.

Though I asked stutteringly with a glimmer of hope, the calm system firmly denied it. Yesterday, the system had emphasized that it couldn’t detect magical creatures when they were transformed into different forms due to magic. Given that the Monster Encyclopedia wasn’t responding even after making eye contact for several minutes, the rabbit’s appearance must be just a shell.

“What if I search with the keyword ‘shadow’?”

– ‘Shadow’ search results: 52 related magical creatures.

“That’s way too many…”

It was an impossible amount to look through right now. It would be even more troublesome if Asrein arrived at the lab. With no choice, I stepped back and spoke to the rabbit that remained motionless like a statue.

“Are you not going to show me your true form?”

“……”

“Yeah. I guess not.”

“Then have you seen the letter on the floor?”

“……”

“I guess I asked a pointless question.”

It would have been nice if it had at least twitched its ears once. The rabbit, making itself at home in the shadows like a waiting widow, just stared intently at me.