Peace didn’t last long. Bright sunlight seeped through the window, gradually narrowing the shadow beneath the bookshelf where the rabbit had settled. The rabbit, retreating step by step to avoid the boundary of light, twitched its grape jelly-like nose. Then it glared at me reproachfully, making me feel unreasonably wronged.

“What do you want from me… hm?”

When I crouched down, the rabbit slightly turned its body and wiggled its bottom, appearing ready to jump at any moment. However, its intended direction wasn’t toward me but toward the shadow cast beside me.

Could it be trying to jump into my shadow? For a magical creature that can’t touch light and can only live within shadows, that would be quite a plausible hypothesis.

“Is this what you want? Should I do this?”

Though I knew I wouldn’t get an answer, I kept talking while approaching in a low stance. Before I knew it, my shadow stretching across the lab had connected with the shadow where the rabbit had made its nest. The rabbit then lifted its fluffy paw, seemingly having waited for this moment, and gently tapped the shadow. It was such an adorable gesture that I felt sorry for being intimidated earlier by its dark eyes. When I tapped the shadowed floor to signal it was okay to come in, the rabbit nimbly moved to its new dwelling.

“How is it? Cozy?”

The rabbit that had previously emanated such an intimidating aura now sat within arm’s reach. I carefully observed its behavior while swallowing hard. It circled once around the edge of my shadow, reminiscent of a potential tenant meticulously inspecting a house. Though I couldn’t read its thoughts, its relaxed ears suggested approval.

“If you like it, feel free to rest here for a while.”

Considering this a fateful encounter, I showed kindness to the still somewhat frightening rabbit… magical creature. In response, the rabbit perked up its folded ears and jumped straight up in place. I was startled by how it leaped to eye level in one bound, but what followed left my mouth gaping.

“…Huh?”

The black rabbit entered into my shadow like diving into a deep burrow. Faced with a scientifically inexplicable situation, I could hardly believe my eyes. I had a bad feeling that I’d gotten involved with something rather ominous. I frantically patted the floor with my palm, futilely calling for it to come out of the shadow.

“Hello? Are you there?”

Just then, something black suddenly sprang out from the shadow and landed lightly on top of the tall bookshelf. The creature, with heat waves shimmering at the tips of its fur, wasn’t a rabbit but rather appeared to be a cat. Moreover, unlike its statue-like rabbit form, its red eyes now gleamed brilliantly, and its black fur shone with a glossy sheen.

“Wow…”

…No, not now! This isn’t the time to be amazed by a transformed magical creature. I need to find that letter and put it back on Asrein’s desk right away. Though its elegantly swishing tail seemed to beckon me to play, I firmly shook my head.

“Sorry, but I don’t have time to play with you right now. The letter’s gone, you see, so…”

Before I could finish speaking, I noticed something in its round mouth. It wasn’t just a rolling piece of paper, but the very letter from Count Ameli I’d been searching for.

“Why do you have that?!”

“……”

“Ah, anyway, that’s not a toy. So give it here.”

I slowly extended my hand toward it, trying not to startle it. But the cat dodged my reach with a playful movement and jumped to the windowsill. While the window was far too small for an adult to pass through, it was plenty big enough for a cat.

Even so, since I’d secured the place well, there shouldn’t be any gap for it to escape through…

“Wait!! That’s cheating!!”

I’d momentarily forgotten that scientific assumptions don’t apply in a fantasy world. The cat passed through the glass window effortlessly, proving its nature as a magical creature. Though I quickly opened the window and called out, the cat was already leisurely walking toward the grass. Its wiggling bottom seemed to taunt me to try and catch it. Before losing sight of it, I rushed out through the lab door.

“I’ll play with something else with you, so please return the letter. Okay?”

I called out to the cat, catching glimpses of it through the trees. But it paid little attention, nimbly jumping across stones and going its own way. It moved so quickly that I felt I might lose sight of it with even a moment’s distraction. When walking briskly proved insufficient and I started running, I quickly became out of breath.

“Huff, hah…”

This was too cruel for a graduate student who had lost all fat and muscle from sitting in chairs reading books for so long. Moreover, ever since that magical creature had entered and emerged from my shadow, my body felt strangely heavy. I desperately hoped it was just my imagination. I had nothing left to be exploited, after all.

“Huff… if that disappears… hah… I’ll be fired without mercy…!”

Though I called out with all my struggles, the magical creature that had run far ahead couldn’t possibly understand. Then suddenly, an idea struck me. Maybe it would stop if I called its name. While there are many shadow-related magical creatures, there might be fewer that can actually enter shadows. I leaned against a tree briefly to catch my breath and called the system in a small voice.

“System!!”

– Yes, I am here, Tae-oh.

“Show me the book… no, the Monster Encyclopedia!”

– If you wish to materialize it, please say ‘Open Book’.

What a nostalgic phrase reminiscent of college exams. Taking my eyes off the shadow creature, I muttered briefly.

“Open Book.”

In just those three syllables, something magical happened. The brown leather-bound book I’d first seen in the dormitory appeared right before my eyes. Though I knew the Monster Encyclopedia was invisible to others, I still quickly glanced around.

“Search for magical creatures related to shadows.”

– Keyword ‘shadow’ search results: 52 entries.

“Among those, how many mention being able to hide inside shadows?”

– Related keyword search results: 6 entries.

“Great!”

With just six entries, I could quickly find it through the process of elimination. I commanded the floating Monster Encyclopedia to show only the relevant creatures. The pages turned with a satisfying swoosh before coming to an abrupt stop. I needed to find the name quickly before the shadow creature disappeared further. Like reading from an attendance sheet, I called out the names written next to their numbers while keeping an eye on any reaction.

“Shader! …No, Kikoro. No… San! Not that either.”

How many had I called? Even after going through half the list, the shadow creature showed no reaction and only moved further away. Could it possibly be a creature that appeared in the final volume I hadn’t read yet? As my voice gradually grew quieter at the thought that it might not even be in the encyclopedia…

“…Agnus?”

The shadow creature that had just leaped over a stone in the distance suddenly stopped in its tracks. It even slightly turned its head, somehow hearing my quiet voice. The moment our eyes met, those bright red ones and mine, I knew instinctively. I’d finally discovered the shadow creature’s identity.

“Oh? It’s you? You’re Agnus?!”

The shadow creature – Agnus – sitting on the rock with the note in its mouth, wagged its tail in response. Then it lay flat against the ground and fixed its sharp pupils on me. Noticing the clear difference in reaction, I hurriedly scanned the text written below.

No. 99 Agnus

-Classification: ? Class Dangerous Magical Creature

-First Discovery Location: Undiscovered

-Appearance: Can transform into any desired form, very few have seen its original form.

-Characteristics: A magical creature that creates its form using magical power. Primarily uses shadows as its base of activity, and when lacking magical power, may hide within shadows. Like a thirsty traveler, it appears without warning, and if shown kindness, guides the way with secrets that can help one obtain the world.

-Relationship Assessment: Undiscovered

After reading with interest, I stared intently at the last part of its characteristics. Secrets to obtain the world? I could understand if it said it would guide me to treasure, or bring me gifts like a grateful magpie. I couldn’t easily comprehend what it meant by guiding with secrets. Moreover, I couldn’t recall any part of the novel where Agnus appeared. While pulling my hair in frustration, I suddenly remembered my primary task and jerked my head up.

“Agnus. …Come here for now, okay?”

Though it wags its tail when I call its name, it shows no intention of approaching. Furthermore, when I take one step forward, Agnus moves that much further away. Its round eyes hold a reproachful look for not following. If I had known from the start that it wanted me to follow, I wouldn’t have run myself ragged.

“…Hah, I’m going to die at this rate…”

While steadying my dizzy head with one hand, I belatedly looked around. Though I worried I might have lost my way after blindly chasing Agnus, fortunately, this was the path leading to the greenhouse. However, I still couldn’t understand what it wanted.

After a while, Agnus, who had been walking leisurely along the backyard, suddenly stopped. It stood like a meerkat with its front paws raised, intently watching something, then suddenly bristled its back fur. Before I could ask what was wrong, Agnus ran toward me at frightening speed without looking back and slipped right into my shadow.

“What, what. What is it.”

Though I fired questions rapidly, Agnus had already vanished. Fortunately, when Agnus hid itself, the letter fell to the ground, but unfortunately, I couldn’t prevent it from entering my shadow. After first putting the letter in my pocket, I crouched down in place.

“I know you’re in there.”

I called out to the shadow, but only an irrelevant breeze whooshed by.

“Hey… Please come out.”

Did it get offended because I used informal speech? This time I politely tapped the ground like knocking on a door. But the cat didn’t show even a whisker. I had only said it could rest for a while, but it seems to have taken that as permission to completely make itself at home. When I was young, my parents warned me never to let strangers into the house. But this wasn’t a stranger – I had let a magical creature into my shadow.

“Agnus.”

Suddenly its characteristics came to mind. Following Agnus would lead to secrets that could help obtain the world. Coincidentally, I don’t want to know. What good could come from knowing secrets that others don’t, besides threats to one’s life? With increasingly desperate feelings, I sat down properly on my knees and continuously tapped the shadow.

“Just come out once. I really won’t do anything.”

However, the shadow remained nothing more than an ordinary shadow, no different from anyone else’s. I rubbed the dirt floor rather gloomily, pleading for it to please come out.

That’s when I heard rustling in the bushes. I snapped my head up at the sound of someone approaching, and what I saw filled me with mixed emotions.

“What are you… doing here?”

How long have you been there… Professor Asrein? I wanted to ask, but my voice wouldn’t come out, and I just opened and closed my mouth like a goldfish. His face, sculpted with delicate precision, twisted slightly.

“Well, you see…”

I couldn’t possibly tell him I had let a magical creature into my shadow. But professor, please don’t look at me like that. Please don’t look at me with that expression that suggests ‘Surely this person muttering and hitting the ground can’t be my student.’