It’s a new morning. Before I could even lift my heavy eyelids, someone pressed firmly on my cheek. Opening one eye slightly, I saw a gray cotton swab sweeping across my face.

[Hey, hey. Wake up.]

“Mmm…”

[The sun’s already up.]

“I know, I know…”

Unable to resist Nur’s complaints about being bored in the greenhouse, I brought him to the dormitory. Just for a short walk. A very short walk! That was the excuse. But I made a mistake when I hugged him and lay down on the bed, tempted by his fluffy-looking fur. Overcome by his warm temperature and undeniably soft texture, I fell completely asleep. When I finally opened my eyes, it was dawn without any light. It’s already too late, might as well sleep more.

This reckless decision led to the strange phenomenon of Nur waking me up in the dormitory.

“Wasn’t it uncomfortable with me hugging you?”

[I wanted to bite you.]

“…I’m sorry. I’ll prepare some delicious fruits soon.”

While it’s great that Nur has lowered his guard with me, I never expected such a personality behind that cute face. After hurriedly washing up, I opened the clothes box Asrein had given me. With renewed spirit, I put on an ivory tunic and neat brown pants, then stood before the mirror. While tightening and tying the strings at my chest, Nur approached leisurely with a yawn.

[Are you going to see him now?]

“Yes. But honestly… I don’t know how to face the Professor since that day.”

[Why?]

Nur asked with round eyes, but I couldn’t answer readily. First, I felt somewhat embarrassed about crying in front of Asrein, but after discovering the poacher’s last belongings in the inn room, we hadn’t had much conversation.

For good reason, as Asrein stayed so busy it worried me just watching him. Occasionally when letters arrived bearing the soaring eagle seal, Asrein would disappear for a full day.

When I explained that we’d grown distant from not seeing each other often, Nur stretched and said indifferently.

[I don’t think he thinks much of it.]

“That’s… true too.”

After tidying myself neatly, I spread out a shabby cloth bag on the floor. Thanks to yesterday’s experience, Nur jumped right into the bag with familiarity. Holding the bag like carrying a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes to prevent anyone from seeing, I left the dormitory. While gently patting Nur who squirmed inside, I asked out of nowhere.

“By the way, why am I ‘hey’ but the Professor is ‘him’?”

[You know that best.]

“…I have nothing to say.”

His consistently accurate statements stopped my words. Tasting bitterness in my mouth, I headed to the greenhouse early in the morning. After safely returning Nur to his nest in the greenhouse, I turned toward the research lab. Seeing the firmly closed lab door just like yesterday, a sigh escaped unbidden.

“Hah… What should I say?”

What should I say first when Asrein arrives? As I muttered to myself while opening the door, an unexpected response came.

“What?”

“…Huh?”

Asrein sat at the desk that had been empty for so long. I stood at the doorway, blankly blinking before belatedly processing the situation.

“Professor! Why are you here?”

“This is my research lab, after all.”

“No, that’s not what I meant… Are you done with your busy work?”

“The work isn’t finished, but my role is done.”

That probably means they still haven’t caught the culprit’s accomplices. With disappointment, I returned to my spot and dusted off the empty desk.

Come to think of it, I worried about what to say when I saw Asrein’s face… But his mere presence in the lab surprised me so much that I naturally fell back into our daily routine. Nur’s words about him not thinking much of it proved right again. As I let out a relieved sigh, Asrein suddenly stood up and casually spoke to me.

“Do you have any tasks?”

“Huh? No, I don’t.”

“Then accompany me.”

As soon as the brief conversation ended, Asrein took his staff that had been leaning against the desk and went outside the lab. I feel like this has happened before. I hurriedly got up from my seat and followed him.

Contrary to my expectation that we’d head to the greenhouse or herb garden, he left Royal Angelus University through the main gate. Once again, I didn’t know our destination. While quietly speculating, I belatedly realized we were heading toward town.

“Do you need something? If you’d told me, I could have gone for you.”

“I need to receive something I ordered from an herbalist in town personally.”

It was unexpected, as I’d imagined Asrein would only use high-end herbalists with royal certification. Come to think of it, I first met him in an old bookstore.

From the distant town came bustling sounds. Though the season had turned to early winter, the metropolis teemed with crowds resembling a festival. Entering the market, Asrein looked around slowly and muttered.

“And sometimes this… isn’t bad.”

Even a perfectionist like Asrein can’t work all the time. Fully agreeing, I walked along the main street lined with tents. From porters busily carrying loads of sacks on carts to merchants offering fresh fruits in their aprons – the busy atmosphere reminiscent of a traditional market greatly lifted my spirits.

Entering an alley with relatively fewer people from the square, a rich scent that might come from an herbal medicine shop brushed my nose. Sure enough, we found the herbalist not far from the square.

Creaking. With the sound of rusty hinges twisting, the door opened and a kindly-looking middle-aged woman greeted us.

“Oh my, you’re here.”

The herbalist shop was so narrow that only one person could barely pass through between drawer cabinets on both sides. Unfortunately, since the owner stood in the middle of the passage warmly greeting Asrein, I couldn’t even enter. After awkwardly standing at the doorway watching their conversation, I managed to speak.

“Professor, would it be alright if I wait outside?”

“Hmm. No need to wait. Feel free to look around.”

Asrein readily agreed and resumed his conversation with the owner. It seemed like his intention from the start was to let me roam freely. Though puzzled, I first stepped outside the shop and looked around. As I wondered what to do with this sudden free time, the square became noisy.

Woah— Between the loud cheers came sounds of applause, suggesting some grand spectacle had appeared. Curious, I hurried out of the alley and saw a crowd gathered in one corner of the square.

“And so, Jupiter faces the final battle…!”

It seemed a traveling theater troupe’s play was reaching its climax. Carefully squeezing through the crowd, I could see a small stage set up in the center.

There were three actors in total. On stage stood a live bull and a prop that must have been 3 meters tall. It seemed to have wings spread out, but since the back was roughly finished with wooden boards, I could hardly tell what kind of prop it was.

“Take this!!”

Just then, the actor who appeared to be the protagonist swung his stage sword with a shout. Something long cut from the prop in one stroke, seemingly prepared to break easily. What fell helplessly to the ground with a thud was-

“Waaah!!!”

The head of a magical creature. But strangely, it wasn’t unfamiliar. The elongated triangular head and golden scales that shone like a beach at sunset. After rubbing my eyes and looking again, I was certain. This was the exact magical creature I’d seen in my dream. Even the spiral horn rising high into the sky matched perfectly.

Though the seams appeared ragged and the scale details crude, it was definitely him. While countless people gasped in admiration for the protagonist, I stood stunned, blankly staring at the head sprawled on the ground.

“Haha, I have protected this continent.”

With this triumphant line, a staff member rushed from the corner to drape a dusty red cape over the protagonist’s shoulders. Looking quite impressive now, the protagonist swung his sword again to cut off the horn. Then he mounted the bull majestically and held up the horn he’d cut from the magical creature.

“Behold! I, ‘Jupiter Karsa,’ have defeated the legendary magical creature!”

The protagonist circled the square once, holding the horn high as his trophy. Waaah! The crowd roared so loudly it seemed the town might shake. Returning to his spot, the man jumped down from the bull and landed like performing acrobatics. Then, planting the horn in the ground, he spoke gravely.

“I will establish a nation here. This country, named after the great Karsa, shall prosper forever!”

Only then did I realize. This was all a play adapting the founding myth of the Karsa Empire. When the play ended, all staff and actors joined hands and bowed. The audience applauded generously and even threw money at the troupe. But among them, I alone couldn’t shake an unsettling feeling.

How could a magical creature I thought was just imagination appear as a prop? Moreover, even if it’s a ‘founding myth,’ is it okay to perform a play where a magical creature’s head flies off in this country where hunting magical creatures is forbidden? As I quietly crossed my arms and bit my lip, a chillingly low voice came from behind.

“…What a worthless play.”

Such courage to openly criticize the stage while actors and audience were still present. Curious about how imposing they must be, I turned my head slightly. But as soon as I saw the tall man standing beside me, my shoulders hunched for a different reason.

“P-Professor. When did you get here?”

“Just now.”

“Haha, I came because the square was particularly noisy… Are you done with your business?”

“Mm.”

Throughout his brief responses, those golden eyes stared intently at the ground. Following his gaze, I saw the head still lying there conspicuously, not yet cleared away though the play had ended. Seeing his deeply furrowed brow, I swallowed a sigh.

Even I found it strange, but for Asrein who loves magical creatures more than anyone else, this must be an extremely uncomfortable play to watch. Though I hoped they would quickly clear away the prop, the troupe seemed determined not to leave until they’d collected all their money. I hurriedly blocked his view, using my body to hide the fallen head.

“Could we perhaps stop by the bookstore?”

Asrein didn’t answer. His golden eyes, now lifeless, still focused on the ground. Moreover, his complexion seemed to be growing increasingly pale.

“Professor!”

Only after I clapped my hands to catch his attention did his gaze meet mine. It wasn’t my imagination. As more audience members applauded the head lying on the desolate ground, his expression darkened. Worried, I stepped closer to him and carefully took his arm, asking:

“Are you alright?”

“…Yes. Let’s leave this place.”

His slightly trembling pupils fled to look elsewhere. His retreating figure, moving away from the crowd, somehow seemed lonely.