The entire walk to the bookstore was quiet. It felt strange enduring suffocating silence amid the bustling marketplace. Trying to break the awkward atmosphere, I peeked at the package Asrein was carrying. I wanted to ask about any interesting herbs, but strangely, they were all familiar ones.

“Did you come to buy these?”

“Yes.”

“Aren’t all these herbs available in Angelus University’s herb garden…?”

“You’re right.”

He came all this way to the market despite knowing that? It seemed odd that he made time despite being busy. While pondering this, I pointed to a book-shaped sign ahead and smiled.

“Ah~ You wanted to visit the bookstore too, right Professor!”

I smiled at my assumption, but Asrein firmly shook his head and asked instead.

“Must there be a reason?”

“Huh? Well, I guess not…”

If it was a difficult reason to explain, I didn’t need to force him to tell me. I shrugged lightly with an awkward smile, and he said.

“There have been some unpleasant things lately.”

“Yes, yes.”

“Above all, you seemed to be in low spirits.”

“…What?”

He came because I seemed down? Because of me? To cheer me up? For that reason alone? …While I felt happy to go out for non-work reasons, I never thought Asrein had planned this from the start.

I froze in place with wide eyes. When I didn’t move, Asrein, who had stopped a couple steps ahead, turned to look at me.

“This way.”

Somehow it felt unfair that he could drop such an unbelievable statement and remain so calm. After staring blankly at him entering the bookstore first, I hurriedly followed.

Being in a big city, the bookstore showed clear differences from the one I frequented in Count Ameli’s territory, starting with the number of bookshelves. Seeing the neatly organized books naturally lifted my spirits. While browsing various categories carefully, I stopped at the shelf of children’s books. The book I had gifted to Asrein was displayed prominently in the middle. I quickly pulled it out and turned it so he could see the cover.

“Ah, did you read this book?”

“I read it the day I received it.”

He really read it. I burst out laughing imagining Asrein seriously reading a children’s book. Then I crouched in front of the bookshelf and flipped through the children’s book page by page. The cute illustrations reminded me of when I first met him.

Back then, I had no idea the person beside me was the Asrein everyone wanted to meet, and just picked out books mindlessly. Moreover, when I said what book I would gift, what did he say again? …Ah! He carefully phrased it as ‘I believe he already has that.’

Even now, it’s all amusing – both Asrein awkwardly being considerate and me choosing a gift right in front of the recipient. With a foolish smile, I looked up at him standing beside me and said.

“You must have been secretly laughing when I didn’t recognize you back then.”

“Hmm?”

Appearing not to hear me, Asrein raised an eyebrow slightly and bent down. He knelt on one knee beside me as I crouched, bringing his face closer than usual. Back then, I had no idea such a face was hidden under that robe. That’s why I was stunned when I faced him at House Ameli.

I still think the same – Asrein resembles the sky, just like in the novel. Even though I know what he looks like and have looked up at him many times, he’s like the sky that never gets tiresome to watch.

“Actually, back then… I regretted not properly thanking you for even choosing a gift for me. So I decided if I met you again, I would definitely greet you. Of course, I was surprised to meet you the very next day…”

As I made this belated confession while scratching my cheek, he lowered his eyebrows and said.

“While I didn’t intend to truly deceive you, I apologize.”

“Huh? No. I wasn’t trying to get an apology. I wanted to say that although I was surprised, I was very happy.”

“Happy?”

“Yes! Of course. You even saved me after all.”

Though Asrein said he didn’t save me but simply needed a research student, to me it was no different from salvation.

“I’m grateful this time too. Without you, Professor, I couldn’t have saved Nur.”

I made sure to thank him for silently staying by my side. I had boldly declared before that I would definitely repay his kindness, but what repayment – if I converted the debt into money, I would be bankrupt with plenty left over.

Trying to hide my embarrassment by rubbing my face, I suddenly remembered what happened in the inn room. My ears grew hot as I lowered my head and fidgeted.

“And about crying so unsightly… I really didn’t mean to cry. I’m not usually someone who cries…”

As I continued making excuses, Asrein cut me off with a small laugh.

“It’s fine.”

“…Pardon?”

“Tears flowing is an entirely natural phenomenon. Rather, it would be strange to criticize that.”

It was an undeniably correct statement. Even while trying to thank him, I received comfort again. This person seems to have a habit of making kind remarks bluntly. Moreover, it’s fascinating that he doesn’t seem aware of it himself. I stroked the children’s book slowly with a gentle smile.

“…I think I felt relieved because I found my first place to lean on.”

“Place to lean on?”

Ah. My true feelings slipped out without me realizing. I had suddenly blurted out words that would be quite burdensome for the person to hear. I anxiously watched his reaction while frantically wondering how to change the rapidly awkward atmosphere. But Asrein nodded with quite a relieved expression.

“Yes. It’s good that you have a place to lean on.”

…Huh? That place is you. Swallowing those words, I glanced at Asrein. He showed no sign of realizing he was the person I was relying on. Unlike my expectation that he would mock me as usual, he held a faint smile. Was it my imagination that a hint of envy flickered in his eyes visible through his narrowed gaze?

Come to think of it, there’s no perfect person in the world. Even he, who allows no gaps, must surely need somewhere to lean on. Even the most remarkable king has their own bamboo forest to confide in, so where would his place be? Would Asrein, who maintains his composure while comforting a poor disciple who suddenly cries, ever lean on someone? Suddenly curious, I closed the children’s book and stared directly at his neat profile.

“What about you, Professor?”

The pure golden eyes turned to me at the sudden question. Now that we’re outside school, away from titles… No, this was a question I could only ask now.

“Do you have a place to lean on?”

I wanted to ask despite knowing it might sound rude. Then, seemingly frozen in time, Asrein remained still while looking at me. His eyes gradually widened and his lips parted slightly. Anyone could see the bewilderment in his expression.

It felt like I was seeing the real Asrein behind his composed mask for the first time. But it was brief – quickly returning to his usual self, he raised one corner of his mouth and said.

“Why. If I don’t, are you offering to be one?”

“No, I’m not joking!”

Though I hoped he wouldn’t brush it off lightly, Asrein gently patted my head and stood up.

“Let’s head back now.”

In the end, I couldn’t get an answer.

***

The usually silent research lab was unusually bustling. Unfamiliar people walked around the lab area, and the neighboring lab was busy moving boxes full of herbs. For a moment, I wondered if I had taken a wrong turn and looked back at the path I came from. Fortunately, I met eyes with Jin, who was approaching this way through the arch carrying a small box.

“Jin! What’s all this?”

“Ah~ Tae-oh doesn’t know. There’s going to be a banquet soon.”

“A banquet?”

Does Angelus University hold festivals too? The only festival I’ve experienced so far was… a total mess of showing off connections while selling alcohol and food at ridiculous prices, so I felt worried. Seeing my slightly crumpled expression, Jin laughed heartily and said.

“It’s called a banquet, but it’s not for us.”

“Oh… then what is it?”

“It’s ‘Ad Kune,’ a banquet for magical creatures. ‘Ad’ means ‘to return’ in ancient language, and ‘Kune’ is the name of a forest.”

Combining Jin’s explanation, ‘Ad Kune’ meant ‘returning to Kune Forest.’ A banquet for magical creatures! When I showed active interest, Jin readily explained.

“When protected magical creatures recover enough to no longer need human care, they return to Kune Forest, which the previous emperor personally provided for magical creatures. It’s the process of regaining their wild instincts before returning them completely to nature.”

“Ah, so after living in Kune Forest for enough time, they go back to where they originally lived.”

Jin nodded lightly.

“We hold the banquet hoping for the safe transfer of magical creatures to Kune Forest and their healthy life there. This time too, a letter requesting cooperation came to our Angelus University.”

“Are we helping transport the magical creatures to Kune Forest?”

“Yes. I heard there are about fifteen or so? I was on my way to prepare herbs with sedative effects. It seems they need more help in various ways since the number has increased from last time.”

Forget the banquet – I would surely regret it forever if I didn’t participate in the magical creature transport activity. Asrein would definitely go. Since he wouldn’t miss anything related to magical creatures, I should beg him to take me along. As I lit up with an excited expression, Jin shrugged like he had expected this.

“I heard many Magical Creatures Department graduate students find their thesis topics at Ad Kune.”

“Thesis?”

“You need to write a thesis to graduate, don’t you know?”

So it’s the same here too. Setting aside the thesis for now, I must participate in the banquet. After repeatedly thanking Jin, I stood in front of the research lab. Usually I knock three times, but in my urgency, I knocked once and flung the door open.

“Professor!”

As I called out boldly while appearing, Asrein reading documents gave a small laugh.

“You’re energetic this morning.”

“Ah, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to…”

Seeing his calm demeanor made me somehow apologetic, so I closed the door slowly. I walked quietly to his desk and carefully dropped hints about the banquet.

“It’s quite noisy outside.”

“Ah yes, because of the banquet.”

“Are you going to the banquet too, Professor?”

“Yes. I was about to leave soon.”

What? By yourself? Without me? My mouth fell open automatically from disappointment. Then Asrein, while turning documents, just raised his eyes to look at my face and slightly raised the corner of his mouth.

“Don’t look so disappointed – you’re coming too.”

“Really? Would I qualify?”

When I asked with clasped hands, Asrein shrugged and answered.

“Sufficiently.”