Sweet music could be heard from climbing the hill. The gardenia flowers I gifted to Hyperion decorated the outdoor banquet hall, and appetizing food awaited at each table. Besides the staff, numerous dignitaries attended the banquet and welcomed Asrein who had just arrived. I stood behind him like an aide, only politely bowing when our eyes occasionally met.

Just when I thought I could finally rest, voices calling for Asrein echoed again. Already displaying clear signs of fatigue, Asrein shook his head with a small sigh.

“Go enjoy yourself.”

“Yes. Take care.”

It seems they wanted to gather the important figures at the center of the banquet hall for some kind of speech. As Asrein climbed onto the platform, Berke raised his glass, seemingly waiting for this moment. To match the atmosphere, I stood up holding a round glass filled with juice. When everyone’s attention focused on one spot, Berke began speaking solemnly.

“The dark age of shunning magical creatures is now past. The Kune Forest bestowed by our great former emperor is just the beginning. More children will reclaim their lives in nature from now on.”

Soon Berke dipped his fingers in the golden dye from a bowl on the table and applied it to his glass. The long trail following his two fingers shone brilliantly in the sunlight. Then everyone below the platform followed Berke’s actions in unison. After just watching carefully, I dipped my index finger in the dye and lightly applied it to the smooth surface. Looking around at everyone with a satisfied expression, Berke elegantly raised his glass to the sky and spoke.

“May His blessing, who watches over magical creatures, dwell in this golden dye.”

His blessing… Does he mean Emperor Evgenia? I drank the tart orange juice while listening to the loyalty-filled toast. With Berke’s brief speech, the Ad Kune banquet began. The dignitaries went around exchanging greetings while holding their dye-marked glasses. Having neither the courage nor reason to speak to anyone, I sat in place quietly nibbling on refreshments. While everyone talked about the country, I alone contemplated the crispy texture and buttery aroma of raspberry cookies.

As I contentedly nibbled away at the cookies, someone plopped down in the seat next to me. With a cookie in my mouth, I turned my head and met eyes with a friendly-looking young man with brick-colored hair.

“Oh, Jin!”

“Good work, Tae-oh. I heard you became the ‘guide’ for moving Hyperion?”

“Hehe, fortunately it was successful.”

“Amazing. Everyone whispered asking who you were, so I excitedly told them you’re Professor Asrein’s new student.”

“Ahaha…”

So that’s why I felt stares while eating cookies.

“You worked hard too, Jin. Did you come with your advisor?”

“Yes. There he is.”

Following Jin’s gaze, I saw a quite friendly-looking older man. While showing such a kind smile, he probably gives Jin a hard time behind the scenes. Reminded of my former advisor, I patted Jin’s shoulder. Suddenly seeming to crave alcohol, Jin got up and brought over a tall glass half-filled with cocktail. Then with quite practiced movements, he started casually applying golden dye to the glass.

“Come to think of it, why do we do this?”

Ah. Jin sighed shortly and showed me the dye while speaking.

“Some think it’s specially applying gold to symbolize wealth, but what importance do symbols humans give to magical creatures really have?”

“Then does it mean something else?”

“We pray for the children returning to Kune Forest to be protected from all threats by applying His color.”

“…Who is ‘He’? Is it indeed His Majesty the Emperor?”

When I asked after hesitating, Jin raised one corner of his mouth in a smirk.

“The golden color symbolizes ‘that magical creature.'”

That magical creature…? Unable to understand just from the pronoun, I tilted my head. Then Jin leaned toward the table and asked subtly.

“Do you know about the founding myth of the Karsa Empire?”

“Ah, yes! I saw a play at the market before. A legendary magical creature invaded the continent one day… and Karsa Jupiter stopped it.”

“That’s right. Exactly as you said.”

Jin nodded while lightly tapping the table, which made me wonder.

“…Don’t tell me you’re praying for blessings from a dead magical creature?”

“Haha, no. Actually, quite long ago, royal historians presented a counterargument. They said the legendary creature was actually a twin.”

“T-twin?”

“Yes. While one showed hostility to humans, the other remained friendly. The founding king brought peace to the continent by killing the hostile older brother… We pray for blessings from the younger brother who remained alone and became the last legend.”

“Hmm…”

There existed more than a few suspicious points. Though legends aren’t real, the intention behind changing history appeared obvious. Rationalization and public opinion formation. Unlike the previous Sio, the Evgenia imperial family maintains friendliness to magical creatures. Therefore, they couldn’t use the myth of killing a magical creature as is, but they also couldn’t erase the great founding king, so they clearly changed it to suit their taste.

By framing the magical creature killed by the founding king as actually hostile to humans, they could both justify the founding king and maintain his status. But if I voiced these doubts, I might disappear without a trace the next day, so I quietly swallowed them.

“What’s that magical creature’s name?”

“Nothing is known. Story-tellers just made up names for convenience. But those who study magical creatures, out of respect, don’t dare name it and refer to it as ‘His Grace’ or ‘that magical creature.'”

I should just take it lightly since it’s just a legend. But the problem was that I, who had read the novel, didn’t know about the ‘legendary creature.’ No matter how much I searched my memory, I couldn’t recall it. While I deeply thought rubbing my chin, his hesitant lips finally opened.

“Actually… it’s somewhat unreasonable to call it just a groundless legend.”

“What do you mean?”

“From ancient times, some claimed to have seen it. Even until Sio’s time, steady sightings continued. But before scholars could investigate, the witnesses kept disappearing one after another.”

Not only did people encounter the legend, but they all disappeared. Looking at Jin with wide eyes, I struggled to move my blankly opened mouth.

“Is research still ongoing then?”

“No. It completely halted when the dynasty changed. Some feared consequences, some lacked materials. There’s always a reason why no one conducts certain research.”

Staring intently at his cocktail glass, Jin gave a meaningful smile.

“Right now, you can’t find any thesis about that magical creature anywhere.”

As soon as the story ended, a voice calling him echoed from somewhere. Jin seemed to recognize the owner of the voice without looking back. His face immediately fell and he got up with slumped shoulders.

“My professor is calling. I should go now.”

“Yes! See you back at school.”

“Haah, enjoy the rest of the banquet comfortably, Tae-oh.”

After Jin left his seat, I stared at the bowl full of dye. A nameless magical creature. Since even I who read the novel don’t know about it, it probably appears in the final volume. It would be a lie to say I’m not curious. Though I knew idle curiosity would eat away at me, it was hard to simply give up. Research into the unknown represents a scholar’s fate after all.

While caught up in various speculations, a long shadow fell across the table. I quickly looked up to find Asrein had come beside me.

“Oh? When did you get here?”

“Just now. …Though this banquet happens regularly, the empty formalities never change.”

I offered the noticeably tired Asrein some sweet raspberry cookies.

“They say dessert is for when you’re tired. How about it?”

Unusually, Asrein readily reached out his hand. But the hand I thought would grab a cookie suddenly grabbed my arm instead. After quickly rolling up my sleeve with his large hand, he stared intently at the Phyllis vine wrapped around my wrist.

“I haven’t seen this before.”

“Ah, I received it as a gift from… Hyperion’s Seeds.”

“I thought something seemed strange with the flow of magical power changing since yesterday, so it was Hyperion’s doing.”

“Thankfully so.”

Like a security guard checking dangerous items at a checkpoint, Asrein examined the bracelet from various angles before releasing my wrist. The cookie I had difficultly offered sadly became like cold rice. Instead, he brought wine and sipped it elegantly like having afternoon tea.

“Professor Berke expressed his wish to specially reward you for completing this ‘Ad Kune.'”

“What? Oh no, I just added a fork to the prepared feast.”

“I expected that and declined on your behalf.”

“Haah, thank you. Those kinds of occasions feel a bit… no, very burdensome.”

I took a small bite of the cookie meant for Asrein and smiled pleasantly.

“Besides, I absolutely didn’t do it expecting any reward.”

I only wished for Hyperion to safely return to the forest. When I saved Sainur and now too, my sincere desire for magical creatures’ happiness remained the same. Somehow embarrassed at being praised as someone who did something great, I quietly changed the subject.

“Um… I heard from Jin earlier.”

“Hmm?”

“About why we apply the golden dye. He said it’s a ritual praying for blessings from ‘that magical creature.'”

I felt certain Asrein would know more details about the legend involving that magical creature than others. But he seemed to disapprove of even mentioning the legend.

“It’s just a legend.”

“Still. Honestly, knowing there’s a divine being even for magical creatures makes my heart feel lighter.”

Does he consider the legend of that magical creature baseless rumors, like how other scientists dislike superstition? The shadow across his neat brow showed no sign of disappearing.

“At the same time, it made me feel a bit sorry.”

“Sorry about what?”

“Everyone prays to that magical creature for protection… but no one prays for it.”

It resembled the situation when guiding Hyperion. Hyperion, who listens carefully to many people’s wishes, surely must have wishes too. As he said, no living being exists without desires. Then who would listen to his wishes… This natural worry followed.

“Isn’t it unfair? Asking for blessings one-sidedly without giving anything in return.”

“This is the first time I’ve heard such a pointless worry.”

“Haha, I guess so?”

Between the sweet music and bustling noise mixing chaotically, Asrein with his humorless face seemed isolated. Slight displeasure clouded his slightly furrowed eyes.

“No one has such foolish worries. They’re beings to be used, that’s all.”

I nodded silently without denying it. But perhaps because I live such a fleeting life, I dared to have such worries.

I heard that absolute beings experience loneliness. Even the Messiah who saved humanity had twelve disciples around him. Though it might represent an unnecessary worry for one living close to eternity, I couldn’t help being nosy.

“So whenever I pray for magical creatures’ happiness, I’ll pray for him too in between.”

I clasped my hands neatly and wore a faint smile. Contrary to my expectation of being ridiculed again, Asrein seemed quite shocked and couldn’t continue speaking easily. After biting his trembling lips firmly, he finally let out a short laugh.

“Tae-oh.”

“Uh, um… yes?”

“You sometimes make me flustered.”

Though Asrein furrowed his brow seemingly troubled, he raised the corners of his mouth in a broad smile. His refreshing smile appeared beautiful enough to make one stare in a daze. Yet I couldn’t dare smile along with him.

“But I don’t dislike it.”

Strangely, his smile looked as lonely as ashes left after everything has burned away.