I was confident I had finally caught the tail of an incident that almost ended inconclusively. But Iris wasn’t someone to be taken lightly. She regained composure with a sip of water and spoke nonchalantly.

“I misspoke.”

“You… misspoke?”

“When investigating an incident, people usually look for witnesses, right? That’s why I instinctively said I didn’t see anything.”

While not entirely implausible, I couldn’t shake the unsettling feeling in my heart. But no matter how closely I scrutinized her expression, Iris remained completely composed. Perhaps I was wrongly suspecting an innocent person.

Just as I was about to ask about the situation when the incident occurred.

“Well then…”

“Ah, Dillen!”

A hoarse voice like someone with a cold rang out. Turning around, I saw a well-built middle-aged man heartily laughing while shaking his shoulders. As soon as Iris saw his face, she hurriedly stood up and warmly greeted the middle-aged man.

“Are you done with your lecture? Professor Beinhart.”

It was Professor Beinhart, Jin’s advisor whom I’d only heard about through rumors. With his belly curved like a hill, round body, and white beard filling his chin and philtrum, he looked just like Santa Claus. Beinhart approached the table with somewhat exaggerated movements to make his presence known.

“I wondered why you hadn’t come to the lab after class, but you were having a meal?”

Expecting an undergraduate to voluntarily visit the lab… This wasn’t normal. Viewed positively, it could express how much he cherished Iris, but my long experience as a graduate student made me worried. However, Iris accepted the goodwill at face value and smiled softly.

“Tae-oh happened to invite me to have a meal together.”

“…Tae-oh?”

Only then did Beinhart look at me sitting across the table. His gaze flowing from my head to my toes was quite blatant. By now used to such observant stares, I greeted him composedly.

“Nice to meet you, Professor Beinhart. I’m Tae-oh, studying under Professor Asrein.”

“Ah~ That student who just entered?”

“I’m glad you recognize me. I found your Basic Theory of Herbology very helpful. Thanks to your clear writing style, I could quickly understand even difficult content.”

As I delivered these flattering words without changing expression, Professor Beinhart laughed heartily.

“Ho ho, I wondered why his student hadn’t changed for so long, but now I see why.”

Hearing that, it seemed like Asrein kept me around just because I was good at flattery. In reality, if I sucked up to Asrein like this, he would frown and sarcastically ask what I’d eaten wrong. Unaware of this, Professor Beinhart patted my shoulder with his swollen hand.

“I was wondering how you were adjusting, but I’m glad Dillen has found such a good senior.”

“Of course. Since I want to become a graduate student like Tae-oh, I need to learn a lot from watching.”

“Ahaha! I really brought in a good talent. Don’t you think?”

As I forced a laugh to match the atmosphere, Professor Beinhart made a tactless suggestion.

“Ah, since we’re here, why don’t you take Dillen to tour the greenhouse next time?”

“The greenhouse…?”

“Since Tae-oh has access, could you help out?”

To enter Angelus University’s greenhouse, students must be accompanied by someone with an access pass. Therefore, Professor Beinhart surely knew he had sufficient means to take Iris himself. Yet he deliberately assigned the task to me.

“Why… Did I make an unreasonable request?”

Right. What professor does their own work? They usually delegate to subordinates. Having been around the unusually diligent Asrein, I’d forgotten that professors like to pass off work. Seeing his slightly furrowed brow, I quickly waved my hands and said,

“No, I’d be happy to. Students in the Department of Magical Creatures would want to visit the greenhouse at least once.”

“Yes, yes. We should help each other.”

Nodding with satisfaction, Professor Beinhart turned to leave.

“If you’re done eating, Dillen, come with me.”

“Yes, Professor.”

Iris quickly cleaned up and approached his side. Thinking she might have forgotten the books I’d lent, I urgently picked them up and held them out. But Iris merely glanced at the books without extending her hand.

“Thanks for the books, but I’ll pass. I’ve read quite a bit before coming here.”

Faced with this gentle rejection, I had nothing more to say. Iris let out a light laugh seeing me standing there awkwardly holding the books. Then she followed Beinhart out of the restaurant.

It seems the goodwill wasn’t particularly welcome. I shouldn’t have expected kind treatment after subtly suspecting her. But I felt regret thinking I could have learned something if Professor Beinhart hadn’t suddenly appeared.

“Can’t be helped…”

Though I felt sorry toward Iris who might now find me uncomfortable, there was one last thing to confirm. The most important characteristic and the reason she could become a hero. Although the story had twisted, I absolutely needed to verify if ‘that ability’ still remained.

I hurriedly left the restaurant and headed to the greenhouse after a long time. Opening the door and following the familiar path, I saw the moss-covered rock. When I called out “Nur?” round ears suddenly popped out between the bushes. I burst out laughing seeing the puffy-faced creature wobbling up onto the rock.

“Were you sleeping?”

[Yes. I wondered who dared disturb my sweet nap.]

Somehow it seemed to have grown bigger since I last saw it. Not long ago, Nur had been like a barnacle stuck to the surface, but now it was using the large rock as a bed. I crouched down in front and gently stroked its round head.

“Have you been well?”

[Of course. What were you doing that we didn’t even see your shadow?]

“Sorry. I was busy with some work.”

When I scratched the back of my head sheepishly, Nur snorted and grumbled. Though its attitude was prickly, it seems it had really missed me. While stroking its thick neck, I casually brought up the main point.

“Nur, could you do me a favor?”

[What is it suddenly? You got involved in something strange again, didn’t you.]

“No~ I just want to check something. Would that be okay?”

[It’s troublesome….]

As soon as I heard the unenthusiastic voice, I straightened my index finger and said,

“If you help me, I’ll buy you a sack of fruit from the market.”

[…Hmph. I’ll graciously hear you out. What is it?]

Its empty eyes suddenly focused and sparkled alertly. Hoping that interest would last, I whispered to Nur,

“So…”

***

Though I managed to get Nur’s cooperation after some persuasion, the next problem immediately followed. How to approach Iris, who would already be wary of me. Waiting in front of her classroom like before might feel burdensome. Even after two full days of contemplation, no suitable method came to mind.

Another ordinary day dawned like that. Though it wasn’t yet lunchtime, there was a knock at the lab door. When I closed my book and opened the door, purple hair appeared.

“Hello, Tae-oh.”

“…Iris?”

Usually people avoid those who suspect them. But she was no ordinary person.

“I’m sorry for suddenly leaving last time. As you know, given the circumstances…”

I never expected her to seek me out first. Surprised, I stared at her dubiously before quickly shaking my head.

“Ah, it’s fine. Of course you had to go when the professor called.”

“Is your offer to take me to the greenhouse still valid?”

“Of course. I’m free now, how about you?”

“That would be great!”

Iris, who had seemed dejected, immediately brightened like a child promised a trip to an amusement park. I closed the lab door and headed to the greenhouse with her. As we gradually entered the secluded forest path, Iris noticeably grew quieter. Unable to bear the silence, I asked first about everyday matters.

“How’s Professor Beinhart? Is it not too difficult?”

“It’s fine. I finally got into where I wanted, so I have to endure even if it’s hard.”

Just as I was thinking it was an admirable attitude, she continued,

“Besides, compared to that incident, this is nothing.”

“What… incident? Feel free to tell me.”

After brief contemplation, Iris let out a sneer and muttered, “The actual person who made my life difficult doesn’t know anything?”

It was a voice that chilled my spine like a cold wind. Though the context suggested it was aimed at the professor or baron, somehow her gaze was fixed directly on me.

Seeing some inexplicable hostility in those gray eyes like cloudy skies, my lips trembled involuntarily.

“Well… you’ll find out someday.”

Haha. A short laugh circled the frozen air. Fortunately, the glass greenhouse gleaming through the trees came into view. Iris, who had regained her peaceful expression as if nothing had happened, pointed at the greenhouse.

“Is this the greenhouse?”

“Yes. It’s where rescued magical creatures rest. Follow me.”

I naturally turned toward Nur’s den as planned. Iris followed without suspicion. Eventually, passing through the bushes, Nur perked up its ears and looked our way, sensing our presence.

“This is the magical creature I’m close with.”

“…It’s my first time seeing a Sainur.”

“Cute, right? We rescued it after it got separated from its group.”

As I crouched down and stroked Nur’s head, Iris fidgeted with her hands.

“Don’t just stand there, try petting Iris too. This one likes being touched.”

No sooner had I finished speaking than a long tail swept the ground like a windshield wiper. In theory, Sainurs wag their tails when showing curiosity. Knowing this fact, Iris gathered courage and reached out to Nur.

Just before the unfamiliar hand touched Nur, a low growl was heard – grrrr.

[Who’s this guy?]

As soon as Nur spoke, Iris’s hand froze in mid-air. Though I could guess the reason, I asked innocently, “What’s wrong?”

“Well…”

“Ah, are you perhaps afraid of magical creatures?”

“That’s not it. Just…”

I had asked Nur for just one thing. While appearing outwardly friendly, to say whatever it wanted. Fortunately, Nur freely showed hostility as I intended.

[Just try touching me. Taking off one of those fingers would be nothing.]

The words were quite vicious, delivered with a friendly tongue sticking out. As soon as the warning continued, Iris frowned.

“It doesn’t seem like it will easily allow being touched.”

“No, no. See how it’s sticking its tongue out because it’s happy to see Iris? You learned in magical creature behavior studies, right? This is textbook friendly behavior.”

“I know that, but…”

Iris’s words kept trailing off. Finally, she withdrew her hand and said firmly,

“You should be careful too. It doesn’t seem like just a cute magical creature.”

“Haha, what are you saying? Look how warmly it welcomes me.”

As I kept stroking the round head, Nur continued cursing. The occasional threats about biting or tearing sounded so sincere that I struggled to pretend not to notice. Fortunately, Iris didn’t notice the cold sweat on my forehead and smirked.

“You seem too confident.”

“…Pardon?”

“What’s visible isn’t everything.”

“Really? I can’t tell… Is there something only Iris knows?”

When I showed pure curiosity, Iris looked down at me with a sardonic smile.

“Just a feeling.”

Meeting those eyes that seemed to pity my ignorance, I was certain.

Ah, she’s just hiding it – the ability to hear magical creatures’ voices is still there.