In the original story, Iris didn’t hide her ability to hear magical creatures’ voices. Instead, she actively used this special power to resolve conflicts between magical creatures and humans. But the Iris I met tried hard to conceal her ability. Could it be she just had good intuition without the ability? Or was there a reason for hiding it?

Only Iris Dillen knew the truth.

Putting aside my frustration, I went to the market to keep my promise to Nur. I headed to the greenhouse with an armful of bags containing three types of fruit. Though I meant to surprise them, Nur was already waiting for me. Seeing those same alert eyes, my worries melted away like snow. Like an owner meeting their pet waiting at the entrance, I unconsciously raised my voice.

“Aww, did our Nur wait long?”

But Nur showed no mercy.

[Skip that, just hand over the promised fruit.]

“Mmm… eat plenty…”

I placed handfuls of sweet-smelling fruit on the wide rock. While leisurely tasting the fruit, Nur suddenly asked.

[So, was it helpful?]

“Of course. Thanks to you, I figured it out. It seems she can hear magical creatures’ voices like me.”

[Really? It felt different to me.]

“Different… What do you mean?”

Nur tilted their head while recalling that day.

[When I encountered her, the flow of magical power changed strongly.]

“The flow of magical power?”

[Yeah. The reason she didn’t touch me wasn’t because she could hear my voice like you… Right. It was probably due to what you humans call magic.]

It was an unexpected hypothesis. Moreover, coming from Nur who could see through to the essence of things, it felt credible. But is it possible to read thoughts with magic? While I was lost in serious contemplation, Nur drove the point home.

[Unlike empty you, she seemed quite skilled.]

“…Why are you suddenly hitting where it hurts.”

[It’s advice not to think about confronting her with magic.]

“That can’t be… Anyway, thanks for helping.”

Grrrr, I gave plenty of fruit to Nur who made a contented growl, then left the greenhouse.

To think Iris had advanced magical skills… I had an ominous feeling. Perhaps comparing Iris to the original protagonist was pointless now. If she had chosen a different path from the perfectly designed protagonist at some point, she would have become a different person who just happened to share the same body.

Could the reason Iris changed be… because of me? No. It’s too early to give up. This world absolutely needs a hero to prevent its destruction, and no one but the protagonist Iris Dillen can be that person. Pushing aside my anxious thoughts, I hurried toward the lab.

“What?! You… know what happens if you’re lying?”

A sudden raised voice came from far away. Turning toward the rather vicious tone, I saw an unusual sight of five students gathered behind the main building where few people pass. Moreover, the atmosphere felt dangerous, so I stopped to observe them carefully.

“I’m telling you it’s true.”

“Tell us again properly.”

The student being questioned by the others explained with large hand gestures.

“Last night I couldn’t sleep so I went for a walk and saw it clearly with my own eyes. A huge silhouette… gliding through the library corridor.”

Silhouette? The familiar flow of the story made me frown involuntarily. Seeing their slightly frightened expression, the remaining students crossed their arms and shared their thoughts.

“Sigh, what is this. Is there really a ghost?”

“You only saw a silhouette anyway. How do you know if it wasn’t a cart the librarian was moving or something?”

“I’m just saying we should consider all possibilities. What if… it’s a magical creature?”

“Please read fewer novels. Why would a magical creature be in the library?”

“Exactly. Stop making things up.”

Frustrated that no one believed them, the cornered student pounded their chest and insisted.

“I’m not making this up! Besides… I’m not the only one who saw it.”

“Who else saw it?”

“You know, that transfer student in the Department of Magical Creatures.”

“Iris Dillen?”

“Yes! She said she saw the same thing I did.”

Why does that name keep coming up just when I try to forget about it? Of all things, Iris supposedly saw the silhouette passing through the library corridor at dawn too. Since they weren’t the only one who saw it, even students who had dismissed it as a dream started murmuring.

That’s when a student who had been standing back looked them over with quite a disdainful gaze.

“What’s wrong with you all? Just ask for an investigation.”

“To the professors?”

“Are you crazy? Obviously to the security guards. What do you want to face by telling professors?”

“That’s… true.”

“Anyway, this stays between us. Be careful not to let it leak elsewhere.”

They looked around belatedly and headed to the main building. And I, who had been hiding behind a shadowed wall, slowly walked out after confirming they were gone. Sorry, but because your voices were too loud, one more person unwillingly learned your secret.

The outskirts of town and Reton Temple weren’t enough, now it’s Angelus University? I felt tired of the chain of testimonies. This time, I hoped it was simply a misunderstanding like the student said. After all, there’s no way a magical creature would appear at a university with so many people.

When I entered the lab with heavy steps, Asrein spoke as if he had been waiting.

“Tae-oh. I’ve marked the sections that need revision and left the report on your desk.”

“Ah, thank you. I’ll fix it and submit it today.”

Seeing Asrein acting normal helped calm my unsettled mind a bit. Taking a deep breath, I sat at my desk and carefully examined the report he had annotated. Rustle, rustle. Following the sound of turning pages, my erratically beating heart gradually found peace.

This was the graduate school life I wanted… Yet things I can’t ignore keep happening to me who lacks the ability to resolve them.

It was happening now too. Their conversation floated over the neat handwriting. Should I tell Asrein about the rumors circulating in the library? No. Like the other student said, security guards should handle university matters. Someone else will investigate without me getting involved. Don’t think about it. I must not think about it…

“Tae-oh.”

“Y-yes!”

When I suddenly lifted my head, Asrein asked while putting on his jacket as if preparing to leave.

“Do you have time after work today?”

“Of course! Do you need something?”

“The books I ordered have arrived at the library. I’d like your help comparing them with the list.”

“The library…?”

“Mm. I’d prefer to work when students aren’t around much at night, if that’s alright.”

“Haha, …sure.”

“Come to the storage room next to Section 2 where the donation certificates are kept once you finish revising the report.”

As soon as Asrein left the lab, I let out a deep sigh. The library at night. The divine seems to want me to see the truth behind the rumors with my own eyes. How else could things align so perfectly?

How much time passed as I revised the annotated report? I finally completed the first assignment perfectly. I covered it neatly with the cover page again and placed it in the center of Asrein’s desk.

Looking outside, dusk was already settling. Winter must be approaching as the days grew shorter. I hurried to the library while putting on the jacket I had taken off when arriving at work.

Unlike during the day filled with warm sunlight, the library gave off quite a chilly atmosphere at night. Though candle holders on the walls dimly lit the corridors, even these would become useless after the sun completely set.

Hurrying to the storage room next to Section 2 that Asrein mentioned, I found only a lantern sitting lonely on the desk. As I naturally walked toward the lantern, a familiar voice came from between the bookshelves.

“You’re here.”

I unconsciously gasped “Huk” at Asrein who appeared without any footsteps.

“P-professor. You shouldn’t appear without any warning like that.”

“You’re just dull.”

Those slightly raised eyebrows somehow felt annoying. Eventually, I asked Asrein as he scanned through papers.

“What should I do? Should I move the books first?”

When I enthusiastically rolled up my sleeves, Asrein glanced at my arms and let out a snicker. What does that mean? Though I may have skinny arms without muscle, I’m still a man who can use his strength. Getting openly laughed at made me snap back irritably.

“I can work hard too, Professor.”

“Who said anything? Don’t waste energy unnecessarily, just help me compare the titles in this bookshelf with the list.”

“…Yes.”

Embarrassedly rolling down my sleeves, I quietly accepted the list. Climbing the ladder to check book titles from the top, my eyes gradually grew tired from the weak lantern light. Just as I put the lantern on the ladder and rubbed my eyes, there was a swoosh-swoosh sound of something scraping against the floor in the corridor.

“Professor… Didn’t you hear a strange sound from the corridor?”

“Hmm. There are still some students studying.”

“Ah, really?”

Could it be the sound of students passing by? Perhaps because of the rumors I heard during the day, I couldn’t easily feel at ease. Holding the list, I carefully watched through the slightly open door. Even the swaying curtain shadows looked suspicious and I couldn’t take my eyes off them.

“Tae-oh.”

“…”

“Tae-oh?”

“Ah, yes! What is it?”

When I finally looked down, my eyes met Asrein’s who was standing near the ladder.

“That’s what I’d like to ask. Your mind seems to be elsewhere.”

“…Pardon?”

“If you have other things to do, you can leave.”

“That’s not it.”

I quickly climbed down the ladder and showed him the checked list.

“About this book here…”

Just then, as I naturally moved closer since we only had one lantern, there was a loud bang! from something crashing in the corridor.

“Waah!”

Startled, I squeezed my eyes shut and threw myself at the bookshelf. Thump, thump. My heartbeat felt like it was pounding in my ears throughout my body. I rested my forehead on my hands pressed against the bookshelf to calm down. Asrein, who was startled along with me, approached and asked calmly.

“Are you alright?”

“Yes… I’m sorry. I was a bit surprised.”

When I turned my head, Asrein was standing less than a hand’s width away. Though we needed to rely on one lantern in the dark storage room… this was unnecessarily close. As I carefully tried to take a step back while reading the situation, he suddenly came closer and narrowed the distance.

“Wait.”

Putting his index finger to his lips, Asrein muttered in a low voice.

“I hear something.”

His sharp golden eyes stared outside the door. He seemed unaware of our current position as he focused on what was outside. Unable to back up further due to the bookshelf, I was practically in his arms. Because of this, I couldn’t care less about the sounds from the corridor. I only thought about how the faint iris flower scent must be his fragrance as it tickled my nose.

“I’ll go check.”

“…What? You’re going alone?”

“Yes. I’ll be right back.”

My dazed mind instantly cleared. Though it would only be for a moment, it would be difficult to stay alone in the dark storage room where I couldn’t see an inch ahead without the lantern. Even as a grown adult, pitch darkness was an inherent fear. Asrein, not noticing me frozen in place, turned with the lantern.

At that moment, as the light disappeared from my view, I unconsciously grabbed his clothes.

“W-wait a moment.”

As soon as our eyes met when he turned around, I let go in surprise. Too embarrassed to say something like ‘I’m scared to be alone,’ I tried to phrase it differently.

“Hahaha, it’s not really that I’m scared… I just got curious about what made that sound…”

How ridiculous must I look, pretending to be fine while pale-faced and sweating? Contrary to my expectation that he would tease me, Asrein came to my side with the lantern. Then he gently placed his hand on my back and whispered.

“It’s quite dark, so watch your step.”

My left shoulder naturally touched his chest. Somehow, the iris flower scent seemed to become so intense it was hard to breathe.