Thanks to Asrein holding the lantern, I didn’t have to roll on the ground. However, the warmth felt uncomfortably close and his hand wrapped around my back made me start feeling queasy. I almost missed being scared and blinded by darkness.

I don’t understand why he subtly teases me about not being physically strong or when talking about magic, yet becomes unexpectedly gentle at times. He always approaches suddenly when I’m defenseless, leaving me helplessly invaded.

Even now, while Asrein seriously looked around, I focused on each of his breaths.

“Tae-oh. Do you see anything?”

“…Huh? Ah, no.”

“Strange. Perhaps I misheard…”

I lightly patted my cheek to remember my duty and focused ahead. Asrein was right – nothing particularly stood out. By then all students must have finished their business and left, as the vast library remained silent without a trace of people.

Right. That student must have seen wrong. I had become too sensitive because similar incidents happened to overlap coincidentally. Just as I was about to suggest we return with relief, Asrein stopped abruptly.

“What… is that?”

Asrein raised the lantern toward a small reading room. The soft light cast a round shadow resembling a tomb. It was because books of various colors were strangely stacked under the window. The position looked too unnatural for them to have spilled from a shaken bookshelf.

“Did someone… deliberately stack them?”

“…Who knows.”

Come to think of it, that student saw the huge silhouette through the window from outside the library. The most likely location would be by the window on the path from Section 2 to the reading room. Just a few more steps and there’s a large window where you can easily look inside from outside. Then could the identity of the silhouette that student saw be these stacked books?

While lost in thought, Asrein entered the reading room first. When I held up the lantern to light the way, he knelt on one knee and carefully examined the books. Though nothing unusual appeared visible to the n*ked eye, Asrein slightly furrowed his brow, seemingly sensing something.

“I faintly sense magical power.”

“Magical power?”

“Yes. But since some librarians occasionally use magic to organize books, I can’t be certain of the purpose.”

“I guess… we can only keep watch for now.”

Asrein silently nodded and stood up. Though I tried to ignore the uneasy feeling in my heart about leaving the fallen books as they were in case problems arose. I could only hope nothing would happen.

***

I expected the rumors about seeing an unidentified silhouette in the library would gradually fade like an urban legend. But the rumors spread faster than anticipated. I encountered the source of the rumors while passing by an empty classroom.

“It might be a magical creature.”

“No way…”

Through the shoulders of two students discussing the library creature, I glimpsed purple hair. Sitting in a chair was none other than Iris. Though the silhouette’s identity remained unknown, she described it with certainty. As soon as the slightly frightened students left the classroom, I stopped Iris.

“Why are you spreading uncertain rumors?”

Iris turned around with a light smile while holding her books.

“Since I saw it… it’s not exactly a baseless rumor, is it?”

“You saw the form directly?”

“Of course. It had a long body that looked like a snake, or perhaps a giant centipede.”

A cold light flashed in her gray eyes staring into space.

“It’s probably a Python.”

“…A Python?”

“It’s a magical creature that resembles a giant snake. They’re known for being highly intelligent, and there’s even a theory they swallow books to acquire human knowledge. Plus, they have eyes that can see as clearly at night as during the day. They’re very sensitive to movement, but if you don’t give visual stimulation, avoiding them is no problem.”

Her confident voice conveyed complete certainty the library silhouette was a Python.

“But when I went to the library late in the evening with Professor Asrein, there was nothing, let alone a magical creature.”

“Maybe because it wasn’t night? Since Pythons are nocturnal, they might not show themselves around evening.”

My objection failed. Just as I tried to stop the rapidly spreading rumors first, Iris cut me off.

“That’s why I’m going to enter directly during the time the Python was sighted.”

“No, by yourself?”

“Yes. Since I unintentionally spread rumors and created anxiety, I should resolve it.”

Going to the library alone while being certain it was a magical creature showed unreasonable recklessness. I quickly blocked her path and firmly shook my head.

“If there really is a Python like you say… it’s dangerous alone.”

“I can handle that much by myself.”

“Iris.”

Calling her name proved useless. Instead, she came closer with a sardonic smile and whispered softly in my ear.

“Are you perhaps worried I’ll take your position if I resolve the incident?”

“…What?”

“No, reclaim it.”

Her muttered words pierced sharply into my mind.

Iris had shown hostility toward me before. She mentioned in front of me that ‘the person who made their life difficult doesn’t know anything.’ And now Iris spoke like I had taken her position first.

Did all the sharp emotion I felt from her stem from something taken from her? Strange. I first saw her at Angelus University. I focused too much on protecting my own livelihood and lifeline to even think about coveting what was hers.

“There seems to be some misunderstanding, I’m simply worried about Iris.”

“If that’s all, don’t bother. Sorry, but your concern is unnecessary.”

With one corner of her mouth twitching, Iris walked past me and out the door, saying,

“If you’re that curious, come watch. I’ll eliminate the rumors tonight.”

Her confident voice gradually faded away.

When I returned to the lab after that, Asrein was gone for an external meeting. It seems the rumors spreading among students hadn’t reached the professors’ ears yet.

Though I returned to the dormitory earlier than usual as closing time approached, I couldn’t relax at all.

“System.”

—Yes, Tae-oh.

“Search for information about the magical creature Python.”

—There is 1 search result for ‘Python’ as requested.

I immediately materialized the encyclopedia and read the information about Python. It matched exactly what Iris had explained, without missing anything. It wasn’t a made-up story or imaginary creature.

If a Level 3 dangerous magical creature Python really appears intermittently in the library as Iris said, of course we can’t just ignore it. But what if… it was just a rumor? I don’t want to unnecessarily escalate things and trouble those around me.

Lost in this dilemma, dawn approached before I knew it. After pacing around my dorm room, I stared intently at the lantern on my desk.

Whatever happens, it’s still inside the school. Besides, security guards patrol the library every night. So I can ask them for help if needed.

I don’t mind becoming a laughingstock for getting caught up in ghost stories. But if a magical creature really appears and hurts someone afterwards, it can’t be undone.

“…Better to regret going than not going.”

Unable to leave Iris alone, I grabbed the lantern and headed to the library. The cold wind made even the beautiful garden feel desolate. Pulling my loose collar closed, I climbed the library stairs and grabbed the door handle.

Creeeeak— The heavy door opened with an eerie sound.

“…Iris?”

My voice calling her name echoed emptily. First I held out the lantern to light the inside, but like when I came with Asrein, the library remained quiet as death. Moreover, I couldn’t see Iris who I thought would be waiting here already.

Did she already start patrolling? Embracing my doubts, I entered the library, and the door slammed shut in the wind.

While pondering how to find Iris, a good idea came to mind. There happened to be a daisy flower in full bloom in the pot by the window. I never expected to test the encyclopedia’s ability here for the first time. I gently cupped the pure white daisy and slowly inhaled.

“…Hyperion.”

The daisy petals fluttered in the library where not a breath of wind blew.

“Here, my precious friend.”

Responding to my call, the trembling petals gradually withered from the tips. The completely lifeless flower head fell onto the soil, resembling fast-forwarded time. At that moment, blue light rose up and magically, a butterfly with four pairs of leaf wings appeared.

“…Did it work?”

When I muttered quietly, the seed that belatedly grasped the situation flew right up to my face and shouted.

[You! How dare you disturb the Elder’s nap?!]

“Haha, long time no see. Have you been well?”

[I was doing well, until you ruined it!]

“Sorry. But I needed help since I can’t do this alone.”

Hyperion’s seed I hadn’t seen in a while still brimmed with energy. As I scratched my cheek awkwardly with a smile, the seed asked gruffly.

[What is it?]

“Find someone in the library for me. They’re alone, not in pairs… Can you do it?”

The seed didn’t answer right away. Perhaps one seed couldn’t search this vast library alone. Though scared, I stared blankly at my wrist thinking I might need to use the power of the bracelet Hyperion gave me. The seed quickly flew over and lightly hit my cheek with its leaf wings.

[Planning to call the Elder if I say no? Don’t be ridiculous. They need proper rest.]

“So you’ll help with my request?”

[Hmph. Since I can’t return until I grant your wish, I have no choice.]

The seed glided gently through the air like a butterfly searching for flowers. Watching it resembled a dancing forest fairy, and I unconsciously followed the blue light with my eyes. Finally, the seed stopped in place with a short flutter of wings and said.

[Follow me.]

“Huh? You found them already?”

[Finding the light of life in an enclosed space is as easy as fluttering wings.]

“You’re amazing…!”

[Of course. Just follow me.]

I smiled slightly at the seed that helped willingly despite being gruff. But the peace didn’t last long. We headed toward the stairs after passing through the corridor.

“Aaaaaahhhhh!!!”

Suddenly an agonized scream rang out from upstairs. Unlike me who froze stiff at the ear-piercing voice, the seed spoke nonchalantly.

[There they are.]

“…What?”

[You asked me to find another human besides you. And just now, you heard them.]

No matter how I thought about it, that was definitely Iris’s voice. Just as I tried to go up through the stairs, the seed blocked my way.

[What are you doing?]

“A scream came from above. Iris must be in danger.”

[Right. As you said, they’re in danger. But why are you going?]

“…I can’t just ignore it.”

When I swallowed dryly, the seed laughed.

[Such a foolishly meddlesome person.]

“I want to fix that too, but it’s not as easy as I’d like so I was about to give up.”

[Well~ I expected as much. You have to be this foolish to be the Elder’s favorite human.]

I went up to the second floor using the seed as a guide. Given how loudly the voice echoed, there was only one place Iris could be – Section 5, the largest in this library.

After checking the sign, I stood in front of the door and pushed it slightly. The door that should have been closed opened without any resistance.

“Iris…?”

As soon as I entered while quietly calling her name, I stopped breathing at the sight that filled my vision.

“……”

A huge snake raised its head straight toward the ceiling in a large coil. Though the lantern light didn’t reach it, its overwhelming size remained apparent even in the darkness. The snake that had been flicking its split tongue slithered between the bookshelves with a swoosh-swoosh sound. Then something that had been hidden by its coils was revealed.

It was Iris, collapsed on the cold floor.