For a moment, I doubted my ears. An unreliable existence? Hearing such words from the only person I could lean on in this world left me dumbfounded. I grabbed his wrist with my other hand and leaned forward in frustration.

“Unreliable existence?”

“Hmm?”

“You said that because you don’t know how much I trust and follow you.”

The golden eyes meeting mine trembled slightly. Even after saying this, he still seemed unconvinced, so I was about to add more but bit my lip instead. No words could convey this ambiguous feeling disguised as respect. I sighed heavily, revealing my complicated emotions, and shook my head.

“That’s not why I didn’t tell you.”

I always thought I should finish everything first and report only the important points, like I always did. Anyone who has served under a difficult boss would understand. But it was a bad habit. Asrein wasn’t that kind of person.

“I’ll explain everything… Just promise me one thing.”

“Go ahead.”

“That you’ll let me handle this matter on my own.”

The events that had unfolded so far had slipped from my control at some point. But what happened in the library was different—it was a private matter between Iris and me. So this time, I wanted to hear the circumstances directly from the person involved.

After contemplating briefly, Asrein gently released my chin and said, “I’ll need to hear about the situation before making a judgment, but I’ll prioritize your wishes.”

It wasn’t the answer I’d hoped for, but it was good enough. While I organized where to begin, Asrein turned and stopped by the window. Looking at his back, I carefully began speaking.

“On the day when Priest Karl witnessed the shadow at Reton Temple, a child came, right?”

Her name was Iris Dillen. Same face, same background—but everything else about her completely deviated from the “protagonist.”

Moreover, it would have been better if we had met as allies, but from the beginning, Iris and I started on the wrong foot. I suspected her, and she was hostile toward me. Perhaps the predetermined ending required one of us to be cornered.

“Even on my way to the library, I didn’t think it might be a trap… More precisely, I didn’t want to think so.”

Since I didn’t yet know the details of Iris’s circumstances, I explained only what I could be certain about. Asrein remained silent throughout my description of Hecate, whom I encountered in Sector 5. When I tried to explain how I got rid of Hecate, I unconsciously stopped.

“That’s when Hecate rushed toward me…”

There was no point in hiding Agnus’s existence anymore. But… how should I explain it? That I helped a magical creature that somehow got into the lab and ended up losing my shadow? Though ridiculous, it was true, making me laugh hollowly. Looking at the shadow cast at my feet, I said in a voice mixed with a sigh:

“He helped me.”

“…Who are you talking about?”

Finally, Asrein turned to face me. Seeing the wariness in his sharp eyes, my shoulders instinctively hunched. I hurriedly crouched down and tapped my shadow.

“Agnus. Come out. Someone wants to see you.”

“…Agnus, you say?”

The quiet shadow responded to Asrein’s call with a large ripple. Soon, the familiar wolf-like figure popped out from the shadow. Immediately after landing firmly on four legs, Agnus rushed toward Asrein. Rubbing his cheek against his leg looked exactly like a dog showing affection to its owner. When Asrein didn’t respond, he even whined like a puppy—kkeuing-kkeuing.

“Ah, Agnus. What’s wrong? You’re making the professor uncomfortable.”

I hurriedly reached out to push Agnus’s chest, but he didn’t budge. Why is he acting like this? I glanced nervously at Asrein, worried he might be displeased. But the emotion on his handsome face was of an entirely different nature.

“…Why are you here… No, how is it that you have this child…?”

Judging by his considerably surprised reaction, he seemed to know Agnus already. Unable to gauge what kind of relationship they had, I answered his question first.

“I saw him between the bookshelves in the lab. Oh, he was in rabbit form then. He didn’t look well, so I approached him and ended up… giving him my shadow.”

A short sigh immediately flew from him, making me clear my throat awkwardly. Meanwhile, Agnus, seemingly overjoyed, wagged his tail vigorously like a pendulum and stuck out his pitch-black tongue. Asrein smiled helplessly, knelt on one knee, and stroked Agnus.

“So this is why my already scarce magical power has been depleted.”

“Haha, yes… I’ve been wanting to tell you, but the timing never seemed right.”

“Well, it’s fortunate. With Agnus, there’s no need to worry. He’s originally a guide, so he’ll help you.”

Since their relationship was clearly not ordinary, I cautiously asked Asrein:

“Is he a magical creature you know?”

“I rescued him once. Of course, it’s been quite some time since we last met.”

Ah… so he was Agnus’s benefactor. Now I understand why Agnus habitually takes me to Asrein whenever something happens to me.

“Somehow, whenever he rushed off somewhere, you were always there, Professor. I think he feels safe around you.”

Asrein remained silent. He just smiled faintly while stroking Agnus, again and again. The dark haze dispersing through his snow-white fingers somehow looked lonely.

Waiting for a chance to interject, I spoke as soon as Agnus completely lay down on the floor.

“Anyway, thanks to him, I got out safely. If anyone was hurt, it was Iris. She’s probably still resting in the infirmary.”

At that moment, the hand stroking Agnus froze. The joy of meeting an old connection had completely vanished. Only a cold aura settled in the golden eyes directed at me.

“Despite your trust in him, are you aware that you put yourself in danger?”

“But I thought it would be fine with guards patrolling constantly. It was even inside the school.”

“What if you couldn’t call Agnus? What then?”

“That would have been the consequence of my poor choice… I would have to accept it.”

I thought it was simply karma that I had to bear. As long as I didn’t burden others, that was enough. I had always accepted whatever harm came my way. But Asrein let out a hollow laugh and said:

“Then what about me?”

“Pardon?”

“What about me, who would only learn the next day that you had collapsed?”

“…That’s…”

“From the beginning, I wasn’t even a consideration in your decision. Isn’t that right?”

I was momentarily speechless. Taking my silence as confirmation, he brushed up his long hair in a rather irritated manner. But I had not failed to consider Asrein. If anything, I had thought about him too much.

Asrein is always surrounded by all sorts of problems. Urgent documents pile up on his spacious desk to the point of overflowing. Even that day, he had an external meeting and had to rush out without leaving work on time.

How could I possibly add myself as another burden on him?

“But that…”

It was all for your sake. Saying that would only make things worse. I tightly clenched my hands on my knees and lowered my head.

“…No. You’re right, Professor. My thinking was short-sighted. I’m sorry for causing you worry.”

After a moment of silence, Asrein suddenly stood up without a word. Worried that I had made him angry, my mind went blank. I immediately tried to follow him but hit my thigh on the corner of the desk. The pain didn’t matter. All I could think about was catching up to him.

But Asrein didn’t leave the lab; he walked to his desk. Then, taking something out of a drawer, he muttered:

“I didn’t expect to use this so soon after making it.”

“W-What?”

What did he make, and what was he going to use? While I was confused, he approached with wide strides, quickly closing the distance. Barely registering his chest suddenly before my eyes, Asrein raised his hand and cupped my cheek. Then he whispered in a low voice:

“This might hurt a little.”

The abrupt warning about pain made me nervous. Feeling uneasy, I squeezed my eyes shut without even checking what he held. As my eyelids trembled, I heard a small laugh right in front of me.

“I wonder how someone who fears even this managed to face Hecate.”

I had no chance to respond. Soon, I felt a stinging pain in my earlobe, like being pricked by a thorn.

“Ungh.”

“Does it hurt much?”

“…No. Just a little sting.”

It was just a brief sting, making my short groan embarrassing. Slowly opening my eyes, I felt a moderate weight on my ear. Asrein, looking down at me obliquely, appeared strangely satisfied. Feeling puzzled, I touched my ear and felt the cool metal.

“Huh?”

Looking at the window, I saw my reflection wearing an earring for the first time in my life. At the end of a thin chain hung a gold plate about the size of a thumbnail, looking quite expensive. Every slight movement made the hard object touch my sensitive neck, tickling me.

“What is this?”

“When you infuse a certain amount of magical power, you can contact me.”

“You made this for me…?”

“Yes. I thought it necessary after what happened in Bivrint Forest.”

I expected to be scolded for acting recklessly. But instead, Asrein gave me a communication device he had made for me. Receiving such an unexpected gift left me more dazed than grateful.

“I didn’t realize… you cared this much about me.”

I looked up at him while absently touching the earring. The question “why?” kept running through my mind. This attention was too much for me. Hearing my puzzled murmur, Asrein leisurely stroked his chin and said:

“You’re always so considerate of others yet neglect yourself. How could I not worry?”

“That’s…”

“And that’s not all.”

Asrein shrugged lightly and continued:

“Why your complexion doesn’t improve. Why your magical power keeps depleting. Whether you’re eating properly while working. And whether you’re getting involved in dangerous incidents elsewhere—I wonder about all of these.”

His fingers gently touched below my eyes, shadowed with paleness.

“At some point, everything related to you began to concern me.”

“……”

“Everyone else just tries to rely on me, but you increasingly try to stand alone… Perhaps that makes me more interested.”

I froze with wide, surprised eyes at this sudden confession. Did I hear wrong? Or am I still dreaming…? Despite my bewilderment, I couldn’t hide the smile that naturally rose to my lips as he caressed my cheek. Seeing me grinning foolishly, Asrein frowned.

“Why are you smiling?”

“P-Pardon?”

“Do my words sound like a joke to you?”

“No. That’s not it.”

Attention that would have been burdensome from anyone else was welcome from him. Only because it was him, it made me happier than anything.

“I smiled because I’m happy. Since my parents passed away, no one has ever cared about me…”

With a shy smile, I looked straight into his eyes and said:

“I’ll be careful. I’ll try not to overexert myself from now on.”

Hearing my confident response, Asrein nodded with satisfaction.

“Good. I’m glad my one and only disciple is safe after last night.”

Ah… disciple.

His gesture of brushing my hair was so affectionate that I almost misunderstood. Asrein simply cherishes me as his disciple. So I should serve him wholeheartedly in return. Finding a good mentor is something to be happy about, yet I don’t understand why a corner of my heart stings so much.

“Calling Agnus when you’re in danger is good, but always be mindful of the burden on your magical power.”

“I will.”

Bending down, Asrein carefully caressed the earring and whispered:

“Besides, you now have a way to avoid overexertion right in front of you.”

Emotions gradually filled me like water filling a hollow in the ground, brushing against my ankles. I needed to pull my foot out before helplessly floundering in it… But compared to cold reality, this place was too warm for me to step away.

“Call me anytime. I’ll come wherever you are.”

And so, without realizing it, like clothes getting wet in a drizzle, I was becoming colored by him.