Ever since meeting Ophelia, I’ve felt like I’m drifting at sea all day. I deliberately puncture the bottom of my boat to escape reality, causing myself to sink. Then I enter a distant state where sensations feel muffled, like being enveloped in water droplets. That’s when I become Ophelia, swimming underwater.

Last night, I suddenly had the impulse to jump into the pond in the garden. My body somehow didn’t feel like my own as I peered into the water’s surface. Then scales appeared on my face reflected in the water.

Strangely, I felt nostalgia rather than fear. So I dipped my hand into the pond and murmured, almost brainwashing myself:

“…I want to return to the sea.”

Just then, I heard someone tapping on the table.

“Tae-oh.”

I looked up with a start and met Asrein’s frowning gaze. …When had I even arrived at work? My memory cut off after putting my hand in the pond. Looking outside, I saw the sun high in the sky—it was already past noon.

“Did you hear what I said?”

“I’m sorry… what did you say?”

“I said we’ll depart for the field trip next week after the holiday ends.”

“Ah…”

“Tae-oh?”

“Oh, yes. I’ll get prepared.”

Noticing my delayed responses, Asrein eyed me suspiciously.

“Did you go to the greenhouse yesterday?”

“Greenhouse… yes, I did.”

“I see. Coincidentally, I heard that Ophelia regained consciousness yesterday.”

The moment I heard the word “Ophelia,” it felt like dazzling sunlight was filtering through the sea surface. My previously unfocused, hazy eyes suddenly became clear and bright.

“That’s right. When I went there, Ophelia was already awake. The way she glided through the tank was so beautiful…”

I clasped my hands together in admiration as the memory came flooding back. Soon my imagination turned into a vision, with Ophelia’s form appearing in midair. Just as I’d seen in the tank, she bloomed like a rock flower, waving her red tentacles.

As I stared entranced at Ophelia’s form, a quiet voice interrupted my fantasy.

“Are you perhaps…”

“Yes?”

“Never mind. Let’s go to the greenhouse for now.”

Are we going to check on Ophelia’s condition? I’d be happy with anything if it meant seeing her beautiful form again.

As soon as we entered the greenhouse, I turned without hesitation toward where the tank was located. Unlike yesterday, I didn’t need to struggle finding my way.

The delicate singing voice was already desperately searching for me. When we arrived at the massive tank, I saw a researcher who had arrived before us.

“This is strange…”

“What’s the matter?”

“Ah, Professor! Perfect timing.”

The researcher, visibly relieved to see us, explained:

“Ophelia hasn’t eaten anything since yesterday. When we received her, I was told she would eat small fish without being picky.”

Unlike yesterday when she moved freely, Ophelia was lying listlessly against the coral. Approaching the tank, I noticed red liquid oozing from the tips of her tentacles.

At that moment, a fact about Ophelia suddenly came to mind, like someone had pried open my head and stuffed the information inside.

“It has to be alive.”

“Excuse me?”

“Ah… I’m sorry. Ophelia never touches dead fish. She only feels hungry for the blood of living creatures.”

The researcher, realizing the mistake, immediately brought an entire bucket of food. After pouring all the small live fish into the tank, Ophelia began eating as if she’d been waiting for this. Watching her quickly regain vitality, the researcher asked in amazement:

“How did you know that?”

“…I read it in a book.”

“As expected of the professor’s student~”

My awkward laughter echoed hollowly through the greenhouse. Meanwhile, having filled her stomach, Ophelia began freely roaming the spacious tank just like yesterday. Everyone held their breath, watching her movements.

“Isn’t she beautiful? I could sit and watch a magical creature like this for hours.”

I nodded in agreement with the playfully smiling researcher.

“…Yes. She’s truly beautiful.”

Her tentacles spread in all directions like a flower bud blooming fully. I watched her elegant dance, forgetting even to blink. The singing grew progressively louder. Now I could even hear indecipherable whispers mixed in.

If I entered that tank, would I understand what she’s saying?

As I unconsciously took a step forward, a hand suddenly landed on my shoulder.

“Tae-oh.”

“…Yes.”

“Look at me.”

Asrein, who had been standing a step behind, grabbed my shoulder and turned me around. With Ophelia disappearing from my sight, I hurriedly tried to turn my head back. Asrein cupped my cheek, forcing me to meet his eyes.

“What do you hear right now?”

“…Your voice, Professor.”

“Anything else?”

“Nothing.”

Immediately after my brief response, Asrein clicked his tongue and muttered:

“Tsk, completely entranced.”

Afterward, Asrein merely excused us to the researcher and grabbed my arm. Not wanting to leave Ophelia, I walked almost being dragged away. His destination was the preparation room.

Asrein locked the door to prevent my escape and with just a gesture, drew the curtains. The sunlight from outside disappeared, darkening our surroundings. Beyond my anxiously trembling breath, his low voice continued:

“Tell me honestly. Can you still hear something?”

Unable to resist his intimidating presence, I spoke haltingly:

“…The sound of water. And… a singing voice calling for me.”

Like diving into the deep sea, unnecessary noise gradually faded away. The more it did, the more I was consumed by the desire to return to the sea. Even though I wasn’t born in water.

“I need to go back…”

As I mumbled incomprehensible words, Asrein turned his back to me. Then he silently began taking out herbs and putting them into glass bottles. While staring blankly at him, I suddenly felt sad.

If I return to the sea alone, what will happen to this person I dare not hold in my heart? I would never see him again. That’s the last thing I want. Without a moment’s hesitation, I approached him and placed my hand on his shoulder blade. Sliding my hand down along the firm muscles beneath his shirt, I asked:

“Will you come with me?”

“…What?”

Asrein turned toward me, trying hard to hide his bewilderment. Sunlight filtering through the curtains settled on the bridge of his nose. Without hesitation, I cupped his cheek and whispered softly:

“Come back to the sea with me, Asrein.”

“……”

“It will surely be vast and comfortable there. You won’t have to worry about anything.”

A large ripple disturbed his eyes, which had been calm like a windless lake. He was clearly affected. As I gently traced his neckline along his fallen hair, one of Asrein’s eyebrows sharply rose. I smiled coyly while pushing my increasingly bold hand inside his shirt collar.

“You want to escape from this place too, don’t you? …Hmm?”

Just as my index finger touched his firm collarbone, the corner of Asrein’s mouth slightly turned up.

“A tempting offer, but…”

But that was all.

“Since you’re not in your right mind, I’ll pretend I didn’t hear that.”

My wrist was caught in his strong grip, preventing any further movement. Just when I thought he would let go, Asrein suddenly pulled my hand and pressed his lips against my tender palm. His eyes, filled with a cold light, were fixed solely on me, like he was telling me to remember this scene clearly. The soft touch snapped me out of my daze.

Wait… What did I just do, no. What on earth is…

“Um…”

“Seems like you’ve finally come to your senses.”

Leaving me in confusion, Asrein resumed his work. He lit a lamp and transferred the flame to the herbs in the bottle. The smell of herbs gradually rising with the smoke stung my nose. Feeling uncomfortable, I turned my head away, but Asrein deliberately pushed the bottle toward my face.

“I once told you that magical creatures resonate with you, but I didn’t expect it to be this severe.”

“…What?”

“Tae-oh. You’re currently enchanted by Ophelia.”

“W-what are you saying? I’m perfectly fine.”

“Really?”

Letting out a small sigh, Asrein handed me the bottle and said:

“It might be faster to show you your face directly.”

He brought a small mirror from the desk and held it up to my face. My left eye had taken on a pale red color, like Ophelia’s tentacles. I stepped back in shock, and immediately my eye returned to normal. But it wasn’t a simple illusion.

“This… is…”

“Have you touched Ophelia?”

“No… I haven’t made contact.”

“Tell me when this started.”

“…As soon as I entered the greenhouse yesterday, I heard singing. And…”

Trying to recall, I realized my memories since yesterday were fragmented.

“I’m sorry. I can’t remember. Why… is this happening?”

“Like the Sainur’s ma-an, Ophelia possesses magical power that draws people in. But to be intoxicated merely by the magical power she emits without even touching her…”

Asrein’s voice and Ophelia’s singing became entangled. Moreover, the more I smelled the herbs, the worse my migraine became. Standing on my two legs was all I could manage.

“I thought it would be fine since Ophelia’s power had weakened, but I forgot how vulnerable you are to magical power.”

“…I’m sorry.”

“For now, keep burning this incense by your bedside.”

With his support, I made my way to the dormitory with difficulty. Even then, the singing voice continued endlessly from behind me. It was a pitiful call, begging me not to leave her alone.

***

After continuously burning herbs as Asrein instructed, I felt like the smell had permeated my body. Even though it made me nauseous, I endured. I absolutely needed to regain my senses before the field trip.

When I woke from a day-long sleep, I felt much more refreshed than usual. My consciousness, which had been hazy like being submerged in water until yesterday, became clear. Hope that I could participate in the field trip arrived simultaneously with despair.

“…Mmm…”

The events with Asrein in the preparation room that day came back vividly. Not only did I touch his back and caress it, but I boldly touched his face too. And I called him by his name. Asrein.

“I really went crazy…”

Even after drinking three bottles of soju at academic gatherings, I never made mistakes in front of professors. Yet enchanted by a magical creature, I made a huge blunder with Asrein. Moreover, I clearly remember his subsequent actions. Of course, he probably did it to shock me, but did he need to bow his head and kiss my palm…

“Arrrgh!”

Unable to bear thinking about it anymore, I punched my innocent pillow. The soft cotton dented like my heart. Was this what the encyclopedia meant when it said those who hear the singing will awaken their inner desires? I was the fool for dismissing it as nothing. Besides, why does this body so easily fall prey to enchantments that others would simply ignore?

“Let’s go to work first… I need to… apologize somehow.”

After washing away all distracting thoughts with ice-cold water, I dragged my heavy feet forward. However, upon reaching the research lab, I lacked the courage to boldly enter and instead peeked through the door crack. But Asrein wasn’t there.

Could he be in another meeting? As I lingered by the door, a passing graduate student said:

“Ah, the professor was in the greenhouse earlier.”

Of all places, the greenhouse. Though still anxious, I cautiously headed to the greenhouse since I had escaped the singing voice that had been tormenting me. Fortunately, my mind remained quiet even after entering the greenhouse. However, I had no way of finding Asrein in the vast space. Just as I was considering contacting him through the emergency earring:

[…here…you are.]

A soft whisper came from far away. Following the sound instinctively, I arrived at the tank again. But there was no dancing woman in the water. Ophelia lay motionless on the stone floor, looking almost dead. An ominous feeling flashed through my mind. Could it be…

Just as I hurriedly tried to climb the ladder, a clear laugh pierced my ears.

[Hello. Your surprised face is quite cute too.]

“…Ophelia?”

Looking into the tank, I saw Ophelia waving her tentacles in greeting, letting out a mischievous laugh. While I was relieved Ophelia wasn’t dead… when did our relationship rating increase? When I first recognized her, it was clearly just “Cautious.” I immediately opened Ophelia’s page in the encyclopedia, and two bold characters appeared under relationship rating.

“Intimate… really?”

[Thanks to you, I had a satisfying meal after a long time.]

“…So that’s why.”

Due to being enchanted, I must not have heard the System’s voice. While I was happy about the improved relationship rating, I hesitated to approach Ophelia for fear of repeating the same mistake. But Ophelia seemed to find the situation purely enjoyable, spinning in place to show her joy.

[So I gave you a reward in return. Did you like it?]

“A reward?”

Looking at her suspiciously, Ophelia laughed softly and said:

[You did something you would never do normally, didn’t you? …So, how was it? Did you enjoy it?]