I continued calling Oceanos’s name afterward. But all that returned was the hollow sound of wind brushing past leaves. Was Oceanos’s claim about peering into my thoughts true? The unexpected question left me frozen in place for a while.

‘Do you want to be the protagonist? Or are you trying to replace the novel’s protagonist who disappeared?’

Only that cold voice echoed in my now-blank mind. I felt uncomfortable being forced to confront the difficult question I had been trying to avoid. Yet I still couldn’t readily answer. Right now, I was preoccupied with dealing with the crisis at hand.

When I returned to the lab, Asrein, who had arrived earlier, spoke to me.

“Where have you been?”

“I went to the greenhouse. I heard Nur hasn’t been eating.”

“…Is there something wrong with its health?”

Seeing his evident concern, I quickly waved my hands.

“No, that’s not it. It wagged its tail when it saw me and even rubbed its head against me. But…”

When it came to explaining the reason, I felt at a loss. It was difficult to suddenly tell Asrein, who knew nothing about the Monster Encyclopedia, “Actually, I can hear magical creatures’ voices.” After pondering briefly, I came up with a plausible explanation.

“It seemed like it didn’t want to leave this place.”

“You mean the greenhouse within Angelus University?”

Nodding slightly, I shared my concerns.

“But healthy magical creatures eventually need to return to nature, right? Will… Nur understand that? What if it thinks we’re abandoning it?”

Using the word “abandon” made my heart sting with guilt. Every time I blinked, Nur’s hurt expression flashed before me, making me miserable. I had forgotten that even with communication possible, true feelings don’t easily reach each other. With a deep sigh, I asked Asrein:

“How were the other magical creatures until now?”

“The creatures that come to the sanctuary never fully acclimate to human handling, even after treatment. So there was never much difficulty when returning them to suitable habitats.”

“I see… Was it wrong of me to get attached?”

“I think this case is unavoidable. It’s true that the Sainur has special feelings for you.”

I remember when Nur first opened its eyes and accepted berries from me. When we built trust and it finally let me hear its young voice for the first time, and when I occasionally wandered around the market buying berries Nur liked—all these memories remain vivid. Letting go of Nur, with whom I’d formed such a bond, would be immensely painful for me too.

“I wish I could see it often in the greenhouse. Still… it needs the wider natural world. Not a greenhouse made by human hands, but true nature.”

I bit my lower lip, deliberately suppressing my emotions. After a brief silence, Asrein spoke.

“I think I understand how you feel.”

“…Pardon?”

“You too will eventually graduate from Angelus University and become independent.”

…Wait. Why is the conversation heading in that direction? More importantly, I had planned to remain Asrein’s disciple even after finishing graduate school, but Asrein seemed to be already thinking about my independence. Does this mean I have to cleanly leave the university and go somewhere else immediately after graduation?

Feeling somewhat wronged, my face instantly crumpled.

“Do I… have to leave?”

“Hmm?”

“I wanted to remain your disciple even after graduation…”

Now I understood Nur’s feelings. I suddenly empathized completely with Nur, who had bared its teeth and driven me from its territory. Words swirled in my mouth, leaving me biting my lips in frustration. Nevertheless, Asrein calmly redirected the conversation.

“There are many good research labs in the Empire.”

“This is a good lab too.”

“Well, there are many other renowned professors and scholars.”

“I want to study under you, Professor Asrein.”

“That’s something to consider gradually.”

“Even without considering…”

“Tae-oh.”

His firm yet gentle voice cut off my words. I took a short breath, and Asrein slowly shook his head.

“I appreciate your sentiment, but remember this.”

His golden eyes, focused solely on me, held a melancholy light like the setting sun.

“Nothing in this world is eternal.”

It was a meaningful statement whose implications I didn’t want to understand. Occasionally, Asrein would unintentionally reveal a loneliness that no one could soothe. This was one of those moments. Looking at him, rounded like a stone worn smooth by storms, I naturally lost my words.

“Your consideration for the Sainur is commendable, but prioritizing its wishes would be best. What a Sainur that has lost its pack and family needs most… might be you.”

“…Professor.”

“Life passes in a flash, so guide it to live how it wants.”

My head rang sharply, like I’d been struck hard on the back of the head. When I asked if returning to nature wouldn’t be better, Nur had asked if I knew what it needed. I had answered according to theory. But what mattered most was Nur’s feelings…

“Then… would you help me?”

“Gladly, if it’s for you and the Sainur.”

Asrein hadn’t told me to keep Nur, but to guide it. So I wanted to help Nur make a better choice.

“I’d like to take Nur to Kune Forest sometime. Kune Forest would be safe from poachers, and Hyperion, the forest guardian, is there too. So how about showing Nur that place first, and then letting it choose?”

If Nur still chose the greenhouse, I would need to prepare a section of the greenhouse for it to stay. I had finally found the right approach. Asrein readily agreed with my opinion.

“That’s a good idea. Kune Forest is similar to Bivrint Forest, where the Sainur species originally lived.”

“Thank you! I’ll prepare for it soon.”

I should visit Kune Forest after a long time, meet Hyperion, and introduce Nur to him. They could surely become good friends. Hyperion would willingly provide shade for Nur, who had lost its pack. A full smile naturally formed on my lips.

While searching for items needed for space transfer magic, a thought suddenly crossed my mind. I ventured to speak to Asrein, who had resumed his work.

“Um, when you mentioned doing what one wants, I became curious…”

“Go ahead.”

“What do you want to do, Professor?”

Asrein blinked quietly before asking after a delayed beat.

“…What?”

“Besides magical creature research. Is there something you’ve always wanted to do but haven’t been able to yet?”

I wondered if even the seemingly perfect Asrein had things he had given up on. It was simple curiosity. Even if he said he wanted to reclaim his daily life amid busyness, it was a light question I would acknowledge and move past. But Asrein seemed taken aback by the unexpected question, rolling his eyes in confusion.

His wandering gaze finally settled on the winter scene outside the window.

“I want to rest.”

“Pardon?”

“With peace of mind… I want to close my eyes without worry.”

I was surprised by his simpler-than-expected wish. He really hasn’t been sleeping properly these past few days. During the Oceanos expedition too, he probably spent the entire dawn searching because of the problems I caused. Feeling guilty in many ways, I impulsively blurted out:

“Should we close the lab for today?”

Asrein, who normally remained unfazed by strange remarks, frowned unusually. Seeing this, I strangely gained confidence. On the paper I had set aside for writing reports, I wrote in large letters: “Closed Today.” I posted it on the door like a restaurant announcing a day off and locked the lab.

Afterward, I approached Asrein, who had suddenly become much quieter, and tapped my chest confidently.

“I’ll handle any urgent letters or visitors. So please rest well, Professor.”

“Are you suggesting… I should sleep here?”

“That would be great! I’ve been worried about whether you sleep at all while working.”

Before he could change his mind, I quickly walked toward the long sofa. I immediately moved the sofa slightly away from the table to make it better for lying down and politely guided him. Unable to resist my persistent gaze, Asrein approached with a reluctant expression.

“You really want me to lie down?”

“Yes. It’s quite soft and comfortable.”

“There’s nothing to use as a pillow.”

“Ah… That’s true.”

Unfortunately, the armrests were unnecessarily high, making it difficult to rest one’s head. I had once used three stacked books as a pillow when taking a nap in the old lab, but I couldn’t possibly suggest a book pillow to Asrein. While I frantically searched for a cushion substitute, his calm eyes followed me.

“You were quick to suggest it, but now you look quite flustered. It’s rather interesting.”

“Haha, I suppose so…”

While I was busily moving around the lab, Asrein casually called me.

“Tae-oh.”

“Yes?”

When I turned my head after responding promptly, I saw Asrein had removed his coat and was now in his shirt. Sitting on the sofa, he gestured toward the edge of the sofa and said:

“Would you lend me your lap?”

“…Pardon?”

“It seems that’s the only comfortable place to rest my head.”

My brain activity stopped at those words. I stood frozen in the middle of the lab, turned into a tree. Did he just say lap? Lap? Doubting my ears, I asked again.

“My… lap?”

“Yes.”

Asrein had just said he would rest his head on my leg. Even offering a cushion stuffed with cotton would have been inadequate, let alone this scrawny leg with neither muscle nor fat… I felt my entire body stiffen, even my hair standing on end.

After stumbling over my words several times, I finally managed to complete a sentence.

“Th-that… it won’t be soft at all, just hard…”

Though pretending to back away, my steps instinctively headed toward the sofa. Even if my heart stopped right now, I couldn’t miss the opportunity to see Asrein’s sleeping face from the front row. I sat right against the armrest, looking straight ahead like a disciplined soldier. Then I heard a soft laugh beside me.

“You say that, yet you sit down so readily. What’s your intention?”

“I just want you to rest comfortably…”

Glancing sideways, I saw Asrein gathering his long hair with one hand and bringing it forward over his shoulder. Is he really… going to lie down? I alternately looked at Asrein, who had turned his back, and my thigh, which had stiffened with tension. His slowly reclining figure seemed to move in slow motion, like a scene from a movie.

“……”

And finally, his head touched my thigh. His tawny hair slid down, tickling my knee. I held my breath with a “hup” and quickly scanned his figure.

Asrein had no space to stretch his long legs, so he bent his knees like mountains and folded his arms. Yet his serene face showed no sign of discomfort. Rather, the one feeling like they might suffocate was me, who had lent him my leg.

I didn’t know when or how to breathe. No, was a pillow even allowed to breathe? Where should I put my hands? Right. I should cover my mouth to prevent any nonsense from escaping. Pressing my lips firmly with both hands crossed, I could feel my heartbeat even more loudly.

This is driving me crazy. I tried reciting the periodic table, but it didn’t help at all. Trying to think of something else, I spoke to Asrein.

“…Are you comfortable?”

“No. It’s quite uncomfortable.”

“Oh no, then perhaps…”

A book pillow would be much better than my knee. I was wrong to suggest this from the beginning. I fidgeted with my legs, trying to get up, but the very person who had complained about discomfort didn’t move an inch. He even frowned slightly and whispered:

“Stay still.”

Seemingly intent on actually sleeping this way, peaceful breathing soon filled the lab. Meanwhile, I was in agony. I felt like I might cough up my rapidly beating heart if I breathed incorrectly. As my hands and feet grew cold, heat rushed to my face and ears.

I had only suggested he rest, but how did it come to this? Like a racehorse with eyes fixed forward, I carefully looked down at Asrein. Whether he had found a comfortable position after tossing or simply enjoyed sleeping in uncomfortable positions… Asrein looked more peaceful than ever.

Just when I thought I might enjoy looking at his face freely—

“…Ah.”

Unfortunately, bright sunlight came through the window, tickling Asrein’s eyelids. In autumn, the dense trees had blocked some sunlight, but now in full winter, the bare branches were insufficient.

With no choice, I raised my left hand to create a small shield over his face. I wanted to shield him for as long as possible, even if my arm ached. But my resolution was soon thwarted.

“…?”

Asrein, whom I thought was asleep, raised his folded arms and firmly grabbed my wrist. I jumped in surprise, my body shaking. Nevertheless, Asrein pulled my hand and gently placed it over his face, unconcerned.

Suddenly, my hand was covering his eyes. My cold palm felt warm heat. Though question marks floated in my head at this sudden action, Asrein folded his arms again as if nothing had happened.

“…Um…”

I called out softly, but there was no answer. Only the quiet sound of breathing and the rough beating of my heart created a dissonant harmony.