How convenient would it be if doubt came in multiple-choice format? Doubting an unspecified group feels like solving a problem without an answer. The moment you believe the wrong option is correct, you fall into a trap—and the longer you spend on the problem, the more it gnaws at your sanity.

So you must aim your gun carefully, no matter who your target is. And if that target occupies a position you dare not challenge, you must take even more time to gather perfect evidence.

“Haah…”

My head was already aching, so I leaned against a tree and pressed my forehead. While deep in contemplation, I suddenly heard rustling from beyond the bushes.

[Tae-oh!]

A gray ball of fur burst out from the dense grass and bounded toward me. Seeing that tongue-out smile made the worries in my chest gradually disappear. I smiled back, hiding my concerns, and welcomed Nur warmly.

“Did you have fun?”

[Yes. But something really funny happened.]

“What was it?”

[Well, Grandfather was sniffing flowers when he sneezed, and suddenly leaves came showering down from the sky. He says sometimes flowers bloom when he yawns. Isn’t that amazing?]

“Haha, it sure is. I should have gone to see it with you.”

[Plus, I won all the games of tag! Grandfather said I was amazing.]

Nur had become quite chatty, quite different from the mature demeanor shown before. Seeing him act like a child his age was reassuring. I knelt down to meet his eye level, and Nur jumped up in place.

[You know what? I really like it here.]

“Really?”

[When spring comes, they say pure white flowers will bloom everywhere. And lots of tree fruits will grow too.]

“That’s great! There will be plenty of delicious, fresh fruits.”

At the mention of fruit, the young magical creature couldn’t hide his excitement and raised his tail high. It was welcome news that Nur liked the Kune Forest. At this rate, all we needed was permission from Angelus University to release Nur. I stroked his round head vigorously, filled with undisguisable joy.

But Nur, who had seemed completely happy, suddenly hung his head low.

[Everything’s good, but… something keeps bothering me.]

“What is it? I’ll do anything I can to help.”

With concern, I examined his expression, and Nur glanced up. Though there was no reason to be hesitant, his eyes were downcast like someone who had committed a crime. After hesitating for a long time, Nur muttered in a weak voice.

[Tae-oh… is it okay for me to be this happy?]

“…What?”

[My family passed away not long ago. Frankly speaking, if it weren’t for you, I would have met the same fate.]

“Nur…”

[So when I’m happy, I think of my family. When I eat delicious fruits, smell new flower fragrances, or even just on bright sunny days… I think, ‘My mother would have liked this too.’]

His black eyes, looking up at the trees while reminiscing, were like a calm water surface.

[The day my younger sibling was born, flowers bloomed on a small Kizhan tree for the first time. Later, fruits grew where the flowers had been. You know what? Kizhan tree fruits are very bitter until they turn red, so you have to wait until they’re fully ripe. I looked up at those fruits every day. Once they turned bright red, I was going to pick them for my sibling myself.]

His fur-covered feet tapped the dirt floor endlessly.

[It was just one day. Just one more day and… everything disappeared. Tae-oh. We didn’t even have time to escape.]

“……”

[If I had known, I would have given the fruit to them even if it was bitter… Why did I wait so foolishly?]

His voice trembled sadly as he poured out regrets that had built up over time. Yet I could only stare blankly at Nur, unable to do anything.

[My sibling closed their eyes without ever tasting the fruit, so is it okay for me to eat plenty of delicious fruits? What if they all resent me?]

The young voice pierced my fragile heart, making me unconsciously squeeze my eyes shut. It was too cruel for someone who hadn’t yet reached adulthood. The guilt of being the sole survivor of his group was unimaginably heavy. All I could do was offer sincere consolation.

“What are you saying? No one resents you.”

[…Really?]

“Of course. If anything, your family would want you to live happier, more satisfied, and healthier than you are now. Every day won’t be as new as it is now. But remember this: how beautiful the flowers on the Kizhan tree are, what the fruits taste like… your family will experience it all through you.”

Carefully, I bent down and pressed my forehead against Nur’s. From the warmth I felt on my forehead came the vitality of a sprout breaking through soil. As our breathing gradually synchronized, I heard a much calmer voice.

[…I really hope so.]

I’ve never regretted meeting Nur. I only regret the circumstances that brought us together. If I could go back to the beginning and erase the tragedy in the Bivrint Forest, I’d be fine never meeting Nur in my lifetime. Rather, I would have happily prayed for his happiness living among his group.

“It will be. Trust me.”

Just like when we first met, I stretched out both arms and hugged Nur tightly. Nur nuzzled his head against my small frame and whispered.

[If everyone were here, they would have really liked you.]

My hand, about to stroke his head, stopped abruptly in place. I should be happy—it was the most grateful compliment possible—but strangely, I felt like crying.

Just minutes ago, Oceanos had asked me why I was taking responsibility for incidents related to magical creatures. I said it was out of duty, but the true reason was right here.

“I’ll definitely protect you. I’ll work hard… so you can live in this forest without worries, even when you become an adult.”

Both the Sainur and Hyperion had been harmed by humans, yet they opened their hearts to me, another human. They set aside the easily ignited sparks of resentment and trusted me. The least I could do was step up myself to ensure they wouldn’t be betrayed by humans again.

As I spoke with a slightly trembling voice, a pleasant laugh came in return.

[You’ve done enough already. What more could you do?]

“Still…”

Nur gently slipped out of my arms and stood on all fours. He looked strong, like a butterfly emerging from a hard cocoon after a long wait. His eyes, once empty and unfocused while thinking of his family, now shone with intelligence.

[Now I’ll grow up and protect you.]

As soon as he finished speaking, a clear sound effect rang out. It was a notification that my relationship with the Sainur had advanced to Guardian, the final stage. How could I ever repay this undeserved affection?

***

Thanks to Asrein’s help until the end, we safely returned to Angelus University. Perhaps stimulated by the visit to Kune Forest, I heard that Nur’s appetite had increased significantly. With the Oceanos incident concluded, I could finally sleep peacefully for a while.

But consecutive good events didn’t necessarily bring complete joy. Like how brighter light casts deeper shadows, I couldn’t ignore the anxiety creeping in from afar.

All that remained in my possession was the invitation Count Klaus had sent to the Pergamon mansion. He mentioned gathering lords who had suffered damage from magical creatures to devise effective methods. While it seemed like a plausible discussion, the clues related to Count Klaus kept bothering me.

Why had Count Klaus sent the Dehid flower? Was his effort to make Iris Professor Asrein’s disciple merely coincidence? For now, the only solution I could think of was to enter the tiger’s den myself to find out.

So I decided to focus on the task at hand.

“You brought us to this restaurant again?”

“But there’s no better place.”

“Couldn’t the others join us?”

“Ah, the professor and Jin had other commitments.”

I wanted to thank Sezan and Iris for helping move Nur to Kune Forest. Without hesitation, I brought them to a restaurant in the market. After ordering the day’s special from the waiter, I returned to face a sullen expression. Iris, sitting askew in her chair, sighed while resting her chin on her hand.

“Everything’s fine, but why do you always repay people with meals?”

“Ah, that’s… an old habit.”

I used to always say “Let me treat you to a meal” when meeting someone after a long time or wanting to thank them. Despite being in this world for quite a while, the habit hadn’t easily disappeared. I smiled awkwardly and checked their reactions when Sezan spoke up, clearly having waited for this moment.

“I’m happy to spend time with Tae-oh.”

“What’s so good about spending time with a dull man…”

Sezan stared at Iris after hearing her sarcastic voice. His expression was more puzzled than angry at her contradicting his statement. Feeling his penetrating gaze, Iris glanced at Sezan.

“…What?”

“I didn’t realize you were so reluctant to come.”

“Of course I’m tired when I’m with him.”

“Then why did you arrive long before the appointed time and wait?”

As soon as the piercing question ended, Iris began to cough awkwardly. After unnaturally gulping down water, Iris roughly wiped her lips with the back of her hand and answered.

“W-well, that’s because I have a personality that strictly keeps promises.”

“Ah… I see.”

Sezan slowly nodded but couldn’t take his eyes off Iris. In response, Iris couldn’t remove her lips from the empty cup and stared intently at me. Her wide eyes looked like an SOS signal, so I hurriedly changed the subject.

“Anyway, thank you both so much. Without you, I couldn’t have taken Nur to Kune Forest.”

“So did he like it?”

“Yes! Once Nur grows a bit more, I plan to gradually prepare for his release.”

“That’s good. That greenhouse is too small for a Sainur anyway.”

Just then, appetizers arrived, and we chatted while enjoying our meal. However, as more customers filled the restaurant, I could barely hear their voices despite them sitting right in front of me. I put down my fork, looked around, and said:

“It’s quite crowded, perhaps because the year-end is approaching.”

“That’s probably it. The university is getting busy too.”

“Is our university doing something special?”

If there was a festival, it might get unnecessarily noisy. Seeing my lukewarm reaction, Sezan tilted his head and asked:

“Haven’t you heard about the academic conference held at Angelus University around this time every year?”

“A-academic conference?”

“Each of the four departments presents their achievements for the year. The Department of Magical Creatures has long allowed only graduates to present papers. Tae-oh will likely exhibit reports written during the semester.”

“Wow… I had no idea.”

An academic conference divided by departments! Unlike when thinking about festivals, my heart pounded with excitement. I gripped the table tightly and leaned forward, and Sezan smiled, having anticipated this reaction.

“During the conference, various nobles seeking talent and research institutes that sponsor Angelus University visit. I understand that His Highness the Crown Prince will personally attend this year’s academic conference.”

“His Highness is coming?!”

“Well, this school sends the most research students to imperial direct institutions every year.”

My gaping mouth wouldn’t close. Emperor, Imperial, Crown Prince. I had only heard these august terms but never imagined I could be in the same space as the Crown Prince.

“So will Sezan and Iris also do something in the Magic Department?”

“Yes. Unlike the Department of Magical Creatures, the Magic, Swordsmanship, and Herbology departments focus more on demonstrating actual abilities. Plus, they change the categories each year to prevent students from preparing for tests in advance.”

It seems like a graduation exhibition connected to the job market. As I brightened my eyes with interest, Iris tapped the table and said:

“For your information, this year’s Magic Department test topic is simple and straightforward.”

“What is it?”

“All students just need to break rocks of the same hardness with magic.”

“That’s much more intuitive than I thought.”

“That’s why it’s trickier. Simply breaking it won’t earn a good score. To make an impact among numerous geniuses, you’d need to at least shatter the stone into sand-sized pieces or create a statue in one go.”

Fully agreeing with Iris’s words, Sezan nodded vigorously. His slightly furrowed brow revealed his concerns, so I casually asked:

“Do you have any good ideas, Lord Sezan?”

“I’m still conceptualizing.”

“What about you, Iris?”

“Since I transferred recently, I’ll just submit a report instead.”

“That’s… unfortunate.”

“It’s actually better this way. I can’t use magic right now anyway.”

The conversation about the academic conference continued until the food was gone. If we hadn’t made eye contact with waiting customers outside, we might have sat there until dawn. With some regret, I sent Sezan and Iris out of the restaurant first.

While I stayed behind to pay, Iris, whom I thought had left, approached me.

“Tae-oh.”

“Yes?”

“Just in case…”

After briefly looking around, Iris lowered her voice and said:

“Count Klaus will be coming to this academic conference.”

“…Count Klaus?”

“Yes. It’s not unusual since he attends Angelus University’s academic conference every year, but this time he’ll definitely come to meet you.”

Iris swallowed hard and continued:

“If he asks you anything, don’t answer diligently—just respond vaguely. It’s not my place to say this after serving him for so long… but nothing good comes from attracting Count Klaus’s attention.”

I suddenly noticed the necklace around her neck. Iris is still held captive by Count Klaus with her life as collateral. Yet she was warning me at her own risk, which I could only be grateful for. I gently patted her shoulder and said:

“Thank you for the advice.”

But I’m sorry, Iris. I don’t think I can follow that advice.