Chapter 44

"Huff, huff!"

"Kee-ru-ru."

I awkwardly petted the animals and whispered softly.

"You must stay healthy and not get hurt. Got it?"

The animals responded to my words with their own sounds.

Suddenly, I remembered Raul's note.

I understood better the nagging about eating well and drinking in moderation.

At that moment, Professor Ilya, who had been maintaining a strange silence, spoke up.

"It's time for the lecture to start. Let's go."

Oops. I had been so busy with various things all morning that I had completely forgotten about attending the lecture.

"Wait, just a moment! I need to take this."

Professor Felix quickly took out the book I had intended to borrow and laughed cheerfully.

"Return it whenever you can! The sooner, the better."

His expression suggested he was confident I would return.

I left the lab with a standard reply, "I will."

Since my first lecture was with Professor Ilya, we moved to the lecture hall together.

As I skimmed through the book, Professor Ilya asked in a low voice.

"Are you considering changing your major?"

"Me? No, absolutely not."

"...Magic animals are sensitive. To the point where humans can't match their magical waves at all."

Magic animals are powerful but difficult to control, which is why only a few scholars study them.

Thus, changing my major to magic animals could potentially be a significant blue ocean.

"You, however, have an unusually good affinity. It could be a great talent."

But my goal and dream were not to become a great magician.

So, I shook my head and firmly stated my thoughts.

"I prefer to be recognized by the professor. I'm only just beginning to understand elemental magic."

After all, when properly mastered, <Elemental Magic> is a field with infinite possibilities.

Silence fell between us again.

'Huh. Now that I think about it, it's not that hard to follow the professor.'

Raising my gaze curiously, I saw his profile, which still looked indifferent.

It wasn't an illusion; Professor Ilya was actually matching my pace.

'Could it be?'

I checked the affection level out of curiosity.

[Affection Level: ♥♥♡♡♡]

"?! "

[The constellations are paying attention to the change in affection level.]

[Some constellations are supporting the 'Ilya' route.]

It was unbelievable that my affection level had already filled up this much so soon after the start of the semester.

'If I were playing as Revi, it would take at least 20 personal meetings to fill 2 red hearts in hard mode.'

That meant I had done something significant to fill Ilya's affection level.

What could it be? How did I do it?

'Ah, maybe... ...'

Could it be because of the magic animals?

Magic creatures originally inhabited the celestial realm.

However, 100 years ago, a dimensional rift caused by a great demon brought celestial flora and fauna to the human realm.

The celestial beings had a good affinity with magic creatures and could provide them with the most delicious food.

Especially during his time as a great angel, Ilya could easily control all magic animals.

But that relationship ended with his fall.

The magic creatures, who were once the closest to him, now recognized him as an enemy.

'That fact, which I keep in my heart, makes me jealous of the characters. Therefore, Ilya is so noble.'

I'm not sure if the term 'noble' is appropriate for a great demon who only thinks about destroying the celestial realm.

'Anyway, it seems that my closeness to magic animals has stimulated him.'

Perhaps I had been staring at Professor Ilya too intently while thinking about this?

He looked down at me, slightly frowning as if my gaze was annoying.

"Staring silently at someone is either to insult or to seduce. Neither seems appropriate for a student to do to a professor."

His accusation made me shudder, and I tried to come up with a reasonable excuse that wouldn't offend him.

"Well... Professor, you look especially handsome today...?"

So far, my flattery had worked well with the professors, so I hoped it would work this time too...

"Seduction, then."

"Wh-what?!"

Professor Ilya's usually expressionless face showed a very faint smile.

It was so subtle that you wouldn't notice it unless you looked closely.

"Bold."

Then, he walked away as if my reaction was of no interest to him!

[Some constellations are strongly supporting the 'Ilya' route.]

"Wait, what...! Oh, come on."

I couldn't hide my astonishment and, remembering that my first lecture was with Professor Ilya, hurriedly followed him.

* * *

Rumors spread throughout Valhalla.

Several of them, in fact.

For example:

"Lord Squire donated an enormous sum of money. Does this mean an improvement in relations with the Willow family?"

Or this:

"Senior Damian has been appointed as Senior Terese's guardian mage. For the Lord Squire to appoint him personally, this must be a more luxurious treatment than those who have had formal appointments. Even though he's a commoner, he's still a talent."

And this:

"Have you heard that Terese has become a library ghost?"

"Really? I better not go there then."

"You never go to the library anyway. Idiot."

In other words, all the rumors were related to Squire.

Naturally, Terese was at the center of these rumors.

The most shocking rumor for the students was that "Terese joined the student council."

It was a significant development.

I found the attention and gazes overwhelming.

Ding!

[Constellation 'Betting on Terese's Life' has donated 10,000 coins.]

[Devilish Star Quality]

'Star quality can go to hell.'

Due to the simultaneous spread of high-profile rumors, I was avoiding people's gazes.

I hadn't done anything wrong, but the number of people approaching out of curiosity or for personal gain was gradually increasing.

"Where should I eat lunch today?"

I walked along a quiet path, holding a sandwich bag, looking for a suitable spot.

The campus was filled with blooming flowers, and the steady passage of time felt like a full spring.

I stared blankly at the falling petals and pressed my temples.

I had been experiencing mild headaches more frequently lately.

"Why does my head keep hurting?"

Ding!

[Constellation 'Explanatory' has donated 10,000 coins.]

[Perhaps it's a possession syndrome? Many BJs show such symptoms after possession.]

Possession syndrome. What a strange term.

"It could be a plausible syndrome."

I felt quite stressed.

I also felt particularly claustrophobic in enclosed spaces for no apparent reason and sometimes woke up suddenly as if I had been startled from sleep.

At such times, I often isolated myself in a place where no one could find me.

I was currently looking for such a place.

Reflecting on it, I had spent most of my time in the library at the Squire's mansion after possession, which was also a form of isolation from the world.

'Being possessed by an antagonist, it's natural to feel troubled.'

How long had I been walking?

I sat on the steps of a detached building far from the main hall, placing the book and sandwich bag I was holding.

The place, with its pleasantly cool breeze and warm sunlight filtering through the trees, had a charming atmosphere.

"Here, no one will come."

Not even the male protagonist, the Kyeo-yeo Club, or Demisa.

Rustle.

I took out the sandwich from the bag and then put it back.

I had no appetite.

Even though I should force myself to eat something to avoid Elowise and Raul's nagging, I didn't feel like it.

"Is lack of appetite also a possession syndrome?"

Hmm. No. I recalled that I often heard the phrase "You eat everything so disgustingly" on Earth.

Leaning my head against the railing, I sighed.

"Senior Terese...?"

A small voice, tinged with disbelief, made me turn my head. A girl stood at the top of the stairs.

She was thin and plain-looking, with neatly braided dark brown hair and a baggy school uniform that looked like it had been handed down.

She was a character we had created in our team.

"Rainy Rose."

"!"

Rainy, clearly surprised that I knew her name, shrank back like a hamster.

I looked around the detached building again.

'Now I understand why I felt familiar with this place. Rainy often appears here.'

Rainy was clearly very wary of me.

'Is it inevitable?'

Rainy was a commoner.

Terese was a madman who couldn't tolerate commoners speaking to her.

'I should move.'

"Sorry. I didn't realize someone was here first."

As I stood up and dusted off my seat, my stomach growled.

Rainy, with a suddenly red face, clutched her stomach as if to hide it.

After a moment's hesitation, I offered the sandwich bag to the flustered Rainy.

"Here, take it."

"What is this?"

"A sandwich. I haven't even taken a bite. I'm not hungry right now. Would you like to eat it instead?"

Rainy looked confused and very wary, but her hunger seemed to overcome her caution. She hesitantly took the bag and bowed deeply.

"Thank you."

It was a barely audible, small voice.

I replied, "You're welcome," and left.