Ch.134Chapter 134

People die. Demon Gods die too. The only difference is how many ways they can die.

But I, Ourr, was different. Sharing one body with two consciousnesses, I protected myself by becoming younger when I died and switching consciousness when I reached my limit.

Being a Demon God, I rarely died anyway, but that’s how I preserved my body.

But now, I kept hearing that if I died this time, I might not be able to come back. Instead of becoming younger and returning to a twenty-five-year-old body, I would just die.

It wasn’t what I wanted. It’s strange to wish for death in the first place, but I couldn’t help feeling a slight sense of loss at losing one of my body’s original characteristics.

Still, it didn’t hit me that hard. The Professor says I could die, but people who don’t know I’m a Demon God don’t think of me as one.

Thanks to the Professor teaching me well, I’ve developed many habits that make me act like a human. As a result, I don’t usually face hatred when I go out.

No one feels uncomfortable with me being nearby, and I’ve never seen anyone express disgust after realizing I’m a Demon God.

The world isn’t as dangerous as the Professor thinks.

But because of what had already happened, the Professor didn’t want to take even that small risk.

It seemed impossible to convince the Professor who thought that way. Even if I said I wouldn’t die, could I handle someone trying to kill me until I died, like that second-year student? After asking myself several times, the answer was always no.

I didn’t want to increase the Professor’s anxiety. Things I never thought about when I was with Ouro became issues I had to consider after being separated from her.

If I were an ordinary person, this would be natural. Everyone dies, but doesn’t everyone still fear death?

I just wanted to live like that. If anything, being protected would make me look stranger. At the Academy, my friends know I’m a Demon God, but I just wanted to live normally with them if possible.

My friends don’t distance themselves from me because I’m a Demon God.

What should I do to make that possible? Finding that answer would certainly be good, but it seemed like it would take a lot of time.

I wanted to go to Sera’s birthday party. Sera’s birthday wouldn’t wait until I found my answer. So I was left with great disappointment.

By the time the Professor’s feelings settled, everything would probably be over. It was disappointing but unavoidable. Unavoidable but disappointing.

I kept feeling regretful and wondered if I should ask again, but when I remembered the Professor’s expression, I couldn’t bring myself to speak up.

After closing my mouth again and thinking deeply, I finally came to a conclusion.

“…Sigh.”

After a small sigh, I tapped on my phone.

[Me: Sorry, I don’t think I can come.]

After sending that one message, I turned off my phone. I felt like I would be sorry and disappointed no matter what response came, so I wanted to close my eyes to it.

But as if I didn’t need to do that, those who saw the message immediately sent replies.

[Sera: You don’t have to feel too burdened! It’s a shame we can’t eat outside, but it’s fine to bring food from outside and eat in the lab, right?]

[Aria: Anyway, Sera and I want to make a good impression on Professor Yuria, so it’s good to see her often.]

[Sera: No, I didn’t mean it that way.]

[Karen: So are we having Sera’s birthday party with Ourr in the lab?]

[Sera: That would be nice. But we need to get the Professor’s permission first…?]

The atmosphere suddenly became lively.

I had been disappointed, but the suggestion to have the birthday party with me in the lab instantly erased that feeling.

I felt a bit sorry for making them accommodate me so much. But the joy I felt was slightly stronger than the guilt.

Was I being selfish? Or too honest? Still, the thought of being able to hang out with everyone and celebrate Sera’s birthday together made me unconsciously look forward to it.

Clutching my excited heart, I went back to the living room where the Professor was. I thought it would be good to apologize for my unnecessary words earlier, talk about the birthday party, and then compromise by asking for some allowance.

That way, I could also ease the Professor’s feelings about not letting me go out.

Though it included my own desires too.

“Professor…!”

“Yes?”

“Can we have a birthday party in the lab? I thought it would be nice to have a party there with everyone, so I could hang out with them without going outside…”

I started boldly, but then I realized I hadn’t considered whether the Professor would actually like us making noise in the lab.

I thought “oops,” but the words were already out, and taking them back would only show that I was yielding for the Professor’s sake. I didn’t want to appear weak or evoke the Professor’s pity or sympathy, so I just kept my mouth shut and waited for a response.

The Professor blinked a few times and then nodded.

“Yes, that’s fine.”

“…Really?”

“Didn’t you ask hoping the answer would be yes? Should I say no if Ourr doesn’t like it?”

The Professor chuckled and gave me an eye-smile. I knew she wasn’t serious, but I made frantic gestures, not wanting to lose the permission I had just received.

“No, no, no, no! It’s good! It’s really good!”

“Is it? That’s good.”

I could feel the atmosphere had changed from before. That was a relief. I was glad I brought it up.

What would the mood at home have been like today if I hadn’t mentioned it?

The earlier atmosphere might have continued. I even felt a vague fear that with more time to think, those emotions might have deepened.

But now I didn’t have to worry about that. In that sense, it was a relief.

Now that I had changed the mood, it was time to casually bring up my next request.

“Um, Professor… could I maybe get a little allowance?”

“Hmm? Allowance? I can give you some, but what for? A gift for Sera?”

“Yes, yes!”

As I nodded repeatedly, the Professor briefly looked elsewhere. She seemed to be thinking about something, but there was no sign of refusal.

“Alright, it’s more meaningful to buy these things with your own money anyway.”

“Wow!”

“Then how about I get a massage from Ourr today?”

My eyes widened at the Professor’s words.

I froze at this unexpected event of giving a massage. When I rolled my eyes to glance at where the Professor was, she had already taken out money from her wallet and was holding it out to me. It was 50 Riel. With this amount, I could buy various things.

But the Professor didn’t seem to want to just give it to me. It was a different concept of allowance than before.

“…A massage?”

“Yes. I thought it might feel more valuable if it’s money that Ourr earned herself, rather than just receiving it.”

I had to admit the Professor had a point.

Certainly, money earned through work feels more valuable than money just received. But something felt different.

Should I be allowed to feel that sense of accomplishment by engaging in this pretense of “earning money”? Could I rightfully feel that satisfaction as the Professor suggested?

Of course, I didn’t mind giving the Professor a massage. I wasn’t trying to get out of it because I disliked it. I wasn’t making excuses; I was just questioning whether it was right to think I had earned money this way.

As I stood there blankly, lost in thought, the Professor gestured for me to come over.

“Ourr? Come here. My shoulders are so stiff today…”

“Ah, yes!”

I decided to do it since she asked.

But I felt like just giving a massage wouldn’t satisfy me. For that 50 Riel to feel like money I had earned, I thought I should do something more than just a massage, so I pondered a bit.

I sat on the sofa. I moved my hands toward the Professor who was sitting on the floor in front of the sofa. As I diligently worked with both hands, the Professor giggled and smiled.

“It tickles.”

“Eh, I’m, I’m doing my best!”

My hands were smaller than I expected, so it was hard to get a good grip. I wanted to do better, but I struggled because I couldn’t grasp the Professor’s shoulders well.

“Ungh, nngh!”

“Mmm, there, that’s good there.”

“Here?”

“Here, yes. Yes.”

And so I diligently kneaded her shoulders, sweating with effort.