Ch.143Chapter 143

Iris was slightly regretting coming to the Academy.

When she had dreamed of attending the Academy, she planned to research Demon Gods, gain recognition for her achievements, focus more on studies and research, and live life as a researcher.

However, after spending a year there, she had seen and learned many things.

Despite starting research on Demon Gods together with others, there were strangely brilliant friends who somehow raced ahead quickly.

She thought they had all started on equal footing, but seeing their different approaches to studying Demon Gods made her realize what true talent really was.

Moreover, as she completed assignments and read more papers, she realized that finding thesis topics was becoming increasingly difficult.

As if proving that latecomers struggle most with thesis topics, all the papers that fell into the category of ordinary—or even extraordinary but not too far from ordinary—”brilliant ideas” had already been written.

It seemed impossible to submit a thesis without a truly innovative and novel approach.

There were even papers on Demon Gods’ mating and reproduction methods, showing how difficult it was to keep up without being somewhat obsessed.

Having heard that some seniors couldn’t graduate because they couldn’t find thesis topics, Iris had no choice but to give up her dream.

Already knowing she was an ordinary person not much different from others, she was filled with thoughts of quitting.

Having already stepped into the Demon God Research Department, she planned to graduate and then enter the job market. Even that was giving her a headache since there weren’t many relevant companies besides public corporations.

“Iris is kind. I hope everything goes well for you, whatever you do,” Ourr had told her.

Since continuing studies or quitting to find work was a personal choice, it wasn’t something others could force. Besides, since neither option was necessarily right, Ourr didn’t add any unnecessary comments.

Iris quietly looked at Ourr.

Somehow, that vague encouragement that Ourr would support whatever she did gave her strength. Perhaps it was because Ourr wasn’t just a friend, but the very being that had led Iris to enter the Academy in the first place.

She had jumped in to study Demon Gods and see new beings, only to hit the wall of reality and change course.

Yet even that path was being affirmed by the very new being she had come to research—it felt strange. Could she ever have imagined hearing such words from the being she had come to study?

When the lecture began, she tried to focus on what the Professor was saying. But Iris couldn’t. Her gaze kept being drawn to Ourr, who was listening to the Professor with a blank expression.

The truth was, she wanted to study. She wanted to research. She wanted to fulfill the purpose for which she had entered the Academy. She knew that once you start something, you should see it through to the end.

She didn’t want to worry about what would happen if she couldn’t graduate.

Like anyone else, she wanted to finish her master’s and doctoral degrees in exactly four years.

Most people probably enter prepared for an even longer period, but that’s just how people’s hearts work.

Yet the more she talked with the very subject she had wanted to research—the reason she had entered the Academy—the more her heart wavered.

Just a little, perhaps?

There was hesitation. The fact that one choice could require investing four years or more was frightening. Knowing how important the choice was, she even tried not to be swept away by momentary temptation.

As the lecture was ending, it became time for the Professor’s casual talk.

Iris, trying to untangle the complicated knot in her mind throughout the lecture, spoke up.

“Ourr, do you think I could do well in research?”

She knew it was cowardly to ask so directly. But perhaps she asked to seek comfort.

Iris began to feel not just her head but her heart becoming complicated. She knew it was wrong to ask others to untangle her complicated knots, but she leaned on them anyway.

“…I don’t know. I’ve seen friends who study well and friends who don’t, but they all seem to do well to me.”

Ourr didn’t offer Iris empty words of comfort. Afraid that it might become the trigger for deciding her future, Ourr couldn’t speak easily.

Instead of irresponsibly saying “You’ll do well at anything,” the only thing Ourr could do was offer sincere encouragement that whatever choice she made, Ourr hoped it would turn out well.

At least, that’s what Ourr thought.

But was that what Iris wanted to hear? Was she hoping for different words? It might seem overly complicated, but since people don’t always explicitly state what they want, maybe it was worth thinking more deeply?

Ourr closed her eyes tightly. She tried hard to seriously consider what answer Iris might want now, and whether she could provide such words. As a result, a small voice filled Ourr’s mouth.

She touched the knot that Iris was holding.

Whether it would untangle or become more tangled was anyone’s guess.

“I want Iris to do what she wants. I don’t know well enough to say which path is better. But, if you do what you want to do and feel happy about it, and don’t regret it later, isn’t that good?”

“…Ourr, that’s such a cool thing to say. Is it because you live with the Professor? So, is there something you want to do?”

Iris was impressed. Who would have thought she’d get such cool advice from Ourr?

So, since things had turned out this way, she thought she’d ask how Ourr had reached such a conclusion.

“Uh, something I want to do… I’m still looking for it.”

Ourr, surprised by the question being turned back on her, flinched. But her mouth opened quickly.

While it might not be a proper answer, she had thought about it to some extent and could clearly state that she was still considering it, so she hoped it would be somewhat of an answer for Iris.

Hearing Ourr’s words, Iris opened her eyes wide and nodded.

So Ourr, a Demon God, has these kinds of worries too. Maybe Demon Gods aren’t that different from humans?

A thought that flashed through Iris’s mind somehow began to push her forward. It felt like she had grasped a peculiar topic that seemed like something anyone might think of, yet one that might not have been easily chosen due to preconceived notions.

“…You’re still looking.”

“Yes.”

“I should think carefully this semester too.”

Iris tried hard to remember her conversation with Ourr.

After that conversation with Ourr, Iris continued to search for and skim through papers. She sat in front of the computer searching everything she could, and not satisfied with that, she also flipped through several books to see if there was anything she had thought of.

And the conclusion she reached:

“…There’s nothing.”

There were many extraordinary topics, but strangely, very simple topics were not written about.

There were topics about similarities with humans. However, there were no topics approaching social growth. When she thought about why, the answer came quickly.

The fact that until now, not a single Demon God had been friendly with humans.

No matter how much she searched, she had never seen a case like Ourr. There was also Ouro, but since she was Ourr’s twin, there wasn’t much to think differently about.

There were no cases. If so, it would be reasonable to assume that while some might have thought of the topic, they couldn’t publish a paper due to lack of information.

Iris nodded at this realization. She even thought that with this, she might be able to proceed to graduate school without any problems.

When she first decided to set foot in the Academy, she felt that feeling welling up. It felt like she could really come to graduate school and study various things.

After graduating high school, most people get jobs. Most who come to the Academy usually consider going to graduate school.

Everyone comes with such dreams in their first year, but many change their minds as they go through their second and third years. Iris was one of those.

Many gave up despite knowing that stopping at the undergraduate level in Demon God Research would leave them in an ambiguous position. Not everyone who studies and researches can write papers and produce results.

Just as she was about to run away, she had a conversation with Ourr about the future, and as a result, found a way forward.

While that wasn’t why she had talked with Ourr, now that she had a result, she felt relieved.

“Ourr.”

The following Monday, Iris met Ourr again.

While there was no chance to talk with Ouro, who always sat at the front because she liked the Professor, it was nice to have many opportunities to talk with Ourr, who sat next to her.

Last time, thanks to Ourr, she felt like the worries she had been having were slightly resolved, so she also felt grateful.

“Yes?”

“Remember that study group we talked about before? Can I ask who’s in it?”

Iris carefully asked Ourr.

It was also a way of announcing which path she had decided to take.