Ch.179Chapter 179

After the vacation ended, the moment arrived for everyone to welcome a new semester with fresh spirits.

Excitement, anticipation. The new mindset made everyone strengthen their resolve. Because it was the first time, until now, and from now on. It was nice to see people comforting themselves, encouraging themselves, and cheering themselves on with such words as they tried to move forward.

Some people were also trying to find their own hobbies to gain energy. It was a good method in its own way since studying all the time would make one tired and exhausted easily.

“…Huh, study group promotion?”

I quietly stared at the A4 paper that someone had scribbled on diligently. It seemed too messy and crude to hand over to someone, but if I thought of it as a proposal, it contained fairly decent content.

Thinking about how the two of them had worked hard to write this, I realized they were serious about revitalizing the study group.

“The study group was originally a small gathering. Just three people, and four including you. But after the semester passed, all the seniors went to academies, so it’s a bit embarrassing to even call it a small group anymore.”

Hearing Iris’s words, it was certainly true. While three or four people could be called a small group, with just two people, it was practically at the level of being disbanded.

I hadn’t heard anything specific from the Professor, but I had a feeling that if things continued this way, we wouldn’t be able to use the borrowed room anymore.

“Then should we follow the Professor around? But with Ouro here, it’s a bit awkward to follow all the lectures.”

I shook my head from side to side.

Would there be any good ideas? I tilted my head, deeply lost in thought trying to come up with something. Then Karen, who had been watching from the side, gently placed her hand on my shoulder.

“How about we do it this way?”

Maybe because I was small, Karen’s hand felt slightly larger. It felt like my body was being embraced. Surrendering to the cozy sensation, I turned my head, and Karen met my eyes with a smile.

“What do you mean by ‘this way’?”

“Whenever Ourr can go, we’ll promote it. Carrying posters and distributing them here and there.”

“So we give them to everyone?”

“No, we’ll just hold a few sheets, and give one to each person who wants one. That works too.”

It seemed like the two had already exchanged opinions and thought it was fine, as I saw Iris nodding at Karen’s words.

“Right, studying isn’t something you can force people to do anyway. It might be overwhelming even if we just gather those who want to do it themselves.”

“I’m worried there might be students who are overly enthusiastic at the beginning of the semester.”

“That would be troublesome in its own way…”

Iris glanced at me.

She seemed to think there could be something even more troublesome. I didn’t know exactly what it was. I hadn’t thought of anything beyond what Karen had suggested.

Still, looking at the proposal might reveal some ideas somewhere. With that thought, I tilted my head.

The reason for the study group’s existence. Benefits one could gain by joining. Even contact information. Seeing that it emphasized the group was for studying in general, not just related to Demon Gods, it seemed they were planning to accept people from other departments as well.

Well, it would be unreasonable to only select students from our department. Besides, Sera and Aria had originally been in the Magic Composition Department before flowing over to this side.

“Then I’ll give it a try. If you just make that…”

“We’ll need to start with the design.”

At my words, Iris twirled her pen.

Not long after, 100 sheets of paper suddenly landed with a thud in front of me.

“Whoa.”

Before I could even say “What is this,” I faced the two people who were smiling.

“Karen organized the content to write inside, and I did the design and printing. Don’t you think this is enough?”

“What do you think? With this content, people will want to join, right?”

“Study group… recruitment? Welcome.”

As I read each word, my head nodded automatically.

It doesn’t have to be flashy. If it can convey what will be done concisely yet powerfully, that’s enough.

And this contained content that met those conditions. It could be seen as the moment a simple piece of paper transformed into a promotional flyer.

“Yes!”

After quickly scanning it with my eyes and responding positively to their question, their expressions brightened even more than before.

It was a moment when I faced the sincerity of their efforts to preserve the study group that had only two members left.

100 sheets of paper. Not that many, but they were surprisingly heavy, perhaps because of their width. Moreover, since I couldn’t fold or crumple the paper and had to carry it in its original state, the inconvenience of holding it directly translated into difficulty.

Groaning, I entered the research lab where the Professor was.

“Huff huff, Professor!”

Exhaling with heavy breaths, I stamped my feet. As soon as I opened the door, my body leaned forward as if about to fall, and surrendering to that momentum, I flew forward and dropped the papers on the desk as if throwing them.

Thud! The papers made a loud noise as they landed. As if wanting to say they were one body, contrary to my concerns, they didn’t scatter or fly around.

Leaning on the desk, I groaned and settled into the chair. Ouroboros, sitting on the opposite side, stared at me for a while and then poked her head out.

“What’s this?”

“Posters. Don’t crumple them. They’re for people.”

“…Hmm. I see.”

Ouro didn’t just take the papers but seemed to bring one in front of her to look at, though her interest didn’t last long. It wasn’t food, nor was it something fun.

Since she didn’t understand even after looking, and lost interest after hearing explanations that didn’t pique her curiosity, she lost interest.

That was actually more convenient for me.

“You’re back?”

The Professor, who seemed to have been gathering something in the corner, greeted me belatedly. After catching my breath, I took one final deep breath and nodded.

Then, to show what I had mentioned before leaving, I picked up one poster and handed it to the Professor.

“Yes! They made these to gather study group members!”

“Hmm. Well made. Who made this? Iris?”

“Karen and Iris made it together.”

“Hmm, I hope many people join.”

“Me too.”

The Professor was also one of the people who wanted the study group to do well.

Since the Professor was also an advisor, that feeling was even stronger. Moreover, since students who wanted to become researchers or graduate students joined, it seemed like the Professor liked having more opportunities to take them around and increase their practical experience.

It was natural to like such things.

“So what are you going to do with these now? Follow classes and distribute them to students?”

“Yes. That’s the plan. But instead of giving them to everyone, I’ll give them to friends who approach and say they want to join.”

When I repeated the method suggested by Karen and Iris, the Professor nodded, apparently thinking it was decent.

“But won’t 100 sheets be too few? Ourr is quite popular. There might be students everywhere who just want to take the posters.”

“Eh.”

The Demon God Research Department and the Magic Composition Department. With two departments that are crazy about Demon Gods gathered, people would have flocked to Ouro even if it wasn’t for me.

Still, the number of posters would decrease nonetheless. Since Ouro had nothing, it would be meaningless unless all profits came to me as her guardian.

After pondering the Professor’s words for a moment, I wondered what to do and finally brought out the last resort.

“Um, Karen and Iris said they would handle the 2nd and 3rd years, so I’m planning to just go around the 1st year classrooms and distribute them here and there.”

Even if I gave them all out, there would still be papers left. Then I could also enter 2nd year lectures midway, or 3rd year lectures. Students who had only heard about it from Karen and Iris and were contemplating might listen to my proposal.

“When you put it that way, 100 sheets does seem like a lot.”

“I hope 100 sheets will be enough quickly.”

When I laughed sheepishly, the Professor nodded.

“Yes, I hope Ourr does well. You’ll follow the Professor’s lectures, right?”

“Yes!”

The semester had started. It was time to follow the Professor’s classes again. I was full of thoughts about doing good activities to increase the number of study group members.

A lecture hall filled with 1st year students.

Starting with the basics, they will learn more difficult theories in the future. Even knowing this, they don’t lose the vigor in their eyes and look with excitement—perhaps because they learn quickly at first.

“Recruiting 1st year new members!”

After the lecture ended, I stood on the platform and held up the posters high. I tried hard to hold them up so people in the back could see, but it was heartbreaking to hear the typical sounds of animals being crushed to death inside because they couldn’t withstand the pressure.

“Study group? What kind of study do you mainly do?”

“Well, we mainly study for grades, but I also like experience.”

“That’s the same for me! But I wonder if I can handle the game…”

The 1st year student who showed interest rubbed their chin, quickly glanced at the paper in my hand, and nodded.

Because they acted as if they were both interested and not, I felt disappointed after initially having hope. At this point, I wished they would just call Iris directly instead of contacting me to decide whether to join.