Ch.184Chapter 184

I followed the professor’s instructions, and I felt like my understanding of magic had improved somewhat. However, regardless of this improved understanding, whenever I used my abilities as a Demon God, I questioned whether I truly understood what I was doing.

The regular magic the professor taught me could only be used after constructing properly interlocking magic formulas. In the case of the ring formula the professor showed me, it included three-dimensional circles that rotated to circulate magical power.

Looking at such things, even if I understood how magic worked, it seemed difficult to research and create new magic like the students in the Magic Composition Department.

But my abilities as a Demon God bypassed all of that.

The things I wanted to do, the things I thought about—they all happened first, and the magic formula felt already complete when the ability activated.

Unlike magic formulas where the process creates the result, it felt like I created the result first and then inserted the process afterward, claiming it had been there all along. I couldn’t see those magic circles, and I had no need or reason to see them.

It was like being able to instantly create flames with a breath, unlike people who needed to use flint to start a fire.

If that was the case, wouldn’t this also be possible?

After bringing Iris to the empty room, I thought about things I hadn’t even shown the professor yet. It was just my idea. It might be something the professor hadn’t thought of, or it could be something she hadn’t mentioned because it wouldn’t work.

Still, since there was a possibility, I took a deep breath and prepared to use my ability.

“First, Iris stands here, and I’ll stand here.”

“What are you trying to do?”

In the empty research lab, I positioned Iris at one end, while I leaned against the opposite wall and took a deep breath.

“I want to see if I can create something Iris will need when she looks for a job. You said it might be difficult to find employment with a Demon God Research major.”

Your major is quite important. Even if you choose a major for study, once you step outside the path of academia, it can be difficult to be accepted elsewhere. Thinking about it that way, the Demon God Research major could be considered one of those.

The closely related Magic Composition Department might be in such high demand that its graduates are practically headhunted.

But that wasn’t the case for the Demon God Research Department. That’s why I wanted to help.

“What are you planning to do?”

“Well, I’m a Demon God, and Ouro is a Demon God too.”

After muttering that, I stepped outside briefly. When I brought back Ouro who had been waiting, she looked at me as if annoyed.

Her expression conveyed her dissatisfaction at being dragged here without proper compensation. If Ouro refused, I would have to do it myself, but for now, entrusting it to Ouro was the priority.

The mana I manipulate can be deadly poison to humans, so I was prioritizing safety.

“Ouro, I’ll buy you something delicious. Okay?”

“…Hmph. You should at least do that much.”

Ouro nodded as if that was only natural, then stared intently at Iris. Perhaps because Iris was among the members who went to the hot springs before, Ouro didn’t seem shy around her.

Actually, Ouro had never been shy, but she seemed even more natural now.

“Ouro?”

“Ouro.”

When Iris asked with wide eyes, Ouro repeated the word exactly the same way. After saying her own name, she turned her head sharply.

She seemed to be waiting for me to tell her what to do.

Ouro really is easy to manage.

“The professor said that Demon Gods can create whatever they want. Even if the magic formula is difficult, Demon Gods can bypass that.”

I boasted, but Iris nodded as if she already knew.

She even added an explanation.

“The existence of Demon Gods may have abnormal origins, but they’re no different from beings in the food chain. Just as there isn’t only predator and prey. Like how there are faster animals when comparing speed, and larger animals when comparing size, Demon Gods are life forms that surpass humans and various other races in terms of magic.”

“Eh.”

Come to think of it, she’s from the Demon God Research Department, so she’s on a different level.

I don’t even know myself well, and I felt a bit embarrassed for trying to show off in front of someone who researches Demon Gods, including me. My face felt a bit hot, so I fanned myself with my hand.

“Anyway, anyway. Since they say we can do anything, I thought what if we could create some phenomenon and make it possible to identify the magic circle behind it.”

I raised my index finger straight up and spoke as if I had made some great discovery. It is a great discovery.

Normally, Demon Gods aren’t cooperative with humans. So using such a human-friendly method would usually be impossible, but Ouro and I were different.

Ouro becomes cooperative when given food. And I’m just naturally cooperative.

What if, instead of having to write and discover magic formulas using a Demon God’s power, we could discover the formula instantly?

As I spoke with sparkling eyes, Iris smiled bitterly.

“That would obviously be a one-time solution.”

“Huh?”

“Let’s say I create one good magic formula and use it to get a job. Even if I get employed with that, when people eventually learn about the magic formula, my position will weaken. And one formula alone won’t be enough. If I didn’t create it myself, it would be meaningless. Because it wasn’t made with my own ability.”

Iris held out her palm as if refusing my goodwill.

“It might be good to get hired this one time. But what about the next time I need something? Should I come ask you again? I might have to keep depending on you. That wouldn’t be right.”

“I’m not offering you a disposable spell.”

“Huh?”

“I’m saying I’ll help you have good magic like our professor. Actually, I’m experimenting secretly without the professor knowing because I’m not sure. I’m going to create something original.”

I spread my arms.

Think about it. Imagine yourself holding a magic circle that can create any phenomenon you want.

That couldn’t help but be attractive. For a Demon God, it might be just one of many phenomena they could create anytime, but for humans, even one such ability could be appealing and potentially a lifelong companion.

The professor’s aura was one such example.

“Original…”

If it were just ordinary magic, that would be one thing, but an original was different.

Even if you don’t tell others about it, its effect would be a power envied by everyone, so it would never be disrespected.

“What would you like? Since this is Ouro’s first time creating something, it might be a bit clumsy.”

“I’m not clumsy.”

“Huh? Weren’t you not good at it?”

“I become more stable as I mature. I’ve grown a bit since last time.”

The way she slightly raised her chin was vexing. I haven’t gotten younger yet, you know? I’m growing too, so why is she acting like that?

I glared at Ouro, but she looked back at me with a smug expression. She’s probably acting this way because she knows I’ll be the only one getting younger from now on.

Getting upset at Ouro’s reaction would mean losing. I deliberately ignored her and turned my head toward Iris.

“So what would be good? I don’t know what to do. I don’t have many ideas…”

It would be great if I could provide ideas first, but unfortunately, I wasn’t that creative. All I had seen beside the professor were letters and shapes.

I had seen magic formulas a few times, but I just saw their form, not how they worked or why they operated that way. I hadn’t learned the principles in detail. After all, I wasn’t an Academy student.

“I’m not sure if I should suddenly receive an original like this… Everyone else researches through master’s and doctoral studies to create one.”

Iris couldn’t simply be happy. She worried and agonized like someone feeling uneasy.

Watching her, Ouro bluntly said:

“Isn’t it good to be able to use magic?”

She looked like she wanted to finish quickly and go back to get something delicious to eat.

Iris stroked Ouro’s head and shook her own.

“That would be nice, but there’s a certain order to things. I’m trying to get a job without even going to graduate school, so suddenly having an original feels a bit wrong…”

Oh no, this would make people who spent years researching originals look foolish.

Belatedly realizing this, I hesitated and read the atmosphere. I was eager to help, but looking at it now, I realized it was something I shouldn’t do.

I’m such a fool.

“Why is that?”

This one’s a fool too. She still doesn’t understand.

“Well, it’s like this. When others are working hard to achieve something, it doesn’t look good if someone else suddenly gets it effortlessly. Besides, you probably had people you lived with like Sera and Aria, right? This would negate their reason for going to graduate school. I can’t do that.”

“Hmm.”

“I appreciate the thought. But rather than receiving it this way, I think it would be better to research together and learn together.”

Iris stroked Ouro’s head, who still looked like she didn’t understand the meaning. After making a somewhat subtle expression, Ouro surrendered her head and nodded.

That nodding wasn’t because she understood, but because it felt good—that was clear.

“Then I’ll look for another way…”

Seeing Ouro like that, I wasn’t in the mood to joke around, so I pouted. Iris thanked me, then took both Ouro’s and my hands firmly as we left the research lab.