Ch.31Chapter 31

“About the Demon God.” It was a course almost mandatory for students who were interested in Demon Gods and entered related departments. Additionally, it was considered a good lecture for Magic Composition students interested in Demon God magic.

Demon Gods were new entities. Unknown beings existing in strange spaces that people couldn’t understand. It seemed normal to consider whether something was worth replicating if you discovered something new.

Therefore, researching Demon Gods wasn’t such a strange thing.

It meant that studying was appropriate whether to deal with harmful Demon Gods or to find components that could help with one’s research.

At first, I thought about just following the professor around and studying texts, but since this seemed like an opportunity to learn more about this world, I started paying attention to the lectures.

“Among the students sitting here, does anyone know exactly what kind of beings Demon Gods are?”

The professor, with her arms on the lectern, posed a question. Last week ended with orientation, and this was the official start of lectures in the second week. Most students couldn’t possibly know the content of a lecture they were hearing for the first time.

Karen sitting next to me was different. She was a hard worker who studied ahead for upcoming lectures. That’s why she slightly raised her hand at the professor’s question.

When the professor pointed at her saying, “You there, please speak,” Karen opened her mouth.

“…A Demon God is an independent entity created when high-concentration Mana combines with consciousness.”

“Then what would you say are the characteristics of Demon Gods?”

“Their vessel differs from other living beings, having an additional external container. Therefore, they create a Mana container called an aura.”

The professor nodded with satisfaction at Karen’s answer and continued her explanation.

“As that student said, Demon Gods have vessels different from humans. The problem is that since they don’t have an external framework and just hover around, they possess the power to kill any living being that enters them. This is the first reason why Demon Gods are considered dangerous.”

The sound of chalk could be heard. White letters appeared on the black blackboard. There were some readable characters, but most were illegible.

Tap, tap-tap. The tapping sound stopped. With the sound of dusting off hands, the explanation continued.

“The second dangerous thing is that they have no moral concepts. We know from childhood what is right and what is wrong. But Demon Gods have no opportunity to receive such education. They only care about themselves and judge everything except themselves as enemies.”

“Oh.”

I stared intently at the professor’s lecture, finding it fascinating.

Honestly, although I’m called a Demon God, I can’t really consider myself one, so I listened as if it were someone else’s story.

I thought that if I learned more about Demon Gods, I might better understand the owner of this body. Looking to the side, Karen seemed to feel the same way.

Seeing those passionate eyes focused on studying was impressive. She was the type who couldn’t see anything else when concentrating on something. I felt she was somewhat similar to Sera in that regard.

“They don’t hesitate to wield enormous power. They act as if it doesn’t matter to them if several people die as a result. There might be Demon Gods who come to kill people because they feel urgency as they sense their lifespan shortening, and there might be Demon Gods who come to kill people because they’re bored with passing time day by day.”

The professor’s voice took on a slightly fearful tone during the lecture.

“Ex-excuse me, may I ask one question?”

“What is it?”

“Are there really Demon Gods who kill people just for entertainment…?”

“Yes.”

The classroom stirred at the professor’s assertion.

“There are cases. Considering that they’re rare, and sometimes we encounter crime scenes too late to classify which type they are, there might not be so few.”

“……”

“Let’s continue with the lecture.”

After answering the student’s question, the professor resumed her lecture.

About Demon Gods. True to those words, it became a time to better understand the terror of Demon Gods.

I thought it might feel like facing a bear with bare hands if they don’t communicate well and lack moral concepts. How many people could maintain their sanity in the face of fear that they might die depending on the mood or change of heart of their opponent?

Even when the professor announced the end of the lecture, there was no energetic feeling. Everyone just created a gloomy atmosphere due to the heightened fear of Demon Gods.

As I stared blankly at that atmosphere, Karen was still busily writing something.

“Karen, aren’t you going to eat? The lecture is over.”

“……”

“Karen?”

“Oh, sorry.”

When I gently placed my hand on Karen’s body, she finally realized I was calling her and opened her eyes wide.

“Aren’t you going to eat? The lecture is over now…”

“I don’t have afternoon lectures, so I’m fine. Though it’s a bit unfortunate I have a morning lecture tomorrow.”

Karen smiled bitterly at my words.

Having just one morning lecture on Friday, how unfortunate… No, wait. Isn’t it good to have only morning classes? It would be better to have all classes on Thursday and rest completely on Friday, but still.

“Then where are you going to eat, Karen?”

“I guess I’ll go home and eat.”

“Karen, let’s eat together.”

I gently shook Karen. She panicked and became flustered.

“Eat together…?”

“I’ll be eating with the professor, but wouldn’t it be okay to talk about the study group together…?”

When I casually brought up the study group, Karen began to think seriously.

“Study group? Is your advisor Professor Yuria?”

“Yes. Our professor said she’d help us.”

“…Huh? What?”

Karen hesitated for a moment. After moistening her lips slightly, she glanced toward where the professor was. Come to think of it, I wondered if our professor was the advisor for the Demon God Research Department.

“Isn’t our professor your advisor?”

“No, even in the Demon God department, professors are different. My advisor is Professor Silvia.”

“Huh? Then why are you taking the Demon God lecture from our professor?”

“…Let’s just say it happened that way.”

Karen trailed off. There seemed to be unavoidable circumstances. Perhaps the lecture hall was full, or some other seemingly trivial but significant reason.

I gave a slight glance to the hesitating Karen.

In response to my expression asking if she wasn’t going to come, Karen firmly closed her dry lips. Those lips, which seemed like they would never open, carefully parted.

“…Then, shall we go? It would be good to make a good impression on the professor.”

“Great!”

Now that I had my answer, I gathered the white papers in front of me. I put my pen in my pocket and approached the professor with quick steps, and she reached out as if she had been waiting for me.

“My, Ourr was listening attentively to today’s lecture. Did you enjoy it?”

“Yes, it was interesting.”

The professor extended her hand as if offering to carry the papers for me, and I didn’t hesitate to hand them over.

With my hands now free, I glanced back to where Karen was and spoke to the professor.

“Professor, let’s eat with Karen.”

“Hmm? With Karen? …I don’t mind, but why?”

“I want to talk about the study group.”

As I grinned and playfully pleaded with the professor, she smiled wryly and stroked my head. My hair, unkempt and rough, was gently brushed back.

I quietly felt that touch, then raised the corners of my mouth toward Karen, who was carefully packing her bag and coming down from behind.

After leaving the classroom, I moved outside the Academy with Karen to get something to eat.

“Come to think of it, Karen, you said your advisor is Silvia.”

“Y-yes…”

“It’s okay. These small gatherings like study groups aren’t many, and Silvia doesn’t run any separately, so you don’t need to worry. After all, it’s good to think of us as departments researching Demon Gods together.”

The professor said reassuring words to Karen.

“I like students who work hard. It’s even better if you have any goals. I won’t ask for anything grand since you’re not entering as an academy student, but may I ask if you have some kind of goal?”

“I want to research more about Demon Gods. I’m curious, you could say. With the limited information from books, what we can learn is limited…”

The professor chuckled after hearing Karen’s goal.

“Do you dream of becoming a professor? You’ll have to work hard.”

“…I think being just a researcher would be good too.”

“Seems like you’re the type who loves studying. Ourr likes studying too, so you’ll get along well.”

At the professor’s words, I slightly raised my hand.

“When I say studying, I mean reading. I can at least choose between sirloin, tenderloin, and chicken.”

When I said that, Karen next to me couldn’t hold back her laughter and burst out with a “pfft.” When I turned my head sharply, this time the professor laughed.

“Really? Then I won’t tell you this time, so would you like to choose?”

With those words, we arrived at a family restaurant. Karen looked at the menu and was shocked, but the professor gave her a gentle smile.

“It’s okay, I’m treating you.”

“Th-thank you.”

Karen bowed her head deeply, not knowing what to do. I glanced at the menu beside her.

“…Hmm.”

There was no chicken. Instead, I could read sirloin and tenderloin. Remembering that tenderloin was tender before, I pointed at it slightly with my finger.

The professor smiled and shook her head.

“Not that, let’s have this.”

“…I don’t know what that is.”

“Shall we just eat it? I think this would be enough for all three of us.”

Somehow the professor ended up ordering everything. Karen tried to choose something cheap but failed, and eventually she ended up with a non-alcoholic mojito in her hand.

“I feel like we’re eating something too expensive… I’m sorry.”

“No, I wanted to treat you. And it seems like Ourr wanted to eat together too.”

No sooner had the professor finished comforting Karen than the food arrived quickly. I realized it was a T-bone steak, wondering what dish it was.

So it was a steak place…!

I didn’t know because there were no pictures on the menu.

Realizing this belatedly, I glanced at Karen with an “oops” feeling. No wonder Karen was so flustered—I had no idea this was the reason.