Ch.74Chapter 74

Demon Gods each have their own characteristics. Not only do they differ in how they extend their lifespans, but they also use different abilities. The Professor suggested the development potential of Originals based on this.

I didn’t need to find an Original since I was a Demon God. I already had an Original within myself.

“…”

But I didn’t know how to use it. Even though I attended the same lectures as Sera and Aria, I only understood the basics—what circles and triangles were—in theory. In reality, I didn’t know the first thing about magic.

How could I use an ability that only I knew about, that only I possessed, when I couldn’t even use magic? It didn’t make sense. Whether it was Mana or Magical Power, those things were for people who knew how to use them, not for an outsider like me to wield recklessly.

Even after the lecture ended, I kept thinking about it for a long time.

What kind of ability might I have?

If I had one, it would make me feel special, which would be nice. It would mean no one else could replace me.

But I didn’t necessarily need to have one.

For someone treated as a Demon God like me, only solitude awaited. I desperately wished to live in this bustling space where people lived, even if it meant giving up everything else.

I looked through the book.

It was a small theory about magic.

When I opened the first chapter, the same explanation always greeted me. As if this was both the beginning and the end, as if nothing could begin without it, a circular shape was accompanied by an explanation.

It varied by author, but some wrote words of praise about the circle.

“The circle is a perfect form. With no beginning or end, connected as one, it signifies both the beginning and end, while simultaneously meaning there is neither beginning nor end. The sky is not limited but infinitely spread out, so the circle also symbolizes the sky.”

Flip.

Though I’d always seen these words from the author, I thought it wouldn’t hurt to read them once more, so I took them in.

“The circle speaks of circulation. Drawing a circle first on magic paper allows the injected Mana to circulate evenly throughout the Magic Circle. Because the injected Mana circulates without beginning or end, it also serves to erase the exceptions in magic activation, that is, sudden situations.”

I’d read various books, but I couldn’t help laughing at someone who was so genuinely passionate about circles.

It was just a simple circle, yet because it was the alpha and omega of magic application, the author spoke like someone in love. I found it fascinating and tilted my head.

“Both beginning and end, yet without beginning or end. Circulating without distinction between start and finish. All of this signifies eternity. The fundamental issue of people approaching eternity lies here. I take this opportunity to seriously suggest that perhaps the existence of Demon Gods shows us the goal humans should strive to reach.”

It was quite an interesting statement. So I snorted and focused on the book. I was still before the main part that explained what circles and triangles were, but I stopped at the author’s words and read those lines repeatedly.

Other people thought Demon Gods should be dealt with, and some, like the Professor, wondered if there might be Demon Gods we could coexist with. But this was the first time I’d encountered someone with this perspective, so I found it fascinating.

The existence of Demon Gods is humanity’s ideal to strive for. How many people in this world would speak that way?

I wasn’t getting cocky just because I was a Demon God. I just thought, wow, there are people with such different thoughts, the world is vast—that’s all.

“Ourr, you’ll ruin your eyes that way.”

The Professor grabbed my shoulder and pulled me back slightly. Realizing I had my face too close to the book, I relaxed and moved my head a bit farther from it.

Leaving the book as it was, I tilted my head back to look up at the Professor. As I leaned back, the crown of my head touched the Professor’s stomach.

“Hmm?”

After briefly meeting my eyes, the Professor turned her gaze to the book I was reading. She seemed to scan the content with her eyes, then tilted her head and reached out.

“Ourr, are you reading the author’s note first?”

“It was just interesting.”

Curious about what book I was reading, the Professor took it and slowly began reading that page.

Without any particular reaction, she closed the book, quickly flipped through the front and back covers, and nodded.

“What is it?”

“Oh, it’s my professor’s work.”

“…Your professor?”

“Yes. That’s how it goes.”

“Hieek.”

An incredibly high-ranking person.

The Professor was already incredibly smart and strong, so I was both curious and afraid of what kind of person her professor might be. I worried that standing before such a person might overwhelm me with their aura.

When I recoiled, the Professor chuckled and told me:

“We’ll have to meet them at the upcoming seminar.”

“We’ll meet them…?”

“Of course. I have my own research to get verified.”

The Professor shrugged as if to say she wasn’t much different from the academy students.

What kind of world did the Professor live in? Though curious, I felt I shouldn’t get too close and look, so I just nodded.

No matter how much I liked the Professor, that was a bit…

As I made a disgusted expression and tried to distance myself from the Professor, her arm flew toward my chest. Coming down from above like a roller coaster safety bar, her arm grabbed my body and settled me back into the chair.

“…Eh?”

“Why are you making that face? You have to come meet them too.”

“Eh…?”

I thought we’d just chat about the upcoming festival next week, gossiping and talking about it, but apparently not.

So I’d attend the festival, go to the Academy, and then later meet the Professor and her professor? Would there be many professors?

My mind went blank. A high-ranking person’s high-ranking person. How high? How strong? I just hoped they weren’t aggressive. As these thoughts crossed my mind, the Professor slightly removed her arm that had been wrapped around me.

I vaguely looked up as I felt her hand touch my cheek. Looking up at the Professor again, she smiled and asked:

“What? Does the idea of my professor scare you?”

“I think there will be many professors like you. They all seem really powerful…”

“No.”

The Professor shook her head.

It seemed my assumption that all professors were powerful was a misconception. Wondering if only our Professor was strong, I tilted my head, and she answered in a low voice:

“My professor isn’t particularly strong either. Just intelligent.”

“Really?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

So perhaps only those who continued research in strength-related fields became strong.

While the Professor’s professor might not be, the professors of the Professor’s peers could be strong, so I couldn’t completely relax.

I just hoped none of them had ill feelings toward Demon Gods. Of course, with our Professor around, I’d surely be safe.

Feeling a bit tense, I gulped. The Professor found this amusing too and smiled with her eyes as she gently poked my cheek with her fingertip.

“Ueeee.”

“Hehe, it’s okay. Since you’re with me, I won’t let anyone else touch you.”

“Then I’m fine. Aang.”

“Oh, how cute. Do you like the Professor that much?”

As I nodded slightly, the Professor couldn’t resist and lifted me up for a hug.

At times like this, I really felt how incredibly strong the Professor was. The tight embrace made me feel like I couldn’t breathe. I groaned as the Professor pressed her face against mine and nuzzled.

Nng.

“It’s suffocating…”

“What should we eat today? Tell me what delicious food you want!”

The Professor, now in a good mood, told me she’d buy me something tasty.

At first, I didn’t care whether I ate or not, but now I enjoyed the pleasure of tasty food, so when she asked, I would think about it for a moment.

Rather than the survival instinct of needing to eat to live, it was more about wanting the pleasure of tasty food.

“…I want soba.”

“Soba? Soba sounds good.”

The Professor nodded readily.

After eating the spontaneously chosen meal, we returned home. I took out the book I had seen earlier in the research lab and skimmed through it again.

A book written by the Professor’s professor. I had wondered who could be so passionate about circles, but I hadn’t expected it to be the Professor’s professor, so I scanned it again with my eyes.

Author, Thales Coil.

“Professor.”

“Yes?”

“Why does your professor, um, love circles so much?”

“…I’m not sure about that. He wasn’t like that when I was studying under him. He must have gotten fixated on something while I was away.”

The Professor skimmed through the book I had brought again. Then she glanced at the very last page and smiled bitterly.

“Looking at the first edition date, it’s from last year. I was busy last year, so I’m even less sure.”

“What do you think, Professor?”

“Hmm? About circles?”

When I nodded, the Professor thought about it seriously.

If I had simply asked about circles, the Professor would have explained within my range of understanding, but this time, since it involved her professor, she seemed to be thinking more seriously.

After reviewing what circles were and whether they deserved such praise, she just shrugged.

“I think they’re important. Since my professor was properly researching them, he probably understood their importance beyond what I think.”

“It seems even you have trouble understanding your professor.”

“When you put it that way, I suppose it might sound like that. That’s possible.”

The Professor smiled bitterly and patted my head firmly.

Static electricity made my fluffy hair try to stick to the Professor’s hand. I looked up. Seeing my hair stuck to the Professor’s palm reminded me of something, and I put my hands together.

As if sending telepathy, I pressed two fingers to my forehead and groaned. It felt like I was using magic, which was strange.

Next time, I wanted to try using magic.