Ch.81Chapter 81

I’ve been spacing out more often lately. It was because I kept thinking about the conversation I had with the Professor.

It was a Monday in mid-May. During the Professor’s lecture, she briefly went off on a tangent. Perhaps because the students seemed bored with that part, she tried to change the atmosphere with different content.

Since it wasn’t anything special, Iris, who was sitting next to me, spoke up.

“Ourr.”

“Hmm?”

After blinking once, I looked toward Iris, who subtly pointed her finger as if telling me to look.

Following her finger, I saw that boy who had lost his temper with me before. A male student with slightly dull white hair. Wondering what this was about, I looked back at Iris, who whispered the reason.

“That guy, remember I told you he deals with AltCoin? Well, he does that because his home was destroyed and that’s all he can do now.”

“Eh?”

Was she trying to tell me something she’d heard somewhere?

When I first met him, I was taken aback by his hostility, but now I didn’t feel much about it.

I know not everyone can love me. I know not everyone can like me. I’ve learned that beyond indifference, some might even hate me.

I’ve sometimes thought, “Why should I be hated when we’re the same species?” But I also understand that if 99 out of 100 people show that kind of attitude, it’s human nature to think the same about the remaining one.

So I had just let it go, but hearing that his home was destroyed made me feel sorry for him.

“There was a time when a Demon God went on a rampage, and his family lost their home. The support money isn’t enough, so he deals with AltCoin to make ends meet.”

Again, it was because of a Demon God.

It had thrown someone’s life into the abyss.

I couldn’t dare say something like “that’s bad luck.” I could only lament how cruel the world can be.

It wasn’t my fault, but hearing about it, I couldn’t help but feel sorry.

“I see.”

Still, I had no intention of showing my emotions. If I showed pity, he might beat me up saying, “It’s because of creatures like you,” so I decided not to approach him.

Just that much.

I neither pity nor sympathize. I just understand why he holds hostile feelings toward me, but I think it would be counterproductive to approach him or try to change his mind.

“By the way, Ourr, did you enjoy the festival?”

“Yes. I ate a lot of delicious food. What about you, Iris?”

“I stayed home on the festival day because it was bothersome. It’s a day you don’t have to come out anyway.”

Iris’s skin looked soft and glowing, as if she had truly rested well. She must have eaten and slept well.

I looked at Iris’s face with admiration. She stretched slightly to loosen her stiff body. Sitting in her chair, she extended her arms forward and shivered a bit.

“Whew.”

As I stared at Iris making a refreshed expression, I recalled the festival day and spoke with a regretful voice.

“Come to think of it, Iris, don’t you do any club activities?”

“Hmm, there’s nothing I particularly want to do.”

“What about studying? I’m in a study group.”

Before, I might have hesitated to ask, worried it might seem like I was pushing too hard, but now it was different.

Whether my thought process had changed or not, I found myself speaking with a “take it or leave it” mindset.

Iris let out a small sigh after hearing my words. She just blinked while remaining still, looking deep in thought. I tried to read her expression, feeling a bit anxious about whether her answer would be positive or negative.

Since she remained motionless, her expression didn’t change, so I failed to read it.

“A study group isn’t bad, but I don’t find it particularly appealing either. I prefer studying in a free atmosphere. I don’t think I want to do it in such a stuffy environment…”

I thought about how people truly have unique personalities.

There was Sera, who could show terrifying concentration once she started focusing, despite playing around.

Then Aria, who studied quietly but occasionally played pranks.

And Karen, who approached studying with sincerity from the beginning.

Iris was different—she didn’t seem too concerned about academics or grades, preferring to concentrate in a comfortable posture and atmosphere. While anyone might feel that way, I found it impressive that she actively tried to keep herself comfortable.

I started studying things that interested me, with the rest driven by survival instinct, but everyone else seemed to have something they were passionate about, which I found admirable.

Having your own way is important, yes.

“Well, can’t be helped then.”

“Sorry, sorry.”

“No, it’s fine. It’s just a study place anyway.”

Iris apologized even though there was nothing to be sorry about, which caught me off guard. After shaking my head and hands, we finally stopped apologizing to each other.

As the Professor returned to the main lecture, Iris seemed to realize it was time and picked up her pen to start taking notes again.

The origin of Demon Gods. When I first heard about it, there were many fascinating stories, but now it had moved on to profound environmental issues and the flow of the world, making it difficult to understand.

Things like Mana concentration were too difficult, so I decided to move on.

“Ourr, how was today?”

After the second-year lecture ended, the Professor approached and asked me.

“It was difficult.”

“Really? I guess it’s still challenging for you, Ourr.”

“I think I enjoyed the stories I heard at the beginning.”

The Professor laughed and said that made sense.

“Then shall I tell you an interesting story?”

“Yes, please. Oh, Iris, see you later. Work hard today.”

Before leaving the classroom, I waved goodbye to Iris. She waved back at me the same way.

On the way to the research lab.

The Professor told me about Demon Gods.

“Interestingly, Demon Gods acquire different characteristics depending on the situation. But research has shown that Demon Gods born in the same terrain or region aren’t all the same. So how are their characteristics determined? It’s not like they’re influenced by genes.”

We walked side by side down the hallway.

The Professor wiggled her finger as she added more to her explanation, saying it was an interesting story.

“Since they don’t have parents, it makes sense that they’re influenced by the Mana around them when they form, right? Or maybe they’re affected by seasons or weather? It makes you think about even these small details.”

“Professor.”

“Yes?”

“Then what determines the different ways of living long? Someone might want to live a long time without doing anything special.”

Since it was the Professor’s field of expertise, she talked about various things with interest. So I asked something I was curious about.

I get younger every time I die, and living eternally this way seemed painful, so I wanted to find another method.

No, maybe there isn’t another way. With a body already set in its state, what more could be changed? Just as you can’t suddenly stretch someone who is short, it might already be fixed.

I decided to ask out of pure curiosity, giving up on expectations. The Professor was silent for a moment before smiling broadly.

She patted my head.

“My goodness, our Ourr has been thinking about serious things! I’ve thought about that too, but it’s difficult to confirm. Abilities vary greatly, so I wonder if they change with just slight differences in oxygen or Mana concentration, but finding criteria for classifying methods of immortality is even more ambiguous.”

“Really? I thought it would be easier if it could be classified.”

“Sometimes it’s harder to distinguish when things are loosely grouped together. It’s like grouping chocolate and tires together—you wonder what kind of combination that is.”

With that analogy, I found myself nodding.

Chocolate and tires. It was interesting how she suddenly came up with such a comparison. Was it because she was in a teaching position? Or was it a natural analogy she developed through her research?

Either way, it made me think. Chocolate and tires.

You can’t categorize them by whether they’re edible, and melting under heat? That seems applicable to many things.

Perhaps there’s a truth that’s difficult to approach with human common sense. If that’s the case, it might really make my head spin.

“Ourr, I’m sorry if I’m pushing too hard.”

While walking down the hallway, the Professor’s soft voice brushed my ear.

I looked up at her with wide eyes, and she patted my head once before continuing.

“I’ll wait until you’re ready.”

Eventually, there will come a time when I can’t be around people anymore, even if I don’t say I’m okay, so why drag it out?

If anything, I wanted to expedite it for the Professor’s peace of mind. I didn’t want her to keep seeing me suffering, so I shook my head.

“I’m fine now.”

The Professor’s footsteps stopped right there.

Standing beside her, I met her gaze and raised the corners of my mouth.

I smiled, and the Professor nodded while continuously patting my head.