“Haaah… Thank you, Sion.”
“…Did you call me because of this?”
“Well? That’s part of it, but… I actually called you for help! Just come in for now…”
“…….”
After the eternally long ‘back-scratching’ session ended,
Professor Lunia entered the inside of the hut for the practical session.
…Unlike Professor Lunia, who changed every week, the inside of the hut was still filthy.
“Professor, don’t you clean up…?”
“As I told you last time… this is chaos theory… There’s—there’s order in chaos—”
“So what are you looking for?”
“…Ah, I can just call for her… Silphia!”
As she called out ‘Silphia’, a gentle cat leapt in from inside the hut.
…It wasn’t a cat I had never seen before.
Its eyes were those of a red Persian cat.
“Is this perhaps the spirit we saw last week?”
[Oh ho, the human male remembers well, nyah.]
Pounce.
The cat called Silphia coiled around Lunia’s neck.
…It looked almost like a fox scarf on her.
[My name is Silphia. I’m a mid-level wind attribute spirit, and as you can see, I’ve contracted with an elf female. I may be a deficient master, but please take care of me, nyah.]
“Ah, a female…”
[Then is the master a male, nyah?]
“That’s not exactly it, but… ugh…”
“….”
Silphia groomed herself with an unimpressed face.
Just from eavesdropping on their conversation, I could decipher roughly what their relationship was.
“So why do we need a spirit for practicals?”
“Ah, that’s… Silphia is more sensitive to spirit affinity than other spirits…”
“…Sensitive?”
[That’s right, nyah.]
Silphia showed her front paw to Sion.
A few fluffy fur strands barely covered a pink jelly.
…What is this? Is it asking to be touched?
[If a human hand touches my front paw, I can roughly gauge that human’s spirit affinity, nyah.]
“…Aha, so that’s why you’re using Silphia for the practicals?”
[Call me Silphia-sama, nyah!]
Whoosh!
A sudden gust ruffled Sion’s hair.
She really is a wind attribute spirit.
To create a wind like this without any incantation or magic circle, just with a gesture…
“…I’m sorry, Silphia-sama.”
[Hmph, since you’re my master’s precious male, I’ll let it slide this time, nyah.]
“Ah, precious…?”
[Don’t try to act coy, nyah. Anyway! Stop wasting my precious time and let’s get going, nyah.]
“…Let’s go, Professor. The students must be waiting.”
“Yes, yes….”
Lunia carefully walked, avoiding the clutter on the floor.
Sion followed her quietly.
It was quite precarious due to her tight shirt and skirt, but she didn’t fall.
“By the way, Professor, did you visit a shop or something?”
“Ah, yes… thanks to you, Sion…”
“You practiced your pronunciation too?”
[Don’t mention it, nyah. I’ve never heard my master mumble so loudly at night. I couldn’t sleep a wink until the summons wore off, nyah.]
“Ugh… I’m sorry… but I really tried hard…”
Lunia looked up at Sion.
“…Did I do well?”
“……….”
Sion recalled what Lunia had done.
Going to a shop she had never visited before to prepare for the lecture and wearing new clothes.
She had even set up chairs on the wide open ground in front of the hut for the students to sit and listen.
And she had diligently practiced her faltering tone and whispering voice.
All this effort had stemmed from Sion’s advice.
Since she was earnestly following his words, how could he resent her?
Rather… he only felt a greater desire to praise her.
And that feeling moved Sion’s hand.
Tap.
“S-Sion…?”
A hand had risen over Lunia’s head.
It moved slowly.
As if petting a small animal.
“…You did well.”
Pat pat.
Sion’s hand moved gently back and forth.
Unable to shake it off, Lunia’s ears trembled.
Watching her pointed ears gradually turn red…
Sion’s mind slowly began to return.
‘…Uh? What am I doing right now?’
Whoosh!
The hand quickly came down.
What… what did I just do?
A student petting a professor’s head?
Even in a medieval fantasy world… I crossed the line.
Sion bowed repeatedly to Lunia, who looked dazed.
“I-I’m so sorry, Professor. I didn’t mean to…”
“Huh? N-No… I actually liked it… Uh, not that! U-Um, it’s totally understandable! Yes!!”
Lunia flapped her hands in response.
[I’m so frustrated, nyah. Why can’t you just get to the point, nyah?]
“Q-Quiet down, please…! You can’t say that in front of the students…”
[I’m not a child, I know everything. Just get on with it, nyah.]
“……”
Silphia snorted.
Thanks to that, the awkward atmosphere eased up a bit.
…Perhaps Silphia was doing it on purpose.
“Well then, I’ll open it.”
“…Yes!”
Creeeak.
Sion opened the door and stepped outside the hut.
Immediately, everyone’s gaze turned to Sion and Lunia.
Though Lunia’s shoulders shrank, Sion didn’t mind at all.
‘I’m used to the students’ gaze.’
Graduate students are in a profession that receives the attention of students.
This is especially true when conducting proxy lectures and during exams.
…On exam day, professors always send graduate students to supervise.
“Ahem… We will now begin the spirit affinity test, students.”
Creak!
Sion waved his wand and lightly used ‘Earth.’
A round pillar appeared on the platform.
Silphia gently landed on top of it.
“The spirit in front of you is named Silphia, a mid-level wind attribute spirit. She is here today to test your spirit affinity.”
[Hmph, nice to meet you, nyah. Hurry up and get this done, it’s such a hassle, nyah.]
“……Please come out one by one, starting from the front left seat.”
The spirit affinity test proceeded without any difficulties.
“W-What do I do?”
“…Just gently place your hand on her front paw.”
[Hmm… This is about C-Rank. You have talent, nyah.]
Simply coming up to the platform and placing a hand on Silphia’s front paw was all that was needed.
Silphia, who was sensitive to spirit affinity, was surprisingly precise in measuring.
‘…But why am I seamlessly acting as the teaching assistant again…?’
As soon as Sion regained his senses, he realized he was controlling the students on the platform.
…Is this what they mean when they say habits are scary?
Looking around, he saw Professor Lunia watching happily from behind him.
‘…Right, going down now would be strange too.’
Having started, he decided to go through with it all the way.
And so the spirit affinity test continued, with many amusing situations arising in between.
[Hmm, C-Rank. You have talent, nyah.]
“Please go in.”
“…Th-Thank you.”
Patrick, hesitantly entering, received a C-Rank in spirit affinity.
No idea why he was so polite, but it wasn’t bad.
“Hahaha! I got a D-Rank! Spirit magic is hopeless for me!”
[…It’d be noisy, so hurry up and go in, nyah.]
“Hahaha!”
Geivolg, laughing heartily as he walked back, received a D-Rank.
…It really wasn’t something to laugh about.
He was someone whose laughter never faded no matter where or when.
[Oh! B-Rank… With this level, you can study spirit magic seriously from now on, nyah.]
“…Thanks.”
Serenne had a B-Rank in spirit affinity.
There hadn’t been a B-Rank among the students so far, so it was rare.
‘…I hope she doesn’t get mad for using casual speech?’
Sion nervously glanced at Silphia.
‘It wouldn’t be odd if she clawed me saying, “How dare you use casual speech to me!”’
However, Silphia continued grooming herself, as if nothing had happened.
[You should contract with many spirits in the future, nyah.]
“…Okay.”
Serenne returned to her seat with sleepy eyes.
Before the next student arrived, Sion whispered to Silphia.
“Is it that you don’t feel bad even if someone uses casual speech…?”
[Huh? Of course, I feel bad, nyah. How dare you use casual speech with me… not even a human can be excused, nyah.]
“So why is Serenne…?”
Silphia looked at Serenne and said,
[She’s a child with a painful heart, nyah.]
“…Painful heart?”
[She possesses the purity of the child she once was. Spirits are inherently attracted to that purity, nyah.]
“……”
Sion also gazed at Serenne blankly.
Serenne, who was fiddling with her stationery with sleepy eyes.
…Indeed, there was a hint of purity about her.
[Just call the next student already, nyah.]
“Oh… Yes.”
The spirit affinity test continued.
[How filthy! It’s been ages since I’ve seen a human with this much rot. E-Rank!]
“Y-Yeah?”
[Are you deaf? I said E-Rank!]
“Ack!”
Scrape!
Clif Devrong received an E-Rank judgment with a scratch from Silphia.
…Isn’t that aristocrat who picked fights in Heruj’s class?
Seeing the clear claw marks on his face made him seem a bit pitiful.
But there was someone even more pitiful than him.
“Hello. Spirit, pleased to meet you.”
“…….”
Estroja Perrawell approached Silphia.
She raised her tail high and placed her delicate hand on Silphia’s front paw.
And right after that.
[Hyaaaah!]
Silphia hissed and puffed up instantly.
“W-Why so suddenly…?”
[What’s with this filthy female? A human with this much rot hasn’t appeared in decades, nyah! I want to wash my hands! Please let me wash!]
Silphia rubbed her front paw against the pillar as if she were genuinely disgusted.
Estroja, taken aback, stepped back.
Sion was also flustered by Silphia’s sudden reaction but…
“…That would be an F-Rank. Please return to your seat.”
“…I-I’m F-Rank…? Just let me test one more…!”
“I’m sorry. Please return.”
“……”
Shlomp.
After sending Estroja, who had a gold streak on her mask, back to her seat.
Sion used ‘Water’ to wash Silphia’s front paw.
Only then did she stop her rampage.
Not only that, but she meticulously washed both front paws, rubbing them together.
‘Don’t cats dislike water…?’
She may dislike water, but it seemed to be even worse that a human with F-Rank spirit affinity had touched her.
[Haa… Is there no one after this?]
“…Yes, it seems we’ve done everything for now.”
About an hour passed.
With quite a number of students having been tested by Silphia,
She opened her mouth wide as if she felt tired and yawned.
Just when I thought the class was ending,
“Ah, but I haven’t seen Sion yet….”
[…Huh? Now that I think about it, it seems this male hasn’t been tested. Just do it quickly, I’m tired, nyah.]
“…”
Among the students, Sion was the only one who hadn’t taken the spirit affinity test.
He hesitantly placed his hand on Silphia’s front paw.
Thinking he’d be lucky to get at least a C-Rank.
And then—
[…Nyaa?]
“…?”
Silphia’s voice, filled with a teasing charm.
Both Sion and Lunia’s eyes widened in surprise as they had never seen such a reaction from her before.
[Oh! Um, forget that, nyah.]
“Ah, yes… So what rank am I?”
[Hmm… I think I need to observe a bit longer, nyah. Just keep rubbing my front paw, nyah.]
“…The front paw?”
[Follow my commands, nyah!]
“……”
Something felt off, but Sion obediently started rubbing Silphia’s front paw.
The pink jelly was soft yet oddly firm, making it pleasant to touch.
[Oh oh… Th-That’s the spot, nyah.]
“…? So what rank am I?”
[Hmph! Results don’t come out that fast, nyah.]
“Earlier, it came out quickly…”
At Sion’s pointed remark, Silphia’s whiskers quivered.
[Shut up, nyah! Hmph… Now hug me, nyah.]
“…Huh?”
[Stop talking and hug!]
“Ugh… Waah!”
Jump!
Silphia jumped right into Sion’s arms.
Instinctively, Sion spread his arms to catch her.
She squirmed as if she were uncomfortable.
[A little more support from below, nyah.]
“…Like this?”
[Yes, much better, and with one hand, pet my fur… Yes, you’re doing great, nyah.]
“……?”
Sion could hear a gentle purring sound coming from her.
At the same time, he felt a small tremor within his arms.
…Could it be—she’s purring?
“S-Silphia… Stop it and just tell me my rank…”
[Huh? I don’t know either, nyah.]
“…What do you mean you don’t know?”
Silphia’s next words were shocking.
[I can’t measure your level. I can gauge up to B-Rank. But this softness, this scent, this coziness… is….]
“……”
[At least A-Rank, if not higher. What are you doing? Your hands stopped moving, nyah!]
“Y-Yes….”
Pat pat.
Sion started petting again.
Silphia once again closed her eyes and purred, and students, including Professor Lunia, looked at Sion with their gazes fixed.
…Especially Lunia looked at Sion with the eyes of a predator that had found a delightful prey.
“Sion, student…!”
“…Yes?”
Professor, why are you looking at me like that…?