The professor handed me a pamphlet. It was an Academy admission guide.
Nothing unusual—when opened, it showed a map of the Academy interior with information about departments and schedules. Since it was almost March, I assumed they'd be distributing these to incoming students.
As I looked through it quietly, I noticed there was a festival in May.
"Fes...tival..."
I hadn't seen one last year. Because the professor had taken me around everywhere, I didn't really remember attending any Academy events.
With my upper body pressed against the desk, I was reading the interesting words on the pamphlet when the professor, who had been sitting at his office desk, slid over next to me.
"Urr, do you want to see the festival?"
"...I'm just curious about what happens there."
Do they invite celebrities or something? What do they do at festivals? As I tilted my head wondering about these things, the professor placed his hand gently on my head and moved closer.
He seemed to want a closer look at the pamphlet in my hands.
"Oh, you were just looking at the calendar. Hmm, we couldn't see it last year because I was busy taking you around everywhere..."
"..."
"Let's go see it when we have time later. If you have friends by then, you can go with them."
"...Friends?"
I stared blankly at the professor. I could feel sweat trickling down at his mention of the word "friends."
I fluttered my twice-folded sleeves at the professor to make my point. Looking like this, people would see me as a little kid rather than a potential friend.
Besides, if I kept moving between classes with the professor, people would obviously think of me as just a Demon God or a piece of Supplies rather than a friend.
I couldn't imagine becoming close with anyone. And considering how people trembled in fear when they first saw me in this world, it would probably be awkward until they got used to me.
Even if they did adjust, they probably wouldn't want to be around me. Only strong people like the professor could be around me without feeling threatened.
"Smile~ No negative thoughts."
The professor grabbed my cheeks and stretched them, trying to relax my expression. I let myself be handled as he kneaded my face like rice cake dough, pinching and massaging my cheeks in circles.
"...By the way, what do you lecture about, Professor?"
"About Demon Gods? And also Demon God magic theory."
He held up two fingers.
I knew he was teaching something about Demon Gods. It would be strange if I didn't know, since he said he was using me as Supplies. But I didn't know the details. This was the first time I was learning about it specifically.
It was different from university life as I knew it. Even for majors, this fantasy world seemed to have some unique structures.
I wondered if subjects like mathematics were taught elsewhere. Seeing how magic and swordsmanship dominated the curriculum, it seemed possible.
As I clutched the fluttering paper and let out a small groan, the professor pulled something out of his pocket.
"Come to think of it, I had something to give you."
"?"
He placed something beside me. When I sat up to look at it closely, I could see it was an ID badge meant to be worn around the neck.
He had asked me to take a photo before, and now I saw it attached to the badge along with some text.
"...What does this say? Supplies?"
"No, it says 'Urr.'"
The professor shook his head. I stared at the letters for a long time.
Urr. So that's how it's written.
As I fiddled with the badge, the professor patted my head once.
"From now on, wear this around your neck when you're with me."
"Okaaay. Does this work as an ID card too?"
"I think so? But you won't be able to do much with Urr's card."
Well, whether it worked as an ID card or not, I could always borrow the professor's card if needed, so there was no need to insist on using mine. I was just amazed to have a badge with my name on it.
I put it around my neck and glanced down at the badge resting on my chest.
"Do you like it?"
"It's okay, I guess."
"Good enough."
The professor smiled and returned to his seat.
"Ah, students will be coming in soon. I barely finished accepting course registrations."
The professor said this while stretching. Seeing him like that made me realize that the entrance ceremony was approaching.
Time passed, and soon the university entrance ceremony arrived. When I entered the Academy through the Warp Point, the streets were filled with a bustle different from before.
People who lived nearby seemed to have driven cars instead of using Warp Points.
"Want to go out and see?"
As I was watching through the laboratory window, the professor suggested it first. I hesitated for a moment before nodding.
When we went outside, there was a different kind of pressure than what I felt watching from afar. The Academy's main gate boasted a width of two lanes in each direction. Despite using two lanes as sidewalks, the sight of people packed tightly together was impressive.
They wore Academy uniforms, but it seemed like they could choose different designs because there wasn't just one style.
Some dressed neatly like in formal suits, while others wore long coats. The same went for women. I never dreamed there could be so many variations of a simple top and skirt combination.
Maybe the uniform was just a formality, and the arrangement was up to the individual? I kept looking around, captivated by the various combinations of white and blue. Of course, people also stared at me as they passed by.
Was I looking strange in my uniform that differed from the standard Academy attire? Most people just glanced at me before moving on, but among them came a familiar voice.
"Professor! Hello!! Ah, hello Urr!"
"Did you enjoy the book I gave you?"
"Yes, thanks to you, Professor."
It was Karen, whom I'd met before. The black-haired, red-eyed girl. She was previously an incoming student, but now I suppose she should be called an official student. I raised my hand slightly to greet Karen as she approached.
Karen had chosen a jacket instead of a cardigan.
"The entrance ceremony is about to start. Is Urr coming to watch too?"
Karen asked the professor, not me. She seemed to understand well that the professor was my guardian and that I needed his permission to move around.
"No, I'm..."
"Do you want to go?"
I was about to decline since there was nothing special about an entrance ceremony, and I had no obligation to attend as I wasn't a new student. But the professor looked down at me with a bright smile.
At that sight, I turned my head with an "umm."
"It's just an entrance ceremony..."
"The important thing is experiencing different things together."
The professor said this while gently grabbing my sleeve. It meant "let's go."
"Shall we go together then?"
"Sure, which way should we head?"
"It's over there. I'll guide you."
Karen pointed to a building in the distance with a bright smile. It certainly looked massive enough to accommodate many people.
The size of the auditorium, built in tiers so that everyone could see the stage, was indescribable.
New students filled the seats one by one. I heard that the valedictorian and salutatorian sat in the front row, which made the people sitting there seem impressive.
How much effort must it take to be the top student among so many people? I felt a sense of awe.
I wondered if such students would become professors when they grew up.
"Where do you want to sit, Urr?"
"I can just stand in the back and watch."
"Should I give you a piggyback ride then?"
"...No thanks."
The professor occasionally made jokes that couldn't be laughed off.
He's joking, right? Offering a piggyback ride to someone wearing a skirt.
"I'm kidding."
The professor placed his hand on my head with a tap. I don't know why he kept touching my unkempt hair. Of course, I was the one who frantically avoided his offers to help with it.
"Why doesn't Urr take care of her hair..."
The professor's hand smoothed over my hair. He seemed to be trying to tame the stray strands sticking out.
"It takes too long because my hair is so long...?"
"Still, you should take care of it. Wow, look how it reaches all the way to your hips."
Meanwhile, Karen, who apparently hadn't taken her seat yet, was observing my hair beside me.
"...Karen, don't you need to sit down?"
"There are plenty of seats, and we can sit anywhere."
Karen grinned and followed the professor's lead by reaching for my hair. My hair was long, but I didn't expect it to become such a point of interest.
When I was just with the professor, I only felt like an assistant, with people thinking, "Oh, interesting." But with Karen added, it felt strange to be looked at differently.
I shook my head from side to side to brush off both their hands.
"What's wrong? Don't you like it?"
"Please, stop now..."
I covered my head to prevent them from touching it. The professor, seeming embarrassed, pulled his hand away with an awkward smile.
"Sorry, sorry. It just feels comforting to touch it."
"It's super comforting..."
Unlike the professor, Karen removed her hand with a disappointed expression.
"Well, since Urr is here, I'll sit here."
Karen, apparently deciding it was time to sit down, turned her head. But she didn't go far. Since I, not being a student, refused to sit, Karen took the very back seat closest to me and glanced back.
"There will be empty seats anyway. Won't you sit down?"
At her gesture patting the seat beside her, I mumbled hesitantly. I glanced up at the professor, who nodded as if to say it was fine.
My legs were starting to ache from standing so long. Conscious of the people around me, I slipped into the seat next to Karen.
As soon as I sat down, I pulled up my skirt and adjusted my belt.
"...Safe."
"What are you doing...?"
When I sighed in relief, Karen, who had been watching quietly, asked.
I realized my mistake and turned my head. After briefly meeting her eyes, I pouted and whispered so only she could hear.
"The, the skirt keeps slipping down..."
"Come to think of it, you always wear oversized clothes."
I turned my head sharply. There seemed no reason to explain such circumstances, so I planned to spare my words.
Wait, if I end up walking around as Supplies for Demon God classes, will this secret be exposed quickly?
After pondering briefly, I took a deep breath and spoke.
"Actually, I used to be quite big...?"
I gestured as if to say I was tall, had a large chest, long limbs, and went through that phase. Karen chuckled.
"You're so cute."
It seemed she wasn't really listening to what I was saying.