“Chirp eeeee!”
The large blue bird clamped onto Erika’s arm, landing on it and refusing to fly away, flapping its wings excitedly.
This bird could completely take on the role of the eagle in the Eagle Catches Chick Game. The kids wouldn’t even need to pretend to be chicks.
Just watch, I’ll snatch your kid away!
Everyone, who had been momentarily mesmerized by the divine sight of the girl taming the hawk, immediately retreated in fear at the flapping sounds and sharp cries.
“Why is that bird so big? Can such a bird of prey just be let out like that? Shouldn’t it be wearing a collar?”
“I understand the concept of objects appearing larger when they’re closer, but why is that bird so big?”
“Shouldn’t we be asking how a bird could even wear a collar?”
“More importantly, does anyone know that girl? Can someone introduce her?”
“Get lost. If I knew her, would I introduce her to you?”
The crowd’s fearful yet curious gazes lingered between Erika and the large blue bird, but no one dared to ask for details. To avoid unnecessary commotion and rumors, the girl decided to leave the scene quickly.
With light steps, Erika headed towards the cluster of buildings where the academy professors’ research rooms were located. The reason for going there, of course, was to see Professor Cortifin Polbeck and return her pet hawk to her.
Thinking it wasn’t yet six o’clock, and the professor probably hadn’t gone back to the staff dormitory, the hurried girl’s small feet tapped rapidly on the ground. Since it was her first time at the research building, finding her way wasn’t easy.
Unable to find the right path, the girl had no choice but to speak to Vitichi perched on her shoulder.
“Take me to Professor Cortifin’s research room.”
“Chirp eeee!”
As soon as the words were spoken, the blue-green bird immediately flew into the air, darting off in a certain direction. Erika, following closely behind, finally discovered a low building covered in vines after some distance.
This building looked just as old as the Truth Hall Dormitory she lived in. Seeing the blue falcon circling above it, this was probably the right place.
So this is where the Great Lady of the Polbeck Family lives as a professor.
Erika began thinking about what topics to discuss when meeting Professor Polbeck. If she brought up the relationship between Elves and Half-Fairies, could she find some common ground between them, both being of Elven descent?
Or perhaps talk about experiences raising pet birds? Although she had never kept a bird, some of the bird knowledge she had learned recently should be enough to barely sustain a conversation.
While mentally simulating how to leave a good impression, she slowly walked into this somewhat old-looking research building.
The corridors inside were covered in dust and cobwebs, and piled high with half-broken furniture, moldy documents, and scrolls, giving off a feeling of an abandoned building or a post-apocalyptic survivor’s hideout.
“Is this really the place?”
Cortifin la Polbeck, like Evelyn, Emil, and Miona, was a young lady from a prominent family. Especially the Polbeck Family, whose ancestors were the Grand Chief who united the nomadic tribes and wandering merchant caravans of the Southern Plains.
The Polbeck Family, operating numerous large and small merchant guilds, was said to surpass even the Liones family in terms of wealth alone. So how could anyone believe that such a noble and wealthy young lady would settle down in this shabby old research building?
“This building feels completely devoid of any living presence.”
Flutter.
However, Vitichi just sat quietly on her shoulder, tilting its head to look at her. Alright, it seems this is indeed the place.
—
[Professor Cortifin la Polbeck’s Research Room]
Finally finding the second-floor room housing the research room, stepping over the old furniture and piles of dust-covered documents, Erika gently knocked on the door with her knuckles.
“Is Professor Cortifin here?”
“No.”
“Then who is responding from inside? Anyway, I have something to say, so, pardon my intrusion.”
Creak.
The girl’s hand turned the doorknob.
“Don’t open it! You mustn’t open the door!”
As soon as a sliver of light seeped through the crack, a hurried, anxious voice of protest came from inside, followed by the sounds of various things crashing and clattering to the floor.
The ominous sounds of things falling continued for a while. Erika remained in the posture of having the door half-open, but finally couldn’t suppress her curiosity and pushed the door open completely.
Dust billowed up. Ancient books were scattered messily on the floor. The bookshelves, in contrast, held few books. Various odds and ends and trash were piled in the corners.
And in the center of it all, a purple-haired Elf, covered in dust and rubbing a bright red bump on her head, sat on the floor with her legs folded to the side.
“Ouch, that hurts. I told you not to open the door.”
“Sorry, sorry. I didn’t know it would be like this… So what exactly happened?”
“I don’t know. Speaking of which, why are you here? Don’t you know you shouldn’t just enter a professor’s research room?”
Only then did Cortifin turn her attention to the visitor herself. Her amber eyes quickly scanned the girl up and down, and even her long Elven ears twitched slightly.
“Erika Angelina. Uninvited guests are not welcome.”
“Hello, Miss Polbeck. I found your pet bird outside.”
The blue bird of prey perched on her shoulder flapped its wings and flew to a ceiling beam, settling there obediently. This sight, however, made Cortifin’s mouth drop open in surprise.
“Oh, you brought Vitichi back? This guy is very picky and doesn’t easily go with strangers. How did you catch it?”
“Well…”
If she said it was due to Noelle’s leftover magic, things might get a bit complicated, so Erika dodged the question.
“That’s a secret not to be passed on! But this place is really a mess. Do you need help tidying up?”
“Of course! After all, it became like this because you opened the door.”
It couldn’t have been that tidy to begin with.
Having served as a maid for both Evelyn and Emil, she was no stranger to such dirty and tiring work. So organizing this chaotic space wasn’t difficult for the girl.
Besides, doing chores together or something like that should raise Miss Polbeck’s favorability towards her, right?
Isn’t that what those Gal Games always say?
—
Time passed quietly. Before they knew it, the disorganized documents, scrolls, and broken furniture were roughly cleaned up, finally revealing the original appearance of the research room.
Professor Polbeck wiped the sweat from her brow.
“That was really hard work. I don’t know how long it’s been since I’ve seen this research room so clean. It’s been ages since I cleaned so thoroughly.”
You didn’t do anything during the cleaning, you pretentious Elf!
Of course, Erika’s emotional intelligence was always up to par. She wouldn’t, as a student, overly criticize a professor.
“Miss Polbeck, is there anything else you need help with?”
“No, but could you stop calling me Miss Polbeck? Here, everyone calls me Professor Cortifin.”