I Picked Up a Witch from a Novel

**Chapter 32.**

Introducing Ildrin to Asha was something that happened about six months ago.

It wasn’t exactly a process of building memories, but I thought it was something she needed.

In a way.

Ten years had passed, but I still didn’t understand Ash Gray well.

As a non-expert, no matter how hard I tried, I still felt lacking, and even after reading Ildrin’s research books over and over, the unanswered parts only piled up.

There were stories about Ash Gray that couldn’t be contained within the narrative of the novel.

No matter how much I faced it directly and clashed with it, there were limits to what I could understand.

It felt like I couldn’t move forward, as if everything was enveloped in a thick fog.

Effort, after all, has its limits; the only thing that remained was that my ways of helping Asha would continue as they had been.

So I carefully asked her for her thoughts, and Asha, who had been pondering with a slightly worried look, eventually nodded.

Ildrin was a newly forged connection.

Thus, we entered the humble and often deserted library.

“Hello, Asha. What story shall we share today? First, why don’t you tell me about what you’ve been up to lately, what you’ve been thinking, your emotional changes these days, whether you’ve made any magical progress, if your physical growth has stopped, the color and size of your underwear, and considering it’s raining, maybe some changes according to the season and weather? I have many curiosities stacked up, but today, I will only ask this much so as not to burden you. It’s been a while, so let’s slowly have some serious talk until it gets late. I’m fine with staying after work today. Is that alright with you, Asha?”

Crazy human.

Withdraw the word “connection.”

“… I want to go back, Ain.”

“I kept asking you if you were okay on the way here, didn’t I?”

The two who had braved the rainy streets faced the librarian with clear eyes and immediately prepared to leave.

I think it’s a relief that Ildrin isn’t negative toward Ash Gray, but it’s actually problematic that he isn’t negative enough.

However.

“Where are you going? We promised to cooperate. Ain, Asha. If I don’t conduct my research diligently, it won’t help you, will it?”

“….”

“….”

Ildrin’s words were indeed unavoidable for us because her help was essential.

A person who doesn’t express disgust at Ash Gray is rare and precious.

“Come here quickly. While I’m saying this, time is still passing.”

Unable to turn my steps toward the door, I followed Ildrin to a somewhat deeper and gloomier table within the library that resembled a chasm.

In truth, I always say it this way, but the reality was somewhat mundane.

“Open your mouth wide and say ‘ah’.”

“Ah….”

“I’ve told you many times to say it louder.”

Putting aside the intense curiosity and madness from earlier, I carefully and meticulously examined Asha’s condition.

I approached Asha, who had opened her mouth in an “ah,” looking inside to check various spots, flipping her drowsy eyelids to check her pupils.

I examined her wrist and checked her pulse, wondering if there were any new wounds, lifting her clothing to inspect her skin beneath.

One might question what a mere librarian is doing mimicking a doctor.

But having lived my whole life in a library, I learned basic medicine from books, and my light examination was somewhat plausible.

After going through that serious process with concentrated eyes, I jotted something down in my journal and spoke.

“Yes, physically, there don’t seem to be any particular issues. If anything, it seems like you’re even healthier now. Hmm, your belly seems a bit softer than last month. I guess you’ve been eating a lot.”

“…, Ildrin. That’s quite rude.”

And there is the librarian committing a faux pas as if it were nothing, while the Ash Gray woman furrows her brow.

“No, eating a lot is a good thing. You’re filling in what you’ve lacked while growing up. The proof is your soft belly.”

“That’s rude, Ildrin. At least say that when it’s just the two of us.”

However, since I could hardly hope for the librarian, who had already been demoted twice, to read the room, I ended up knitting my brow more with my comments that were not compliments.

“Eat a lot. Eating a lot will help with magical development. According to the law of conservation of energy, the belly fat made from all this food will eventually be converted into magical energy.”

“Ah, seriously.”

To be honest, I had indeed been eating a lot recently.

As I grew, the amount I ate increased, and now I was eating as much as he was.

While I was nodding in agreement, the squabbling between the two sitting across from each other continued for a while.

Hmm.

The usual WWE.

It’s a very familiar taste.

As the rain gradually calmed, the two continued their exchange.

“It seems like emotional changes have indeed decreased. You could say you’re somewhat different from the cases of Ash Gray I’ve collected so far.”

The librarian, always jotting down notes, kept rambling.

“I apologize for teasing you about your belly earlier; however, considering how low your agitation is, you could say you’re currently in quite a stable state.”

“…, don’t say it like you did it intentionally to gauge my reaction.”

“At least half of it was to see your reaction. Seriously, please stop glaring at me. No matter how much you glare, I only get excited.”

A woman who, as always, casts a sideways glance at the perverse Ildrin eventually turns her head toward me, looking somewhat exhausted.

Moreover.

Despite grumbling about being tired, there was a reason why I kept coming to see Ildrin.

“We’ll need to study more, but based on the examinations and observations from the last six months, you indeed seem to belong to a slightly different category.”

Her conclusion, uttered after coming for examinations once a month and answering questions, was quite important to us.

“As I mentioned before, usual Ash Gray is characterized by having Ash Gray hair or, in other races, Ash Gray fur.”

Both Asha and I are those who dig deep into the parts that we don’t know and desire to reach the abyss.

“However, you possess not only that but also Ash Gray eyes, which makes me think that you could be a more dangerous Ash Gray.”

In response to the librarian’s voice, which resonated softly within the library, a new possibility was being echoed, drawing everyone’s attention.

“Even though I can’t identify the reason, I sense potential in you, who embodies the characteristics of Ash Gray more vividly. I believe you may become a key to solving the problems of Ash Gray.”

So.

I thought that perhaps with Ildrin’s help, Asha might come a bit closer to her goal of living a normal life.

And thus, evening finally arrived.

“It was truly a happy time after a long while.”

“…, not for me.”

“Not for me either.”

We bid farewell to Ildrin, who cradled the research diary.

“It’s unfortunate. But we have next month, so we’ll see each other again.”

“….”

Returning to his original form, Ildrin’s gaze over Asha with mixed madness was always disgusting.

With such thoughts, we quickly grabbed umbrellas and attempted to escape the library, but Ildrin seemed to remember something, waved his hand at me, and called for only Asha.

“Ah, right. Ain, please wait outside for a bit, and only you stay behind, okay?”

“What is it?”

Asha tilted her head and asked Ildrin.

“The discussion about belly fat. You said you wanted to keep it private from Ain, so please step outside for about five minutes.”

“Ah, seriously.”

“It’s an important topic, so hurry outside, Ain.”

Still waving his hands as if it were nothing, I scratched my head and opened the door alone.

Thus, the door of the library shut with a thud.

Outside, it continued to rain, and as time passed, it grew darker, leaving a slightly eerie atmosphere in the hallway where I was now alone.

However.

Their conversation wasn’t entirely sealed off by a mere door.

The library was always a place shrouded in silence, and even small murmurs would creep into my ears like whispers.

“Asha, you have some scars on your arms and thighs that aren’t healing.”

“….”

That was a story that Asha had wanted to keep hidden from me.

“Just to clarify, I can’t say self-harm is a good way to release emotions, but surely no one is bothering you, right?”

“…, yes.”

Both Asha and Ildrin had spoken of something they did not wish to share with me.

“However, even if I suggest alternative methods for managing your emotions, it could only involve other hobbies people often take up to stave off withdrawal symptoms or enjoying some sweet candy, which is all I can recommend for now.”

“….”

That narrative seeped out through the gap in the door, slithering down my legs and finally reaching my ears.

“I apologize. It’s embarrassing to admit as a researcher, but this is my first time encountering Ash Gray, so I lack a proper solution.”

“…, it’s fine.”

I was by no means unaware of Asha’s bodily condition.

I remembered how she had hesitated, wanting to keep it hidden.

“Nevertheless, I’ll also look for other new methods. Controlling the emotions of Ash Gray is something I’ve been researching continuously.”

“….”

I wouldn’t just brush aside those words creeping into my ears.

“Please stop injuring yourself. It might work for now, but later it may become something you can’t handle.”

“….”

“If you don’t wish to end up like other Ash Grays, keep pondering and keep moving forward.”

Continuing to contemplate.

Advancing continuously.

For nothing in this world is predetermined.

There aren’t even any tragic stories that the novel wishes for.

The few letters I have twisted have already invaded the pages of the story.

What once was a mere trickle is now a wave, spilling ink across the paper.

So.

I prepare to leap back into the now tranquil sea.

What I once dismissed as a child’s splashing is now poised to tear the paper with a fresh wave.

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