Shadows of Fear and Gentle Revelation
Immeasurable-rank summons possess grades ranging from S-rank to F-rank, just like their summoners. Most summons have a rank similar to that of the summoner who called them forth. But very rarely, an enigmatic being with the Immeasurable rank appears. Their abilities are so complex or unknown that even the academy's renowned summoners have given up trying to understand them.
Whether fortunate or unfortunate, most Immeasurable-rank summons don't cause societal issues because the summoner dies before they can demonstrate their true power. And since this one was summoned by an F-rank like Lur, despite its terrifying appearance, it probably isn't much of a threat. It didn't attack the surrounding students, nor did it harm its owner, and it obediently retreated into the shadows. That was the professor's judgment.
And so, the professor called Lur to her office alone.
"Lur, you must have been quite startled earlier."
"...Yes."
"It's okay. You know I've been a professor for 30 years, right?"
"...Yes."
"In my judgment, it's not a particularly dangerous summon."
"That's a relief... haha..."
Lur scratched her cheek and chimed in agreement, but the professor had no idea. Even now, an indescribable darkness lingered behind Lur. Hiding from the sunlight in the shadows, a black human silhouette on the floor mimicked her exact form. As evening approached, the shadow grew longer and longer.
"Eek..."
A dangerous presence that no girl like her could withstand was licking its chops. She wanted to tell the professor, but fearing what might happen the moment she spoke, she held it in and pretended everything was fine.
It'll be okay. The professor said so herself, right? This is just my imagination. Just my imagination...
Lur brainwashed herself like that. As she kept telling herself nothing was wrong, her pounding heart began to calm a little.
"Incidents like this are common when a summon has a frightening appearance."
"I-is that so..."
"Of course, your summon was so terrifying that even I was taken aback, haha."
"Haha..."
The professor extended a hand to Lur with a forced smile.
"There won't be any problems. It's Immeasurable, sure, but at worst, it'll be on the level of F-rank to D-rank."
"Yes..."
After shaking the professor's hand, Lur left the room. Once the sound of her footsteps faded away, the professor muttered to herself.
"No signs of aggression. It hasn't shown itself since entering the shadows. It probably won't come out into the open again. That's what Immeasurable ranks are like."
The professor patted her chest in relief. To her, Lur's situation was just someone else's problem. It wasn't a high-potential student she valued. If anything, it was fortunate that an F-rank had drawn such a headache.
"She probably won't witness her summon's abilities until she grows old and dies. It's practically the same as having no summon at all."
The professor clasped her hands behind her back and gazed out the window. She spotted Lur heading toward the dormitory, looking precarious somehow—like someone being chased, glancing around in extreme terror.
"There's never been a single report of an Immeasurable-rank summon attacking a person."
The professor smiled.
"It doesn't show its powers or attack, but it emits a dangerous aura that gnaws at the summoner's psyche from within. Good thing it latched onto trash like an F-rank. Not one of my precious high-rank students."
Blissfully unaware of the professor's thoughts, Lur headed to the dormitory cafeteria for dinner. The other students happily ate with their adorable summons and summoner friends. But Lur couldn't.
She had no lovable summon. No friends. She'd always spent her days like this, but today, tears strangely welled up in her eyes.
"That's her, right?"
"Who?"
"The one eating alone over there."
"Oh, yeah. Heard she pulled an Immeasurable-rank summon. The rumor spread to the other classes already."
The voices from behind made Lur's heart ache even more. Every word felt like a sharp knife stabbing into her.
"What's so great about Immeasurable anyway?"
"Dunno. It's just rare, but apparently useless."
"Haha, no different from getting an F-rank summon."
"She's F-rank too anyway. She just summoned what suited her."
Lur couldn't take it anymore. Without finishing her meal, she dumped the food into the scraps bin. The scraps poured out in place of her tears.
"Man, it was so scary when we first saw it! Even the professor panicked..."
She fled far enough that their voices faded. The problem was, having barely eaten, her stomach growled fiercely.
"Haa... Guess I'll hit the vending machine..."
Lur drowned her bitterness in vending machine snacks. But even that had its limits. In the end, she collapsed into bed and fell asleep.
...
How much time passed? That uneasy feeling began hammering at her heart again. The same sensation from first seeing her summon.
The professor said it's fine. Yeah, she did. What would someone like me know? I'm just overly scared for no reason.
Yet the chilling aura persisted. In the end, she opened her eyes. There, the nightmare lurking in the shadows had returned.
It prowled around the room, touching things here and there.
"Eeeeeek!!"
Cold sweat drenched Lur's body in an instant. She clamped a hand over her mouth to stifle the scream she'd let out unconsciously, but it was too late. The thing had heard and approached, emitting a bizarre noise.
The room was already thick with black smoke. Amid it, the thing's form stood out vividly—terror incarnate.
"Meat...?"
"N-no... I'm not meat... Please... I'm sorry... Spare me..."
It clearly saw Lur as prey, as a hunk of meat.
I stayed hidden in my owner's shadow the whole time. This kid's name seems to be Lur. Doesn't look like the type who could summon the Demon Realm's king, me. Whatever, she's cute and pretty, so I don't mind.
Still, why's a beauty like her eating alone? Don't hot girls usually hang with the cool crowd?
Riding that wave of questions came another crashing into my brain.
No, fuck. When do I get my food?
The other summoners eat with their summons. But she doesn't even think of eating with me. If I come out of the shadow, though, it'll be chaos again.
Just wait it out. Our owner must have some sense. She probably wants to eat together somewhere quiet.
Right on! She's heading to the vending machine to eat with me! As expected of my owner—overflowing with love for me.
Though she does seem pretty scared of me. Eh, it'll be fine.
Or so I thought. But the owner ditched me, ate the vending machine snacks alone, brushed her teeth, and went straight to sleep.
Shit, you trying to starve me to death? Unbelievable.
It's 2 a.m. now—the peak time when hunger shakes my body and brain to the core.
Agh, can't take it anymore. I was gonna wait for you to call me, but fuck that! I'll raid your fridge and you won't even know!
I emerged from the shadow and slowly approached the fridge. Inside were the vending machine foods she'd bought.
The problem was...
Is this kid vegan? Nothing but grass in here?
The fridge was packed with nothing but veggies. Salad, salad bread, salad biscuits, salad drinks. Even the steak-looking thing? Bit into it—yep, vegetable "steak."
This is too much. My owner's definitely a rabbit. Well... she is rabbit-cute. Never seen anyone look that adorable asleep.
...Not that I've had much chance to meet women, of course.
People need protein, protein! Tch, whatever.
Resigned, I shoved some salad into my mouth. Then suddenly, the owner started groaning.
I turned to check. Lur was slowly opening her eyes.
Hm, she's up. Maybe ask her to buy some meat.
"Eeeeeek!!"
-Gah! G-geh-heh-heh-heck! Cough!
Don't scream like that outta nowhere! It's stuck in my throat!
I glared at Lur, pissed, but spotted a half-eaten sausage bun nearby.
"Meat...?"
Haha! She saved half a sausage bun for me! Damn, I love you, Lur!
I slowly approached her.
"Please spare me... I did wrong... sob... sob... Mommyyy..."
What? Why's she crying? Hate sausage buns that much? Wasn't it left for me?
Aw, shit, my bad. Thought you left it for me to eat. No need to cry that hard.
Makes my heart go soft. I wiped the tears streaming down her cheek with my finger.
"Huh...?"
Then Lur looked up at me with wide eyes. Curious, cute baby-rabbit eyes.
"You're... worried 'cause I'm crying...?"
Of course. How could I not worry when you start bawling suddenly?
Lur's trembling hand reached out and touched my head. She began petting me gently.
Her warmth seeped in, and suddenly, I felt good. Oh, this is nice? Now I get why dogs wag their tails begging for pets.
I closed my eyes and focused entirely on the sensation.
"On... second thought... you might actually be a good kid..."