An Immeasurable Thesis
A tail for a paper's on us. The timing's right when our master turns toward the dormitory. Just as she's about to head down the stairs. She emerges from hiding in the women's restroom. Smart use of blind spots—no way you'd spot her even if you looked back. But our master's the one employing this body as her summon. The pinnacle of the human world, demanding equal standing with the Demon King's... She surely knows she's being tailed. And that her stalker's the class president from her own class. Haha! Finally, a chance to witness our master's power!
How will you deal with this creep tailing you, oh master of mine!
"Hehe, Thanatos shook my hand. And I got a perfect score on the practical."
Look at her. Humming a tune like nothing's wrong despite the tail. The leisure of the supreme exudes from her.
"You're Lur, right?"
"...?"
Does our master realize she's been spotted? The stalker reveals herself first. Black ponytail hair, breasts like a full-grown adult's—enough to make pockets jealous—height towering over our pint-sized master, model-worthy figure, face fitting the word "beauty."
"C-Class president...? W-What's going on...?"
Kyah! Our master's acting skills are top-notch. Anyone would buy that she had no clue the president was following her. She could be an actress.
The president suddenly approaches Lur with quick steps. Grabs her shoulders with both hands and starts patting her down everywhere.
Girls do that kind of skinship often, right? Probably normal.
"Eek...! C-Class president...w-why...?"
...But judging by our master's face turning beet red like it's about to burst.
The president scrutinizes her lower body intently. Then crouches down to peer underneath.
Our master clutches her skirt with both hands and screams.
"Kyaaah! W-Why are you...!"
"Your summon comes out from under the shadow, right?"
"Y-Yeah... s-so...don't look down there...it's embarrassing..."
The president grins and grabs Lur's hand. This time, our master can't even scream. I can hear her heartbeat from down here on the floor.
Hmm... Is our master into that sort of thing? Or do girls always act like this around each other? No idea.
"Lur, you've done something incredible! Connecting with an Immeasurable-grade summon! The academic world will lose its mind!"
"Uh, umm..."
Our master can't even meet her eyes~? Heh heh... Our tiny, cute hamster-like master and the stunning fox-like bombshell class president? Oh yeah, sparks are flying here!
"I'm Liz. Sorry for the sudden approach. But I saw real potential! It's worth begging the professor for a thesis topic!"
"Th-Thesis...?"
"Yeah! There are researchers on Immeasurable-grade summons. It's a field that's lost popularity since even S-grades are too much to handle..."
Liz starts talking a mile a minute without taking a breath. Then she leans her face close to Lur's. Lur squeezes her eyes shut and turns her head away to dodge.
"Writing up that scene as a thesis would flip academia on its head!"
"I-It wasn't that big a deal. Thanatos is just nice and listens to requests from someone worthless like me."
Pretty, cute, tender-hearted, kind. And she'll downplay herself to hype up others. That gentleness! Damn it, Master! I'll follow you forever!
"Let's beg the professor together to let us use it for a thesis!"
"Huh?"
"Come on, let's go!"
"B-But..."
"Don't worry! It'll be fun!"
Liz grabs Lur's hand and dashes back toward the first-year academy building. Lur looks flustered, but there's a faint smile there.
They bolt straight to Professor Ellie's room.
"No."
Rejected flat-out.
"Professor, why not? This is huge! I saw your face during the practical. You noticed it too—that immense potential!"
"Still no."
The professor's response is ironclad.
"People with Immeasurable grades are exceedingly rare. Some were destined to be the greatest talents. But one died without ever seeing his own summon."
Professor Ellie sips her tea and continues.
"Because of luck. That tiny gap between S-grade and Immeasurable sent a brilliant life plummeting."
"..."
Lur instantly empathizes with that S-grade summoner.
"There are many such cases. Now imagine a paper claiming an F-rank summoner connected with an Immeasurable-grade summon? What would others think?"
"..."
"They'd despair, thinking 'Even an F-rank did what I couldn't.'"
Something like sorrow flickers in Professor Ellie's eyes.
The president sighs deeply and presses on.
"But researching Lur and Thanatos could help those suffering just because an Immeasurable-grade appeared."
"My mind hasn't changed."
"Understood... Thank you for your time, Professor."
"Come back anytime."
With that, Liz and Lur turn to leave. Then, a word floats toward Lur.
"Congratulations. You're truly blessed."
-Thud.
The door closes. Professor Ellie opens an album of photos from past academy graduates.
"She's truly blessed, isn't she."
One girl fills the album. The professor, knowing her end amid all those bright smiles, can't muster a reminiscing smile.
"Don't worry, Lur! There are plenty of professors who'd love to help you!"
"Liz... Thank you. But you can stop now."
Tears start streaming down Lur's face. Liz pulls a handkerchief from her pocket and hands it over.
"Don't take it too hard."
"It's not that... It's just... someone like you, a stranger, keeps trying to help me... it makes me so grateful..."
"Huh...?"
"Thanatos helps me, the class president helps me... For someone like me to have such good people around... Sniff... I'm just so thankful..."
Lur's tears flow like a busted faucet. Liz is at a loss. Even I'm flustered, just watching.
What kind of life has my master lived, to tear up in gratitude over something like this?
It gnaws at me.
"Lur, you can do it. We'll ask another professor. Forget what Ellie said if it bothers you. You could be the savior for others!"
"Why... go this far for someone like me...?"
"Wasting talent is tragic."
"Talent? It was just luck..."
"Letting luck slip away is tragic too."
Liz pats Lur's shoulder.
"Let's make it a smashing success."
"Really... thank you..."
Sometimes, a sudden connection crashes into your life and changes everything. Family, friend, lover, teacher, senior, junior—it can come in any form.
I'm witnessing my master's life pivot right now, no doubt.
"Is that true? Then of course we must!"
Luckily, the third class professor hears Liz and Lur out and agrees immediately.
"Show me right here! As expected, it's the young who change the world! Old folks like me just help out!"
The third class professor rummages around and pulls out a camera.
"Go on, show me!"
Lur takes a deep breath, kneels, and sits on the floor.
"Thanatos... if you would..."
Only one thing for me to do. I thrust my hand out from the shadow right away.
Plant it on the floor, rise up, and embrace our smiling master.
"Thanatos..."
-Click!
An F-rank summoner hugging an Immeasurable-grade summon.
This paper soon rocked the summon research field. Sure, Immeasurable-grade studies were niche, so it didn't make massive waves. But everyone knew how miraculous it was, so Lur's name started circulating among experts.
"This could've made the papers. Unbelievable."
"It did get published as a thesis. Even got letters from experts!"
"For real?"
"And the third class prof sends money for whatever we wanna eat!"
"Ooh!"
Liz celebrates like it's her own victory.
"Wanna order pizza?"
"Sure!"
"Urghhh...!"
"Quiet down a bit."
A damp basement. Reeking of rusted iron. A man bound on the floor. Another carving a picture into his back with a knife.
"Tch, there's only one Demon King. Why do sects keep splitting and fighting?"
"Urghhh...!"
"Shut it."
-Click!
"Hey, you see this?"
A woman kicks the door open and shoves a photo at the carver.
"What is it? Let me see. Hmm... black mist... a demon realm entity?"
"Exactly!"
"Hahahaha..."
The carver jams the knife into the bound man's back like a sheath.
"Hahaha! It's finally here! Proof we can reach the Demon King!"
Behind them hangs a picture of their worshiped one. A massive dog made of skulls.