The evaluation itself continued even after that.
After the resonance measurement came a basic communication assessment.
The professor gave a simple instruction, and Elysia met my eyes.
“Haku, could you come over here?”
I walked toward Elysia.
“Sit.”
I sat.
“Wait.”
I waited.
“If you’re all right with it, could you touch that crystal ball over there with your front paw?”
I nodded, then tapped the crystal ball.
The crystal ball glowed softly.
The students stirred again.
“His command comprehension is way too high, isn’t it?”
“Doesn’t he understand human speech?”
No, I do understand.
I just can’t speak.
The professor tried to keep his expression steady, but his eyes had already turned grave.
“Communication response: exceptionally high. Command comprehension: exceptionally high. Eye contact and nonverbal rapport with master: stable.”
Mariette was writing like a madwoman.
Stop writing.
Please, really, stop writing.
The final assessment was his reaction to unexpected situations.
Using a small illusion spell, they created a sudden sound and movement
to see how the master calmed the familiar when it was startled.
After explaining in advance, the professor activated the magic tool.
With a small pop, an illusion like a black shadow appeared on one side of the magic circle.
It was the sort of situation where other familiars might leap in fright or howl.
But I.
I simply looked at it.
‘Hm. It’s fake.’
Then I looked back up at Elysia.
The professor’s hand stopped.
Elysia also looked briefly troubled.
Belatedly, I realized my mistake.
Ah, should I have pretended to be a little surprised here?
But it was already too late.
The professor spoke in a voice that was almost a sigh.
“No fear response to sudden stimulus. Maintained stable state after confirming master.”
Selena murmured quietly.
“He really belongs under protective classification, not danger classification. He isn’t oversensitive to stimuli; if anything, he’s too calm.”
Was that praise?
Or another kind of suspicion?
I decided not to judge.
After the evaluation ended, Elysia held me in her arms and left the resonance room.
The moment we stepped into the corridor, several students who had already been waiting looked at us.
They had probably heard the commotion from inside.
“How did it go?”
“What was Haku’s resonance level?”
“Lady Valerion, by any chance…”
Elysia did not answer.
Instead, she held me a little more firmly and walked quietly down the corridor.
That silence seemed likely to invite even more speculation.
But for now, it couldn’t be helped.
Both she and I needed a moment to catch our breath.
That afternoon, the rumor spread far faster than expected.
Resonance level 101.
A number exceeding the existing standard.
Haku might not be a simple fox-type familiar.
Elysia von Valerion had produced an abnormally high result in the resonance assessment.
The story was already circulating in the student dining hall.
“They said it was 101?”
“No, is that for real?”
“Is the Stellar Radiance Council going to issue another notice?”
“Aren’t they going to tighten the contact rules for Haku?”
While chewing a piece of bread in Elysia’s arms, I quietly closed my eyes.
Yes.
I knew it would end up like this.
And that evening.
The news reached the Valerion ducal residence as well.
When Elysia carefully mentioned the results of the resonance assessment at dinner, the air above the table paused for a moment.
“…101, you said?”
Lucius reacted first.
His usually relaxed gaze grew a little serious.
“Wasn’t the maximum on the resonance scale 100?”
“Yes. That’s why the faculty decided to review it at a meeting.”
Leopold looked at me without a word.
His gaze was heavy and deep.
But there was no fear in it.
It was closer to the look of a general who had discovered an unexpected force on the battlefield.
“Haku.”
He called my name in a low voice.
On the cushion beside the dining table, I perked up my ears.
After a brief silence, Leopold said,
“You have become more than a mere familiar to Elysia.”
Instead of answering, I tilted my head.
Isolde looked at Elysia with a slightly worried face.
“What was the faculty’s attitude like? They didn’t see Haku as dangerous, did they?”
“No. Senior Selena said he belonged more under protective classification than danger classification.”
Only then did Isolde’s expression soften slightly.
“Then that is a relief.”
Camilla’s eyes sparkled.
“Haku, you’re really amazing! A resonance level of 101—this is the first time I’ve ever heard of a number like that!”
I folded my ears slightly.
It was the first time I’d heard of it too.
That was my problem.
Mina asked cautiously,
“Then won’t Sir Haku become even more tired? If the students swarm him again…”
Exactly.
As expected, Mina struck at the heart of the matter.
Lucius nodded.
“The Stellar Radiance Council will have to manage the contact regulations even more strictly.
Once today’s results spread, there may be more troublesome approaches than simple curiosity.”
Elysia’s hand wrapped around my back.
“I’ll protect him.”
Her voice was quiet, but firm.
I looked up at her.
When we first met, Elysia had been a child who struggled even to protect herself.
But now she was saying she would protect me.
It made me feel a little proud of her, and a little embarrassed.
Leopold looked at Elysia, then slowly nodded.
“Very well. But do not try to shoulder it alone.
If Haku is your familiar, then Valerion also bears responsibility for protecting him.”
At those words, the atmosphere at the table changed slightly.
Valerion also bears responsibility for protecting Haku.
Those words were weightier than simple goodwill.
I looked at Leopold for a moment, then lowered my head slightly.
Isolde smiled gently.
Thank goodness Mariette wasn’t here.
If she had been, she would have recorded it again.
Haku lowers his head in response to the Duke of Valerion’s declaration of protection.
Truly horrifying.
That night, even after returning to Elysia’s room, we remained silent for a while.
Elysia looked at the Crown Exam schedule on her desk, then slowly turned toward me.
“Haku.”
‘Hm?’
“Were you very surprised today?”
After thinking for a moment, I nodded.
I was surprised.
I had expected it, but seeing the number appear before my eyes felt stranger than I had thought.
It felt as though I had confirmed once again just how far outside this world’s standards I was.
Elysia carefully stroked my head.
“Still, thank you. For taking the assessment with me.”
I rubbed my head lightly against her palm.
It’s all right.
There is a little fear.
There will certainly be more troublesome things as well.
But today’s result probably won’t be entirely bad for Elysia.
At the very least, the professors must have realized.
That the connection between Elysia and me is by no means ordinary.
That this connection is changing Elysia little by little.
I looked at the moon rising outside the window.
I recalled the strange words Lulu had said.
Small.
But high.
A high moon.
Ancient.
I quietly curled my tail.
From now on, I might no longer be able to do nothing but pretend to be an ordinary fox.
Not that I intend to reveal everything right away, either.
I yawned softly.
Smiling, Elysia laid me down on the small blanket atop the bed.
“Let’s rest well today.”
As I closed my eyes, I thought.
The Crown Exam was not over yet.
And the number 101 for my resonance level would likely create far greater ripples than I imagined.
‘…Honestly.’
All I wanted was to live quietly by Elysia’s side.
So why did things keep getting this big every single time?
The next morning.
The incident of my resonance level being 101 was resolved by the Stellar Radiance Council faster than expected.
To be precise, before the rumor could spread out of control, the Stellar Radiance Council moved first.
When we arrived at the academy, a new notice had already been posted on the central bulletin board.
[Official Notice from the Stellar Radiance Council]
During yesterday’s first-year familiar resonance assessment, certain abnormal figures were confirmed;
however, the relevant result is currently under review by the Department of Special Familiars and the faculty.
No decision has been made to classify the familiar in question as a dangerous entity,
and all students are requested to refrain from unverified speculation or excessive approaches.
The existing contact regulations regarding the registered familiar Haku will remain in effect.
Unauthorized contact, use of measurement magic, luring with snacks, and attempts at private observation will be treated as violations of regulations.
— Excellia Academy Stellar Radiance Council
In Elysia’s arms, I read the notice to the end.
Then, for a moment, I stared blankly at the bulletin board.
‘When they do it, they do it properly.’
To be honest, I was a little surprised.
Because they had handled strange matters like Haku badges, portrait contests,
and three-times-a-week petting schedules so seriously,
I had begun to doubt the organization called the Stellar Radiance Council itself.
No, to be precise.
‘Are these people perhaps an organization whose judgment gets clouded whenever they see something cute?’
I had even thought that before.
But this matter was different.
The very day after the strange number 101 appeared for my resonance level, the Stellar Radiance Council posted an official notice before the rumor could get ahead of them.
That Haku was not a dangerous entity.
That unverified speculation was prohibited.
That the existing contact regulations would remain in place.
And above all, that unauthorized measurements or private observation were clearly designated as violations.
Perhaps thanks to that, the reactions of the students gathered in front of the bulletin board were a little different from yesterday.
“They say he isn’t a dangerous entity.”
“Then is his resonance level just unusual?”
“The Stellar Radiance Council said unauthorized observation is prohibited, so I guess we can’t just follow him around.”
“They said the rules for touching Haku are staying the same too.”
“What a relief. I thought they were going away.”
The last comment was a little strange, but in any case, the atmosphere was calming down.
The peculiar awe and curiosity that had erupted outside the resonance room yesterday,
as well as the slight fear, had faded considerably.
Thanks to the Stellar Radiance Council drawing a line first,
rather than suddenly seeing Haku as a dangerous being,
the students seemed to have chosen to continue accepting him as the academy’s familiar and adorable familiar.
Of course, the gazes did not vanish completely.
Some students still whispered while looking at me.
But at the very least, they were not openly shocked or frightened like yesterday.
That was quite a big difference.
Elysia also let out a small breath, as if relieved.
“President Cecilia must have taken care of it right away.”
I nodded.
The president of the Stellar Radiance Council certainly was no ordinary person.
She was a frightening person who promoted turning me into merchandise with a smiling face, but at necessary moments, she moved with precision.
It was hard to tell whether she was an ally or an enemy, but at least for now, she had certainly been helpful.
Inwardly, I expressed a very small amount of gratitude to Cecilia.
Of course, that did not mean I had forgiven the badge contest.
That was a separate matter.