Chapter 9

Chapter 9

From Cosmic Rascal to Professor.

Episode 9: Rustila (4).

“… So, how was it?”

“Yes. He was a good person.”

Ceti’s mouth fell open. “Even after seeing what happened earlier?”

“It couldn’t be helped. Ceti, you need to understand.”

Rustila defended Aidel, and Ceti couldn’t believe it. Aidel, who had been causing trouble for the past 10 years, had received a positive evaluation from someone for the first time.

“I saw it clearly with my Heart’s Eye. You might not see it from the outside, but Aidel is a good person. Yes, and a pitiful child too. So instead of getting angry, we need to help him.”

Ceti slumped as she touched her forehead.

“… You didn’t experience anything odd from him, right? Like being cursed or sexually harassed!”

“No.”

“Okay. That much works…”

It didn’t seem like a lie. Ceti called Sonia aside to cross-verify Rustila’s statement. Even Sonia had nothing much to say, and although the suspicion continued, opposition testimonies began to emerge.

Ceti thought while picking up the last remaining snack, ‘I am missing something.’

Memories of the past slowly surfaced. Remembering the harsh words from Aidel, the memories of being beaten to death, the fights, and crying under the covers. They were all equally miserable memories.

These memories, combined with Rustila’s words, caused confusion for her. The essence of his being, is a good person?

‘… What a joke!’

She still couldn’t believe it. On the surface, she agreed with Rustila’s words, but inside, she was already sharpening her knife. There had to be something she was missing; her Heart’s Eye is best.

Then, if that isn’t the case, ‘What does all that treatment I have received mean then?’

It is unfair. And she didn’t want to admit it. Human nature doesn’t change. Aidel was always meant to stay like a thug, trash at home.

“Miss Rustila, it is about time to head back,” Zermel, who was in the room, approached and pointed at the clock.

Her eyes, which had been sharing a quiet talk and studying with Ceti, froze.

“Can I not stay a bit longer?”

“Didn’t the family head ask you to adhere to the curfew? If we don’t leave now, you’ll be in trouble.”

“… Alright.”

Rustila packed her things, including the wooden sword she had swung numerous times, and put them into her bag. It was time to return to her family.

Ceti personally escorted her to the dock. Four androids boarded the ship first, followed by Zermel. Rustila kept looking back even as she moved ahead. Rustila and Ceti’s eyes met several times, each exchange marked by sadness. Ceti waved to her gently.

Then, Kuung-!! The ion engine, coated in platinum, roared to life. The heated wind rose with a whoosh.

Ceti watched with a bitter look as Rustila returned to her home until the spaceship moved far, far away…

Breaking the brief silence, Ceti asked, “… Sonia, wouldn’t those androids go and tell everything about what that terrible bastard did?”

“Do not worry, I have handled it.”

“Really, that man is a disgrace to the family…”

Ceti sighed deeply, her steps heavy as she made her way to the recovery room where Aidel was staying.

“Hey.”

Ceti entered without permission, just as Aidel was looking at a workbook. She sighed naturally.

“You’re still preparing for the entrance test?”

Aidel, with bandages wrapped around his head and forearms, turned his head. He frowned, seemingly displeased by her sudden intrusion.

“Why are you here?”

“Ha! Why am I here? After causing all that mess, you don’t know why I’m here?”

“I had a good talk with Rustila.”

“Talk? What talk?”

“About why I caused that mess.”

“Did you threaten her or something?”

Although Rustila said no, Ceti wanted to believe something had happened. Rustila is kind, and Aidel is evil. She thought he must have done something.

“I can say for sure I didn’t threaten her.”

“Just imagine if there’s even a bit of evidence. You’ll die at the hands of our father.”

“Which is why I’m studying like this.”

“How long do you plan to keep up the act?”

“If you don’t believe me, want to see it?”

“What am I supposed to do with answers scribbled onto the book with no solutions?”

“True.”

“…?”

Ceti entered the room, prepared to scold Aidel. She expected him to react with the same violence he had shown the androids. However, Aidel was surprisingly calm.

Ceti was taken aback. ‘Is he bipolar… or what?’

In the midst of this, Aidel yawned and turned the page of his book, seemingly solving and flipping through it effortlessly.

“Go die, moron.”

Ceti spat out the harsh words and left the room. “Study hard!” From beyond the door, only words of encouragement could be heard.

After Rustila’s visit to the Reinhardt family, I found myself back at square one, continuing my studies. I solved problems over and over until I felt nauseous.

Today was the day to see the fruits of my labor.

Tak. The moment I closed the last workbook, a translucent window appeared, accompanied by a clear bell sound.

[Remaining Time: 112 hours 08 minutes 45 seconds.]

[You have completed the first quest.]

[‘The God of Wisdom and Curiosity’ finds your abilities and eagerness to learn satisfactory.]

It had indeed taken a long time.

[You will receive additional pron for the remaining time.]

[Added Pron value: 1120]

“Phew.”

Receiving pron as a reward was satisfactory. The crucial part was that I hadn’t failed the quest. This meant I could finally catch my breath for a while.

[‘The God of Wisdom and Curiosity’ bestows upon you a quest reward.]

Woosh. A gentle breeze blew. Feeling a shiver, I turned around. In the center of the room, an incomprehensible mass of fissures appeared, swaying as if dancing.

The next moment, pale and gaunt hands, resembling those of a corpse, tore through the fissure and emerged.

“Ah.”

I was so startled I almost fell backward. Yes, this was how the reward was presented.

The pale hands held up an object. It resembled both a sword and a tool. In any case, it was an entity from which a chilling aura emanated.

[Take that, human.]

A seductive voice pierced my brain.

[As promised, I will give it to you.]

[Receive the reward ‘A special gift for the foolish human :)’.]

Without hesitation, I took the object. In the next moment, Crack! The pristine hands that had been supporting the object grabbed my wrist.

I didn’t even have time to scream before I was sucked into the black crack, feeling my body being stretched beyond its limits.

Thud! Before I realized it, I found myself trapped in a pitch-dark space where not even a single ray of light could penetrate.

“… ha.”

I should have known this would happen. There was no way the Outer God would simply give a reward without expecting something in return.

Outer Gods are like the ‘Monkey Paw’ from a horror novel. They demand a price for every reward. There was never an instance where they let things slide without a catch.

“If you have something to say, why not say it in the real world? What is this?”

[Cartesia commands, walk.]

Right. What use is there in staying here? To return to where I originally came from, the only option is to walk ahead.

Thus, I began to walk endlessly, unsure if I was actually moving forward or merely stranding on a treadmill. The more I walked, the more clearly I could hear the voice.

[Cartesia asks. Do you know where you are?]

I don’t know.

[Cartesia asks. Can you pinpoint the location?]

Not possible.

It is a complete void. I was moving my legs, but I couldn’t be sure if I was actually making any progress. In such darkness, in such an intangible space, it is impossible to physically measure anything.

[Cartesia asks.]

[Are you afraid?]

[If you are afraid, what exactly are you afraid of?]

Well, if I were to say I am afraid, it would be because the Outer God, is an incomprehensible being. In other words, ignorance is what is frightening. It’s not so much the fact that these beings are strong, but rather, the fear stems from not knowing just what they are.

So, one must start with what they know. First, myself. I exist.

Breathing in such a space is enough to give me goosebumps. I can tell that I am looking ‘ahead’. I can also tell that there is something ‘above’ me.

Front, back, up, down. At least four directions can be specified. So, let’s take this as the origin.

[Cartesia asks. Can you define left and right, and also the lateral dimensions?]

“Haha.”

That might be a bit difficult. Right now, just keeping my sanity is already at its limit.

[Cartesia nods her head. At the same time, she admires your calmness.]

[Cartesia asks.]

Swish! Wind rushed into this empty space as if it were lashing out. My body was pulled ahead.

[Are you going to graduate again?]

I didn’t hesitate to answer. “Yes.”

[10 times, 100 times, even 1000 times?]

“Yes.”

[For what reason though?]

“To take out the Outer Gods from this universe.”

[Seems like there is another reason?]

“Because I want to understand the world, this world.”

Actually, this is closer to my true feelings. On Earth, and in this world too, my dream job is still to be a professor. Even if I win the war against the Outer Gods, I wouldn’t hesitate to continue my research.

“Yah, you are the one who brought me here, right?”

[Cartesia smiles. Well?]

“It won’t go as you wish.”

[Cartesia snickers.]

[Alert: Stress levels have exceeded the system’s limit. Converting received values to pron forcibly.]

[PN values obtained from ‘the Void’: 100000000]

[The current stored pron values are unmanageable!]

[The manifestation is forcibly proceeding!]

The object I was holding suddenly shone with a heat so intense that it felt like my hand would burn. I didn’t drop the object but instead gripped it tighter. I intuitively knew I shouldn’t let it go.

[You have offered 100000000PN as tribute, your first reward is given here.]

Flash-!! The world shone brightly. I had to frown and shut my eyes, making a shade with my other hand.

Eventually, as the light faded, I found myself back in my room. The unidentified object given to me by the Outer God began to take shape.

“…?”

Oddly enough, it was an object I knew well.

“… Calipers?”