Chapter 30

Chapter 30

From Cosmic Rascal to Professor.

Episode 30: Passing (4).

After the celebration party, I found a balance between exercise and studies. In the mornings, Rustila coached me in aerobics, and by evening, I was buried in research about Graviton Bullets.

The level of science and technology humanity had achieved in this era was astonishing.

We lived in an age where warp technology was a reality, plasma could be molded into swords, and mining on a planetary scale was a commercial venture.

With such advancements, it was no surprise that the world was filled with countless geniuses and prodigies, whose scientific theories vastly exceeded my own understanding.

It reminded me of something Professor Feynman once said.

Given these circumstances, I had no choice but to start from the basics and gradually work my way up.

Fortunately, I had an ace up my sleeve – a gift from the Outer God Cartesia, coupled with a healthy dose of self-confidence. Although I remained wary, not fully grasping Cartesia’s true intentions, there seemed no reason to reject her assistance for the time being.

With this mindset, I diligently sifted through every relevant paper I could get my hands on.

“What are you doing? Ugh, these are research papers.”

Ceti, having snuck a peek at my tablet, grimaced and groaned in disdain.

“Why are you even looking at this stuff if you can’t understand it?”

“I know, right?” I responded with a bitter laugh.

“Why bother with such things? Do you actually find it enjoyable?”

“It’s fascinating,” I admitted.

“I just don’t get it,” she said, shaking her head in bafflement.

Ceti shrugged her shoulders and clicked her tongue, thankfully stopping short of outright calling me a moron or anything of the sort.

Things were much worse when I had first taken over this body. Back then, Ceti regarded me as nothing more than trash.

Ceti von Reinhardt

40/1000

Mental State

She is deeply curious about your transformation. You are now considered an oddity.

Her perception of me has since shifted; I am now viewed as a madman, utterly obsessed with my studies.

I suppose that’s an improvement.

She flipped through the papers I was clutching, glancing at the titles and abstracts. After a brief inspection, she frowned.

“Are you planning to major in physics?”

“Why would you think that?”

“Don’t give me an answer that sounds like it’s been lifted from an elementary school math book. Just tell me, are you planning to major in physics or not?”

“Yes, I am.”

‘The God of Wisdom and Curiosity’ appreciates your confident answer.

You have been awarded 100 Pron.

“I thought it was pretty obvious,” I added.

“To you, maybe”

“Then what about you? What’s your plan?”

“You’re asking because you genuinely don’t know, aren’t you? Well, for starters, I need to repay the 2,000 million credits you squandered on gambling.”

Ceti’s words pierced my heart.

It was as though she had resigned herself to cleaning up Aidel’s mess on her own.

Of course, her motivation wasn’t rooted in generosity.

“With such accomplishments, even father and mother would have to recognize and acknowledge me.”

Ceti had a grand dream described in the story.

“I’ll secure the position of the next family head.”

For Ceti, becoming the family head and perpetuating the family business wasn’t just a dream.

In an era where surnames made no distinction between genders and assuming a new name was relatively simple, her goal seemed entirely achievable.

However, a significant obstacle stood in her way.

“…But hasn’t the role of the next family head already been earmarked for my older brother?”

Above Aidel in the line of succession were two brothers, the progeny of the first wife and, by traditional standards, the legitimate heirs.

For Ceti, a child of a contract marriage, aspiring to helm the family business was a daunting challenge, given the prevailing family dynamics.

Yet, Ceti’s demeanor betrayed no hint of discouragement at my observation.

“So what? I’ll just take it.”

She declared, her grin unwavering.

“So what if I’m the product of a contract marriage? Is there a law that forbids me from carrying on the family name? If such a law exists, I’d like to see it.”

“There isn’t one,” I admitted.

“That settles it, then,” she concluded.

Her confidence bolstered by her recent acceptance into Stellarium. Simultaneously, I began to grasp the underlying motive behind my younger sister’s bold proclamation.

“By the way, don’t you find yourself peculiar? The top student venturing into physics. Surely, there are more lucrative paths available to you?”

Her words were a test, a probe into my own convictions and choices.

At the same time, she was on guard, worried that my entrance into Stellarium as the top student might threaten not only her future position but also that of our eldest brother.

“Forget it. I plan to become a professor.”

“Well… suit yourself.”

Ceti glanced at me as she spoke. With her arms crossed, standing a bit away, she looked at me haughtily.

“It’s strange. You weren’t like this before.”

I could hear her mumblings clearly, even though she thought I could not.

After that, I spent nearly two hours reading papers. The ones I couldn’t understand were placed on the right, and the ones I could somewhat understand were on the left. The ones that piqued my interest were placed on my lap.

Ceti was also reading a book beside me.

Occasionally, she would tie her hair, go to the bathroom, drink water, and do other mundane activities. I didn’t understand why she was still in my room even after her business was done.

“Yah.”

Eventually, Ceti broke the silence.

“Do you really enjoy reading those papers that much?”

She seemed curious why I hadn’t moved at all while reading. I nodded in response.

“Learning is always exciting.”

“What the fuck.”

Ceti exclaimed in shock and leaned back. Regardless, I organized my materials and stood up.

“Why are you getting up?”

“I have somewhere to be. It’s time.”

“Where are you going?”

She asked, tilting her head.

Isn’t it common sense to answer when asked a question?

I chuckled and replied,

“Contact.”

I stepped onto the surface of Planeta for the second time, feeling a sense of familiarity wash over me.

Without delay, I made my way to Professor Feynman’s residence.

Though I had notified him via email about my visit, the look of surprise on his face when we met suggested he hadn’t fully expected me to show up.

“As I anticipated. I was confident you would pass.”

Professor Feynman remarked, addressing me with a level of formality that spoke volumes of his respect for his students—a trait well-known about him.

“Did you intervene on my behalf, Professor?”

“Haha, not at all,” he chuckled.

Upon entering his home, Feynman handed me a tablet.

“What’s this?” I inquired.

“These are some test answers from student Aidel. I took the liberty of bringing them here.”

“Is it really okay to just take these?”

“Once the successful candidates are announced, it becomes inconsequential.”

Lowering his voice, Professor Feynman leaned in.

“The solutions you provided for several physics problems were extraordinary. Take essay question number three, for example; you tackled it in twelve distinct ways…”

Indeed, I had solved one problem in numerous ways, which inevitably led to me running out of time.

“One of the main evaluation criteria for essay-type questions is your problem-solving ability. Demonstrating that you can solve a problem in various ways might not directly earn you extra points, but it certainly leaves a favorable impression on the examiner.”

“Did you employ the same strategy when you were taking entrance exams, Professor?”

“Hahaha.”

As expected.

“Originally, another interviewer was supposed to conduct the student interviews… Anyway.”

His voice lowered.

“Do you wish to pursue graduate studies?”

“Of course.”

“In physics?”

“Absolutely.”

“Well, then.”

Feynman nodded.

“I, too, considered graduate school since my days as an academia student. Delving deep into a subject is exhilarating. Given student Aidel’s strong determination, I see no reason to suggest considering other paths.”

“Then, might you consider taking me on as your disciple later?”

“Ha ha! Your flattery skills are exceptional.”

Feynman chuckled.

“With such prowess, you could charm not only professors like myself but also numerous women.”

“Professor?”

My comment wasn’t meant as flattery. Feynman laughed again and clapped me on the shoulder.

“It was a suggestion for you to consider dating, given your youth. From what I’ve observed, you seem to possess an attractiveness comparable to my own.”

“…Yes.”

I let that comment pass through one ear and out the other without giving it much thought.

Actually, my visit to Feynman today wasn’t solely to touch base; there was another motive behind it.

This time, I pulled out the tablet I had brought with me.

“Speaking of which, I recently read the article you wrote about preons, and this part is…”

As the new term at Stellarium Academy approached…

…in a luxurious suite adorned with white gold wallpaper, the only sound was the crunch of nails being bitten.

Crunch.

Zelnya, her frustration evident, bit her thumbnail and rolled her eyes in irritation.

Who?

Who could it possibly be?

Who had managed to surpass her and claim the top?

Why wasn’t she the one at the top?

A whirlwind of questions tormented her, yet there were no answers in sight.

Even surrounded by the opulence of a top-grade hotel—a place far beyond the reach of the average person—her mind was anything but at peace.

“Yah…” she called out, her voice laced with impatience.

“Yes, miss,” came the prompt reply.

“Have you still not uncovered who it is?”

“I apologize, miss. The incident during the practical test has significantly tightened security within the academy…”

“Worthless,” she muttered under her breath.

The mystery of who had stolen her first place remained unsolved, adding fuel to her growing frustration.

No matter how much she pondered, it remained incomprehensible. The top spot should have been hers and hers alone. It was evident. An Adelwein, and a rival at that!

“Christine Hersett, Welton Usford, Mathers… What was his name? The rookie… Who else were the top candidates?”

“Mezlen Whirtia, Ceti von Reinhardt, James Hendilton also show promise.”

“Just a bunch of nobodies. Well, except for Reinhardt… Reinhardt?”

A lightbulb went off in Zelnya’s mind.

“Aidel von Reinhardt.”

The boy who had stirred up all sorts of chaos during the written test.

The dark horse who had tied for first place with her in the Ergos Comprehensive Academy’s private mock test.

That boy held considerable potential as well.

Judging by the expression on his face right after the interview and his evasion of questions following the announcement of successful candidates, she had assumed he had failed.

‘If that guy, Aidel or whatever his name is, passed as the top student…’

It meant she hadn’t lost to the brilliant geniuses she had been competing with all this time but to a cosmic rascal who had burst onto the scene like a comet.

It was more than humiliation; it was a matter of dying from shame.

Zelnya tapped her forehead lightly and held her breath.

In the end, the identity of the top student could only be confirmed on the podium during the entrance ceremony since the top scorer takes the oath as the representative of the new students.

‘Well, I’ll have to see their face at least.’

At this point, Zelnya ceased her search and allowed her informants to rest. Then, she herself lay down.

‘I don’t know who they are, but I will definitely crush them. Crush them and reclaim first place.’

By doing so, she would reestablish the authority of the Adelwein family.

With that thought, Zelnya fell asleep while clutching a white teddy bear.

Thus, the day of the entrance ceremony approached.