Chapter 56

Chapter 56

From Cosmic Rascal to Professor.

Episode 56: The First Paper (1).

[Direct Message]

Rustila: Tonight was great. See you tomorrow.

Professor: Today’s discussion was good. Let’s do it again tomorrow.

I was on my way back to the dormitory after spending a cozy evening with Rustila and Professor Feynman when it happened.

“Hey, you there!”

Two police officers suddenly appeared, blocking my path.

“Huh?” I barely had time to react before handcuffs were snapped onto my wrists.

“Aidel von Reinhardt,” one of the officers said sternly. “We are arresting you as a suspect in collusion with the Outer Gods.”

How did things even end up like this?

Colluding with an Outer God? Arrested for that?

It made no sense.

Though I hadn’t even started to act, I was already struggling to drive the Outer Gods from this universe. Clearly, I was on humanity’s side.

As I sorted through various thoughts and potential excuses…

Thud!

Detective Terence slammed the desk and said,

“It’s been a while, Aidel.”

“Hello, Detective.”

Detective Terence. A competent space cop who, since my childhood, had dealt with the troublemaker Aidel and climbed the ranks.

Originally in the violent crimes division, my antics had caused him to transfer to the juvenile division.

To encounter him again… was this a blessing in disguise?

Lighting a cigarette, Detective Terence sighed and began,

“Did you hit someone again, Aidel?”

“No?”

“What do you achieve by hitting someone?”

“I told you, I didn’t hit anyone.”

“Then what exactly do you gain from doing that?”

Can’t you listen for once?

Damn it. Because I’m Aidel, no one ever really listens, no matter what I say. While I clicked my tongue in frustration, Detective Terence got to the main issue.

“The reason I called you here today, Aidel, is because the investigation results show you’re connected to Laplace’s Outer God.”

“…Huh? Me?”

“Yes, you. During the midterm evaluation, except for one instance, everyone who sparred with you fell unconscious after just three or four hits, right?”

I nodded. I had indeed used the Callipers of Wisdom to score a hefty amount of practical points.

“The phenomenon of fainting from a big shock in virtual reality isn’t unheard of, so we didn’t come to you without evidence. The hospital’s diagnosis was the same for everyone. It’s a known symptom.”

“That’s right. Then…”

“Still, something seemed off. The central government asked us to investigate you.”

The conclusion was clear.

“In capsule number 54, where you knocked out five people with a single strike, a significant amount of Laplace-type Pron was detected.”

I paused, thinking it over before nodding slightly. I had a rough idea of what was happening.

Laplace’s Legion?

First off, it wasn’t me.

Even if I had borrowed power from Cartesia, the residual presence must have been from the Descartes Legion. In other words, another Outer God had invaded that space besides Cartesia.

“You will have to answer the questions I’m about to ask.”

“Understood.”

There was only one thing to do now.

Cooperate earnestly with the investigation and clear my name quickly. The investigation stretched over a week.

Consequently, I missed an entire week of school. It wasn’t a significant loss academically, as I was familiar with the material, but subsisting on meals from the police station was far from enjoyable.

“It’s uncomfortable, but bear with it. If an Outer God truly resides within you, letting you out would be much more dangerous.”

Human rights were curtailed to maintain public order and the majority’s well-being. One couldn’t freely leave, speak, or move if suspected of being possessed by an Outer God.

For the first three days, I felt like a prisoner, restrained because of the Outer God suspicion.

However, as the days passed, the intensity of the investigation seemed to wane.

“You’re not showing any signs of madness.”

“Could it be that the incubation period for the Outer God is longer?”

“Usually, there should be an outbreak at least once a week. Didn’t you hear what the doctors said?”

Voices murmured outside my door, but one statement stood out.

“Even after a psychiatric evaluation, all his indicators were normal. No residual Pron was detected either.”

The scientific verdict was clear.

The steel door creaked open, flooding the room with light.

“Aidel, it’s all over now.”

“Can I return to school then?”

“Yes. You’ll remain under surveillance, but you can start resuming a normal life. I’ll ensure you don’t feel out of place.”

Detective Terence’s face conveyed a mix of apology and regret as if he realized he had made a mistake.

But this wasn’t entirely a wild goose chase.

After all, I had made a contract with Cartesia.

I even used her abilities during the midterms to pass.

Given the Descartes Legion’s characteristic of leaving hardly any residual Pron, I was confident I would pass undetected.

Yet, I encountered an unexpected complication.

‘The god of Wisdom and Curiosity’ ponders.

“Laplace, that bastard. Remember, there was a glitch when you and that silver-haired kid were clashing.”

“……?”

“A despicable kind that exploits their servant without reward. They lack even the basic sense of amusement. Tsk.”

Cartesia clicked her tongue, and I stared in bewilderment at her grumbling.

I recalled the end of my fight with Zelnya. The command “Be defeated” suddenly appeared in my status window.

Assuming it was Cartesia’s doing, I acted without thinking. I hadn’t considered the presence of another Outer God.

Cartesia must have known everything from the start. So why hadn’t she informed me?

“Why should I bother telling you such things?”

I was a fool to have even asked.

In the end, I was released due to insufficient evidence.

“Pack up your electronics and belongings and get out. People are waiting for you outside, so best to hurry.”

People waiting outside?

“Young master.”

“Brother!”

“Aidel…!”

Sonia, Ceti, and Rustila—three people dear to me—rushed over, none of whom I considered a burden.

Ceti was the first to hug me, while Rustila blinked back tears with a sigh. Sonia, observing the scene, simply shrugged.

“Sob, I thought you were really going to prison…”

[Ceti von Adelwein Reinhardt: 140/1000]

[Mental State]

Believes you are being manipulated by Outer God forces. Was afraid of you being imprisoned.

“Aidel, I’m relieved because you’re innocent…”

[Rustila Kersil: 170/1500]

[Mental State]

(Effect of Insight) Aware of your contract with an Outer God. Feared you might never return to school.

I felt immense guilt for causing them such worry. Sonia, being an android, didn’t require emotional readings.

But realizing that Rustila, and now Ceti, knew about my pact with Cartesia sent chills down my spine.

If anything happened, I had to protect them both. Ceti was family, and Rustila felt like family, too.

“Young master.”

After comforting the two tearful girls, I looked away. Sonia approached slowly, her hands clasped modestly.

“I was worried.”

“…”

“Maybe I should monitor you around the clock…”

“Aidel! Is student Aidel there?”

A man’s voice cut through Sonia’s words.

I turned, my movements sluggish, and saw a figure across the corridor, his expression fraught with concern.

“Professor?”

“Student.”

It was Professor Feynman.

“Professor!”

“Student!”

Leaving Ceti and Rustila behind, I rushed to him. We embraced, overwhelmed with relief.

“My disciple! I feared you had vanished without a trace!”

“Me too! Thank you for coming, Professor…! Is my thesis topic still secure?”

“Of course! Who else would pursue it? It’s a project only you could handle!”

The week I’d spent detained at the Southern Space Region Police Station over an Outer God incident would linger in my memory, not least because it affirmed the professor’s dedication.

Later, reviewing the DMs from him, I saw his panic when I hadn’t replied. He’d sent nearly a hundred messages and even called an ambulance, fearing I’d collapsed.

“It’s a relief. Humanity would have suffered a great loss had something happened to you.”

“Ah, you’re exaggerating…”

“Enough of that. You should head back to school. You have classes tomorrow, right? Let’s resume our discussion later. For now, get some rest.”

“Yes, I will…”

Wait. What was I agreeing to?

Wasn’t there a policy for skipping grades in academia? I remembered considering it.

If a student excels during their first year, they can jump straight to college courses. This isn’t just about acing exams; the Ministry of Education also has a say in these advancements.

For instance, a high school student who authors a SCI-level paper.

“Professor.”

I caught his attention again.

“I’ll request the academy to treat this week as medical leave. It would be a good time to catch up on our discussions.”

“…Is that really okay?”

“Absolutely.”

“Very well. Let’s do that.”

I informed Ceti and Rustila of my decision to skip school the following week and left with the professor.

After Aidel and Professor Feynman had departed, Detective Terence cleared his throat awkwardly. Rustila and Ceti, who had been sobbing, shook as if lost in the aftermath of the event.

“To think I was so worried for him,” Rustila murmured.

“Who is that person?” Ceti asked, her voice tinged with confusion.

Rustila didn’t know Feynman, but Ceti had a vague idea. He was to be Aidel’s advisor in the future. She had heard he was considering the physics department at the college. However, she had initially dismissed it as a joke.

But the closeness between the professor and Aidel was undeniable. There was a kindness, a familial warmth that Aidel didn’t share with Ceti, a closeness that surpassed what he had with Rustila—it was more like a friendship.

A surge of irritation rose within the two girls.

“I hope you won’t be too angry,” Sonia said, her hands resting gently on their shoulders.

“The young master holds both of you dear. You can see it in his eyes.”

“…Sonia,” Rustila whispered, her voice soft.

“Following that professor must be because there’s something urgent that needs to be done. Something very important,” Sonia explained, turning to face Rustila directly.

Rustila met Sonia’s gaze—her white and azure eyes stark against her haughty, upright expression. Unknowingly, Rustila gulped.

Ceti, slowly turning her head, asked, “Sonia, don’t you feel slighted by how he acted just now?”

Sonia gave a faint smile as she looked into Ceti’s eyes, her expression indifferent. “Such emotions are a luxury for an android, Miss.”

Ceti fell silent.

“And you know,” Sonia continued, her gaze drifting down the corridor where Aidel and Professor Feynman had vanished. She sighed deeply. “Regardless, I am with the young master at all times..”