Chapter 112

Chapter 112

From Cosmic Rascal to Professor.

Episode 112: Your Student Is Awesome (4).

Final exams were finally over.

“That’s ridiculous. Why is my answer wrong?”

The bustling halls of the Stellarium’s renowned Creative Engineering building echoed with the voices of students disputing their grades. The first to bear the brunt of their complaints were the beleaguered graduate students.

“If you look at the answer sheet here, it’s completely different from what you wrote. So when grading…”

“Exactly! Why do you think that’s the only correct answer? Can’t what I wrote also be considered valid?”

The teaching assistant scratched his head in frustration, clearly overwhelmed. I pulled Zelnya, who was throwing a fit, away from the crowd.

“Regrade it or call the professor… mph! Mmmph!”

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry…”

I had to silence her before she could unleash any more of her outrageous demands.

“Ow, ack!”

She bit my hand. This is driving me crazy!

“Are you a child? What’s wrong with you?”

“I got that question right! The teaching assistant graded it all wrong without even knowing what they were doing!”

I pressed my fingers to my forehead. It felt like staring at an infant with dried blood still clinging to their scalp. Where had the charismatic Zelnya from the novel gone?

“If I had just gotten that one right, my math score would have matched yours. It was such a close difference. But the TA messed it up!”

“Whether you get them all right or miss one, it’s still an A+.”

“But the rank is different! The rank!”

“We’re in different departments.”

“…? Oh.”

Ah, this idiot. I told her not to get so obsessed with grades.

“Still, there’s something called individual subject results. This was my chance to prove I could outshine you in calculus, but now I’m just upset. Why are you looking at me like that?”

“Oh geez.”

It was frustrating, and I had no retort. Second place can never receive genuine consolation from first place. The moment you’re branded as second, the tag of inferiority comes as a package deal.

“Give up. The professor rarely changes grades like that.”

“Wait a minute. If we use Adelwein’s power, we could—”

“Stop talking nonsense.”

I flicked Zelnya on the forehead.

“Ouch,” she exclaimed, letting out a cute groan, then belatedly raised a question mark over her head. She probably didn’t expect to be hit like that.

“Let’s just enjoy the vacation. We get three months off, right?”

“Med students only get two weeks off.”

“…Hmm.”

“Honestly, tell me. You’re doing this to mess with me, aren’t you? Huh? You’re doing it on purpose. Answer me.”

“No, I really didn’t know…”

“Do you want to die?”

Zelnya kicked my shin with all her might.

“Ouch, my shin!”

“Yeah, it’s the end of the semester. Let’s just take a small hit to celebrate. How dare you flick my forehead when I’m the next head of the Adelwein family? You’re in big trouble today.”

There were no better options left.

“Where are you going? Aren’t you coming here?”

I ran with all my might, feeling utterly miserable. It wasn’t enough that Sonia had been beating me up; now, I had become Zelnya’s punching bag.

When I glanced back, I saw her gaining on me with incredible speed; her face flushed a furious red. Just how dissatisfied was she with her lower grades compared to mine?

In a desperate bid for survival, I dashed into a crowded café.

“How cowardly, running into a café,” Zelnya sneered as she followed me inside. We found seats and entered a temporary truce, though a tense atmosphere lingered between us. I quickly ordered some tarts and a sweet latte, a combination that drives Zelnya crazy in the novel. It should help lower her rage gauge by about 30 points.

Ceti: You crazy bastard

How many coffees do you drink in a day?

Over the limit, damn it

You damn fucker!

…If I have time, I should buy one for Ceti too.

“Eat, Zelnya.”

“Why should I?”

“Because the semester is over. It’s a party!”

“Hmm.”

As Ceti’s rage energy increased, Zelnya’s expression began to soften. This was the law of energy conservation in action, I swear.

Egg tart, cheese tart, carrot tart— devoured them one by one, savoring the sweet comfort of coffee. Gradually, Zelnya’s scowl transformed into a smile of contentment.

“Indeed, sugar is the best when you’re tired. It’s not good for your health, though…”

Plop. A medical student has collapsed.

I consulted with my father, who is both a university professor and a specialist at a university hospital. He assessed Zelnya’s condition with a practiced eye.

“Overwork.”

So it is. For reference, the consultation fee is 0 credits—what we call “Dad’s privilege.”

“Let her rest well for a few days. No strenuous activities. Make sure she sleeps and wakes up on time.”

“Father, do medical students go through this every semester?”

“Weak ones do. If you want to endure, you have to build up your stamina.”

He also advised Zelnya to avoid sweet coffee and bread. Her expression crumbled at that, her childlike features surprisingly vulnerable.

The next day, Zelnya, still weary, came to find me.

“What are you doing during the vacation?”

“Play.”

“Then I’ll play too.”

“Go ahead.”

Just then, I received messages from both professors simultaneously. Professor Feynman requested a meeting, but I declined. Instead, I sent an Ok to Professor Stranov’s DM.

I was about to board the shuttle to Eruyel Academy when Zelnya appeared out of nowhere.

“Why are you following me?”

“It’s just a coincidence that our paths overlap.”

I studied her for a moment, and she returned the gaze.

“I’m about to take the shuttle now.”

“What a coincidence. So am I.”

“Which shuttle are you taking?”

“Why should I tell you that?”

I turned away and started walking again, but Zelnya fell in step beside me as if drawn by an invisible thread. We boarded the same shuttle, got off at the same stop, and walked toward Eruyel Academy together. Our paths seemed to intertwine at every turn. What an incredible coincidence.

“Hey, aren’t you supposed to be out having fun?”

“This is my vacation spot.”

“It’s a college!”

“It’s a college, but I’m going to hang out here anyway.”

Zelnya’s expression froze.

“Oh, I see. The night view is pretty nice. The old-style architecture adds to the atmosphere. It’s perfect for strolling around and relaxing.”

“What are you talking about? I’m going inside the building.”

“What?”

“There’s a nightclub inside.”

Another freeze.

“Are you out of your mind? Did you fall down some stairs? A nightclub in a college, really…?”

Seeing is believing. I shrugged in response and started walking toward the science building, where lights flickered invitingly. Zelnya hesitated for a moment before following me.

“It’s cleaner inside than I thought.”

“Of course. It’s a club.”

Quantum Gravity Resonator Development Lab

“So, this is a nightclub…?”

“Night, as in it operates at night. Club, a place where people with a specific purpose meet. Together, it makes ‘nightclub.’”

“It’s just a lab!”

Zelnya started to backstep, but it was already too late.

“Damn it, why won’t this open!”

The last door we had entered featured a fingerprint recognition lock, effectively barring anyone who wasn’t a club member from exiting.

“Why in the world would they install the door lock on the inside!”

“That’s just how graduate schools operate.”

“What does that have to do with grad school!”

Click, click!

Zelnya, who had been frantically trying the doorknob, soon gave up, her energy spent.

“It’s no use. It won’t budge.”

She had come to the realization that no amount of struggling would help her escape on her own. It was almost ironic how they were witnessing a real-time example of ‘learned helplessness’ from their psychology classes.

In any case, this was a somewhat satisfying outcome. I had lost during the day yesterday but emerged victorious tonight.

“Oh my. Has Reinhardt arrived?” Professor Stranov emerged from the laboratory, greeting us with a cheerful demeanor.

I pulled out the neatly organized stack of papers from the bag I had prepared in advance. All 300 pages were dedicated to research on the optimal placement of the ‘Virgo’ crystal sourced from the Southern Processing Plant.

“You’ve completed all this while also preparing for your finals?”

“The more I delved into it, the more intriguing it became, and I just couldn’t stop.”

Thank you, Cartesia. I’m forever in your debt.

The God of ‘Wisdom and Curiosity’ shrugs her shoulders.

“Reinhardt, you always manage to surpass my expectations. Just like when you chose my thesis topic initially… I’m only teasing, of course. No need to look so grave.”

“…Please review it and let me know if you find any inconsistencies or omissions. I’ll be available to assist with your research during the summer vacation.”

“Oh my. That was rather cool of you just now.”

Professor, you really do have a good sense of humor. But isn’t there someone else you have your eye on?

Exactly. From now on, I’ll be your Cupid.

Zelnya found herself witnessing a rather peculiar scene.

“Alright, can you state your name and student number for the camera?”

“Aidel von Reinhardt, Stellarium College, class of ‘24. I’m interning at Professor Stranov’s lab at Eruyel College.”

“How long have you been interning?”

“Um, four months.”

“That seems like enough time to get a feel for the lab’s atmosphere. How is it? Is it fun?”

“It’s interesting. However, I think I need to do more research to be certain.”

“Alright. Then, let’s start making the graviton resonator with Reinhardt’s team. Now, would you take off your clothes?”

“Yes, Professor…”

Zelnya blinked, her mind momentarily blank. Is this supposed to be a vlog?

What struck her as even more absurd was her role as one of the auxiliary camera operators. She felt an odd sensation as she filmed Aidel removing his coat.

“Finished changing into the cleanroom suit.”

“Good. Let’s go inside.”

Zelnya swallowed hard, pushing down the nauseating feeling that rose in her throat. Despite her fatigue from overwork, there was no turning back now.

Aidel von Reinhardt. The only rival she acknowledged. The fact that he was engaging in such external activities in a place like this heightened her curiosity.

“What in the universe did you make to cause such a fuss?” Zelnya, roughly dressed in a protective suit, also entered the research area.