Chapter 120

Chapter 120

From Cosmic Rascal to Professor.

Episode 120: The Last Of Yours (2).

“Hey, it’s noisy outside.”

“Someone from the Outer God Management Bureau is here. They said they’re taking this person.”

“Hmm.”

Zelnya, who was wringing out Ire’s wet towel, stretched her arms overhead.

“So, where are they taking her?”

“To the North Outer God Biology Research Institute.”

“That’s where they conduct human experiments.”

Ire, who had been groaning softly, suddenly opened her eyes wide. I feigned ignorance, watching her reaction.

“No way.”

“It’s true. Everyone in Adelwein knows.”

“Even so, should you really be telling me this?”

“You should be fine.”

I fixed my gaze on Zelnya, who cleared her throat and subtly loosened her scarf, revealing the barcode tattoo on the nape of her neck.

“And, broadly speaking, I’m a victim too.”

It seems the Zelnya roulette needs a bit of tweaking.

Current: 30% chance per second to pick a fight.

Revised: 25% chance per second to pick a fight, with a 5% chance to say something conscientious or behave desirably.

These values are set as defaults.

When treating a patient, the girl becomes unexpectedly gentle. Sure, the grumbling still lingers, but compared to the days of her stepping on my feet, it’s cute. I find myself pondering why this change has occurred.

Father.

With the southern front stabilizing, Father took a position as a professor at the university, subtly instilling a sense of ethics in Zelnya during his lessons. It’s a logical conclusion, really.

While tending to Ire, Zelnya burst through the door, her conscience suddenly activated. The Adelwein family, rulers of the north, could easily make most public officials back down with just a little intimidation and a few well-placed bribes.

“I’ll see you in a week.”

Rockdalman’s group bowed their heads and hurried away, tails firmly tucked between their legs. Zelnya puffed out her chest and raised her eyebrows in triumph.

“What on earth did you say to make them leave so quickly?”

“Uhmm… I told them I’m the legitimate daughter of Adelwein, that even government officials can lose their jobs, that the woman is a patient, and that I would cut off all circular investments linked to the research institute’s affiliated companies.”

“You really pressured them from all angles, didn’t you?”

I thought again. This girl is someone you definitely don’t want to make an enemy of.

Back in the room, Zelnya helped Ire to her feet. Ire’s back was slick with cold sweat.

“Hey, look away so I can wipe her back.”

“I’ll just step outside.”

I decided to chat with Sonia until Zelnya called me back in.

Sonia handed me a few homemade cookies and asked.

“How’s that resonator research going?”

“It’s supposed to be finished within a week.”

There were two significant problems complicating matters. First, two professors had thrown their backs out, leaving the lab without a supervisor. Second, I had to get Ire to Eruyel Academy with her sanity intact. Together, these issues created a maddening situation.

“Can this really be done in a week…?”

The latter issue weighed heavily on my mind.

“If it’s you, young master, you’ll manage somehow.”

“Don’t burden me with this.”

“It’s neither a burden nor a joke.”

Sonia suddenly spread her arms and hugged me. The gesture caught me off guard. She patted the back of my head and recited, “Pat-pat.”

“…What are you doing?”

“I’m trying to imitate what human mothers do for their children. I hope this helps you feel better, young master.”

“Do you think I’m a child?”

“In my eyes, you’re still a novice.”

Sonia pulled back, a hint of a smile playing at the corners of her mouth, though her expression remained mostly neutral.

“Of course, this remark is also something I learned.”

Zelnya Adelwein and Ire Hazlen were mortal enemies.

Zelnya’s arrogance reached new heights when she became the president of the college’s student council. Driven by dreams of supremacy, she made a pact with an Outer God to ascend to a higher realm. The condition was simple: sacrifice everyone at the college.

By then, Zelnya had fallen into utter corruption. Using all her medical knowledge, she embalmed those who opposed her and placed them upon the altar.

To stop her, Ire challenged her head-on.

Most of the time, Ire’s attempts were in vain, but on a few occasions, she achieved dramatic victories. Each time, Zelnya met a grim end.

She sacrificed everyone in the college.

Among the offerings, even those who desired it themselves had to be included.

When they succeeded in stopping Zelnya, she abandoned the college and fled to Academia. Hiding in any building she could find, she faced a penalty when her contract with the Outer God expired.

The school was engulfed in flames, and the Devil’s Watchdog appeared.

As she burned and her lower half was severed, at the moment she was swallowed by the Incarnate, she realized—

She had been far too arrogant.

Denying the truth until the very end, she reached out to the approaching Ire, begging for help, pleading to be saved. But at that moment, Zelnya’s heart had already been devoured. With unfocused pupils, she looked at Ire, and then she was gone.

Ire held those memories like shattered glass as she wrote in her diary. They clouded her understanding of the present situation.

“Your body is completely burning up.”

Changing the towel and wiping Ire’s back, Zelnya prescribed fever reducers—about all a first-year pre-med student could manage, but it was enough. Sometimes, the presence of a caregiver can alleviate suffering more than the care itself.

After twelve hours of diligent attention, the fever finally subsided, and Ire managed to speak.

“Why on earth…”

Her voice trembled.

“Why do all this for me… someone you’ve barely met?”

I watched their conversation unfold from a distance. Zelnya let out a hollow laugh.

“I’m a doctor, and you’re a patient.”

People change. Some say humans can’t be fixed and should be left as they are. Still, even they can undergo a significant transformation when they experience something meaningful.

“Stop groaning and stay calm.”

Ire’s pupils dilated, threatening to swallow the whites of her eyes.

“He’s creating something incredible right now, you know? Once it’s finished, all the monsters in your head will be gone.”

Now, who is the villain, and who is the hero? Ire would no longer be able to tell.

A decisive blow was needed to fully win the protagonist over to my side. The time limit was one week, and within that period, I had to create a vaccine—or something similar—to deliver a massive blow to Safaul.

“So… you’re asking to borrow the rights to use the lab for a while?”

“Yes.”

Professor Stranov smacked her lips, lying on her stomach as she crisply peeled an apple. She popped a piece into Professor Feynman’s mouth, who was sprawled next to her. They both groaned in unison.

“Are your backs okay?”

“I’m sorry, but I’d rather not talk about it.”

“Okay.”

The two of them lay forward, and I pulled two tablet stands out of my bag.

“Why those?”

“I thought you might be bored. How about reading some papers with these?”

It was a gift from me.

Professor Feynman stopped eating the apple and began to cough.

“Would you like some water?”

“Please, yes. Cough, cough.”

As I fetched the water, I carefully observed the professor. His neck and arms were covered in hickeys. Oh, shit.

“Are you okay, professor?”

“I have no feeling down below… at all.”

“Ahhhhh! Anyway!”

Professor Stranov interrupted.

“You mean you want to run the research equipment in our absence?”

“Yes.”

“No.”

I had anticipated this response.

“As an undergraduate, it’s impossible to lead a research team. Even if I permit it, external researchers and postdocs will fiercely oppose it.”

I get that you’re capable, but things will get complicated, is what she is implying.

“Moreover, test runs aren’t that easy.”

If something went wrong, writing a report wouldn’t suffice.

“I understand that Aidel’s efforts are part of this paper, but the fate of two PhD candidates as co-authors is also at stake.”

If they don’t graduate this year, they’re screwed.

“The problem is not just that. The reason this research has received so much support is that many high-ranking officials or their children are possessed by Outer Gods. Naturally, there’s a rule that they should get the opportunity first.”

Will you take responsibility if the support for the next project falls through?

She shot back fiercely. She was indeed a professor.

“How many can we put inside the resonator at maximum?”

“If we calculate the strength of the crystal, roughly about ten. It’s not a lot, but considering what humanity has suffered so far, it’s a significant advancement.”

I nodded. In short, it meant there was a reservation. It was highly likely that Ire wouldn’t get a chance. Of course, making multiple resonators was an option, but sourcing the materials would be an issue. Where else could you find something as pure and reflective as white crystal?

“You’re saying that’s the best we can do to contain the Outer God…”

Feynman, who had been staring blankly at his tablet, suddenly clapped his hands and made a suggestion.

“Aidel, I have a good idea. Would you like to hear it?”

“What is it?”

“We need to find someone we can collaborate with.”

What? Did he mean he wanted to increase the number of graduate students?