Chapter 143
by Afuhfuihgs
Chapter 143
From Cosmic Rascal to Professor.
Episode 143: I Am The President And You Are… (6).
Find the number of satisfactory ways to seat two female friends who don’t get along at a 4-person rectangular table.
Answer: 0
Rustila was in a foul mood. She had hoped that meeting Aidel after such a long time would allow them to spend quality time together. Enjoying delicious meals, catching up on recent events, and taking walks in the park. All those expectations vanished in an instant.
“What are you staring at like that for?”
Beside Aidel sat Zelnya, elegantly spearing her salad with the eyes of a victor.
“Adelwein, switch seats with me.”
Rustila said through gritted teeth.
“Why should I?”
“This spot is too uncomfortable for me.”
“If you’re uncomfortable, why don’t you adjust your posture then?”
At a table for four, there was one man and two women. The two women didn’t get along; it was, quite literally, a maddening combination.
Whenever Zelnya and Aidel sat together, Rustila’s feelings were disrupted. When Rustila and Aidel sat together, Zelnya’s provocations intensified exponentially. However, if Zelnya and Rustila were seated together, the tension would flare uncontrollably. Meanwhile, Aidel seemed to be losing his mind, jumping up and down.
“Guys, you need to get along.”
“I’m trying, but she keeps…”
“Ha, I can’t believe this. Who started it today?”
The power struggle between the two girls escalated. Eating under such circumstances would upset anyone’s stomach. Aidel decided to take drastic action.
“If you’re a fool who can’t even get into college, just keep your mouth shut, ow!”
“President, please be quiet.”
“Did you just hit me…?”
“It was just a flick.”
It wasn’t a hard hit, just a simple smack. But even that made Zelnya’s expression turn dumbfounded. Rustila’s lips curled into an involuntary smile.
“I’m the president, and you’re the vice president! How dare the vice president hit the president? Are you out of your mind?”
“If you’re the president, act with dignity. And how long are you going to keep using that line?”
“You really…!”
Aidel stood up from his seat and moved to sit next to Rustila.
“What are you doing?”
“I can’t sit next to you; it’s too embarrassing.”
Zelnya was always the one raising her voice. Rustila, on the other hand, spoke calmly. That was the difference between the two girls—whether they knew manners or not.
Rustila silently mocked Zelnya. The situation had completely reversed now.
At that moment, Aidel gently touched Rustila’s shoulder.
“What?”
“Can you check if she has an Outer God?”
“Outer God…?”
It was an out-of-the-blue request—probably asking her to use
Using Insight, Rustila frowned.
“Have you ever talked to an Outer God?”
“What?”
Zelnya, who was cutting her steak, furrowed her brow.
“I’ll tell you objectively, regardless of our relationship. I can identify Outer Gods and Constellations in other people.”
“So what?”
“You have multiple scars in your mind. It seems like an Outer God has slightly touched you. Have you had any headaches?”
“That’s nonsense.”
Rustila spoke sincerely. Disliking someone and an Outer God are separate matters. But Zelnya didn’t listen.
The words sounded absurd, and to make matters worse, they came from the girl she hated the most in the world.
“…Just one piece of advice. If the spirit approaching you seems like an Outer God, don’t hesitate to contact the nearest Holy Spirit Hospital or Alcatraz Correctional Facility. It’s the only way you can survive.”
“Who are you to tell me what to do?”
“Zelnya, Rustila is right. Remember what I told you last time.”
“Hmph.”
Zelnya couldn’t oppose Aidel. This was because she fundamentally acknowledged it. Aidel was a rising supernova in the field of Outer God studies, an authority on the subject.
“Ha, I’ve lost my appetite.”
Glancing at Rustila, Zelnya stabbed a heap of onions with her fork. Aidel’s face darkened instantly.
“Eat.”
“Ah, here we go again.”
“…Here we go again?”
Rustila was startled like a cat that had fallen into the water. Zelnya began handing over vegetables like onions and bell peppers one after another.
In such moments, Aidel would sigh. It was one of the few times he felt truly perplexed. Because Zelnya liked seeing that face, she would pass the leftovers to him whenever they dined together. To Rustila, it looked like a stray cat wagging its tail.
“If you’re going to leave it, just give it to me. I’ll eat it.”
“No way. I’m taking care of our vice president.”
“Then rather…”
Rustila clumsily cut the meat. It was obvious what she would do next.
Zelnya, a prodigy in swordsmanship, was also skilled at slicing meat. She cut her steak faster than Rustila and speared it with her fork.
“Today, I’ll give you this as a special treat too.”
“Aidel, I tried this menu before and didn’t like it. I’ll give you mine, so take two pieces of this.”
The tension between the two girls continued for quite some time. And here, Zelnya was the one who lost because Aidel had devoured only Rustila’s meat. It was silent discrimination.
Rustila, seeing an opportunity, asked.
“By any chance, do you have an ideal type, Aidel?”
“A woman who graduates from graduate school.”
His guard was still up.
After the uncomfortable meal ended, Aidel began to worry about Zelnya’s treatment. It’s hard to completely understand Zelnya’s psychology. While he could read her mind, it was difficult to predict her actions. Was this how Newton felt while trading stocks?
Anyway, he had to be careful. It was a kind of push and pull. So far, it seemed like he had managed to hold his ground.
“See you later.”
“Sure. How about having a party at my place after the entrance exams?”
“Huh? Yeah, sounds good!”
He parted ways with Rustila halfway. Zelnya’s hindrance had disappeared. However, those few words exchanged at the end pierced her heart like a dagger.
What was this discomfort?
On the way back to the college, Zelnya thought deeply. It didn’t take long to find the answer.
“Hey, cancel that promise you made with that person during the vacation.”
“No.”
“We don’t have that much time, you know? Do you think student council activities are easy?”
“Can’t we take a day off to rest…?”
“No. We have to work. As the president, I’m going to work. Is the vice president really not going to work during the break?”
“Ah, I don’t care. Anyway, I’m taking that day off.”
Zelnya didn’t know when that day would come, but she was certain it could never happen. She attempted a few more threats disguised as demands, but Aidel did not listen.
“In fact, during the holidays, I will minimize student council activities.”
“What?”
Zelnya’s pupils grew so large that they consumed the whites of her eyes.
“I have to research. Non-resonance method research. You heard about it last time, right? I’ve scheduled everything with the professors.”
Of course, dealing with the Outer Gods clinging to Zelnya was also important. However, if it was Darwin’s Legion, there was no immediate solution. If there was even a hint of madness, he would knock them out and put them in the Holy Spirit Hospital.
“See you tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow…”
There was no stopping him. The sun was already setting. Zelnya blankly stared at Aidel’s back as he returned to the dormitory.
Zelnya also returned home. She quickly washed up and lay down on the bed. She was tired. A corner of her heart felt empty too.
“…It doesn’t make sense.”
She needed to keep a close watch so that he couldn’t reveal Adelwein’s secret. Otherwise, her family might face annihilation at some point. Zelnya felt a peculiar threat about it—a man she had known for just two years. Though a friend, it didn’t seem like they were particularly close. She couldn’t fully trust him.
“During vacation, huh, it’s two months, no. Three months……”
“Isn’t it clear now with this?”
“…!”
Lying in bed, she hurriedly sat up. It was that Constellation again.
“It’s clear that he’s planning to gather evidence during the vacation and strike.”
An unknown star. Whether it was a main-sequence star, a red giant, a dwarf star, a supernova, or a black hole, she didn’t know. It constantly whispered sweet words to her. Strangely enough, they were persuasive.
“Of course, it’s certain that your family did something bad. But you’re a victim, right? It’s not your fault for the problems the adults caused. Yet, you have to bear the same punishment.”
“I…”
“If Aidel had any conscience, he would have asked for your opinion. Whether he could turn your family over to the inspectors. But he didn’t. Because he sees you as an enemy, not a friend.”
“No, that’s not… quite right.”
Although she had many doubts, there were also good feelings. Even if this was fake, it was fine. Even if the relationship of being friends was just a façade, it was acceptable. She wanted to cherish the first rival she had ever met in her life.
“Still.”
“…”
“As someone who has been a Constellation for a long time, I’m telling you. People like the Reinhardt boy are the most dangerous. You are still too naive to understand…”
“…Please leave for today.”
Zelnya shook her head and lay down on the bed. She hugged the teddy bear, her only friend, before meeting Aidel and closed her eyes.
Tired. For now, she decided to think about it again tomorrow.
That night, Zelnya had an ominous dream—a dream where she was betrayed by Aidel. Because of that betrayal, her house disappeared, her wealth vanished, and she lost everything, ending up exiled to a remote planet.
“Hah, hah, hah.”
Cold sweat drenched the sheets. She felt unwell. This wouldn’t do.
Starting today was the major experience fair for the Academia—her first external activity as the college student president. It had to be a great success.
Zelnya turned on the news and splashed water on her face.
[Breaking News]
A special bill has been proposed in the council to investigate the Adelwein Group and the Southern Outer God Life Research Institute.
“……?”
Director Angela Whiritia, who played a key role in the production of the Irregular Polyhedron, along with 23 others, has been arrested.
Wait, what did they say?
Zelnya hurriedly turned off the television and listened intently to the announcer’s continuing report.
Meanwhile, Kash von Adelwein, the president of Adelwein Bionics, who was identified as the chief responsible, was found dead at his residence.
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