Chapter 148

Chapter 148

From Cosmic Rascal to Professor.

Episode 148: Apology (3).

“The research on the irregular polyhedron will be halted for now.”

Professor Feynman sighed from his hospital bed, where he was receiving treatment for his back.

“So, you’re planning to focus on external activities for the time being?”

“Yes, at least for this semester.”

“Aidel suspending his research activities… it’s as if the world is coming to an end.”

“Haha…”

I can’t exactly agree with my own words, but he was not wrong.

“Well, I hope you do your best.”

“Thank you. And you should focus on recovering quickly – especially with your wedding coming up.”

Professor Feynman was set to marry Professor Stranov at the end of the year, and I had been asked to give a congratulatory speech at their ceremony.

“To think I’ll be getting married while listening to my student’s speech – it feels like a dream- ouch!”

“Are you alright?”

“Just overdid it a bit. Nothing to worry about- ouch!”

The cause of Professor Feynman’s herniated disk was obvious enough that I didn’t need to ask. His face displayed a peculiar mixture of pain and joy, like mud stirred in water.

After wishing him a speedy recovery, I took my leave.

Upon returning to the Holy Spirit Hospital, I noticed Zelnya fidgeting uncomfortably. The moment she sensed my presence, she straightened her posture like a meerkat and fixed her gaze on me.

“What’s wrong?”

“I received a text from an unknown number.”

“Spam?”

“Something like that.”

Zelnya held up her phone, showing me the enlarged screen.

The message was straightforward: Make Director Whiritia resign voluntarily. Get closer to the Reinhardt family. It is recommended to charm and lure Aidel. If possible, discover the Reinhardts’ weaknesses.

As Zelnya had mentioned, the sender was unknown. Though the tone was polite, it was clearly a command.

I frowned.

“It’s from my family, sent through a burner phone. They occasionally issue orders like this. Isn’t it absurd? Ordering someone from the direct Adelwein bloodline to do such things.”

She muttered bitterly.

“Zelnya.”

“…To be frank, I intend to follow this order to some extent.”

She narrowed her eyes.

“You understand what I mean, right?”

“Yes.”

I nodded, and she reciprocated before continuing.

“Either way, I will rise to the head position. Since it’s my family’s business, I’ll handle it. So, you fool, just help out a bit and then return to your research. Understood?”

She raised her eyebrows and placed her hands on her hips, looking up at me with apparent confidence. At first glance, she seemed her usual self.

However, there was one notable difference: the corners of her lips.

They were curved in a pleasant arc.

Instead of her typical bitter sneer, it was a bright, genuine smile – both cute and beautiful.

After contemplating for a moment, I reached a decision. Yes, I would trust Zelnya this time. She had demonstrated genuine change.

“So, what’s your plan?”

“First, we need to get out of here.”

“How?”

Zelnya gazed up at the recovery room’s ceiling and replied simply:

“By begging.”

While Aidel was away, Zelnya took time to organize her thoughts.

During their interactions, she had unconsciously adopted a new perspective on life. One significant change was her desire to become someone with clear objectives.

What was her true goal?

If she were honest with herself, it wasn’t about becoming the head of the family anymore.

Instead, she wanted to become a renowned doctor capable of treating those possessed by Outer Gods – to save as many people as possible.

It was a vague yet precious dream, one that had gradually taken shape as she observed Aidel and his father. How had she forgotten this essential aspiration?

From now on, she would act according to this conviction.

“What a foolish family…”

The world began to look different through her new lens. The once-great family now seemed shabby, and the rival she had harbored resentment toward now appeared as someone she should walk alongside.

If the current Adelwein was indeed a house of cards, then she would tear it down and rebuild it from scratch.

To take that first step, she needed to be reborn at the Holy Spirit Hospital.

“Whew.”

Dressed simply, Zelnya walked to the chapel, guided by the priests.

“You can commune with the Constellation here. Though whether it will respond, and which Constellation might answer, remains unknown.”

This was a well-known fact.

In her youth, Zelnya had attempted to converse with the Constellation at the northern Holy Spirit Hospital.

How had that gone?

Back then, she had arrogantly assumed the strongest star would embrace her, yet not even the weakest star had chosen her.

Things had to be different now. Zelnya took a deep breath and gently clasped her hands.

Tap.

Her forehead touched the red carpet.

“I was wrong.”

The contract with the Constellation wasn’t the immediate concern.

First, she needed to atone for her wrongdoings, cleanse her impurities, and abandon the arrogance of implanting an artificial Constellation.

Of course, being a religious ritual, some discomfort remained.

In this era of science and proof, wasn’t it outdated? If someone was meant to be blessed by a Constellation, wouldn’t it have happened naturally? Outer God biology had proven this.

Was even thinking such thoughts overstepping her bounds?

Yes. It probably was.

Tap, tap, tap.

She bowed her head to the ground repeatedly.

“I’ve committed a grave sin. Please punish me. I’ll accept anything willingly.”

There was no reply.

“I’ve committed a grave sin…”

Zelnya continued her apologetic prayers.

Thanks to Aidel connecting a webcam to his laptop, Zelnya could attend classes and participate in student council meetings remotely.

“…This concludes today’s meeting.”

After closing the laptop, Zelnya immediately went to wash up and change her clothes.

“Are you going to pray again today?”

“Yes.”

“It’s been almost a month now. How about taking a break?”

Zelnya shook her head firmly.

“I’ll keep going.”

Time had become meaningless within the walls of Holy Spirit Hospital. She only realized a month had passed because of the ongoing midterm exams.

“I’ve decided to stop searching for meaning.”

She prayed because she had done wrong – that was reason enough.

“Well, I have some matters to attend to, so I’ll be going.”

Aidel left again. He was always busy and couldn’t visit often. Zelnya felt a pang of sadness, wishing she could spend more time with him.

“…Sigh.”

She pushed the thought away. What right did she have to wish for anything?

Just pray, she told herself. Just pray.

Tap.

Zelnya let her head touch the carpet, trying to clear her mind of distracting thoughts.

“You dirty and arrogant child.”

The voice pierced her mind like a blade, sharp and distinct.

It was unlike anything she had ever heard before. Zelnya remained still, not daring to lift her head.

Silver-white stardust descended before her lowered gaze.

“Yet, you have learned to admit your mistakes.”

“……”

“Would you raise your head now?”

The words came as more of a command than a question. As if pulled by invisible strings, Zelnya’s head lifted on its own.

“……Ah.”

Before her, a space stretched that resembled a perfectly still lake.

Swans glided gracefully across the surface, each ripple they created spreading warmth throughout the area. After taking in her surroundings, Zelnya turned back suddenly, alarmed.

“The… the priests…”

Something was amiss.

Just moments ago, the priests had been with her in the chapel. Now, their presence had completely vanished.

The atmosphere was dreamlike.

Its mere presence made her feel light-headed, almost intoxicated.

“Come to my world.”

Zelnya turned her head 180 degrees to find a beautiful woman standing before her. Her white hair was tinged with sky blue, and a laurel crown adorned her forehead. She wore a silk dress with alternating patterns of dark gray and white, and perched on each of her shoulders were a crow and a magpie. Her eyes remained closed.

“This is a space of a higher dimension. I brought you up here briefly. How does it feel to glimpse a fragment of a higher plane?”

There was no doubt – she was a Constellation. Zelnya immediately prostrated herself.

“Oh dear… There’s no need to be so submissive.”

“It’s an honor to meet you, Constellation.”

“Yes, child. What is your name?”

“……”

“What is your name?”

“…… It’s Zelnya.”

The Constellation hummed thoughtfully.

“As I recall, there was a longer name that followed that.”

“Just my first name is enough……”

Once, Zelnya would have proudly emphasized Adelwein. Now, that surname held nothing but contempt.

“Zelnya is enough… Very well,” the Constellation said with a laugh. “Though you don’t know me, I’ve been watching you for quite some time. For anyone, there’s a fine line between confidence and arrogance. I had hoped you would grow into a confident child.”

“You’ve… been watching over me?”

“It’s nothing special. Every Constellation marks the intelligent beings they find interesting. In my case, it was you.”

Zelnya wanted to ask why the Constellation hadn’t offered a contract back then, but she couldn’t voice the question. The answer was obvious – just as the Constellation had said, she had grown up steeped in arrogance rather than confidence.

“I’ve observed you this past month, too. Is it genuine this time? Has this child finally come to her senses? We shall see.”

The Constellation stepped forward and gently helped Zelnya to her feet.

“One can never be certain. We are separate beings, after all.”

“Y-Your Constellation…”

“My fellow stars still despise you. Transplanting artificial constellations was no small transgression – three of them, no less. For humans, it’s comparable to tattooing with dead people’s skin. You understand how revolting that is, correct?”

“Yes, yes. I was truly disgusting.”

“No, the act was disgusting, not your existence…”

Zelnya felt tears well up. What right did she have to cry?

“There, there. Calm yourself.”

Despite her frank words, the Constellation’s touch was remarkably gentle.

“Have you reflected enough?”

“No. Not yet…”

Far from it. After discovering humility, Zelnya understood that sin had no bottom. The number of times one received forgiveness meant nothing. The words ‘self-reflection’ and ‘enough’ could never coexist.

“I will spend my entire life in reflection until death. So please…!”

“Oh, look at her. She’s bowing again.”

“…Please let me leave the Holy Spirit Hospital! Allow me at least to atone for my wrongs!”

Aidel von Reinhardt had forgiven her. Now, she needed the Constellation’s forgiveness.

“…Very well.”

With a flutter, the magpies and crows lifted Zelnya once more. Stardust sprinkled gently before her eyes, and she found herself mesmerized by its beauty.

“Child, remember just one word, no matter what situation you face.”

The Constellation extended her hand.

“Humility.”

“…Yes.”

Zelnya cautiously grasped the offered hand.

The God of ‘Humility and Healing,’ Deneb, will now protect you.