Chapter 154

Chapter 154

From Cosmic Rascal to Professor.

Episode 154: Unexpected Co-sleeping (3).

Brainwaves are largely divided into five types, and the two subjects displayed markedly different patterns. While Zelnya showed theta waves indicating drowsiness before transitioning into the delta waves of deep sleep, Aidel was the complete opposite.

“What is that madman up to?”

“He’s reading.”

“Isn’t that a thesis?”

On the screen, Aidel’s readings progressed rapidly – from alpha waves of the ‘awake state’ to beta waves of ‘cognitive activity,’ finally reaching the highest-frequency gamma waves. The graph suddenly contracted, prompting concern.

“Why are his brainwaves like this? Did an Outer God possess him?”

“This waveform is typical of extreme tension, excitement, or deep concentration. The young master simply chose to read instead of sleeping. There shouldn’t be any health concerns.”

“…Really? That’s a relief, at least.”

“I share Lady Ceti’s sentiments. The young master is not someone with a sinister mind.”

The real concern lay with Zelnya’s potential sleepwalking – particularly if she were to accidentally strike Aidel or, worse, mistake him for a cushion and embrace him. Such an incident would surely set the control room ablaze with chaos.

“Young lady Ceti, aren’t you going to sleep?”

“I’d like to keep watch, but… I must rest. I’m sorry, but please take care, Sonia.”

“No worries. It’s my duty.”

The sliding door closed with a heavy mechanical sound, leaving the control room in silence. Sonia gently swept her hand over her face, closing her eyes.

“Ah.”

She murmured quietly.

“Alas.”

When her eyes reopened, they were glowing blue.

That night, Zelnya enjoyed a peaceful sleep, free from nightmares and the chaos of sleepwalking.

Instead, she experienced a pleasant dream. In it, she glided down a red carpet beneath brilliant sunlight, wearing an elegant white silk dress. Her movements were perfect, reminiscent of a confident model commanding the runway.

Upon waking, disappointment settled in. Such an enchanting dream might never grace her sleep again.

Or so she believed.

“Perhaps one night isn’t sufficient. Would you consider extending this arrangement for a few more days?”

“What?”

“Father?”

Aidel awkwardly scratched his head while Ceti looked ready to collapse. Sonia could only purse her lips and sigh.

Meanwhile, Zelnya’s eyes blinked rapidly, sending silent signals of approval to Arnold. Though she knew she wasn’t yet worthy of sharing Aidel’s bed, the previous night’s rest had been exceptionally comfortable. It might have been presumptuous, but she longed to experience that peaceful sensation again.

“A thorough examination is crucial. Just bear with it for a week.”

“Father!”

“This is strictly for medical purposes. Everyone will comply without objection,”

Arnold was firm, leaving no room for debate.

And so the inspection period was extended by a week. During this time, nothing remarkable occurred. Zelnya showed no signs of sleepwalking, and there was no physical contact between them. They shared nothing more than each other’s breaths and body scents.

“How intriguing…”

Arnold muttered.

“A significant cause of sleepwalking is fatigue and stress. Perhaps the symptoms have improved because you’ve been sleeping well.”

Ceti seized this opportunity to speak.

“Then that’s good. Just sleeping enough should solve it. No more diagnoses, tests, or prescriptions needed.”

“I agree with Miss Ceti, Master.”

Sonia interjected.

“Let the two of them return to their rooms. If we prolong this, it might become problematic for the Adelwein family later.”

“Hmm, Sonia has a point.”

Arnold, who knew precisely when to advance and retreat, reluctantly chose the latter.

And so, Zelnya moved back to the room adjacent to Ceti’s.

Though Ceti still appeared displeased, her expression had softened somewhat. Or, more precisely, she seemed more at ease than when sharing a room with her brother.

The two Adelweins faced each other.

“…Hah, never mind. I’m too focused on entrance exam preparations to argue further. If you’re sorry, just go to bed and don’t disturb me.”

“You’re studying for the entrance exam?”

Ceti’s expression darkened.

“Are you trying to pick a fight?”

“No, not at all! I just thought if you were preparing for college entrance exams… maybe I could help.”

“No need.”

Ceti replied firmly. Despite the challenging material, accepting help would wound her pride.

“Studying is something you do alone. Why should you care if I fail or not? The best way you can help is to go to your room and sleep.”

Her cold rejection left Zelnya feeling intimidated. Just as Aidel built physical barricades while sleeping, Ceti had erected emotional ones around her heart.

“Go in.”

“Alright…”

The door closed with a soft whisper. Ceti fidgeted, repeatedly crossing and uncrossing her arms, before entering her own room to settle into a chair.

College-level problems are challenging. With numerous subjects to tackle simultaneously, even extensive studying doesn’t guarantee success. You really have to wrack your brain.

Today’s subject was biology.

“Boring.”

Ceti despised chemistry and biology. While the concepts were manageable, the problems were absurd. The exam questions seemed like they were created by madmen.

“Ugh.”

She recoiled at the sight of the complex genetics problems. Sure, they were meant to differentiate student abilities, but this was excessive. She had no plans to become a doctor or start a pharmaceutical company, so why did she need to solve these?

But what choice did she have? It was going to be on the exam.

As Ceti worked through the problems, she alternated between twirling her pen, balancing it on her nose, and doodling worms in the margins. Then, she encountered a particularly difficult question that stumped even her sharp mind.

“Ugh.”

Her sighs were endless. Even consulting the answer sheet didn’t help. Could she solve something like this during an actual exam? Even if possible, time would be tight.

“…Hey, why not ask someone else for help?”

The voice belonged to Leti, the God of ‘Wealth and Investment’ – a shy Constellation and Ceti’s Sponsor.

“This approach… seems rather inefficient.”

As a Constellation associate with economics and management, she evaluated everything from an economic perspective.

“You’re right.”

Ceti agreed readily and jumped up from her seat.

“Brother, brother!”

She barged into Aidel’s room, causing him to hastily close whatever window he had open on his computer.

“…What were you doing?”

“Nothing.”

“You were reading papers again, weren’t you?”

“Ah, no. I was watching adult videos.”

“Ugh. That’ll rot your brain.”

Aidel rolled his eyes.

“Never mind that, spare me some time. I can’t figure this out.”

She handed him a biology workbook. Aidel’s expression soured as if he’d been slapped. Biology. Outer God biology. Irregular polyhedrons. He didn’t even want to think about it.

“You’re good at studying. I don’t understand this problem. Help me.”

“You were so stubborn back at Academia.”

“Come on, what do you want me to do? Just teach me!”

“I don’t know biology either.”

“That’s a lie.”

When he refused, Ceti flopped onto his bed with an unopened bag of potato chips. Aidel’s eyes widened as if he’d just received a proposal from an Outer God.

“Hey, that’s crazy!”

“Help me now, or I’ll turn your bed into a potato field. I mean it.”

She started to tear the packaging while lying sideways. As the ripping sound grew louder, so did Aidel’s scream.

Eventually, he had no choice but to give in to her demands.

“Look, I really don’t know this stuff.”

“What?”

It seemed impossible. How could Aidel, a worldwide recognized genius who wrote countless papers, give up so quickly?

“As you know, it’s not my field. It’s been ages since I studied it. If you don’t use knowledge, you lose it.”

Aidel added.

“Plus, these questions are ridiculously tricky.”

Indeed, there’s a significant difference between studying for college entrance exams and studying in college. The former tests exam-taking ability, while the latter focuses on academic pursuit. Aidel was more familiar with the latter.

“If you relearn the concepts, you might solve it eventually. But not now. Tomorrow, ask your biology teacher at the academia. Or consult the android…”

“I can’t wait until tomorrow – I need to know now. And the android just explains everything in the most complicated way possible.”

“Ugh!”

Ceti threw a childish fit.

After a moment’s thought, Aidel had a brilliant idea.

As luck would have it, the best biology teacher on the ship was available to help his sister.

Top of the first-year pre-med class at Stellarium Medical College – it wasn’t a title just anyone could claim. One needed to excel at entrance exams, possess exceptional memory, show unwavering diligence, and master both conventional and creative problem-solving methods.

Zelnya was exactly that kind of student.

That’s why Ceti reluctantly found herself at Zelnya’s door.

“Are you free right now?”

To be precise, it was Aidel who knocked. Despite Ceti’s stubborn resistance, the situation was already set in motion.

“What do you need?”

“My sister doesn’t understand this problem. She’s asking for help.”

“This one? I think I can solve it.”

Standing close behind Aidel, Ceti barely suppressed a curse. Just her luck. Once the problem was solved, she’d surely face mockery.

Indeed, the mockery came – but not for the reason she expected. Rather, it was because the solution proved surprisingly simple.

“It’s slightly beyond the curriculum, but knowing this concept cuts the solution time in half.”

“Really?”

Could it really be that simple?

Stay calm, Ceti thought. It’s probably just a shortcut anyway.

“It might seem like a workaround, but the proper method involves complex systems of equations and takes much longer.”

“……”

“This approach isn’t ideal for actual exams. Since the multiple-choice options are predictable, you might as well use that to your advantage…”

“Is this how you typically solve problems?”

“That’s why I explained the proper method, too.”

As a top student herself, Ceti found Zelnya’s endorsement of shortcuts somewhat suspicious.

“After all, it’s just an entrance exam. It’s not what matters in life.”

“How can you say that?”

“What I mean is, academic excellence isn’t everything.”

“……”

Ceti was speechless. Zelnya continued, her tone growing serious.

“Don’t fixate on whether you can solve one particular problem. Solving an extra problem doesn’t make you superior, just as failing to solve one doesn’t make you inferior.”

Ceti was taken aback.

The Zelnya she knew was obsessed with test scores, constantly comparing herself to others after every exam. Ceti had suffered greatly from this, especially after Aidel’s disappearance. Once Zelnya reclaimed the top position, she relentlessly tormented Ceti – a manifestation of her own superiority and inferiority complex.

Having lost to her brother Aidel, Zelnya had been determined to prove herself by putting others down.

But now, that determination had vanished from her eyes.

In its place was humility – the kind that remains modest in success and respectful of others’ failures.

Something had definitely changed.

Unsettled by this transformation, Ceti clutched her workbook and fled to her room.

The moment Zelnya was separated from Aidel, her nightmares returned. Her sleepwalking symptoms, which had briefly subsided, emerged instantly.

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry.”

“Zelnya. Zelnya!”

“Hic… ah!”

Zelnya jolted awake, trembling like a frightened mouse. Her pitiful state revealed her still-fragile mental state.

“S-sorry… I’ll return to my room.”

“No. Stay here tonight.”

Aidel patted his bed gently.

“Father told me that mere sleepwalking wouldn’t allow you to wake up just by calling your name like I did. Something’s troubling you. It’s better if you sleep here tonight.”

“Are you sure that’s okay?”

“Yes.”

“Can I share your bed?”

“…If you’re comfortable with that…”

Aidel was cautious. Zelnya was like a daughter. He had to think of the situation that way.

Without hesitation, Zelnya hopped onto Aidel’s bed. Just one more night, she thought, just tonight.

“Was I being too ambitious?”

“Hmm?”

“…Trying to get closer to your sister.”

“A few days won’t be enough, but you made good progress today. What you said to Ceti earlier was quite impressive.”

“Really?”

“Yes.”

Aidel yawned, his sleep schedule recently disrupted by Zelnya’s presence.

“I’m going to sleep now.”

“Okay.”

He lay down facing away from Zelnya, placing a long cushion between them as usual.

Zelnya lay awake, staring at the ceiling, her mind racing with questions: When would the Adelwein family succession ceremony take place? What needed to happen for this place to feel like home? Was she truly living her life properly?

Time slipped away as she pondered these thoughts.

A soft wheezing sound came from beside her.

Zelnya sat up with a start.

“…!”

She jerked backward, startled. Aidel had rolled over in his sleep, turning almost 180 degrees until his face was directed toward her.

Her heart skipped a beat.

“…Are you asleep?”

Only silence answered.

Confirming he was deep in slumber, Zelnya leaned close to his ear and softly murmured.

“I like you.”

The words she wasn’t yet brave enough to speak while he was awake.

“I like you.”

Words she could no longer keep hidden, even though she had accomplished nothing.

“I really like you.”

As she repeated the confession, her earlobes flushed crimson.

“…Sweet dreams.”

After carefully tucking the blanket around him, Zelnya strengthened her resolve: she would banish Adelwein’s shadow with her own hands.

Yet wasn’t it cowardly to confess her love while he slept, having achieved nothing to earn it?

“You must have a death wish.”

That night, Zelnya was haunted by two nightmares.