Chapter 179

Chapter 179

From Cosmic Rascal to Professor.

Episode 179: What Happened At The Meeting (2).

The guests erupted in whistles and shouts of delight as the atmosphere instantly became charged with excitement.

“You wish to marry my daughter?”

“Yes, and I’m confident I can make her happy for the rest of our lives.”

I replied straightforwardly. Jerome’s expression briefly faltered before returning to its usual benevolent demeanor.

“Young Master Reinhardt, if I may ask: has the succession of the Reinhardt family head been confirmed?”

“Not yet.”

“Then you’re uncertain if you’ll become the family head.”

I nodded in acknowledgment.

Jerome continued.

“When someone who isn’t a family head marries someone who is, tradition dictates that the couple adopts the family name of the head. If you marry our Zelnya, you will be joining the Adelwein household.”

“And if I also become head of my family?”

“That’s a bridge we’ll cross when we come to it.”

While proposing marriage itself isn’t particularly controversial, the crucial issue lies in determining which surname the couple will adopt. This becomes especially complex when both parties are heads of their respective families, as one must ultimately relinquish their position after marriage.

Though I had no real intention of becoming head, I maintained the pretense of interest to steer the conversation. This allowed me to anticipate Jerome’s next move.

“When is the succession ceremony for the Reinhardt family?”

“It begins in late April and concludes in early July.”

“Are you confident you’ll become head?”

“More than confident.”

“In that case, there’s no need to rush. Following proper protocols, we can hold the ceremony after you’ve had time to get to know each other better.”

Jerome chose a tactical retreat, a prudent decision.

The complete succession of Zelnya’s family business would require more time. The new head of a prestigious family typically undergoes a process similar to regency, lasting anywhere from three months to a year.

If I were to be appointed as the head of Reinhardt before then, it would create a situation where two heads of families would marry. From Jerome’s perspective, this would be awkward – his consideration showed that he didn’t underestimate me.

“The Stellarium is quite far from here. You wouldn’t arrive until dawn if you left now. Why not stay the night and leave early tomorrow morning?”

“Thank you for your kindness.”

After concluding my conversation with my future father-in-law, I mingled with the other guests. Many people gathered around me, likely due to my recent proposal to Zelnya.

Suddenly, Zelnya jabbed my side.

“Come here for a moment.”

She tugged sharply at my collar, earning squeals from some informal female guests. We left the main hall and headed to the third-floor terrace, with Ire, in costume, naturally following behind.

“What were you thinking, saying that in front of my father?”

“It’s for your sake.”

“For my sake? Explain that so I can understand!”

“When things go wrong, you need to have an escape route, don’t you?”

Zelnya fell silent at my response. I sighed and pushed my hands into my pockets.

“I told you before – no matter what problems arise in this family, I’ll protect you.”

Zelnya’s eyes widened.

“You…”

“Whether this is a sham marriage or not, I’m aware that what I’m doing now could be detrimental to me. I know you’re reluctant about it and feel sorry for me. If something significant happens to Adelwein while we’re married, it could backfire on me.”

“You don’t mean…”

“So let’s consider the opposite scenario.”

Even if Adelwein falls, with Reinhardt’s support, it could rise to greatness again. Then, Zelnya’s planned ‘reformation’ would be complete. By the conclusion, Adelwein would be reborn as a family free from corruption.

But there was more to consider.

There was a slim chance that Zelnya might lose her fight with the council and face expulsion from the family. In Adelwein, expelled members typically disappeared without a trace – even direct descendants weren’t exempt. The family was thorough in everything they did for their own preservation.

I would serve as a pathway of exile under the Reinhardt name to protect Zelnya from harm. This was both a humanitarian duty and a fundamental principle between people.

Zelnya immediately grasped the meaning behind my words.

“…Aidel.”

Her wide-eyed expression gradually settled into one of calm understanding.

Zelnya blinked her crescent-shaped eyes and stepped closer to me, eliminating what little distance remained between us. Looking up at me, she slowly extended her arms. I didn’t resist her touch. Taking my hands from my pockets, I naturally moved to hold her shoulders.

This once-wary cat had finally slipped into my embrace. She was small and neat – I could probably lift her with just one arm if I wanted to, like holding a real kitten.

Zelnya softly exhaled as she caressed my back. I whispered into her ear.

“…Is this an act, too?”

“You’ll have to guess.”

I could have paid Pron to read her mind, but that would have been like checking the answer key before reading the question. I didn’t want to take that shortcut.

Instead of relying on Pron, I pulled Zelnya into a deeper embrace.

I could feel her heart thumping against my chest.

Ire stood nearby, like a screen.

Though still in the succession process, Zelnya had assumed leadership of the family. She personally escorted Ire and me to the annex, displaying impeccable hosting etiquette.

Looking between Ire and myself, Zelnya commented.

“Robot, you seem more subdued than before.”

“What do you mean?”

“If you don’t recall, then never mind.”

For a moment, my heart nearly stopped. I feared Zelnya had seen through Ire’s disguise as Sonia, but fortunately, that didn’t appear to be the case.

“Other guests are staying in the annex. Androids will conduct regular patrols, and CCTVs will monitor the premises. I advise against any suspicious activity. Understood?”

“Yes.”

Ire bowed her head with Sonia’s characteristic plainness.

After Zelnya departed, citing work obligations, Ire and I began unpacking. Without warning, Ire drew a gun and shot the ceiling-mounted CCTV with a Blessed Bullet.

Ping!

At first glance, the camera appeared undamaged – likely the effect of a ‘Bullet of Stasis’, which temporarily freezes time for its target.

After scanning the room once more, Ire spoke quietly.

“It’s not perfect, but… we can speak freely now.”

“Good. Let’s rest briefly and move when dawn deepens.”

We had a specific mission: to steal the ‘Egg of the Star’ from the ‘Third Treasury’ beneath the annex.

The Egg of the Star – while appearing to be a mere gem on the surface, its true value remained unknown to most. In reality, it was an artifact of incredible power. Simply put, it represented a hidden opportunity.

“My Outer God will love this.”

The God of ‘Wisdom and Curiosity’ shows interest in your words.

Our motivation for seeking either the Egg of the Star or the Egg of Fire was straightforward – they would aid in our research.

Ire glanced around the room before asking hesitantly.

“But… where do I sleep?”

“Oh.”

There was only one bed and a single-sized one at that. For two people to share it, they would need to be practically touching.

“Why on earth did they give us this kind of room?”

“Don’t you remember? You’re supposed to be disguised as an android right now.”

“Damn it…”

Ire muttered discontentedly.

“You should take the bed, Ire.”

I said, settling myself on the floor.

“Where are you going to sleep?”

“I can sleep here.”

“You’ll catch a cold like that.”

“It’s not like I’m sleeping on the street. One night won’t hurt. Just take the bed, Ire.”

“Don’t treat me differently just because I’m a woman.”

“You’re older than me.”

“It’s just a one-year difference.”

“Still.”

Ire dove onto the bed, clearly sulking. I added,

“If necessary, I can stay up all night reading papers. It’s the weekend tomorrow anyway. I can easily get back to my normal schedule.”

“Keep living like that, and you’ll die early.”

“I’ll die from an Outer God anyway, even if I do nothing.”

Ire got up from the bed and walked toward me, stopping three steps away.

“I’ve spent more nights sleeping on floors than beds.”

“Same here.”

“On the frontier planet, I regularly slept in shanties. Sometimes, the ceiling would collapse, or the house would flood while I was sleeping.”

“Same here.”

Ire sat down in front of me with a sigh, giving me a gloomy look – the kind shared between people who understand each other’s hardships.

“If you sleep on the floor, I’ll sleep on the floor too.”

“So if I take the bed, will you join me, Ire?”

“What are you talking about…!”

“I’m kidding, I’m kidding. That tiny bed would break if we both tried to sleep on it.”

I checked the clock. We were supposed to move at 3 AM – still four hours to go.

“Do you want to sleep first?”

“No, I can’t sleep.”

“Then, should we review the thesis together?”

“Coming all this way just to do that seems a bit…”

“How about we go for a walk instead?”

Ire nodded and adjusted her maid’s headband.

“Let’s go, master.”

Well, young master, to be precise.

Ire and I went for a walk, using it as a pretext to measure the distance between the spaceship and the annex. We intended to transport the ‘Egg of the Star’ to the spaceship at the first opportunity.

“It’s time.”

Without hesitation, Ire drew her pistol and fired blessed bullets into both our heads – first mine, then her own.

‘Bullet of Concealment’ completely masks your presence.

We chose this method because using ‘Bullets of Stasis’ to disable the numerous surveillance cameras in the basement would have depleted too many coins.

As we made our way down to the third treasure vault, we encountered someone we never expected to see.

Kashu von Adelwein.

It was Zelnya’s grand-uncle – a man who was supposed to be dead.

“Reinhardt, how is this possible…?”