Chapter 203

Chapter 203

From Cosmic Rascal to Professor.

Episode 203: Bigamy (8)

“Cartesiaaa——!”

“I told you to be quiet——!!”

“Look at me!”

“Do you want to die today, you brat?!”

A massive tentacle whipped through the air. Cartesia, furious at having her research interrupted, was clearly at her wit’s end with me.

In the real world, such a blow would snap your neck instantly. Even in this virtual space, getting hit wouldn’t exactly be pleasant. Sensing the danger, I calmly activated the ‘Egg of the Star.’

Rattle.

A weighty golden bundle materialized smoothly in my hand.

Lowering my voice, I shook the bundle of money.

“Cartesia, let’s make a deal.”

“A deal? What nonsense…?”

“This is what you wanted, isn’t it?”

Whoosh!

I scattered the bundle skyward, and coins began raining down like golden droplets.

Cartesia’s hand froze mid-air. She slowly tilted her head up, watching as coins showered down like a jackpot from a celestial slot machine.

“This is…”

“Coins!”

“Master, they’re coins! Coins!”

The outer gods, now thoroughly domesticated, rolled around like excited puppies. They scrambled to gather armfuls of the falling coins, rushing to present them to their master.

“Look! It’s over 500,000!”

“600,000, 700,000!”

“720,000 plus 5,000 coins, Master!”

Cartesia stumbled backward.

“S-Seven hundred thousand?”

Though her face was hidden, her bewilderment was obvious. Just as I’d anticipated.

“Why… why so suddenly?”

“Like I said – let’s make a ‘deal.’”

“This is too high a price.”

“That’s what makes it fair.”

Cartesia retracted all her tentacles, intent on collecting every last coin. The creatures restraining me fell away as she did so. At last, I could move freely again – a sensation I’d almost forgotten.

The accumulated coins formed a small mountain. Cartesia leaned against it tenderly as if embracing a lover, then began rolling around atop it like a swimmer in the water.

As I’d suspected, Outer Gods were obsessed with coins.

When I first acquired the ‘Egg of the Star,’ Cartesia had demanded 5,000 coins. I’m glad I didn’t give them then. It’s like the difference between giving someone daily pocket money versus presenting them with a lump sum – the impact is entirely different.

“…Indeed. That was quite clever of you. So, you wish to conduct research with me?”

“I wanted to observe an Outer God’s research methods.”

“Isn’t it because you’re eager to escape this place?”

“That’s part of it, yes.”

Assuming time here flows parallel to the real world, about five days have passed. I’ll probably wake up in a hospital. I need to get out before everyone becomes too worried.

“…Very well. I’ll show you something interesting.”

After organizing her coins, Cartesia pulled down a blackboard. Strange symbols in the Outer Gods’ language appeared.

“A novice wouldn’t understand this… Hold still. I’ll teach you the characters.”

Cartesia approached and tapped my forehead.

Suddenly, the Outer Gods’ writing became comprehensible.

“Incredible.”

It was remarkable – understanding a previously unknown script instantaneously. It’s impossible to describe this sensation to someone who hasn’t experienced it. Cartesia questioned me:

“Well? Can you understand it?”

“…A functionalist approach to neural structures?”

“Hmm, perhaps you’re not completely witless after all.”

The research essentially focused on understanding and integrating neural principles across all intelligent beings – humans, machines, constellations, and outer gods alike. It was an extension of the constellation neural network research I’d been working on.

“Your android once made an astute observation: if the principle of thinking is the same, then humans and robots are essentially identical.”

“They may not be living beings, but they are intelligent ones…”

“That’s not incorrect.”

Cartesia settled into her chair and continued:

“In mathematical terms, it’s called ‘isomorphism.’ Whether we’re talking about homo sapiens, machines, or beings like us – understanding one means understanding them all. People only think differently because they focus on the varying components.”

Her words were beginning to make sense to me now.

Cartesia was using me as a test subject to understand humans, comparing human neural networks with those of outer gods, which she knew intimately.

From an outer god’s perspective, humans are incredibly fragile. It’s like trying to dissect a paramecium with bare hands – the slightest mistake could destroy the specimen.

That’s why she was so pleased with me – I couldn’t be destroyed no matter what she did.

With a flick of her hand, Cartesia extended two tendrils that gently lifted me and guided me to sit beside her.

“Human.”

She posed a question.

“Our species can parasitize your cerebral cortex but not machine neural structures. There’s no precedent for it. Have you ever wondered why?”

“Well, because robots are fundamentally different from humans…”

Wait.

That answer felt incomplete.

“Let me tell you the real answer.”

Cartesia leaned in to whisper:

“Actually, I can do it.”

This caught me off guard.

This detail wasn’t in the original novel – there had never been any mention of an Outer God possessing a robot. This was entirely new information, though, from Cartesia’s tone, it seemed she alone possessed this capability.

“It’s not simple, mind you. Androids process information rapidly. Even when you try to take control, they quickly recover. Plus, they’re useless without power. However…”

Her next words surprised me.

“Unlike humans, they can withstand repeated manipulation. You humans go insane and die if we handle you too roughly. Robots aren’t like that – if they break, you just replace the parts.”

“So you’re researching android possession by comparing neural structures across species?”

“If you’ve figured that out, you’re correct. Quite astute.”

But why this research?

Wasn’t the Graviton Bomb research enough? What more did Cartesia want? Simple curiosity seemed too trivial a motivation – this research topic was far too significant.

“What are you planning?”

“That information isn’t free.”

“More coins? How many do you want?”

“A million.”

Well… anyway, she had a scheme in mind.

If only Ire had more interaction with Cartesia. Unfortunately, this Outer God only acted on her own interests, limiting her involvement.

“So, will you help me?”

“What’s the rush? We’ve been managing fine like this.”

I flipped a mental switch, deciding to play along with this Outer God’s caprices.

From that point on, I alternated between being her test subject and graduate student. Despite the grueling nature of the tasks, I managed to cope thanks to ‘thought acceleration’ and ‘computational assistance.’

Whenever I tried to probe into the purpose of her research, Cartesia remained stubbornly tight-lipped.

How many days had passed now?

“Oh, this texture is fascinating.”

Cartesia mused while kneading my face, nodding as if reaching some revelation.

“I’ve collected sufficient data and established the theory. Time for practical application.”

“Application? Ugh!”

Suddenly, a face like a black hole engulfed mine. My airway felt constricted, and breathing became impossible.

A moist sensation massaged my face, sending chills down my spine. Despite my attempts to push away, my body wouldn’t respond.

After pressing my head like she was molding clay, Cartesia finally pulled back.

A strand of saliva stretched between us.

“W-What…?”

As I wiped my sticky face and opened my eyes, something caught my attention.

A crimson tongue. A viscous liquid traced a curved line from its tip to my mouth.

Wait.

What just happened?

I looked up in confusion.

There stood Cartesia – with a face.

She had a delicate chin, alluring lips, and a pearl-like nose. Her large eyes featured double eyelids.

Those eyes shone in ocean blue, dazzlingly bright. If Rustila’s eyes were the Arctic Ocean, these were tropical waters. They even emitted a subtle glow, like embedded LED lights.

“Kid, what do you think? Do you like it?”

“What… what do you mean…?”

Cartesia ‘frowned.’

“I’m asking if my face is sophisticated enough to pass as your species. If I’m going to mimic, it should be accurate, shouldn’t it?”

She then furrowed her brow and curved her lips upward.

The expression was so natural it was difficult to remember she was an Outer God.

I nodded, dumbfounded.

Not only did she appear human, but she was strikingly beautiful – like a celebrity.

Cartesia licked her lips and swallowed. That’s when reality hit me. Getting face-hugged by an Outer God was one thing, but having my lips stolen? Wait, what?

My mind suddenly flashed to a famous monster from a sci-fi alien franchise – the one that lays eggs in people’s mouths, which later burst through their chests…

“Congratulations on the pregnancy, kid.”

“Ugh…”

“Just kidding. This isn’t Darwin Legion – you won’t get pregnant from something like this.”

Cartesia patted my back, wearing an intricate smile. It was irritating how unnecessarily beautiful she was. By the way, does kissing an Outer God count as infidelity…?

While I was lost in these bizarre thoughts, Cartesia spoke:

“This concludes your part in the research, kid. Staying asleep any longer would just be a waste of time.”

“What?”

“Now get lost.”

With those words, my vision faded to black.

The bond has reached a significant level, and the relationship with the contracted Constellation has evolved.

Overall Summary: The ‘God of Wisdom and Curiosity’ is now your main Constellation.

After returning Aidel’s consciousness, Cartesia touched her face. The now thoroughly subjugated Outer God Populus cautiously inquired:

“My master, that face… what is it?”

“How do you like it? High-end, isn’t it? Far superior to your plain faces.”

“Absolutely magnificent.”

Populus prostrated himself.

He wanted to ask why she’d adopt the face of an inferior species. Still, he held his tongue, noting his master’s evident satisfaction.

Through a ‘mirror,’ Cartesia observed Aidel in the intensive care unit. His breathing had stabilized, and his complexion had grown notably pallid – perhaps a benefit of proper rest.

Cartesia murmured softly:

“…Two weeks seems to have been sufficient.”

A subtle revelation:

The Descartes Legion of Outer Gods, masters of manipulating sentient minds, could also control human sleep patterns.

Cartesia smiled, fondling the coin Aidel had left behind.