Ch.110Your Student Was Awesome (2)

Opportunity cost exists everywhere.

When you focus on one research, you have less time for other research. It’s the same principle as spending money on jajangmyeon means you can’t buy jjamppong with that same money.

And tonight.

I found myself at a crossroads.

[Professor Feynman: The midterms are over, how about lunch together?]

[Professor Stranov: I need to go on a business trip to the south, how about lunch together?]

This is driving me crazy.

Professors are people who barely have enough time to grab a sandwich.

When they try to schedule an appointment first, it definitely means they have some special business.

While I was pleased, I couldn’t satisfy both of them. I only have one body.

My deliberation didn’t last long.

***

“Thank you so much for joining me today, Rheinland.”

In the end, I chose Professor Stranov.

I’m sorry, Professor Feynman. But I had no choice. I desperately need Professor Stranov’s research to remove the alien entity attached to Ireh.

So this isn’t betrayal. It’s truly unavoidable.

“Shall we go to that restaurant over there?”

“Sounds good.”

I nodded without much thought. By the time I realized it was the professor’s trap, it was already too late.

Damn, why is everything so expensive?

“Don’t worry about it. I’ll process the meal expenses through the lab’s dinner budget anyway.”

“No, you should save money and add it to the research budget instead…”

“This level of expense is fine. Our lab has plenty of money.”

I was momentarily speechless.

The conversation continued until the food arrived. In the appropriately ripened atmosphere, Professor Stranov brought up the main point.

“Are you still close with Professor Feynman?”

“Yes. We don’t interact often, but I think we are.”

“…You don’t interact often, I see.”

Professor Stranov nodded subtly.

“For your master’s program—”

“I’m sorry, Professor. I’d prefer to do the integrated BS-MS-PhD program. I’ll likely stay at this university for graduate school.”

I cut her off. The professor looked dejected. She must still have lingering hopes.

She regrouped and launched another attack.

“For mathematics or philosophy it might be different, but physics is a discipline where experiments are crucial. If you want, our lab would provide unlimited support for any experiment you wish to design.”

“Thank you for your consideration, Professor. But I think I need more time to decide on a lab.”

“Is that so? I suppose that makes sense. Interests and aptitudes can change over time…!”

Hope gleamed in the professor’s eyes.

Even though I was just speaking indirectly.

“What do you think about the resonator research I’m currently doing? Do you think it’s progressing well?”

Gaining momentum, she naturally changed the subject. This was something I had plenty to say about.

“Conventional mirror materials won’t be able to contain the wavelength of alien entities.”

“That’s an accurate observation.”

“So I’m reviewing specific methods of using ‘crystals’ from Darwin-type alien entities as materials.”

“The avatar-grade ones?”

“That’s right.”

“Isn’t there something lacking with just that?”

“It’s more of a financial issue than a technical one—ordering comfortably from home comes with excessive margins.”

Seeing the professor’s lips twitch, I hastily added:

“Even for a well-funded lab, it would be a burden to purchase.”

“That’s all hazard pay. Crystals are crystallized madness that must be handled with care.”

“Yes, anyway, it seems like we need to deal directly…”

“That’s quite dangerous.”

Professor Stranov’s eyes met mine.

For a brief moment, my thoughts stopped.

We’re currently in the southern region. And Professor Stranov said she came here on a business trip.

Could it be?

“Rheinland, do you have some time?”

She smiled seductively.

***

Give and take.

If you eat a meal, you should provide labor accordingly.

Eventually, after reading the situation, I boarded the shuttle heading to the southernmost processing facility with Professor Stranov.

The processing facility was, as the name suggests, a place for cleaning up the waste left by alien entities.

“Just a month ago, the southern border zone was teeming with blood and flesh. It was a death zone. If it weren’t for you scientists, we would still be fighting here.”

The inspector guarding the dock offered us words of gratitude. It was respect for scientists.

We received a basic explanation.

The Darwin’s Legion led by the <Emperor of Elegant Finale> consumed planets one by one based on immortal organic matter, and the infected planets transformed into decaying black masses.

Sulfur gas instead of oxygen. Smoke instead of grass.

Life existed even in these deathlands where survival was impossible without protective equipment. These were perfect organisms with immortal DNA.

When these organisms are processed according to heat and pressure, the madness disappears, and they transform into useful crystals.

“This is a crystal.”

An S-class inspector with purple epaulets showed us a black crystal.

“This crystal was left by an A-class monster. It has high strength and hardness, so if processed well, it can perform better than diamond. It’s often used for cutting in industrial settings.”

It was an interesting story.

But not what we were looking for.

“Do you have anything with high reflectivity? Preferably avatar-grade or higher.”

“We do have something. However…”

The inspector’s following words were rather solemn.

A crystal obtained by a Great Omega-grade inspector who formed the Virgo constellation among the 12 zodiac signs, sacrificing his life.

“Transparent like glass and pure like innocence, we decided to call this crystal…”

Virgo.

It was dozens of meters in size.

“That would be more than enough to spread across a resonator.”

“It’s perfect for making resonant mirrors, Rheinland.”

I trembled. Professor Stranov probably felt the same.

“But there’s a problem. Since it’s like a legacy of that person, members of the same unit are opposing its sale. It would be good if you could discuss it with them…”

I glanced at Professor Stranov. She was nodding with her chin raised.

“Alright, where are they?”

***

“This is something Captain Rasella sacrificed her life to obtain. We absolutely cannot sell it!”

“That’s right, this is like a memento!”

“Unless it’s enshrined in a museum, we can’t allow it to be used for scientific research…!”

Here we go, sweet potato time.

I tried to persuade them first, but it was useless.

Upon closer listening, these people seemed to strongly believe in Eastern indigenous faith.

The souls of the dead are guided to the constellations, engraved on the remnants of alien entities, and so on. I’m pretty sure I read about such a religion in a novel.

I don’t remember clearly.

I just find it troublesome.

Ugh. I can’t just tap them with calipers.

[“Need help, youngster?”]

Keep your monkey hands to yourself.

[— The God of Wisdom and Curiosity slumps his shoulders.]

No matter what, I didn’t want to rely on Cartesia’s help for something like this. I intend to try everything I can as a human first.

That’s when Professor Stranov gently grabbed my shoulder.

“Rheinland, let me try.”

She stepped forward.

The inspectors still looked uncomfortable.

“How much would it take?”

“Like I said, we won’t sell it no matter how much you offer.”

“Would it be possible to sell even just a fragment?”

“What nonsense! This crystal is practically Captain Rasella’s soul!”

“Hmm, this is difficult.”

“Look, I don’t know how much money you have, but we won’t sell even for 10 billion credits.”

10 billion. Half the price of the southern spirit station I purchased. I unconsciously snorted.

And Professor Stranov did the same.

“Hmm, then how about 100 billion credits?”

“O-one hundred billion?”

“Don’t be ridiculous. Do you even have that kind of money?”

“As I’ve repeatedly said, even if you offer that much, not even a speck…”

“200 billion.”

“…”

“300 billion, shall we settle here?”

They stood dumbfounded before flushing and stubbornly persisting. It was their last shred of dignity.

“How dare you put a price on our loyalty to the Captain—!!”

“Okay, 500 billion.”

“…”

“Everyone, are you perhaps thinking this? ‘She doesn’t have the money and is trying to scam us.’ Though we’ve just met, if you harbor such thoughts, I, Stranov, would be disappointed.”

The inspectors closed their mouths.

Here’s a bit of trivia.

Stranov is one of the Federation’s top 10 families, standing shoulder to shoulder with Adelbein and Rheinland.

***

We received 1 trillion.

“Callis, my light, my soul, my flame.”

I didn’t say anything.

“Your Eminence, from now on I will leave the order and return to secular life.”

Just saying they were keeping their promise to the Captain.

They provided everything from Gold Zone subscriptions to child-rearing expenses.

“Professor, I hope your research goes well.”

In that moment, I realized. This is the power of capital. This is the difference between labs.

Professor Stranov moved the Virgo crystal to the cargo hold and looked at me with dignified eyes.

I don’t know why.

She just looked really cool.

“Rheinland.”

She placed her hand on my shoulder and said:

“Shall we go do some research now?”

I could only move like a grain of sand swept away by the waves…