Ch.111Your Student Was Awesome (3)

[I apologize, Professor.]

[I’m afraid I have prior commitments this week as well.]

[I hope the four of you enjoy the party.]

[Regards, Eidel]

Professor Feynman swallowed a sigh.

Today was the birthday of Frans, a lab member. Wearing a party hat, Frans muttered while looking at a cake filled with candles.

“I’m a year older…”

“That’s not what matters right now. Our junior isn’t coming.”

“What? Again?”

“Yeah. Again.”

“He used to come whenever the professor called.”

“Something must have happened.”

Frans tilted his head in confusion.

Meanwhile, Feynman was reminiscing about the past.

No, there wasn’t much to reminisce about.

It had only been a few months since they wrote papers together.

“Is he possibly interning at another professor’s lab?”

The moment he heard those words, his heart sank.

Poaching undergraduate students.

It wasn’t common, but it could certainly happen.

But Feynman had reason to believe otherwise. Eidel had contacted him as soon as he entered the Academy, showing exceptional passion for this lab. He was talented too. Why would he switch labs without any reason?

Surely he’s just busy with something else and will return eventually.

“The professor seems to be having a hard time.”

“Without the Rheinland junior, he’s probably overthinking things.”

A professor’s energy greatly affects lab morale. Moreover, Eidel was rapidly becoming Feynman’s star pupil.

“Ah. If only we were geniuses too.”

“Is that important right now? At this rate, our graduation might be delayed!”

The three graduate students began to worry sincerely.

They thought:

They needed to bring Eidel back somehow.

“Hey, I have a good idea.”

“What is it?”

“Let’s hire a detective.”

Frans’s party hat crumpled.

“Where would we get money to hire a detective?”

“We might as well ask a newspaper.”

So, at Mercury’s suggestion, they invited a newspaper employee who was already interested in the person “Eidel von Rheinland.”

“Hello everyone! I’m Sophia Krentelin from the Interstellar Daily. Just call me Sophia!”

The three graduate students explained the situation to the bold reporter. Sophia nodded along, saying “mm-hmm” and taking notes in her notebook.

After closing her notebook, she cheerfully replied.

“Interview with student Eidel von Rheinland! Request accepted!”

Though she called it an interview, it was closer to undercover investigation. Eidel’s whereabouts had become mysterious lately.

The three graduate students exchanged glances and handed Sophia a white envelope.

“If he refuses the interview, please give him this.”

It was quite thick. She asked with a smile.

“Can I take a commission?”

“We have something separate for you, Sophia. Here, I’ll pay you in advance.”

Sophia’s mouth fell open when she checked the online banking transfer.

It was a high price for an interview request.

In reality, it was the lab rats’ personal savings, paid as an opportunity cost for their future. Now they had no money left…

“May I ask why you’re going to such lengths?”

At Sophia’s question, the three graduate students sighed and confessed.

“Our graduation.”

“Is at stake.”

“Please help us, reporter.”

“Ah.”

Sophia sighed as well.

***

Several more weeks had passed since I started working with Professor Stranov.

It’s almost final exam season, but I haven’t had time to study because the resonator was progressing smoothly.

Who cares about exams right now?

There were several trial and error moments, but most technical defects were resolved by throwing graduate students, time, and money at the problem. This is what a research lab is about.

But even considering that, the resonator was being built too quickly.

“Did you even bring in outside contractors?”

My question must have hit the mark, as Professor Stranov raised the corner of her mouth.

“Time is money. And money is time. Just as I bought Rheinland’s time with steak that day, wouldn’t it be great if we could purchase companies’ time and manpower with money?”

“But hiring outside experts must cost a fortune.”

“Rheinland.”

She placed her hand on my shoulder and whispered.

“I told you. Our lab doesn’t worry about money.”

“Wow.”

The power of capital was truly magnificent. 90% of the resonator development, which I thought would take at least several months, was completed in just a month.

“The problem is the theory that will reduce trial and error.”

Stranov said.

“Depending on how well the theoretical progress goes, it could take 10 years or just a few weeks. Now, Rheinland?”

Finally, it was my turn to step up.

I received the physical property analysis data of the “Virgo” crystal that Professor Stranov gave me. Based on this data, I need to calculate how to trap the outer god in the resonator.

Skimming through it, I noticed something strange.

“There are impurities.”

“That’s right. We need to find a way to reduce defects.”

“But Professor, I’m not yet well-versed in condensed matter physics.”

“Hehe, I anticipated that too.”

Before I knew it, my hands were full of books.

Solid-state physics basics, optical fundamentals, material analysis theory, diffraction theory, Aether spectroscopy, outer god material physics, gravity and materials engineering, and more.

It was a collection of specialized textbooks worth at least several thousand credits.

“With Rheinland’s intellectual abilities, I believe you’ll master these quickly. I’ve included several papers and other materials as well.”

“…”

“Next week is finals, right?”

“Huh? Yes, Professor.”

“Prepare well for your finals, and I’ll see you when summer break starts. I’ll be waiting.”

“Thank you, Professor…”

Food, money, and now books.

I’ve received so much.

“I won’t go far.”

Despite saying that, Professor Stranov escorted me to the main gate. I was touched a second time.

I shook my head.

Still, I ultimately need Professor Feynman’s help for graviton bomb research. Professor Feynman is all I have.

But Professor Stranov is also starting to seem quite good. Honestly, excluding her drunken behavior, isn’t she TOP CLASS?

It’s a shame to choose just one.

Is there no way to merge the two professors’ labs?

“Gasp.”

At that moment, a brilliant idea came to mind.

After returning to Stellarium, I put the books in my dorm room and sat on the bed. I didn’t have much time to rest. I just stretched briefly, packed my things for final exam preparation, and left.

Come to think of it, I heard it was a graduate senior’s birthday today… I’ll just send a gift card later.

“Hello!”

As I exited the entrance, someone approached me.

A reporter. Someone who looked familiar.

“Who are you?”

“It’s me, Sophia! Reporter from Interstellar Daily! Mr. Rheinland, we interviewed before, remember?”

I glanced around. There didn’t seem to be any other reporters.

“What do you need from me?”

“I’d like to request another interview!”

Sophia immediately took out her notebook. Her determination to record every word I said without error was evident.

“I’m sorry, but it’s finals period now, so I’m very busy.”

“Then, could I have just a moment of your time?”

She pulled out an envelope. The magical white envelope symbolizing solicitation and slush funds—it felt thick when I touched it.

“This is payment for the interview!”

“…How much did you put in there?”

“It’s my utmost sincerity. I thought this much was necessary for someone who will become a promising scientist in the future.”

I could receive tens of thousands of won for just one interview.

I briefly debated between finals and the interview.

If I set a time limit, I could both get the money and not significantly impact my finals schedule. Okay, decision made.

“Then I’d be happy to…”

Just as I, corrupted by capital, was about to take the envelope.

“What are you doing?”

A petite woman inserted herself between me and the reporter. Her amethyst eyes flickered fiercely, and her silver hair fluttered nobly without a speck of dust.

It was Zernya.

She looked at both of us with sunken eyes and spoke.

“Who are you?”

“Ah, I’m a reporter from Interstellar Daily…”

“I didn’t ask for your name. What kind of person are you to waste my rival’s precious time?”

“P-pardon?”

“Don’t tell me it’s an interview? If you want one, avoid finals period. My, what a lack of basic manners.”

“…”

“Judging by your reaction, you didn’t even make a proper appointment?”

Zernya, circling around the reporter, snatched the envelope in the blink of an eye. After opening it and quickly counting the money, she scoffed.

“Just 1,000 credits? Who do you think you’re dealing with?”

“Ah, that’s actually not my money…”

“Who asked about the source of funds?”

Sophia was completely intimidated by Zernya’s sharp retort.

“Don’t do useless interviews. Take this and get lost. Got it?”

Five checks.

An amount that could fulfill a regular person’s dream of homeownership.

Zernya tossed that much money without blinking, like throwing away a tissue on the street. Sophia’s eyes spun.

“Go.”

“I apologize for the intrusion!”

Ah, the reporter ran away.

Zernya looked at me with a sigh.

“What an eyesore.”

“Me?”

“Is there anyone else here besides you and me?”

She retorted curtly. I almost gave her a knock on the head but managed to calm down by mentally reciting “patience” three times.

“An idiot who doesn’t know his own worth. People with superior genes like you and me should value every minute. Why waste precious time dealing with a mere reporter?”

No, how can someone who studied biology talk about royal DNA?

The next moment, Zernya held out the same checks to me.

“You should be worth at least this much. Understand?”

Her following thoughts were only revealed through her psychological state: ‘Only then can I acknowledge you as my rival.’ What an adorable thought.

“I’ll give you this, so come to the library with me. Let’s have a proper competition until grades come out, for the next week.”

“No thanks.”

While receiving money would be nice, I politely pushed the envelope away. Zernya made a dumbfounded expression.

I carefully tested her.

“A friend’s time isn’t something you buy with money, Zernya.”

***

Returning to her clients, Sophia briefly explained.

“He has a girlfriend.”

The three graduate students let out deep sighs.

“She was extremely wary of me. Despite me saying I was a reporter. Anyway, she told me to take this and get lost.”

Sophia took 30,000 credits from the 500,000 she received and gave it to the three graduate students. It was a sort of apology for failing the request.

“Wow, research funds!”

“Damn it, junior! When did you get such a girlfriend!”

“I want to meet a woman who gives lots of research money too.”

Sophia felt a chill from their conversation. Somehow, despite the warm room, goosebumps rose all over her body.

“Anyway, please continue your efforts.”

“Of course. I don’t plan to end it here. For the honor and future of our newspaper!”

Sophia declared boldly as she left the lab. Anyway, it was time to retreat for today.

Soon, Professor Feynman would also hear Sophia’s story.

“He got a girlfriend? Rich, with a fierce attitude… Could it be.”

Professor Feynman bit his nail.

“…Stranov?”