Ch.121Last of Us (3)

“Have you heard of non-resonant lasers?”

“I’ve only heard of them.”

Lasers that trap light in something shaped like a fish trap.

Not mainstream, but rather a hipster laser.

“But why bring that up?”

“We could trap outer gods that way too. Gravitational waves are waves like light, after all.”

Hmm.

“It’s incomparable to the resonant method, which has many limitations in size and angle. The production difficulty would be high, but if successful, it could solve our problem.”

That meant they could imprison more outer gods.

At this point, I caught on and carefully asked.

“So, you’re suggesting we make a new trap for outer gods, beyond the resonator research we’re currently doing?”

“That’s right, student.”

“We’d need experts in condensed matter physics for that.”

And many other things would be required.

Capital, manpower, proposals for the government, patent applications, securing raw material routes, laboratory expansion, equipment rental.

Above all.

Verification of business feasibility.

If money is poured in but no results come out, the higher-ups will be furious.

But what can I do?

Theoretical physicist trait: Throwing practical sense to the dogs and only examining whether something is possible or not.

And the examination result.

Possible.

Absolutely possible.

“In my view, despite some disadvantages, it would be more cost-effective than resonators.”

“It can be miniaturized, and mass-produced once we find the materials, right.”

There was so much to discuss with Professor Feynman.

It’s wishful thinking, but…

This is what theoretical physicists do.

And it’s by doing things like this that breakthroughs happen.

Feynman and I looked at each other and grinned, which made Professor Stranov sulky.

“What’s this? Why are you two having a private conversation without me?”

“Professor Stranov.”

“…Yes, what is it?”

“We still have a lot to discuss.”

“What? Yes.”

“May I borrow your husband for a moment?”

“?”

Your husband is amazing.

***

I know someone influential in condensed matter physics and outer god biology.

What kind of work do they do?

They torture avatars with metamaterials and Darwin crystals. They’re one of the few people making a living from writing in the outer god biology field.

What’s their name?

Director Angela Hueritia of the Southern Life Research Institute.

Hueritia.

A familiar surname.

“So she’s the mother of that Hueritia girl who was my academy classmate.”

Sonia asked various questions while styling my hair with mousse.

“Are you expanding your research again?”

“Well, I’m going to meet someone now.”

It took three days to get an OK after sending an email to such a busy person. Considering how obsessively researchers check their emails, that’s quite slow.

“What about Zernya?”

“She returned to school.”

“Is it already the start of term?”

Time flies so fast.

After this semester and the next one pass, Rustila, Seti, and the others will come up to college next year.

That’s when the main story begins.

After enduring Zernya’s schemes comes Seti. Soon the family head succession battle will erupt, and the kid goes crazy after being expelled from the family.

The eldest brother is an intelligent bastard who kills his half-sibling and mother too. What a dysfunctional family.

Let’s say I prevent that.

Oh my goodness. Next, Descartes’ second-in-command invades from the eastern front?

At that time, two Great Omega class individuals get beheaded and become host vegetables.

Let’s say I prevent that too.

A Darwin faction boss attacks from the south.

Damn. This one tears the Aether Belt. And Naiere and Rustila die by their hand. The Rheinland and Hueritia families are exterminated then.

Hmm, let’s say I prevent that too.

Next is the Descartes boss. This one is Cartesia’s father.

Invasion from all directions.

The “Outer God Killer” story I read ends there. Because the author kills the protagonist at that point.

As a result, we never even get to see Laplace’s Forces.

At that time, I closed the page thinking “Wow, this is cosmic horror!” but damn, why did I have to be reincarnated into this?

Anyway, I was now face to face with the original author.

“How are you feeling?”

“…”

“Are you hurting anywhere?”

No response.

I sat down on the chair without thinking. A sigh, from whose mouth I couldn’t tell, was heard.

“I can’t, I can’t take it anymore.”

The protagonist speaks.

“Being so powerless like this.”

A month?

Two months?

I’ve forgotten how long it’s been since I kidnapped, imprisoned, and interrogated our author who gave us that terrible ending.

It’s July now, and she came here in February, so… Ah, she’s been tied up for five months.

Unable to do anything.

Never feeling the sunshine.

“I’m really just living because I can’t die. Taking the capsule is too painful and scary, so I only do it right before seeing those bastards’ things.”

“…”

“Seriously, if I die now, it’s over. The outer god bastard, despite being vicious, doesn’t seem to have the ability to rewind time here.”

“…”

“This time I’m tied up here listening to physics lessons from some pervert. I want to go out and do something, use my abilities, destroy everything. But I can’t.”

Hmm.

“Hah, fine.”

She sighs.

“I can see you’re a different person, and something is different. Even though I don’t know who you are, and I’ve been betrayed too many times to trust you completely… you know what I mean, right?”

“Of course.”

“My head hurts, and the constellation keeps saying it’s fine while never stopping its crying. It feels like all kinds of screams are scratching my entire body, there are mountains of events to prevent, and why was I born with this constitution?”

There’s no guarantee that a protagonist must be strong.

Rather, in this genre, they must appear weak. It’s a genre that’s established by constantly breaking down, going crazy, and being in awe.

However, for the novel to continue for a long time, mental stability must be maintained.

It’s a contradictory strength.

“And now I’m tied up in a place like this, forgetting what day it is.”

“…”

She raised her head and…

“I’m tired now.”

Spat out a plea.

Save me.

“I don’t care what happens from now on.”

Save me.

“Just end it here.”

Save me.

“If you’re not ‘Eidel’, that trash, then you can show some mercy, right?”

Save me.

“Please, kill me.”

Please, save me.

The author, the protagonist, shouted.

To put an end to the entire process of 15 years average lifespan, 880,000 repeated cycles, 13.2 million years passed in solitude.

Because resonator research and all that seems like chasing clouds.

No.

Simply.

Because she wants to irresponsibly run away. No, because she never wanted to bear such responsibility in the first place, didn’t need to, being a fragile and weak human.

But.

It’s a request that can’t be granted with a sword, medicine, or money.

“Alright.”

Only.

A pen.

Only the person holding the pen can grant this request.

“Count exactly 600,000 seconds from now.”

I placed my finger on Ireh’s forehead and whispered.

“When you finish counting, I’ll definitely end it for you.”

***

“Whew.”

While I was engrossed in studying non-resonant laser papers in the lobby, a crisp whistle tickled my ear.

A petite woman came trotting over with her mint-green hair fluttering.

Safety goggles on her forehead.

An oversized lab coat on her shoulders.

Her collar fluttered before she stopped gracefully like a butterfly.

I slightly lowered my head and exchanged greetings with her.

“It’s an honor to meet you, Director.”

“Hello! You must be Eidel?”

A quite distinctive appearance. I indirectly know this person.

The mother of Mezulen Hueritia, one of the main characters,

The director of the Southern Outer God Biology Research Institute,

The owner of a petite body with a height of 150cm,

The mistress of the Hueritia family, masters of outer god biology,

And a joker card for the next leap forward.

From now on, I’m going to thoroughly milk everything this person has.

“I’ve heard a lot about you from my daughter. She says you’re an incredible genius?”

“I’m not quite a genius.”

“So modest. A college student who’s published two papers as first author in <Universe>?”

“Hahaha…”

I laughed awkwardly as we walked.

By the time we reached the director’s office, Director Hueritia twirled and slid open the door. Through the wide-open door gap, I could see a mountain of large minerals.

They were a collection of gems that emitted various colors while giving a feeling of attraction.

“Trapezohedron…”

“-with chiral priority.”

This wasn’t in the original work.

A substance that couldn’t be seen from the protagonist’s perspective.

The director walked over and picked up a trapezohedron piece. Despite holding it with her bare hands, she didn’t get infected by outer gods or anything like that.

[— The outer gods in your head widen their eyes.]

[— The ‘God of Wisdom and Curiosity’ sparkles with interest.]

While I was wondering about the principle behind this, Director Hueritia began explaining.

“Even with the same compound, there are some that polarize light in opposite directions when irradiated. Ketamine would be a representative example, right?”

“Ketamine is a drug, isn’t it?”

“That’s right. One is used as an anesthetic, but the other one, which looks like its mirror image, is a toxin that causes anxiety symptoms. Do you know what these are called?”

Optical isomers.

In physicists’ terms, materials showing parity symmetry.

Left-handed and right-handed.

Just as a right hand becomes a left hand when reflected in a mirror, trapezohedrons affect humans differently depending on whether they’re left-handed or right-handed, according to her claim.

“Levorotatory, or left-handed trapezohedrons are inhabited by outer gods. They’re dangerous and should never be touched.”

“I would think so.”

“On the other hand, dextrorotatory trapezohedrons are amazing new materials. You can change the permittivity and permeability as you wish, and by stacking them in regular patterns, you can transform them into metamaterials with various properties. They even have topological properties, so if done right, they can be used variously as semiconductors, insulators, or superconductors. With these, you could make the ‘trap’ you mentioned in your email.”

Her claim had already been established as a theory through experiments and was on the verge of patent application.

But it was blocked at that very edge.

“The Outer God Management Bureau absolutely won’t give permission. They say how can we use dangerous, unverified materials in industrial settings.”

“…I would say the same if I were them.”

The process itself is suspicious from the beginning.

Trapezohedrons are objects from higher dimensions, so they can’t be obtained in their natural state.

Therefore, one should try to get the original trapezohedron first, then manipulate it well to change its parity.

But people who encounter trapezohedrons definitely get infected.

If infected, they go crazy.

And if crazy, they can’t conduct research.

“It’s a contradiction… that’s what you’re thinking, right?”

Director Hueritia sat on the desk and smiled gently.

“There are ways.”

Interpretation: You don’t need to know.

“As scientists, shouldn’t we always explore new possibilities? It might be scary at first, but sometimes we need the spirit to challenge boldly. Knowledge is pioneered that way.”

“Director.”

“Yes, what is it?”

“Did you experiment on people?”