Ch.127Become a Science Girl (1)

“Do you know how much trouble you’ve caused to our investors just to save one girl? If we want to keep our research funding flowing, we need to quickly meet the demands of those who invest.”

“So I’m planning to start researching non-resonance methods now.”

“There’s no time. If we don’t complete it within two months, several people are likely to die. Then no one will fund our next research.”

“So in the end, a resonator is the only answer for now.”

“That’s right.”

“But what can we do? The mirrors used in resonators are made of unique materials, boo-hoo.”

“Don’t cry, graduate student. That’s why this professor has brought an incredible theory to solve that problem, haven’t I?”

***

“A method to forcibly embed constellations into matter?”

This is extremely interesting.

“My wife… I’ve heard everything from Professor Stranov. You used white crystals to create mirrors for the resonator.”

“Yes. There, constellations were impurities.”

“In some materials, it could be the opposite.”

Professor Feynman whispered quietly so only I could hear.

“I heard about right-handed asymmetric polyhedra from Director Angela Hueritia. With that material…”

“…are you saying it’s possible?”

“There are no problems in the theoretical equations I’ve developed.”

So he accomplished all that while I was running around? As expected of the professor.

“But theory is just theory. It means nothing if we can’t demonstrate it experimentally. That’s why I’m discussing this with student Eidel.”

“I caused this mess, so I’ll clean it up.”

I removed my IV and immediately processed my discharge. Rustila, Sonia, and Ireh followed me.

When I opened the trunk of my spaceship that I use as a private vehicle, bundles appeared in a row. Now I need to move all of these, but there’s too much for one person.

“Young master, I’ll help you.”

Sonia stepped forward first. She carried two, and I carried one. Even carrying just one was heavy and strenuous for me.

“Ah, I’ll help carry it too!”

“Ah, thank you…”

To think I’d receive help with physical labor from Rustila. I can feel how much my arm muscles have deteriorated from only holding pens.

Once this is over, I should bulk up or something.

“We just need to take these to the lab, right?”

“Y-yeah.”

As Rustila moved busily, Ireh, who had been watching carefully, also began moving bundles.

However, Ireh kept her distance from us. She’s still wary of men, and above all, we’re not that close.

She probably can’t shake her suspicions.

Why I prioritized saving her.

In fact, while she might not know, I, having observed her records from a third-party perspective, know very well how high Ireh’s potential is.

Ireh, who had put down a bundle in the lab, glanced at me with side-eyes.

“But what is this…”

“Asymmetric polyhedra.”

“!”

Her expression changed completely.

“W-what did you say?”

“Want to see this?”

I took out a sparkling gem from the bundle I was carrying. It had a color close to opal and was quite pretty.

Rustila looked at the asymmetric polyhedron and seemed slightly surprised. It was a bit cute how she muttered, ‘Is that related to the outer god….’

In contrast, Ireh was on the verge of having a fit.

“W-why do you have such things!”

“Research materials.”

“It’s dangerous! Dangerous! Don’t tell me…!”

Ireh looked back at the bundle she had brought and turned pale. Yes, everything here is exactly what you’re thinking.

Ireh’s eyelids were trembling.

“E-everything here needs to be disposed of. Otherwise, it’s the end for everyone. You’ll die, I’ll die…!”

“It’s okay, we won’t die.”

“We will!!”

“I’m telling you it’s really fine. They just look the same, but their optical properties are different…”

“You’re completely mistaken!”

This. How dare she ignore an expert’s words and speak only what she knows. Such a lady needs shock therapy.

“Here, look.”

I took out a piece of asymmetric polyhedron. Ireh screamed.

“Put that down! Right now!”

“To prove it’s safe, I’ll lick it with my tongue.”

“Are you crazy?!”

I gave a cultural shock to Ireh, who was glaring at me like a hissing cat. This is civilization, this is science. Know that tomatoes are harmless to the human body, you barbarian.

Thud.

At my flamboyant tongue movement, Ireh’s legs gave out and she collapsed.

“N-now everything is over.”

She muttered with a blank expression.

Afterward, it took three hours for Ireh to accept the facts and blush.

***

Ireh sighed and tried to organize her thoughts.

They wouldn’t organize.

Eidel, asymmetric polyhedra, outer gods, constellations, resonators, research, science.

“Haah…”

She couldn’t make sense of any of it.

Eidel had briefly left to attend a colloquium. Ireh decided to stay with Rustila in the meantime.

She needed to establish a relationship with Rustila somehow. But it wasn’t easy. This iteration’s Rustila was much more prickly than in other iterations.

What could be the reason?

“Could it be because of Rheinland?”

Ireh disliked beating around the bush.

“From what I can see, Miss Kersil seems to like Rheinland, and I wonder if my presence is making you uncomfortable…”

“Ugh…!”

That was indeed the correct answer.

Ireh recalled the time she was controlled by an outer god. Once, when she lost control of her body to Saphaul and lunged at Eidel.

Of course, she didn’t lunge in a sexual way but aimed a gun at him to kill him. However, what’s important is that there was excessive physical contact in the process.

Like embracing and rolling around several times. Or mounting him.

“Ah, ugh, haah.”

Just remembering it gives her goosebumps. To think she did such things with a man.

Moreover, Rustila saw the final mounting scene.

Even knowing the circumstances, it’s natural to feel bad seeing someone you like in such a position with someone else.

Ireh spoke soothingly to Rustila, who was staring with eyes round like a startled fawn.

“I hope things go well between you two.”

I’m not your rival.

“From what I can see, Rheinland seems interested in you too.”

So don’t be wary of me.

“Hu, huhu…”

Rustila’s expression gradually softened like melting snow. Good. That was the right answer. Ireh inwardly rejoiced.

The original Eidel wouldn’t deserve Rustila a hundred or thousand times over.

But what about someone who saved her life?

Not bad.

Though she’s wary of men, she’s not so narrow-minded as to interfere with others’ feelings. Ireh smiled contentedly at the softened Rustila.

Clunk.

Just then, Eidel opened the door and came out. He wiped the sweat from his forehead and sighed.

“Phew, that was a tough battle.”

“What did you talk about with the professors?”

“Various things. The main topic was the asymmetric polyhedra for the resonator… it’s not easy. Being literally asymmetric polyhedra, I don’t think the constellation deities will want to enter them.”

Ireh jumped up and asked.

“…Tell me more about that.”

***

A week after escaping the outer god, Ireh had thought about many things.

Why could this iteration’s Eidel accomplish what she couldn’t? What is his true identity? Why has his personality, his impression changed so much?

There were countless questions, but one thing was certain.

There are still many unresolved “stories.”

[The prosecution has launched a full-scale investigation into the incident at the Northern Life Research Institute in the Toba planetary system.]

That story currently flowing from the news.

Soon, the Adelbein family will be caught. After all, that family was the shadowy manager of the Northern Biology Research Institute.

And after that?

Who knows what might happen next. Each time, they would have to move frantically. Perhaps she might be possessed by an outer god again. To prevent that, more countermeasures must be prepared.

The conclusion she reached for this:

Help Eidel von Rheinland.

Beyond helping, maintain continuous cooperation.

[— Paying 200 coins to roll the <Dice>.]

That’s how Ireh Hazlen decided to repay her debt.

[— #8: <Scale of Penetration> has been selected.]

[— You can store constellations in bullet form and penetrate objects or ideas. Please select a ‘color’ next.]

Starlight crossing subspace arrives in the girl’s hand. The white-hot gun barrel declared that it was ready to fire, spewing excited plasma.

“A gun? Not a sword…?”

Rustila showing the same reaction in every iteration.

And.

“Hmm.”

Eidel nodding as if he knows everything about you.

The more she sees that appearance, the more convinced she becomes.

[— Selecting <Bright Blue>.]

[— Attack power decreases, but penetration power increases, and the penetration depth of spiritual energy transmitted to objects increases exponentially.]

Surely, in this world line.

[— Paying 1000 coins to attach three new options to the special bullet.]

[— <Convergence>, <Reversal>, <Radiation Wave>]

Humanity can win.

[— Omega-level transformation: <Constellation Bullet>]

***

Bang!

As if witnessing the manifestation of a constellation, massive energy spread before them. Rustila’s shoulders trembled slightly as she faced that energy head-on.

A thrill ran through her.

Rustila thought.

This person is incredibly strong.

The strong recognize the strong. She possessed Aether far surpassing Rustila, who had awakened both multi-sword technique and body refinement.

The piece of asymmetric polyhedron hit by Ireh’s bullet remained calm as if nothing had happened. But Rustila, using <Inner Sight>, could tell.

A constellation entered and then came out again.

And it was contained in a mere bullet.

Aether rapidly decreases in intensity when separated even slightly from its source. That’s why plasma swords, which directly touch the hand, are used when fighting monsters or avatar bodies.

Being able to contain Aether in a bullet and maintain it while firing has many implications.

Either having an abundance of Aether, being capable of remote control, or having a constitution beloved by constellations.

“Hoo, hooo.”

She felt reverence. So much that her legs were trembling.

“Is this enough, enough?”

Ireh carefully placed the asymmetric polyhedron on the desk. Perhaps due to the trauma from when she was possessed by an outer god, she was flinching despite knowing it was safe.

Eidel, who took the asymmetric polyhedron, trembled his hands and then.

“I’ll just analyze its physical properties and come back. It won’t take long, so wait here.”

With a slight smile at the corners of his mouth, he went upstairs.

Rustila and Ireh, who remained, sat back in their chairs.

“…Are you really not involved with Eidel at all?”

“Of course not.”

Ireh nodded with a bright face.

The innocent Rustila believed those words at face value and felt relieved.

It’s truly fortunate. There’s only one stray cat.

And soon after, they saw paramedics running down the corridor with a stretcher.

“Make way! It’s an emergency, make way!”

“What happened?”

Without time to answer, they rushed by, and soon came back down from upstairs carrying someone.

It was Eidel.