Ch.145I am the Chairman and You are (8)

Darwin’s Legion has a special species called “Infectoids.”

“Infectoids all have ovipositors. Some call them tentacles. They keep multiplying even if you cut or burn them.”

“A perfect organism.”

“That’s right. And the ‘seeds’ that come from those tentacles harden like stone when they contact Aether. That’s the property we utilize.”

This raises a question.

“If they become irregular polyhedra when they meet Aether, couldn’t you experiment without using humans?”

“It’s not as simple as it sounds. Does baking a stone make it a superconductor?”

That’s true.

“What exactly did you do?”

“An outside company sends people with artificial constellations implanted. It’s difficult to process with the Aether emitted by real constellations. There’s also the problem of tentacles continuously growing. We need to collect enzymes that inhibit growth and…”

The explanation continued for over 30 minutes.

“…When you look at those people, their eyes are completely dead. They don’t move like humans, and in their mouths or anuses, ugh.”

The director repeatedly dry heaved.

“…I’m sorry. Just thinking about it makes me, ugh.”

“You can take your time explaining.”

Director Mezulen Hueritia kept grimacing until she finished her explanation.

I couldn’t understand most of the process. It wasn’t that I couldn’t comprehend it, but I didn’t want to accept it logically. My mind was becoming numb.

I had another thought.

“Artificial constellations?”

“Yes. I was surprised too when I heard such things existed.”

I looked at Zernya. She flinched and backed away.

“What kind of company provides such test subjects?”

“I don’t know much about that. It’s an external partner.”

“There must have been someone who mediated this?”

“That person is just a middleman of a middleman. I don’t know what’s real and what’s fake. Just… no. It’s my fault for not refusing.”

“…I understand.”

I cast a mental stabilization spell on Director Hueritia and ended the visit. I also contacted Ireh in case of emergency.

The non-public research is suspended for now.

We’ll need to either find different materials or collect more white crystals.

[— The God of Wisdom and Curiosity is disappointed.]

If we didn’t have the common goal of graviton bombs, Cartesia might have given me a surprise pregnancy quest.

“Ugh, gross.”

I shuddered.

***

After asking Director Hueritia various questions, Eidel received a simple survey.

Zernya watched silently from behind, lamenting inwardly.

Every detail she heard from the prosecutor was shocking.

– The parasite, once sufficiently grown in the esophagus, molts into a stone form. If it hatches into an adult during this process, a monster is born, but if you alter its optical properties with radiation treatment before that, you can create irregular polyhedra.

That was just one of the typical functions. There were countless others.

“Haa, haa.”

Zernya repeatedly vomited bile in the bathroom. Looking in the mirror, her aimless eyes scanned the empty space.

She wanted to deny it.

That it wasn’t the Adelbeins who were committing such atrocities.

But simultaneously, she couldn’t help but covet the family head position she would obtain in a few years, leaving Zernya writhing in conflict.

She wanted to be the best. She wanted to be the owner of the Adelbein name.

But then.

“Zernya.”

It was Eidel’s voice that brought her back to reality from her contemplation.

“Has any constellation approached you with a contract offer?”

“…”

There was.

There was, but.

“What if there is? What are you going to do about it?”

“We need to go to the Spirit Chamber.”

“Why?”

Despite her curt response, Eidel continued speaking calmly.

“I told you before. It could be an alien spirit imitating one.”

“You said that was just hearsay?”

“Just in case. If it’s really an alien spirit mimicking a constellation, it’s dangerous.”

She didn’t know if Eidel’s words were true or factual.

Given his past actions, it seemed more like sophisticated behind-the-scenes manipulation to criticize the Adelbein family.

– Listen carefully. The world is not easy. Be wary of those who show unconditional kindness. No one offers pure goodwill. Always be suspicious, and while you may betray others, never let others betray you first.

That was what her father had said during one of their rare family meals.

Be especially wary of pure kindness.

Yes, be wary.

[“Child. You are so pitiful.”]

The same applied to the constellation that was speaking to her.

Zernya couldn’t fully trust either of them.

[“The Rheinland boy sees you as a competitor. When someone is obsessed with competition, they’ll use any means necessary. He’s the same. He’s trying to find and exaggerate your flaws.”]

“…”

She remained silent for now.

The words of what might be a constellation or a monster continued.

[“You’ve been harsh to that boy all this time, haven’t you? He must really hate you too. He’s just holding back, waiting for the right moment. A moment to completely destroy you.”]

“Ha.”

The constellation didn’t know. She had already been broken once.

“Zernya, let’s go to the Spirit Chamber now.”

“Why so suddenly?”

“The one speaking to you is an alien spirit. I guarantee it.”

“How?”

“Rustila’s spiritual eye.”

Spiritual eye. A blessing that could read alien spirits or constellations in people’s minds. To Zernya, who had never dealt with real constellations, it sounded like fiction.

“I know you’re skeptical. But can’t you trust me just this once?”

“I need more than that strange evidence. Do you have more concrete proof? Any precedents? Bring me a paper or something before you speak!”

Bring a paper.

That’s the most critical point for a scholar.

An ordinary person might understand without papers, but Zernya recognized Eidel as a scientist in her own way.

Look, he can’t say anything.

Zernya turned around sharply.

“I’m not making a foolish decision. I’m being cautious too. If I just listen to you and get swayed, what would the school or family say? Don’t you consider my reputation?”

“This is a matter of life and death, and you’re worried about reputation…”

“Then let’s do this.”

She murmured.

“If I’m wrong, I’ll let the alien spirit kill me.”

“Hey!”

“What will you stake if you’re wrong?”

She provoked him slightly. Of course, she was half-serious. If she couldn’t become the head of the Adelbeins, death was all that remained. This too was something she had heard from her parents.

Eidel mumbled before saying:

“I won’t go to graduate school.”

“…What?”

Zernya was greatly surprised.

The guy who always talked about wanting to go to graduate school was declaring he would give up on graduate studies.

[“Don’t be fooled. That’s an act too.”]

No.

That part is real.

If nothing else, this madness is genuine. She knew from watching him closely. This guy is crazy enough to have matched two professors just to do his research.

“I’ll drop out of college and abandon the Rheinland name. I’ll spend my life frying chicken on some frontier planet.”

“Why on earth…”

She wanted to ask why he looked so confident.

No, in truth, she was scared.

Because those golden eyes in her view were as clear and pure as the full moon.

“…Why are you conducting this investigation anyway?”

“This investigation? It’s to determine right from wrong.”

“You’re not a lawyer. Leave this to the prosecutors. It’s not your place to be running around.”

She finally revealed her true feelings.

“I hate people who meddle too much. If you want to research, just stick to research!”

“This is related to research. Do you know how important irregular polyhedra are?”

“Those can’t be made anymore! Our family—! Ah…!”

“…What about your family?”

“Our, our family. Um.”

Zernya hesitated as if having a panic attack. She looked around. Currently, the two were walking in a secluded park. Fortunately, there was no one around.

“Never mind. Let’s talk about this later.”

Zernya cut off the conversation with a tired expression.

***

[Eidel von Rheinland, that child is truly dangerous. Daughter, as your father, I see him as someone who will harm our family. You must either tarnish his reputation or sort out his relationships.]

[Darling, why speak like that? We could just quietly get rid of him.]

[No, no matter what, he’s still a direct descendant. He can’t just disappear suddenly. Even if we take action, we must choose the right timing.]

A series of unproductive conversations.

[Zernya, I’m entrusting you with that child’s disposal. This is not a request but a mission.]

[You heard your father, right? So you must do well. If you succeed, the family head position will be yours next year.]

To deal with Eidel von Rheinland in some way.

This was the new task assigned to Zernya, who was sighing deeply in her dormitory.

However, her heart seemed to sway back and forth like a reed.

She appeared to be agonizing over discerning whose words were true between the constellation that spoke to her and Eidel.

Charitably speaking, she was being cautious.

Less charitably, she was being indecisive.

“Sigh.”

Watching Zernya sigh, Swan, floating in the sky, was anxiously folding and unfolding its wings.

A demonic form with eyes attached to each feather. Around it, twelve pairs of rings and a red beak were in orbital motion. Its twisted mouth was covered in sharp spikes.

However.

Its overall shape resembled a swan.

Swan slowly raised its wings. Between the feathers, in the cells, were vocal cords extracted after killing a constellation’s spiritual body.

[“I can’t wait any longer.”]

“…?”

Her startled look as she looked around was quite cute.

Cute things should be killed.

But with orders from the Queen, there’s no time for personal preferences.

[“It would be best if you contracted with me.”]

“What, wait…!”

[“I’m afraid if we stay still any longer, something terrible will happen.”]

We Darwin’s alien spirits, you see.

Eidel von Rheinland.

Now that he has noticed our existence and started acting, it’s clear what will happen if we don’t strike first.

So we use this girl who meets him most frequently.

Since this is a contract without consent, she’ll die from madness once it’s over, but at least we’ll achieve one goal.

[“Take it.”]

Swan gently placed an irregular polyhedron in Zernya’s hand.

[“Take this and come with me to catch that boy.”]

Zernya groaned with a “ugh.” She grabbed the bedside table and slowly collapsed.

The reason why Darwin’s alien spirits are the most cruel and dangerous.

Contracts formed without consent turn each cell of the contractor into an incomplete entity. The cell’s characteristics change, leading to crystallization and monsterization.

Blood began flowing from Zernya’s eyes and mouth.

Well, that’s the usual process.

She might only last two hours at most, but Swan decided to bet on Zernya’s excellent swordsmanship skills.

Just as Swan was flapping its wings and smiling contentedly:

“One, word. Alien, spirit, sub, ject…!”

Crash!

Zernya threw the irregular polyhedron out the window.