Ch.169Second Year (4)

[— The ‘God of Wisdom and Curiosity’ accepts your quest.]

[— Upon success: You must fulfill one request from the ‘God of Wisdom and Curiosity’.]

[— Upon failure: Extension until success.]

[* The success reward must be requested within the scope of ensuring no harm comes to ‘Eidel von Rheinland’.]

The contract was sealed.

“This actually works.”

I was a bit surprised even after doing it. No matter how curious Cartesia was as a foreign god, I didn’t expect her to be this enthusiastic about academics.

“I’ll put you in the acknowledgments when I write my paper later.”

[“I don’t need that, youngster.”]

“Can’t even take a joke.”

The first human to tame a foreign god—my life is truly extraordinary. Another tale to tell my children someday.

Of course, there are concerns. Specifically, the reward she’ll demand if I succeed. Thanks to the contract condition guaranteeing my safety, I probably won’t end up impregnated. Still.

“Eidel, student?”

That’s when Professor Feynman called me.

“I need an explanation. What are these instruments used for? Can I ask where you purchased them?”

“I thought we’d need them for the crystal research we discussed earlier. Since it’s difficult to visit Iryuoyel Academy every week, I had them custom-ordered from a company I know.”

“Did you discuss this with the school?”

“Already did.”

I rented an entire room.

Money solves everything.

“I-Impressive.”

Professor Feynman marveled.

“Your preparedness is remarkable in many ways, Eidel. Almost frighteningly so…”

I smiled awkwardly.

After Professor Feynman left for his lecture, I looked around what was now my second research lab in my lifetime.

I have my own research space despite being neither a professor nor a graduate student. At a college, no less. It’s incomparable to the temporary lab I set up at Alcatraz. It feels wonderful.

My dream remains clear. To become a physics professor. Even if we defeat the foreign gods and peace returns, I’ll continue walking the path of understanding and applying nature.

I’ve now taken the first step toward that goal.

[— The ‘God of Wisdom and Curiosity’ scoffs.]

Now, it’s time to recruit interns.

“Mezulen, I have a gift prepared for you.”

I went straight to find Mezulen. She still wore a worried expression but was diligently reading books. She stood up reflexively when she heard my voice.

“What? What is it? Don’t tell me the investigation is concluded?”

“No. Sorry, but that’s not it…”

Seeing Mezulen’s smile fade as quickly as it had appeared made me feel sorry for her. Nothing can be done yet. To catch the real culprit, we need to wait until Zernya becomes the family head. I tried to console the depressed Mezulen.

“I told you that news wouldn’t come until next month.”

“Ah, right…”

“No need to be gloomy. What I brought today is equally good news.”

While Mezulen tilted her head in curiosity, I pulled several fresh textbooks from my bag.

“What are all these? Foreign God Biology. Constellation Biology. Biophysics… Plasma Constellation Theory?”

“Ah, that one was meant for someone else. Do you want it anyway?”

“…Really?”

Mezulen isn’t from a poor family. But what I’m giving her are the most highly regarded textbooks. In this mega-galactic era, even a single subject might have hundreds of thousands of authors, making it difficult for freshmen to select good books.

“You’re giving all of these to me?”

The truth is, passionate students, regardless of their financial situation, are always eager to accept books from others. I smiled as I handed the books to Mezulen, whose eyes were sparkling.

“If you want, I can recommend textbooks for other subjects too.”

“What other subjects? You’re not even in the biology department.”

“I’ve become quite friendly with biology seniors through student council work. I know most of the textbooks and author lists.”

“Wow.”

Mezulen exclaimed.

The child has such luminous eyes. Mezulen truly has the disposition of a scholar, just like me. Someone like her should gain research experience as soon as possible for the benefit of Federation society.

As she was skimming through the table of contents, breathing excitedly, Mezulen suddenly narrowed her eyes and asked:

“Do you like me or something?”

“What are you talking about?”

“Otherwise, why would you be so nice to me? This is too kind for just friendship. Don’t tell me you treat other girls like this too?”

Hmm, she’s clearly misunderstanding. I don’t consider anyone under 154cm as a woman.

“You want to know why I’m being nice to you?”

“I don’t like beating around the bush.”

I smiled slyly as I opened the lounge door.

“Follow me.”

To the room of truth.

***

To put it simply, I do like Mezulen.

I like her very much as a researcher.

It’s been that way since the Academy days. The kid overflows with ideas. She just couldn’t utilize them because the experimental environment wasn’t set up.

If nothing else, Mezulen’s talent was genuine. It’s no coincidence she appeared as Ireh’s main assistant in “God Slayer.”

Now I’m about to give wings to this tiger cub.

“W-w-w-what is this…”

Mezulen muttered blankly as she turned around.

“So, this is your research lab?”

Mezulen’s expression contorted. She looked ready to protest, ‘Why does an undergraduate have a research lab?!’ I nodded as I locked the door.

“W-why are you locking the door?”

“To keep you from leaving.”

“You’re insane! Look how shameless you are!”

Mezulen frantically pulled at the door handle.

It didn’t budge at all.

“Ugh, why won’t this open…!”

“You need to enter the password from the inside too.”

“What kind of company makes such ridiculous door locks?!”

“Graduate schools are all like this.”

“Aaaaargh!!”

Watching Mezulen wrestling with the door handle, I suddenly wondered: if Rustila or Zernya were here instead of Mezulen, how would I have reacted?

With Zernya, there would have been sweet yet bitter conversation. And with Rustila… Ah. Damn it. Just thinking about it makes me angry.

Wait for me, Virgo. I’ll treat you soon.

I looked at Mezulen, who had collapsed in resignation.

“Come on, don’t just lie there. Let’s look around? Everything here is cutting-edge equipment for researching Darwin-type foreign gods. You won’t find this in any other research lab in the world.”

“Cutting-edge?”

“Yes, cutting-edge. There are many versatile pieces of equipment. They’re helpful not only for physics but also for understanding constellations and foreign gods biologically.”

“Oh.”

Mezulen showed interest. A good sign.

“Want to see this first?”

I turned on the equipment, intending to let her experience it. I naturally knew how to use the equipment since Cartesia was residing in my head.

“This is a 5D crystal cutter.”

5D.

We humans live in a 4D spacetime consisting of 3 spatial dimensions plus 1 time dimension. A 5D space can be easily created by adding another spatial or temporal axis.

In this equipment’s case, a time axis was added. This allows for the creation of an imaginary timeline. Imaginary numbers square to negative numbers, and a negative timeline represents the past.

In other words.

“If you fail during processing, you can go back to before the failure.”

“Is that even possible?”

“Watch a demonstration from your skilled teaching assistant.”

I placed a completed semiconductor device on the cutter. Next to the cutter was a beam emitting blue light.

Keeeeeng! After cutting the device with the laser, I exposed it to the blue beam.

“Wow, it returned to before it was cut!”

Mezulen couldn’t close her mouth.

“How is that possible?”

“Want to know the principle?”

Mezulen nodded her head frantically.

So I gave her a lengthy explanation about the characteristics of Maxwell-type incarnate bodies. How they reverse time and so on. A precise explanation would require complex equations. Mezulen nodded after gaining only a qualitative understanding.

“So we could continuously reuse a single crystal with this!”

Crystals are the primary research tools for foreign god biologists. Research tools essentially mean livelihood.

“Can I try using it too?”

I taught Mezulen the basic operation and handed her a sample crystal. She had a talent for experiments. After just a few tries, she began handling the equipment skillfully.

“Hey, this is fun.”

Mezulen turned her head toward other equipment. She bit her fingernail slightly and mumbled regretfully.

“Those too…”

“I can teach you if you come here every day.”

“Really?”

Her eyes sparkled like stars.

She’s hooked.

And so, Mezulen agreed to work as an intern in my research lab(?) for the time being. I’m not paying her yet. Once we officially begin crystal research, I plan to provide her with full lab fees.

[— The ‘God of Wisdom and Curiosity’ warns you not to be smug.]

Now, who should I bring in next?

Welton? Mathers?

It would be good to bring in just one of them to put to work.

Unfortunately, the engineering building is a bit far from here. Moreover, engineering students are generally busier with assignments and extracurricular activities than natural science students. Unless we make separate appointments, it will be difficult to see their faces.

Programming work is also an issue. Unfortunately, there aren’t any friends among my Academy classmates who are good at coding. That’s due to the advancement of androids.

Right, I can use Sonia for programming parts like last time.

Finally, to properly run a lab, I need a graduate student well-versed in physics.

[“You’re truly insane.”]

Not now, but someday when making gravity bombs, I need a student who can handle things neatly, efficiently, and with good sense. And they should be somewhat trustworthy.

[“Trustworthy? You mean someone who won’t run away?”]

You could say that.

Just then, someone who met both conditions was walking over.