Ch.176Zernya’s Melancholy (5)

Thinking about it, Eidel was also quite busy.

Taking classes, doing research. I heard he was living almost like a graduate student. Though I haven’t seen it with my own eyes.

“Ahh…”

Zernya stretched. Would this make her even 1cm taller? She was getting increasingly anxious as her height hadn’t changed in two years.

At least she felt more refreshed than before falling asleep.

“Ah.”

She must have set an alarm before sleeping, but more time had passed than expected. Her foggy consciousness suddenly cleared as if struck by a hammer.

At this rate, she would be late for the next lecture.

There wasn’t even time to go see Eidel’s face. Zernya hurriedly sprinted toward the medical school lecture hall.

***

Right after the long, drawn-out class ended, Zernya was walking across campus, completely exhausted. She needed to go to the library now.

But her feet kept refusing to leave a certain place.

Looking up, she found herself right in front of the College of Natural Sciences building.

Based on circumstances, this was a dungeon with a 99.9% probability of encountering the “God of Physics and Graduate School.”

She could still reach the library by passing through the Natural Sciences building. Plus, she had some family matters she wanted to consult with Eidel about.

With these two excuses, Zernya justified her footsteps leading into the Natural Sciences building.

The Stellarium Natural Sciences building was shaped like a regular pentagon. When divided into sectors from the center, the departments of Physics and Astronomy, Chemistry, Mathematics, Biology, and Geology were arranged counterclockwise.

This meant that to find Eidel, she needed to locate the Physics sector and go up floor by floor.

It wasn’t difficult to find him. She could see him on the third floor.

With three women.

“Huh?”

One was Rustila, another was Mezulen.

And the last one was the black-haired girl she had seen before. Her name was “Ireh Hazlen.” Yes, that’s what she remembered her name to be.

They were creating such a boisterous atmosphere that there seemed to be no room to join in. Zernya instinctively hid behind a wall.

She held her breath and eavesdropped on their conversation.

“…So, you’re saying you could write a paper soon?”

“How do you interpret things that way?”

“You should write it quickly. That way Mezulen can become famous like me, right?”

“Ah, that’s so frustrating!”

She felt somewhat relieved. She thought they might be discussing something intimately cheerful, but it was an academic conversation. It was so typically Eidel that Zernya smiled gently.

That sense of relief disappeared the next moment. It was because of something Rustila said.

“You know, I think writing a paper is similar to a couple having a baby.”

Zernya was dumbfounded.

No, is she crazy?

What nonsense is this shameless woman saying in front of a man?

Mezulen and Ireh seemed to share Zernya’s thoughts. Mezulen couldn’t close her mouth, and Ireh’s face turned as red as a well-cooked shrimp.

“No, really. It takes a long time to create, requires a lot of effort. And it’s impossible without love and devotion. Plus… once you’ve created it, you feel proud and fulfilled…”

Rustila’s nonsense continued.

At a glance, it might sound like an amusing joke. A risqué, simple drinking joke. Normally, what man would consider this a flirtatious line…

But there was one.

“Wow, Rustila. Your metaphor is spot on.”

Eidel rubbed the bridge of his nose and laughed. Far from being shocked, he was enjoying it, which was not a normal reaction.

At that moment, Zernya realized how deadly it was for Eidel when someone used papers or research as flirtatious material.

“Oh, no.”

This couldn’t continue.

She would lose him.

She felt sorry for what she had done to Rustila in the past. But that was then, and this is now. There are lines a woman should never yield to another.

“Eidel!”

Zernya immediately jumped into the conversation.

With her appearance, Rustila’s expression darkened. The two were extremely averse to each other.

“Mezulen, go into the lab with Ireh.”

“Huh? O-okay.”

Rustila pushed Mezulen into the lab and closed the door.

Rustila, Zernya, and Eidel. Only the three of them remained in the hallway. Rustila asked:

“What’s going on suddenly?”

“I have something to discuss with the Vice President.”

The atmosphere instantly froze. Eidel remained quiet, seemingly content to observe. Rustila continued her questioning.

“Discussion? What kind of discussion with Eidel?”

“It’s personal.”

“Personal… Aren’t you busy with medical school?”

The intention behind her question was obvious. Zernya shrugged and retorted:

“I have plenty of time. By the way, Rustila, I thought the Military Science Department had separate dormitory arrangements. Shouldn’t you not be here at this hour?”

“I have plenty of time too. Of course I got permission to come out. Eidel asked me to help with his new research.”

Rustila placed her hands on her hips and leaned forward. She was confident and swaying. Zernya frowned.

“…Research? What research?”

“Research on the application of Darwin-system crystals. My constellation’s power is needed in the processing. Eidel came all the way to the Military Science building to scout me.”

Rustila’s words carried a subtle hint of self-promotion.

“Vice President, is everything Rustila said true?”

“It is true.”

Zernya’s mouth fell open.

This couldn’t be happening.

Eidel clarified his answer the next moment.

“Rustila, Mezulen, and Ireh over there. I requested help from all of them for my upcoming research. They all gladly agreed. Now we’re working in a lab with the professor’s permission.”

She was dumbfounded for two reasons.

First, Eidel was a college student, so why was he setting up a lab like a professor?

Second, why had he invited women like Rustila and Mezulen, but never proposed that she join the research?

When she realized this, Zernya felt one emotion that was as murky as muddy water.

It was jealousy.

“Vice President.”

Zernya muttered as she approached Eidel.

“Do you have any spots left?”

“What are you talking about, Zernya?”

“I asked if there are any spots left in your lab.”

Zernya surprised herself. Her tone came out sulky, just like in the past.

If she spoke so unpleasantly, Eidel would surely dislike it. So she quickly added:

“What about me? I’m sure I could be helpful.”

She would be helpful.

It sounded both commanding and pleading at the same time.

When you think about it, it was just about writing a paper.

Yet the reason she was so blindly applying to join the lab was simple. Seeing Eidel with women other than herself made her heart ache as if it would stop.

If this wasn’t jealousy, then what was it?

However, since her family matters weren’t settled yet, she couldn’t readily express her feelings to him. So even if it was cowardly, she had to use this method. She didn’t want to lose him.

Zernya barely concealed her desperation as she appealed:

“I have a constellation too. If it’s an experiment that requires using Aether, leave it to me. I’m also learning medical procedures, so I can handle delicate work.”

She presented her maximum qualifications. But they weren’t as many as she’d hoped. Of course not. Zernya never intended to go to graduate school or do research in the first place.

Eidel smiled bitterly and said:

“Thanks for your concern, Zernya. But I’ll just accept your goodwill.”

“Huh?”

For a moment, she thought she had misheard. Her sharp mind needed a few more seconds to process the reality.

Did I just get rejected?

I thought he would obviously accept me?

“President, you’ve been dozing off since morning. I know you’re busy with academics, student council work, and family matters. You don’t need to help with my research when you’re already struggling.”

“No, it’s fine, Vice President. I’m really okay…”

“Zernya, you look very tired even now.”

It was a warm statement showing concern for her. But it was excessive consideration. And therefore, a cruel statement.

“There’s something else I want to be honest about. Zernya, your major is medicine. Medicine has almost no relevance to crystal research. It would probably just be a waste of time for building your credentials as a medical professional.”

Zernya’s face shattered like a glass window.

“Why, why? Mezulen and Rustila can join, but I can’t?”

“Well, it’s crystal research?”

Eidel began to explain slowly.

“As you heard earlier, Rustila’s constellation plays a major role in crystal transformation. You know that each constellation has different qualities, right? That’s why.”

“Then, what about Mezulen…?”

“Mezulen is in the Biology Department. She studies the properties of Darwin-system crystals in xenobiology. Their curriculum even includes methodologies for understanding monster ecology through crystals.”

Every word had its basis. So she couldn’t say anything in response. A deep sense of helplessness weighed heavily on Zernya’s shoulders.

“Then, my constellation. What about my constellation? I have the Five-Bird constellation. You know that, right? It will definitely be helpful…”

“Zernya.”

Eidel gently placed his hand on Zernya’s shoulder as she was about to collapse. Then, he quietly whispered words that felt like a disaster.

“…Your constellation is biased toward the medical field.”

He continued.

“Deneb is a first-magnitude star in the medical field. Not just your classmates, but every doctor in the country, even people from the Rheinland family, would want that star.”

“Vice President…”

“Your potential as a doctor is limitless. So focus on your medical studies. By the time you graduate, you’ll be such a renowned doctor that you can refer to our family as ‘mere.'”

Though expressed indirectly, the essence was simple.

I’m sorry, I can’t accept you into our lab.

“Ah.”

She realized.

No matter how much more she insisted, nothing would change.

“I understand. I’ll do as you say, Vice President.”

Zernya took out a thick textbook from her bag and tucked it under her slender arm. She nodded to Eidel and Rustila, then headed toward the library.

Her original purpose of sharing her concerns with Eidel had long been lost.

Her hand holding the 1,000-page medical textbook trembled.

Probably because she was tired.

***

Ireh had eavesdropped on the entire conversation with her ear against the iron door that felt like a wall. As soon as Zernya’s presence faded away, she quietly opened the door and came out.

There stood Eidel, worried about Zernya, and Rustila, who seemed relieved.

“Shouldn’t you go after her?”

Ireh asked Eidel in a voice too quiet for Rustila to hear. She meant that they shouldn’t treat the girl who held the fate of the Adelbein family so dismissively. Eidel nodded.

“I’ll comfort her separately later.”

Later, separately.

His word choice suggested he was being mindful of Rustila.

And for good reason—Rustila was now stiffly holding her head up, staring in the direction Zernya had gone. She seemed to be on guard against Zernya.

She muttered while exhaling deeply.

“…How dare she.”

It wasn’t an incomprehensible reaction. Ireh understood. Rustila liked Eidel, but due to her contract with Virgo, she couldn’t say “I love you.”

She also knew from their previous conversation at the café how Eidel planned to solve this problem. Until then, Rustila’s nerves would be quite raw.

Perhaps the best solution would be for Rustila and Zernya to acknowledge each other. But that wouldn’t be an easy path.

“Eidel.”

Taking advantage of the moment when Rustila had also entered the lab, Ireh spoke to Eidel, who was awkwardly moistening his lips.

“Call me if you need mediation. Whatever the problem, I think we can solve it if we put our heads together.”

“…That’s true.”

Eidel smiled amiably.

The two bumped fists without anyone noticing. This was, yes, a friendly fist bump between colleagues.