Ch.183Boycott (2)

With a thud.

Rustila collapsed to the ground.

“Ah, I overdid my training today and now… Ahaha…”

Her mouth was smiling, but her eyes were as empty as a hollow seashell. I could hear the sound of her world crumbling.

“Rustila, get up.”

“Eidel, you know. You shouldn’t touch me.”

“This much is fine. Get up, quickly.”

I lifted her as she kept threatening to collapse and seated her in a chair. Then I began explaining calmly and clearly.

“…So, Zernya is currently attempting to reform her family, and this engagement was arranged in preparation for if she fails and faces consequences? And incidentally, you’ll also get help becoming the head of your family?”

“That’s right.”

“Then there’s no helping it. Yes, I understand.”

Rustila gave a bitter smile. As if reluctantly accepting it, with a grimace on her face.

“I understand it’s a political marriage. But still… does that mean you actually like Zernya?”

“…That’s also true.”

“But why? You two were always at each other’s throats.”

“I ended up growing fond of her. When she said she was going to do something dangerous, well, I found I couldn’t just stand by and watch.”

I revealed my true feelings to prevent any misunderstandings. However, I didn’t mention wanting polygamy. This wasn’t the atmosphere for such a conversation.

I had Sonia bring some cocoa.

“Drink this, Rustila.”

“Ah. Thank you… Oh!”

The mug slipped from Rustila’s fingertips. If I hadn’t been supporting the bottom, it would have shattered.

“You need to be careful.”

“I’m sorry.”

She smiled bitterly and said:

“I think I’m already getting muscle pain from training too hard today. I have no strength in my hands at all… Ugh, this seems like it’ll last a while. I’m sorry, but can I take a break from research this week?”

I pondered.

Whether I should let her rest as she requested, or if this was precisely when I shouldn’t let her go.

I paid Pron to read her psychology.

[Mental imagery is too turbid to read accurate information.]

This can’t be.

Had such a message ever appeared before?

Perhaps Cartesia was playing tricks. After all, this mind-reading ability relied on her help. But no matter how much I called out in my mind, Cartesia didn’t respond.

In this case, I needed a backup plan.

I glanced at Mezulen. He shrugged and shook his head.

His expression seemed to say, ‘This is your karma, deal with it yourself.’ With even my backup plan blocked, I could only sigh.

“Rustila. Are you feeling really bad right now?”

“Probably. To be honest, I’m not sure.”

“To be frank, I’d prefer if you stayed.”

Rustila shook her head.

“If I stay here half-sick, I’ll just be in the way. It’s better to rest properly and recover on time. Besides, Eidel. If we’re going to fight the outer gods, you need to train hard and get stronger quickly, right?”

Each sentence struck like a dagger.

As I remained silent, Rustila, having drunk only half her cocoa, stood up unsteadily.

“I’ll be going now. Goodbye.”

I couldn’t hold her back as she left.

She wanted to be alone, and forcibly detaining her would only be rubbing salt in her wounds.

Mezulen clicked his tongue and sneered.

“Lab chief, well done. See, if you’re going to choose, you should pick just one to avoid trouble. There’s a reason most men marry only one woman even when polygamy is possible, you know?”

Suddenly, I found myself thinking about the Islamic harem system.

When marrying multiple wives, love all wives equally. If you can’t do that, don’t marry at all.

That’s right.

In my current state, polygamy would be disastrous.

I changed my thinking. Let’s handle the tasks I can do right now.

I recalled the genre of novels set in this world.

Right, horror. Cosmic horror.

To take care of both women, I need to act coldly. Even if they cry for a while, at least they won’t die.

Right now, the most important thing is preventing the Darwin system’s invasion.

Since the college arc where Zernya was the villain automatically disappeared, the next chapter would probably be “The Queen’s Moon.”

I guarantee, I’ll complete the trap before then.

***

Back at the dormitory, Rustila lay down on her bed.

She had lied to Eidel.

She didn’t actually have muscle pain.

No, she did have it.

In her heart.

The heart is also a muscle.

Her chest felt like it was about to burst, like it was being stabbed with a knife, like it would stop at any moment.

A sensation like being sliced with a sieve and burned with fire, aching and hot. The name of that sensation.

Probably, heartbreak.

Even an EX-rank examiner couldn’t scratch her now, yet Eidel had opened a huge sinkhole in Rustila’s chest.

“Ugh, it hurts.”

And so the tears flowed.

Silently.

***

Two weeks passed.

Kashu Adelbein was brought to trial and sentenced to life imprisonment in Alcatraz in the first trial. At the same time, Director Angela Hueritia’s sentence was greatly reduced due to mitigating circumstances.

“Did you see your parents?”

“…Yeah.”

Mezulen returned with puffy eyes.

“They say she can be released in about 6 months. But she’s permanently expelled from academia.”

I nodded. That seemed like an appropriate measure.

With Director Hueritia stepping back from research, Mezulen needed to fill that void. He might face criticism for being her child, but there were no legal issues.

“Thanks, Rheinland.”

“Don’t mention it.”

Mezulen wiped his eyes and resumed his research.

We were using the crystals Rustila had made to create a spherical structure about 50cm in diameter. We were also planning different devices for the constellations.

In the evening, Ireh returned.

“Eidel, I brought everything. This is the last ‘Bubble Charm’.”

“Thank you for your hard work.”

We burned all the recovered charms. With this, the Queen’s invasion would begin in a more subdued state than before. The Federal Army would respond more flexibly, and Rustila would survive.

“Ireh, how were your midterms?”

“I did okay. Thanks to you.”

I was glad Ireh had done well on her midterms. Grades are important for graduate school admission.

Ireh twirled her hair around her finger. She seemed to have something to say. I waved my hand while handling Rustila’s share of the work.

“Do you have something else to say?”

“I was wondering if Rustila still hasn’t come.”

“The intensity of her training has increased, so she says she has muscle pain every day. She said her whole body hurts, so we decided she wouldn’t come to the lab until she’s fully adapted.”

Ireh exclaimed in surprise:

“Her with muscle pain? That’s a lie.”

“I suppose so.”

What’s really hurting isn’t her body but her heart. That’s why I’m not feeling comfortable either.

“Shouldn’t you go see Rustila?”

“With what face would I approach her first?”

Ireh sighed deeply.

“Eidel, this is a matter that concerns humanity’s future. Rustila forms a triple star with me and Zernya. If the relationship between the three of us breaks down, I won’t be able to restore my Stelline, and we’ll never win the war against the outer gods.”

“…Tell me more.”

“You know that Zernya’s constellation is the Big Dipper, right? Zernya and Rustila’s relationship needs to become stronger right away. That’s how my Altair and Rustila’s Vega can meet. That’s the law of the constellations.”

I nodded.

“And what about the war with the outer gods?”

“The [Great Triangle] is a named triple star. To use a game analogy, within the field, Rustila is the tank, I’m the DPS, and Zernya is the healer. When the three of us stick together, the balance is right and we can face multiple avatar bodies simultaneously.”

“When you say avatar bodies…?”

“Aurora, Stern, Renatus. The avatar bodies of the highest-ranking outer gods.”

“You’ve already thought that far ahead.”

I was impressed.

Ireh’s thinking seems to deepen with each passing day.

Indeed, she’s not the protagonist for nothing.

“Anyway, that’s what we need. I’ll persuade Rustila and bring her back, so you keep Zernya on good terms. Somehow make the two of them closer, okay? At the very least, they shouldn’t be enemies.”

In fact, Zernya has repeatedly apologized to Rustila. The important thing is whether Rustila accepts Zernya or not.

As Ireh was leaving the lab, she emphasized again:

“Eidel, this is really important.”

“I know. I’ll talk to Zernya after I finish this work.”

Since last year’s crystal research, we’ve started to see progress.

I’ll publish a paper soon.

Using this as a touchstone, I’ll wipe out the Darwin system in one fell swoop.

***

“Stop. What brings you here?”

“I’m requesting a visit. Could I meet with cadet Rustila Kersil?”

“Very well. Please come in.”

Ireh moved skillfully.

She knew the locations of all the military department buildings. She had trained and graduated here many times. As she walked through the campus, memories flooded back like a film reel.

Being ostracized for coming from a frontier planetary system.

Her peers becoming jealous when they discovered she could manipulate Aether from a distance.

How in every harsh life cycle, Rustila would appear and become her first friend.

“Ha, damn it…”

She thought she had no tears left to shed, but they still blurred her vision.

“She’s over there.”

Walking across the campus, Ireh spotted Rustila jogging on the main field. She stood out among the other cadets. She ran steadily across the wide track without showing any signs of fatigue.

She was fast. Not human speed.

“No matter how many times I see her, Cadet Kersil is truly remarkable. No wonder everyone calls her a monster.”

“When will she finish?”

“It should be about time.”

Soon, a bell rang. Rustila, having finished her evening jog, made eye contact with Ireh. Ireh waved.

“Ms. Ireh Hazlen. How did you get here…?”

Rustila approached, wiping her face with a towel. Ireh couldn’t keep her mouth shut.

“You, why does your face look like that?”

“It’s nothing. I just haven’t been sleeping well.”

“Your eyes are completely red. Don’t tell me you’ve been crying?”

“No. I haven’t cried.”

It was an obvious lie.

“Rustila.”

“Yes?”

Ireh hugged Rustila with all her might, despite her being drenched in sweat.

“W-what are you doing suddenly? Stop this!”

Rustila tried to push Ireh away in embarrassment, but Ireh only tightened her grip. She looked into Rustila’s eyes and spoke:

“It’s been hard, hasn’t it? It’s okay. I’ll help you.”

“Wait, what do you mean…?”

“Go wash up first. Then we’ll talk.”

Rustila quickly showered and came out. She was much cleaner, but her swollen eyelids and tear stains remained unwashed.

How much had she cried?

“Can you spare some time?”

“I might not be able to stay long.”

“It’s about Eidel.”

At Ireh’s words, Rustila flinched.

As expected.

She might seem composed on the surface, but inside she’s festering.

Since non-cadets weren’t allowed in the military dormitories, Ireh brought Rustila to her own dormitory to begin their serious conversation.

“First of all, Eidel hasn’t abandoned you.”