Ch.204Polygamy (9)

Eidel lived on a ventilator in the intensive care unit. Now the future of the Rheinland family had become completely unpredictable.

“Father, forgive my boldness, but I have something to ask.”

“Speak.”

“If something happens to Eidel, what becomes of the family head position?”

Cartrick asked cautiously. Arnold’s brow furrowed like a sheet of paper.

“Do you wish for your brother’s death?”

“That’s not it! I’m just concerned about the family’s future…”

“We’ll follow the family bylaws. I’ll discuss it with the council of elders and make a decision, so don’t spread unnecessary rumors.”

“I… understand.”

After hearing his father’s opinion, Cartrick immediately relayed it to Brian. Adjusting his glasses, Brian secretly raised the corner of his mouth.

They say fortune hides within misfortune, and misfortune within fortune.

But he mustn’t show it.

“How sad, brother. What does this family head position matter anyway?”

“The future of Rheinland is at stake.”

“Even if he recovers, he might be disabled and unable to maintain the position. It can’t be helped. Well, let’s prepare and make our moves until then.”

As usual, Brian patted Cartrick’s shoulder. He packed his things and prepared to leave the waiting room.

“Brother, where are you going?”

“I’m heading to the Adelbein main house to have a talk. Since Father is so busy, I should speak with the elder.”

As he left the waiting room, Brian thought:

This might make things even easier.

***

Eidel’s condition remained unchanged for the time being.

For stability, multiple visitors weren’t allowed at once. Therefore, not many people knew Eidel’s real-time condition. At most, it was just the nursing staff, the attending physician, and three women.

“Foreigners… I’ll kill them all.”

Rustila Kersil.

“If you want to do that, why don’t you go outside and train?”

Zernya von und zu Trisha Adelbein.

“I told you both not to fight.”

Ireh Hazlen.

The pattern was simple. Rustila would grumble, then Zernya would pick a fight. They would argue in the waiting room. Ireh, watching this, would intervene, and they would return to a temporary truce.

Naturally, Ireh was the most exhausted. Mediating between the two women was no easy task.

At the same time, she was also the most anxious person.

Because she knew better than anyone that if Eidel died, this timeline would be ruined.

“This is all your fault. Eidel ended up like this because of you.”

“What? How is this my fault?”

“If you hadn’t whined about your virginity, Eidel wouldn’t have pushed himself so hard. Am I wrong?”

“Shut up, Zernya…!”

“Oh, be quiet, both of you!”

Ireh barely managed to separate the two women who were about to grab each other’s collars.

“What good does fighting do? Please, just for now, get along! Do you think Eidel would be happy to see that polygamist grabbing both your hair?”

It was a valid point. Both women fell silent.

They had fought a lot already. Even they were tired of the same repertoire of attacks. Zernya sighed and sat down, while Rustila, holding back tears, leaned against Ireh.

Being the big sister figure was so difficult.

“Instead of fighting, pray. Let’s pray to the stars. For Eidel to recover.”

In this era, faith in traditional religions had faded. However, the constellations were real, and faith in them had actually strengthened. Praying to the constellations might help somehow.

While praying with her hands clasped, Ireh glanced to the side. The android Sonia sat with her eyes closed.

– Please wake me when the young master awakens, and if he doesn’t return, please send me to the disposal facility.

Just as a computer enters sleep mode when not in use, Sonia hadn’t moved at all since yesterday.

It was heartbreaking.

Though a robot, fifth-generation androids are capable of human-level thinking. Having served Eidel for nearly 20 years, Ireh couldn’t imagine how Sonia felt about potentially losing him.

With bitterness in her heart, Ireh paced in front of the intensive care unit. When tired, she would take short naps; when hungry, she would buy convenience store food. And when she thought about studying, she would read academic papers.

One paper a day.

Reading the abstract and conclusion to grasp the paper’s topic was a speed-learning method Eidel had taught her. This way, she could quickly adapt to research life and become an independent learner. The difficulty was high, but so was the growth rate.

Ireh firmly believed that reading these papers was her way of praying for Eidel. That’s why she continued reading despite her fatigue.

Another day was passing like this.

“The patient seems to be breathing on his own!”

Could their prayers have been answered?

The sound of doctors rushing in could be heard. Ireh, who had fallen into a light sleep while reading a paper, rubbed her eyes and got up. When she came to her senses, Arnold was putting on a mask and sanitary gloves.

“What’s happening?”

“They say Eidel is breathing spontaneously.”

“Is, is that true?”

Ireh stood up abruptly. She almost twisted her ankle but staggered forward regardless.

Arnold observed Ireh as she hurriedly put on her shoes. He briefly wondered if this girl might be infatuated with his son, but now wasn’t the time for such concerns.

“Is Rheinland breathing? Really?”

“It’s not certain yet. Would you like to come in with me?”

“Yes, yes!”

Since it was dawn, Rustila and Zernya were still asleep. It would be better to go quietly by herself. With that judgment, Ireh changed into clean clothes and stepped under the sign marked “ICU.”

The results were positive.

“It’s true. His condition has improved.”

“Turn off the ventilator and try weaning.”

Under Arnold’s direction, spontaneous breathing was attempted. Fortunately, Eidel was breathing well. Ireh’s expression immediately brightened.

“We’ve done a preliminary examination, and his EEG and heart rate are normal. No signs of respiratory distress.”

“Keep a close eye on him just in case. Monitor his progress for about two days, and if he’s fine, move him to a regular room.”

“Understood.”

Ireh, feeling relieved, left the intensive care unit. That’s when she saw it.

Dozens of people were waiting outside the door. Though their attire varied, they all had a similar aura about them.

And above all, they were familiar faces.

“Who are you?”

“We’ve come to request a visit.”

“I think it might be possible now. Could you tell me the patient’s name and the number of visitors?”

“Eidel von Rheinland, eighty-seven people.”

“Only four visitors are allowed at a time.”

“Isn’t the ICU spacious? Please allow about twenty people at once. We’ll just look at his face and leave quickly.”

At first glance, it seemed inconsiderate. But Ireh understood. The people gathered here truly had no time to spare.

“Professor Rheinland. Please do as they ask. Eidel might wake up right away.”

“Are they acquaintances?”

“Yes.”

Ireh explained the situation. Arnold nodded.

“Seeing that they’ve come now, they must have been quite busy.”

“I understand. Listen, isn’t the ICU spacious? Please handle this flexibly. Considering the standard size regulations, yes, seventeen people at a time would be appropriate.”

“But…”

“Don’t worry. I’ll go back in too.”

With Arnold’s assurance that he would take full responsibility if anything happened, the nurse android finally relented and distributed sanitary gowns.

***

“Student.”

“Student!”

“Eidel student!”

So noisy. Who’s disturbing me while I’m sleeping well?

“Student, student…!”

My body feels stiff. It’s as if it’s not my own.

Yet somehow I feel refreshed. I wonder how long I’ve been sleeping. I rolled my eyes under closed lids as I gradually pulled up my fluctuating consciousness.

That’s when I felt a rough warmth.

Rustila? Zernya?

No.

Too dry to be Rustila’s, too large to be Zernya’s.

And not Sonia’s hand either. Sonia doesn’t have this texture.

The number of touches increased.

Left arm, right arm. Warmth on my cheeks and forehead too. It wasn’t just one person. Above all, each touch was warm.

[— The ‘God of Wisdom and Curiosity’ urges you to wake up.]

[Ding ding ding~ Good morning~]

A gentle sound reaches my ears. It’s like an alarm, but probably an auditory hallucination rather than reality. Maybe Cartesia is playing it. It’s a bit noisy, so my eyes opened involuntarily.

And I saw the ceiling.

It’s too bright to tell which ceiling it is.

But that wasn’t what mattered.

People. People were standing around me like a round table, looking at me. My mind suddenly cleared like plunging into ice water as I made eye contact with one of them.

These, these people…

“Professor Feynman, Professor Stranov, Professor Renkel, Professor Ashkin, Professor Bishald, Professor Roman, Professor Irsch, Professor Meiwald, Professor Hoidens, Professor Marmal, Professor Koboso, Professor O’Brien, Professor Johnson, Professor Kidel, Professor Stein, Professor Loris…?”

[Pa pa pa pa pa pa pa pa~ pa pa pa pa it’s beautiful day~]

“Ah.”

Cartesia, you crazy woman.

You’ve finally sent me to heaven…