Ch.209Polygamy (14)

Resonator. As soon as that word was mentioned, Brian showed signs of backing down.

He was already concerned about his reputation. He knew there was no point in pushing any further.

“Then let’s try using the resonator first, and if that doesn’t work, we can discuss treatment options later.”

Rustila felt relieved inside.

Zernya’s strategy had worked.

Had they overcome the immediate crisis?

If that’s what she thought, she was greatly mistaken.

[— The ‘God of Wisdom and Curiosity’ has confirmed your statement.]

God of Wisdom and Curiosity.

A constellation name she’d never seen before.

[— The ‘God of Wisdom and Curiosity’ will remember this incident.]

No, judging by its attitude, this wasn’t a constellation.

It was an outer god wearing a constellation’s mask.

Without a doubt. This was the outer god attached to Eidel.

The way it sent messages seemed like it was threatening her, saying “I’ve got my eye on you.”

Rustila steeled herself.

She wasn’t afraid of some outer god.

If this outer god tried anything, Rustila was prepared to burn herself to ashes to stop it.

“Anyway, is the examination over now? I’ll be checking out.”

“Wait, that’s not quite right. We need to treat your mania, don’t we?”

“After we try the resonator first. I’m fine right now, so I don’t think I need to be hospitalized.”

Brian sighed. Eidel continued smoothly.

“I’ll go to my father and handle the payment.”

Even if clinical results were abnormal, there was no reason to keep a patient hospitalized if they were functioning normally. That would be coercion. Brian had no choice but to give up.

“Go ahead and check out for now, and we’ll talk again if problems arise. I’ll speak to your father then.”

“That’s fine with me.”

“Anyway. When are you planning to use the resonator?”

“I heard there’s quite a waiting list. I’m not sure when it’ll be my turn, but I’ll make a reservation.”

“…Alright. I understand.”

After that, Eidel was discharged without issue.

Brian had kept Eidel confined for about a week under the pretext of examinations but hadn’t achieved any meaningful results.

“Phew.”

Meanwhile, Rustila keenly realized something.

She didn’t know how often such incidents would happen to Eidel in the future, but she couldn’t offer much help in these psychological battles between humans.

That frustrated her deeply.

To be honest, Zernya’s suggested method had been more effective this time.

[That was resolved well.]

Rustila sent the text message and stayed by Eidel’s side until he returned to his laboratory.

Standing guard was all she could do for him.

She also considered something else.

If Eidel were to be seriously injured, or if that outer god drove him completely insane, then the presence of a healing constellation would be essential.

No matter how she looked at it, that was the case.

As frustrating as it was, Eidel needed Zernya’s status and abilities too. And as Rustila thought this, a word magically flashed through her mind.

Polygamy.

“…Perhaps I should allow it.”

***

Ah, that was a nice recovery period.

Thanks to Brian covering the food expenses, I essentially got free meals. Thanks, bro!

[“Sigh. This guy really…”]

That’s when Cartesia started complaining.

[“Kid, is the hospital your vacation spot?”]

“What?”

[“You seemed to be enjoying yourself quite a bit.”]

“I was researching remotely during my hospitalization, so it’s fine, isn’t it?”

[“Well, as long as you manage your condition, I don’t care.”]

“So, Outer God. About what I asked you for…”

[“Haah.”]

With her sigh, text appeared in midair.

[Secret Laboratory of Cartesia]

[Evidence of falsified examination records — 100 Fron]

I waved my hand through the air to press the purchase button. A gap opened between spaces, and a small external hard drive slowly emerged from it.

When I connected it to a screen and checked, it revealed a series of falsified examination records by Brian.

“Thank you, Outer God.”

I bowed my head to the empty air. Cartesia sighed repeatedly.

[“Don’t ask me to hack computer networks again. I’m not used to it.”]

“You said you understand the neural structure of machines well. That’s why I asked. You’re the only outer god of the Descartes lineage with Maxwell characteristics.”

[“Is that a compliment or an insult?”]

“A compliment, of course.”

So, the truth is that all the examination results from this week were actually normal.

Brian had simply intervened and manipulated them to make it look like I was infected by an outer god.

He probably thought he didn’t leave any traces, but that was naive. He severely underestimated the bond between me and my outer god.

[“Bond? Booond? You talk about bonds but aren’t planning to put me in a resonator, are you?”]

“I just said that to get out of there. Don’t be angry.”

[“Even if it’s a lie, never mention entering a resonator again, kid. It gives me chills just hearing about it.”]

I soothed her, saying I understood. Cartesia snorted and changed the subject.

[“That guy is quite peculiar. All his manipulation would be exposed if you went through re-examination anyway.”]

“He was just testing the waters. If he could get me straight to surgery, great; if not, he’d drop it. He could always claim the testing equipment malfunctioned or there was an error.”

[“Doesn’t he care about damaging his reputation?”]

“Compared to losing the family head position, the risk is much smaller. Right? And he probably has a scapegoat ready.”

[“…So that’s why you asked me for that file. Kid, you owe me one now.”]

I nodded and smiled.

I’m getting used to owing debts to outer gods now.

I’ve realized that Cartesia is just another intelligent being, not someone to be endlessly feared.

Wiping the smile off my face, I shook the external hard drive and licked my lips.

With this, I’ve established my justification.

Now all that’s left is to take down both Adelbein and Brian simultaneously.

***

The reason Jerome summoned Zernya while Brian was keeping Eidel confined was simple.

“Daughter. You must never get married. Understand?”

“Yes, I understand already. Do you think I’m stupid?”

He wanted to persuade her to maintain her position as the head of the Adelbein family.

From Jerome’s perspective, Zernya seemed slightly infatuated with Eidel. So he spent over a day pouring out his concerns about this.

“You like Eidel? Well, I do like him. Just a tiny bit.”

“The rest was all acting, right? I knew it.”

“Of course. And the reason I like him is because he was always first in class. Honestly, if his grades were lower than mine, would I have even noticed him?”

“That’s right, that’s right. You remembered what I told you before.”

“About only accepting superior genes? Of course. Well, someone like Eidel wouldn’t be bad as a DNA carrier.”

In this way, Zernya agreed where appropriate, played hard to get when necessary, then agreed again, skillfully managing Jerome’s mood.

Meanwhile, she sighed inwardly.

The Adelbein family was rotten to the core.

They had seized control of the northern federation through various crimes and their cover-ups, and this was still ongoing.

Without committing the filial impiety of sending her entire extended family, including her father, to prison, this corruption couldn’t be ended.

She had already made up her mind.

Having resolved to break this cycle of evil, she couldn’t afford to care about blood ties. Remembering Eidel’s advice, Zernya focused on what Jerome was saying.

“Zernya, I’m relieved that you understand the situation so well and have made such a clear decision. I think it’s about time I showed ‘that’ to you.”

“What is it?”

“There’s a top-secret matter known only to the council of elders and past heads of the Adelbein family.”

Jerome gestured.

“Come, follow me.”

What could it be this time? What kind of terrible major crime had they committed?

Perhaps they kidnapped and imprisoned a social celebrity who insulted the Adelbein family?

Or maybe the results of a planetary-scale assassination contract?

More human experimentation?

Stealing an outer god’s artifact?

There were too many possibilities to guess.

And surprisingly, Zernya’s predictions were exactly right.

They were doing all of those things.

“Father, this is…”

The First Treasure Vault of the Adelbein main house, accessible only to direct bloodline members. The lowest level, completely isolated from the outside world.

Here, monster-like creatures that weren’t quite monsters were being bred behind glass walls.

They showed no aggression.

Yes, only no aggression.

“Ugh…!”

Just looking at them seemed to drain her mental strength. Zernya swallowed back her dry heaves and asked.

“F-Father? What is all this?”

“Failures.”

“F-failures?”

“Further inside, there are successful specimens. Don’t be afraid, follow me.”

Zernya instinctively looked behind her. The elevator they had come down in had vanished without a trace.

Stay calm.

Who am I? I am Zernya von Rheinland.

I must survive and return from here.

Zernya found herself thinking this unconsciously.

As she went deeper inside, calming her mind by thinking of Eidel, an even more horrific scene unfolded before her eyes.

Beings that looked half-machine and half-human but definitely not cyborgs, creatures like black cotton balls, organs mashed into a meat paste form that multiplied infinitely, and more…

All sorts of monsters were scattered everywhere.

“They’re all humans approaching avatar form.”

“Avatar form… you say?”

“Yes.”

Her heart sank.

No way.

“…Research on turning humans into outer gods?”

“Daughter! You understand quickly!”

Jerome genuinely delighted, patted Zernya’s shoulder.

“Well done, very well done!”

It gave her chills.

Actually, it wasn’t hard to deduce.

The Adelbein family had already developed technology to create artificial constellations and implant them in people.

The next research topic would naturally be humans becoming constellations or outer gods… something like that.

“Seeing how composed you are makes me proud. When I first came here, I was screaming and making a fuss.”

“You didn’t create this, Father?”

“No. Your grandfather, the family head two generations ago, brought me here to show me around. I fainted several times back then.”

He continued speaking as naturally as if recounting a first visit to an amusement park. His nonchalance sent shivers down her spine.

“You know, just looking at those things makes my head spin. Doesn’t it affect you?”

“…No. I’m relatively fine.”

Having witnessed all sorts of shocking things while investigating her family, Zernya was able to maintain her composure.

Jerome interpreted this differently and cheered as if he might break into dance.

“You have a strong stomach. Zernya, you truly are a chosen one!”

“Me?”

“Yes! I believe you can continue this research into the next generation.”

“Is there a need to continue this?”

“Indeed. I was just about to tell you about that.”

What followed shocked Zernya as if she’d been hit by a spaceship, and it made her reconsider everything.

To summarize:

First, the purpose of these experiments was for the ‘immortality’ of the Adelbein family.

Second, all direct bloodline members of age knew about these horrific experiments, and those who opposed were silently purged.

Third, this method was the only way for the Adelbein family and humanity under them to survive the coming ‘destruction’.

And finally, fourth.

The Adelbein family was finished.

“…There was someone who introduced himself as an outer god living in the 11th dimension or higher. Our ancestors didn’t go insane even while hearing his voice.”

“So, we Adelbeins are chosen beings, aren’t we?”

“Indeed, you understand ten things when told just one. Yes, and that outer god told us about the ‘destruction’ and how to avoid it.”

“We become outer gods and command these people as monsters or avatars, right?”

“That is precisely how we become ‘stars’.”

They’re insane.

They’re all insane.

How had she not known the Adelbein family had come to this? Why hadn’t she investigated such places as the family head?

Beneath the abyss lay an even deeper abyss.

Originally, Zernya had planned to clean up the Adelbein family and then marry Eidel. She intended to hand over the position of next family head to someone sensible from a branch family.

But now she realized she was the only sensible one left.

Truly, the Adelbein family was finished.

“Well, that sounds good.”

Pretending to be fine. Acting calm.

“I’ll take over this research.”

“Well done. I knew you would say that.”

Afterward, Zernya sent a text to Rustila.

She would stay for about five days to avoid her father’s suspicion and asked Rustila to take good care of Eidel in the meantime.

“Father, there will be good news soon.”

“Yes. Be careful on your way down.”

On the promised fifth day, thanks to her masterful acting, Zernya left the main house without arousing any suspicion.

As she fled, she thought:

I can’t do this alone.

To purify the family and bring about innovation… no, to completely dismantle the family, I need allies with tremendous military power and constellations. Only then could she ensure her own safety.

Someone came to mind.

“Ha.”

Polygamy…

It seems I’ll have to allow it after all.