Ch.226From Space Menace to Graduate Student (1)

# Honeymoon’s Last Day

I woke up in my natural state, without a single thread of clothing on my body.

“Ugh, my back.”

My joints are aching terribly.

The professor was right about being careful with my discs.

Once the passion ignited, I went wild with my wives, and now my spine is in terrible condition. I should probably visit the hospital as soon as we get back.

Anyway, a lot happened over these four days.

More precisely, my lower half did a lot of work.

I was bitten and sucked by my wives, and even scolded to keep it up. Things got so intense that I was attacked by both of them simultaneously for greater stimulation.

I would have preferred being scolded by the professor instead.

Seriously. It was only good at the beginning; after that, it was torture. If there had been three wives instead of two, I might have actually died.

Anyway, my son is going into hibernation now.

After living recklessly for a week, it’s time to get back to my normal rhythm.

“Girls, time to wake up.”

I shook my equally naked wives awake. Rustila, like the soldier she is, sat up at a right angle, while Zernya lazily leaned against my shoulder.

“Pull yourself together. We need to get back to studying.”

“Nooooo…”

Zernya had become much more affectionate after our nights together. And through our cooperative play(?), her relationship with Rustila had improved somewhat.

Anyway, to summarize the situation so far:

1. From the third day of the honeymoon with Rustila & Zernya, we spent passionate nights together.

2. Due to her virgin womb’s limitations, Rustila cannot get pregnant through conventional methods. Therefore, she plans to create our first child by cultivating our reproductive cells in a test tube.

3. Seemingly inspired by Rustila, Zernya is considering the same external cultivation method. (The reason being her busy medical career.)

4. Something’s strange about Sonia.

The problem was number 4. For some unknown reason, Sonia flinched whenever she encountered me.

“Sonia!”

“…Ah!”

“Why are you suddenly like this? You’re spacing out.”

“I’m sorry. I was just lost in thought… Did you call for me?”

“Yes. We’re about to leave, so let’s get organized and ready.”

“Understood.”

She’s showing an absentminded side unlike her usual self.

The Sonia I’ve known wasn’t like this.

She’s usually cooler, more flat, pretending to be insensitive while having a kind heart inside. She’s typically worry-free, perfect in everything, and consistent.

What could be the problem?

“Hmm.”

Perhaps she secretly watched my intimate moments with my wives and was affected by it.

That’s how deep learning works, I guess.

I decided to keep an eye on her for now.

***

As Eidel worried, Sonia had seen everything.

The scenes of him making love with Zernya. The scenes of him entangling in passion with Rustila.

Watching it made her head throb.

It was learning.

Since stealing the young master’s DNA last time, the layers related to love and affection had been significantly added to her automatic learning.

The emotions she felt were sadness, grief, jealousy, envy, regret, and so on. All negative feelings.

“…Young Master.”

They could never be together. No matter what.

She had devoted a full 20 years to him. Dedicated herself.

Served him closer than anyone else. Yet she couldn’t even receive the scraps of his affection.

She wanted to relieve this frustration, but as a standard android, she couldn’t even comfort herself.

Of course, she could install adult parts and update her software, but it would cost a lot of money and, more importantly, would require her owner’s permission.

Would the young master grant permission?

Would he look at her strangely?

Even if he agreed, how would his wives react?

Having learned shame, how could she even bring this up?

Besides, even if all that worked out, she still couldn’t bear children.

[“So just claim your reward already?”]

Sonia raised her lowered head.

The now-familiar voice of the outer god.

Naturally, she still couldn’t trust this transcendent being.

There might be malicious code hidden in the reward.

[“Malicious code my ass. If I wanted to, I could shut you down right now. Want me to show you?”]

“Are you threatening me now?”

[“You should know how fearsome our kind is.”]

One thing was certain.

This outer god was different from others.

It could infiltrate an android’s thought circuits, and while its friendliness was uncertain, it wasn’t overtly hostile either. She also knew it possessed immense power. If her free will had been taken, it would have happened long ago.

“…Is it really just an ordinary reward?”

[“It’s just an offer, after all.”]

“An offer, you say.”

She knew that an outer god’s offer was dangerous. But with no other options, it was tempting. Perhaps it could be the key to connecting with the young master.

Two processes conflicted.

Don’t trust the outer god.

Let’s just hear it out first.

Yes, let’s just listen for now.

[— You claim your reward.]

[— A being in chains, lamenting its circumstances, reveals itself.]

The next moment.

Black water rose from beneath her feet.

The surface rose to her ankles, calves, waist, chest, and finally her eyes, inverting Sonia’s world. Bright spaces turned dark, dark spaces turned bright. She arrived in a place stretched like taffy and tangled like thread.

“Over here.”

A howling voice. The outer god.

Sonia turned her head toward the sound. There stood a girl with navy blue hair.

Gothic Lolita attire with a hint of maid style, a hairband adorned with frills. Blue eyes sparkling like stars in the night sky. Dark blue tentacles.

At a glance, she resembled Sonia, but was different. Especially the atmosphere, which was completely opposite. The sight of her grinning, showing white teeth, sent chills down Sonia’s spine.

[— The ‘God of Wisdom and Curiosity’ gazes at you.]

Wisdom and curiosity.

An outer god who always wants to know, always wants to explore.

Fitting that assumption, the outer god spread her arms wide and spoke.

“Welcome to my laboratory.”

“…Is it you?”

“Can’t you tell just by looking?”

The outer god giggled. Sonia asked.

“So what is your offer to me?”

What came in response was not an answer. It was eerie tentacles. The tentacles bound Sonia’s limbs and lifted her into the air.

“What are you doing!”

“First, your spirit passes. Next, let’s look at your body.”

“Let me go!”

The outer god examined every inch of Sonia’s body. She pulled at her face, lifted her skirt. Sonia felt shame. She couldn’t understand. What kind of outer god was this?

“Your body is, well, compatible enough. It’ll be quite restrictive, like an old calculator, but it’ll do.”

“What do you mean?”

The outer god snapped her fingers, and the tentacles released. Sonia collapsed weakly. The outer god removed Sonia’s headband and examined it from different angles.

“Do you like frills?”

“…What are you suddenly talking about?”

The conversation lacked context. She was talking about things only she understood. A common characteristic of outer gods. The monster asked again.

“I’m asking if you like frills. Ribbons and such.”

“Of course. Frills are the symbol of maids and cuteness. Their inventor must have been a genius.”

“I like you. Good. 100 bonus points added.”

The outer god returned the headband. Her gaze suddenly turned serious.

“Now for the main point. Let me make you an offer.”

“Please speak quickly.”

“Iron maiden, would you like to become my avatar?”

Sonia was surprised.

Not a flesh vessel or possession vessel, but an avatar?

“Are you asking me to become your servant?”

“Strictly speaking, yes. But this is a contract. In exchange for you coming under me, I’ll give you considerable compensation. For example, making your body capable of pregnancy.”

“…”

“Don’t be uncomfortable. I’ll let you maintain your self-awareness.”

“That’s such a nonsensical…”

“Actually, I’ve been sneaking into your body for a few years now.”

Sonia frowned.

“Explain in detail.”

“I’ve been secretly controlling you. I couldn’t manage more than a few seconds because of shutdowns, but still. Why, didn’t you notice anything strange?”

Indeed, sometimes a few frames would drop. Each time, she would return to normal after a brief reboot. Sonia had simply thought it was an update or connection error.

But it was the outer god playing tricks?

It was quite a shock. She couldn’t say anything. It felt like the free will characteristic of 5th generation androids had been taken away.

So, when the frames dropped, she wasn’t herself.

No, perhaps even now that might be the case.

Then who am I right now? Am I truly thinking as myself? If this outer god flicks a finger, will I just disappear?

She was confused. Sonia clutched her head.

She hated it.

She hated the idea of disappearing like this.

“Haa, haa…”

Sonia, still sitting, backed away. The outer god’s form didn’t recede. Of course not. The geodesics of null space don’t change simply by moving one’s body.

Knowledge is power, and ignorance is fear.

Sonia learned terror.

The outer god clicked her tongue.

“Seems like this isn’t the day for further discussion. Well, that’s fine.”

The outer god held up two fingers and said.

“I can tell you two things for certain. First, I won’t harm you or your master. Second, you can reject this offer if you wish.”

“…”

“However, if you reject the offer, you’ll never be able to connect with your master.”

“Ah…”

“What will you do?”

Until now, Sonia hadn’t understood. Why do some people accept offers from outer gods? Why do traitors to humanity like the Adelbein family exist?

Such sweet whispers.

It was impossible not to be tempted.

Still.

“…Give me time.”

She needed to be cautious.

Buying real estate without thinking can lead to fraud. A contract with an outer god is hundreds of times more dangerous.

“If you are truly benevolent toward me and my young master, give me sufficient time to think. And clearly state the contract terms. I won’t accept until you show trustworthiness.”

“…Ha!”

Clap, clap, clap.

The outer god applauded, smiling brightly.

“Cautious too! I like it! I want you even more now!”

The outer god nodded.

“Alright, see you next time.”

Whoosh.

The black water drained away. The outer god’s form gradually disappeared like being erased by an eraser.

[We will soon arrive at the Stellarium planetary system. Passengers, please prepare to disembark.]

She returned to reality. Sonia glanced to the side.

Inside the shuttle arranged in two rows. Beside her, Eidel was nodding off.

Originally, the seat Sonia occupied was contested between Rustila and Zernya. But since only one person could sit there, Eidel compromised by having Sonia take the seat.

That’s right.

Eidel had seated her beside him.

Simply because she was his personal assistant.

“…”

There is.

There’s still a chance.

Sonia clenched her fist. She grasped Eidel’s shoulder and gently shook him as if caring for a child.

“Young Master, please wake up. We’ve arrived at our destination.”

“Uh, mmm…”

“Aren’t you going to graduate school?”

“…Huh!”