Ch.229Graduate School (1)

Stellarium is a school with a well-structured integrated master’s and doctoral program.

A block semester system that completes one course every two weeks. More flexible credit overload options. Diversified undergraduate-graduate linked courses.

Advanced professor consultation systems, online video lectures. Even personalized major tracks.

The world wants young, fresh PhDs. To get a doctorate in your early twenties, completing coursework quickly is the top priority.

Where there’s demand, there’s supply.

[Required credits for integrated master’s/doctoral completion: 60]

[Current credits: 33(bachelor’s recognition) + 9(pre-summer session) + 18(course registration)]

I’ve utilized every aspect of the academic system to create this.

A route to earn a doctorate in just one year.

“Student, please reconsider.”

“It’s fine.”

“Including the summer block, that’s 27 credits. You’ll die at this rate.”

“It’s fine. I won’t die.”

The graduate director held his head in his hands.

Why is he acting like this?

I’ve heard medical students take 30 credits. Surely 27 credits is manageable?

Besides, 9 credits are from the pre-summer session that I’m already taking.

Thanks to online classes and automated grading, taking courses is easy. I just need to watch lectures when I have time. Unlike graduate schools in the other world, the schedule here is much more flexible.

“I’m saying this out of concern for your health. I won’t force you, but please reconsider just once.”

The graduate director pleaded desperately. A bead of sweat rolled down his forehead, which was shining like the sun.

The graduate director is like a class advisor for graduate students. While handling other duties, he also looks after students’ health and welfare. That must be why he’s concerned.

“Thank you for your concern. But I’m not changing my mind.”

There was one thing I was dissatisfied with when attending graduate school in the other world. It was that full-time students could only take 12 credits.

Of course, depending on the school, one could take up to 18 credits. But that was a last resort used by those who needed to graduate and were desperately accumulating research credits. It was possible because research credits were awarded without actual classes.

“Student, you know your situation is abnormal, right?”

“Yes.”

Probably.

If I can’t handle this much, the universe is doomed.

“I’ll take 18 credits.”

“…Very well.”

The graduate director finally raised the white flag.

“Rheinland is truly a special case. Normally, research credits cannot be requested in such a concentrated manner. Since many professors want you to receive your doctorate… we’re reluctantly accommodating you.”

“Thank you. Thank you very much, Professor.”

I bowed deeply and left the office.

“All done?”

Ireh was waiting outside the door. She approached with her arms crossed.

“Yes, I’ve got everything planned out.”

“Tell me what you’re going to do.”

“I’ll complete the coursework in the first semester and graduate with a doctorate in the second semester.”

Ireh’s mouth fell open.

“…Is that even possible?”

“Once I complete the coursework, the rest is up to my advisor.”

It varies by lab, but Professor Feynman has clear standards. One first-author paper in a <Universal>-level flagship journal guarantees graduation.

And I already had five.

“The professors want me to graduate. As soon as I meet the institutional requirements, I’ll have my doctorate.”

“That’s insane.”

It would be impossible in the original world.

In this universe, it’s doable.

“Let’s see. I was seventeen as a first-year Academy student, eighteen as a first-year College student. I was nineteen last year, so if all goes well, I’ll have my doctorate at twenty-one.”

In the other world, I got my doctorate at twenty-two. That’s a whole year shorter.

I’d like to do a postdoc around twenty-two or twenty-three and become a professor. Of course, I’ll have to see how things go.

“Won’t this damage your health?”

“It’s fine even if it does.”

Zernya will heal me.

“It’s better than all of us dying.”

Ireh sighed deeply. She shook her head like a leaf swaying in the wind and replied.

“I’m going to be an intern too.”

“What?”

“I’m going to join Professor Feynman’s lab as an intern.”

“…”

“Why?”

“No, I thought you said you were preparing separately for the great invasion. You haven’t collected even half of the holy relics, and you need to strengthen your holy bullets as much as possible. Aren’t you going on trips to gain miraculous encounters?”

“What miraculous encounters?”

She smiled mischievously. It was a coquettish smile.

“Meeting you was the best miraculous encounter.”

Ireh held out her fist.

“This level of strengthening is enough. Because I have you. I’m going to use the rest of my time to study physics. I found it quite enjoyable.”

“Really?”

“Damn right. I think I caught it from you.”

She extended her fist further. It was our unique greeting.

I was dazed for a moment but reflexively bumped her fist with mine. Soon, a silly laugh escaped me.

A miraculous encounter, huh.

“Yes, it’s a miraculous encounter for me too.”

Well, I’ve found one graduate student.

***

“Professor, I’m here.”

“Student!”

Professor Feynman and I embraced as soon as we met. Though we’d been seeing each other regularly, becoming an official graduate student made it feel special.

Professor Feynman sat me down and began reminiscing about the past.

“You first came to see me four years ago. I sensed then that you were extraordinary. Ah, I must accept this student as my disciple. I mustn’t let you slip away.”

“I’ve been your disciple all along, Professor.”

“Eidel…”

“Professor…”

Just then, we heard someone clearing their throat. When I turned around, Ireh and Sonia were standing there with disgusted expressions.

“Ahem, we should discuss the research schedule first. Did things go well with the director?”

“Yes. It seems I can complete the coursework this semester.”

Professor Feynman smiled brightly.

“Excellent. Actually, I believe Eidel is capable of receiving a doctoral degree. Other professors agree too. We could award you the degree right now, but due to institutional requirements… you understand what I mean?”

“Yes. I’m grateful just to hear you say that.”

“Anyway, we’ll be researching gravitons by this summer at the latest. Before that, as you mentioned, since a storm might hit the south, we’ll collaborate. Though it’s not our specialty, it would be good to join the Darwin system research.”

“Understood.”

He meant crystal research. It’s been a long time coming. But this too will end within a month.

Professor Feynman looked past me. Ireh flinched.

“You’re Ireh Hazlen, correct? You said you wanted to intern in our lab?”

“…Yes.”

“Show me your CV if you have it.”

With trembling hands, Ireh tapped her screen. A blue window appeared with her resume floating in mid-air.

Physics department, undergraduate sophomore. Three papers as second author, co-written with me.

That’s the extent of her credentials. But it’s more than enough. Professor Feynman smiled broadly.

“This matches perfectly with the field I was planning to research. Good, student. Welcome to our lab.”

“Th-thank you.”

Ireh bowed at a perfect right angle, like a machine. Sonia snorted at the sight.

“You’re even more robotic than I am. First generation?”

“…”

Come to think of it, the physics department was a male-dominated field.

I’m worried about how well Ireh will adapt.

Just then, I sensed another presence behind me. I immediately turned around and made eye contact with three haggard-looking men.

“Oh!”

“Eek!”

“Senior!”

Flans, Ian, and Mercury.

The graduate students from Professor Feynman’s lab.

“Seniors! It’s been a while! It’s me, Eidel!”

I grabbed their hands excitedly. But the seniors didn’t look particularly happy. Reading the atmosphere, I toned down my enthusiasm a bit.

“Is something wrong?”

“Ah, no. It’s not that…”

“It’s an honor to meet the head of House Rheinland!”

“You idiot, lower your voice…!”

Right. I was the head of a house.

The head of a major medical family that controls the southern federation. Yet also a physicist. Professor Feynman is so detached from power dynamics that I completely forgot about it.

This must be how ordinary people typically react.

“Seniors, please treat me casually like before. No matter what, I’m still your junior.”

“Junior? That’s absurd…”

All three seniors trembled without exception. Even if I became the head of a house, were they really this sensitive to power?

Surely not. Feeling suspicious, I used my cheat key.

[Paying 600 Fron.]

[— Common psychological state: They fear your future. At the same time, they lament their own situation.]

My future?

Why would these people fear my future?

I don’t understand.

[— The ‘God of Wisdom and Curiosity’ giggles.]

I feel like I’m the only one who doesn’t know something.

Anyway, on my first day in graduate school, I started working frantically.

I was busy before, but now I’m even busier. The difficulty level of classes and research is different. Perhaps due to my growing reputation, I have mountains of assignments and emails to handle.

I tried to chat a bit with the seniors, but the three became even more formal. It was burdensome, but well. Better than being hazed, right?

“What projects do I have this month again?”

“Finishing the trap research, meeting with Stronium about the Plasma Sword improvement project, and observing the reverse storm antenna test operation.”

“I can sleep during the last one.”

I let out a yawn that threatened to split my face. Damn fatigue had accumulated over two months of continuous classes and research.

Zernya got angry, telling me to rest, but not a chance.

“Hwaaam.”

“Here’s citron tea. Drink it while it’s warm.”

“Thanks, Sonia.”

“Eidel, can you answer my question now?”

“Please wait a moment.”

I’ve barely seen my wives since the honeymoon. Instead, I’m stuck with Ireh and Sonia.

Sonia is my personal android, and Ireh avoids contact with men, so… There’s absolutely no reason to feel guilty toward my wives.

I answered Ireh’s questions while drinking tea. Simultaneously, I was watching lectures through an online courseware. Skipping what I already knew and focusing on new information.

“Wow, there’s even a concept of singularity of singularity. A double singularity?”

Despite studying so much, there’s still more to learn. Learning truly has no end.

“…Ah.”

Come to think of it.

There was something I needed to do first, though troublesome, to create an efficient learning environment.

I immediately called a company.

***

Flans, Ian, and Mercury. The three graduate students felt chills down their spines as soon as they saw Eidel return to Professor Feynman’s lab.

Who is Eidel von Rheinland?

He’s famous as a supernova in physics, a rising genius. The one who ended the southern conflict and caused half of the Alcatraz guards to lose their jobs. In other words, the bully of foreign media.

But that’s just his public image.

Only those who know, know.

Eidel’s true nature.

He had been a monster with an obsessive professorial temperament since his Academia days.

A research monster. Loves research too much. Therefore, you must research with me too! That’s the kind of being he is. The foreign media of graduate school who tears apart and devours papers instead of food.

He was such an eccentric that he even set up his own private lab and left. As an undergraduate student, no less! There are rumors that he captured his friends there and worked them to the bone with high salaries.

So.

Who knows what kind of eccentricity he’ll display here.

…No sooner had they thought this than something happened.

“W-who are you?”

“Hello. We’re from the door lock company.”

On the third day after Eidel became an official graduate student.

The door to Professor Feynman’s lab was modified so it could be locked from the inside.