Ch.29Acceptance (3)

After Rustila and I washed up in our respective rooms, we agreed to meet in one room. Since I dried my hair faster than her, I came out first to set the table and put out some carbonated drinks instead of alcohol.

While ordering delivery food, Seti stared at me intently. It couldn’t be that she was unhappy with the menu items in the cart. For a rich family’s daughter, Seti was a child who ate well regardless of what was ordered.

“Honestly, I’m just dumbfounded.”

“What is it now, little sister?”

“You got first place?”

I had told Seti and Rustila about my acceptance.

To cut to the chase, Seti was accepted too. Like Zernya, she was an honors scholarship student. Her hard studying had paid off.

Anyway, all three of us were accepted, but Seti seemed displeased about it.

“No matter how I think about it, it doesn’t make sense. How did you get accepted… and even take first place?”

Her piercing gaze, suggesting I must have used some underhanded method, stung.

Of course, I hadn’t used any tricks or forgery whatsoever.

“Don’t you trust your brother?”

“Who are you?”

“The pasta will be here in 30 minutes. I’m finishing setting up.”

“If you have any conscience, you should do it yourself.”

“Oh my, I’ll do it myself since it’s so dirty.”

I placed chopsticks and plates on the table with a clatter. Three sets. Today I planned to eat and drink with my little sister and my newly made friend.

It might seem like an odd combination, but what could I do? Eating just with Rustila would be strange, and eating alone with Seti would probably lead to awkward silence.

Originally, parties are better with more people. Especially celebration parties for passing exams. For reference, everyone else at this hotel except us three had failed.

“Little sister.”

“What.”

“You know I feel very sorry toward you, right?”

Seti pulled a bread knife from the drawer and pointed it at me.

“F-fuck. Who are you?”

“Uh, hey. Sister. Put that down and let’s talk!”

“I said who are you!”

Seti repeatedly stabbed at me with the knife. The plastic blade mercilessly dug into my collar…

“You’re not even angry about this?”

“Do I look like someone who would get angry over something like this?”

“Yes.”

Seti nodded firmly.

“You used to curse me out just for looking at your face.”

“…”

“Why, not mouthing off like before? Now that you’re first place, are you afraid for your reputation?”

“Your subtle jabs are quite artistic.”

“I still have a long way to go before I can pay you back with interest.”

It meant if I was really sorry, I should just take it. I knew that and let her have her way.

Though Eidel and Seti were born in consecutive years, Jinsoo Lee and Seti had an eighteen-year age gap. Usually siblings who are one or two years apart are like cats and dogs, but when there’s a gap of five or six years or more, the older brother often takes care of the younger sibling.

“It’s about time for Rustila to arrive.”

“I know. To celebrate your first place, you’re paying for all the food today, right?”

“Sure, why not.”

“Wait a minute. Where did you get money from?”

I’d already taken care of that.

“Check the family account.”

“Huh?”

Seti, who had somehow already checked the account, blinked in surprise.

There should be exactly 60 million credits there, no more, no less.

“Where did this come from?”

“I won it gambling.”

“You crazy bastard! Really?”

“No. That was a lie.”

“Oh my god…”

I nearly lost consciousness from Seti’s ensuing Rheinland-style sword technique.

“Where did it come from, I asked?”

“My room.”

“What about your room?”

“I sold all the furniture.”

Seti’s expression turned dumbfounded.

“W-what? You sold the furniture? Are you crazy?”

“No. I’m perfectly sane.”

“That’s worth this much?”

“You know my bed’s brand. The secondhand value is 100 million. Even considering the gold-plated corners, it was expensive.”

“A-anyway. Where will you sleep then?”

“I don’t plan on going home much anyway.”

“What nonsense…”

“The Academy is my home now.”

Thud. The bread knife fell to the floor.

“You’re full of shit. What, are you going to graduate school or something?”

“Yep.”

“You’re still a psycho, just like before.”

“That’s harsh, little sister. You just insulted all graduate students in the universe.”

“So what.”

“I might not care about other things, but I can’t stand people insulting scholars. You should watch what you say, sister.”

At that, Seti made a hand gesture toward me. Her expression of a mountain range was quite beautiful and profound.

“Hey guys, I’m here.”

That’s when Rustila arrived. She came carrying chicken she had ordered to her own room.

Soon, the other food we ordered arrived one after another. The party preparations were getting into full swing.

“Eidel got first place…”

Rustila spoke with admiration, still seemingly unable to believe it.

Seti, who was gnawing on chicken legs (this girl ate both of them), pointed at me with her pinky finger and replied impudently.

“Next year’s Stellarium admission standards will drop because of him, just watch.”

“Oh my…”

“Seti, you shouldn’t say things like that, even as a joke.”

When Rustila mediated, Seti couldn’t say more. Indeed, having a party with the three of us was the right choice.

And there was also a calculation to build friendships this way.

Seti and Rustila. Both are important talents. Building relationships in small ways like this is necessary work.

Of course, the moment I think of this as work, the chance of treating them comfortably is gone.

Anyway, while chatting, Rustila suddenly began to sniffle.

“What’s wrong?”

“…Sniff, it’s spicy.”

My gaze moved downward. On Rustila’s plate was pasta with chopped green chili peppers, garlic, and olives.

Judging by the distinctive pungent aroma of pepper, it must be quite spicy.

But even considering that, Rustila seemed to cry a lot.

“During the written exam, I heard you cried over a literature passage.”

“Hey, I told you not to bring that up…!”

Rustila’s cheeks turned as red as radishes. Seti was busy teasing her, giggling.

Indeed, even without alcohol, minors could get drunk just on the atmosphere.

“Here, have some water.”

“Ah, thank you…!”

I inhaled the remaining noodles while thinking about what was next.

I had paid back the debt I owed Seti, and I had become somewhat friendly with both girls. Especially Seti, who at first acted like she wanted to eat me alive, was now joking around and showing a more relaxed side.

Family relationships are more important than anything. At least for now, gaining the trust of family members is the top priority.

I’ve somewhat restored my relationship with Seti, but there’s still a long way to go.

Now it was time to focus on Eidel’s father, Arnold von Rheinland.

***

The southern front of the galaxy is a space of death.

Beyond the Aether Belt where humans can safely live, reaching the lawless zone, that is the realm of monsters.

The monsters grow by feeding on the darkness beyond the galaxy. And they fly one by one toward this place, the spiral arm.

It is a soldier’s duty to monitor them.

Even now, many soldiers defend with Plasma Swords. When battle breaks out, they throw away their lives like straw and fight against the despair of the universe. In the process, some fall, and others rise.

Those who become heroes by stepping over the corpses of their comrades are given two special privileges. One is a new shoulder board, and the other is quality equipment.

Rank and equipment.

It was a good story for medical officers anyway.

“Dr. Rheinland, good work.”

A large man patted Arnold’s shoulder as if massaging it. Three stars were clearly embedded on his shoulder.

“Major General Wolfgang.”

Arnold bowed his head to greet his superior. Though the Rheinland family was higher in status, rank takes precedence in the military. Although Arnold had no rank, he was treated as a field-grade officer.

The Major General looked around and admired.

“Thanks to your medical skills, many soldiers were able to survive today. I express my respect on behalf of the soldiers.”

“This is nothing.”

“We need more people like you on the front lines… I wonder where everyone else is and what they’re doing. Tsk tsk.”

Arnold could only smile bitterly.

Not readily agreeing with or opposing others’ words—that is the virtue of a social person. The higher one’s position, the more careful one should be with their words.

“How is your wife these days?”

“My wife? She’s working in the S1104 planetary system.”

“Not too far away then.”

“Not very close either.”

“Why don’t you work together? If you two operated together as a couple, you’d have good coordination and it would be convenient in many ways.”

“Heh heh.”

Arnold laughed bitterly.

“Well, I’m sure you have your own circumstances. Usually, when people stay in places like this for too long, even couples with good relationships grow apart. Whether it’s because the work is hard or because of Descartes’ Forces’ mental manipulation.”

“My wife and I are doing fine.”

“That’s good then. Oh my, it’s already this late. I’ll be going now.”

“Loyalty. For the Federation.”

After the high-ranking official left, Arnold continued to go around counting the number of soldiers who needed surgery scheduled.

Even having multiple bodies wouldn’t be enough.

There was a severe shortage of medical personnel.

There was no time to rest.

While thinking about his busy schedule, the phone stuffed in his pants pocket rang loudly.

It was a report from the household androids that his child had been accepted to Stellarium.

Arnold focused on Sonia’s report.

[Young Master Eidel has been accepted to Stellarium. He achieved first place.]

Below that message was an attached photo of the acceptance letter, along with Eidel’s examinee number and password.

Sonia’s report was thorough.

Arnold widened his eyes.

The condition he had set, believing it would be absolutely impossible—that was admission to Stellarium.

Not only had Eidel been accepted, but he had also firmly secured the title of first place.

It was unbelievable, but the evidence was right there. Eidel’s acceptance certificate, which could be found on the Academy’s homepage, was proof.

Arnold, sweating profusely, continued reading the email.

[The young master even defeated the Adelbein main family’s child. This is a remarkable achievement.]

[Master, I, Sonia, inform you. As promised, the young master’s expulsion from the family should be canceled or at least postponed. Also, you should attend the entrance ceremony with the mistress to honor the occasion.]

A promise is a promise and must be kept. However, Arnold found it difficult to accept the current situation. No matter how he thought about it, the Eidel he knew didn’t have such ability.

At the very least, he needed to check for himself.

He shook off his thoughts. Arnold looked around once more.

Groaning sounds. Voices calling for parents and lovers. Desperate calls for doctors and nurses. Intermittent moans marked by decay and disease erupted here and there.

His children’s entrance ceremony versus the life and death of frontline soldiers.

If forced to choose between the two, the latter was obviously more important.

But if he didn’t devote more energy to his children, another major incident could happen in the family.

After long deliberation, Arnold made his decision.