Ch.2I Became a Space Rogue (2)

Father left home at dawn.

A ship of about 1,000 pyeong. There were few people inside. Most were robots for maintenance. Even the family members who lived here seemed to avoid me, not showing their faces at all.

Eidel’s mother?

She never appeared in the story. She’s probably not here or passed away before the main story began.

The only one I could talk to was Sonia, an android.

“Young master.”

Sonia, adjusting her headband, said.

“Are you really planning to go all the way to the Graduate program?”

Graduate.

That’s what they call the Academy’s graduate school program.

“Yes.”

“Are you insane?”

“I’m perfectly sane.”

Sonia’s eyes filled with shock. Even robots seem to know how difficult graduate school is.

But what does it matter either way?

Everything is difficult the first time. From the second time onward, it becomes manageable.

Even though my freshly earned degree disappeared, the “me” who worked hard to earn that degree hasn’t vanished. That’s enough. I expect this graduate program to be much easier than the first time.

To prevent the meddling of outer gods, developing gravity bombs is essential. But for that to be possible, I need to rise to a high social position first. Yes, something like a professor.

“You’re not in your right mind, not at all…”

Sonia kept muttering something under her breath.

“Get into the Academia program first, then talk about graduate school. Graduate school isn’t for just anyone.”

“Fine. I understand, so could you order this for me?”

I handed Sonia a tablet. Her eyes narrowed as she took it.

“Are you planning to buy all these workbooks?”

“Didn’t you say I should get into the Academia program first before talking?”

‘Academia’ corresponds to the period between high school and first year of university on Earth. After that comes the ‘College’ program, and finally the ‘Graduate’ program.

Eidel is sixteen this year. And soon he’ll be seventeen.

It’s time for him to enter high school.

Stellarium, being a prestigious institution on a cosmic scale, has a special entrance exam for high school students. Only by passing this will I avoid being kicked out of the family and not end up in tatters at the hands of outer gods.

And later, I might be able to use Rheinland’s vast fortune for gravity bomb research.

Reflecting on my experience with university entrance exams, I’m confident that with my best effort, I can overcome the Academia entrance exam.

“I keep telling you, young master, your probability of getting into Stellarium approaches zero.”

“Ah, is that so.”

“I, Sonia, think option 2 is the most reasonable. How about enlisting in the military instead of enrolling?”

“You want me to die as cannon fodder on the battlefield?”

“I don’t want to force death upon you either. I’m just giving you realistic advice.”

This isn’t working.

I ordered the workbooks directly without going through Sonia. Why delegate to a machine what a human can do themselves?

“You’re selecting everything available.”

“I’ve wanted to buy these since a week ago but was too self-conscious. I need to place the order quickly now.”

Sonia slapped her forehead.

There wasn’t much she could do anyway.

What grounds does she have to lecture me when I’m trying to study properly?

Ding!

After confirming the order receipt, I looked around.

“What a mess.”

The room was in terrible condition.

It was filled with all sorts of inappropriate items—playing cards for gambling, betting chips, and more.

I hadn’t thought much about it before, but now that I’m trying to get serious, it bothers me.

“When was the last time this place was cleaned?”

“I’m not sure either.”

“Aren’t you a maid?”

“Strictly speaking, I, Sonia, am not a maid. I’m a multipurpose android. I don’t act without orders.”

“Then what’s with that outfit?”

“This fluttery dress?”

Sonia fluttered the black-based skirt commonly worn by maids and answered expressionlessly.

“I wear it because it’s cute.”

“And that headband?”

“The headband? I wear it because it’s cute.”

I pressed my forehead in disbelief. Sonia tilting her head and asking “What’s the problem?” was just the cherry on top.

“So you haven’t cleaned all this time?”

“Yes. You told me not to touch anything, so I complied.”

“And hitting me was done with my permission?”

“That was also because the head of the family ordered me to discipline you, so I complied.”

“Sigh.”

Fine. I’ll clean it myself. This will be my room for the next few months, so I need to throw out the unnecessary things myself.

First, I thought I should ventilate the room. I moved toward the window to open it.

“What are you doing?”

“Ah.”

Right.

We’re in space.

***

After sweeping away the stuffy air with the ventilator, I began cleaning in earnest.

Wiping dust and organizing useless items was routine work. I moved around so diligently that sweat formed on my forehead. Sonia, who had been standing blankly, began to help when she saw me busy.

“Young master, are you finally trying to live like a proper person?”

Sonia’s white eyes, like seashells in moonlight, sparkled brightly.

I showed her through action.

“Everything over there, take it all away.”

I was pointing at the bookshelf.

“Those are…”

Idol bromides, game character figurines.

All collectibles that Eidel had cherished.

A kind of luxury.

Not necessary for studying.

I pulled down the merchandise Eidel had bought from the bookshelf. These friends are planned to disappear like dew on the execution ground soon. The good ones will be sold secondhand; otherwise, they’re headed straight for the trash.

“Y-young master?”

Sonia asked, seemingly confused.

“What?”

“You said before that no one should ever touch those things over there.”

“Not anymore.”

“But…”

“I’m disposing of everything. Only books should be on a bookshelf.”

I declared.

This is, in a way, compulsive.

The result of an obsession to survive tenaciously in this damned world and achieve a happy ending.

It was the survival instinct that any human would naturally possess.

When I tried to dispose of the merchandise myself, Sonia stepped in to help. At first, she hesitated, not knowing what to do, but then began the task of receiving bromides and putting them in boxes.

“Young master.”

“What?”

“Nothing.”

“Why call me and then stop?”

“…It’s nothing. I’m just a little confused.”

I glanced at Sonia as I put a VR device into a metal trash can.

“Are you throwing that away too?”

“Why? Feeling sympathy because it’s a machine like you?”

“Of course not. Don’t compare a 5th generation AI to mere scrap metal.”

Sonia pretended to sigh as she adjusted her headband.

“Don’t worry. I won’t throw you away.”

“…That’s not a funny joke.”

It’s not a joke; it’s true.

Robots provide feedback faster than humans. They have fewer preconceptions. If I show a changed appearance well, Sonia will become my first ally.

“Anyway, this is the last of it.”

With the cleaning roughly finished, I got up and dusted myself off. Sonia also rose, holding a bag full of items.

“I’ll go throw these away. In the meantime, you should go wash up.”

“Thanks. I was about to go crazy from feeling so grimy.”

I took a quick cold shower in the bathroom. After drying my hair in the cleaned room with the ventilator, air conditioner, and dehumidifier all running—the triple set—I felt like I was in paradise.

But Sonia was taking longer than I expected.

Ding!

[Your ordered items have been delivered. Thank you very much for using our Io Shopping Mall.]

Just then, the books I ordered arrived.

I went to the dock and moved the boxes one by one.

“Oof.”

My back felt like it was about to break after not moving much for a long time.

Both me and Eidel. Having bodies far from healthy, we were lacking in physical strength.

If I pass, I should start exercising.

“My goodness.”

By the time I moved the last box, Sonia had mysteriously returned to the room.

“Did you move all of this by yourself?”

“You weren’t here.”

“I had something to do.”

“Something to do? What?”

What could she possibly have to do right now?

“I brought food.”

With that, Sonia revealed a tray she had been hiding.

A delicious-looking ham and cheese sandwich, salmon salad with oriental dressing, and milk.

A basic yet sophisticated combination.

“Did you… make this yourself?”

“Housework is my specialty.”

Sonia placed the plate on the desk and put her hands on her waist. A triumphant posture.

“Please eat.”

“……”

This is unexpected.

For the past week, Sonia had been telling me to “eat on your own.” So I had been surviving on canned food. It was the cheapest and easiest method.

“You’re not a cat, and I couldn’t bear watching you just opening cans all this time. Why were you doing that?”

“I lost money gambling.”

“Were you being cautious even about food?”

“Why?”

“……”

“Anyway, thank you.”

This is the first time Sonia has served me food since I became this body. I’m so moved I could cry.

Taking a bite of the sandwich, a fresh aroma spread. It perfectly captures the crisp texture of lettuce while harmonizing the mild flavors of ham and egg. The right amount of cheese smoothly connects the two.

Just as described in the novel. She’s simply good at cooking.

“Why are you staring so intently?”

“No, I’m just grateful.”

“There’s nothing to be grateful for. If you just live like a proper person, I can make this for you every day.”

“Hmm.”

Though not described in the novel, this gives insight into how Eidel has lived for years.

“I’m sorry.”

“…Pardon?”

“For living like an idiot all this time.”

Of course, I haven’t done anything wrong, but I should say something like this anyway.

I stuffed the rest of the sandwich into my mouth and began opening the boxes in earnest.

“Wow, look how beautiful they are.”

Opening new books is always exciting. Especially if they’re for academic purposes.

However, what I bought weren’t paper books.

They were more like e-book terminals. The necessary books were sold bundled with these terminals.

“But it seems somewhat inefficient.”

“In what way?”

“Couldn’t they just keep these in the cloud and let people pay to download them?”

Sonia shook her head and said.

“What if the company that published the book gets hacked?”

“They could just have tight security.”

“The cost of maintaining that security is much higher than sending tablets in boxes.”

My goodness.

Is this culture shock?

Well, in ancient China, even after inventing paper, they still used bamboo slips more frequently.

In this era where room-temperature superconductors are commercialized and humanity has expanded its living space to the entire galaxy, it’s not that strange. I must have been thinking too primitively.

“Young master, I, Sonia, am still curious. Why are you suddenly applying to Stellarium?”

“That’s…”

I didn’t have a specific reason to give.

To prevent the end of the world?

That’s true.

But isn’t it too abstract? Unless I’m the protagonist, telling Sonia would only invite ridicule.

Besides, if I say such things out loud, a passing outer god might hear.

“I need a convincing reason.”

Sonia pressed, bringing her face closer.

I don’t have any particular justification to offer.

“Well, because it seems fun.”

I blurted out what came to mind.

It wasn’t a lie. Apart from preventing the universe’s destruction, learning is always exciting.

“It’s much more fun and easier than earning 2,000 trillion credits or joining the military.”

I simply made a choice that matched my abilities.

“Ah, uh, ah…”

Sonia’s expression turned pale once again. It was similar to when I said I wanted to go to graduate school.

I didn’t have the luxury to respond to every reaction. I continued opening all the boxes.

Korean workbooks with Korean problems, math workbooks with math problems. I bound the tablet boxes with binders. It was easy work, just manipulating screens floating in the air.

As I was opening all the boxes…

Something other than a book popped out of the last box.

“…Ah, shit.”

“Why are you cursing?”

Sonia approached with a displeased look. She seemed to be thinking, ‘This guy is swearing again.’

Sorry, but even a saint would curse in this situation.

“This… what on earth is this?”

Sonia also asked in confusion.

What came out of the box was a white object, grotesquely twisted like a broken tooth.

It was glowing slightly darker than an LED, but just looking at it made my head ache as if it would shatter.

A white irregular polyhedron.

An artifact notorious for suddenly appearing just before an outer god’s spiritual body manifests.

The fact that it appeared before my eyes means, well…

[— The God of Wisdom and Curiosity shows interest in you.]

In short, I’m fucked.