Ch.30Acceptance (4)

# Congratulations Party and Studies

After taking a breather with the congratulatory party, I balanced exercise and academics. In the mornings, I received cardio coaching from Rustila, and in the evenings, I researched information about gravity bombs.

The scientific technology of humanity in this era was remarkable.

A world where warp technology exists, plasma can be condensed into swords, and planetary-scale mining has been commercialized.

Naturally, there must have been countless geniuses and talented individuals, and the scientific theories they established far transcended my knowledge.

It was just as Professor Richard Feynman had said.

Given the situation, I had no choice but to start from the beginning and progress step by step.

Fortunately, I had the ability given to me by the foreign god Cartesia and a certain confidence of my own. Though I remained cautious since I couldn’t determine Cartesia’s exact intentions, there was no reason not to accept the help for now.

In that sense, I was reading through every relevant paper I could find.

“What are you doing? Ugh, these are academic papers.”

Seti, who had peeked at my tablet, frowned and groaned.

“Why are you looking at these when you can’t even understand them?”

“Good question.”

I smiled bitterly.

“Why bother with that stuff? Is it even fun?”

“It is fun.”

“I don’t understand you.”

Seti clicked her tongue while shrugging her shoulders. I was relieved she didn’t call me an idiot or something worse.

It was worse when I first possessed this body. Back then, Seti’s perception of me was nothing more or less than garbage.

*****

[Seti von Adelbein Rheinland: 40 / 1000]

[Psychological state: She feels immense curiosity about your change. She thinks you’re eccentric.]

*****

That perception had now shifted to something like “study-obsessed weirdo.”

Yeah, this is better anyway.

She skimmed through several papers I was holding. Just the titles and abstracts. After checking only that much, she frowned.

“Are you planning to major in physics?”

“Why do you think that?”

“Stop talking like you’re reading from an elementary school math book and answer properly. Are you going to major in physics?”

“Of course.”

[— The ‘God of Wisdom and Curiosity’ likes your confident answer.]

[— You have received a 100 pron donation.]

“I’m asking the obvious.”

“It’s not obvious at all.”

“Then what about you?”

“Do you even need to ask? I have to pay back the 2,000 trillion you lost gambling.”

Her words made my heart swell.

She was saying she would clean up the mess Eidel had made.

Of course, it wasn’t out of pure kindness.

“With an achievement like that, Father and Mother would finally acknowledge me.”

Seti had a grand dream as described in the original story.

“The next head of the family will be mine.”

Becoming the family head and continuing the family business.

In an era where surnames had no gender distinction and changing one’s family name was relatively free, it was entirely possible.

However, there was a problem.

“…But the next family head is already decided to be my older brother, right?”

Eidel has two older brothers above him. They are the children of the first wife—legitimate children, to put it simply.

Given the family atmosphere, it would be quite difficult for Seti, born from a contract marriage, to inherit the family business.

However, Seti showed no signs of being intimidated by my words.

“So what? I’ll just take it.”

She grinned and continued.

“Is there a law saying someone born from a contract marriage can’t inherit the family name? Show me if there is.”

“There isn’t.”

“That’s enough then.”

Seti’s confidence was soaring after being accepted to Stellarium. At the same time, I understood the intention behind my sister’s words to me.

“By the way, I think you’re even stranger. Top of the class but choosing physics? Aren’t there better options?”

She was testing me.

And simultaneously being wary.

Afraid that I, who would enter Stellarium as the top student, might threaten not only her position but even that of our eldest brother.

“It’s fine. I just want to be a professor.”

“Well… do whatever you want.”

Seti glanced at me while saying this. With her arms crossed, standing a bit apart, she was looking at me haughtily.

“Strange. He wasn’t like this before.”

I could hear her muttering clearly.

After that, I read papers for nearly two hours. I placed those I couldn’t understand on the right, those I somewhat understood on the left, and those I was interested in on my lap.

Seti was also reading a book nearby.

She occasionally tied her hair, went to the bathroom, or drank water. I wasn’t sure why she was still in my room after her business was done.

“Hey.”

Seti eventually spoke up.

“Do you really enjoy reading papers that much?”

She seemed curious about how I could read papers without moving at all. I nodded and answered.

“Learning is always exciting.”

“Holy shit.”

Seti exclaimed and leaned back. Regardless, I organized my materials and stood up.

“Why are you getting up?”

“I have somewhere to go. It’s time.”

“Where are you going?”

She tilted her head and asked.

If a question is asked, isn’t it common courtesy to answer?

I smiled slightly and said:

“Contact.”

***

I set foot on Planet Planeta. Being my second time, I was somewhat accustomed to it.

I went straight to find Professor Feynman.

Although I had sent an email in advance expressing my intention to visit, Feynman seemed quite surprised when we actually met.

“As expected. I knew you would be accepted.”

Professor Feynman still addressed me respectfully, welcoming me. His reputation for respecting students wasn’t just an empty rumor.

“Did you pull some strings, Professor?”

“Haha, I did nothing.”

As soon as we entered his home, Feynman handed me a tablet.

“What’s this?”

“It’s part of your written exam answer sheet. I begged to get it.”

“Is it okay to just take this?”

“Once the acceptance results are announced, it doesn’t matter.”

Professor Feynman lowered his voice and continued.

“The techniques you showed in some of the physics problems were no joke. For essay question 3, you solved it in 12 different ways…”

That’s right. I had solved one problem multiple times. That’s why I inevitably ran out of time.

“One of the main evaluation criteria for essay questions is problem-solving ability. Solving a problem in multiple ways might not earn extra points, but it leaves a favorable impression on the evaluator.”

“Did you do the same when you took the entrance exam, Professor?”

“Hahaha.”

As expected.

“Originally, another interviewer was supposed to conduct your interview, but anyway…”

His voice deepened.

“Do you want to go to graduate school?”

“Of course.”

“Physics department?”

“Of course.”

“Well, alright.”

Feynman nodded.

“I also thought about graduate school since my academy days. Learning something deeply is exciting. Since your determination is firm, I won’t suggest you consider other paths.”

“Then, will you accept me as your student later?”

“Haha! Your flirting skills are top-notch.”

Feynman chuckled but added:

“With these skills, you could seduce many women instead of professors like me.”

“Professor?”

I had no such intentions. Feynman chuckled and patted my shoulder.

“It was advice to try dating while you’re still young. In my opinion, you look as good as I do.”

“…Yes.”

I let that comment go in one ear and out the other.

Actually, I had another purpose for visiting Feynman today besides making contact.

This time, I handed him my tablet.

“By the way, I just read your article about Preons, and this part…”

***

With Stellarium’s opening day approaching,

In a luxurious room with white gold wallpaper, the sound of nail-biting could be heard.

Crunch.

Zernya von und zu Trisha Adelbein bit her thumbnail while rolling her eyes.

Who?

Who on earth had beaten her and taken first place?

Why wasn’t she the top student?

All sorts of questions swirled in her mind. There was no one who could answer those questions yet.

A top-class hotel where other common people couldn’t even stay for a day. Despite staying in such a luxurious place, her mind was not at ease.

“Hey…”

“Yes, miss.”

“You still haven’t found out the information?”

“I’m sorry. Due to what happened during the practical evaluation, campus security has become much stricter…”

“Useless.”

She still didn’t know who had taken her first-place position.

No, it didn’t make sense no matter how she thought about it. No one else should have been able to take the top spot. It was natural. She was an Adelbein, and the legitimate daughter at that!

“Kristin Heresset, Welton Yusoford, that Mathers whatever kid… who else was in the running for first place?”

“Mezulen Hueritia, Seti von Rheinland, and James Hedelton are also possibilities.”

“All riffraff. Though Rheinland is somewhat… Rheinland?”

Zernya clapped her hands.

“Eidel Rheinland.”

The boy who had performed all sorts of antics during the written exam.

The dark horse who had tied with her for first place in Ergos General Academy’s private mock exam.

That boy had considerable potential.

From his expression right after the interview and his avoidance of answering after the acceptance announcement, she had thought he must have failed.

‘If that Eidel or whatever his name is was accepted as the top student…’

It would mean she had lost not to the formidable talented students, but to a cosmic troublemaker who had appeared like a comet.

That would be beyond humiliation—it would be mortifying enough to die of shame.

Zernya tapped her broad forehead and held her breath.

In the end, she would have to confirm the identity of the top student on the day of the entrance ceremony, when they would take the podium. The top student would give the oath as the representative of new students.

‘I need to see their face at least.’

At this point, Zernya gave up the search and let her informants rest. She also lay down.

‘Whoever it is, I will crush them. Crush them and reclaim first place.’

By doing so, she would restore the authority of the Adelbein name.

With these thoughts, Zernya drifted off to sleep, hugging a white teddy bear.

The day of the entrance ceremony was approaching.