Ch.327I’ll Become a Professor (5)

Renatus was grinding his teeth. After recklessly violating Powehi, he swallowed his pride and sought out Sturm.

“You’re a complete idiot. Are you really the Renatus I used to know?”

“Shut your mouth, Aurore.”

“Both of you, stop fighting. This is my domain.”

Darwin, Maxwell, Descartes.

The highest outer gods from the three lineages had gathered.

It was a rare sight. Normally, Aurore and Sturm were desperate to tear each other apart, and Renatus had no interest whatsoever in territorial disputes.

“The one who brought us together like this is Eidel von Rheinland, that human. If we don’t eliminate him, he will surely become a future threat.”

“Ha, finally!”

“Wait, Aurore. Not yet.”

“How much longer do I have to wait? I can’t stand it anymore!”

“I said wait!”

While the Queen and the Iron Fortress bickered, Renatus, filled with lust, grabbed one of the Queen’s subordinate outer gods and ravaged it.

“Your Majesty! Aaaaargh!”

“Whew, that was good.”

The used outer god burst and fainted.

Until he could kill or devour Cartesia, he needed to periodically release this boiling lust. Otherwise, his black hole would expand and explode.

To be violated by his own daughter.

Truly abominable.

This was the decisive reason why Renatus, who had no interest in preventing destruction, joined the anti-Eidel alliance.

He could never allow a vermin who damaged the hooks and pleasures of life to survive.

“Let’s do this. Renatus, you continue your attacks from the east as usual. I’ll expand my operations from the west to the south and north.”

“Wait, what about me?”

“You wait.”

Aurore stomped the ground with a bang. The imaginary space shook. This was a common occurrence.

“Hey, since when did I become your subordinate?”

“…Fine, you take over the operations in the south and north. Just don’t stupidly get caught in a trap like last time by acting directly.”

“Thanks for the advice.”

Whoosh.

Aurore disappeared with her forces.

Renatus felt his lust rising again. This time, he grabbed one of Sturm’s outer gods and began thrusting his hips.

“Aaaaargh! Lord Sturm—!!”

And so another black hole met its demise with a scream.

“You bastard, how dare you do that to my comrade!”

“Then would you like to take their place?”

“Damn you… Listen everyone, this is all because of Eidel von Rheinland!”

Sturm said, waving his steel fins.

“If we launch operations from all directions, the Federation will inevitably deplete its national power! Their resources and population aren’t infinite! If we wait like this, eventually there will come a time when they’ll be easier to devour!”

“So we’re waiting for that moment?”

“I knew you’d understand!”

After the meeting, Renatus immediately turned his gaze eastward.

And he found a suitable person for his next host.

Bilrod von Leblen.

The third son of the Leblen family.

Once hailed as a rising star in physics, but overshadowed by the emergence of Eidel von Rheinland.

‘He’s a stubborn one. Arrogant in character. Above all, he harbors ill feelings toward that Rheinland fellow. I like him. I like him very much.’

Renatus approached him carefully.

It wasn’t difficult to tempt him.

[“Eidel von Rheinland actually rose to his position by borrowing the power of outer gods. Compared to your achievements, his real abilities are nothing.”]

“Is that… really true?”

[“Yes, think about it. How could someone who was a southern hooligan until the age of sixteen suddenly become studious enough to earn a doctorate in 5 years and apply for a professorship? It doesn’t make sense.”]

“I suppose you’re right.”

Bilrod was in his early thirties. In contrast, Eidel was about 10 years younger.

A professor in his early twenties.

It was impossible unless one was extraordinary from birth.

[“Eidel von Rheinland is your competitor this year. If you want to beat him, how about cooperating with me?”]

“Are you asking me to become a contractor with an outer god?”

[“If you don’t want to, forget it.”]

“…Wait.”

Bilrod’s decision didn’t take long.

“Now I see what a despicable fellow he is. Rising to that position without any effort… I must punish him. Yes, if I don’t punish him…”

‘This is easy.’

Renatus laughed inwardly.

What good was a doctorate or whatever? How many such ignorant fools existed in the world. That’s why humans were called primitive.

And so, having gained power, Bilrod met with Eidel according to Renatus’s plan and approached him.

‘Once at Callisto Academy, once at Iryuel Academy, and finally… once at Stellarium Academy.’

The plan had 3 stages.

At Callisto, compete based on skill.

At Iryuel Academy, actively interfere and sabotage.

At Stellarium Academy… assassinate him.

Yes, assassination.

All for Lord Renatus.

***

[You have passed the document screening for new full-time faculty at Callisto Academy.]

“Phew.”

I’ve cleared one hurdle.

It’s not over yet, but I felt somewhat relieved having overcome a major obstacle.

[Due to school circumstances this year, the second and third interview stages will be conducted simultaneously. The interview date and location are as follows.]

School circumstances, huh.

I’ve heard the situation in the eastern part of the galaxy is quite bad right now.

How urgent must it be for a prestigious institution like Callisto to rush like this?

A few days later, I boarded the shuttle dressed in a formal suit.

Two men appeared and greeted me.

“Hello. Are you Dr. Eidel Rheinland?”

“Yes, that’s me.”

“We’re from Callisto Academy. We’ve come to escort you safely to the eastern sector.”

For a moment, I wondered if these people were selling drugs.

They weren’t.

As soon as we arrived at the Callisto planetary system, I realized their escort was no lie.

“Heh, hehehe.”

“Uweeeeek.”

The streets were filled with crazy people.

Some were vomiting everywhere as if drunk, others sat on the ground letting out laughing screams, and yet others were thrusting their hips against trees.

What the hell are they doing?

“It’s better if you don’t look.”

Rumble.

Heavily armed police rushed in and shot tranquilizers at the man making love to the tree. Then they loaded him into a large transport truck. The truck had “Secure, Isolate, Protect” written in large letters.

“They’re all patients addicted to Pron. The government is working hard to maintain public order, but no matter how much they clean up, more keep appearing.”

“…”

“Don’t worry. The downtown area and the academy are kept clean without incidents like what you just saw.”

I slowly continued walking.

“Ugh.”

My leg kept limping as if it wasn’t my own.

“Are you uncomfortable?”

“No, well…”

I smiled bitterly.

“Something happened.”

That’s why I brought a cane today. It was a cane with two tentacles intertwined like snakes, made by Cartesia herself.

Though strange in appearance, this cane had a special function.

[— Cane of Curiosity(EX)]

[— An artifact that allows you to know the type and number of transcendent beings (outer gods, constellations) directly or indirectly attached to the person you point at.]

She probably gave it to me to prepare for crises in advance.

For some reason, when I point this cane at myself, it displays:

[— Transcendent being influencing you: Your companion]

I’m already doubting its functionality.

“This way.”

“Ah, yes.”

Lost in thought while walking, I suddenly realized we had reached our destination.

I looked around the campus. As the security guards had said, the inside of the academy was pleasant. They seemed to have cleaned it up for the faculty candidate interviews.

Still, just to be safe, I moved around pointing my cane at people one by one.

[— Transcendent beings influencing ‘Bilrod von Leblen’: ‘Sluggish Chaos’, ‘Rippling Rage’, ‘King of Elegant Finale’]

That person… who is he?

Leblen is one of the ten great families. A well-known house in the east. And someone from such a family is walking around with three high-ranking outer gods. Something smells fishy.

Sure enough.

He caught my eye and smiled.

My ominous prediction was correct. The man named Bilrod was also applying for the physics professor position, just like me.

“Hello there?”

“Yes, hello.”

“I’ve heard much about the reputation of the head of the Rheinland family. It’s an honor to meet you in person.”

“Yes…”

He keeps approaching me even though I’m trying to keep quiet.

Suspicious.

It was around then that my status window displayed information.

[— ‘Bilrod von Leblen’ is a new one of the Five Kings that emerged when you intervened in this world line. He is currently participating in the outer gods’ conspiracy.]

A new one of the Five Kings.

He must be different from the final king who would appear when the Laplace-system outer gods arrive. He probably appeared as a replacement for that chef… Joseph Miller.

Should we now call them the Six Kings?

“It’s good that there are many professor openings this year. Have you applied elsewhere too?”

“Yes.”

“Perhaps Stellarium and Iryuel Academy as well?”

“Everywhere I could.”

I don’t understand his intention.

Surveillance?

Or is he trying to make me fail?

Anyway, I need to stay here for about two days. Professor appointment interviews typically take all day.

They roughly assess the candidate’s qualifications, and then through a meeting of existing professors, one can only be appointed if there’s virtually unanimous agreement. If there’s even a slight opposition, no one gets hired, and the position is carried over to the next year.

This means I have to stick with this person all day.

“Tsk.”

I don’t like it.

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing, my leg just feels a bit numb. Maybe I slept wrong yesterday.”

“I see, by the way…”

“Looks like they’re about to start.”

Just then, the professors in charge appeared.

“Welcome to Callisto Academy, candidates. I am Professor Leiden Aphron, who will be conducting your research-related interview. And this is Professor Roshua Bishuhald, who will evaluate your teaching abilities.”

It’s my first time coming to a professor appointment interview, so I was a bit nervous.

Well.

They’re all familiar faces.