Ch.328I’ll Become a Professor (6)

Eidel Rheinland had applied for a professorship.

The moment this news spread, everyone from the physics department faculty at Callisto Academy to the president’s office and academic affairs office was in an uproar.

“Did you hear the president speaking with such determination? ‘We must bring him in by any means necessary!’ I’ve never seen him so passionate since his appointment!”

“It’s not that simple, no matter what he says. The process must be fair at the very least.”

Hiring professors costs money. And Callisto, being a national institution, uses government funds to hire new faculty.

Which means there can be no corruption in the hiring process.

“It’s a shame we can’t just invite him directly.”

“Indeed. Well, I’m sure that fellow would do splendidly anyway…”

Apron and Bishuhald looked at each other. Both professors nodded simultaneously.

“The problem would be if we hire him and he goes to another school, right?”

***

I felt relieved when I confirmed the two professors who had entered as interviewers.

Raiden Apron, Roshua Bishuhald.

They were people with whom I had deep connections, having attended the Head Family Selection.

Though I was glad to see them after so long, I couldn’t openly display our familiarity, so I limited myself to exchanging discreet greetings.

“Let’s start with brief self-introductions. Mr. Williams, please go first.”

“Ah, yes! I am…”

Beyond the interview itself, I was concerned about the person named Billord or Billboard. He had been occasionally glancing at me with a smile.

To be honest, it was creepy.

“Thank you for your introduction. Next… Mr. Billord?”

“Yes, I’m Billord von Leblen. I double-majored in physics and mathematics at Callisto Academy. I received my doctorate in Overlapping Field Theory and applied for the assistant professor position to continue my research in this area.”

A clean self-introduction.

“Could you briefly explain what Overlapping Field Theory is?”

“Yes, an overlapping field refers to a state where fields are layered like multiple sheets of paper. While a single field can represent only one state at a point, when two or more fields overlap, they can simultaneously create different phenomena at the same point. This allows us to explain physics occurring in higher dimensions. That is Overlapping Field Theory.”

Overlapping Field Theory.

I was familiar with it.

Simply put, it’s a phenomenon where different events occur simultaneously in the same place due to interference from foreign gods or constellations. In stock market terms, it’s like longs and shorts coexisting…

Anyway.

This theory was also a precursor to the Folding Theory that Ireh had published recently.

So this was the person who had researched it.

However, Callisto Academy’s current goal was simply to hire one physics professor. There was no preference for any specific specialization.

Since Professor Apron and Professor Bishuhald specialized in solid-state physics, they just acknowledged his explanation and moved on.

“Next, Dr. Eidel Rheinland.”

Finally, my turn.

“I am Eidel Rheinland. I studied under Professor Feynman at Stellarium Academy.”

“Please tell us about your most notable research achievement.”

“Yes.”

I answered with a profound smile.

“I once elucidated the physical principles of Darwin-type foreign god crystals.”

“Oh…”

The eyes of both interviewers sparkled.

That was inevitable.

With these people, I had conducted research together.

Written papers together.

Co-worked.

Professors, by nature, perk up even from deep sleep when their field of expertise is mentioned.

***

“That’s right, there was such a problem, and Dr. Rheinland solved it brilliantly. I was truly impressed at the time.”

“You’re too kind, Professor.”

“The scope of crystal research has expanded so much since then. Ho ho ho.”

Billord sensed it.

The situation was turning unfavorable for him.

‘Damn it.’

He was a graduate of this school, yet the professors were showing more interest in Eidel.

This trend continued throughout the day.

During formal conversations in the interview room.

During meals together.

Even when scribbling on the blackboard to evaluate teaching skills.

The professors were gazing at Eidel with sparkling eyes like lovesick girls.

Feeling as though the Callisto professors, whom he had spent years with in classrooms and laboratories, had been stolen from him, Billord was filled with unpleasant emotions.

It was both jealousy and irritation.

‘This won’t do.’

He needed to come up with a plan.

Should he just kill him right here?

‘No, that won’t work.’

Callisto Academy was his home base. He didn’t want to tarnish the name of his sacred alma mater.

Besides, if he were to kill someone, it should be an assassination where no one would know, not something done openly. After all, he had the important goal of becoming a professor, so he couldn’t openly commit a crime that would land him in prison.

‘Wait, come to think of it, do I really need to kill him?’

[“No, he must die. Have you already forgotten that he obtained such power and knowledge by contracting with a foreign god?”]

Right, that was it.

This was punishment for a traitor to humanity. He was certainly not following the orders of a foreign god. Billord nodded secretly to himself.

Before he knew it, the next day had arrived.

“Ho ho ho.”

“Ho ho ho ho.”

“Ha ha.”

The interviewers were completely taken with Eidel. It was as if they were being mentally controlled by a foreign god.

‘What trash. How dare he bewitch our university professors…’

It was a moment that further solidified Billord’s conviction.

An education professor evaluating the demonstration lecture asked:

“Dr. Rheinland, you teach well at the students’ level. Have you studied education separately or had previous experience teaching students?”

“I haven’t studied education specifically, but I’ve been mentoring a junior for 3-4 years.”

“Ah, so even now?”

“Yes. I’m still teaching now.”

Eidel answered while scratching his head as if embarrassed.

Junior. Mentoring. Teaching for 3-4 years.

Based on the information he provided, along with his expressions and actions, there was something to note.

Billord used Renatus’s power to peek into Eidel’s inner thoughts.

[— Reminiscing about memories with ‘Ireh Hazlen’. Harboring tender feelings for her. Concerned about establishing their relationship■■ ■■■ ■■ ■ ■■■■ ■■■ ■■■■■ ■■■■….]

[— D҈̰͍̬̣̖͗̿̅̽̈́͊̿̉͊́͆̍́̈́̚̚ḛ̴̝̤̘͙̅̋̉͌̐̀̿n҈͍̲̞͕̥̙̯̇̎͐͆̌̀̑̏̉͑̎̿̒̓̍i̵͇̙̟͖͕̭̫͉̫̠̘͆̾̀͒̀a҈͚̗͚̭͔͚̥̟̭̜̲͐̋̊̑͑̔̚ͅͅl҈̜̠̜͍̖͚̜͚̲͔̘̞̬̂̈͌̀͋͛̌̂͋͆̉ o̷̪̳͖̗͉͉̳͕͚͍̰̬̍̋̍̊̇̇͊̑͗͊͒͆̉͐f̷̤͎͚̪̟̘͖̙̬̥̩̙͔͚̽͌̓̀͂ A̵͎̪̪̱̟̰̦̣̠͔̣͙͕̫̒͑̀̈́̔̈́͂̀̍̒́c҈̩͙̞̟̘͔̓͗̈̿̉͋̊̍̆̇͌̿̑̍͂c҉̜͙͓̰̘̪͍͙͙̮͂̅̈̔̑̿͂e̶̝̭̱͎̣̬̩̰͇̫̬̖̘̠̭̜̓̀̈͆͛̓̄̚s҉͍͓̲̗̙̣͎̋̅͌͑̏̆̌͆́̎̑ͅs̴̩̟̘̳̳̩̗̖͙̠̪̰͈̜̜̄̊́̀͗̒͌]

“Aaaaargh!”

Billord fell backward.

“Are you alright?”

“Ah, aaaah.”

He had seen something he shouldn’t have. His head felt hot. It was like having vast knowledge incomprehensible to the human mind forcibly crammed into his brain.

Ooooh, it gave him chills.

“Could it be Pron poisoning?”

“That’s impossible. We all ate together.”

“Still, just in case…”

“I-I’m fine.”

Billord improvised while clutching his right shoulder. He answered while letting out a non-existent groan.

“I slept wrong yesterday, and my shoulder…”

“Ah, I see.”

Only when Billord smiled did the concerned people relax their expressions. The eastern region, except for academies and central administrative districts, was currently a cauldron of madness, so people were on edge.

Billord’s gaze rolled toward Eidel.

Though it was just a fleeting moment, he had gleaned some information.

Ireh Hazlen.

‘I should remember that name for now.’

***

The day-long interview ended. Eidel and Billord each boarded shuttles and headed home.

Simultaneously, ripples were spreading at Stellarium and Iryuel Academy.

[Stellarium Full-time Faculty Recruitment First Round Successful Candidates Notice]

[Iryuel Academy Assistant Professor Recruitment Document Screening Successful Candidates Notice]

As soon as the news spread that Eidel had interviewed at Callisto Academy, strange things began happening in the presidents’ offices of both academies. The presidents themselves started pressuring the academic affairs office and department heads.

Professor Callis Stranov, who had just become pregnant with her second child, was one of them.

“Professor Stranov?”

“Yes, President.”

“Dr. Rheinland has applied for a faculty position at our school this time, correct?”

“That’s right.”

“Regarding the physics department interview evaluation… I think it would be good if you participated, Professor Stranov.”

“…Pardon?”

For reference, Callis was on sabbatical this year.

Meanwhile, at Stellarium.

Professor Feynman, who had been deeply immersed in research, found himself in the president’s office before he knew it.

“Professor Feynman.”

“Yes, President.”

“Our alumnus, Dr. Rheinland, has applied for an assistant professor position, correct?”

“That’s right.”

“How about you personally go to welcome your student?”

“…Pardon?”

Feynman hesitated before answering.

“He’s my student. If I enter as an interviewer, there could be issues of fairness…”

“That’s only for college admissions. When hiring full-time faculty, your opinion alone won’t determine everything, as we’ll evaluate comprehensively…”

In simple terms.

“…to prevent him from leaving for another academy even if he gets in.”

It was a request to flirt with him.

And so, a marital dispute(?) between Feynman and Stranov over Eidel was about to begin.