Ch.331I’ll Become a Professor (9)

The Invasion of Heretics Serving Foreign Gods.

It was a common occurrence in the western region.

Even so, of all days, they had to stage a terrorist attack on the building where my wives and I were staying.

Boom!

The ground shook. The sound of exploding bombs reached us.

“Everyone please evacuate quickly!”

We headed toward the escape route, guided by the swordsmen stationed near the hotel. Unfortunately, the cultists had already blown up every back exit.

The terrorists had formed ranks at the main entrance. They confronted the military police, shouting loudly.

“Release the Holy Maiden!”

Immediately after, something like an arrow flew through the air and lodged into the main hall’s wiring box. With a crackling sound of discharge, darkness fell.

Ting!

Another arrowhead flew in and stuck into the floor.

“It’s a javelin! Everyone back…!”

Boom!

The metal arrow exploded, sending shrapnel flying in all directions. The swordsmen who tried to protect the guests collapsed as they were hit by the flying fragments. It was a horrific sight.

“Brothers, charge!”

“Aaaaargh!!”

The crazed fanatics had one goal: to plunge this world into darkness. The terrorists charged forward with bombs strapped to their bodies.

There seemed to be too many terrorists for the swordsmen to handle.

“A-are we losing ground?”

“Mom, I’m scared.”

“It’s okay, honey. We’ll make it out alive.”

Panic among the civilians was growing.

Gritting her teeth, Rustila Kersil spoke up.

“I’ll handle this.”

“Rusty, are you sure?”

“I’m a soldier.”

Rustila gave a brief reply and picked up a Plasma Sword that had fallen to the floor. As she stepped forward, the military police desperately tried to stop her.

“It’s dangerous! If you recklessly go out there…!”

They stopped mid-sentence, their jaws dropping.

Whoosh.

A blade of Aether energy traced a path like the Milky Way. The dormant sword awakened with the vital energy of the constellation, letting out a roar.

“W-who are you… Wait!”

Tap!

Before the swordsman could finish speaking, Rustila’s figure rushed toward the terrorists.

Slash!

First, one of them. She fiercely cut off his arm and kicked him down. It happened so suddenly that both terrorists and soldiers hesitated.

“What are you doing? Shoot! I said shoot!”

Rustila bent her knees and lowered her head. She swung her sword. Swoosh! Before the terrorists could pull their triggers, her blade sliced through their wrists.

“Huh? Aaaaargh!”

“My hand, my hand!”

“Urrrgh…”

The frightened terrorists began to retreat slowly.

“Damn it, you idiots! She’s not even wearing a suit! You’re struggling against one bare-handed woman? Huh?”

“But boss! This woman is no ordinary person! She must be at least EX-rank!”

“Spread out! I’ll deal with her myself!”

A large man wearing a mask stepped forward with a pulse rifle. The pulse rifle was a weapon capable of firing dozens of rounds per minute.

“I don’t know where you crawled out from, but let’s see you dodge this.”

Even with Rustila’s superhuman reflexes, she couldn’t possibly dodge all the bullets from a rifle with her bare body.

So I tapped Ireh Hazlen on the shoulder.

“Sister.”

“I know.”

Ireh immediately took out her spirit gun and fired. The “Bullet of Weakness” hit the man’s wrist. He collapsed with a groan.

“Now!”

“Attack!”

What followed was swift and decisive. As their formation crumbled, Rustila mercilessly cut down the terrorists, and the swordsmen, whose morale had risen, contained the situation.

“Hehehehe! To the side of the foreign god!”

Boom!

Except for two or three who committed suicide, all were captured. Groans filled the air. Half were from the cultists, the other half from soldiers and civilians.

“Ah, fieldwork on a holiday.”

Zernya von und zu Trisha Adelbein grumbled but stepped forward. She quickly attended to the severely injured using the medical kits available in the hotel.

Rustila sighed and turned around. The swordsmen who had received her help approached and bowed their heads in unison.

“Thank you so much for your help.”

“State your affiliation, rank, and position.”

“Pardon?”

“I’m asking which unit you belong to, and what your military rank and swordsman grade are.”

“Suddenly that’s… gasp.”

The swordsman’s face gradually turned pale.

It was because Rustila had shown her military ID.

“S-stars…”

“How could the Virgin constellation be in a place like this…”

Rustila spoke again.

“Affiliation, rank, position.”

***

After her victory in the Southern Great War and accumulating distinguished service in various minor theaters afterward, Rustila had already become a two-star general.

Since military ranks and swordsman grades were different systems, it was nearly impossible for someone of Rustila’s age to become a general.

When I wondered if this made sense, Zernya retorted that if it didn’t, then was I not human for getting my doctorate at twenty-two and interviewing for a professorship? I had to nod in agreement.

Anyway, she’s my wife, but she’s truly remarkable.

“Don’t you feel ashamed?”

“…”

“I’ll ask again. Don’t you feel ashamed?”

“Yes, I do!”

“You’re supposed to protect the lives and property of citizens, yet you were so easily overwhelmed by terrorists. You’re a disgrace as soldiers.”

I approached Rustila, who was berating the soldiers, and placed my hand on her shoulder.

“Go easy on them. They’re not even regular army.”

“Whether they’re regular army or militia under the auxiliary defense forces, they’re all soldiers.”

“How many people think like you do?”

Rustila looked at me with a sad expression.

I understand.

The real reason she was angry was that I had almost been in danger.

I shook my head and patted Rustila’s shoulder.

“So, you’re saying that as swordsmen, you don’t have separate grades?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

Even in Academia or College, they teach how to handle a Plasma Sword. I learned it too, albeit poorly. However, if someone asked if I had a grade as a swordsman, the answer would be ‘no.’ The same applied to them.

“Where is the regular army while you’re handling anti-terrorism duties? I don’t understand.”

“We’re told the regular army is currently short on personnel. That’s why internal security is managed by the auxiliary defense forces. Our unit was formed just a month ago.”

“We can somehow prevent individual crimes. But in cases like this, when a cult carries out terrorism…”

“Everyone, are you alright?”

That wasn’t my response. Our heads turned toward the main entrance.

The regular army had arrived.

Rustila’s gaze sharpened once more.

Rustila gave the regular army major who came to contain the situation a dressing-down that lasted over an hour before her anger subsided.

“Is this how you’ll handle things in the future too?”

“No, I’m sorry. I’m truly sorry.”

I saw a lot today and learned just as much.

That even in the mighty Federation Army, there are areas of inadequacy and corruption.

Afterward, we canceled our remaining schedule and returned home. The southern region was relatively safe.

That’s not to say it was completely peaceful, and the reason was none other than Aurora.

[Unsettling movements have been detected again in the southern Aether Belt region. Experts analyze that the Darwin-type foreign god is preparing for an invasion, but the government maintains that these claims are groundless.]

Rustila frowned after reading a text message.

“The army wants me to take charge of the southwestern defense.”

Zernya also hung up her phone and cursed.

“Damn it.”

“What’s wrong?”

“I have to go to the southeastern region. Damn it.”

I held my head.

“The country must surely know. At the very least, the three of us need to be on the same planet for the Great Triangle to activate…”

“The army and hospital don’t need to coordinate. And it’s always been like this. Why act surprised now?”

Zernya and Rustila left as soon as they were ready. As usual, only Sonia and Ireh remained by my side.

Not being able to expect the Great Triangle effect.

At a time like this, it was critical.

But what could I do?

Both wives are great people. One is a specialist physician for foreign gods, the other a Great Omega grade swordsman. For the sake of national interest, they couldn’t just stay to protect me alone.

That’s why Rustila and Zernya allowed Sonia to become my wife.

However, considering that three foreign gods are simultaneously plotting to kill me, Sonia alone doesn’t put my mind at ease.

“Sigh.”

As I was sighing, Ireh grabbed my collar.

“It’s okay, I’m here.”

“Sister?”

“Brother, I’ve been thinking… while those two are away, Sonia and I should stay by your side.”

“Wait a minute.”

Silently.

Cartesia, who had been researching in her room, appeared like a ghost. She frowned and objected.

“Hey, black-haired girl. Don’t try to climb up. Nothing changes by you sticking around the kid.”

“Don’t be ridiculous. You can’t even go outside.”

“Why can’t I go out? I can. I’m a constellation.”

“You’re also a foreign god.”

Ireh and Cartesia glared at each other.

“Kid. Don’t you see this girl is desperately trying to move into your house? Shouldn’t you tell her to maintain at least some boundaries?”

“What boundaries? Then you, as a foreign god, stole my place! Isn’t that crossing the line?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about. What place did I steal? Besides, I’m the only one who can have intellectual conversations with this kid.”

This is driving me crazy.

Sensing that the fight could escalate uncontrollably, I stepped between them.

“Let’s stop. We have important matters ahead.”

“…Fine, it’s ridiculous to sit here arguing with a girl like you.”

Cartesia extended her tentacles, wrapped them around me, and lifted me up. Ireh’s expression went blank. And so I was carried off to the bedroom.

Cartesia locked the door and tossed me onto the bed.

“W-what are you doing?”

“I’ll show you a new world.”

She climbed on top of me.