Ch.332I’ll Become a Professor (10)

Several days had passed.

Billord, who had disembarked from the orbital descent vessel, checked the time.

‘I’m not late.’

Today was the day of his Stellarium professor appointment interview. It was also the day that would become Eidel Rheinland’s death anniversary.

[— Quest: Assassinate Eidel Rheinland.]

[— Success: Professor position at Stellarium, Callisto, or Iryuel Academy (choose one) / A surprise gift from the ‘King of Elegant Finale’]

[— Failure: Punishment from the ‘King of Elegant Finale’]

There was no turning back now. He had come too far to stop. Moreover.

[— Binding condition: Time limit (12 hours 00 minutes)]

‘I heard that the Outer God’s quests were all or nothing, and it’s exactly as they say.’

Though today could become Billord’s own death anniversary if he failed, he didn’t care. There was nothing to fear. Everything was for Lord Renatus, the Iron Fortress, and Her Majesty the Queen.

“Tsk.”

Billord wiped his saliva and checked his status window.

[— The ‘Great Triangle’ effect is not being applied in the current region.]

‘Just as the Queen said a few days ago.’

Queen Aurore’s invasion had begun again. The invasion areas were the southwest and southeast.

However, the scale was smaller than before, but the frequency had increased. The Queen herself wasn’t leading the charge.

In any case, for this reason, he had succeeded in separating Eidel from his two wives.

‘Wait, if this happens… even if I become a professor, wouldn’t humanity be doomed? No, that can’t be right?’

The Queen had said that their target was Eidel Rheinland, not the destruction of the Federation.

The seed of doubt soon disappeared completely from his mind. In its place was a blind loyalty of unknown origin.

“Heh, hehehe.”

Billord fingered the “parasitic powder” he had received from the Queen. It was an extremely potent poison with information so concealed that it couldn’t be detected by most constellations or technology.

‘All I have to do is sprinkle this on the food he eats.’

Billord thoroughly wiped away the saliva that had reached his chin and headed toward the main gate.

***

I don’t remember clearly what happened that day. I only know for certain that I was tied up with Cartesia all weekend.

Thanks to that, I gained a new ability.

[— You have acquired ‘Eyes of Wisdom and Curiosity’.]

The eyes of an Outer God.

When I used the skill, the world began to look different.

Coin and Pron. The distribution of the two currencies became visible at a glance. It felt like checking the body temperature of animals and plants through an infrared filter.

I took out my calipers after a long time. The calipers, which had appeared dark gray to human eyes, now had a purple hue.

[“It means the concentration of Pron is high.”]

I wonder what I could do with this.

That question was soon answered. As I was walking through the Stellarium campus to attend my final professor interview, I heard a voice from behind.

“Dr. Rheinland!”

When I turned my head, there was a ghastly blue ghost standing there. I almost screamed. I blinked and responded.

“Dr. Leblen, we meet again.”

“Yes, good to see you.”

Billord von Leflen. A human who was simultaneously favored by three Outer Gods.

I shouldn’t feel sorry for him. This person is a traitor to humanity. He made a contract with the Outer Gods of his own will. Above all.

[— Psychological state: He is plotting to kill you.]

I wasn’t kind enough to show mercy to someone trying to assassinate me.

Billord smiled slyly and stuck close to me.

“Well, shall we go?”

I walked with the most natural smile I could manage. Glancing at Billord’s face, I saw he was drooling like a child.

He wiped his lips with a handkerchief and grinned.

“I hope you do your best in today’s interview.”

“Yes, you too, Doctor.”

I entered the physics department building while saying things I didn’t mean.

Stellarium had separate individual and group interviews. Morning was for individual interviews, afternoon for group interviews.

I was the last to enter the interview room.

Naturally, they were all familiar faces.

Now that I think about it, there was a common point in all the interviews I had gone through. The professors who entered as interviewers were all those who had directly collaborated with me.

Perhaps for this reason, the interview atmosphere was extremely comfortable.

“Is there anything you’d like to eat for lunch today?”

It was too comfortable, which was a problem.

Aside from formal self-introductions and presentations of research achievements, the questions continued at the level of small talk. They didn’t specifically violate any regulations, but they weren’t questions essential for a professor appointment either.

“Um, aren’t you going to ask about research plans or teaching abilities…?”

The professors shrugged at my question. Among them was Professor Feynman. I wondered why my advisor was even here.

“…Then let me ask this one thing. If you become a professor, you’ll accept graduate students, right? What if that graduate student is so outstanding that they could graduate right away, what would you do?”

“I should help them graduate as quickly as possible.”

I answered promptly, thinking of Ireh.

“Even if your own research schedule is busy?”

“Yes. If they can’t freely choose their topics because they’re worried about graduation, that’s a problem in itself.”

Don’t spare resources for talented individuals. Whether it’s tuition, cutting-edge experimental equipment, or time.

“I understand that placing the right person in the right position is Stellarium’s educational principle. If someone qualifies for a bachelor’s degree, award it immediately; if they qualify for a master’s, award it immediately; and if they qualify for a doctorate, award it immediately. I too have come this far following this principle.”

“But that’s not an easy task. Even experienced professors find it difficult to determine whether a student can immediately stand as an independent researcher.”

“There are clear criteria. How many flagship papers as the main author, how many conference presentations, and so on.”

I continued.

“We don’t have much time. Outstanding talents are always scarce, and human lifespans are limited. Meanwhile, Outer Gods are constantly targeting our galaxy.”

The professors whispered among themselves and then nodded.

“I think that’s sufficient.”

“Interview over! Let’s go eat.”

It was over.

Wait, it’s over?

So quickly?

“What’s in the cafeteria today?”

“We’re not going there. We need to go to the faculty dining hall.”

“Let’s just eat outside the school.”

I blinked in confusion but slowly got up, following the professors. They surrounded me protectively and led me outside.

Thus, five professors and four applicants, including myself, found seats at a nearby restaurant.

As luck would have it, Billord sat next to me. Sitting right next to someone trying to kill me made me nervous, but I tried not to show it.

“Let’s all order in turn, and chat comfortably while eating.”

I deliberately ordered the cheapest item.

“You could order something more expensive, Doctor.”

“This is all budget too. As someone getting treated, I should be as economical as possible.”

“Ahem.”

The other applicants cleared their throats.

A bell rang indicating that the food was ready while we were making small talk. This place had a takeout structure, so we had to pick up the food trays ourselves.

“I’ll go.”

Billord took the initiative to move. I and the other applicants followed a step behind.

Whether by coincidence or not, Billord picked up my menu. For me, knowing that he was plotting my assassination, this was a suspicious action.

Sure enough, when I turned on the Outer God’s eyes that Cartesia had given me, the hamburger was glowing entirely purple.

I frowned. My vision narrowed and focused on one spot. Small creatures that looked like maggots were crawling on top of the hamburger. They were parasitic larvae of Darwin’s Legion.

[— This is a concealed target.]

If I had mistakenly put it in my mouth, my life would have been over. I owe Cartesia a life debt.

“Please, eat up.”

Billord urged. He was essentially holding a ritual for my death. He wiped away the foaming drool with a napkin and grinned.

“What you ordered looks really delicious, Doctor.”

“Does it?”

Well said.

When I cut into it with a knife, a rich aroma and abundant meat juices flowed from the hamburger. The maggots writhed at the slight vibration. I picked up a cut piece of hamburger with my fork.

And then.

“You should eat some too, Doctor.”

I spread it nicely on top of Billord’s steak. I could see his eyelids being pushed upward.

“No, Dr. Rheinland, you should eat it all…”

“I’m on a diet these days.”

“…Actually, so am I.”

Billord cut half of his lamb and placed it on my plate. I shook my head and returned it. After repeating this five or six times, both dishes became a purple mess.

“You two seem to get along well.”

“You should get married.”

“I’m already married.”

I looked around. The professors and the other two applicants were eating just fine, but Billord and I still hadn’t taken a single bite.

“I’m not feeling well.”

“Me neither.”

I waited until everyone else finished their meal and then threw away all the meat. Billord did the same. At least the salad that came separately wasn’t contaminated, so we could eat that.

Growl.

I’m hungry. Having to go into the afternoon interview in this state.

In the afternoon, they evaluated presentation and teaching abilities, so I had to speak non-stop. My stomach quickly emptied. It felt like my stomach was curling inward.

Tap.

I put down my pen and sighed.

“Thank you for your efforts in today’s interview.”

Finally, it was over.

Although all the schedules were completed, I wasn’t particularly happy. I had been making eye contact with Billord all afternoon. I could see the killing intent rising on his face as time passed.

The threat to my life was just beginning.

“Dr. Rheinland, since we’ve met three times now, would you like to have a drink in the downtown area?”

“A drink?”

“Yes, my treat.”

Clang!