Ch.335Setting Up a Laboratory (1)

Professor Feynman’s voice trembled.

“Ireh Hazlen, weren’t you supposed to come to our lab?”

“Professor Feynman, I’m sorry. I promised long ago that I would join as a graduate student when Eidel Rheinland became a professor.”

“Uh, uh-uh, uhh.”

Feynman staggered. He rested his chin on his hand and nodded weakly.

“Is that so? Then there’s nothing I can do. Nothing at all. Haha.”

No matter who the advisor is, they can’t have Ireh. I raised this student. So I should be the one to see her graduate. Yes, absolutely.

“So, are you currently on a lab tour?”

“Huh? Yes, for now.”

“Oh my.”

One professor giving up wasn’t the end of it. As soon as the theoretical professors heard the name Ireh Hazlen, their eyes flashed like vipers.

“What’s your area of interest?”

“Have you considered experimental work instead of theory?”

Really, these people. Trying to steal someone else’s graduate student.

“Professors, Hazlen is here for a lab tour with me, so this is rather inconvenient.”

I might let them steal my papers, but I’ll never let them steal my graduate student. I stood up and offered Ireh my chair.

“Here, sit down, student.”

“Professor. But…”

“Please sit.”

After hesitating, Ireh met my gaze and quickly sat down. Seeing this, the professors scratched their heads and took a step back.

Meanwhile, some continued despite knowing it was rude. Professor Stranov, for example.

“You should be careful when choosing a lab. It’s a decision that affects at least several years of your life. It’s better to look around at various labs before deciding, isn’t it?”

“I understand Ireh is interested in graviton bomb research. How about visiting our lab too? Our next research topic happens to be graviton bombs.”

“Ah, we’re also working on that.”

“Our lab has decided to work on that too.”

Once Stranov started, other professors began chiming in one by one. They were trying to lure Ireh away by exploiting the fact that I was researching graviton bombs.

“You cunning people. You shouldn’t try to take a student who came to visit a newly appointed professor!”

“We’re not taking anyone. We’re just providing information. Students have the right to know.”

“Students can find information on their own. If they can’t even do that much research and make decisions, how will they ever graduate…”

More than a dozen professors murmured among themselves. It was like a chaotic marketplace.

That’s when Ireh spoke up.

“Everyone, I’m sorry, but I had decided not to attend graduate school unless it was with Professor Eidel Rheinland. I appreciate your offers, but I’m declining them all.”

“…Oh.”

The professors fell silent.

She wouldn’t attend graduate school unless it was my lab. It sounded strange even to me.

Of course it did. Normally, graduate students select their field of interest first, then visit various professors within that field before deciding on a lab.

“I-I see. Understood.”

“Is it this late already? I’ll be going first.”

“Oh my, me too.”

What’s this? The professors’ reactions were unusual.

They quickly left the office as if nothing had happened. Even Professor Stranov shook hands with Professor Feynman and vanished.

In just a few minutes, only Ireh and I remained.

I didn’t know what had just happened, but it was fortunate. I opened the window to let out the stuffy air, then closed the door.

“Um, Professor?”

“Sister. Please call me casually like you usually do.”

“But since we’re in a formal meeting, I should call you Professor…”

That title is keeping me too excited.

“Then… little brother Professor?”

“Sister, please.”

Ireh burst into laughter. I chuckled too and shook my head. As the tension eased, I seemed to calm down a bit.

“You did it after all.”

“Yes, I did.”

“I knew you could do it.”

I became a professor.

What’s the biggest advantage of being a professor? It’s being able to establish an independent laboratory and receive government funding. It’s also advantageous when discussing science and technology policies with government officials.

But there was one true advantage that could overshadow all those benefits.

“Sister, would you like to join my lab?”

Recruiting graduate students.

“Of course.”

Ireh answered with a smile.

“I have to take responsibility and see you through to graduation, right?”

“Graduation depends on you, not me.”

“Am I not good enough?”

“No, if it’s you, you’ll be able to do it quickly.”

And so, before even negotiating my salary, I gained a graduate student. In fact, Ireh was so capable and sharp that she could be considered a postdoc.

The next task was creating a website. I built the framework in about half a day and entered basic personal information. Finally, I posted this message on the main page:

[Not accepting any more graduate students this year.]

“Now that that’s done… let’s talk about money.”

Funding.

In other words, the graduate student’s stipend. Just as professors receive money from the government, professors must also pay wages to graduate students. This needs to be negotiated between student and professor.

“Sister, how much would you like to receive?”

“Do you have money?”

“Seti will provide it.”

Ireh shook her head.

“Personnel costs are also research funds. I… honestly don’t need much. Just enough for food and dormitory fees would be fine.”

“But that would be too little.”

“I can’t let this world line fail just because I wanted a few more coins. What does money matter?”

“That’s true. Still, I’ll give you what you want.”

Ireh’s lips quivered. Her expression suggested she was debating whether to speak or not. I gestured for her to continue. Ireh cleared her throat and spoke.

“…Since I really need to keep it minimal and put the rest toward research funds, well, you know.”

“Yes?”

I sipped my coffee leisurely. I was confident I wouldn’t be surprised no matter how small an amount Ireh requested.

Perhaps she’d say she’d work for free. That would be the extreme.

“Could I just live at your place?”

“Pfft!”

***

My wives, who had been assigned elsewhere, returned as quickly as possible after hearing I had become a professor. Both immediately apologized when they saw my face.

“Sorry I’m late. Sorry I wasn’t there.”

“Rustila, it’s fine.”

“I heard you could have been in big trouble if Ireh and Sonia hadn’t been there?”

I nodded. But they weren’t the only ones who helped.

“Cartesia too.”

“That outer god?”

“Seems like being half-constellation makes it do some work after all.”

I explained in more detail what I had only shared via text messages before. Rustila bowed her head deeply, and Zernya swallowed hard with her arms crossed. Zernya spoke.

“Three leader outer gods plus Laplace. This means things will get worse from now on.”

“That’s why I need you both by my side if possible.”

“We want that too, but we’re being called from everywhere. It’s chaos in all directions right now.”

Zernya’s expression hardened.

“…Last week alone, I saw over thirty corpses.”

Madness was still spreading across various planetary systems. People were suddenly collapsing, and some were joining the outer gods’ side. I nearly died myself, so I could only imagine how bad the frontier zones were.

At this rate, the national treasury would be depleted before Laplace even arrived. As the mood grew gloomy, Sonia, who had been peeling fruit, interjected.

“By the way, there was that rumor.”

“What rumor?”

Yes, change the subject to something lighter. Let us breathe a little.

“That the young master and Miss Ireh are having an affair…”

“Pfft!”

“W-what are you talking about?”

I glared at Sonia. She shrugged and popped a slice of apple into my mouth. Then she showed me a news article.

“This is the young master’s lab website. Despite being a new lab, it says you’re not accepting graduate students. Yet I heard you accepted Miss Ireh.”

“That’s right.”

“Also, during her meeting with you, Miss Ireh firmly stated she wouldn’t even consider graduate school unless it was with you. Is this true as well?”

“It is.”

Sonia continued her deduction as if she were a detective.

“A professor and one graduate student. And a theoretical research lab at that. These are ideal conditions for secret meetings.”

“What on earth are you talking about?”

“Considering the young master’s character—sharing a bed with two wives yet spending most time reading papers—Miss Ireh’s behavior can be seen as a precisely targeted courtship. Isn’t that right?”

Zernya and Rustila narrowed their eyes. It did sound plausible even to me. To be honest, I wasn’t entirely without concerns.

“Eidel.”

“Rustila.”

“Darling.”

“Zernya.”

“Say something.”

“It’s a misunderstanding.”

Of course, it’s true that Ireh and I have a complicated relationship, but we’ve both been avoiding bringing it up for now. The greater cause of fighting against the outer gods was far more important than our personal relationship.

“I only accepted Sister Ireh as a graduate student because I don’t have the luxury to select and train other personnel. Really. There’s nothing else to it.”

“…That sounds rather meaningful.”

“What does?”

“Ireh even kissed you.”

I was about to say that was only when affected by the outer god’s curse, but I stopped short. Come to think of it, there was exactly one time we kissed voluntarily after defeating Powehi.

Ireh’s graduate student declaration.

Me, unable to control myself and making a sudden move.

And Sonia, who had witnessed everything.

My head turned stiffly. Sonia gave a sly smile. Rustila and Zernya each grabbed my shoulders and brought their faces close to mine.

“Darling.”

“We know better than anyone that you can’t lie.”

It was terrifying.

Ding dong.

The doorbell rang just then. Sonia got up and checked the door monitor. She adjusted her headband and grinned.

“Miss Ireh has arrived.”

“What?”

“She seems to have a lot of luggage. I’ll let her in.”