Ch.361[Epilogue] I Have Returned

Seti and his wives cried until dawn.

It felt like a dream.

It wasn’t a dream.

That made it even more joyful.

After Rustila, Zernya kissed Eidel’s lips. The sensation was vivid. The kiss was proof that this situation wasn’t a dream or an illusion.

“Young master, I missed you. I truly missed you……”

“Sonia. Why aren’t you wearing your maid uniform?”

“I’ll wear it again from now on. *Sob sob*.”

He kisses Sonia too.

Next was Ireh.

They were in front of others. He didn’t want to be overly affectionate in public. But Ireh’s reason had already reached its limit.

In the end, Ireh covered Eidel’s lips with her own, just like when she was under the curse of lust before. It was impulsive. Today was the first time she realized she could be this forward while in her right mind.

Seti clicked her tongue. She wiped away her tears and said.

“Welcome back, brother.”

It was time to hand over the position of family head.

***

Eidel had returned. After the brief platonic joy, his wives couldn’t help but feel their inner lustful desires beginning to boil.

One year.

A whole year without it.

Newlywed life is such that even eye contact can ignite passion. Led by the experienced Zernya and Rustila, their gazes toward Eidel were filling with desire.

However.

“Ah, work……”

It happened to be a weekday.

“Should I just take a day off?”

“What would you write as the reason?”

“Sex.”

“Who just said that?”

Cartesia proudly raised her hand.

“It was me.”

“Why is the foreign god still here?”

“Didn’t I tell you before? I’m also the youngster’s companion. So naturally, I should live in the same house where the youngster lives.”

Rustila and Zernya instinctively sensed danger.

“You……”

“Surely you wouldn’t turn away someone who played a crucial role in bringing the youngster back? No matter how foolish, you wouldn’t disregard such a debt of gratitude.”

“……Grr.”

She had a point.

For the past year, Rustila and Zernya had felt the emptiness of Eidel’s absence to the bone. That’s why they didn’t fight. Their days consisted of silently doing their work, coming home to take care of the child, and then falling asleep exhausted.

“Let me make this clear. I’m also your savior. Without me and Ireh Hazlen, could you have kissed this man again? No. You would have lived miserably, being called widows for the rest of your lives.”

Such a life would have been terrible.

They were frustrated but had to agree.

“Come on, admit it.”

“Alright, fine……”

Ireh’s expression brightened. She glanced at Cartesia. Cartesia snickered and blinked her eyes rhythmically.

Everything.

According to plan.

Has worked out.

Yes.

“Hey, let’s talk after you get back. You must be busy too, right? Go ahead.”

“When you go out, make sure to take either Sonia or Sister Ireh with you. Never, ever wander around alone dangerously. Understand?”

“I got it. I said I got it.”

Eidel sighed inwardly. It seemed his wives’ obsession would be intense for a while.

Anyway, now that he had informed his wives and sister, it was time to share the same news with his parents, the school, and eventually the whole world.

Things were about to get very busy.

Eidel was heading to Stellarium when.

“Oh, by the way.”

Ireh said.

“There’s a memorial service at school today for the first anniversary of your brother’s death.”

“……What?”

***

The Stellarium planetary system.

The great southern institution, Stellarium Academy.

“As you all know, this is where Professor Eidel von Rheinland passed away one year ago. We must never forget his noble sacrifice.”

The chancellor came out to give the opening speech.

“Thanks to Professor Rheinland’s leadership in gravitational cannon research, humanity was miraculously saved from extinction, and we can now enjoy permanent peace without foreign gods……”

Though his voice was drowned out by the speech, there was a man sitting in the front row, crying.

“Honey, stop crying.”

“Huk-huuk.”

It was Professor Feynman.

He had been severely injured during the attack by the Darwin-type foreign god. He almost died but miraculously survived thanks to the Federation’s medical technology, and successfully completed rehabilitation therapy.

But what did it matter?

His most cherished student and fellow professor was dead.

His image still lingered before his eyes. That kid who used to call him “Professor, Professor” had grown up so much…

“Huu-huuk!”

Feynman couldn’t lift his head. He wasn’t the only one. The tear ducts of all the physics professors in attendance burst one after another.

“Why, why did you have to go like that!”

“After promising to write a paper together!”

“Oh my, oh my.”

The chancellor continued reading the eulogy with a devastated heart. He wanted to finish the memorial service as quickly as possible. Those who needed to move on had to do so.

But many still couldn’t accept it.

Eidel von Rheinland was someone’s colleague, friend, or even an object of admiration. The fact that his funeral was held as a state funeral was proof of that.

Public sentiment, which had faltered briefly, was once again directed toward Eidel. When it was proven that he had been right, and the fact that he had sacrificed himself became known, perception changed 180 degrees. Some even advocated for his canonization.

“Professor. I’m a sophomore in college this year. I witnessed your appointment when I was a freshman. After hearing about Professor Rheinland’s reputation, I decided to become a scientist like you. I was studying hard to apply to your lab, but you left like that.”

Hearing the physics student’s lament, Professor Feynman broke down a second time. Mezulen, Welton, and Mathers, who were Eidel’s friends, were the same.

“It’s already been over a year since he died.”

“I didn’t think he’d go like that.”

“Sniff, ugh.”

“Mezulen, are you crying?”

“No, I’m not crying.”

The three of them sighed.

“But is this something that should attract so many people?”

“Huh?”

“The crowd is enormous. Eidel von Rheinland isn’t some saint. Why are people gathering like it’s a religious assembly? This isn’t like any memorial service I know.”

The three frowned.

“Who the hell is talking nonsense at a memorial service……”

Mathers immediately reacted and turned toward the direction of the voice. He couldn’t help but fall back in surprise. A tall man with sunglasses covering his eyes was sitting with his legs crossed, slurping coffee.

“Mmm, this sweet taste. It’s been a while. When I was a beggar, even this was precious.”

“You, you are……”

“Who am I, you ask?”

The man crossed his legs the other way and lowered his sunglasses. Golden eyes that seemed to be made of melted gold revealed their splendid appearance.

“Just a passing assistant professor of physics at Stellarium.”

“……”

A very brief silence.

And then.

“Aaaaaaah!”

“Kyaaaaaaah!”

“Kyaaaaaaah!”

“Excuse me! It’s too loud! Can’t you be quiet…! Waaaaaaah!”

“What’s going on? Waaaaaaah, a ghost—!!”

Screams echoed throughout the academy.

***

There are two things a dead person should never do. The first is to become a ghost and harm people who are living well, and the second is…

[Breaking News: Eidel von Rheinland Appears at His Own First Anniversary Memorial Service]

“H-how did you come back?”

“I came through dimensions.”

“But how exactly?!”

“Umm, well?”

In truth, Eidel didn’t know exactly either. He could hardly say, “I wrote a 5700-character critique comment on a novel and then flew here,” could he?

By this point, the chancellor of Stellarium couldn’t help but be suspicious. Was the being before him really Eidel, or an impostor with a similar face?

‘If you’re an impostor, you’re dead.’

Just then.

The chancellor’s office door opened.

“Chancellor, I apologize for barging in. I heard Eidel was here……”

The physics professors entered. They were in such a hurry that they didn’t even press the call bell. They walked slowly with eyes full of tears.

At the front of those professors was Feynman. Their eyes met as Eidel turned his head.

“……Professor Feynman?”

“Professor Rheinland… no, Student Eidel?”

“Professor!”

“Student!”

Eidel jumped up from his seat. He hit his hand and foot on the corners of the desk and chair. Despite what must have been quite painful, Eidel slid toward Feynman.

“Professor——!!”

“Student——!!”

The two professors embraced each other and began sobbing.

“Thank goodness! You were safe then!”

“You’re not one to talk!”

Following that, the other professors also began to shed tears. They had all co-authored at least one paper with Eidel.

“Huuuuuuung! Professor, let’s never be apart until we die!”

Cold sweat ran down the chancellor’s back.

It’s real.

That is… real…

***

Attending my own memorial service was a rather unique experience. Thanks to that, I was able to dramatically announce the news of my resurrection to many people.

Of course, as a consequence, the memorial service ended early.

Reporters discovered me and followed excitedly. I was about to answer their questions when the chancellor grabbed me and dragged me to his office.

After that, I met with the professors and struggled with the reporters who had followed me here. By then, it was already early evening.

“Haah.”

The chancellor sighed.

“Setting everything else aside, you’re in big trouble now.”

“What kind of trouble?”

“Didn’t you notice on your way here? Professor Rheinland, you’re being treated as one of the most celebrated heroes in Federation history.”

“That’s an honor.”

“There’s even a new religion formed. The Church of Eidel.”

“Uh, that’s a bit…”

“You’re like a savior of humanity.”

Even the chancellor’s attitude toward me showed it. Before, there was a feeling of mutual respect, but now it seemed like the chancellor was being cautious around me.

It appears my position has grown considerably.

“From now on, you’ll be dealing with a grueling schedule for a while. Reporters swarming like today will be commonplace.”

This wasn’t something to be happy about.

It meant that my time for research, and time to cuddle with my wives, would be constantly interrupted.

Of course.

I am a professor.

I can just make excuses about being busy with research and reject everything. If I play hard to get, interest in me will naturally decrease over time.

Anyway.

The fundamental reason I had a private meeting with the chancellor was one thing.

“I can get my job back, right?”

The chancellor blinked.

“We cleared out your lab though.”

“……What?”

Breaking news: Eidel von Rheinland, unemployed.