Ch.363[Epilogue] The Second Honeymoon

Iryuel Academy.

Chancellor’s office.

The Chancellor of Iryuel, who had believed he could finally recruit Eidel, slid off his chair after reading the reply that had just arrived.

[After much consideration, I’ve decided to be reappointed at Stellarium. Thank you for your concern.]

“Haah.”

How did things end up like this?

It’s all because of those congressmen.

‘I never thought they would even amend the law…’

The Raniakea Federation’s political circles were firmly in Stellarium’s grip. They had taken their alma mater’s side. Through academic connections as tenacious as blood ties.

Of course, the amended law itself wasn’t evil. The ruling was reasonable too. There was no justification to oppose it.

‘What a sneaky university.’

Despite thinking this way, there wasn’t much the Chancellor of Iryuel could do.

***

I ended up setting up my laboratory at Stellarium again. I also took on the concurrent position of director at the Basic Science Research Institute.

I’ve since reunited with my parents. Everyone who needed to know about my return now knew. As time passed, people’s interest in me would gradually diminish.

Of course, many people still came to see me. Politicians, entrepreneurs, media outlets, entertainers. Even documentary production companies.

“Professor, a broadcasting station wants to make a retrospective documentary about you.”

“Why don’t they send an email instead of coming here?”

“Because you don’t read them, Professor.”

“But what can I do when they pile up faster than I can read them?”

It was bad enough that I had to create a separate email for use within academic circles. I secretly shared it only with other professors and researchers, believing I could enjoy a pleasant email life.

And it was leaked within a week.

After that, I resorted to exchanging messages through personal DMs. As I stopped reading emails, people who urgently needed to contact me changed their strategy.

They adopted the “three visits” approach.

If I wasn’t in my lab, they would wait until I returned. If I was in the lab, they would wait until I finished my work. If I refused and sent them away, they would come back the next day.

“Huh.”

I sighed.

“Tell them I’m not feeling well and send them away.”

“They’re offering 3,000 per minute though.”

“Hmm, three thousand credits?”

“No, thirty million credits per minute.”

“Please open the door for them right away.”

For the first time in a long while, I let outsiders in. The interview crew bowed their heads and rushed in. Seeing their high-end camera equipment, they seemed to have come quite prepared.

“Hello, we’re the documentary team from ‘Happy Day’! Our broadcasting station would like to produce a special documentary about Professor Rheinland’s resurrection and current situation. Would that be alright with you?”

“Happy Day? I’ve never heard of it.”

“Ah, our broadcasting station was established quite recently.”

I shot them a suspicious look. The person who appeared to be the team leader scratched his thinning hair and continued.

“The incentive of thirty million credits per minute is real. We’ll start calculating from the moment filming begins.”

“Does a new broadcasting station have that kind of money?”

“Of course.”

The team leader answered confidently.

“If you don’t believe us, we can pay 30% in advance.”

“…How long do you expect the filming to take?”

“We’re estimating about three hours.”

Thirty million per minute. Multiply that by 180.

5.4 billion.

That was enough money to make a movie, not just a documentary. If I gave Seti that much money, restoring House Rheinland to its former glory would be no problem.

“Three hours…”

“Would that work with your schedule?”

The return far outweighed the risk. Even just receiving the advance payment would be profitable enough. No, considering the research funds I lacked after my family’s downfall, it was an enormous sum.

Above all.

I didn’t want to rely on my parents or siblings for marriage funds or childcare expenses. I thought that wasn’t the right attitude as the head of a household.

“We raised the production costs through citizen donations. The story will proceed with us asking you questions that viewers are curious about.”

“Yes, that’s fine.”

“Then let’s coordinate the filming date…”

I answered that I was fine starting right away. My schedule was going to get busier with each passing day. Even now I didn’t have much free time, but it was better than tomorrow.

The production team from ‘Happy Day’ asked various questions. How did I die, did the afterlife seem to exist, what was the reason for my pathological obsession with the gravity cannon, and so on.

Among them were some unexpected questions. For instance, the mystery of whether Sonia was an avatar. I was momentarily flustered but maintained my poker face and somehow got through it.

Of course, these were all questions that couldn’t even become suspicions now that everything was over.

The most awkward one was:

“…Next is a question selected by citizens of the Acoz planetary system. Professor Rheinland, we’ve heard rumors that you’re in a romantic relationship with a graduate student.”

“Pardon?”

“They’re curious if the rumor about your romance with a graduate student is true, and if the talk about polygamy is factual.”

“This question doesn’t seem related to the gravity cannon documentary…”

“This part would be good as bonus content. However, if you find it uncomfortable, you don’t have to answer.”

I swallowed.

“I’m curious about this too. If you answer the question, we’ll provide an additional incentive.”

“…Well, it’s true.”

I pulled Ireh’s hand as she was watching nervously beside me. She yelped and fell into my arms.

“We are indeed in a relationship.”

“P-Professor?”

“You can call me brother now, sister.”

The production crew’s eyes widened like saucers. Ireh stammered, not knowing what to do. Her appearance was quite adorable.

“T-Then…”

“It’s not an affair. I already have permission from my existing wives. We love each other, and we plan to hold a wedding ceremony soon.”

A polygamy declaration.

It was like throwing firewood onto the media outlets that were already blazing with the topic of my resurrection.

But what could I do?

They said they’d give an additional incentive.

“I-I see.”

The rest of the interview concluded without incident. The appearance fee was paid promptly.

Additional incentive: 2 billion.

I wondered why they would pay so much for just one statement. For a moment, I questioned whether the executives of ‘Happy Day’ might be followers of the ‘Church of Eidel.’

But still.

If they’re giving that much money, I should take it. I was pleased that my value seemed to rival that of a decent entrepreneur.

Do you see this, Senior Lee Taeyeon?

Anyway.

I used part of the incentive for wedding expenses. Getting suits and dresses tailored, booking the venue, calling party planners… Various busy days followed.

And.

Finally.

At the wedding venue building where the wedding bells rang, I was formally united with Ireh Hazlen.

***

Ireh was considerably bewildered.

Just 2 weeks.

Instead of writing a dissertation, she submitted a marriage registration form; instead of renting research equipment, she went around preparing venues and dresses; and instead of being called “sister” or “student” by Eidel, she was called “honey.”

Her mind was in a whirl.

It wasn’t that she wasn’t happy.

Of course not. This was truly the happy ending she had genuinely desired.

“Who is that woman?”

“You don’t know Ireh Hazlen? She’s the genius graduate student who established the Folding Theory!”

“I’ve heard of her. Wasn’t it a theory that played a crucial role in the gravity cannon firing stage?”

Ireh had been worried. What if she wasn’t worthy of Eidel? What if she faced attacks from women who admired Eidel because of her humble origins? What if that made things awkward for Eidel?

None of that happened.

‘It was needless worry.’

Ireh walked down the flower path holding her bouquet. At the end of the red carpet stood a handsome man. He took her hand.

“Does the groom promise to love the bride forever?”

“Yes.”

“Does the bride promise to love the groom forever?”

Ireh hesitated for a moment.

“…Yes!”

She said, smiling brightly.

In that tense moment, Ireh shared a vow of kiss with Eidel. Trembling breath. Warm touch. Her world turned white.

She knew how Rustila and Zernya, who attended as guests, must feel. Sure enough, they wore bitter expressions. Eidel’s parents were sighing repeatedly.

Eidel’s father had originally opposed polygamy. However, he couldn’t simply oppose it because Ireh was a decent and sharp woman who was not inferior to the two existing wives.

Above all, Arnold, who had fallen into a state of obsession due to Eidel and Ireh’s crazy academic romance, had no choice but to permit their marriage.

“Have a good honeymoon.”

“Going on another honeymoon while leaving your wives behind… It’s strange, but whatever.”

Rustila waved her hand. Zernya clicked her tongue but nodded toward Ireh.

“Ah, right.”

Rustila approached Eidel and whispered something. Eidel’s expression suddenly heated up. Ireh, who had sharp ears, knew what Rustila had said.

‘Ah, right. Rustila still…’

Ireh sighed heavily.

Anyway, it was time to leave. The couple boarded the honeymoon ship amid people’s blessings and farewells. The destination was a tourist resort hotel in the northern planetary system.

“Let’s go, honey.”

“…Yes.”

Eidel suppressed a laugh.

“Why the formal speech suddenly?”

“Then… should I just speak comfortably?”

“Shall we?”

“Let’s go, Professor.”

“Let’s go, student.”

Ireh smiled brightly and composed herself as a new bride. She boarded the honeymoon ship.

And there was already another presence on board.

Dark blue hair and a haughty atmosphere. The same physique. A woman, no, a bioroid who looked so similar that she could be mistaken for Ireh’s doppelganger if seen only from behind.

“Young master, you’re late.”

Sonia.

“You should hold my wedding ceremony soon too.”

She was sitting on the bed wearing a wedding dress identical to Ireh’s.