Ch.56First Research Paper (1)

[Direct Message]

[Rustila: I enjoyed this evening. See you tomorrow.]

[Professor: Today’s discussion was good. Let’s do it again tomorrow.]

I was about to return to the dormitory after spending a cozy evening with Rustila and Professor Feynman.

“Hey, you there!”

Two police officers appeared.

“Huh?”

Before I knew it, handcuffs were placed on me.

“Eidel von Rheinland.”

“We’re arresting you on suspicion of collusion with foreign gods.”

***

How did things come to this?

Me, colluding with foreign gods?

And they arrested me for that?

That’s absurd.

Although I haven’t even started yet, I’m struggling to drive the foreign gods out of this universe. I’m clearly on humanity’s side.

I was thinking about various things and choosing my excuses when—

Bang!

Detective Terrence slammed the desk and said:

“It’s been a while, Eidel.”

“Hello, Detective.”

Detective Terrence. A capable space police officer who was promoted while dealing with the troublemaker Eidel since childhood.

He used to be in the violent crimes division but was transferred to the juvenile division thanks to my meteoric appearance.

I never thought I’d encounter this person again.

Is this a blessing in disguise?

The detective took out a cigarette, put it in his mouth, sighed, and began speaking.

“…Did you hit someone again, Eidel?”

“No?”

“What do you gain by hitting people?”

“I didn’t hit anyone.”

“What exactly do you get out of this?”

Come on, listen when someone is talking.

Damn. I was wrong. Because the speaker is Eidel, they won’t listen to anything I say. While I was clicking my tongue internally, Detective Terrence got to the point.

“Anyway, Eidel, I called you today because investigation results show you’re connected to Laplace’s foreign god.”

“…What? Me?”

“Yes, you. Among the gear you used during the midterm evaluation, everyone who sparred with you, except one person, all passed out after just three or four exchanges.”

I nodded. I had briefly pummeled them with the Calipers of Wisdom to extort a large number of practical points.

“Fainting when experiencing a severe shock in virtual reality… Hologram shock isn’t unheard of. The hospital examination results also gave that diagnosis for everyone. It’s not actually that rare a symptom.”

“Right. So…”

“Still, I thought something was strange. The central government contacted me. They asked me to investigate you a little.”

And then they reached a conclusion.

“In just one place. Capsule number 54, where you knocked out five people with a single blow, a large amount of Laplacian prons was detected.”

After hearing that, I thought for a moment and then nodded. I had a rough idea of what happened.

Laplace’s Forces?

It definitely wasn’t me.

Even though I borrowed Cartesia’s power, the remaining prons should have been Cartesian. This means another foreign god besides Cartesia had invaded that space.

“You’ll need to answer the questions I’m about to ask.”

“Understood.”

Whatever the case, there was only one thing to do now.

Cooperate with the investigation in a diligent manner.

***

The investigation continued for over a week.

As a result, I couldn’t go to school at all this week. Since I was going to learn things I already knew, it didn’t really matter, but eating police station food wasn’t exactly a pleasant experience.

“It’s uncomfortable, but bear with it. If a foreign god really has taken root in you, letting you out would be much more dangerous.”

For the sake of maintaining public order and the safety of the majority, human rights were restricted. I couldn’t go out freely, couldn’t speak freely, couldn’t move freely.

For the first three days or so, it felt like I was imprisoned.

After a few days, the investigation seemed to loosen up.

“He shows no signs of mania at all.”

“Could it be a long incubation period?”

“Even at the latest, attacks normally occur once a week. Didn’t you hear what the doctors said?”

I could hear various conversations from outside the door. Among them, the most noteworthy was the last one.

“We got a psychiatric opinion, and all measurements were normal. No residual prons were detected either…”

Scientific results had come in.

Creeeeak. The steel door opened, and light poured in.

“Eidel, it’s all over now.”

“Can I go back to school?”

“Yes. You’ll be under surveillance, but you can return to normal life. I’ll do my best.”

Detective Terrence’s face showed subtle apologetic and bitter feelings. He probably thinks he barked up the wrong tree.

To put it conclusively, it wasn’t entirely wrong.

I did make a contract with Cartesia.

I even used her abilities during the midterm exam.

However, I was confident I could get away with it easily due to the characteristics of Descartes’ Forces, which leave almost no residual prons.

I stumbled over an unexpected obstacle.

[— The ‘God of Wisdom and Curiosity’ contemplates.]

[“It’s that Laplace bastard. Come to think of it, there was a bug that interfered when you and that silver-haired kid were fighting.”]

“…?”

[“A filthy kind that makes their servants work without rewards. They don’t even have the basics for entertainment. Tsk.”]

Cartesia clicked her tongue. My expression turned stupid.

I remember what happened at the end of my fight with Zernya. The sudden appearance of the word “Lose” on my status window.

I thought it was Cartesia’s doing and reacted instinctively. I thought there was only one foreign god there.

Cartesia must have known that. But why didn’t she tell me?

[“Why should I tell you something like that?”]

I was a fool for asking.

Anyway, I was released due to insufficient evidence.

“Gather your electronic devices and other things and get out. There are people waiting outside, so you’d better hurry.”

There are people waiting outside?

“Young master.”

“Brother!”

“Eidel…!”

Sonia, Seti, and Rustila. The three people I cherish most came running.

Seti was the first to hug me, and Rustila sighed with tears in her eyes. Sonia watched the two of them and shrugged from behind.

“Sob, I, I thought you were really going to prison…”

[Seti von Adelbein Rheinland: 140/1000]

[Psychological state: She believes you are being controlled by a foreign god. She fears you being taken away.]

“Eidel. Thank goodness. Because you’re innocent…”

[Rustila Kersil: 170/1500]

[Psychological state: (Effect of Mind’s Eye) She knows you have contracted with a foreign god. She was afraid you wouldn’t come back to school anymore.]

I only feel sorry for worrying the two of them. As for Sonia, well, she’s an android, so there’s no need to read her psychology.

By the way, I didn’t expect that not only Rustila but also Seti would know about my contract with Cartesia.

It’s chilling in some ways.

In the end, if something happens, I have to protect these two. Seti is family, and I think of Rustila as family too.

“Young master.”

After calming down the two sobbing girls, I turned my gaze. Sonia approached slowly with her hands modestly folded.

“I was worried.”

“…”

“I should have monitored you 24 hours…”

“Eidel! Is Eidel student here!”

A man’s voice interrupted Sonia’s words.

My head turned like a broken spring, slowly and dully. On the opposite corridor, there was a person with a worried face.

“P-Professor?”

“Student.”

Professor Feynman was there.

“Professor!”

“Student!”

I finished comforting Seti and Rustila and ran to the professor. We hugged each other and cried out loud.

“My student! I thought you were going to disappear like this!”

“Me too! Thank you for coming, Professor…! Is my thesis topic safe?!”

“Yes, of course! Who would take it? It’s research that only Eidel student can do!”

My week-long investigation at the Southern Region Space Police Station due to foreign gods would be remembered for a long time.

Because I could confirm the professor’s sincerity toward me.

Soon after, I organized the DMs I had exchanged with the professor. Thinking I had gone missing, the professor had sent nearly 100 messages the next day. He even called an ambulance, thinking I had collapsed.

“Thank goodness. What if a talent like you had gone mad or died? It would have been a great loss for humanity.”

“Oh, it wouldn’t go that far…”

“Now. Don’t think about anything else and go back to school. You have class tomorrow, right? Let’s continue our discussion later, and get some rest today.”

“Yes. I’ll do that…”

Wait a minute. What am I saying?

Doesn’t Academia have a grade-skipping system? I was definitely thinking about using that.

If you get excellent grades in the first year, you get the opportunity to take the college course right away. However, those “excellent grades” don’t just mean scoring high on the promotion exam.

The Education Department can select students to advance to college at their discretion.

Yes, for example, a high school student who wrote an SCI-level paper as the first author.

“Professor.”

I looked at the professor and said.

“I’ll mark this week as a sick leave from Academia. I think it would be good to catch up on our missed discussions during that time.”

“…Are you sure that’s okay?”

“Of course.”

“Alright. Let’s do that.”

So after declaring to Seti and Rustila that I would be missing school next week, I followed the professor.

***

After Eidel and Professor Feynman left.

Detective Terrence just cleared his throat awkwardly. The faces of Rustila and Seti, who had been sobbing, shook as if dazed.

“…After worrying so much.”

“Who is that person?”

Rustila didn’t know Feynman, but Seti vaguely knew. That person is going to be Eidel’s academic advisor.

From what she heard, he was going to the physics department in college.

She thought that was just a joke.

But that closeness. That kindness. An atmosphere more familial than with Seti. A distance more friendly than with Rustila.

The two girls somehow felt irritated.

“Please don’t be too angry.”

Sonia placed her hands on the shoulders of the two and comforted them.

“The young master cherishes both of you. It’s evident just by looking at his eyes.”

“…Sonia.”

“He probably followed that professor because he has something to do. Something very important.”

Sonia turned her head to face Rustila.

White eyes meet azure eyes. Sonia’s proud and upright expression. Rustila unconsciously gulped.

Seti, who slowly turned her head, asked.

“Sonia. Don’t you feel disappointed?”

Sonia smiled faintly and faced Seti as well. She answered Seti’s question with her still impassive face.

“Such emotions are a luxury for an android.”

“…”

“And besides.”

Sonia looked beyond the corridor where Eidel and Professor Feynman had disappeared and sighed deeply.

“In any case, I am with the young master…”