Ch.7Lustila (2)

I ate the breakfast Sonia prepared for me and began studying.

I quickly solve problem sets and take a 10-minute break. Normally, I would have immediately opened the next book. But today, I needed time to gather my thoughts.

“Young master, about the lady from the Kersil family.”

Sonia approached and spoke while I was taking a break.

“Hmm? You mean Rustila?”

“Yes. Wasn’t she truly beautiful?”

Sonia rarely complimented others’ appearances. She was obviously trying to test my reaction.

“Yes, she is pretty.”

“I was worried you might try to flirt with Lady Rustila.”

“Why, should I?”

Sonia grimaced and answered.

“Please don’t.”

I nodded. I had neither the time nor reason to do so.

What I needed to pay attention to wasn’t her face. It was her background.

The constellation contracted with Rustila can read others’ malice. It can even detect what type of constellation someone has contracted with. Since we made eye contact, she must have sensed Cartesia’s presence.

…I wonder if she’s okay mentally?

“How strange. For you not to even give a glance to such a beautiful girl, young master.”

Sonia remarked with amazement. Eidel was known for his womanizing ways.

I made up an excuse.

“…It’s not that I’m not interested.”

“Is that so?”

Sonia blinked repeatedly with curiosity. Then she raised her hand up to her head.

I know what that is. It’s a motion suggesting she’s ready to throw robotics principles to the dogs.

“If you’re planning to cause trouble again, please stop.”

“Hey, wait! I don’t mean interested in her as a woman!”

“…?”

[— The God of Wisdom and Curiosity tilts its head at your statement.]

Sonia lowered her raised fist.

Something seems to have gotten twisted in my explanation.

“What I mean is, I find her interesting as a peer.”

“…A peer, you say?”

I nodded.

“Yes, a peer. In other words, a friend. I have good intuition, you know? That girl will definitely enter Stellarium next year. And so will I.”

I shrugged and continued.

“You said it yourself. My academy admission might become the cornerstone for leading the Rheinland family in the future. So it wouldn’t hurt to be friendly with someone from the Kersil family. There’s a saying about school and regional connections, right?”

In reality, Rustila does get accepted to Stellarium. And later becomes a military commander defending the frontlines of the Federation. She wields the Plasma Sword like her own body and even earns the title of Sword Saint, which is unusual for this era.

Having her as an ally would make things easier for me. There’s no one better than Rustila at holding back monster attacks. If she buys me time, I’ll have one less distraction in developing gravity bombs.

I stroked my chin thoughtfully.

“I was originally planning to just study quietly here…”

The plan has changed.

Even if it means taking risks, I need to be more proactive.

I spoke up.

“Sonia.”

“…Yes, what is it?”

“Let’s put on a little act together.”

“An act? What kind of act?”

“Lend me your ear.”

Whisper, whisper.

After hearing my plan, Sonia quickly pulled her head back. She frowned so deeply that her eyelashes wrinkled.

“Young master, have you lost your mind?”

“I’m thinking big picture here. Just cooperate with me this once.”

I pleaded desperately with Sonia. She sighed, then nodded reluctantly.

“Very well. I’ll trust and follow you based on your behavior over the past three weeks.”

We briefly discussed the plan.

***

Rustila’s shoulders trembled slightly.

‘That… wasn’t human.’

Lord of darkness, death, and chaos.

Rustila had seen true madness in the black-haired, golden-eyed boy she encountered at the dock.

“Sis, what’s wrong? Are you sick?”

Seti asked worriedly. Rustila shook her head.

“Ugh…”

She felt nauseous.

“…Are you really okay?”

“I’m fine, I’m fine…”

Rustila took a deep breath and organized her thoughts. Then she recalled what she had seen.

Her head throbbed. Inside the boy’s mind that she glimpsed through her constellation, there were tentacles everywhere.

White tentacles. They were clearly luminescent. Moving randomly in a dingy space, they offended Rustila’s eyes and sensibilities. It felt like seeing something she shouldn’t have.

But.

At the same time, those tentacles couldn’t move freely. Each sucker had a solid lock on it. Those locks were bound by multiple chains, and at the end of those chains were books.

‘It was so huge…’

Rustila had the ability to interpret others’ mental images.

‘But that… I couldn’t interpret it.’

Tentacles symbolize outer gods, and white represents goodness.

Contracted with an outer god, but a good outer god?

‘Is that even possible?’

Humans who contract with outer gods go insane.

Yet that boy was walking around normally.

To begin with, it was difficult to judge whether he was good or evil. She couldn’t see his mental image clearly.

‘I don’t know.’

Rustila shook her head.

Should she report the boy to the Federation or not? She wasn’t sure. If she reported him wrongly, she would be the bad person.

‘Let’s not overthink it.’

Rustila shook her head back and forth. Her ponytail swung like a pendulum.

“Whoa! You startled me!”

Seti, who was accidentally hit by her hair, complained.

“S-sorry!”

“No, it’s okay.”

Seti smiled brightly.

“Are you really okay, sis?”

“Yes, I’m fine, really.”

The encounter with that mental image was very brief. She didn’t feel disoriented.

Rustila lowered her head. The physics workbook she was supposed to solve with Seti lay before her.

She raised her head again. Through the translucent window, she could see several robots waiting, including Zermel, her exclusive butler. Their eyes were eerily fixed on Rustila.

That was scarier than the outer god. She hated it. Rustila sighed.

She fidgeted with the luggage she had brought. Between the bundles of workbooks, she felt something hard made of wood. It was a wooden sword.

‘I can’t even train here…’

She wanted to relieve her accumulated stress. She wanted to keep practicing for her dream of becoming a soldier.

But the given environment didn’t allow it.

Rustila’s face turned gloomy.

Knock knock.

– “Lady Seti, it’s Sonia. Excuse me.”

“Sonia? Come in.”

Whirr.

A female android with navy blue hair entered.

Haughty expression, upright posture. A headband with prominent frills and a white ribbon attached to her back.

It was the maid who had been with that boy earlier.

“I’ve brought refreshments for the two ladies.”

“Refreshments? You?”

“I, Sonia, prepared them in advance so that Lady Seti wouldn’t be uncomfortable while studying.”

Sonia carefully placed cookies, juice, and other snacks in the middle of the desk.

“Wow.”

Seti and Rustila opened their eyes wide. Everything looked delicious.

“Then, I hope you have a good study session.”

After bowing her head, Sonia promptly left.

She returned to Eidel’s room and reported.

“How was it?”

Eidel asked.

“The two ladies were cooped up in the room studying. Outside, there were five androids from the Kersil family. They all seemed to be watching Lady Rustila.”

“Is that so?”

This is good. Eidel muttered and stood up.

“Are you really going to do this?”

“I have to.”

“If you make a mistake, you could create a bad impression not only with Lady Rustila but also with Lady Seti.”

“Seti might, but Rustila won’t.”

Eidel walked ahead. Sonia followed at a distance.

“Phew.”

Eidel took a deep breath in front of Seti’s room.

He addressed the robots standing motionless.

“Hey, you fucking bastards.”

The delinquent Eidel had arrived.

***

Zermel was a semi-automatic android protecting Rustila. Equipped with a 4th generation AI core, he could detect crises and emotional changes in his protectee.

“What gives you the right to block the hallway, huh?”

This was clearly a crisis situation.

“Who are you…?”

“You don’t know who I am? Huh?”

The black-haired, golden-eyed boy approached, gnashing his teeth. Zermel narrowed his eyes sharply.

The boy’s gaze contained an insolent current.

“If you don’t know, listen and remember it once, you tin cans! I am Eidel von Rheinland, the third son of the great Rheinland family!”

The boy, Eidel, swung his fist arrogantly. An unprovoked surprise attack.

But his movement was sloppy. Zermel dodged by turning his body.

“Oh? I said move!”

“I did move.”

He couldn’t hit a human. That would violate Federation law.

Zermel had started searching from the moment he heard the name ‘Eidel’.

‘Eidel von Rheinland.’

A delinquent notorious for his bad temper in the Rheinland family. Womanizer, gambling addict, human trash.

‘Must not let him approach Lady Rustila.’

Zermel called his fellow androids via radio waves. They were all robots guarding Rustila. They formed a blockade in front of Seti’s room.

“If I’ve been rude, I apologize. The hallway is clear, so please pass through.”

“No, I’ve changed my mind.”

Crack, crack, crack.

Eidel cracked his fingers one by one and then pulled something out.

‘…A wooden sword?’

Eidel suddenly brought out a wooden sword and swung it down.

Clang! A loud metallic sound rang out as the wall was scratched.

“I’ve been getting scolded by my father lately and I’m irritated. I might as well beat you guys up!”

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Eidel swung his sword and drove the androids back.

Zermel retreated in confusion.

‘We are the private property of the Kersil family, we mustn’t get damaged. But we also can’t hit a human.’

The principles of robotics. To uphold those principles, they had no choice. The robots had to move away from the door.

“Where do you think you’re running?”

The five androids were herded to the end of the corridor like sheep being whipped by a shepherd boy.

Whoosh, whoosh!

Eidel’s mouth twisted as he swung the wooden sword.

“You tin cans!”

Whirr.

Due to the continued noise, the two girls opened the door and peeked out. Gold and silver. Rustila and Seti.

“What’s going on, what’s all this commotion!”

Seti shouted after assessing the situation.

“Th-that crazy bastard…!”

Just when I thought he had come to his senses!

Seti gritted her teeth and rushed out of the room. She had to stop Eidel. With that thought, she ran quickly.

That’s when it happened.

Swoosh!

Blue hair flashed past Seti.

“…Sonia?!”

A headband fell in front of Seti. Sonia had thrown herself forward and delivered a dropkick to Eidel’s back.

“Kuhak!!”

Eidel rolled two and a half times in front of Zermel. There was a cracking sound.

Dry saliva spurted from Eidel’s mouth.

“S-Sonia…! You bastard…!”

Eidel struggled to get up after falling. His malicious golden eyes glared at Sonia.

“Young master, you’ve been quiet lately but now you’re causing trouble again.”

“Step aside while I’m asking nicely.”

“I, Sonia, serve the head of the Rheinland family. I will not allow you to further tarnish the family’s reputation.”

“I said step aside while I’m asking nicely!”

Sonia sighed and took a fighting stance.

‘What’s happening…?’

Rustila also came out into the hallway due to the continued disturbance. A blue maid and a boy were facing off.

‘It’s that boy!’

The boy suspected of contracting with an outer god. He had clearly introduced himself as ‘Eidel’. Eidel was currently a famous troublemaker in the Federation.

How much of a delinquent must he be for everyone in the world to know his name?

Rustila suddenly became curious.

‘I should check once more.’

[— The God of Purity and Resolve grants you the Deep Eye.]

Her unique skill, Deep Eye.

Different from the ‘Swift Eye’ she used earlier at the dock.

Color, smell, taste, sound, texture.

Deep Eye uses the six senses to more clearly reveal a person’s state of mind. Regardless of any contracted outer god or constellation.

“Please take your beating.”

“Ack, aack! Aaaack!”

Rustila examined Eidel’s exact mental state with her Deep Eye.

“Have some shame in front of guests.”

“Ugh, fuck! Ugh, ack, ugh!”

And as a result, Rustila couldn’t hide her surprise.

She couldn’t help it.

“It hurts, you bitch! Aaaaargh-!!”

Contrary to his outward appearance, the boy’s heart was remarkably pure.