Ch.82The Prime Catch (1)

“Rustila, what are you saying?”

“I’m staying here until the end of vacation. I promised Eidel. So I can’t go.”

The Kersil couple fell silent at their daughter’s fierce resistance.

After that, anything they said was useless.

Threats only backfired, and gentle persuasion fell on deaf ears.

“It’s dangerous here.”

“Where in the world is 100% safe?”

“This place is crawling with aliens and criminals!”

“According to Iruel College research, the crime rate in the Alcatraz planetary system is 11% lower than the average of other systems.”

The Kersil couple grabbed the backs of their necks in frustration.

This was all because of that boy, Eidel or whatever his name was.

The usually timid Rustila became bold as if receiving some buff whenever she was with Eidel.

She even started citing academic papers and articles to support her arguments.

They certainly hadn’t taught her to speak like that.

“Honey, I have an idea.”

“What is it?”

“If Rustila won’t leave, we can just stay here with her.”

“Dad!!”

Rustila shouted, failing to hide her expression.

This wasn’t just about embarrassment.

For an adult, it would be like having your parents show up at your workplace with a packed lunch—that level of mortification.

“Don’t do anything weird! You’re both busy!”

“No, we have to do this. Who knows what that boy might do to you!”

“Eidel isn’t that kind of person!”

“Then are you saying you’ll do something?”

“Ugh…! No, I won’t!”

“I don’t trust you, young lady.”

And so began the argument between mother and daughter.

Seeking refuge from the bickering, Eidel and Lloyd Kersil looked at each other, exchanging meaningful glances.

Eidel spoke first.

“I understand your concerns, sir. Living together is always something to be careful about.”

“I’m glad you understand. You haven’t done anything inappropriate, have you?”

“I haven’t.”

Of course, Lloyd didn’t believe him at face value. Eidel likewise didn’t expect Lloyd to believe him.

Some compromise was needed.

Lloyd was about to suggest something.

“I think we should take Rustila home after all…”

“Then please stay here.”

“What?”

Click, thud.

Eidel, who had been reading a paper, slowly closed the door.

***

The Kersil couple took 12-hour shifts directly monitoring Eidel and Rustila. Berdia, the original monitor, had long since become a graphics miner for the lab.

One day passed, then two, then three.

Nothing happened.

Absolutely nothing.

“Eidel, can’t we take a break now?”

“Just after I finish this.”

“Ugghhh…”

If there was anything unusual, it was that Eidel wasn’t letting Rustila sleep on time.

The reason they stayed up all night was because of academic papers.

No joke—Rustila was actually writing a paper.

“The initial draft is always the hardest part. Just get through this.”

“Ughh, save me.”

There was concern she might collapse from overwork, but Rustila’s stamina, honed through swordsmanship, was not to be underestimated.

If anything, Eidel looked more like he was about to die.

But that boy had determination.

It was a resolve that would terrify even Heidegger—the determination to complete the paper no matter what it took.

“Hee, heehee.”

“This is fun.”

They were going crazy together.

Rustila was following Eidel’s research surprisingly well.

When Rustila came up with primitive ideas, Eidel would formulate them mathematically. They continuously improved their model through simulations, fixing flaws from previous attempts.

Rustila also took care of miscellaneous tasks—checking if numerous codes were well-written, creating tables from extracted data.

She couldn’t be called a formal graduate student, but she was providing help at the level of an undergraduate intern.

“Please have some.”

A glass of lemonade was offered to Ada Kersil, who had been scribbling something in her notebook.

One sip.

It was mixed with sparkling water.

“Mmm, delicious. Did you make this?”

“Yes. It’s one of Master Eidel’s favorite drinks.”

The blue-haired maid android bowed her head slightly and stepped back.

“Your name is Sonia, right?”

“That’s correct.”

Sonia tilted her head and asked:

“What were you writing in your notebook?”

“I’d rather not say.”

“Then I won’t pry further.”

What Ada had been writing in her notebook:

It was a ‘List of Potential Grooms’ for Rustila.

Ada had given birth to Rustila after a difficult labor, making Rustila an only child.

As an only child, she would inevitably have to continue the Kersil lineage.

Ensuring the family line doesn’t end—the fate of all prestigious families.

Fortunately, Rustila was born healthy, so there was no risk of early death, but grandchildren needed to be produced.

Therefore, Ada, as her mother, was searching for suitable grooms for Rustila.

In simple terms, she was preparing an arranged marriage.

‘None of these boys catch my eye.’

The notebook already contained hundreds of male names.

None of them seemed quite right.

Tap, tap.

[Professor Feynman, the second paper is finally about to be completed. Progress is much faster this time because another student is helping. I’ve written the draft, so please check it.]

Eidel sending a DM.

Ada peeked at it while moistening her lips with lemonade.

The conversation continued:

[Could you possibly add Rustila to the acknowledgments?]

[Isn’t that too modest? You said you were able to understand the multiple diffusion effect of Aether thanks to her. At minimum, she should be listed as an author out of courtesy.]

[So I’ll be first author, and Rustila second author?]

[Yes. Make sure to list me as the corresponding author.]

[Of course.]

Having been to graduate school herself, Ada understood what this meant.

Her name would appear on a paper.

And in a top-tier journal, no less.

The calculator in Ada’s head worked frantically.

‘Military is out. But graduate school is also out.’

She had completed doctoral coursework.

‘If she develops an interest in academics and goes to graduate school… that fair, white face will be ruined!’

Because that’s what happened to her.

It was hell.

Ada decided that as soon as vacation ended, she would find some excuse to separate Eidel and her daughter.

***

While researching with Eidel, Rustila realized one thing.

Until now, she had only trained her body.

To run faster. To swing a sword faster.

But she hadn’t trained her mind. That’s why she could resist monsters targeting her body but was vulnerable to aliens attacking her mind.

So she needed to train her mind.

And she had recently discovered the easiest way to do that.

‘Graduate school.’

If she could find an advisor like Eidel—

No, if Eidel became a professor first and guided her, wouldn’t a master’s degree be worth pursuing?

Learning to quantitatively handle Aether. Building knowledge and mental strength. Using that experience to reach greater heights as a swordswoman.

Becoming a true Sword Master in the fullest sense.

***

Surveillance? Confinement?

Whatever it was, it had been two weeks.

Eidel had become friendly enough with Lloyd to engage in casual conversation.

While Lloyd might be terrible as a parent, he was quite decent and respectable as a man.

Moreover, Lloyd had begun to highly regard Eidel’s attitude.

“You really haven’t made a single move on Rustila.”

“You told me to be careful.”

“What I mean is, you have deep self-restraint.”

Eidel tilted his head.

Lloyd patted him on the back and smiled faintly.

“My daughter is quite beautiful, you know.”

“Ah.”

There it is.

Universal constant: the doting father trait every father has.

“Eidel. Would you mind if I test you on one thing?”

“If it clears up your misunderstanding, I don’t mind.”

Though they’d been open with each other, a two-week relationship wasn’t enough for complete trust.

And men know.

The three ways to strengthen male friendship:

Alcohol, console games, and—

“This just came out.”

Adult videos.

‘I’ll gauge his reaction with this.’

Portable software smuggled past Alcatraz checkpoints has a way of making men’s hearts flutter.

The reaction reveals one’s true character and whether they’re putting on airs.

This is something a man can’t hide from another man.

“Oh.”

He took the bait.

“I’m not interested.”

The hook came up empty.

“Come on, just take it. You’ll need it someday.”

“Aren’t you testing me? Shouldn’t I refuse then?”

“Whether you take it or not isn’t important. Everyone has sexual desires. No need to be embarrassed.”

“I really don’t need it.”

After much insistence, Eidel finally accepted the disk containing adult videos. It had 512 terabytes of storage. Eidel’s expression changed to a slight smirk.

‘He’s putting on a bit of an act. But judging by his face, at least he’s not impotent.’

If he had no sexual desire, that would have been a solemn matter in itself.

Lloyd patted Eidel’s shoulder and said:

“That’s enough. I understand what kind of person you are now.”

“Yes, yes.”

Eidel rolled his eyes and slipped the disk into his sleeve.

The two had a light meal and rested. Even during this time, Eidel didn’t put down his paper.

“You really work hard.”

“Thank you.”

“Looking at the title of the paper you’re reading reminds me of a news article I glanced at yesterday.”

“What?”

“I think the title was… ‘Method for Repairing the Aether Belt Using Quantum Gravity Tweezers’?”

He doesn’t remember it clearly.

He’s just reconstructing the story from what he remembers.

If Eidel happens to read that article and finishes his paper even a little earlier, they might be able to get Rustila out sooner.

“They said they found an engineering method to restore the torn Aether Belt to its original state through simulation. Even to a layman like me, it seemed impressive. Perhaps you…”

Lloyd stopped mid-sentence, sensing something was wrong, and turned his head.

“Huk, heok… heoook!”

What kind of beast had he unleashed?