Ch.90Protagonist (4)

Eidel continued to smile even as Sonia repeatedly hit him. The two seemed to get along extremely well.

“Sonia, that’s enough hitting. What kind of embarrassment is this in front of others?”

“You should have conducted yourself better, young master.”

“If I conducted myself better… you know?”

“Sigh.”

Sonia scratched her head.

“Bring that over here.”

That?

What does she mean by that?

Surely it couldn’t be some kind of torture device?

Strange imaginings ran wild through Ireh’s mind.

Of course, this was a sanctuary. If anything untoward happened, a single scream would bring prosecutors running.

Still, she felt uneasy. She had suffered enough already. What if the Rheinland family had bought off this entire sanctuary, or if this was actually an elaborate fake location…

Rattle.

Sonia entered pulling a tray.

“Chicken stew.”

Sonia placed a chicken porridge in front of Ireh.

Strictly speaking, chicken stew and chicken porridge are different, but since Eidel had taught Sonia Korean recipes, there was no distinction.

Ireh stared at the stew in bewilderment.

“I soaked the rice in plenty of water and simmered it until soft. Then I added chicken breast, carrots, chives, onions, and simmered it for a long time. Every ingredient helps prevent eye health issues and skin aging.”

“Why chicken…”

“Chicken helps restore vitality. It’s the perfect diet for someone whose mind and body are exhausted from long imprisonment.”

Steam rose before her eyes.

Ireh rolled her bewildered eyes around. Looking closely, there was a powder like sand grains sprinkled on top of the porridge.

Could it be poison?

“It’s pepper powder. Also good for your eyes and skin.”

Ireh frowned.

She couldn’t trust this.

She needed to investigate.

‘Altair. Sorry, but help me just once.’

Flash.

The tattered Gyeonwoo Star dimly responded to her.

As Ireh decided to use her skill, her pupils turned red.

[─ Using <Appraisal>.]

[Name: Oriental Chicken Stew]

[Description: Delicious.]

“…?”

It was a simple skill window, as if she had returned to level 1.

There was a detailed information window below, but when she clicked on it, it only contained information about ingredients and cooking methods, with no mention of poison or aphrodisiacs.

The constellation status window never lies, no matter what. Especially when using <Appraisal>.

Ireh slowly raised her head. Her eyes met Eidel’s. Eidel clicked his tongue and said:

“Your eyes are bright red. Sonia made it well. You need to eat it to get healthy and move around.”

“…Don’t speak informally to me.”

“Ah, yes ma’am.”

Eidel immediately bowed his head. His innocent appearance made Ireh feel rather perplexed.

It was strange. He wasn’t originally like this.

His changed face was also suspicious. He used to look a bit more foolish. He didn’t have such a sharp appearance.

Especially those golden eyes. They were different from all the cycles she had experienced so far. Deep and profound like beneath the surface of water, making it impossible to read him.

“It’ll get cold. Let’s eat quickly.”

Eidel urged.

“…I have a sensitive tongue.”

“Then please eat slowly as it cools. I, Eidel, will withdraw.”

Eidel made a fist-and-palm salute and withdrew.

Ireh furrowed her brow.

Looking closely, she noticed he was holding a book.

[Space Traveler 6077]

‘What kind of book is that?’

No one knew that even the great Eidel reads novels when he wants to relax.

“…”

With Eidel gone, the room was empty.

Ireh looked at Sonia.

Sonia looked back at Ireh.

Growl.

Come to think of it, she hadn’t eaten anything for a full day.

After hesitating, Ireh picked up a spoon. She slowly stirred the stew, creating a whirlpool, then carefully scooped up some broth and brought it to her mouth.

“…!”

“How is it?”

“Well…”

She tasted something bright and clean.

“Jujube, ginger, ginseng, kelp. Plus bok choy and cabbage. I wanted to bring out the flavor of shabu-shabu too.”

“…It’s unique.”

A combination of ingredients that could taste bland or strange if prepared incorrectly. But Sonia had adjusted the proportions exquisitely to create a delicacy.

Ireh smiled faintly.

It suited her palate, having grown up in the borderlands.

***

Even after finishing her meal, her suspicions hadn’t disappeared.

Why had Eidel changed so much?

And why was he being so nice to someone he’d just met?

There were too many questions.

“…Sigh.”

Ireh looked at herself in the bathroom mirror.

Greasy hair and hollow eyes.

The tear stains below her dark circles simply wouldn’t go away.

She left the bathroom and turned the corner. She organized her thoughts. For now, it would be best to stay here and review her plans.

And, Eidel.

He must be up to something. She couldn’t believe that someone who had never shown any signs of reformation through hundreds of thousands of cycles would suddenly become a good person.

Whisper, whisper.

The sound came from the room next to the infirmary.

Ireh carefully leaned against the door. She could hear Eidel and Sonia talking.

She observed them through a hole in the door crack.

Eidel was lying on a single blanket, reading a book.

[The Art of Master’s Degree]

What kind of title is that?

Their conversation came through clearly.

“Why is the protagonist like this? He should at least get a doctorate before leaving.”

“Young master, graduate school is like the martial arts world—where there are first-rate people, there are second-rate people, and where there are second-rate people, there are third-rate people.”

“So?”

“For someone who becomes third-rate, isn’t taking the civil service exam and entering government service one way to protect oneself in the dangerous world?”

“Unacceptable! Not thinking about improving his level but running away instead! Such a person cannot succeed greatly even outside academia!”

“That’s from the perspective of those who have experienced doctoral degrees.”

She had no idea what they were talking about, but they were both crazy.

Especially Eidel. That guy was out of his mind in a different way this cycle.

“By the way, there are only four days left until the start of classes at Stellarium. We should head back soon or we’ll be late.”

“I know.”

Eidel closed his book and stretched.

Ireh couldn’t help but be surprised by the conversation she just heard.

Eidel von Rheinland, at Stellarium?

That idiot?

[─ Using <Appraisal>.]

[Name: Eidel Rheinland]

[Affiliation: Rheinland Family, Stellarium Academia]

[Detailed Information: Cannot be viewed (Attempting to forcibly view may drastically increase your Fron value.)]

Something was definitely wrong.

This cycle was the most anomalous of all she had experienced.

“Ah, wait. I got a message from Professor Roden.”

Professor Roden. As soon as she heard that name, Ireh’s ears perked up. Like Zernya, he was someone who had contracted with an outer god and become an enemy of humanity.

Professor Roden talking with Eidel?

Something was going on.

“Ah, yes, Professor. I can talk via voice code now. But, well…”

As expected, they were conspiring together.

“…Yes, yes. I’d be grateful if you could do that. It’s not just for my benefit anyway.”

She had found something to investigate.

After listening to their entire conversation, Ireh returned to the infirmary as soon as Eidel got up. And she revised her plan.

Roden, Zernya, Eidel.

Whether they had truly changed, or the situation had shifted and they were making different plans—either way, it was clear they needed to be closely monitored.

To monitor all three, there was only one way.

‘…I need to enter Stellarium College.’

Ireh left the infirmary with heavy steps.

***

– Rheinland student. Thanks to the FR model you developed with Professor Feynman, I was able to successfully complete follow-up research expanding the dimensions of the Aether Belt. I want to express my gratitude for helping solve a problem I couldn’t crack after 10 years of work.

Professor Roden of Dahnab University.

Originally, he was a villain enthralled by an outer god.

– I will not apply for a patent on this technology. It would be more valuable that way. I wanted to share this with Rheinland student, the developer of the theory.

Somehow, he had transformed into a hero saving the entire federation.

Everyone’s taking a completely different path from the novel now.

Except when dealing with Ireh Hazlen, the content of “God Slayer” had become utterly useless. The misfortunes that befell Seti or Rustila wouldn’t happen anymore either, since Professor Roden had released the patent for the Aether Belt expansion project.

Everyone would be able to enjoy their academy life safely.

“What a relief.”

Now I could freely research until the results of my graduate program admission came in.

Knock knock knock.

I excitedly knocked on Ireh’s door.

There was no response.

“I’m coming in?”

I know it’s extremely rude to enter a lady’s room uninvited.

But I knocked and waited for 30 seconds.

There wouldn’t be any embarrassing situation. I even covered my eyes with a research paper as I slowly opened the door, perfectly maintaining gentlemanly virtue and respecting her privacy.

And.

“…?”

Ireh wasn’t in the room.

“Ah.”

I reduced her Fron value to 0, and she ran away.

“Are you talking about that young lady? She left while you were packing your belongings, young master.”

“How do you know that?”

“Because I saw it with my own eyes.”

“What? Why didn’t you stop her?”

“Didn’t I tell you? That girl and you were just going to spend one night here and then part ways. Is this what they professionally call a one-night stand? Oh.”

“Stop talking nonsense, Sonia…”

“Young master used to flirt with female students like this in the past.”

I held my forehead. It’s quite an ordeal to receive mirror therapy with words I’ve never actually used.

Anyway, if I examine Ireh’s memories read by Callipers, she will certainly try to monitor me.

Keeping that in mind while researching, we’ll meet again someday.

In the meantime, I decided to think about how to spend the remaining second semester.

Soon, one word came to mind.

Zernya.

***

“Ah, achoo!”

“Miss Adelbein, you’ve pushed yourself too hard. Even if the head of the family scolded you, you shouldn’t have stayed up without sleeping…”

“Don’t worry about it and mind your own business.”

“But I’m concerned about your health, miss…”

“I said get out—achoo!”

One day before school started.

And she had caught a cold three days ago.

Zernya was suffering through her closed-door training.