Ch.99Rap Tour (2)

I had a dream about being caught by tentacles, and when I woke up, Sonia had her limbs entangled around my body.

Since it was my first time sleeping in the same bed with Sonia, I was a bit flustered. Was her sleeping habit this bad? No, wait, does an android even have sleeping habits to begin with?

“Sonia. Sonia?”

“I am awake.”

She groggily got up and fumbled around my body. Seems like she was booting up.

Then she slowly rose, putting her weight on me as if she was going to crush me. Sonia dismissed this major crime with just a simple “I’m sorry.”

“What’s going on? You’re sleeping in late.”

“You’re the one who woke up early, young master.”

When I checked the clock, it wasn’t any different from my usual wake-up time.

But since I suddenly didn’t have to go to school, my schedule was completely empty. No one would say anything if I crawled back into bed and lounged around.

However, in a world where every minute and second counts, being lazy is like saying “please kill me.”

I washed my face quickly and opened my email inbox while munching on the toast Sonia had prepared.

[Schedule for October-December]

There were still about five months left until I would officially enroll in college, but there were things to do before then.

[An open lab information session for graduate students is scheduled for November. We request that student Eidel attend at the designated location below to tour various laboratories.]

It was about joining a lab tour with other new graduate students.

Though it wasn’t a graduate program, they were treating me as a proper graduate student.

After enrollment, I’d need to gain experience through internships or something similar. What I lacked most right now was connections.

Meeting several professors who would become future colleagues and sharing various ideas with them was a very important activity. Even for someone like me, there are limits to conducting multiple research projects simultaneously.

I reread the email that came from Professor Stranov yesterday.

Sonia rested her chin on my shoulder and asked:

“They’ve written quite elaborately to say ‘come visit our lab once.’ Do you intend to go, young master?”

“Well…”

“You should at least reply.”

“I was about to.”

There was a specific time period mentioned for when to come, but coincidentally, the Stellarium lab presentation was scheduled for the same time.

I used this reason to politely decline. It was essentially a rejection.

And within 3 minutes of sending the email, I received a reply.

[Then I will come to you.]

***

A colloquium at a university was a kind of promotional event.

Researchers present their research to promote it, exchange questions, and expand each other’s knowledge.

It also had the effect of attracting prospective graduate students.

What a sweet and elegant event!

The main presenter for this colloquium was Professor Callis Stranov. The person I had recently exchanged emails with, and the professor I had unintentionally scooped.

Honestly, I do feel sorry. If it were me, I’d collapse if someone else published what I was researching first.

But it can’t be helped. Academia is also a competitive society.

“Student Eidel! Over here, over here.”

As I entered the physics department building to attend Professor Stranov’s lecture, Professor Feynman was waiting to greet me.

“What brings you here, Professor?”

“I have something to tell student Eidel in advance.”

Professor Feynman took me to a secluded spot.

Like a wary wolf, he looked around in all directions before carefully opening his mouth.

“Are you going to attend Professor Stranov’s lecture?”

“Yes.”

“……”

“……”

An awkward silence.

“…I won’t stop you since having diverse experiences is a student’s right. But when choosing a laboratory, you must be extremely cautious. Understand?”

Though he expressed it indirectly, his meaning was transparent.

Feynman was afraid.

I nodded with a slight smile.

“I understand.”

“Good. Then.”

“Aren’t you going to the colloquium, Professor?”

“No. Something else came up.”

With that, Professor Feynman left as if making a hasty retreat.

As I turned the corner in the opposite direction, I heard the click-clack of heels and stopped in my tracks. Immediately after, a tangy perfume scent rushed in.

“Oh my, Mr. Rheinland.”

“You know me?”

A woman nodding with a gentle smile.

“You’re quite famous, so I know you well. First, there’s the distinctive eye color of the Rheinland family, and your face appears prominently when searched online. That damn… I mean, especially when you’re standing next to Professor Feynman.”

“……”

“Oh, I forgot to introduce myself. I’m Callis Stranov. This is our first face-to-face meeting, right? Nice to meet you.”

She offered a handshake with a gentle smile.

Manage your expression, Jinsoo.

I quickly smoothed my hardened face and took her hand.

“Now, the seminar room is this way.”

Professor Stranov held onto me and led the way. It was a smooth yet meticulous movement.

I felt uncomfortable with this unexpected reverse escort. I had even left Sonia behind, so there was no one to call for help.

Moreover, this person’s attire was inappropriate. A burgundy blouse with a plunging neckline under a lab coat? Anyone could see it was fashion designed to seduce men.

“Have you decided on an advisor?”

“Nothing’s been confirmed yet. I was admitted through the college program.”

“Is that so? Sigh…”

Why are you sighing? It’s scary.

Upon arriving at the seminar room, I grabbed some refreshments and coffee from the back and sat in a suitable spot.

Ah shit, raisins.

Not as good as what Sonia makes.

“Ah, ah. Everyone. Thank you very much for attending this session.”

Before starting her presentation, she glanced around.

She kept doing that for quite a while. It seemed like she was looking for someone.

With a somewhat disappointed expression, Professor Stranov sighed deeply and took the microphone.

“I have a new research project that I’ve recently started. Today, I plan to introduce this research field to all of you.”

A new research field!

I focused on those words.

After all, Professor Stranov was someone whose research field had overlapped with mine. It would be good to keep a close eye on such things.

That was also why I attended the colloquium.

“I have started this research.”

[Development of Mode Synchronization Technology for Maxwell & Descartes System Outer Gods and Avatars Using Quantum Gravity Resonators]

“Wow.”

A dumbfounded sound escaped my lips.

How could someone think of something like that?

“There are unfamiliar terms attached. ‘Quantum gravity’ and ‘resonator’.”

A resonator is a device for obtaining resonance, simply put, it’s a device used to make lasers.

“Gravity can also be described as a field when employing field theory. And outer gods are beings that manifest in our world through this gravity.”

[— The God of Wisdom and Curiosity frowns.]

“Outer gods of the Maxwell and Descartes systems, which are dominated by wave properties rather than particle properties, can be neutralized without killing them if we can create gravity resonators to contain them. Just like how we neutralize immortal Darwin system monsters by cutting off their limbs.”

[— The God of Wisdom and Curiosity slightly bites her lip.]

“As the first step, our laboratory will create a quantum gravity resonator strong enough to contain an outer god.”

I see.

Say what you will, she’s a tenured professor at one of the top academies in the universe. Her skills and ideas are excellent.

“Since submitting the proposal, we’ve already received hundreds of billions of credits in funding from the government.”

“Ohhh.”

“Well, that concludes my presentation.”

As soon as Professor Stranov finished speaking, people raised their hands. This was the timing for formal questions.

“How will you obtain the materials for the resonator?”

“We’ll use the divide and conquer strategy. We’ll try using the ‘crystals’ that emerge when Darwin system avatars are defeated.”

“Is implementing the device in a 4D compact space sufficient? I anticipate many trials and errors.”

“That’s why simulations are important in the early stages of research. We’ll also need technology that can affect Kähler manifolds. Fortunately, the FR model will be a breakthrough in that area.”

“How long do you think it will take once full-scale research begins?”

“I can’t say for certain, but if support is consistent, it’s possible within 10 years. Also, with good colleagues and groundbreaking ideas, we could significantly shorten the time to within 2 years.”

As the questions dwindled, Professor Stranov’s gaze turned to me. It was captivating, and therefore troubling.

“No questions from the students?”

She spoke as if testing me. The professors and graduate students had already asked all the difficult questions, so the undergraduates were just hesitating.

Since the professor’s gaze was unusual, I half-reluctantly raised my hand.

“If you trap an outer god in a completely shielded resonator, specific mode energies could accumulate and explode. But if you make the resonator with materials that allow partial wave transmission, it defeats the purpose of containing the outer god. How will you overcome this contradiction?”

“That.”

Professor Stranov said with a wink.

“Might require the help of a theorist.”

I felt a chill run down my spine in that moment.

[“Kid, don’t help that person with their research. You should focus solely on developing graviton bomb research.”]

But still.

That looks quite interesting.

[“That’s separate from whether it’s interesting. I dislike that person. I also dislike the content of their research.”]

“……”

[“It’s an order. Don’t go against my wishes.”]

The voice I heard was trembling.

Cartesia is a Descartes system outer god.

A bizarre idea to neither kill nor banish outer gods of her kind, but to imprison them in solitary confinement forever.

I immediately weighed the pros and cons.

This must be done.

[“No.”]

[— The God of Wisdom and Curiosity donates 1000 pron to you.]

[“No.”]

[— The God of Wisdom and Curiosity donates 5000 pron to you.]

[“I said no.”]

[— The God of Wisdom and Curiosity donates 10000 pron to you.]

Cartesia desperately injected pron. This wasn’t for completing a quest or special interaction.

[— The Descartes system outer god, ‘God of Wisdom and Curiosity’ is anxious.]

But it must be done.

[— The Maxwell system outer god, ‘Steel Flowing Like Earth’ is devising a plan to kill you.]

[— The Descartes system outer god, ‘Sky of Comfort’ is looking for an opportunity to parasitize your family’s brains.]

[— The Descartes system outer god, ‘???’ is creating a custom genitalia to fornicate with you.]

Because there are too many fucking outer gods in the world.