Ch.9Lustila (4)

“…So, how was it?”

“It was good. He was a nice person.”

Seti’s mouth fell open.

“Even after seeing him like that?”

“He probably couldn’t help it. Seti, you need to understand.”

Rustila Kersil defended Eidel. Seti couldn’t believe it. For the first time in 10 years, that Eidel, who had done nothing but act like a thug, received a positive evaluation from someone.

“I saw it clearly with my spiritual eye. You might not see it from the outside, but Eidel is a good person. Yes, and he’s a pitiful child. So instead of getting angry, you should help him.”

Seti held her forehead and slumped down.

“…He didn’t do anything strange to you, did he? Like verbally abusing you or sexually harassing you!”

“Not at all.”

“Alright. That’s all I needed to know…”

She didn’t seem to be lying.

Seti called Sonia separately to cross-verify Rustila’s statement. Even Sonia had nothing particular to say. Though doubts persisted, contradicting testimonies were beginning to emerge.

Seti pondered while eating the last remaining snack.

‘I’m missing something.’

Memories from the past began to creep up. Memories of harsh words from Eidel. Memories of being beaten badly. Memories of fighting. Memories of hiding under the blanket and crying her eyes out. All of them were nothing but terrible memories.

Those memories collided with Rustila’s words, causing confusion.

He’s essentially a good person?

‘…What nonsense!’

She still couldn’t believe it. Outwardly, she agreed with Rustila’s words, but inwardly, she was sharpening her knife. There must be something that even Rustila’s spiritual eye had missed.

If.

If that wasn’t the case…

‘Then what does that make of the treatment I received all this time?’

It felt unfair. That’s why she didn’t want to acknowledge it.

A person’s nature doesn’t change. Eidel should forever remain a thug, a piece of trash.

“Miss Rustila, it’s time for you to return.”

Zermel, who was in the room, approached and pointed at the clock. The girl who had been chatting and studying with Seti suddenly froze.

“Can’t I stay a little longer?”

“Didn’t the head of the family tell you to keep to your curfew? If you don’t leave now, you’ll be in big trouble.”

“…I understand.”

Rustila packed her things. She also put away the wooden sword she had swung several times. It was time to return to her family.

Seti personally escorted her to the dock.

Four androids boarded the ship first, followed by Zermel. As Rustila moved her feet, she kept looking back. Her eyes met Seti’s several times.

It was a sad face. Seti carefully waved her hand.

Eventually.

Kuuuung-!!

The platinum-coated ion engine activated with a magnificent sound. A heated wind rose with a whoosh.

Seti watched bitterly as Rustila returned to her home. She kept watching until the spaceship was far away, on and on and on…

“…Sonia.”

Breaking the momentary silence, Seti asked.

“Won’t those androids go back and tell everything about what that trash did?”

“Don’t worry. I’ve spoken to them properly.”

“Really, he’s a disgrace to the family…”

Seti heaved a deep sigh. Her footsteps fell heavily.

Her destination was the hospital room where Eidel was staying.

“Hey.”

Seti entered without permission. As it happened, Eidel was looking at a workbook.

A sigh escaped from Seti’s lips.

“Are you still preparing for the entrance exam?”

Eidel, with bandages wrapped tightly around his head and both forearms, turned his head. He seemed displeased by her sudden entry, slightly furrowing his brow.

“Why are you here?”

“Ha! You’re asking why I’m here?”

It was absurd.

“After causing all that trouble, you don’t know why I came?”

“I had a good talk with Rustila.”

“Talk? What talk?”

“About why I caused such a commotion.”

“Did you threaten her or something?”

Although Rustila had denied it, Seti wanted to believe otherwise. Because Rustila was kind, and Eidel was wicked. She thought there was a good possibility.

“I can assure you I didn’t threaten her.”

“If there’s even a shred of circumstantial evidence, you’re as good as dead to father.”

“That’s why I’m studying like this.”

“How long are you going to keep up this act?”

“If you don’t believe me, want to see?”

“Why would I look at something with just answers scribbled without any solutions?”

“That’s true.”

“…?”

Seti had entered the hospital room prepared to berate Eidel. She expected him to treat her the same way he had behaved in front of the androids earlier.

However, Eidel was, for some reason, calm.

Seti was quite taken aback.

‘Is this a split personality or what…?’

Meanwhile, Eidel yawned and turned the page. From the looks of it, he was solving problems by estimation and moving on.

“Go die, idiot.”

Seti spat out harsh words and left the room.

– Study hard!

All that came through the door was encouragement.

***

After Rustila Kersil returned from her visit to the Rheinland family, I went back to square one and continued studying.

Solving problems, and more problems, and even more problems. I solved them until I felt nauseous.

And today was the day I would be rewarded for those efforts.

Tak.

As soon as I closed the last workbook, a translucent window appeared with a clear bell sound.

[— Time remaining: 112 hours 08 minutes 45 seconds]

[— You have completed the first quest.]

[— The God of Wisdom and Curiosity says your ability and academic enthusiasm are passable.]

It really took a long time.

[— You will receive additional Pron based on the remaining time.]

[— Added Pron value: 1120]

“Phew.”

A sigh escaped involuntarily.

Receiving Pron as a reward was okay.

The important thing is that I didn’t fail the quest. With this, I can catch my breath for a while.

[— The God of Wisdom and Curiosity bestows a quest reward upon you!]

Whoosh.

A chilling wind blew.

I turned around at the eerie feeling. In the middle of the room, an incomprehensible mass of cracks appeared. It was rippling as if dancing.

The next moment. Pale and skeletal hands, like those of a dead person, tore through the crack and appeared.

“Ha.”

I was so startled I almost fell backward.

Right. So this is how they give rewards.

The pale hands were holding up an object.

It looked somewhat like a sword, and also somewhat like a tool. Whatever it was, it was an entity emanating a strange energy.

[“Take it, human.”]

A seductive voice penetrates my brain.

[“I’m giving it to you as promised.”]

[— Please receive the reward ‘Special Gift for the Dull Human :)’]

I took the object without hesitation.

And the next moment.

Tuk-!

The snow-white hands that were holding the object grabbed my wrist.

I didn’t even have time to scream. I was sucked into the dark crack. My body felt like it was stretching like taffy.

Thud!

Before I knew it, I was trapped in a pitch-black space where not a single ray of light entered.

“…Ha.”

I knew this would happen.

There’s no way an outer god would give a reward for nothing.

Outer gods are like the “Monkey’s Paw” from some horror novel. They want payment for all rewards. They never simply give in to such things.

“If you have something to say, say it in the original world, what is this?”

[— Cartesia commands. Walk.]

Right.

What else can I do in this situation?

To return to where I was, I have no choice but to move forward.

So I started walking endlessly. Not knowing if I was moving forward or just on a treadmill.

The more I walked, the more vividly I heard her voice.

[— Cartesia asks. Do you know where this is?]

I don’t know.

[— Cartesia asks. Can you specify the location?]

Impossible.

It’s a complete void. I’m moving my two legs, but I’m not confident that I’m moving forward.

In such darkness, and in such a formless space, nothing can be physically measured.

[— Cartesia asks.]

[— Are you afraid?]

[— If you are afraid, what exactly are you afraid of?]

Well, if I were afraid, I would say so. Outer gods are incomprehensible beings.

In other words, ignorance is frightening. More than the fact that outer gods are very powerful, not knowing exactly who they are is frightening.

So I need to consider what I know first.

First, me.

I exist.

To the point of getting goosebumps, I’m breathing even in such a space.

I can tell I’m looking ‘forward’. I can also tell there’s something ‘above’ me.

Front, back, up, down. I can at least specify these four directions.

So let’s make this the origin point.

[— Cartesia asks. Can you define left and right, and dimension?]

“Haha.”

That might be difficult.

Right now, it’s already at my limit just to hold onto my sanity.

[— Cartesia nods. At the same time, she expresses admiration for your calmness.]

[— Cartesia asks.]

Whoosh!

Wind rushes in like a downpour into the empty space. My body was pulled forward.

[— Will you go to graduate school again?]

I answered without hesitation.

Of course.

[— Ten times, a hundred times, a thousand times?]

Of course.

[— For what purpose?]

“To drive you outer gods out of this universe.”

[— It seems there’s one more reason?]

“Because I want to understand this world.”

This is actually closer to my true feelings.

Both on Earth and in this world. My future dream is still to be a professor. Even if we win the war against the outer gods, I probably wouldn’t mind continuing research.

“Hey, you sent me here, didn’t you?”

[— Cartesia smiles. Perhaps?]

“It won’t go as you wish.”

[— Cartesia snickers.]

[— Notice: Stress levels have exceeded the system’s limit. The values received so far will be forcibly converted to Pron.]

[— PN value acquired from ‘Void’: 100000000]

[— Cannot handle the current stored Pron value!]

[— Materialization will proceed forcibly!]

The object I was holding suddenly shone. A heat sensation as if my hand would burn. I didn’t let go of the object but rather gripped it tightly. I instinctively knew I shouldn’t let it go.

[— You have offered 100000000PN as payment! Your first reward is given here.]

Flash-!!

The world flashed brightly. I squeezed my eyes shut and made a visor with one hand.

Eventually, as the light gradually subsided, and I returned to the original room.

The unidentified object handed by the outer god began to take shape.

“…?”

Coincidentally, it was an object I knew well.

“…Calipers?”