Chapter 100
by Afuhfuihgs
Chapter 100
From Cosmic Rascal to Professor.
Episode 100: Lab Tour (3).
A week had passed since the start of the lab tour, and I had a hard time turning down countless love calls from professors. While some labs had piqued my interest, none had convinced me to commit, especially since my fascination was currently captured by something entirely different: the concept of a gravity resonator.
“So, our lab primarily focuses on theoretical aspects and computational work rather than hands-on experiments… Are you paying attention, Aidel?”
“Yes, yes?” I was jolted back to reality, realizing I had drifted off. “Sorry.”
“It’s fine. It’s easy to get distracted when you’re already familiar with the material,” Professor Feynman said, offering a knowing smile. I was currently visiting his lab with a group of potential students. The obligatory nature of these tours was beginning to feel tedious. The lab was devoid of significant experimental apparatus, housing only several high-end supercomputers, the cost of which could rival the salaries of postdoctoral researchers. This setup was typical for a lab specializing in theoretical physics.
“Shall we break for a meal?” Professor Feynman suggested, knocking on the door to the adjacent room. Immediately, three weary-looking men burst through the doorway.
“Food! Finally!”
They were panting heavily.
“Here’s the company card, Professor!”
The expressions of the other prospective students stiffened slightly.
“Allow me to introduce them. From the left, meet Ian, Mercury, and Franz. They are my colleagues from the lab.”
The introductions felt chaotic. As we moved to the restaurant and started looking over the menu, my thoughts continued to wander.
“Aidel, Mr. Aidel?”
“Yes, yes?”
“It’s your turn to choose from the menu.”
“Oh, right. I’ll have this one,” I said, selecting an item at random before handing the menu back. Meanwhile, in the recesses of my mind, Cartesia was performing a mournful song. It seemed she needed comforting.
Closing my eyes momentarily, the noise around me faded into a serene silence. I felt an imaginary sensation of water around my feet. As I floated in this tranquil state, I opened my eyes again. There she was, the Outer God, her glowing tentacles undulating like limbs in the calm expanse of my mind.
“Hey, rookie,” Cartesia called out as she approached. “You seem awfully comfortable wandering around my domain.” Step by step, she closed in. “I don’t like it,” her fingertips brushed against my chin.
Suddenly, Cartesia’s tentacles ensnared my limbs, pulling me closer. “If your integrity and mental strength were that of an ordinary human, I would have killed you instantly.” Although her face was obscured, I sensed a smirk playing on her lips. “But, that’s what makes you interesting.”
Silence fell between us.
“Now, kid, understand this—I could keep you here forever. I could stop you before you even think about trapping Outer Gods like me with a gravity resonator.” Her threat carried weight; Cartesia was a formidable force. Glancing down, I saw other Outer Gods subjugated under her feet.
“Master, give me a coin. Just one coin.”
“Heek, heek.”
“Ah, good. Ah.”
These once powerful and arrogant beings, now reduced to human forms and clad in maid outfits, groveled at Cartesia’s feet. They lived a pitiful, grotesque existence, their dignity stripped away.
“No need for pity. They tried to kill you,” Cartesia remarked nonchalantly, flicking something that resembled a coin. It spun through the air, landing neatly on the tongue of one of the groveling gods.
“Thank you, Master! Thank you!”
“It’s mine, hand it over.”
“Do you both want to die? It was bestowed upon me!”
Amidst the chaos, I pondered what Cartesia had thrown.
“A coin?” I asked.
“Yeah, a coin, kid.”
“Where did you get it?”
“Want to know?”
She tightened her grip on my bound limbs. “I’ll tell you, but only if you swear not to create the resonator.”
“Really? Then you don’t need to tell me.”
Cartesia’s expression relaxed, but not in a good way. Though I couldn’t see her face,I could sense her anger..
“So, this is where we part ways.”
“Are you leaving?”
“They say if you dislike the temple, you should leave it.”
“That’s actually the opposite of how it goes.”
“Here, I am the temple, human.”
“Then consider me the apostate.”
Cartesia’s frown deepened.
“Fine, let’s compromise.” I couldn’t just abandon my precious little Outer God… I mean, my calculator. I quickly added, “This research is solely to keep Safaul and other Outer Gods in check. The development of the graviton bomb is taking ages. We need at least one backup plan in the meantime, right? Do we agree on that?”
“…Well, yes.”
“So, I swear. Even if I develop a resonator, I won’t use it to trap the Sagittarius A* black hole.”
“How can you be so sure?”
With a smile, I replied, “
“Right, I forgot about that.” Cartesia smiled back and wiggled a finger. As the tentacles loosened, my consciousness snapped back to reality.
And then.
“Your mint pineapple omelet is ready.”
“What.” Before me was a culinary abomination, barely recognizable as food. “Why would you make me order this?”
“Exactly.”
I mumbled in response and took a spoonful into my mouth.
“Mmm.” Surprisingly, it tasted better than I expected.
The Skill
‘Aidel von Reinhardt’ is prohibited from using gravitational resonator technology on the ‘Sgr A*’ black hole.
In exchange, the ‘God of Wisdom and Curiosity’ shall not depart from ‘Aidel von Reinhardt’s’ cerebral cortex until his demise.
Should ‘Aidel von Reinhardt’ violate this agreement, he will be eternally imprisoned in the black hole where the God of ‘Wisdom and Curiosity’ resides and will serve her indefinitely.
Should the God of ‘Wisdom and Curiosity’ breach this agreement, it must relinquish all acquired Pron to ‘Aidel von Reinhardt’.
It’s an egregiously one-sided contract. But when considered, is there any Outer God that offers such utility? Clearly, it’s a steal.
“You must uphold it.”
I internalized Cartesia’s urgent plea just as I was about to step onto the orbital ascent line.
“Student Aidel!” Professor Feynman’s voice halted me. “Ah, there you are, Aidel. Where might you be headed at this moment?”
“Ah, well…” I scrambled for a plausible excuse. “I’m concerned about my girlfriend.”
“…Girlfriend?”
“Yes.” In truth, she doesn’t exist.
“Did you ever have a girlfriend, student? Who might she be?”
“It’s a secret.”
“A secret, huh? Well, I suppose that can’t be helped.”
“Professor, as you know, my research takes precedence,” I said, stressing the word’ research.’
“Haha,” Professor Feynman winked, “I remember what I advised when you first reached out to me.”
“You suggested I try dating, didn’t you?”
“It seems you’ve taken that advice to heart.”
Not exactly. I was on the verge of starting something, but I got expelled before anything could develop. The closest I’ve come to a romantic relationship lately has been with my thesis.
“Professor, did you ever date during your academic years?”
“Rarely,” he began, and what followed was the Professor’s, or rather, the trickster’s tale of romance, or the lack thereof:
Receive a confession.
Reject due to being engrossed in research.
Receive another confession.
Reject while searching for a thesis publisher.
Receive yet another confession.
Decline to attend a conference.
“…”
“Just as you prioritize your research, Aidel, so did I,” he concluded.
What kind of life had he led?
“Do you have any regrets?”
“Some,” he admitted.
“Was there someone special?”
“There was one person, but we never dated.”
“Why not?”
“It’s a secret.” His evasion suggested it was a tale that might tarnish another’s reputation. Sensing the delicacy of the matter, I chose not to probe further.
“Take care on your way back, student.”
“The wind is quite chilly. You be careful too, Professor.” With that, the Professor and I parted ways.
As I ascended higher, Sonia joined me.
“Young master, are you sure it was okay to say that?”
“It’s fine. I’m just going to check something quickly and then return.” Thus began a half-day-long journey through space. After navigating several warp gates, we finally arrived at—
“This is Eruyel Academy.” Waiting at the front gate, barefoot, was someone I knew.
“Mr. Reinhardt, you made it!” It was Professor Kallis Stranov. “It’s very cold outside, isn’t it? Please, come inside quickly.”
Sonia and I followed her into the lab using the high pass. Professor Stranov quickly served us cocoa, a task usually delegated to busy graduate students. Clearly, she had a warm personality.
The cocoa filled the air with its sweet, delightful aroma, its warmth soothing the chill from the space travel.
“How was last week’s colloquium?” she asked.
“It was excellent.”
Stranov’s face brightened with a sudden glow.
“Mr. Reinhardt, do you often interact with Professor Feynman?”
“Yes, I do.”
“I see. He’s quite well-regarded for his character.” She led me through the lab, lavishing praise on Feynman as if unwrapping a precious gift.
“I focus on both theory and experiments, though it’s mainly experimental work.” Professor Stranov’s lab was impressive, resembling an orchestra hall in size, filled with rows of gleaming equipment and multiple research rooms.
“This device measures gravitational forces with high precision. Over there, we have equipment for detecting gravitons through ether fusion reactions, and that’s a gravity clamp for reinforcing ether belts.”
“Professor, about that paper I submitted last time…”
“It’s fine. Academia is fiercely competitive, after all.” Her eyebrows slightly twitched as she spoke.
“How do you like our lab?”
“It’s fantastic. The facilities are state-of-the-art, and the support system seems robust.” Her smile widened.
“Mr. Reinhardt, we are both scientists, and I prefer directness. So, I’ll get straight to the point.” She clasped my shoulders and leaned in. “Would you consider joining my team?”
Her embrace tightened, reminiscent of an anaconda, as she whispered, “Here, you can delve into both theoretical and experimental physics as much as you desire. The lab atmosphere is vibrant, we’re well-funded, and our research scope is broader than Professor Feynman’s.” Her tone was seductive, almost serpent-like, as she subtly critiqued Professor Feynman.
“Even as a Master’s student, you’d fit right in.” Professor Stranov’s words lingered close, almost as if she were whispering in my ear. “Would you like to try the graduate program at Eruyel Academy?”
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