Chapter 14

Chapter 14

From Cosmic Rascal to Professor.

Episode 14: Mock Test (2).

Two days later, I boarded the spaceship for the first time in my life, headed to Ergos Comprehensive Academy for a mock test. However, there was one problem.

“Sonia, how do you pilot a spaceship?” I asked.

Sonia grabbed the back of her neck, looking down with a face that clearly showed her displeasure. “Pretending to be stressed even though you are an android.”

“It feels like my hydraulic pressure might rise.”

“You really are something else.” Sonia patiently explained how to operate it. Thank you for the kind explanation, Sonia!

Most of the spaceship’s functions are automated, so there is no need to get a license unless I was going to operate it manually. It was curious since in the era I lived in, autonomous driving was just beginning, but even then, a license was required.

I suddenly turned into an orangutan, feeling an urge to touch or press anything unfamiliar I saw.

“Please don’t touch anything carelessly. If you cause any more trouble, the family head will be furious,” Sonia warned.

“I won’t.”

“If it’s the young master, then you will likely do it. This won’t do. I will accompany you.”

Sonia climbed up as well. The spaceship wasn’t large, about the size of a compact car and meant for one person, so with Sonia, we had to sit very close together. This raised the question of whether I should hold Sonia, or should Sonia hold me.

“Young master, please sit down,” Sonia insisted. I had no choice but to sit in front. Having been beaten so often, the idea of turning my back to Sonia gave me the creeps, but there was no helping it. This was also more comfortable for me.

“Lay back comfortably.” Sonia grabbed my shoulder and pulled me closer. I felt a soft sensation on the back of my head.

“Hmm. Silicone. It is silicone,” I thought.

[‘The God of Wisdom and Curiosity’ sighs.]

If you blush over a mere lump of silicone, you’re not acting like a human. It’s a disqualification from humanity.

“Don’t think anything weird,” Sonia said.

“I didn’t.”

“Tell me what you were thinking just now.”

“What is a semiconductor.”

“It is a bumper year for bullshit.”

“Are you going to continue talking like that to your master?”

Having been with Sonia for a long time, we have come to exchange jokes like this. It’s as if there is no boundary between master and servant. No, maybe there never was one from the start.

“Anyway…” A 21st-century Korean dropped into this space opera universe, navigating interstellar travel with an android in a maid outfit. “What kind of situation is this?”

“The engine has started. Please stay still,” Sonia said.

Vroom! Before long, my body was pulled forward, from a stationary frame of reference to one of acceleration. The landscape of the world receded, leaving me behind. As we left the orbital space influenced by gravity (actually, centrifugal force), a vast blank canvas was unveiled – a space already marked with black crayon by someone. It had a different aspect from the night sky on Earth.

“We should arrive at Ergos in about 10 minutes. Just so you know, if we go a bit further you will reach Stellarium,” Sonia prattled on, but I hardly heard anything. I was more worried about today’s mock test. What if I reveal my lack of understanding?

[‘The God of Wisdom and Curiosity’ reminds you to recall what happens if you fail to pass.]

Failure is close to doom. And the mock test will be the only indicator that can predict whether I am doomed or not. I couldn’t help but tremble.

600 seconds passed quicker than I thought. Sonia and I docked the spaceship at the place. A sickly cleaned ash-colored dock welcomed us.

[Ergos Comprehensive Academy]

[Mock Test External Registration Desk]

“We should head over there,” Sonia said.

“Let’s go together.” Wherever I went, Sonia stuck close and followed.

Honestly, it was embarrassing. It made me look like I couldn’t do even a single thing right. Moreover, the outfit Sonia had on was eye-catching. Servant androids usually wear blank suits, not outfits like this.

-What is with that person?

-They dressed their android in an old-fashioned maid outfit.

-Are they using it for that purpose?

-Really? Eww, that is disgusting. That must be totally insane!

The ominous prediction didn’t miss. People lined up at the entrance of the academy and whispered, looking at us.

Oh Outer God. Why did you bestow such a trial upon me? I cannot bear these pouring gazes with my sober mind. Just make me go insane now…!

“Sonia, even now. It would be better to take off that headband and the ribbon. Then, at least, you will look alright,” I suggested.

“I cannot. The band and frills are of great importance.”

“Why?”

“Because they are cute.”

Oh Outer God!

I braved the embarrassment and lined up at the crowd waiting area. Perhaps because it was a huge academy, there were many staff members. Thanks to that, the line moved quickly. I registered for the mock test and transferred 80,000 credits to the designated account.

“The deposit has been made normally… ah, Aidel von Reinhardt?” The assistant’s pupils dilated to the size of 500 won coins upon checking the account holder’s name. I entered before the situation could escalate any further.

“… Uh?” A familiar voice reached my ears up close. “Uh, why are you here…?”

It was Ceti who appeared before me. She almost dropped the coffee cup she was holding, that was how surprised she was. I was just as surprised.

“You are asking me?”

“Well, it’s because I attend this academy…”

Such a coincidence. I hadn’t paid attention to what she was doing when she left, so I had no idea. Wait. That means Ceti might know Edward…

“Ha, seriously. Talk about bad luck. To run into you right before the mock test.” Ceti glared at me and then hurled curses at me. It was a familiar treatment now. I asked, not caring.

“Do you happen to know teacher Meyer?”

“What?”

“Or should I call him a teaching assistant? Anyway, someone called Edward.”

“What will you do knowing?”

“So, you know him?”

“…”

“He is the person who tutored me for interviews.”

“What?” Ceti’s face contorted in an instant. Before she could say anything, Sonia stepped in.

“Come to think of it, Miss and Mr. Meyer never crossed paths at home.”

“Sonia, didn’t you know anything?”

“I also didn’t know the two were acquainted. I only found out today that Miss is a resident here.”

“I might be excused, but why didn’t you know?” I asked. Then Sonia leaned forward and gazed intently at me. She wet her lips.

“I am exclusively yours, young master.”

“Even my sibling doesn’t care that you are exclusively mine.”

“Taking care of just one young master is exhausting.”

Alright. Alright. It’s my fault to have such long talks with this blue-haired beast.

Upon entering the classroom guided by the instructor, I saw Edward teaching math to the students. He looked truly happy. Contrary to the students who looked pale as if they were on their deathbeds.

“Ah, Aidel, you came?” Edward greeted me normally. Ceti’s expression crumpled like a paper. She seemed quite shocked by Edward’s attitude toward me.

Edward approached me with a casual stride and said, “Woah, Ceti. I owe my life to your brother. Now I can even pay for the next semester’s tuition.”

“No, that is with my money….” Ceti tried to say something, then sighed and gave up.

Sonia went to the corner to wait, and I sat in my designated spot. Students began to gather noisily. Ceti and Edward continued their talks in front of the blackboard for a while. The surroundings were noisy so I couldn’t understand what they were saying.

After finishing the talk, Ceti came over with a sullen look and said, “If you take the money from the account without permission again, I will really kill you.” … and then went back to her place.

Threatening to kill, isn’t that a bit too much? Still, I thought it was fortunate that her expression seemed to be more relaxed than before. Right, for about 10 seconds she seemed alright.

“Hello Ceti. You are here again?” Until that voice came. At that playful tone, Ceti turned already angry.

“… You said you weren’t taking the test. Why are you here then?”

“Well, I thought about it and it seemed fun to participate. Watching the foolish ones struggle is also a pleasure.”

“If you are going to take the test, go sit in your own seat.”

“You are being so cold.”

Ceti retorted to her, but the girl didn’t leave that easily. She had hair as white as platinum. Wrapped around her neck was a white scarf, complemented by a black cardigan for a striking contrast. A soft pink pin tucked into her bangs revealed her forehead clearly. Her overall look seemed similar to Ceti’s. The atmosphere was about identical. They could be called sisters.

However, there was a difference. A hard-to-describe difference in class.

Eyes shimmering deep purple like ripe grapes glared at Ceti, then glanced over at me. Despite the diminutive stature, those eyes emitted a threatening aura, akin to a wolf on the hunt.

“Hmm, yellow eyes, huh? Golden eyes are uncommon. Could you possibly be from the Reinhardt family as well?” The girl chuckled and started talking to me.

I looked to see Ceti’s expression. Don’t talk. Don’t get involved. It seemed as though that’s what she was implying.

I felt the same way. I know very well who this girl is. Of course, I clearly remember the main villains who betrayed humanity. If it had been a normal situation, I would have left right away. That is how dangerous this girl is. And she is going to get more dangerous in the future.

But now, there is a different problem, right? A big problem is that I am disturbing the test preparations of my little sister.

“Why are you not responding? So boring.”

“… Zelnya Adelwein.”

“Ah, you know my name?”

“How could I not? The news keeps speaking of you as the star of Adelwein.”

The Adelwein family is Ceti’s maternal family, and at the same time, the family of the girl standing before me. Since Ceti’s maternal family and my maternal family are different, it ends up being like we are strangers. Regardless, if one were to highlight the most significant trait of the Adelwein family as depicted in the story, it could be stated as follows: They have deplorable personalities.

“Well, nothing strange about that. The number of people who recognize me is as vast as the stars in the Milky Way.” Zelnya narrowed her eyes and continued speaking.

She sat next to me. My luck was bad. Her assigned seat was right here. But misfortune turned to fortune. Without delay, I opened my mouth.

“Did you bully my sibling?”

I asked directly. Zelnya appeared momentarily surprised. Soon, she twitched her eyebrows and began to chuckle softly.

“Aha, I see. So you were the troublemaker of the Reinhardt family. No wonder.”

“…….”

“Ah, right. This isn’t meant to be a tease. So, you shouldn’t get angry, okay?”

What’s there to be angry about? Rather, I felt relieved. Zelnya, this woman, acts the same whether in the novel or reality. She picks fights whenever she perceives someone as beneath her, reminiscent of a wealthy family’s villainess in dramas. Indeed, that’s precisely her role in real life too.

Just then, the test supervisor entered. Ceti had already got to her seat, and the teaching assistants, including Edward, began to distribute the mock test papers.

I silently accepted the test paper and the electronic pad for writing answers. Beyond the rustling of paper, the voice of the girl beside me emerged.

“Aidel von Reinhardt.”

Zelnya called my name.

“They say you’re the troublemaker known as Reinhardt’s trash, but you still wanted to enroll in the academy, huh?”

“……”

“Ah, sorry. I didn’t mean it with bad intentions.”

How would the original Aidel have reacted here? He probably would have smacked her on the back of her head. No, maybe he would have done something worse.

I was not that crazy. Just like any ordinary person would, I silently started on my test paper, ignoring Zelnya as she tried to provoke me with her taunts.

“Please check for any misprints.”

“It’s easy. They all seem solvable.”

Zelnya cocked her head, feigning innocence. She twisted her lips into a smirk, her gaze fixed on me without turning her head.

Ignore her.

I gripped the pen and scribbled a few times to get a feel for the writing. I glanced up briefly to check the clock. There wasn’t much time left until the mock test began.

As I didn’t react, her smile widened. “Do your best,” she whispered to me.

“I will step on you,” Zelnya said with a smirk.

“Right, step on me.” That was the only thing I responded to.

[‘The God of Wisdom and Curiosity’ is appalled.]

“…What did you just say?” Zelnya asked, her haughty expression twisting into a foolish grimace.

Ding-.

The bell signaling the start of the mock test rang.