Chapter 157

Chapter 157

From Cosmic Rascal to Professor.

Episode 157: Meoww (3).

“Look at this – it’s a hardened sugar dessert made with sweet potatoes and regular potatoes.”

“Those are just candied sweet potatoes.”

While the Reinhardt siblings engaged in their trivial banter, Rustila and Zelnya were locked in a subtle confrontation across the table.

On the surface, everything appeared calm, but as with most power struggles, the real tension simmered beneath.

“I feel bad for always taking advantage of your generosity.”

“Hm?”

“Aidel, would you like to go to the steakhouse with me next week? My treat.”

Aidel, who had been chatting with Ceti, turned his attention to Rustila.

This was, of course, a calculated move. A cunning woman never suggests splitting the bill with a man she’s interested in. Instead, she lets him treat her first, then uses the pretext of reciprocation to secure another date.

“The steakhouse? Oh, that place? It was delicious.”

Aidel’s nod signaled his agreement, and Zelnya immediately recognized her oversight.

“Yes, exactly! You mentioned it had a nice atmosphere.”

“But isn’t next week the start of finals?”

Zelnya interjected swiftly. Aidel’s expression shifted to a rueful smile as he remembered.

“Oh, right.”

Zelnya felt a wave of relief – saved by finals.

“We can always go after finals.”

…And just like that, Zelnya’s relief evaporated.

“Are you sure? Aren’t you busy with research?”

“Oh, just think of it as a senior treating his junior. Some things are worth spending time and money on.”

Rustila covered her mouth coyly while shooting Zelnya a look that was equal parts victory and smugness.

Sharp glances, colder than winter wind, darted back and forth across the table as their silent battle of wills continued.

Meanwhile, Aidel’s thoughts on this real-time power struggle between the two women were remarkably simple:

Wow.

Awesome.

Two girls are fighting over me.

Admittedly, from certain perspectives, this might seem somewhat unsavory – perhaps even like playing the field.

But honestly, what guy wouldn’t enjoy this situation a little?

Most importantly, Aidel rationalized, he hadn’t confessed to either of them nor had they confessed to him. It was a close call, but technically, he was in the clear. Yes, that’s what he told himself.

“Wow, this feast just keeps going on and on.”

“Stop eating my popcorn, you little thief!”

The instant popcorn that Ceti had bought earlier vanished in mere seconds.

“Hey! Who ate my chicken drumstick?”

“Yummy~”

Ceti hummed contentedly, sticky sauce smeared around her mouth.

“Little sister. Little sister. Little sister!”

“Ah! Brother! Please don’t – the memories of those days are flooding back!”

Aidel raised his fist but stopped short when he saw his little sister cowering and trembling pitifully. His expression softened, and he lowered his hand.

Right, you don’t hit the major shareholder. Definitely not. Especially not in front of others.

And so the meal drew to a close – thoroughly satisfying for some, decidedly uncomfortable for others.

After they cleared away the dishes, Sonia found Aidel lying down and climbed onto his back to massage his shoulders.

Thump thump thump thump.

“Your muscles are really tense.”

“Thank yoooouuuu.”

Having spent years beating him as a child whenever he misbehaved, Sonia had mastered the perfect pressure points. She knew exactly where to apply pressure and where to ease off, as naturally as solving basic arithmetic.

Sonia chuckled softly. Her eyes darted briefly toward Rustila and Zelnya before returning to focus on Aidel.

The two girls flinched in surprise, their previous wariness of each other momentarily forgotten.

In the past, Aidel would have simply thought, ‘Oh, an android providing service,’ and dismissed it. But now, with this peculiar love affair, everyone’s nerves were on edge.

What made matters more complex was that the robot didn’t even look like one.

“Ah… there. Yes, there. A bit harder.”

“Young master, you’re being rather indecent.”

In fact, it’s questionable whether Sonia was truly a robot at all. What android would excitedly sigh while giving a massage? Even her expressions seemed too human – an indifferent face occasionally broken by a mad sneer.

The two girls rushed to where Aidel lay sprawled on the sofa.

“What have you been doing to get your muscles so knotted?”

“If it’s cramping, I can prescribe something effective.”

Their behavior might have stemmed from childish jealousy, Aidel thought. Given that Sonia appeared completely human, it was natural they might feel threatened.

“This should be enough.”

Sonia announced with a tap, stepping back and shrugging her shoulders.

Rustila and Zelnya, who had been poised to take over the massage, suddenly froze in place.

“……”

“……”

After all, they had no justification for touching Aidel.

Zelnya struggled with whether it would be appropriate to touch Aidel’s body while harboring any impure thoughts. Meanwhile, Rustila believed that giving a massage was something reserved for lovers – shouldn’t there be a confession first?

While these two remained frozen in indecision, Ceti took the initiative, pounding on Aidel’s back as vigorously as if she were washing clothes in a stream.

“Hey, does that feel good?”

“Ack! Ack! Aaaack!”

“The family head selection is next year, and here you are slacking off. Your older brothers are working hard – what are you doing lying around?”

“I’m… I’m working hard too! Ack!”

“So, what research have you accomplished this semester?”

Ceti knew full well that Aidel was dedicated to his work. His achievements spoke for themselves and were quite remarkable. Still, she pushed him to excel further.

If things didn’t go well, neither of them might become head of the household. In that case, throwing her full support behind Aidel wouldn’t be a bad strategy. Yet something about that prospect made her uneasy.

“What are you researching these days?”

“……”

Aidel fell silent, and Zelnya swallowed hard. They both knew the real reason Aidel’s research had stalled – the irregular polyhedron incident, which had led to disaster thanks to the Adelwein family’s involvement.

“I haven’t found suitable materials for the non-resonant device. Right now, I’m focusing on expanding my theoretical knowledge.”

“Is there anything I can help with?”

“Well…”

Aidel tapped his fingers against his lips, gathering his thoughts.

“First, the irregular polyhedron is absolutely off-limits due to ethical concerns. We’ll need to collect crystals again. To properly adjust their physical properties, we’d need a constellation on par with the Zodiac 12 Troops.”

While several people could work with the Zodiac 12 Troops – Arnold’s cluster being one example – there was a catch.

“…It has to be a cluster specifically capable of altering physical properties. Finding that is extremely difficult.”

If successful, the fishing trap research could be widely implemented. This would allow for faster recovery when people were attacked by an Outer God – a crucial safety measure for scientists working on graviton bomb research.

In short, they faced a formidable challenge.

“Zodiac 12 Troops, huh…”

Aidel’s face darkened, and Rustila grew worried alongside him. She glanced at the clock, noting it was time to head home.

“Well, that’s all I can think of for now. Rustila, would you like some coffee for dessert before you leave?”

“Coffee sounds nice, but I’m not leaving.”

Aidel’s face went blank, wondering if he’d misheard.

“Can I sleep here tonight?”

Rustila asked directly.

Her words left Zelnya stunned.

“You want to stay over?”

“Sonia. Is there a spare room available?”

“Yes, there is one across from Lady Ceti’s room. Would you like me to show you?”

“That would be great, thanks.”

Ceti’s ghost-like nod seemed to serve as the homeowner’s approval. Though Zelnya was taken aback, she remained silent, knowing it wasn’t her place to question who was allowed to stay in the house.

“Is Father not coming home today?”

“The head of the household is away on a business trip. It’s not official business, but rather a family matter.”

“Is he visiting the elders?”

“Perhaps.”

In truth, Sonia knew exactly where Arnold was, but she kept quiet, following his orders for discretion. At that moment, the head of the Reinhardt family was meeting with the Kersil couple.

In the modestly decorated reception room of the Kersil family, Arnold von Reinhardt, patriarch of the Reinhardt family, sat engaged in conversation with the Kersil couple while occasionally sampling the refreshments before him.

A family of doctors and a family of lawyers – at first glance, there seemed little reason for their paths to cross. However, Arnold had made time for this meeting to finalize legal procedures regarding the expansion of the Reinhardt medical system into the western region.

“Are you certain about offering such a reduced price compared to what was initially planned?”

“Absolutely. It’s no problem at all.”

Lloyd Kersil responded with a hearty laugh, stroking his beard.

With the paperwork completed, their conversation drifted to more casual matters.

“I understand you’re considering marriage for your third son?”

“Yes. I heard my daughter and Young Master Aidel were classmates at the Academia. She speaks so fondly of him that we thought they might make a good match.”

“I see.”

Arnold remarked thoughtfully, sipping his tea.

Though presented as casual conversation, marriage was a weighty matter, especially when it involved strategic alliances between prestigious, powerful families.

“I have three sons and one daughter. My eldest is already an established doctor, and the second is studying medicine. Only the third son and daughter are considering other paths.”

The underlying message was clear: Reinhardt was fundamentally a medical family, and any marriage to Aidel should not interfere with family traditions.

“We simply want our daughter’s happiness.”

The Kersil couple assured him. Though their methods might seem calculating, arranging a marriage into the Reinhardt family could ensure their daughter’s security. If Rustila married and started having children, she would naturally need to take breaks from her inspector duties, eventually leading to a comfortable retirement.

They harbored no ambitions to manipulate the Reinhardt family; rather, they saw it as an opportunity for beneficial social advancement.

“We’ve heard Young Master Aidel is quite an upright person. If our intentions align, perhaps this could foster a meaningful connection between our families…”

“One moment, please.”

Arnold interrupted, raising his hand.

“This is a significant matter for our family. We need time to consider it thoroughly.”

“Of course. Does the young master perhaps have someone in mind?”

The question was deliberately ambiguous, potentially referring to either an arranged marriage or a personal romantic interest. Direct inquiry about the former would have been inappropriate.

“That’s something I’ll need to ask my son about.”

For Arnold, who wanted Zelnya as his daughter-in-law, this was an unwelcome suggestion. He would need to visit the Adelwein family sometime soon.