Chapter 183

Chapter 183

From Cosmic Rascal to Professor.

Episode 183: The Boycott (2).

Thud.

Rustila collapsed to the ground.

“Ah, I overdid today’s training. Hahaha…”

Though she forced a smile, her eyes were vacant, hollow. The sound of her world shattering was almost audible.

“Rustila, get up.”

“Aidel, you know you can’t touch me.”

“This much is fine. Come on, get up.”

I helped her to her feet as she swayed, threatening to fall again, and guided her to a chair. Then, I began explaining the situation as gently as I could.

“…So, if I understand correctly, Zelnya is trying to reform her family, and this engagement was arranged as a safeguard in case her plans fail? And in return, you’ll receive support in becoming the head of your family?”

“That’s right.”

“Then there’s no other choice. I understand.”

Rustila gave a bitter smile, grimacing as if reluctantly accepting the situation.

“I understand it’s a political marriage, but… does this mean you actually have feelings for Zelnya?”

“…Yes, that’s also true.”

“How is that possible? Weren’t you two always fighting?”

“I’ve grown fond of her. When I learned she was planning something dangerous, I couldn’t just stand by and watch.”

I decided to be completely honest to prevent any misunderstandings. However, I held back from mentioning the possibility of a second marriage – the timing wasn’t right for such a discussion.

I had Sonia bring some cocoa.

“Here, drink this, Rustila.”

“Ah, thank you… Ah!”

The mug slipped from Rustila’s trembling fingers. If I hadn’t been supporting it from below, it would have shattered on the floor.

“Careful there.”

“Sorry.”

She said with a bitter smile.

“I pushed myself too hard in training today, and I’m already feeling the muscle pain. I can barely grip anything… This is going to last a while. Would it be alright if I skip this week’s research?”

I contemplated the situation.

Should I grant her request for rest, or was this exactly when I needed to keep her close?

I paid Pron to read her mind.

The imagery is too murky to extract accurate information.

How strange.

Had such a message ever appeared before?

Perhaps Cartesia was playing tricks. After all, this mind-reading ability relied entirely on her assistance. But no matter how much I called out mentally, Cartesia remained silent.

I needed a backup plan.

I glanced at Merlin, who merely shrugged and shook her head.

Her expression seemed to say, “This is your karma – deal with it yourself.” With that option blocked, I could only sigh.

“Rustila, are you not feeling well?”

“Probably. To be honest, I’m not even sure myself.”

“I’d really prefer that you stayed here.”

Rustila shook her head.

“In this half-sick state, I’d only hold you back. It’s better if I rest properly and recover. Besides, Aidel, if you’re going to fight the Outer Gods, you need to focus on training and getting stronger quickly, right?”

Each word she spoke pierced me like a dagger.

As I remained silent, Rustila struggled to her feet, leaving her cocoa half-finished.

“I’ll be going now. Goodbye.”

I watched her departing figure, unable to stop her.

She needed solitude, and trying to keep her here would only deepen her wounds.

Merlin clicked her tongue and sneered.

“Well done, lab chief. See, this is why you should choose just one to avoid complications. There’s a reason most men don’t take multiple wives, even when polygamy is possible, you know?”

My thoughts drifted to the Islamic harem system of that world.

Marry multiple wives but love them all equally. If you can’t manage that, don’t marry at all.

Indeed.

If I take more than one wife now, I’ll be dealing with the consequences for life.

Time to shift focus. Let’s concentrate on what we can handle immediately.

I considered the genre of the novel in this world.

Of course – horror. Cosmic horror.

To protect both women, I must maintain emotional distance. Even if they shed tears now, it’s better than them losing their lives later.

The priority now is preventing the Darwin invasion.

The college arc with Zelnya as the antagonist has already passed naturally, so the next chapter should be [Queen’s Moon].

I promise, before that happens, I will complete the trap.

Back in her dormitory, Rustila collapsed onto her bed.

She had lied to Aidel.

The muscle pain she claimed to have wasn’t real.

Well, not entirely.

The heart.

The heart is, in its own way, a muscle too.

Right now, it felt like it was bursting – a knife twisting inside her chest, aching as if it might cease beating at any moment.

This burning, scalding sensation had a name.

Heartbreak.

It was ironic. Even an EX-grade inspector couldn’t leave a mark on her, yet Aidel had somehow managed to carve a massive void in Rustila’s chest.

“Ugh, it hurts.”

Tears rolled down her cheeks.

In silence.

Two weeks had passed.

At the first trial, Kashu Adelwein received a life sentence in Alcatraz. Meanwhile, Director Angela Whiritia’s sentence was considerably reduced due to mitigating circumstances.

“Did you visit your parents?”

“…Yes.”

Merlin returned with puffy eyes from crying.

“They say she can be released in about six months, but she’s been permanently barred from academia.”

I nodded. The punishment seemed fitting.

With Director Whiritia’s departure from the research field, Merlin would need to step up. Though she might face scrutiny as the director’s daughter, there were no legal obstacles in her way.

“Thank you, Reinhardt.”

“For what?”

Merlin wiped her eyes and returned to her work.

We were busy constructing a spherical structure, roughly 50cm in diameter, using the crystals Rustila had produced. We were also developing a special device for the Constellations.

Ire returned that evening.

“Aidel, I’ve brought everything. It’s the last ‘Bubble Talisman.’”

“Thank you for your hard work.”

All the retrieved talismans were destroyed. This meant the queen’s invasion would begin on a smaller scale than before. The federal army would be better prepared to respond, and Rustila would survive.

“How were your midterms, Ire?”

“They went well, thanks to you.”

I was relieved to hear about Ire’s success. After all, good grades were crucial for graduate school admission.

Ire fidgeted with her hair, clearly wanting to say more. While handling Rustila’s portion of the work, I gestured encouragingly.

“What’s on your mind?”

“I was wondering if Rustila has been around.”

“She’s been dealing with increased training intensity lately. Says her body aches too much to come to the lab until she fully adapts.”

Ire’s response was immediate.

“Muscle pain? That’s definitely a lie.”

“Probably.”

The real pain wasn’t physical – it was heartache. And that knowledge left me unsettled, too.

“Shouldn’t we go see Rustila?”

“How could I face her now?”

Ire exhaled heavily.

“Aidel, this isn’t just about us – it’s about humanity’s future. Rustila, Zelnya, and I form a trinity. If our bond breaks, I can’t restore my Stellar Line, and our chances against the Outer Gods vanish.”

“…Tell me more.”

“You know Zelnya’s Constellation forms a five-star pattern, right? Zelnya and Rustila need to strengthen their connection immediately. Only then can my Altair align with Rustila’s Vega. That’s how the Constellations work.”

I nodded in understanding.

“Tell me about the war against the Outer Gods.”

“The [Great Triangle] is a designated trinity. In gaming terms, Rustila serves as our tank, I’m the dealer, and Zelnya is our healer. When we work together, we create perfect balance – enough to handle multiple Incarnates simultaneously.”

“The Incarnates?”

“Aurora, Sturm, Renatus – Incarnates of the highest-ranking Outer Gods.”

“You’ve really thought this through.”

It was remarkable.

Ire’s strategic thinking seemed to deepen with each passing day.

As expected of a protagonist.

“That’s why this matters. I’ll convince Rustila to return, but you need to work with Zelnya. Try to bring them closer – or at least ensure they’re not enemies.”

The truth was that Zelnya had apologized to Rustila multiple times. Now, it all hinged on whether Rustila would accept her.

As Ire headed for the lab’s exit, she emphasized once more:

“Aidel, this is crucial.”

“I understand. I’ll wrap this up and speak with Zelnya.”

The crystal research has been showing promising results since last year.

A paper will be published soon.

I planned to use this opportunity to thoroughly investigate the Darwin system.

“Stop. What brings you here?”

“I’m here to visit Cadet Rustila Kersil. May I see her?”

“Very well. Please enter.”

Ire moved through the facility with practiced ease. She knew every military department building by heart, having trained and graduated here multiple times. Walking through the campus stirred memories that played like an old film reel in her mind.

She remembered being ostracized for her frontier planetary system origins. She recalled the jealousy and envy from her peers when they discovered her ability to manipulate Ether from a distance. Through each difficult phase of her life, Rustila had been there as her first true friend.

“Damn it…”

Tears unexpectedly blurred her vision despite thinking she had none left to shed.

“There she is.”

Across the campus, Ire spotted Rustila jogging on the large field. She stood out among the other cadets, maintaining a steady pace on the vast track without showing any signs of fatigue.

Her speed was extraordinary – beyond human capability.

“No matter how many times I see it, Cadet Kersil is truly remarkable. No wonder they call her a monster.”

“When will it end?”

“Any moment now.”

Right then, the bell rang. Rustila, finishing her evening run, caught Ire’s eye. Ire gestured to her.

“Ire Hazlen? How did you get here…?”

Rustila approached, wiping her face with a towel. Ire’s jaw dropped at the sight of her.

“What happened to your face?”

“Nothing. Just haven’t been sleeping well.”

“Your eyes are completely red. Have you been crying?”

“No, I haven’t.”

The lie was painfully obvious.

“Rustila.”

“Yes?”

Ire embraced her friend tightly, despite the sweat-soaked uniform.

“W-Why are you suddenly…? Don’t!”

Though Rustila tried to push her away in embarrassment, Ire only held on tighter. Meeting Rustila’s gaze, she spoke softly.

“It’s been hard, hasn’t it? It’s okay. I’m here to help.”

“Wait, what do you mean…?”

“Go clean up first. Then we’ll talk.”

After a quick shower, Rustila returned looking somewhat refreshed, though her swollen eyelids and tear stains remained visible.

Ire wondered just how much she had been crying.

“Can you step away for a while?”

“It might be difficult if it’s too long.”

“It’s about Aidel.”

Rustila flinched at the name.

Just as expected.

While she appeared composed on the surface, Ire could see the turmoil underneath.

Since the military dormitory was off-limits to non-cadets, Ire had brought Rustila to her own quarters for this important conversation.

“First, you should know – Aidel didn’t abandon you.”