Chapter 187

Chapter 187

From Cosmic Rascal to Professor.

Episode 187: The Battle For The Head Of The Family (2)

The selection ceremony for the family head began immediately after the midterm exams. The reason for holding the ceremony during the semester rather than during vacation was simple: the elders believed that a person’s true ability is revealed when they are at their busiest.

“Master, Young Master Cadric has arrived.”

“Miss Ceti has just arrived, too!”

“Young Master Brian was the first to arrive and is waiting.”

The prospective successors arrived one by one while members of the elder council spread out cushions and took their seats. Most of these attendees were older than Arnold; including direct descendants and relatives within the eighth degree, about fifty people in all.

“It’s been a long time since I’ve seen the children of Lord Arnold here.”

“Has it really been ten years since I last saw their faces?”

The selection ceremony for the Head of the Family was a significant event even for the elders—a day when distant relatives could gather and catch up.

“Eric, you old man! It’s been a while! How have you been?”

“Uncle! Don’t even mention it. Things have gotten much easier since the war ended.”

The atmosphere was far more harmonious than Ceti had anticipated. She waited in a room with Brian and Cadric, but as usual, the two brothers paid her no mind—they didn’t even bother greeting her, treating her as if she didn’t exist.

“When on earth is that Aidel coming?”

“Exactly.”

Instead of discussing logistics, the two brothers were busy criticizing Aidel.

“The agreed time has passed, and there’s still no sign of him.”

“Hey, I think that guy just gave up. With both you and me here, he probably couldn’t face the elders. Honestly, he’s always been a troublemaker; his reputation wasn’t exactly stellar anyway.”

The moment Cadric, the second, started badmouthing Aidel from his spot on the sofa, a surge of irritation welled up in Ceti.

Why?

Why was she getting so angry?

Weren’t Aidel and she clear competitors right now?

Wouldn’t it be better if that fool simply forfeited?

“Second one, don’t be so harsh. There might be a reason.”

“Ha, you’re too kind for your own good.”

“Father, it’s been over fifteen minutes. Shouldn’t we just start without him?”

Still, Ceti hoped that Aidel would eventually arrive so that the competition could be fair. She naturally moved her hand to open her mailbox.

——— Me ———

Hey

You bastard

——— Brother ———

Where are you

Shit

Conference

Just finished now

Professors asked a ton of questions

Was stuck there for two hours

(Paperback) Became the Undergrad Professors are Obsessed Over♥

——— Me ———

You’re writing a novel, idiot

Why are you seducing professors instead of wagging your tail in front of the elders?

You’re starting with a score deduction, so you’re a burden to me now

Bye

——— Brother ———

Yeah

Bye

Don’t forget the research funds every month

——— Me ———

Shut up

Stop talking nonsense and come quickly

If you don’t show up in 10 minutes, no research funds

——— Idiot ———

Are you even human?

Goddamn it

“Aidel says he will be late due to personal reasons. We have no choice but to start without him.”

Ceti sighed.

The beginning was all about self-promotion. In a small auditorium, under the watchful eyes of the council members, the young hopefuls took turns stepping onto the podium to recount their achievements.

“Brother, can I present first?”

“Suit yourself.”

Cadric stood up confidently.

“Hello, everyone. I am Cadric, majoring in medicine at Callisto Academy. First, let me share my vision for the family’s future under my leadership as Lord.”

He proceeded to list his various credentials, citing his academic record and volunteer work as if intending to prove his capability by showcasing the breadth of his activities. A few elders murmured appreciatively.

“Impressively flamboyant.”

“A solid young man.”

Ceti observed Cadric through the discerning lens of someone used to evaluate resumes. If she were an HR manager at a company, she’d never hire him. It wasn’t merely that he lacked distinctiveness—she couldn’t decipher what exactly he was trying to convey. His presentation was nothing more than a laundry list of qualifications. Yes, he had experience, but without a compelling narrative, there was no clear reason why he should become the Lord of the family.

Of course, the elders might have a different perspective, so she kept her thoughts to herself.

“That concludes my presentation.”

“Next, we have an introduction for Young Master Brian.”

A subtle electronic sound broke the pause—the voice of an android.

“Young Master Brian graduated at the top of his class from Stellarium Medical University and served as a military doctor on the southern front while following the current head of the family. He also expanded unmanned hospitals to remote planetary systems, further elevating the family’s prestige.”

From the start, the android had been effusive in its praise. There was nothing Brian couldn’t do. There was no need for him to introduce himself directly. In fact, borrowing someone else’s mouth added to the persuasiveness. Ceti quietly noted that Brian was far more clever than Cadric.

After the android returned to its spot, Brian, who had initiated the presentation, began to speak.

“I witnessed the horrors of war firsthand while accompanying my father to the battlefield. In both areas inside and outside the Golden Zone, territories were devoured by Darwin’s Outer Gods. Watching people die day by day, I realized one thing.”

Ceti evaluated the presentation with interest. It wasn’t simply a list of credentials—it was a story. A commendable approach.

“It is the inadequacy of the healthcare system. Even though the Reinhardt family has a firm grip on the southern medical network, they could not provide excellent medical services to everyone. Let me give you an example.”

The slide changed.

“This person is a veteran I met during my service. He said, ‘I lost my parents, my wife, and my two sons to the Outer Gods. Now, all I have left is this grudge, clotted like blood.’ Hearing his story felt as if my heart was being torn apart.”

They had clearly chosen that story for its resonance—the majority of the presbytery members were elderly. Clever.

Brian unraveled the story slowly, drawing his audience into the narrative. According to his account, over several months, he had grown close to the veteran. The presbytery members nodded in recognition and empathy.

“The veteran was critically injured in a battle on the Aleph planetary system. His suit was completely pierced by the monster’s venomous stinger. Immediate surgery was required—any delay would have inevitably led to the spread of infection.”

“So, what happened?”

“He passed away.”

“Oh…”

Brian turned toward a photo of the veteran—a reminder of a man he had come to care about. A single hot tear rolled down his cheek.

“At that time, I was helpless. The situation was urgent, and there simply wasn’t enough medical equipment to meet the needs of the injured. Although my father tried to reassure me, I found that I could not bear witnessing so much loss.”

Sighs swept through the room as the gathered elders, many of whom had faced similar ordeals in their own practices, silently recognized his pain.

Wiping his tears with his sleeve, Brian pressed on for the final stride.

“I felt the absence of an effective emergency medical system deeply. I believe this is an issue our family must address—for the banner of our family and for the future of the federation.”

Clap, clap, clap!

Thunderous applause erupted.

“The eldest is very considerate. He can gauge not only our family’s interests but also the public good. That’s the kind of capacity one should have.”

“A smart young man.”

“My close friend died in a manner much like that of the old man. Life is the same everywhere.”

Amid a wave of approving glances, Brian concluded his presentation. Cadric studied his brother with a serious expression.

Ceti, too, maintained a careful guard. It was, after all, near-perfect storytelling.

“There are many competent doctors in the world, but few are both righteous and thorough. It was a good presentation.”

Ceti had discerned one fact: unlike Adelwein, Reinhardt was relatively lenient regarding grades or credentials. What mattered most was the ideals and aspirations that resided in one’s heart.

Aspirations she had in spades. With deliberate steps, Ceti ascended the podium, a subtle smile playing on her lips.

“Brother Brian, thank you for your kind words just now.”

A true gentleman not only subdues his enemies but also considers how best to use them, she thought. Naturally, she would adopt the elders’ opinions—opinions already aligned with Brian’s— as her own.

“I, too, know the sorrow of war. In that spirit, allow me to share a brief story from my academy days.”

Thus began Ceti’s recounting Matus’s story.

Born and raised on a frontier planet, Matus had gone on to join the Stellarium honors class. Ceti recalled overhearing him tell a story—a story that she had refined and delivered with added impact.

In the end, her narrative had succeeded; she noticed Brian’s eyebrows twitch, spurring her words to gain momentum.

“Consider the example of the friend I just mentioned. For frontier planetary systems, the most vital assets are manpower and equipment. Even the best buildings are useless without doctors, nurses, and the necessary equipment. I want to highlight this practicality.”

Practicality—in other words, money.

Ceti then projected her stock chart. Even the elders, who prided themselves on their nobility, gaped at the graph soaring toward the ceiling.

“These are the profits I made. With capital amassed in this way, I founded a venture company.”

In the next moment, the presentation shifted.

The logo appeared prominently: a yellow cross—the implicit symbol of the Reinhardt family—topped by the brand name.

“This is ‘Maidoc,’ the integrated medical transportation service that utilizes the Stellarine technology of the Constellation.”

Maidoc.

It was the first company Ceti had established with funds she had raised on her own.

It wasn’t widely known that professors from the prestigious Graduate School of Business were keenly observing her business ventures.

“Recently, I established a medical equipment rental business operating at competitive prices across 27 planets in the southwest region. For heavy equipment that’s typically difficult to transport, we’ve developed efficient transportation routes through the Constellation’s support. At a minimum, our profit margins cover the operational costs of using the Constellation, allowing us to focus on long-term growth.”

This demonstrated her proactive business initiatives even before assuming the role of family head.

She then methodically outlined the challenges she faced and emphasized why she was the ideal candidate for the position.

“However, we encountered significant obstacles. Particularly challenging was securing investment from Stronium during our last round of funding.”

“Stronium, you say?”

“Securing investment from such a major corporation is no small feat.”

“Managing to close that deal without being the family head shows remarkable potential.”

Her strategy was working perfectly. Ceti raised her voice to deliver her closing statement.

“If appointed as family head, I will substantially increase our family’s wealth and leverage this foundation to establish multiple medical facilities, creating a galaxy-wide medical enterprise network. Thank you.”

The room erupted in applause. Her promise of financial prosperity seemed to resonate with the audience just as strongly as Brian’s speech had.

“Is it all over now?”

“Aidel von Reinhardt hasn’t arrived yet.”

“Where could he be on such an important day?”

The elders clicked their tongues in disapproval. Cadric dismissively snorted while Brian feigned indifference as he cleaned his glasses. Ceti sat quietly, observing the tense atmosphere.

Just then…

“The third young master has arrived.”

The door opened, revealing a handsome man accompanied by an android with a short blue bob haircut. The man, dressed in a well-fitted suit, awkwardly bowed his head upon seeing the elders.

“I apologize for my tardiness, everyone. Have you been waiting long?”

Ceti struggled to suppress her laughter. The scene reminded her of a professor from one of her University classes who would often arrive late to lectures, casually apologizing.

Sorry everyone, the meeting ran over, haha.

That assistant professor, working toward tenure, had always been caught between multiple commitments.

Something about Aidel’s demeanor perfectly mirrored that professor’s image.

“Brother, look at this shameless person. How can he be so relaxed when he’s thirty minutes late?”

“He must have been getting dressed up. Let’s be understanding, brother.”

They were all unaware. Only Ceti knew the truth: Aidel never wasted time meaninglessly.

Suddenly, an elder stood up, pointing an accusatory finger at Aidel.

“So you’re Aidel. What have you been doing until now?”

“I apologize for the delay. I was held up at a conference presentation.”

“What conference presentation!”

The elders exchanged meaningful glances.

Several elders who had been watching Aidel intently suddenly showed keen interest in their eyes. Most of them were highly educated individuals with graduate degrees.

Meanwhile, those who typically remained indifferent or supported Brian maintained their cold demeanor.

“Surely you all know? Aidel is a genius nominated for the Akea Award. It’s no wonder professors would want to keep him engaged.”

“Just an empty reputation. How could someone so young publish a paper in ? It’s preposterous…”

“Why not? It’s entirely possible. How many true geniuses do you encounter in this world?”

“Regardless, being late on such a crucial day is unbecoming of a direct descendant of the Reinhardt family.”

As the elders continued their hushed debate, Sonia quietly instructed Aidel.

“Just go up and give your presentation.”

Aidel made his way to the podium somewhat unsteadily. The elders’ eyebrows knitted in confusion, unaware that he had barely slept all week due to his intensive research.

Upon reaching the podium, he cleared his throat and began speaking in a soft but clear voice.

“I am Aidel. My interests include writing research papers and observing Outer Gods.”

He smiled as he displayed his prepared PowerPoint presentation. The title slide read:

10 Ways to Annoy Outer Gods

“Crazy young man.”