Chapter 26

Chapter 26

From Cosmic Rascal to Professor.

Episode 26: Additional Interview.

There are three courses in Stellarium.

Academia.

College.

Graduate.

Among these, the Academia course I applied for is equivalent to high school.

Academia students study on an artificial planet shaped like the Death Star. Only College and Graduate students continue their learning on natural planets.

In essence, Stellarium is a massive foundation. The Stellarium Academia and College courses are part of a large facility and brand established by the same foundation.

Regardless, Academia is taught by teachers, which subtly differs from College, where professors teach. Naturally, the educational structures of the two courses are significantly different.

And now, the person I am going to meet is a professor, not a teacher.

Professors at Stellarium typically live in apartments on the College planets. It was rare for someone to have a ship as their home, like the Reinhardt family.

[Next stop is ‘Planeta’, the 4th planet in the Stellarium System. The exit is on the right. I repeat, the next stop is…]

After a long journey, Sonia and I set foot on the ground.

“Ugh.”

“Please be careful. The footing is slippery.”

It’s been a while since I’ve tried to stand on real ground, and my body is swaying.

“You haven’t been out of fever for long; isn’t this too much for you? I, Sonia, am worried about your well-being.”

“Just dizziness, it’s just dizziness…”

Warp technology exists in this era, but its use is very expensive. For distances like between the moon and Earth, traveling back and forth on a shuttle is more cost-effective.

I’ve had to visit other ships a few times. For instance, when going to take a mock test at the academy Ceti attends. However, this time, adapting was particularly difficult.

“Real planets feel so different.”

Enduring the landing was a challenge. This also affects bone density. If the body can’t keep up, traveling between planets becomes impossible.

And I am still frail.

“Ouch.”

Every step brings a sharp pain in the ankle.

“Are you alright?”

“I’m not.”

“You should exercise a bit more diligently.”

“Actually, I’ve already promised to ask Rustila for personal coaching after I return today.”

“…Are you referring to the young lady from the Kersil family?”

Sonia slightly furrowed her brows, which was uncharacteristic of her.

Rustila had performed well in the interview, and since then, our relationship had grown closer. We had reached a point where it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to call each other ‘friends’.

“While it’s good that the young master has made a friend who is knowledgeable in sports… please, seek professional health care. Don’t you remember passing out after being hit with a wooden sword last time?”

“You’ve hit me as well.”

“Is that the same?”

“Are you jealous right now? Ack-!!”

Sonia jabbed me in the ribs and lifted her chin.

“Let’s go. The professor will be waiting for us.”

After riding the designated shuttle for about an hour, we were able to reach the location mentioned in the letter.

Ding-dong.

After pressing the doorbell and waiting for a short while, someone opened the door.

“You’ve had a long journey. Thank you for coming.”

A shabby and young man.

It was indeed the person I had seen at the interview.

I bowed my head in relief internally. The deeper my respect, the sharper the angle of my bow.

“You are Professor Richard Feynman, correct?”

“…hehehe.”

Richard Feynman.

A name that anyone with an interest in physics would have heard at least once.

And for good reason, Feynman was a genius who lived during the same era as Einstein.

Of course, the person before me wasn’t the Richard Feynman I knew. After all, Richard is a common name.

But what’s important is that this world is one within a novel, and many characters are modeled after real-life figures.

Professor Feynman was one of them. Though he shared the name, his way of thinking and actions closely resembled those of the real Feynman.

Who else but someone like Feynman would painstakingly write a letter by hand for a request that could easily be sent via email?

Anyway, it’s clear he’s quite the eccentric.

“Please, come in.”

“Excuse me. And… you don’t have to use formal language with me.”

Feynman gestured for me to enter the foyer, dismissing the formality with a wave of his hand.

“It’s customary to use formal language when meeting someone for the first time.”

“We’re not meeting for the first time, are we?”

“Is that so? Is this the second time?”

“It’s the third time.”

Once at the interview, once in the bathroom, and now.

Originally, I wanted to say it was the fourth time, including the profile picture I saw on the college physics department website. But because this person uploaded a cat’s picture as their profile photo, it became the third meeting.

Knowing this, Feynman chuckled and offered me a chair.

“Let’s drink something light.”

He brought two cups of green tea. They were quite cool, likely because they had been in the fridge.

Come to think of it, Feynman here liked his tea cold and his ice cream hot. Just like how I prefer my Einspanner without cream.

“Do you know why I called you here?”

“Yes.”

Originally, interviewers are not supposed to meet with students to ensure fairness.

But Feynman wasn’t the type to adhere strictly to those rules.

He was someone who would meet privately if he was interested.

Therefore, anything problematic said here wouldn’t leak outside.

Feynman began to speak earnestly.

“I understand that your family is quite prestigious. Compared to that, this is just a humble home, right?”

“Not at all. I actually prefer a place like this.”

This was me being honest. It isn’t that I am frugal. I feel more at ease in a place that is comfortably cozy rather than an unnecessarily vast spaceship.

“As expected.”

Feynman nodded.

“Let me brag for a moment. I too, wield a pen for a living, so I make a decent amount of money. But I spent all that money buying snacks for my lab colleagues.”

“Can I get one later?”

“Uh? Hahahah!”

Feynman burst into laughter, chuckling.

“Of course. Perhaps, you too might find yourself in a position where you have to distribute snacks someday. Then you will have no choice but to live in an apartment like this for the rest of your life.”

Though he spoke in jest, I realized that every word he said was metaphorical.

If you want to join our department, that is, the Department of Physics, abandon your greed for money. If you’re fixated on material success, consider a different career path. That’s what Feynman was essentially saying.

The interview began the moment I met this person, or perhaps, it actually started when I received his handwritten letter.

What if I hadn’t received that letter and hadn’t made my way to this professor’s house through a challenging journey?

Feynman would have probably just considered me as merely a somewhat intelligent middle school student.

This is merely the initial skirmish. We’ve ascertained each other’s intentions. Feynman, who dislikes unnecessarily beating around the bush, will undoubtedly…

“Student.”

“Yes.”

“What do you want to be when you grow up?”

He will now speak more directly.

Of course, I greatly appreciate a direct manner of speaking as well.

“Professor.”

I responded without any hesitation.

It was from this moment that the atmosphere in the room took a complete turn.

[‘The God of Wisdom and Curiosity’ awaits your answer.]

And I said,

“I aspire to become a professor who researches black holes, just like you.”

I want to follow in your footsteps.

“In this universe we inhabit, despite our advanced technology, why is it so challenging to develop a theory that unifies gravity with the other forces? If such a theory is developed, what form would it take? If it’s impossible, why is it so? I wish to comprehend all of this.”

I want to see how this story ends.

“Haha.”

“I couldn’t come for the past three days because I was suffering from a high fever. Now that I have recovered, I came to visit you, professor.”

Even if I fail in the academic process, I will reapply to college.

If I get accepted there, please consider me for an undergraduate internship.

Moreover, if I succeed in the graduate program, please employ me as a graduate student.

I conveyed all these words, seizing this opportunity.

The thought of failing in academia right now, only to bear the child of an Outer God?

I hadn’t even considered it. At this moment, it wasn’t even a consideration. Damn, whether to bear it or not. Whatever the Outer God might say.

[‘The God of Wisdom and Curiosity’ is astonished by your boldness.]

[You have received a reward of 100 pron!]

“Hmm.”

Upon hearing my response, Professor Feynman closed his eyes for a moment.

It seemed like he was pondering something. Perhaps he was evaluating my abilities.

I swallowed hard. In the presence of a genius, I am nothing but a tiny speck. I knew for certain that this conversation wouldn’t significantly affect my acceptance into the Stellarium. Yet, I couldn’t help but feel nervous.

“…Indeed, your intellectual capabilities are outstanding.”

Feynman began with those words.

“However, having outstanding capabilities doesn’t directly translate to becoming a good scientist. We have the scientific knowledge that humanity has accumulated over thousands of years. It’s absurd to think that one can learn all of that in 2 years at an academy and 3 years in college.”

I nodded in agreement.

“So it is clear that you should go to graduate school, and perhaps, you might even lose interest and become disheartened before that.”

Feynman asked.

“Even so, would you consider sharing some cookies with me?”

He grinned slyly.

“For reference, you shouldn’t be picky about the types of snacks.”

It meant not to be selective about research topics.

At the same time, it was advice to find joy in understanding the world, studying step by step calmly, even if results don’t come immediately.

Even with a simple analogy, I could understand.

This person is a genius.

Also, an excellent educator.

– Do you want to come to the graduate school of physics? Isn’t it too early to decide on your career path as a middle school student? Wouldn’t it be better to think more about it?

Yet, with a warning…

– But if you still want to come, then come. I will support you fully. Just promise me one thing.

– To work hard, to be patient, to move forward one step at a time.

It’s exactly the Feynman I know.

There was no reason to refuse.

“I will eat whatever is given.”

After all, I was already someone who could stand as an independent researcher.

No PhD? So what. My research capabilities remain unchanged.

Aidel is dead, Lee Jinsu is alive. That is all there is. So I can move forward as myself.

I don’t know why all this happened. I cannot know, and there is no need to know.

Everyone lives because they were born. I too lived because I was born on Earth. It is the same now. I live because I have possessed this body.

But as I live, I will fulfill the duty of the path I walk.

Understanding nature.

Understanding the Outer Gods.

In other words, trying to understand the incomprehensible with a smile.

This is my duty.

[‘The God of Wisdom and Curiosity’ feels a slight fondness for you.]

[‘The God of Wisdom and Curiosity’ desires to test the extent of your resolve.]

I intently gazed at Feynman.

Feynman also stared back into my eyes for a while.

“…Very well.”

Then, he opened his mouth.

“Let’s meet on the campus.”