Chapter 46

Chapter 46

From Cosmic Rascal to Professor.

Episode 46: Yeah, It’s Me. Your Brother (3).

The objects of the Outer Gods are fundamentally imbued with immense amounts of Pron.

Handling them is akin to dealing with radioactive material—improper handling could lead to catastrophic outcomes.

Scholars who have studied the effects of mishandling these objects, particularly those associated with Descartes’ Legion, have found that it results in mental destruction.

“Euk!”

Lloyd’s exclamation seemed to confirm the research. His mouth formed a perfect circle as he groaned.

The contact lasted for only a brief moment—a mere 0.2 seconds.

It wasn’t a forceful strike or even a light tap. The contact was so minimal it was as if Aidel had merely grazed Lloyd’s hand with the weight of an atomic particle before swiftly withdrawing the calipers.

The level of precision and control Aidel demonstrated with the caliper’s blade was so impressive that it would leave even the most elite inspectors in awe.

An ordinary person, far from being a low-ranking inspector or a subordinate of an Outer God, could only gape in bewilderment, unable to grasp the profound principles of the cosmic martial world.

“Euk…”

“Honey? What’s wrong?”

“Huk…”

“Honey, what is it—eukkk!”

Aida Kersil, sensing something amiss immediately, lunged to check on her husband. However, Aidel’s hands showed no mercy.

She soon reacted similarly, her eyes glazing over like those of a rigid corpse, her entire body’s muscles contracting.

Finishing off the twin popsicles was the cherry on top.

“Huu…”

Aidel exhaled and said,

“Don’t worry. I struck with the back of the blade.”

It was a skill that could make Cartesia weep.

‘The God of Wisdom and Curiosity’ is appalled.

Aidel, having delved into ‘SOG (Surviving Outer Gods)’, had predicted through several ‘accidental’ experiments the reactions of others upon encountering the Calipers.

A mere touch, lasting less than a second, could trigger reactions ranging from frothing at the mouth to outright fainting.

In essence, it was akin to their Pron levels skyrocketing from 300 to 500 instantaneously.

Though not lethal or disabling, the experience was undeniably agonizing.

Nevertheless, Aidel was left to manage the aftermath.

“… Yah, you, what did you just do?”

And so it was now.

As Rustila’s parents collapsed like dominos, Ceti’s shock was palpable.

“What did you just do?”

She hurried over to assess the condition of Rustila’s parents while Rustila, equally alarmed, checked their pulses.

Thankfully, their breathing and pulse were normal. Aidel simply shrugged.

“I did nothing at all.”

The calipers had appeared and vanished into subspace in the blink of an eye, making the action nearly invisible to anyone without exceptional eyesight.

‘Damn it,’ thought Ceti, at a loss for words.

“…Uh, look here. Are you alright?”

Aidel rose to assist the two. He helped them into wheelchairs and began wheeling them away.

“It seems you two rushed here out of concern for the young lady and have overexerted yourselves. I will take you back so my sibling can enjoy some time with the young lady.”

“Can you not speak in such an infuriating manner?”

“Then, I’ll be off. Adios.”

Creak, creak, creak.

The sound of the old-fashioned wheelchair grew fainter, and Ceti’s focus seemed to fade along with it.

“Sis.”

“…”

“Sis?”

Rustila gave a bitter smile and gestured to Ceti.

“Ceti, can you come here?”

“What is it, sis?”

“It’s about Aidel. I have something important to tell you.”

Taking several deep breaths, Rustila steeled herself mentally. She knew the importance of preparing oneself before revealing a significant truth.

“I’ll only say this once, so listen carefully.”

She began to unravel the carefully observed facts about Aidel—secrets she had borne alone, too dangerous to share for fear they might lead to Aidel’s imprisonment or worse.

“Ah…”

Ceti exhaled softly after hearing everything.

“So, to summarize, the reason brother has been so harsh to me all this time was because of the Outer Gods?”

“Most likely.”

“And he’s only now changed… Could it be because a pure heart has finally taken root within him?”

Rustila shook her head.

“I’m not certain. Only the Constellations have the power to ward off the Outer Gods.”

Yet, Aidel lacked a sponsor.

“So, I’ve been thinking. Maybe when Aidel was younger, his moral compass wasn’t fully formed, making it easier for the Outer God to manipulate him. But perhaps that’s no longer the case…”

“Are you suggesting that the Outer God possessing Aidel’s body was behind the recent attempt on your parents and that Aidel himself intervened to stop it?”

“…Right. Probably.”

Much of it was speculative, yet one fact remained undeniable.

Aidel was perpetually at war with the Outer God.

Ceti’s shoulders sagged in silent resignation.

Tears brimmed in her eyes at the sheer absurdity of it all.

Had all the bullying she suffered been orchestrated by Descartes’ Legion Outer God controlling her brother’s mind?

“This makes no sense. How can an Outer God cling to him… What is so special about him that…”

It was a tragedy for Aidel, a disaster for the Reinhardt family, and an even greater calamity for Ceti’s childhood.

To think that it was all the machinations of an Outer God.

At the same time, it was merely a hypothesis, but the idea that Aidel was somehow resisting it brought both sadness and astonishment.

There was one burning question.

“Why didn’t you tell me right from the beginning?”

“…If I had told you initially, I wasn’t sure if you would keep it to yourself or report him.”

She was rendered speechless.

Even six months ago, Ceti had wished death upon Aidel. She had spent every day hoping that he would end up as a garbage collector on some distant planet.

Had she been aware of the Outer God’s influence, her hatred might have overwhelmed any flicker of compassion, driving her to denounce him mercilessly.

But now?

That was unthinkable.

Because Aidel was the closest of her kin. Because he was the one who treated her with genuine openness, being her only half-sibling.

She absolutely could not lose him.

“…Ceti.”

Rustila clasped Ceti’s hand tightly.

“I want to save Aidel.”

There was a straightforward way to send Aidel to a space prison, but that would irreparably damage his life.

Such a method was not Rustila’s way.

“No matter what happens, I want to secure a bright future for him, not a dismal one.”

Because he had saved her.

So, she wanted to save Aidel as well.

Rustila’s blue eyes sparkled. Her face, pale as flour, was that of a girl who had just awakened from a deep slumber.

Ceti was mentally prepared. She had organized her thoughts and now held Rustila’s hand with determination.

“…Me too.”

She recalled the warm voice from the previous night.

-Yeah, it’s me. Your brother.

It was unmistakably her half-brother’s voice, not that of an Outer God. Such warmth could only come from him.

“We need to save him. He’s family.”

“Yes, let’s do it together.”

‘I want to destroy that Outer God.’

‘I can’t afford to lose Aidel.’

This was the resolute conclusion Ceti had reached.

Rustila’s parents stirred awake.

As I escorted them toward the first-grade office, their eyes widened upon seeing me. They screamed and leaped from their wheelchairs.

“What on earth are you doing?!” Rustila’s father bellowed.

I placed my index finger to my lips and shushed them gently.

“Father, please, we are in front of the office. Keep your voice down.”

“What?”

“There are many mourners here due to the deceased. If you speak loudly, father, how will others perceive you?”

He couldn’t argue with that; the area was indeed surrounded by funeral wreaths. Rustila’s father, no fool, groaned, clicked his tongue, and rose from his wheelchair.

I opened the office door and called for Teacher Kendra.

Rubbing her eyes, Kendra emerged slowly.

“Aidel, should you be up and about already?”

“Yes. For some reason, I feel perfectly fine now.”

Despite the doctor’s orders to rest due to my poor health, a night’s sleep had surprisingly revitalized me.

“Professor Hemington, have the results of the reassignment test been finalized?”

“Ah, about the test results…” Kendra’s expression clouded with concern.

It was understandable. The test had been abruptly interrupted, complicating the decision-making process regarding student placements.

“The administrative office is still overwhelmed,” she continued. “It hasn’t been completely decided yet. However, there will be one student moving to your class.”

“Is it Rustila?”

“…How did you know?”

“I saw potential in that child.”

At this, Rustila’s parents frowned deeply.

“I am Rustila’s father,” the man stated, his tone demanding clarity. “Teacher, could you repeat what you just said?”

“Ah, you are her parents. I didn’t recognize you,” Kendra stated confidently.

“My name is Kendra Hemington, and I am responsible for this year’s first-grade Elite class.”

“E-Elite class?” the parents echoed, a note of surprise in their voices.

In the first grade, the Elite class comprises students ranked from 1st to 20th based on their admission scores. The second grade includes those who maintained top ranks during their first year, allowing them to study in a separate, focused group.

This class receives comprehensive support from the staff.

Notably, it offers the possibility of direct admission to college without an entrance test.

If Stellarium Academy is a prestigious high school, then Stellarium College is its equally esteemed university counterpart.

Imagine graduating from high school with excellent grades and then attending a prestigious university for free, bypassing the entrance tests!

For clarity, Stellarium’s program is indeed equivalent to college-level coursework—an obvious point, but worth mentioning.

“My daughter is in the Elite class…” one parent murmured.

“Congratulations are in order, sir and madam,” Kendra replied with a smile.

“Really?” Rustila’s mother clasped Kendra’s hand tightly, her face alight with joy.

Her expression resembled that of a doctoral student who has just had a paper accepted by the Science Citation Index, a prestigious scientific journal database.

Such an expression is not common—it hinted that she might have attended graduate school herself.

While I pondered these minor details, Rustila’s parents were already getting ahead of themselves.

“Honey, this changes everything. Let’s halt our search for transfers and allow her to continue her education here,” the mother suggested.

“Yes, that might be wise. After all, pedigree is crucial in the law department,” the father agreed.

“Teacher, you must manage this situation carefully. It could potentially lead to legal complications, you understand, right?” they cautioned.

In this world, the authority of a teacher often wanes in the face of demanding parents. Kendra’s beads of sweat on her forehead were a testament to this decline.

She asked cautiously, “What improvements would you suggest…?”

“Please allow the introduction of fifth-generation androids into the dorms, ideally more than ten.”

“…I will consider it.”

“And another thing. Install cameras in every room…”

“Good grief.”

I sighed and interrupted their conversation. “Father, Mother, I’m sorry, but Rustila doesn’t need androids or security cameras at all.”

“What are you even talking about?”

“Teacher, is there CCTV footage from that time?”

“Uh? Yes, but why?”

“Could you show it to us for a moment?”

I led them to the staff room to show what had happened during the reassignment test.

What appeared on the screen…

…was Rustila slicing through B-grade golems like they were minced meat.

Two weeks later, a new student joined the elite class.

And.

[2nd Place]

Zelnya’s ranking remained unchanged.