Chapter 86
by Afuhfuihgs
Chapter 86
From Cosmic Rascal to Professor.
Episode 86: Constellation.
“My brother has really outdone himself this time,” Ceti murmured, her eyes glued to the news broadcast featuring Aidel.
Indeed, Aidel’s actions were significant. Waking up to discover he had been imprisoned in Alcatraz was shocking enough. Still, the fact that he was flirting with her sister Rustila and writing a thesis while incarcerated added layers to his enigma. Now, he was staging a holdout in prison.
‘He might deceive everyone else, but he can’t fool me,’ Ceti thought. She was convinced that Aidel was operating with a hidden agenda.
With a heavy sigh, Ceti returned to the room assigned to her by the Holy Spirit. At first glance, the space resembled a chapel designed for solemn religious ceremonies. In reality, it was a place for performing rituals to acquire a constellation and to cleanse oneself from the remnants of the Outer Gods. These rituals enhanced Ceti’s ability to manipulate ether, yet she still had not secured her own constellation. Without it, she risked being vulnerable to attacks by the Outer Gods once she left this sanctuary.
“Whew,” Ceti exhaled, scratching her shoulder and shifting to a more comfortable stance. The whole process was becoming tiresome.
Just then, a voice interrupted her thoughts.
“Hello?” it said from behind her. “You seem to be struggling.”
The voice bore a comforting resemblance to her mother’s, causing Ceti’s lips to curl into a brief smile. However, her smile faded as she turned to face a stranger.
“Who are you?”
“Kallis Stranov. I work at Eruyel University.”
“Are you a professor?”
“…You know?” Kallis asked.
Ceti smirked. “My brother always sings the praises of professors.”
“Then this will be quick,” Kallis said without hesitation, recounting her experiences with detailed precision. Ceti’s reaction to the thesis scoop was particularly telling.
Initially, Ceti had dismissed it. It had only been a year. Aidel was fierce and stupid. But now, he was too clever by half. And kinder. She suspected an Outer God might be influencing him, creating some bizarre synergy.
Ceti shook her head, dismissing the thought. When possessed by an Outer God, the mind was invariably destroyed. She looked apologetically at Kallis.
“I’m sorry, but I can’t provide much insight. I can’t decipher Aidel’s thoughts either.”
“Yes, it seems that way,” Kallis replied, clicking her tongue. She had seen fifteen short videos sent by the government, each depicting Aidel’s erratic behavior. Whether he was manipulated or not was irrelevant. What mattered was the content of his published paper.
Kallis turned to Ceti and said, “Your brother is a genius.”
“I know.”
“He might publish papers in the future that could change the world. Perhaps he’ll discover something revolutionary that could defeat the Outer God. If he does, he could surpass the first Sword Master as a hero.”
“Please, no matter how brilliant he is, comparing Aidel to the first Sword Master is a stretch. That person saved the universe.”
“I’m serious,” Kallis insisted, her expression earnest. Her aura as a professor was palpable.
“Today, I didn’t come to ask for your help. It would be too undignified for an adult to do so, wouldn’t it?”
“Then what do you want?”
“The opposite. I’m here to offer my assistance.” Kallis had done her homework before coming here. She understood why Aidel was imprisoned and why Ceti was in her current predicament.
“It seems you need to answer the call of the constellation.”
“Yes.”
“Alright, if that’s the case, I will help you.”
In the modern era, constellations are not just patterns in the sky but subjects of scientific inquiry. Within the physics department, a niche sub-discipline has emerged, intertwining plasma physics, nuclear science, constellations, and the concept of ether. Though not an expert in this specific field, Kallis possessed a unique ability to integrate constellations into the human body. Leveraging her extensive knowledge, she introduced Ceti to the Ether Resonance technique, a method designed to bind constellations to individuals.
The experiment proved successful.
The Constellation God of ‘Wealth and Investment’ descends upon you.
Ceti experienced a peculiar sensation as if something was rising within her mind. It felt like the electrons in her brain were aligning in a specific pattern, gently stimulating her optic nerves. This strange phenomenon likely triggered the vivid hallucination.
“…Hello.”
The God of ‘Wealth and Investment’ blushes.
“A shy deity, huh?” Ceti chuckled. Initially, she imagined the deity would possess a regal and dignified aura. Still, it seemed each deity had its own unique quirks.
‘But why would a deity be named…’
The God of Wealth and Investment. It sounded more like a nickname of a legendary fund manager than a traditional deity. Puzzled, Ceti tilted her head. As she pondered, her gaze shifted, causing the status window to scroll down automatically. Suddenly, an interface resembling a game store’s options window popped up.
Tutorial: Coins are assets. You can exchange credits for coins, but be aware that fees will apply. Coins can be earned through various impactful activities and can be used to increase your capital or enhance personal abilities.
Current coins you have: 5000C
Exchange rate: 1C = 1000CD
“One coin equals a thousand credits,” Ceti murmured, a fact that sister Rustila had never mentioned. It seemed like this was a privilege exclusively for her.
Note: Exchanging a large number of coins for credits can decrease the market value of credits and vice versa.
“Ah, I know. Basic economics,” Ceti muttered, breezing through the subsequent detailed explanation. To her, coins were just another form of virtual currency. But as long as the Constellation remained active, they were a secure cryptocurrency, immune to delisting.
Your Constellation favors lending to others and receiving compensation in return—essentially, investing. Thus, you can invest coins in the Constellations of other characters.
Ceti’s eyes lit up. “Oh!” Investing had always been her passion, and this sounded like an intriguing opportunity.
The outcome of your investments depends on the reputation or abilities of the individual you invest in. Your coins may multiply or diminish. However, if you choose to
“What’s the benefit of a friendly relationship?” Ceti asked.
A friendly relationship allows you to share or acquire special abilities from that Constellation. It creates a one-sided
Ceti pondered the information, playing with the settings a few more minutes before deciding it was time to leave. She packed up her belongings and thanked the priest at the Holy Spirit hospital who had looked after her, making sure to check her stigmata.
Kallis nodded. “It’s engraved on your shoulder. You’re quite fortunate.”
Ceti decided not to press for more details. After she got home, she threw a small welcome-back party with her personal android, Bella. They indulged in chicken and stir-fried meat, savoring every bite.
“Sniff, sob,” tears streamed down her cheeks.
“…Are you okay?”
“It’s so delicious…”
“Such a strange girl…”
With the money she had earned, Ceti treated herself to this delightful meal. After eating, she opened her front door, walked into her bedroom, and flopped onto her bed. She lay there face down, basking in the profound silence that enveloped her. The ship was silent as a mouse.
Silence lingered until her tears began to fall again, this time silently.
Her phone vibrated abruptly, breaking the silence. It was a message from her third brother.
“Hey, heard you just got out of the Holy Spirit Hospital? Congrats.
Take care of yourself.
I’ll be out soon, too, so don’t cry like a baby, okay?”
“Ha, this jerk…!” Ceti muttered as she tapped out a quick, terse reply.
ㅗ
After sending that single message, Ceti lay back on her bed, rubbing her eyes tiredly. She stared at the ceiling blankly for a moment before a thought struck her.
‘Come to think of it, there is a Constellation I could sponsor.’
As she expected, the list was extensive: Father, Mother, her eldest brother, her second brother, Rustila, a few classmates, school teachers, and even Professor Kallis Stranov, whom she had met today. It seemed anyone with whom she had ever exchanged greetings was eligible for sponsorship.
Driven by curiosity, Ceti scrolled through the list, eager to see how many people she knew were contracted with a constellation. Then, suddenly:
“What?”
Sponsorship List
(…)
(…)
Aidel von Reinhardt: God of Wisdom and Curiosity
“Did he… have a Constellation?” Ceti instinctively tapped the status window, which responded like a touchscreen, popping up with more information.
You lack the level to view additional information.
You can sponsor this Constellation.
Would you like to sponsor? (Y/N)
Ceti paused to think. She had 5,000 coins—what was considered a starter pack. It was risky to invest all of it without full knowledge of its potential uses, especially since she knew little about Aidel’s Constellation’s level or abilities.
However, two things were clear.
First, this constellation had likely prevented Aidel from succumbing completely to the mental attacks from the Outer Gods. Second, it must be the reason behind his sudden increase in intelligence.
It was a reasonable deduction. After all, the constellation was named the God of ‘Wisdom’ and ‘Curiosity,’ which aligned perfectly with the changes in her brother’s behavior.
“If this constellation could use even a fraction of its power, might it not completely cure Aidel’s madness? Besides, the Outer Gods have already fled Alcatraz.”
If it were a long-term commitment, she might hesitate, but for a short-term investment…
Ceti knew all too well that making investment decisions based on emotions was risky. The tales of amateur investors led astray by volatile markets were all too familiar.
Yet, this was different.
Brother,
I heard you left the Holy Spirit Hospital?
Take good care of yourself.
This can’t be called an ‘investment.’
Donating 2000 coins to the God of ‘Wisdom and Curiosity’.
Isn’t this too much of a waste for an investment?
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