From Space Idiot to Professor

9 – Rustila (4)

“…So, how was it?”

“Yeah. He was a nice person.”

Seti’s mouth gaped open.

“Even after seeing him like that?”

“He couldn’t help it. Seti, you need to understand.”

Rustila defended Aidell. Seti couldn’t believe it. For the first time in ten years, Aidell, who had only caused trouble, received a good assessment from someone.

“I looked into his heart. You wouldn’t know just by looking at his exterior, but Aidell is a good person. Yes, and a pitiful child. So we need to help him more than get angry at him.”

Seti sat down, propping his head up.

“Did… did he do anything strange to you? Insult you, or s*xually harass?”

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“No way.”

“I see. That’s enough then….”

It didn’t seem like she was lying.

Seti secretly called Sonia over and cross-verified Rustila’s statement. Even Sonia had nothing unusual to say. Despite his suspicions, contradicting testimonies began to emerge.

Seti reached for the last remaining snack and pondered.

‘I’m missing something.’

Memories of the past bubble up. Memories of harsh words from Aidell. Memories of being beaten up. Memories of fights. Memories of curling up under the blanket and crying uncontrollably. All nothing but miserable recollections.

These memories, combined with what Rustila had said, caused a mental collapse. It was disorienting.

A fundamentally good person?

‘…What a joke!’

He still didn’t believe it. Outwardly, he accepted Rustila’s words, but inside, he gritted his teeth. Even with Rustila’s insight, something was definitely being overlooked.

But.

But if that wasn’t the case…

‘What does that make all the ill-treatment I received till now?’

It was unfair. So he didn’t want to admit it.

Human nature doesn’t change. Aidell should always remain a troublemaker, a piece of trash.

“Miss Rustila, it’s time for you to go.”

Jermel, who was in the room, came over and pointed at the clock. The eyes of the girl who had been having a quiet conversation with Seti and studying suddenly froze over.

“Can’t I stay a little longer?”

“Didn’t the lord tell you to abide by the curfew? If you don’t leave now, you’ll be in big trouble.”

“…Alright.”

Rustila packed up her belongings. The wooden sword she had swung many times, she also packed away. It was time to return to the family.

Seti led the way, walking all the way to the dock.

Four androids boarded the spaceship first. Jermer followed them. As Rustila moved, she kept looking back. Rustila and Seti’s eyes met many times.

Her face was sad. Carefully, Seti waved his hand to her.

Later.

Wooooom!!

The platinum-buried ion engine started up with a thunderous noise. The heated wind roared.

Watching Rustila return to her house, Seti looked on with a bitter taste. Counitnue, continue, continue…. until the spaceship was far away.

“……Sonia.”

After a moment of silence, Seti asked.

“That bastard made a terrible mess, won’t those androids go and tell everything?”

“Don’t worry. I explained everything clearly.”

“Really, it’s a disgrace to the family…”

Seti let out a deep sigh. His footsteps fell heavily.

His destination was the room where Aidle was staying.

“Hey.”

Seti entered without asking for permission. Aidle was reading a workbook.

A sigh automatically escaped from Seti’s mouth.

“Are you still preparing for the entrance exam?”

Aidle, wrapped in bandages on his head and forearms, turned his head. He frowned slightly, seemingly displeased by the sudden intrusion.

“Why are you here?”

“Ha! Why am I here?”

He was astonished.

“You don’t know why I’m here after causing all that trouble?”

“I talked properly with Rustila.”

“Talk? What talk?”

“Why I made such a mess.”

“Did you threaten her or something?”

Although Rustila denied it, Seti wanted to believe she had been. Rustila was kind, and Aidle was vicious. He thought it was entirely possible.

“Absolutely not, I didn’t threaten her.”

“Is there any circumstantial evidence? You owe your life to our father.”

“That’s why I’m studying like this.”

“How long are you going to keep up this act?”

“You want to check if you don’t believe it?”

“Why should I look at it, when there are only answers without solutions?”

“That’s true as well.”

“……?”

Seti had entered Aidle’s room prepared for a confrontation. He had just made a fuss in front of the androids a little while ago, so he expected the same reaction from Aidle.

But for some reason, Aidel was calm.

Seti was quite taken aback.

‘Is this a split personality or what…?’

Nevertheless, Aidel was yawning and flipping through the bookshelf. It seemed like he was lazily breezing through.

“Go die, you idiot.”

Seti spat out harsh words and left the room.

– Study hard!

All that came from beyond the door was encouragement.

***

After Rustila visited the Reinland family and left, I went back to square one and continued to study.

I solved the problems, again and again, until I felt nauseous.

And today was the day to reap the results.

Thunk.

As soon as I closed the final problem book, a translucent window appeared with a clear bell sound.

[— Remaining time: 112 hours 08 minutes 45 seconds]

[— You have completed the first quest.]

[— The ‘God of Wisdom and Curiosity’ says that your ability and eagerness to learn are barely satisfactory.]

Indeed, it took a long time.

[— You will receive additional Prons equal to the remaining time.]

[— Additional Pron count: 1120]

“Phew.”

A sigh came out naturally.

Receiving Prons as a reward was alright.

The important thing was that I didn’t fail the quest. This would allow me to catch my breath for a while.

[— The ‘God of Wisdom and Curiosity’ gives you a quest reward!]

Whoosh.

A gentle wind blew.

I turned around at the delicate feeling. In the middle of the room, an incomprehensible rift appeared. It was wavering as if it were dancing.

The next moment. Pale, gaunt hands like those of a dead person tore the rift.

“Huh.”

I was so surprised that I almost fell backward.

Right. This is how the rewards are given.

The pale hands were holding up an object.

It looked like a sword and also like a tool. In any case, it was a being that exuded a frightening aura.

[“Take this, human.”]

The captivating voice penetrated the brain.

[“I fulfill my promise.”]

[— Receive the reward ‘Special Gift for the Foolish Human :)’.]

I didn’t hesitate to accept the object.

And the next moment.

Thud-!

The pale hands holding that thing had seized my wrist.

I had no chance to scream. I was getting sucked into a dark crevice. A sensation of body elongating like a taffy.

Thump!

Before I knew it, I was trapped in a pitch-black space where not a single ray of light came in.

“…Ah.”

I knew this would happen.

The alien being wouldn’t have given the reward so easily.

The alien being, they are like the ‘monkey’s paw’ from a horror novel: they demand compensation for every reward. They never go along with situations like this smoothly.

“If you have something to say, why didn’t you say it in the real world? What’s this all about?”

[– Cartesia commands. Walk.]

Right.

What good does it make just sitting here?

The only way to go back to where I was is to move forward.

So I started walking aimlessly. Not knowing whether I’m moving forward or if I were on a treadmill.

The more I walked, the clearer her voice became.

[– Cartesia asks. Do you know where this is?]

I don’t know.

[– Cartesia asks. Can you determine your location?]

Impossible.

A complete null space. I was moving my legs, but I was not confident that I was moving forward.

In such darkness, in such an intangible space, nothing could be measured physically.

[– Cartesia asks.]

[– Are you afraid?]

[– If you’re afraid, what are you afraid of?]

Well, if I’m scared, I will say it. Alien beings are incomprehensible.

So, ignorance is scary. It’s scarier not knowing who they are than the fact that they are very powerful.

So, I need to start with what I know.

First, me.

I exist.

To the point of getting goosebumps, I can still breathe in this space.

I know I’m ‘looking forward.’ I know there’s something above me.

Front, rear, up, down. I can determine at least four directions.

So, let’s set this place as the original point.

[– Cartesia asks. Can you define left and right, and measure?]

“hahahaha.”

That might be a bit of a stretch.

Right now, it’s a struggle just to hold onto my sanity.

[– Cartesia nods. At the same time, she admires your composure.]

[– Cartesia asks.]

Whoosh!

Wind storms into the nothingness of space. My body is pulled forward.

[“— Going to grad school again?]

I answered immediately.

Of course.

[“— Ten, hundred, thousand times?]

Of course.

[“— For what purpose?]

“To expel your extraterrestrials from this universe.”

[“— Seems like there’s another reason?]

“Because I want to understand this world.”

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Actually, this one is closer to my true feelings.

On Earth as well as in this world, my future dream is still to be a professor. Even if I win the war against the aliens, I probably wouldn’t refuse to continue my research.

“Hey, didn’t you send me here?”

[“— Cartesia smiles. Really?]

“It won’t go the way you want.”

[“— Cartesia chuckles.]

[— Alert: Stress level has exceeded system limit. The value received so far is forcibly converted into Prone.]

[— PN acquired from ‘Void’: 100000000]

[— Unable to handle the current Prone level!]

[— Forced physicalization occurs!]

The object in my hands suddenly lights up. The heat feels like it will burn my hand. Intuitively, I knew I had to hold on tight and not let go.

[— You have paid 100000000PN! Your first reward is given here.]

Flash—!!

The world flickered brightly. I squinted my eyes and shielded them with my hand.

Soon after, as the light gradually subsided and I returned to the original room, an unidentified object given by the extraterrestrials began to take shape.

“…?”

Coincidentally, I knew this item well.

“…Caliper?”