The First Paper (3)
After a month, the greetings I exchanged with my classmates felt especially warm.
“Hey, heard you were pretty sick? That’s rare for you.”
Welton asked with a mischievous grin.
“Word is you even got questioned by the police?”
“Yeah, I did.”
“What’d they say?”
“Not much, really.”
I gave a vague answer. It seemed best not to mention that Fron had been detected inside the virtual reality device.
At the mere mention of police and investigation, Christine latched on immediately.
“You were called in by the police? Don’t tell me it was about exam fraud!”
“No.”
“Explain yourself!”
Even her constant demands for explanations now felt oddly endearing.
Three months.
That much time had passed since I was accepted into Stellarium Academia.
Final exams were just around the corner. I’d skipped about a month of school after midterms, and somehow that much time had already slipped by.
I chuckled softly, taking in each of my classmates’ faces.
Nothing about them had changed.
How long could this peaceful scene last?
Tap, tap.
I turned at the touch on my shoulder.
A fresh floral scent. Rustila stood there.
“Hello, Eidel.” She greeted me with a bright smile.
“How have you been?”
“So-so. And you?”
“Thanks to you. I’ve been practicing my swordsmanship a lot. I want to show you once combat training starts.”
I nodded, pleased. Rustila had been growing steadily even without me around.
I opened my laptop and resumed working.
Checking early graduation requirements. Writing the paper. There was a mountain of things to do. I didn’t even have time to attend classes at Academia.
When I came to my senses, a piece of candy sat on my desk.
“This is……”
“You looked exhausted. It’s from me. Take it.”
Rustila smiled cheerfully and held out her hand, gesturing for me to eat it.
Behavioral Trait: Rustila frequently gives small gifts to those she holds in high regard.
“……Ah, thanks.”
Not wanting to just stuff it in my pocket, I popped it straight into my mouth.
A refreshing peppermint aroma filled my palate.
This kind of thing really shines when paired with chocolate cake rather than eaten alone.
Anyway, my gratitude toward Rustila wasn’t only because of the candy.
Seti seemed to feel similarly. I was grateful.
If I mentioned submitting a paper only to get rejected, how embarrassing would that be?
These things are always more surprising when done as a surprise.
Right now, confirming the early graduation requirements was the priority.
When the bell rang for first period, I began thoroughly exploring the school homepage.
“Alright, everyone. Class is starting. We were going to study the history of Outer Deity appearances today, right?”
Today’s first class was history, taught by Karlen Hubbleway—an extra teacher who didn’t even have a name in the original story.
Lucky me.
She was the hands-off type who barely cared what students did on their laptops.
“As you all know, there are four major types of Outer Deities.”
Click. I accessed the webpage.
“Laplace, Maxwell, Descartes, and Darwin…… Oh, Miss Adelbein? Why are you heading to the back?”
“……I’m sleepy. I’ll go wake myself up.”
“Hmm, I suppose that’s possible.”
Using parallel cognition, I listened to Karlen’s explanation while splitting the screen.
Right side: webpage.
Left side: empty space.
I used parallel cognition once more to create a workspace for writing the paper on the left window.
“The first Outer Deity we encountered was of the Maxwell type.”
Click. I launched a program in the left window.
> RATEX: Thesis Writing Program for You
With that, all the setup was complete.
“Maxwell-type Outer Deities have two main characteristics. First, they take the form of mechanical monsters. Second, they utilize time reversal.”
First, listen to the lecture.
Then check the early graduation requirements.
After that, write the paper.
“Maxwell kids are pretty violent. Almost on par with the Darwin ones. And there are a lot of anomalous individuals among them.”
Listen to the lecture.
Check the early graduation requirements.
Write the paper again.
“The ones who attacked you last time were likely Maxwell types too. They probably invaded the moment a hole opened in the Ether Belt.”
Thought 1: So she’s telling the students. I thought they were trying to keep it classified.
Thought 2: Early graduation requirements. Pass the early graduation exam or obtain approval from the Minister of Education or a higher education official to advance.
Thought 3: What should I title the paper?
“The Darwin types have the largest numbers. And all their monsters are organic. They’re so close to being fully biological that ordinary methods won’t kill them. Are they truly monsters in the real sense?”
1. One of Darwin’s legions begins its offensive from the first year of college. If Rustila is dispatched, it won’t be a problem.
2. The early graduation exam is a hassle. There’s a lot of content, and I’d have to retake the practical exam too.
3. What should I title the paper?
“There’s only one Laplace legion. That’s why they have the fewest invasions, but each one destroys a lot. In a way, they’re the scariest. They twist causality, after all.”
1. The Laplace legion is the final boss of this novel. They possess the strongest forces, even as individual entities.
2. Rather than taking the exam, it’s better to gain recognition by writing a paper. If I’m the first author on an SCI-level paper as a high school student……
3. What should I title the paper?
“Lastly, Descartes. They’re the safest yet the most dangerous.”
1. [— The ‘God of Wisdom and Curiosity’ laughs in disbelief.]
2. A recommendation letter from Professor Feynman should be enough. I need to get the paper published within the year. I have to hurry.
3. What the hell should I title this damn paper?
“Descartes-type Outer Deities toy with people completely. Because they’re the ones who manipulate minds.”
1. [“That insolent wench. She dares to imitate a teacher?”]
2. Chicken for dinner tonight.
3. Ah, an email from the professor.
Tap, tap-tap.
While sending the email, I felt a sharp gaze from behind.
“……Crazy bastard.”
What?
When I turned around, Zernya was glaring at me with fierce eyes from right behind.
“Come see me for a moment.”
After first period ended, during the twenty-minute break, I was summoned by Zernya and found myself talking with her outside in the hallway.
“What on earth are you thinking?”
“About what?”
“You’ve been looking at the early graduation page since homeroom. And you even had some weird window open.”
“……”
“Pay attention in class, will you?” I scratched my head.
Should I tell her about the early graduation or not?
Usually, I wouldn’t. I didn’t want to brag only to fail and end up humiliated. I believed all achievements should be discussed only after they’re accomplished.
But this time, it didn’t seem like it would be that easy.
Zernya stepped closer and asked,
“If you’re graduating early, then quit.”
“Why?”
“……I knew it.”
I realized it had been a leading question. Zernya’s expression grew even worse.
“At least wait until I take first place before you disappear.”
“Why? Wouldn’t it be easier for you if I was gone?”
“……You’re insulting me right now, aren’t you?”
Zernya ground her teeth. Veins looked ready to pop on her wide forehead. She was angry.
“You don’t take hints easily, do you? You know how ridiculously difficult early graduation is, right?”
“Probably.”
It would be harder than just graduating normally, wouldn’t it? She was stating the obvious.
But just because it’s difficult doesn’t mean it’s impossible.
Not everyone becomes a professor, but even ordinary people can become professors if they try…… That was all there was to it.
“Zernya.”
I asked, just in case.
“Are you sulking because you didn’t get that black orb last time?”
“What?”
She frowned, then shook her head vigorously. Her fine silver hair swayed side to side.
“I’m not so childish as to get worked up over a single gem. Rather……”
Zernya clutched her pure white scarf and said,
“Even if it’s early graduation, it’s only advancing by one year. You’d have to study both first-year material and graduation material at the same time. Your focus would inevitably be split. Do you understand what I’m saying now?”
“No.”
“It means you’ll have to handle two tasks simultaneously. Naturally, your grades will drop. Because you won’t be giving it your all.”
Zernya twisted her lips into a smile.
“What happens when your concentration is divided? Your grades will drop, and getting into college will be out of the question. You’ll spend the entire next semester losing to me. And you’ll slip away without even having the chance to dwell on that humiliation.”
“Studying requires building momentum. You’d better think carefully.”
With those words, Zernya turned and left. Only five minutes remained of break time.
Was she acting differently from the original story because she kept coming in second?
Her personality had changed without me noticing.
While I stood there puzzled by the sense of dissonance, a DM notification chimed.
I grinned.
It was welcome news indeed.