The Protagonist's True Colors
Even as Idel got thoroughly beaten by Sonia, he never lost his smile. The two of them looked incredibly close.
“Sonia, let’s stop the hitting here. What kind of embarrassment is this in front of other people?”
“This would not have happened if Young Master had handled his affairs properly.”
“If I handle my affairs properly… you already know what happens, right?”
“Huu.” Sonia scratched her head. “Just bring that thing over.”
That thing? What thing? It couldn’t possibly be some kind of torture device, could it?
Strange imaginations ran wild through Ire’s head. Of course, this was a sanctuary. If anything suspicious happened, one scream would bring the inspectors running. Still, she felt uneasy. Hadn’t she already suffered enough? Maybe the Rheinland family had bought off the entire sanctuary, or perhaps this was all an elaborately staged fake location….
Clatter.Sonia wheeled in a tray.
“It is oriental chicken stew.”
Sonia placed a bowl of chicken porridge in front of Ire. Strictly speaking, chicken stew and chicken porridge were different, but since Idel had taught Sonia Korean recipes, the distinction didn’t exist for her.
Ire’s eyes went wide at the sight of the stew.
“I soaked the rice thoroughly in water and boiled it until it became thick and viscous. Then I added sliced chicken breast, carrots, chives, onions, and the like, simmering everything deeply for a long time. Each ingredient helps with eye health and prevents skin aging.”
“Why chicken…?”
“Chicken has restorative properties. Given your exhausted mind and body from long imprisonment, this should be the perfect meal for you.”
Steam rose in gentle curls before her eyes. Ire rolled her bewildered gaze around. Looking closely, she saw something like grains of sand sprinkled on top of the porridge. Was it poison?
“It is black pepper. It is likewise good for the eyes and skin.”
Ire frowned. She couldn’t trust this. She needed to investigate.
‘Altair. I’m sorry, but help me just once.’
Twinkle. The tattered constellation of the Cowherd Star answered her faintly. The moment Ire decided to use her skill, her eyes turned blood-red.
[─ Using Appraisal.]
[Name: Oriental Chicken Stew]
[Description: Delicious.]
“……?”
It was as simplistic as if she had returned to level one. There was a detailed information window below, but pressing it only revealed information about ingredients and cooking methods. There was no mention of poison or aphrodisiacs. A constellation’s status window never lied, no matter what. Especially when Appraisal was used.
Ire slowly raised her head. Her eyes met Idel’s. He clicked his tongue.
“Your eyes are completely bloodshot. Sonia cooked it well. You need to eat it like that to get healthy and stop wandering around everywhere.”
“……Don’t speak down to me.”
“Ah, yes ma’am.” Idel immediately bowed his head.
At his innocent appearance, Ire felt rather flustered instead. It was strange. He hadn’t been like this originally. Even his face was suspicious. He used to look a bit more dopey. He hadn’t been this sharp-featured. Especially those golden eyes. They were different from all the rounds she had experienced so far. They were so deep and profound, like the depths beneath still water, that she couldn’t read him at all.
“It will get cold. Please eat quickly.” Idel urged.
“……I have a cat’s tongue.”
“Then please eat slowly while it cools. This humble Idel shall withdraw.”
Idel took a martial arts salute and stepped back. Ire furrowed her brow. Looking closely, he was holding a book in his hand.
Cosmic Rascal 6077
‘What kind of book is that?’
No one knew. Not even the great Idel himself would admit that when he wanted to rest, he read novels.
“…….”
After Idel left, the room felt empty. Ire looked at Sonia. Sonia looked back at her.
Gurgle.
Come to think of it, she hadn’t eaten anything for a full day. After hesitating, Ire picked up the spoon. She slowly stirred the stew in a swirling motion, then carefully scooped some broth and brought it to her mouth.
“……!”
“How is it?”
“It’s….”
A bright, clean flavor spread across her tongue.
“I also added jujube, ginger, ginseng, and kelp. I put in bok choy and cabbage as well. I wanted to bring out a bit of shabu-shabu flavor too.”
“……It’s unique.”
It was a combination of ingredients that could easily turn muddy or strange if done wrong. Yet Sonia had adjusted the proportions exquisitely, drawing out a feast of mountain and sea delicacies. Ire smiled faintly. It suited the tastes of someone who had grown up in the frontier.
Even after finishing the meal, her suspicions did not disappear. Why on earth had Idel changed? And why was he treating her—a complete stranger—so well? The questions were endless.
“……Huu.”
Ire stared at her reflection in the bathroom mirror. Greasy hair and hollow eyes. The tear stains pressed beneath her dark circles refused to fade. She left the bathroom and turned the corner, organizing her thoughts.
For now, it would be best to stay here and review her plans. And Idel. He must be plotting something. After going through hundreds of thousands of regressions, she could not believe that the man who had never once shown any sign of reform had suddenly become a good person in this round.
Whisper whisper.
The sound came from the room next to the infirmary. Ire carefully leaned against the door. She could hear Idel and Sonia talking. Through a small hole in the door, she observed their movements.
Idel was lying on nothing but a blanket, reading a book.
Master’s Divine Arts
What kind of title is that?
Their conversation came through clearly.
“Why is the protagonist acting like this? At the very least, he should come out with a doctorate.”
“Young Master. Graduate school is like the martial world. If there are first-rate people, there are second-rate, and if there are second-rate, there are third-rate.”
“So?”
“For a third-rate person trying to preserve their body in the harsh rivers and lakes, washing one’s hands in gold dust and entering government service is one method, is it not?”
“Nonsense! Instead of raising his realm, he runs away! Someone like that cannot achieve great success even if he leaves academia!”
“That is the standard of those who have experienced a doctoral degree.”
She didn’t understand what they were saying, but both of them were crazy. Especially Idel. In this round, that guy was insane in a completely different sense.
“By the way, Stellarium’s opening is only four days away. If we don’t head back soon, we will be late.”
“I know.”
Idel closed the book and stretched. Ire couldn’t help but be shocked by what she had just heard. Idel von Rheinland, at Stellarium? That idiot?
[─ Using Appraisal.]
[Name: Idel von Rheinland]
[Affiliation: Rheinland Family, Stellarium Academia]
[Detailed Information: Cannot be viewed (Forcible viewing may cause a sharp increase in Fron value.)]
Something was seriously wrong. This round was the most alien one she had experienced so far.
“Ah, wait a moment. A call from Professor Roden.”
At the name Professor Roden, Ire perked up her ears. Like Zernya, he was a being contracted with an Outer Deity and destined to become an enemy of humanity. And that Roden was talking with Idel? There was definitely something going on.
“Ah, yes. Professor. We can talk via voice code right now. So….”
As expected, the two were conspiring together.
“……Yes, yes. If you do that, I would be grateful. After all, it’s not like I’m doing this just for my own benefit.”
She had gained something to investigate. After listening to their conversation until the end, Ire returned to the infirmary the moment Idel stood up. And she revised her plan.
Roden, Zernya, Idel. Whether they had truly changed or the situation had shifted and they were plotting something else, it was clear they were opponents she had to observe closely. To monitor all three, there was only one way.
‘……I will enter Stellarium College.’
Ire took heavy steps and left the infirmary.
— Rheinland student. Thanks to the FR model you developed with Professor Feynman, I was able to successfully complete follow-up research that expands the dimensional layer of the Ether Belt. I send my deepest gratitude for solving a problem I could not crack despite ten years of effort.
Roden, Professor at Dahknab University.
(Originally a villain possessed by an Outer Deity.)
I will not be applying for a patent on this technology. That path holds greater value. I wanted to share this news with you, the developer of the theory, as well.
Somehow, he had turned into a hero who saved the entire Federation. Now they were all walking completely different paths from the novel.
Except when dealing with Ire Haslen, the contents of Outer God Slayer had become utterly useless. The misfortunes that were supposed to befall Seti and Rustilla would no longer come. Since Professor Roden had released the patent for the Ether Belt expansion project, everyone would be able to enjoy their academy life safely.
“What a relief.”
Until the results of my transfer into the graduate program came out, I could research freely.
Knock knock knock.
In high spirits, I knocked on the door to Ire’s room. There was no response.
“I’m coming in?”
I knew that entering a lady’s room without permission was extremely rude. But I had knocked and waited a full thirty seconds. Surely nothing embarrassing would happen. Moreover, I slowly opened the door while covering my eyes with a thesis, perfectly upholding both gentlemanly virtue and her privacy.
And.
“……?”
Ire was not in the room.
“Ah.”
I had set her Fron value to zero, and she ran away like this.
“Are you referring to that girl? She left while Young Master was organizing your luggage.”
“How do you know that?”
“Because I saw it with my own eyes.”
“What? Then why didn’t you stop her?”
“Did I not tell you? That girl and Young Master are the type to spend one night together and then part ways. Is this what they call a one-night stand in technical terms? Oh.”
“Stop talking nonsense, Sonia…….”
“Young Master used to harass female students like this in the past.”
I clutched my forehead. Being subjected to mirror therapy with words I had never even done was pure torment. Anyway, if I combed through Ire’s memories that I had read with the caliper, she would definitely try to monitor me. Keeping that in mind while researching, we would meet again someday.
In the meantime, I decided to think about how to spend the remaining two semesters. Soon, one word rose in my mind.
Zernya.
“E-Etchoo!”
“Miss Adelbein, you’ve overworked yourself. No matter how much the family head scolded you, not sleeping at all….”
“Don’t mind me and go do your own work.”
“But we’re worried about your health, Miss….”
“I said get lost—haaaatchoo!”
One day before the start of the semester. And three days since she had caught a cold. Zernya was undergoing closed-door training while feeling like death.