Episode 19

The long and arduous written test had finally come to an end.

Ceti and I returned to the accommodation we had reserved, where we would stay for a few days until the results of the first round were announced.

I could have gone back to the Reinhardt main house, which was nearby, but Ceti adamantly refused. She yearned to spend as much time as possible with Rustila, her ‘unnie’, whom she hadn’t seen in a long time.

“Wow.”

A sigh of admiration escaped my lips as I took in the beautifully landscaped scenery outside.

The celestial sphere had already turned halfway, sprinkling the evening glow across the sky. It was a scene as mesmerizing as one from a movie.

This is the cosmos.

This is romance.

We cannot allow Outer Gods to destroy such a beautiful world.

Turning around, I saw Ceti unpacking her things.

She then collapsed onto her bed as if diving into the sea.

“Ah, I’m so tired…”

Ceti and I had agreed to share a room.

We had initially intended to book two separate rooms, but my younger sister insisted on one room with two beds, citing the need to save money.

Ceti made a gesture as if drawing a line in the space between the beds.

“Got it? This is the border. Don’t cross it.”

“I won’t.”

Ceti still seemed to find me lacking in some way.

Sonia, who was next to us, chimed in.

“Don’t worry, miss. I will closely monitor the young master’s every move. Should he attempt any mischief, I will intervene immediately, so you can sleep soundly.”

“That’s quite reassuring.”

Ceti yawned repeatedly, clearly exhausted. As soon as she lay down, I turned off the light and exited the room.

“Keep the light on, you idiot!”

I promptly turned it back on and left again.

“Damn, what a fiery temper.”

At 8 PM, it was still too early to sleep.

Before the possession, my usual habit was to eat around this time.

When I went down to the cafeteria on the first floor, I noticed a girl with exceptionally striking beauty having a late dinner.

Blonde hair and blue eyes—it was Rustila.

After sending Sonia to the kiosk, I cautiously approached her.

Rustila, who was scooping up soup like a child, looked up.

“You are…”

“Hello. How did the test go?”

“…Yeah, it was okay.”

She continued eating quietly. With Rustila being a woman of few words, it was difficult to engage her in conversation.

My gaze shifted beyond Rustila’s shoulder to the android tasked with both guarding and observing her. I nodded at him in greeting.

“Please, do not approach the lady too closely.”

His face seemed familiar.

“You’re the guy from last time?”

“I am Zermel.”

Zermel was one of the unfortunate android quintet I had threatened when Rustila visited our house.

Zermel, uncharacteristically for a robot, seemed visibly uncomfortable at the sight of Rustila and me together. Rustila, however, remained indifferent and quiet.

“Don’t worry. I won’t do that again.”

“It’s difficult to trust those words.”

“That’s fair.”

Aiden already had a reputation for being a troublemaker. Unless the situation was exceptional, it was crucial to behave properly to avoid further tarnishing his reputation.

With that in mind, I resolved to make a declaration.

“I’m thinking of changing my image after I pass the Stellarium.”

Zermel interjected unexpectedly.

“Living a clean future doesn’t erase your past.”

“I’m aware.”

Even though it wasn’t my fault.

“…That’s correct.”

Rustila, who had been slicing her steak, nodded slightly. She seemed to agree with Zermel’s sentiment.

“If you’ve done wrong, you should apologize, even if it wasn’t intentional. The victim doesn’t know the offender’s intentions. Understanding can only occur when feelings are expressed.”

Rustila looked at me with eyes as tender as the warm waters of the Mediterranean Sea.

At that moment, I remembered a promise I had made to coordinate with Sonia.

With this in mind, I began to speak.

“I don’t know why, but sometimes I have seizures like the one before. They’re inevitable, but I want to take this opportunity to apologize.”

I looked earnestly at Zermel and addressed him with respect.

“I apologize for that time.”

After bowing to indicate I would be more careful in the future, there was a moment of silence before Zermel spoke.

“You are a fascinating person, apologizing to an android like me.”

“Whether it’s artificial neural networks or neurons, they all function using the same structure. Why make a distinction between humans and machines?”

“The one who should receive an apology is not me, but Miss Rustila.”

I offered the same apology to Rustila, regretting the commotion I had caused. Although I had expressed something similar before, I formally bowed before her.

“Yeah, it’s okay.”

Rustila replied succinctly, her smile softening.

At that moment, Sonia returned with the food, placing a thick rib steak before me.

“It’s quite a pricey one. I thought it would be the perfect meal to celebrate your written test.”

“Ah, thank you.”

I attempted to cut the steak with as much grace as possible, though it proved challenging. Despite my efforts, my skills were barely above those of an average physics major.

Rustila chuckled at my struggle.

“Do you want me to help?”

“…Sonia.”

“It’s extremely embarrassing. Please manage on your own, young master.”

“…”

My stomach rumbled with hunger; I hadn’t eaten much for lunch and was eager to devour the steak. However, I didn’t want to appear uncouth.

Ultimately, I nodded in agreement.

“Now, watch.”

Rustila took out an extra knife and demonstrated her skill. She expertly cut the meat into manageable, bite-sized pieces, following the grain.

“Wow.”

“You can’t just cut anywhere. You have to be mindful of the sinews and find the right spots to slice smoothly.”

“You’re amazing.”

I felt a wave of embarrassment wash over me.

As dawn broke, Ceti and I headed to the nearby sports field, with Rustila and her attendant androids joining us.

“To have come all this way… If a passing robber were to assault Miss Rustila, what would become of us…”

“Don’t worry. Should that happen, Sonia will handle it.”

The androids, including Zermel, were still concerned for Rustila’s safety, but Sonia’s confident assurance persuaded them to accompany their charge.

Sonia, licking her lips, addressed Zermel.

“In the second test, physical prowess is essential, especially the ability to wield a plasma sword. You must begin training before the written test results are out.”

“That may be true, but the head of the family deems it too dangerous…”

“Once you step into the world, danger is everywhere. Miss Rustila’s parents are being overprotective.”

Well said, Sonia.

I swung the wooden sword I had brought from home, feeling rusty after a month of neglect.

In contrast, Ceti’s movements were fluid and precise.

“You really can’t handle a sword,” she teased.

“I learned it through attributes,” I retorted.

“There’s no talent that blooms without effort. Even if I had a knack for swordsmanship, without practice, I can’t expect to excel. It’s a deficit in practical skills I’m prepared to accept.”

“Just admit you’ve been lazy,” Ceti said with a shrug, and I laughed in disbelief.

Swordsmanship held no interest or talent for me; my field was research. I prided myself on dedicating more thought to physics and gravitons than anyone else.

That focus naturally meant less attention to other areas. Time is finite, and we can’t spread it evenly across various disciplines, hence the term ‘expert’.

Everyone brings different qualities and talents to the table. We live by supporting each other.

It’s how individuals build civilizations – in the past and into the future.

I do what others cannot. For the things I can’t do, I rely on others. Together, we support each other and defeat the Outer Gods.

Ceti’s attention had drifted outside the grassy field, where Rustila was practicing with her wooden sword, a smile gracing her face.

The sound of the air being sliced.

Precision in every movement.

Her swordsmanship was as meticulous as a taekwondo master performing a poomsae, suggesting that stepping into her path would be lethal.

“Rustila sis, you seem happy.”

“That’s right.”

“Your parents wouldn’t let you touch a sword until the practical test topics were out, yet you love swordsmanship more than anything.”

“They are strange parents.”

“…Sigh, you shouldn’t say that.”

I scratched my head, realizing that even a casual remark sounded harsh coming from Aiden.

Despite that…

“That’s somewhat unfair.”

“I understand. But for now, you need to be cautious. Ah, shh. I’m just sitting here; why do you have to be the one to start…”

Ceti grimaced and scowled.

We couldn’t continue with such conversations.

I swung the wooden sword a few times before calling out.

“Who wants to spar with me?”

Rustila’s eyes lit up as she turned to me.

“Me-me…!”

Ceti gasped in alarm.

“Are you trying to get yourself killed?”

“Why?”

“You don’t realize how painful her sword can be. One hit could break your bones.”

“We can adjust to each other. We could even wear protective gear.”

“That’s exactly why it won’t work!”

After listening to Ceti, I vaguely remembered something from the novel, an epic of over 1800 parts. I wasn’t sure about the details, but there seemed to be a passage describing Rustila’s transformation when she wielded a sword.

“There’s a reason I don’t spar with Rustila sis. Genetically, our bones aren’t that sturdy. One wrong move, and we could end up seriously injured.”

“…Isn’t that an exaggeration?”

“If you don’t believe it, why not go outside and have a match?”

Ceti nudged me forcefully. I sighed softly and looked back to see her wearing an expression of indifference, while Sonia clicked her tongue in disapproval.

I recalled being pummeled during sparring sessions with Sonia.

Yet, I had survived.

More precisely, I recovered quickly.

Having endured a month of strikes from a robot stronger than a human, would I really be defeated by a sixteen-year-old girl’s sword?

That seemed preposterous.

Even so, if that unlikely event occurred, it would be tantamount to failing a practical skill test.

Rustila, eager, was adjusting her sword. Her perfect stance was flawless. I too warmed up and took my stance.

“I, I’m incredibly nervous.”

“Why?”

“It’s been so long since I’ve sparred with someone…”

“…”

“Shall we begin then?”

Sigh.

…I won’t die, right?

As that thought crossed my mind, a flash surged before my eyes.