“Professor. We have somewhere urgent to stop by, so we’ll return to the lab a little later.”
“Huh? Somewhere to stop by? You and senior? Where on earth would that be…, huh!”
Did they get uncomfortable walking alongside me?
The Doctoral Graduate Student covered the Master’s Graduate Student’s mouth in confusion and dragged him away somewhere.
I had thought that if research on the possessed body’s Aether progressed, they might join in, but seeing them run off like that, I guess I was wrong.
‘Well, it doesn’t matter. After all, graduate students are still just students. The important thing is the professor’s help, right?’
Their departure wasn’t particularly important to me, and Radvisin Professor seemed to feel the same.
As soon as we arrived at the lab, the professor gathered all the papers I had been reading—the thesis, the outline I had drafted, the notes with keywords.
Then he headed toward the private office inside the lab, telling me to follow him.
“Wait here for a moment.”
Radvisin Professor sat me down in front of him and began rifling through the pile of papers he had collected.
With nothing to do, I sat there blankly watching him, and boredom started creeping in.
Especially since it was right after lunch, and the soft sound of flipping pages was incredibly soothing.
I was about to ask if I could brew another cup of coffee when—
“This is good! Although there are some inefficient parts, for a first try, this is excellent.”
Radvisin Professor smiled with satisfaction, lifting his gaze from the papers to meet my eyes.
I knew it would be polite to thank him, but an unexplainable sense of foreboding kept my lips sealed.
Fortunately, the professor didn’t point that out.
“Karbaldr, did you know? While you cannot ‘officially’ choose an advisor during your bachelor’s program, ‘unofficially’ it is possible.”
“…And later, you do your master’s and doctoral studies under the professor?”
“Karbaldr, your comprehension is impressive!”
Radvisin Professor clapped his hands enthusiastically.
Somehow, it felt like I could hear a voice saying, ‘You’re perfect to become my graduate student.’
Just a few hours ago, I had decided I wanted to avoid becoming an academic in this world filled with half-baked worldbuilding.
‘But now, you’re telling me to become a graduate student? And under the professor who openly said he researches Aether colors by roulette?’
That’s absolutely not happening. I must refuse, no matter what.
But I couldn’t outright show my refusal—I needed the professor’s help.
Even though the research he was doing was essentially meaningless, I doubted whether I could acquire new Aether abilities just by receiving his help.
Still, it’s too early to lose hope.
‘Besides, since he is in charge of Aether Trait Enhancement, he should be able to help strengthen the possessed body’s inherent Buff Ability for sure.’
After much deliberation, I made my decision.
I would refuse, but leave room for negotiation.
That way, Professor Radvisin would be all the more eager to help me in various ways.
Whether by finding new Aether traits or enhancing existing ones.
“Thank you for the offer, but I’m still a freshman. So for now, I want to learn various things and gain experience.”
“Oh, experience. Yes, yes, that’s very important. Experience is an invaluable asset to a scholar.”
“Then I trust you understand my meaning…?”
“Yes, trust this professor.”
Could I really trust him? I was very suspicious.
But leaving room for negotiation was my own choice.
Though I glimpsed in the professor’s expression the resolve of ‘I will make you my graduate student no matter what,’ I decided to ignore it.
“By the way, don’t you have something you want to ask me?”
“Oh, right. I haven’t asked why you came to the lab, Karbaldr. I have a rough idea, but procedure is important, so please tell me—why have you come?”
“As you expected, I came seeking help regarding an Aether trait problem…”
“…But? Is there some kind of problem?”
“…Aren’t you going to ask about the rumors?”
On the way back to the lab, Radvisin Professor had clearly said he would verify the truth of the rumors, ask why I had done such things if they were true, and then offer help.
But he skipped all that and immediately offered me to become his graduate student.
‘If he’s overlooking the possessed body’s past actions, then it’s good for me… but it felt unpleasant.’
Just because the future is bright and promising, is he going to cover up the perpetrator’s wrongdoings even when victims exist?
So, even though I knew it was a ‘trap question,’ I couldn’t help but ask.
“Hahaha, there’s really no need for that.”
“Huh…?”
“Earlier, Karbaldr, didn’t you say with your own mouth that you had done ‘something worthy of blame’? And now, you yourself brought up that painful topic. To me, it seems you’ve reflected enough on the past. Am I wrong?”
Wrong.
‘It was the original Karbaldr who did those blameworthy deeds. I am merely a stranger possessed in his body.’
Moreover, Karbaldr isn’t even a character I created.
So why should I have to reflect on that?
‘But since I can’t reveal this truth, I’m grateful if he continues to misunderstand.’
Afraid my complex emotions might show on my face, I lowered my head deeply.
Mistaking this as guilt, the professor gently patted my shoulder and said softly—
“Have you apologized?”
“To my fiancée, soon. To the other person, I already have.”
“How did that person react?”
“Not really a friend… but it seemed like forgiveness was given.”
“That’s a good friend.”
“He is a good person.”
Even as I insisted he wasn’t a friend, Radvisin Professor chuckled warmly.
Apparently, to him, I seemed like an honest but socially awkward kid.
“Well then, shall we finally discuss your goal, Karbaldr? You want help manifesting House Austri’s Aether trait—Poison Attribute Ether, right?”
“That’s a second option.”
“Hm?”
Now that the topic changed, there was no need to keep pretending guilt and bowing my head.
I quietly lifted my head and saw the professor’s puzzled face.
When our eyes met, he suddenly exclaimed, “Ah!”
“Could you also use Sky-Blue Aether?! So you came to learn about or strengthen that Aether trait?”
“I only considered the possibility. So I tried searching the library for related cases, but… there are too many books on Aether, it would take ages to find anything, and finding a case doesn’t mean I can actually use Sky-Blue Aether.”
“That’s why you wisely came to an expert like me. Books can teach a variety of knowledge, but if you don’t know which book contains what you need, you won’t gain much at first. In that case, the right choice is to seek an old scholar who has accumulated a lifetime of knowledge and information.”
Radvisin Professor nodded to himself as he spoke.
He inspired hope against all odds.
Without realizing it, I clenched my hands tightly on my knees, and a faint smile appeared at the corners of the professor’s mouth.
“About 30 years ago, there was a story in an academic journal specializing in Aether traits, about a person born with two differently colored eyes. Like you, that person could initially only control one Aether.”
He spoke in the past tense.
Meaning that later, the person was able to handle two types of Aether.
“Do you know who that person was, or where they live now?”
“If you wanted to meet them for advice, I’m sorry to say it’s impossible. That person was over eighty then, so they’ve probably passed away by now.”
My swelling hope instantly deflated.
That they only acquired a second Aether at eighty years old.
That the person I would want to ask is already dead.
All of it was disappointing.
“Still, don’t lose hope. The journal detailed the circumstances under which they gained a second Aether.”
That was all.
Radvisin Professor got up and walked toward a bookshelf that covered one wall of the room.
After examining the books carefully, he pulled out a very worn magazine.
“Future progress comes from the past, so I don’t discard journals. I read them from time to time.”
Handing me the old journal—over 30 years old—Radvisin Professor smiled kindly.
At that moment, how admirable he seemed.
If only his current research topic wasn’t ‘Ether Color and Attribute Correlation,’ I might have begged to become his graduate student immediately.
“If you read it yourself, you’ll find that the person recognized the second Aether after completely exhausting their first Aether. It’s dangerous, so don’t try alone. Do it with me.”
“Yes! Thank you!”
He promised safety, so there was no reason to refuse.
Carefully accepting the journal, I expressed my gratitude, feeling my voice grow excited.
Though I still didn’t know what traits Sky-Blue Aether held, having one more ability would definitely be helpful.
That’s all.
“Let’s call it a day. Come back tomorrow.”
Radvisin Professor seemed to notice my eagerness to read the journal right away.
He grabbed the door handle as he spoke his farewell.
But instead of opening the door, he turned and looked at me, asking a random question—
“Oh, by the way. Are the rumors okay?”
“Huh?”
“The bad things people say about you, Karbaldr.”
I wondered why he brought up a past topic again.
Probably worried I might have been hurt by what the graduate students said after they returned to the lab.
“You have to accept it. It’s not like they’re making up things that never happened. And if you separate last semester’s me from now’s me, there’s nothing to be hurt by.”
“But doesn’t the fact those bad words attack you remain unchanged?”
“……”
I was so unprepared for that that I was left speechless.
“I’m glad you’re okay anyway. But if you ever feel otherwise, feel free to consult me anytime.”
“…Thank you.”
Radvisin Professor opened the door, and I quickly passed by him to leave the lab.
But right as I was about to exit, the two graduate students blocked my way.
Carrying piles of bread and snack bags in their arms.
How kind.