From Space Idiot to Professor

3 – Contract with the Extras (1)

Extraterrestrial entities of the ‘alien hunters’ possess the characteristics of the Holy Grails that appear in holy water images.

They make a contract with humans, lend their power, and assign quests. And they give rewards when you clear those quests.

So far, it seems like any ordinary holy grail, or even a benevolent deity.

The reality is different.

First, the contract.

Extraterrestrials try to force a contract on a human they like.

Just like right now.

[— ‘The god of wisdom and curiosity’ is investigating your cerebral cortex.]

When a contract is established, the extraterrestrial sits in the cerebral cortex of the contractor.

This is called ‘erosion.’ Like a host infected by a virus, humans who have contracted with extraterrestrials gradually go mad. When the erosion is over, that human either becomes useless, transforms into a monster, or dies.

There are two main ways to prevent this contract.

One is to wrap your body with the ‘ether,’ the universe’s fifth force, like a vaccine, and the other is to have a level of madness equivalent to the aliens.

In the latter case, extraterrestrials deem that the human has already been ‘eroded’ and go out in search of other prey.

I didn’t want to become mad to avoid a contract with an extraterrestrial. That would be akin to burning the house down to kill a flea.

Hence, I was planning to enter the academy to learn how to handle the ether.

But then.

[“Interesting human. You don’t go crazy even after hearing my words.”]

It was already too late.

Gaining the attention of a foreign entity before even trying anything. I was out of luck.

[– ‘God of Wisdom and Curiosity’ reads your memories.]

A sickening laugh echoed in the void. I felt a sensation like my heart being scratched away.

A crack in the world. I gritted my teeth. I didn’t want to lose my self this way.

[“Uh? Wait a moment…”]

[– ‘God of Wisdom and Curiosity’ is caught off guard.]

Wait, what?

[“Graduate school twice? Isn’t this guy crazy?”]

“Ugh!”

My head spun at the strong reaction from the foreign entity. It felt as if every cell in my body was screaming, about to explode.

As expected, merely hearing the voice of a foreign entity is enough to cause humans immense pain. It buries them in madness. It seems like I wasn’t the exception as my vision started to turn red.

However, the headache was short-lived.

The high blood pressure that had spiked returned to normal. My mind, which felt like it had been torn apart, began to settle.

“……?”

What’s happening?

Why isn’t it driving me mad?

I took deep breaths and tried to make sense of what had happened.

I didn’t know why. I just felt like it had somehow happened.

I clenched and unclenched my hands, attempting to calm my racing heart.

[“Interesting. Very Interesting.”]

Ding!

As the female voice passed, an almost transparent window that was drifting in my head popped up right in front of my eyes.

[– ‘God of Wisdom and Curiosity’ offers a contract.]

This was the so-called status window.

The main means that foreign entities use to communicate with humans.

Talking through the status window supposedly drives humans less mad. A consideration from the foreign entities, so to speak.

No, that’s not it. Consideration, my foot.

[– You cannot refuse a contract request!]

[– The contract has been established. From now on, ‘God of Wisdom and Curiosity’ will observe you.]

How can a forced contract be considered considerate? It’s obvious they just want to toy with me.

A sigh escaped my lips as I scanned the status window.

From my head to my nape, all the way to my spine. Cold sweat poured like rain.

Damn it. I had just taken a shower.

“Sir, are you okay?”

Sonia brought a dry towel and dabbed my forehead. Her face looked genuinely concerned.

I stood up with Sonia’s support.

“Where did that strange… thing go?”

Sonia looked around the box and asked.

“It must have disappeared…”

“Disappeared? You’re saying it warped without any special device?”

“…Hmm.”

“What on earth did you buy?”

Common androids like Sonia don’t know what irregular polyhedrons are. Its existence is a top secret to begin with.

“I didn’t order it.”

“Then…”

“It must have been sent by mistake from the delivery company.”

I replied to Sonia that it seems to have been automatically returned.

It’s a real relief that this is an era with warp technology. It would have been difficult to explain otherwise.

Anyway.

I checked the status window that was being updated in real time.

[– The ‘God of Wisdom and Curiosity’ values knowledge and interest above all transcendent beings.]

[– Her thirst for knowledge is endless. She constantly seeks the truth, and loves strange and new things. She will bring great rewards if you provide these things, and doom if you cannot.]

The Outer God of Wisdom, ‘Cartesia’.

As shown in the status window, she is very curious.

Other Outer Gods view humans as less than insects. Not Cartesia. She observes people with interest. She even watches them struggle. If she likes what she sees, she’ll help.

Why is Cartesia kind to humans?

The reason was unknown, even by the end. It could be said to be a sort of MacGuffin.

Of course, if you fail to satisfy her, she will cripple you without mercy, just like any other Outer God.

“Haah….”

I was prepared for something like this to happen.

But it’s faster than expected.

Way faster.

Ever since I was forced into a contract with an Outer God from the Prologue, the future seems dark.

[– The ‘God of Wisdom and Curiosity’ is expecting you to be a human who can satisfy her.]

My plans to study gravity manipulations must have been uncovered.

I don’t know what to do….

[– The ‘God of Wisdom and Curiosity’ is interested in your plan to defy the Outer Gods.]

…Wait a minute.

“…?”

What does this mean?

Even if it’s a deviant, would an Outer God also protect humans standing against it?

What? Are they saying to go ahead if I can?

“…..”

Don’t try to understand. Trying to fathom the Outer Gods makes one insane.

Let’s just accept it.

Just accept it and focus on my work. It’s better for my mental health.

“Sigh.”

I organized my thoughts.

It might be a good thing, viewed in a certain light.

No, it’s definitely a good thing.

Doesn’t the saying ‘crisis into opportunity’ perfectly apply here?

Cartesia is a high-ranking foreign company. I’ll be able to work there without interference from other foreign firms.

Of course, that’s something the future version of me will have to take care of.

Clang!

Suddenly, with the metallic sound, a quest appeared before my eyes.

[— The ‘God of Wisdom and Curiosity’ wants to test your abilities. Please solve all the problems in the room starting now.]

[— Time Limit: 800 hours 00 minutes 00 seconds]

[— If successful: A special gift for the dull human :)]

[— If failed: Type 1 diabetes (not treatable)]

“Ah, this is crazy.”

“What’s wrong this time?”

“No, it’s nothing…”

I gritted my teeth.

The game is on now.

Such unexpected quests will appear sporadically. If I can’t overcome them, it’s a one-way ticket to the bottom of life. The original character, Aidel, never passed a single quest and went mad.

But, me?

I will never end up like that.

I will save myself, the world, this universe.

Whether returning to the original world or eating well and living well here, I’ll reach a happy resolution in one form or another. If that’s a goal, then it’s my goal.

[— Time Limit: 799 hours 59 minutes 56 seconds]

So, it starts now.

Without wasting time, I started with the workbook that was at hand.

Math.

I got this.

“You think you can handle this without any formal learning?”

“Sure.”

“Sir, wasn’t math your worst subject?”

“What are you talking about?”

I sighed and replied,

“… Sorry but can you leave for now, Sonia?”

“Why so sudden? What do you mean?”

“I need to concentrate.”

Sonia lowered her head.

“Keeping an eye on you, sir, is a duty given to me by our Lord. I can’t leave you alone even for a moment.”

Right, it seems logical after considering Aidel’s track record. She needed to stay or else he might cause some kind of accident — that’s what dad must be thinking.

The only regret is that I’m not that Aidel.

Studying should be done alone in a quiet place where there’s no one…

“If you’re really going to study, I will stay quiet and won’t disturb you.”

Sonia murmured as she headed towards a corner. It was where the android-exclusive battery charger was located.

“Haa…”

Sonia, who sat down in the charger, closed her eyes with a sigh. After that, she remained still.

Well… that’s okay.

Just think I came to a reading room. I can ignore and concentrate on the ambient noise of about 40 decibels.

Flutter.

With that thought in mind, I turned the first page of the workbook.

“……”

The first question is already over ten lines long.

Rather like an essay than the Korean SAT, or somewhat like Japan’s main exam. It’s even essay-type.

“Phew.”

It’s difficult.

I spent about 30 minutes on the first page. Although the concept is at a middle school level, it is quite high in difficulty.

It was indeed a question from the Stellarium, the finest academy in the universe.

I went through several errors before I found the solution. It required a lot of concentration as I had not done it in a long time.

It sped up once I got past the first page. After that, I started to breeze through it.

I wonder how much time has passed.

[— Remaining time: 796 hours 22 minutes 55 seconds]

“Haa…”

Oh, the divine wisdom.

Finally, I’ve finished a book.

I closed the book after solving the 150th question.

“It was a tough battle.”

“……”

Suddenly, when I looked behind, Sonia was looking at me. Her gaze was fixed on the workbook I had just finished solving.

“Did you solve all of them…?”

A disbelief in her eyes.

A disbelief in her tone.

Sonia, with her eyes wide, approaches.

“May I have a look?”

There was a curious twinkle in her eyes. She seems curious.

“Go ahead.”

I handed over the workbook without any hesitation.

That’s when it happened.

[– ‘God of Wisdom and Curiosity’ is reviewing the math workbook you solved.]

[–’ God of Wisdom and Curiosity’ feels a slight interest in your speed and concentration of solving problems.]

A message popped up in the status window.

It means that the divine wisdom of Cartesia has reviewed all of my answers to check if they are correct or not.

This is not strange.

Cartesia is known to love mathematics and science very much.

I should have seen him solve the problem.

“It seems… you got them all right.”

Sonia, having finished computing as she flipped the pages. She raised her head. Her confusion was clear.

“How… How on earth did you solve this difficult problem?”

“What?”

She scrutinizes my surroundings.

“Do you know the answer to 40-32/2?”

“4.”

“Ah, as expected….”

“Factorial.”

Sonia’s pupils grew even bigger.

As if she’d seen something unbelievable. As if she’d heard something unheard.

“You must have thought I was a fool who couldn’t even do basic arithmetic?”

“You definitely couldn’t.”

“Even after eating sixteen?”

“You couldn’t.”

I hit my forehead loudly.

“Really?”

Was I really that bad at studying?

It is chilling to think I might have been worse than what was described in the novel.

I looked at Sonia with a sigh.

“……”

It’s faint, but I can feel it. The scorn that existed so clearly in her clear white eyes disappeared. What replaced it was a little bit of respect and surprise.

“…Amazing. Who knew a person could change so much after hitting their head.”

Sonia seems to have concluded that everything changed after I was hit in the head by a casino security guard. I’d rather be glad that she thinks so. After all, I will continue to live like this.

There was no time to waste. I hastily opened the next workbook.

“Hey, what are you doing?”

But this time, I had no choice but to be interrupted.

A voice unfamiliar to me but somehow familiar. Instinctively, I turned around to that voice.

There stood a girl with gold eyes, just like me.

“So, you blew two thousand trillion of the family wealth? You gambling addict.”

The girl who suddenly appeared and spewed profanity.

I knew who this girl was.

“…Seti.”

Seti von Reinhart.

My half-sister had appeared.