Something that should never have been created was created.

[Constellation Confinement Phenomenon Using Quantum Gravity Resonator]

The title alone is terrifying.

Looking inside makes it even more serious.

It roughly outlines the principles and conclusions of how to take down a constellation. If published as is, it would be declared a religious forbidden text before even getting approval for publication.

I crumpled the paper mid-revision and threw it into the trash can. Score.

"Let's not make this into a paper."

"Why not?"

"I think I might get stabbed by someone from the Holy Spirit Church."

The Holy Spirit Church is a religious organization that worships constellations like gods.

If we were to announce that we had kidnapped, imprisoned, and tortured a constellation, we'd immediately become their targets.

Dealing with foreign media was challenging enough; I didn't want to end up being carved up by religious extremists.

I stood up from my seat for no particular reason.

As I walked, I stopped in front of the resonator. From beyond the wall came a faint but distinct wailing.

It's too dark in here. Help me. Please get me out.

It was a pitiful sound, like a child trapped in an elevator.

"Just get it out quickly. Before things get worse."

The curt remark came from Zernya.

I nodded and turned around.

"Professor."

"I understand."

After making all necessary preparations, I released the decompression device.

With a hissing sound, the structure split in half. Soft plasma leaked through the gap.

Following that, intense sparks stretched out, tracing brilliant trajectories.

Waves transformed into particles, and the phenomenon became a constellation.

Click.

Thud.

Virgo slowly emerged, gripping the edge of the entrance.

Her eyes were hollow as if pierced through, and her complexion was as blue as someone with cholera.

Naturally, the constellation was extremely angry.

["Y-you repay kindness with enmity. I-I cannot forgive this."]

And so we were thoroughly scolded.

Professor Stranov, the project leader, bowed his head in apology, while the person who suggested trapping the constellation received an electric massage. It was more bearable than I thought—ha, ha, ha, haaaazzzzzt!

["This place is too disgusting to stay in. Just give me one crystal fragment. I'll settle in there and leave. How about it? That should be enough, right?"]

I broke off a piece of the remaining crystal and handed it over. Virgo complained about the cramped accommodations before entering it. Except for that crystal fragment, the rest was clean without impurities.

As soon as she settled in, the crystal disappeared with a "poof."

"What a shame. We could have done more research with that."

"She left because of you. What were you thinking?"

I scratched my head.

Anyway, with the problematic element gone, we could now proceed with our proper research.

All that remained was to pull all-nighters.

***

The resonator for trapping foreign stars was created more easily than anticipated.

The experience of trapping a constellation helped. Having done it once, everyone became proficient the second time around.

When errors occurred in theoretical calculations, Eidel would work on the computer day and night. After witnessing this for two weeks straight, Zernya began to feel something.

A sense of defeat? Humiliation?

No.

Something similar, but slightly different.

Here, she could only be an observer. An awkward position, neither a graduate student nor an intern. Meanwhile, Eidel was in a position of responsibility, generating ideas and implementing them.

Let's set aside whether this would be possible in other research labs. Let's also put aside the fact that Eidel was an unrivaled genius.

That face.

The expression of happiness while creating, modifying, and measuring something without any compensation. Watching Eidel's face like that, something welled up inside her.

Zernya, who had somehow become a drink courier, handed Eidel black coffee and asked:

"Why are you working so hard? Will you die without research?"

"Yeah."

She flinched, a reflexive movement.

"Without this, I'm just a corpse."

"What a strange thing to say. How can someone live only for this? I could never do it, even if I died."

She knew that Eidel had published a paper in "Universe." But at the time, it hadn't made much of an impression.

Ghostwriting papers was a common form of misconduct. Zernya herself had used connections during middle school to slip her name onto a college paper. It was research misconduct.

So back then, she thought Eidel had done the same thing.

"Ha, haah."

Zernya stepped back with an uncomfortable shiver.

Her heart pounded loudly. It felt like a dinosaur was rampaging inside her body. This had been happening frequently lately.

Why am I here? Why am I wasting precious time?

Next semester's studies. Practical training. Building academic connections with Professor Rheinland to pave my way as a doctor.

Why am I not doing any of that and instead watching this person's research?

I just don't know. I wanted to hang around for no reason. I wanted to see the troubled expression when I occasionally picked fights.

How much time had passed?

"Mr. Rheinland, let's take a break."

It was Professor Stranov.

She placed cookies on the desk. They were chocolate chip cookies with chocolate on top of a nicely browned base. The savory aroma stimulated the senses.

"Thank you, Professor."

"How do you feel after continuing your research? Do you like this lab?"

"Yes, I like it very much."

Eidel turned his head to look at the equipment.

"Huk, heok, heoook."

"There he goes again."

Stranov laughed softly.

"Those cookies, I baked them myself. Would you mind tasting them to see if they turned out well?"

Eidel bit into a cookie with a dazed expression. The crisp texture resonated as sound. At that moment, Eidel's eyes widened.

"This is..."

"It's a fortune cookie. Would you like to open the contents?"

Eidel carefully unfolded the rolled paper. Zernya stood behind him on tiptoes. There were incomprehensible characters lined up.

"It's a DOI. Professor, is this..."

"It's our next research topic."

"Wow... May I search for it?"

"Of course!"

Eidel hurriedly opened a search window. After entering the number written on the note into the Scalar search site, a noticeable phrase appeared at the top.

[Contribution: Beyond the Horizon of Graviton Discovery]

"Wow."

"After this research is done, I want to try discovering gravitons. It might be difficult, but it's research I've always wanted to do. This could really take a long time."

Zernya felt a chill. Both Eidel and Professor Stranov had looks that weren't quite sane.

"Mr. Rheinland."

"Yes, yes, Professor."

"Would you continue working with me?"

It was a sweet as honey and warm as sunlight. Almost like a devil's whisper. Zernya saw it. Eidel's cheekbones were rising as if they might tear.

He was already captivated.

Nevertheless, Stranov continued her offensive.

"Stay in my lab. I'll quickly give you a master's, no, a doctorate. You deserve to be recognized as an independent researcher. Look at you now. You're playing an important role in this research."

"Professor."

"Salary? I'll pay you plenty. Research funds? Just tell me if you have a project you want to do. I can make it happen on the same scale as now, no, even bigger."

"Professor..."

"So, Eidel."

With a thud, Professor Stranov placed her hand on the desk. Eidel shrank into the corner. Zernya was inwardly shocked.

A moment of silence.

Professor Stranov's subtle gaze and Eidel's wandering eyes met precisely.

Eidel was the first to speak.

"I-I'll do it."

"What did you say?"

"I'll do it. I'll join your lab, Professor."

"Are, are you serious?"

"Yes, I promise!"

"Wait! Just wait a moment!"

Professor Stranov rushed out like a flying butterfly and returned with thick documents. Thus, after pinky-promising with Eidel, they completed the paperwork by stamping and signing.

The document was called an "Employment Contract."

And there was more.

"Vlog, let's make a vlog. We're having an early welcome party for student Eidel in the lab! Is that okay? Well...!"

And so began the wild party.

They recorded videos, took photos, and put arms around lab colleagues' shoulders.

Zernya felt out of place in that scene. Stranov approached her with a sly smile.

"What do you think, Miss Adelbein? Doesn't Mr. Rheinland look truly happy right now?"

Zernya said nothing.

Even during the celebration, Eidel didn't stop researching. In fact, the resonator production gained momentum.

The party continued until late at night.

***

[Student Eidel]

[Is it still difficult for you to come this week?]

[I'd like to see my student's face after so long]

Looking at the DM with no reply, Professor Feynman sighed. He pushed the messenger away and focused on his paper.

The current paper on graviton discovery.

Progress was not going well.

That was to be expected.

In a theoretical research lab, there was no way to extract experimental data.

"Student Eidel..."

He had said he would have time when summer vacation approached, but two weeks had passed without seeing him.

In this situation, research slowed down, and the budget was depleted. The only thing to rely on was the FR model completed under Eidel's leadership.

If Eidel had been by his side during these difficult times, they could have written proposals to the government and supported each other.

It was summer. But it felt cold. Feynman put on his coat.

"Who set the air conditioner to 18 degrees?"

It became hot again.

That's when it happened.

"Extra! Extra!"

A young woman entered the lab making a commotion. It was Sophia, a reporter from the Interstellar Daily.

Sliding as if on ice, she shouted loudly.

"Hoeeee—!!"

"Alright, I get it. Did you find something?"

"Of course!"

Sophia explained the situation with a twitching corner of her mouth.

"Actually, I've been secretly following Mr. Rheinland for a while! Of course, using my 'Stealth' skill to avoid detection, I've learned everything! Every! Single! Move! He makes!"

"Okay, okay..."

"Now, look at this!"

Swoosh. The long group desk was covered with photos. The person in the photo lineup was Eidel, and...

"Isn't this Professor Stranov?"

Feynman, who had been absentmindedly reading a paper, stood up and approached. His expression hardened as he scanned the photos.

"This, this is."

Eidel taking the shuttle. Eidel heading to Iryuel Academy. Eidel meeting Professor Stranov.

Eidel researching with her. Eidel eating meals with her. And...

A stolen graduate student.

"Mr. Rheinland has been an intern in this professor's lab at Iryuel Academy. From then until now, continuously. Your deduction was correct, Professor Feynman!"

"That, that..."

"He seemed to be leading the research quite actively. They were making something round, but I couldn't understand much about it. It was difficult. But he was clearly playing an important role... Professor? Professor!"

Feynman collapsed on the spot.

Yes, this is a dream. A dream.

A very unlucky, terrible...

"Professor, there's an email from Professor Stranov?"