I ordered the androids to move the kidnappers. I'll have them thoroughly interrogated to extract every detail about the cult's headquarters.

I looked down at Ireh. She was still clinging to me, her face buried against my chest.

She trembled like a fawn caught in the rain, so unlike her usual self. Though I knew about her past, I'd never seen her this vulnerable before.

"Are you alright?"

"...Hic."

Of course she wouldn't be.

Things had been quiet for a while, but who would have thought they'd strike during that brief moment?

If I had been even slightly later, something irreversible might have happened.

Thinking about it, I understood why Ireh was clinging to me so desperately.

[— Current status: Fear subsiding. She feels grateful toward you. She wants to remain in your arms.]

We need each other.

And we're precious to each other.

As a research junior, a friend, and a colleague sharing the same mission, Ireh had become an important person in my life.

I realized how chilling it was to see Ireh Hazlen suffer such harm.

Now I understood why Ireh had scolded me for my reckless confrontation with the Queen. The reason resonated deeply.

"Hic, sob..."

"It's okay now. Don't cry."

I closed the door and did my best to calm her down.

As a married man, I felt pathetic doing this. I felt apologetic toward Zernya and Rustila. Still, given the circumstances, I couldn't help but comfort Ireh.

Soon, her shaking shoulders gradually settled. She struggled to speak.

"Today's incident..."

"I'll take care of everything. Just tell me if you need anything."

"Today, todaay."

Ireh pointed at the bed. She seemed to want to sleep. I laid her down on the bed as she broke out in a cold sweat, then brought a towel and water.

"Sonia, please."

Without a word, Sonia wiped Ireh's sweat and handed her a cup of water. Ireh must have been exhausted, as she closed her eyes immediately after drinking.

"Young master."

"I will never forgive those cult bastards."

"I feel the same way. They've crossed a serious line this time. However, there's something else I wanted to mention..."

Sonia held up a neatly folded net and said:

"Miss Ireh couldn't possibly have been subdued by such ruffians. This net appears to have some special properties."

"Let me see."

I examined the net.

As Sonia said, it seemed to be an artifact of the Outer Gods.

However, it was something I'd never seen before.

If my memory serves me correctly, this must be an artifact appearing for the first time in this cycle.

"Is there something special about this net?"

"It seems to have the ability to seal the power of constellations."

"You're right. If not for this, those beasts would have had bullets in their heads and more."

I set the net aside for safekeeping. It might be useful someday.

Beyond this, I considered everything I could do to counter the cult.

Should I intensify attacks against the cult by hiring mercenaries?

No, that would be private enforcement, essentially no different from hiring contract killers.

To completely solve the problem, I needed to capture the Outer Gods, not just people.

As I was about to leave:

"Help me... I'm scared..."

Ireh mumbled.

"Del, where are you, Eidel..."

Ireh's voice trembled as she frowned. She even began flailing her arms.

Checking her status, I saw her pron levels rising in real-time.

[— Current status: Anxiety, panic, agitation. Trauma has resurfaced, leaving her mentally and physically vulnerable. She's having nightmares.]

I sighed and sat on the edge of Ireh's bed.

When I extended my arm, Ireh grabbed my hand. She flinched momentarily at the external stimulus but soon pulled my arm closer, gently pressing it against her cheek. Her face quickly regained its serenity.

"..."

No matter how I thought about it.

Completing the particle accelerator as soon as possible to thwart the Outer Gods was the best I could do.

Woong.

Just then, the screen chimed.

It was a reply email from the "Federal Ikea Committee," which awards the Federation's highest science and peace prizes annually.

[Dear Eidel von Rheinland,]

[Greetings from the Ikea Committee. You have been selected as this year's Ikea Peace Prize recipient for your contribution to ending the great war with the Queen's forces.]

[Although you declined the award, you were selected again through the committee's internal re-nomination process.]

[Therefore, according to internal regulations, we would like to ask once more if you truly wish to decline the peace prize. Please reply to this email number.]

[As the award ceremony is scheduled for the beginning of next month, we would appreciate your response by the end of this week.]

[Thank you. Ikea Committee Chairperson, Selly Twain.]

The Ikea Peace Prize.

I wasn't particularly interested. If they were going to give me something, they should have given me the physics prize.

But I realized that was just stubborn thinking.

The more money, the better.

***

The men who attacked Ireh began to undergo thorough investigation.

However, due to my influence, some information was distorted.

First, I changed the story so that the men who attacked Ireh were reported to have attacked me instead. I didn't want to create news that would trigger Ireh's trauma.

Also, I spread the word that the reason for the attack was because the Outer Gods disliked my graviton research.

I subtly revealed that the Outer Gods feared humanity's discovery of gravitons.

Only then did the previously indifferent Federal Government begin to increase subsidies.

But it wasn't enough.

When it comes to money, no amount is ever sufficient.

I don't care if someone calls me greedy. I just don't want Ireh or anyone else to suffer at the hands of the Outer Gods anymore.

Two weeks later, I arrived at the Molm planetary system in the north with Ireh and Sonia.

For today only, Sonia and Ireh accompanied me in their true appearances without disguises.

"This way, please."

As soon as someone came to guide us, Ireh hid behind me.

"What's wrong?"

"...Man."

I sighed quietly so Ireh wouldn't notice.

"It's okay. There are no strange people here."

"..."

"Sigh, alright. Stay behind me."

Ireh nodded timidly.

She's been like this ever since that day.

She startles and becomes wary whenever she meets a man.

Strangely, I was the exception.

When I asked why, Ireh gave cryptic answers like "Are you the same as other men?" or "I don't really know myself."

"Please enjoy the reception first. We will proceed with the award ceremony when the time comes."

The reception was a buffet.

Various course meals from northern planetary systems were prepared, some of which I had eaten at the Adelbein household.

Either way, it was delicious.

But that was all.

Since I was receiving the Peace Prize rather than the Science Prize, I didn't know anyone there.

"This is Susan Meisel, a human rights activist."

"I'm Rodovan Herten. I run an orphanage in the northern Agodom planetary system."

Who are these people?

"...I'm Eidel von Rheinland."

"The head of House Rheinland! The hero of the South! I've heard so much about you."

"It's an honor to meet you in person. May I ask for your autograph?"

"Huh? Yes..."

I gave both of them my signature with my name.

One was a woman, but since the other was a man, Ireh stayed behind me without saying a word. When she did speak, her tone was stiffer than a robot's.

After exchanging a few words, I found that neither of them were bad people. Of course, the Ikea Committee wouldn't be foolish enough to give the Peace Prize to mediocre individuals.

While enjoying the food, the award ceremony began.

"My receiving this award is purely by chance, and I plan to donate the entire prize money for the development of frontier planetary systems."

"I too will donate the entire amount to children in southern slums, so that children beyond my reach can also bloom with smiles..."

After Susan and Rodovan gave their standard acceptance speeches, it was my turn.

It had been two hours since the opening ceremony.

Perfect timing, as I was starting to get bored.

I need to finish quickly and return to the laboratory.

I went up to the podium, received the plaque and medal, and shook hands. Then I spoke quietly into the microphone.

"...I have dedicated my life to finding ways to defeat the Outer Gods. Yet, I still haven't been able to drive them all away. With the South and now the West plunged into misery, I thought it was truly excessive for me to receive a peace prize."

In an atmosphere where everyone was donating, if I wanted to use the prize money for research and leave:

I needed to build up properly.

"I am currently researching the discovery of gravitons. In this process, I was attacked by Outer Gods and their cult followers, but I repelled them. There were also assassination threats."

With a loud voice like a child giving a speech.

I raised my tone gradually.

"However, I will not give up. If my thinking is correct, the Outer Gods fear the discovery of gravitons, an unknown particle. Therefore, I will invest all funds into observing this particle, no matter what happens. Even if it means House Rheinland goes bankrupt."

If Seti heard this, he would curse me as a madman.

Well, what can he do?

I'm going to use every asset to create graviton bombs.

"I will use the prize money entirely for my research."

I concluded my speech while looking at Ireh.

People's murmuring was nothing unusual.