READ NOVEL ONLINE Chapter 162
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“So, the bleeding from a woman’s body is called menstruation, period, or moon time…”
Kitty, the Boss’s dedicated secretary, was earnestly conducting sex education. The clever Regalia was soaking up that knowledge like a sponge, and before long, she could easily figure out what her actions meant.
“Ugh, ughhh… So, you mean, she doesn’t even know these basics and is asking a scientist…?”
“I’m sorry, miss. It’s all my fault.”
Regalia, with her head buried on the table, groaned in embarrassment while Kitty, who failed to provide sex education earlier, began to feel a level of shame that was on par with Regalia’s.
How could the lady resort to someone else—specifically, a grumpy dude she had only known for just over a year—rather than seek out her own trusted secretary? What did that say about her confidence in Kitty? It was quite a hit to her ego.
Moreover, it was extremely dangerous! What if Eight turned out to be the kind of rogue who could easily make advances toward a teenage girl? If that were the case, he might have given her a “period treatment injection” as per Boss’s orders and performed something unspeakable…
‘Gasp—! What was I just thinking?’
Coming back to her senses, Kitty shook her head furiously to clear her thoughts and looked at Regalia. Thankfully, Regalia was still buried in her own past embarrassments, completely unaware of the thoughts that had crossed Kitty’s mind.
“Well then, miss. I should also inform you about some precautions going forward.”
“Hmm? What else is there?”
“Yes. The onset of menstruation means you are now capable of bearing children, so regarding that—”
Kitty continued her sex education casually, as if it were the most natural thing in the world. It might be a bit early for the Boss to discuss this, but…
Well, it would be better for a great monarch who rules the world to be less clueless, right?
* * *
“I never expected you to choose our university.”
“You said I could freely research without being tied to classes.”
“I see. Indeed, we can’t waste a talent like Dr. Eight in classes. However, if you ever feel the desire to nurture juniors, you’re welcome to conduct classes any time. We can prepare a classroom somehow…”
E University in City E.
No matter how you put it, it couldn’t exactly be called the best, but at least it was one of the top five universities in this world. I was discussing matters with the president of that place.
“You can be appointed as soon as this year. We can set up a laboratory right away.”
“Ah, there’s no need to make it too big. I already have a personal lab.”
“Is that so? But we can’t just have a mere setup for someone like you…”
The president was trying to read my mood as best as he could. While he seemed pleased to have me at this university, there was an undercurrent of hesitance. It was understandable. Though I accepted their offer, Ayle’s acceptance into the university was the main reason I was here, as it had the highest cutoff score among the schools she got into.
With Ayle choosing to come to this university, I had no excuse to go elsewhere. I had pressured them to appoint me using the Boss’s name, so the president might see me as a meteor that just crash-landed from outer space.
A rolling stone can take out a stuck stone, so just imagine what a stone that fell from the sky could accomplish. The president must realize that I could easily replace him if I put my mind to it.
“Today will undoubtedly be a day to remember for our E University. Dr. Eight.”
“Well, if you have such high expectations…”
“Nonsense. Just your name alone will elevate our university—no, our university’s prestige will rise significantly.”
“Thank you for the compliment. Ah, I have a prior engagement, so may I take my leave?”
“Oh dear, I feel like I’ve stolen your precious time. My apologies.”
Exchanging light greetings, I stepped out of the president’s office and spotted Ayle sitting alone on a bench in the university’s garden, fiddling with her smartphone. I made my way over quickly.
While playing a smartphone game, Ayle didn’t even glance my way as I approached. It was as if she was deliberately pushing others’ attention away. Seeing her like that brought a bittersweet smile to my face.
If she continued this behavior in college, she’d be a total loner… After sending her off to college, it felt too wasteful for her to spend four years alone. That’s not what college is for.
I flopped down right beside Ayle and casually draped my arm over her shoulder. Startled by the sudden contact, Ayle stiffened up and froze.
“Hey, cute girl—what are you up to alone?”
“…I’ve got company!”
“C’mon, how about hanging out with me instead?”
“N-no! Let go of this…!”
As Ayle turned her head away, she finally noticed my face and let out a sigh of relief as the tension dissipated. Then, as if questioning my motives, she started playfully punching my chest.
“Y-you scared me…!”
“Why? Did you think I was out to hunt you down?”
“N-not like that but… gosh, please don’t pull such stunts again.”
Ayle puffed out her cheeks, pretending to be upset, but I actually found her expression endearing. In moments like this, she felt so much more alive, you know? If she showed this side to others, she’d have no trouble becoming popular.
Teenage years are tough. It’s a time when immature beasts thrive. How many people looked down on me just because I was a ‘pure human’? I could only imagine the humiliation and insults Ayle must have endured as an ability user throughout her school years.
I just hoped university would be a refuge from those sorts. It’s not like she’s stuck at some dump of a university in City Z; E University is quite reputable, so there should be fewer jerks around. Besides, being a Magical Girl, Ayle likely wouldn’t care much about being considered an ability user.
“By the way, what major did Ayle apply for?”
“Astronomy department…”
“Astronomy? Have you always been interested in stars?”
“Ah, no. That’s not it… but there are many Magical Girls who became awakened through the power of stars. So I thought it might be interesting.”
“Ah—another Magical Girl, huh?”
Hearing Ayle’s words, I chuckled softly and looked up. There might not be any visible stars in the bright sky, but closing my eyes could easily conjure images of the countless stars floating in the night sky.
Countless stars that had traveled across the vastness of space to reach Earth. The sacred beings that had once guided humanity on its path.
And at the same time—
They were products of memories that could never be relived.
“What’s up there in the sky…?”
“—Nothing. Should we head back?”
“Y-yeah!”
“Oh right. Ayle. I’ve taken up a position here as a professor, so should you call me professor from now on?”
“P-professor? Uhm… okay!”
As I recalled the twinkling stars, we left campus together.
* * *
Everything in modern civilization is made of waves.
And these waves are constantly exposed, unguarded.
[You—! Didn’t I tell you not to go to clubs?]
[This is Red. I’ve subdued the villain. Requesting backup…]
[Looks like you’ve forgotten my personality? Let me show you just once—]
The waves that escape from the planet, traveling at 300,000 kilometers per second, meander through the cosmos until they disperse. The further they go, the weaker the signal becomes, and in fact, most of these waves never make it through the atmosphere.
But if the number grows infinitely, eventually the waves that escape the planet will increase, becoming loud enough for those living in space to hear clearly.
Tommy aboard the space station enjoyed intercepting such waves from the planet.
“Women… why do they meet odd men when they have a successful guy like me?”
Chuckling to himself, Tommy adjusted the antenna at the station to better catch the waves coming from the planet, but by accident, he pressed a wrong button and accidentally boosted the power of the transmission.
Fortunately, the signal was directed toward the moon. A satellite of Terra. A pile of rocks that has no hidden villain bases like the “Moon Rabbit.”
Letting out a sigh of relief, Tommy pondered how to excuse his mistake to the base on the ground. If they found out he made this error, it wouldn’t end with just a pay cut. If luck ran out, he might have to face jail time—
“…Huh?”
At that moment, Tommy discovered something that could completely cover up his blunder.
It was an eye.
A gigantic eye.
To be precise… it was the eye that had appeared on the moon.
“W-what the heck is that! Base, base!”
[What’s going on?]
“Look at the moon! Just look at that!”
As Tommy frantically communicated with the base,
the awakened moon simply gazed down at Earth.
It seemed to be searching for something that had awakened it.
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