I Married the Beautiful Female Protagonist In Order To Survive

35. I Love Science (Early Month Ticket Request~)

After a narrow escape from the three devilish muscle men at the Rossiya Empire Design Bureau, this main quest—the third-year project competition—seems like a sure win for Kefir. However, to seal this victory, I must still perfect the upcoming “experiment” work.

The project competition is like submitting a thesis, as I recall. Even if you charm the judges with eloquence in the preliminary review, you still need to prove your project’s worth through experiments. Having passed the verbal hurdle, Kefir now faces the experimental phase.

Indeed, Kefir’s mentor, Moriarty, was more anxious than us, having already scheduled a meeting in her office the next day to discuss the experiment. As for Kefir, more familiar with the surroundings of the Rublyanka Academy, she needed to step out to purchase the necessary experimental equipment.

The next day, inside Professor Moriarty’s office.

Although I’m involved in this project report activity, it’s entirely because Kefir, the boss, allowed it. Nevertheless, this legitimate midget professor accepted it and began earnestly explaining the experiment preparations to me, as if I had already become one of her students.

“Since the energy exists within the underground medium, we naturally cannot destroy it while extracting. Given our limitations, we can’t conduct large-scale operations, so focusing on creating an experimental extraction device is the plan. Kefir will purchase the related equipment today. Sigh… It’s ironic that a professor from the great Ying Empire has to do such greasy work…”

After a period of design work, the legitimate midget sighed.

True to a professor’s nature, every move she made exuded a maturity that belied her petite stature.

She turned to me with a peculiar smile, “What’s wrong, my fiancé? Ever since you arrived at my office this morning, you’ve been restless and hesitant. Could it be that you prefer midgets over your stunning fiancée?”

I choked.

If Kefir heard what the professor just said, it would be nothing short of blatant murder!

“Professor, Kefir would kill me if she heard that!”

“But isn’t she out shopping today?”

That’s exactly why I’m so unsettled! Even now, if I just look up, I can clearly see the script this legitimate midget has for me—[Professor Moriarty will frame and kill Ogelid!]

This script has remained unchanged since I first met Moriarty! Although I’m aware that, aside from Kefir, anyone who comes into contact with me will somehow have a script to kill me, it’s not surprising that Professor Moriarty has one too. But… how could I not be on guard when I have to spend a day alone with the professor without Kefir by my side?

Fear aside, this is a critical period for Kefir’s “main quest,” and considering Moriarty is Kefir’s benefactor, I have no choice but to bite the bullet and share a room with a legitimate midget whose script includes killing me.

“It’s not about the shopping… Besides, Professor, this identity was just a cover Kefir gave me. Once the experimental phase starts, I hope you’ll mainly work with Kefir. After all, I’m just a helper and shouldn’t overstep my bounds.”

“But Kefir doesn’t mind.”

“But I do. This is Kefir’s honor, and I can’t exploit it for free.”

More importantly: This way, I won’t have to continue interacting with Moriarty alone, and the script goes back to Kefir—a win-win situation.

The midget in front of me blinked and then smiled, “I understand. Let’s call it a day.”

I turned to look at the clock and realized I had spent the entire day with Professor Moriarty in her office. Evening had passed, and the sky was almost darkened by the clouds on the horizon. Kefir, who was supposed to go shopping, hadn’t shown up at the office, perhaps she had already gone back to rest.

Moriarty’s urging voice reached my ears, “You’re still not familiar with the Rublyanka Academy. It’s better not to walk at night. Go back early.”

With that, Moriarty sat down at her desk. Work finished, the little midget didn’t dawdle and started playing with a toy hourglass on the desk.

Of course, I’m willing to avoid being alone with Moriarty!

“Then, Professor, I’ll take my leave.”

But as I turned to leave, Moriarty’s polite farewell made me pause in my tracks.

“Goodbye, be safe on your way back.”

It wasn’t a big deal until it was mentioned… Out of habit, I glanced at the script for the part after I leave to go home, and it made me stop in my tracks amidst the tension!

“Mr. Li De, what’s wrong?”

What’s wrong indeed!?

I checked the script again, and it hadn’t changed a bit! It shockingly read: [Ou Ji Li De is attacked and killed on his way back to the dormitory!]

The death script has arrived! And unlike the vague scripts about someone wanting to kill me, this one was clear, even specifying the time and place. If I don’t make any changes, what’s written will definitely happen on my way back!

“No… nothing!”

I struggled to suppress my nervousness. If stepping outside meant death, then the best course of action was… to stay here!

From noble mtl dot come

I immediately found an excuse!

“Professor, can we discuss the research topic a bit more, please?”

While making excuses to stay, I started checking the script! A death script appearing at such a time most likely meant retaliation from a passerby who had been thwarted by me before! However, perhaps due to insufficient information I had, the script remained vague about the passerby’s other actions.

Regardless, I had to buy time and keep Professor Moriarty steady. This was her office, after all; if she wanted me gone, it would be over for me!

“Stay here?”

Professor Moriarty reset the hourglass and propped her chin with her hands, squinting her eyes, “You’re not suggesting that you’ve suddenly developed a love for research, are you?”

“Exactly, I love science. Science and magic are the ladders of human progress.”

Professor Moriarty’s face turned stern: “The office is also my residence at the academy, and I plan to freshen up and then rest. If you’re not going back, are you planning to stay here with me? Ah, how despicable. Should I tell Kefir about this tomorrow?”

I had no choice! If this continued, not only would I fail to stay here and wait for Kefir’s rescue, but even my own reputation would be misunderstood! And upon further thought: if the script was about the passerby’s revenge, then not only would I suffer, but Professor Moriarty might also become their target, so…

“Wait a moment, Professor, I’ll tell you the truth!”

I rushed to Professor Moriarty, grabbed her wrist, feeling her midget body suddenly tense up, and without much thought, I leaned in and whispered in her ear.

“Professor, please be silent. There might be someone outside who could harm us, likely here for revenge. So… I can’t go out.”

Before I could finish, I noticed Professor Moriarty staring at me as if she had seen some monster, her eyes wide open!

“It’s true, Professor. Both you and I are in danger!”

—

At the beginning of the month, asking for votes, the lottery is worth it, done.

PS: I’ve written 40k for the draft, ready to publish.