Chapter 100

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Translator: MadScientist

Chapter: 100

Chapter Title: See You in the Gallery

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Thud—

The lounge where the VIP guests were watching the subjugation festival.

The moment the screen showed the 'Giant Footprint Brachio' collapsing, the lounge shook violently.

It meant that the colossal Rank 2 beast had truly been taken down.

The tremors from the subjugation field had reached all the way here.

"Whoa, haha, haha..."

"This is..."

"......"

"Hoo."

"Holy crap~!"

The VIPs, who had been holding their breath while glued to the screen, let out sighs in their own ways.

No one could tear their eyes away from the screen.

From the historic sight of a Rank 2 beast actually being slain, and the unprecedented unfolding of the subjugation festival.

Everyone was speechless, frozen in place.

The silence was broken by one woman.

"Chancellor. What happens to the bets in a case like this?"

The woman sitting on the sofa with Chiyong.

Illimost of the Archmage Dukedom. She smiled with evident interest as she spoke.

"Ah, right, the bets."

"Does this mean no one survived?"

"What about the top first-year score?"

Only then did the other VIPs belatedly start asking about the bets.

This subjugation festival had seen the highest betting volume in history.

It started with Akail's push for bets on Ian's team,

followed by wagers centered around the student council president on whether they'd succeed in taking down a Rank 2 beast, and more.

With so many dramatic events, the bet amounts were massive.

Ironically, there was still a long way to go until the original 24-hour mark.

In other words, every cadet had been forced out early because of the Rank 2 beast.

The shortest subjugation festival in history had drawn the largest bets ever.

"I dunno either! How's it work?!"

Chiyong tossed the question to the professor beside him.

He wasn't well-versed in the operational details anyway.

"Yes, well. In this case, all cadets will be treated as having dropped out early. All survival-related bets will be losses."

For now, every cadet had failed the 'final survival' of the subjugation festival.

The criterion for final survival was lasting the full 24 hours.

Various minor awards went to those who survived to the end.

All bets tied to that were losses.

-Ahhh...!

At the news, countless VIPs let out groans.

But the wildcard of the Rank 2 beast had wiped out all those bets.

"And..."

The professor went on to explain the outcomes for several other bets.

With every word, the VIPs' joys and sorrows intertwined.

At least the awards decided purely by 'score,' like the winning team, were still up in the air.

"Finally, regarding the bet with the largest amount ever wagered in this subjugation festival—the one on the 'Universe's Strongest Superstar Elrim-nim' team..."

And last, the massive bet on whether Ian's team would take first place among first-years.

It had ballooned from Akail's provocation, drawing ever more people.

"Isn't that a bust too? They didn't survive!"

Akail shouted desperately.

As the hype overheated, he'd bet an insane amount on Ian's team failing to get first among first-years.

It was more than he could cover with his personal fortune.

Losing the bet would mean dipping into the imperial treasury.

But Ian's team had slain the Rank 2 beast,

and rocketed straight to overall first place, let alone first-year first.

The 'Giant Footprint Brachio' was worth 100,000 points.

It wasn't meant to be caught, so its score was absurdly high.

"Akail. Shut it."

"Ah, got it. But still, this..."

"-Akail."

"...Tch. Fine."

Arthur glared at Akail with murderous eyes.

Akail had no choice but to raise both hands and flop back onto the sofa.

In the middle of the subjugation festival, Arthur had been mingling with key figures when he belatedly discovered Akail's recklessness.

He'd thought no incidents since it was quiet,

but instead, Akail had dumped a fortune into bets.

"...Halba. What the hell? Why didn't you stop him?"

"S-Sorry. He wouldn't listen no matter what I said..."

"Pfft..."

Halba was trembling, bowing low.

He'd tried to stop Akail at first.

But Akail had threatened him like he wanted to kill him.

Akail was the type to kill people on a whim if they displeased him anyway.

Stuck between a rock and a hard place, by the time he'd sought out Arthur, it was too late.

Akail had slammed in a massive bet in an instant.

He should've gone straight to Arthur from the start.

Now, in that short span, Halba's head was on the chopping block.

The professor, who had briefly lost his words at the terrifying scene, spoke up again.

"Ahem, ahem. So, in conclusion..."

All the VIPs perked up their ears at the professor's announcement.

But what he said was beyond anyone's expectations.

"...This bet is declared void."

"So, we don't get the first-year first place award."

The subjugation festival had ended.

It wrapped up a few hours earlier than scheduled.

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

There was still time before the closing ceremony and after-party.

The cadets were resting after the short but more intense festival than any other.

"Yes. They say overall first and first-year first can't both be awarded."

Hisenna relayed the news about the awards.

By taking down the 'Giant Footprint Brachio' at the end, our team had claimed overall first.

But apparently, you couldn't get both overall top score and first-year top score.

The first-year top score award was made for competition among first-years,

not something for the winning team level to aim for, or whatever.

Anyway, no duplicate awards there.

"Too bad. I had my eye on that first-year first prize."

"The Rampaging Wyvern Jaw Oil, right? I'm disappointed too."

What I'd originally targeted was the 'Rampaging Wyvern Jaw Oil.'

I hadn't even dreamed of overall victory, so I had no idea what prize we'd get.

There seemed to be an award for taking down a Rank 2 beast too.

Anyway, I'd savor that joy at the ceremony.

"Hm hm. Hm. Hmhmm~."

I glanced at Elrim, who was humming cheerfully beside me.

"How the hell did you catch that thing anyway?"

"With skill, obviously! I jumped up there super energetically and nailed the Leech cool as hell—it was all on screen, right?"

"Yeah, right. No one's ever caught one in history, and you, the scrub, did?"

"Hey, this scrub did it for real! Check the footage later!"

What a cocky girl. Did she really catch it herself?

Well, if not her personally, what else could it be?

"Ah, wait... Oh, never mind! Nothing!"

"Why are you freaking out solo?"

Elrim started to say something, got mad, then went back to playing with the Leech.

Still, thanks to her this time, we won, so I'd let it slide. Whew.

The gallery was exploding with reactions they hadn't expected either.

But SubsidyRiceEater still hadn't shown up.

Someone posted about Elrim's big moment—why no appearance?

Busy with papers? He'd always jumped on Redhead bait before.

Anyway, with time to kill before the ceremony and after-party, time to catch up on gallery scrolling.

"Alright, let's gear up individually and meet at the ceremony."

"Sounds good."

"Yeah, I wanna shower ASAP!"

We were all beat to hell, so we split for now.

The academy was buzzing with preparations for the ceremony and after-party everywhere.

I grabbed some food and headed to the dorm.

Shower, eat, flop and scroll gallery—should hit ceremony time just right.

Showering in warm water in this languid state, then crashing in bed for gallery time.

Honestly, better than the ceremony.

Excited for shower and bed, I flung open my dorm door energetically.

Slam—

But,

"Kim Muggle."

"Gahhhhhh!"

Opening the door, there was a scrawny man standing smack in the middle of my dorm room.

So startled, I dropped the pork I had packaged.

"Gahhhh my pork!!"

"Hm. Temper as expected."

"Wh-What the hell are you, you pervert! I'm reporting you! How'd you get in my room?!"

Regrettable, but no time to mourn the pork.

A total pervert-looking anchovy dude had broken into my dorm.

This could mean my backdoor was at risk.

Bail? Too wiped to fight.

Wait. Then I realized something off.

This pervert uncle called me Kim Muggle?

"Gal... Gal...?"

Asking if someone's a gallery user IRL is awkward as hell.

Not mannerly, not polite.

But if a gallery user, it made sense.

An archmage could sneak into a dorm easy.

"Yeah. SubsidyRiceEater."

"Whoa, whoaaa?! For real? How'd you suddenly...?"

He confirmed he was SubsidyRiceEater.

Looking again, he totally fit the image of a guy holed up writing papers.

"Come in first. Don't wanna draw eyes from this dimension's folks."

"Ah, uh. Sure."

I shut the dorm door and went in.

For a split second, what if he's not? But nah.

Only gallery users know the gallery exists.

And the bead had been sent to SubsidyRiceEater via bracelet before.

"You actually crossed dimensions with the bead?"

"Correct. Hm. But the casual speech right off the bat—is that common for cadets here?"

"Everyone's casual in the gallery anyway—what's the issue?"

"Well, that's... Hm. Fine."

Obviously first time meeting him IRL.

But formalities didn't suit me.

No need to act awkward.

More curiosities anyway.

How dimension travel worked,

why no gallery logins from it.

I asked first; SubsidyRiceEater explained everything up to coming here.

"You woke the Rank 2 beast? You crazy bastard!"

"Hmph. Such language on first meeting is a bit..."

"Pushing people into mortal danger on first meeting normal?"

"Hmph."

Mad he'd awakened the Rank 2 beast.

But thanks to it, we won. Let it slide.

Dimension crossing principle was beyond me.

Just knew the blue bead let 24-hour trips to another dimension.

"So anyone with a bead can hop dimensions."

"Yes. But it's precious research material—no wasting. And only via the last bead's passage. Sending beads via GalLog still works fine."

"Feels like summoning to my dimension."

"Yes. Unknown side effects possible. Didn't tell gallery 'til I tested dimension travel personally and checked everything for the paper."

SubsidyRiceEater spoke thoughtfully.

Dimension magic unknown even to archmages.

Not much certain yet.

Direct testing was fastest.

"So. How much time left?"

"About 4 hours."

Nearly came at festival start.

Watched the whole thing.

"Anything else? Researching the bracelet?"

"Yes. Examining that bracelet first."

SubsidyRiceEater inspected the bracelet I handed over.

Then scribbled indecipherable runes in the air—magic of some sort.

He stood there over an hour examining it.

Meanwhile, I repackaged pork, showered, ate.

"...Done. Hm."

Just as I was about to flop for gallery time, he stopped.

Handed back the bracelet.

He looked deep in thought.

"Figure anything out?"

"Examined all I could. Will finalize research back home and post to gallery."

"Cool. I wouldn't get it anyway."

"Then."

"...Leaving?"

After bracelet, SubsidyRiceEater turned to go.

Just this and done? Rare dimension hop—nothing else?

Not like an archmage sightseeing other worlds...

"Other business done earlier."

"Earlier?"

Already handled? During my festival?

Come to think, SubsidyRiceEater was true Redhead stan. Wait—did he...?

"You met Redhead?"

"Kh, hm, ahem."

"Then the one who caught the Redlight Stitch...!"

Made sense for Elrim.

Impossible she did it solo.

"Ah. No. Redhead did that herself."

"...Oh? But safe to show? A mage stronger than archduke suddenly appears."

"Hid presence with magic. Only Redhead saw."

Makes sense at his level, fooling academy eyes easy.

Elrim's reaction the issue.

"Redhead should be fine. She mistook it for something else."

"...Yeah?"

"Yes. If it comes up, tell her not a pervert."

"What? You look like one."

"..."

Elrim handled it herself fine.

No ripples from his appearance here.

An archmage way smarter than me would manage.

"Alright then."

Felt a bit lacking, but couldn't hold a venerable archmage.

Seeing a gallery user IRL felt kinda unmannerly too.

And didn't wanna keep an uncle in my room regardless.

"Wait. Can ya teach something before you go? Useful spell or whatever."

Before he left, something occurred.

Last time with FlapFlap, learned a spell—couldn't use yet.

Something from SubsidyRiceEater?

"Ah. Right. Chance to impart direct teaching. Hm."

SubsidyRiceEater pondered briefly.

Something immediately useful ideal.

"...None."

"What?"

"My magic's theory-heavy. A first-year cadet without basics can't grasp it."

"..."

True, no retort.

"Ah. This might work."

"What?"

"From before I reached this level. When I was sorely lacking. Hm. Paper?"

I handed paper; he drew a magic circle.

Rank 6 spell. Damn, another Rank 6.

But unlike FlapFlap's, no imagining inhuman senses,

might master quicker.

"What spell?"

"Simply, boosts thinking capacity. Research more in short time. I use advanced Rank 11 Thought Acceleration now, but this suits you."

"Ooh. Thanks. Better than Dragon something."

"Don't overdo or use unfamiliar—could fry your brain."

Thought Acceleration. Not sure exactly, but helpful.

"Alright. Really heading out."

"Yeah. Back to yours right away?"

"Gonna see that FlapFlap guy briefly."

Bead time remained.

SubsidyRiceEater off to meet FlapFlap.

Gallery users rarely met IRL even same dimension.

Special circumstance, archmage talk?

"Got it. Thanks, safe travels. See you in the gallery."

"Right. Gallery, or when dimension magic advances—meet again someday."

With that, SubsidyRiceEater vanished.

Second archmage meet IRL. Felt weird.

Bead and dimension magic secrets ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠unveiled—meet more gallery users?

And what ripples?

What even are dimensions?

Lost in thought briefly, I shook off the complexity and flopped onto the bed.