Chapter 98
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 98
Chapter Title: What the Hell Are You Doing?
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Unknown dimensions upon layers of dimensions, spaces in the gaps between them.
Countless dimensions overlapping, beyond even Borishutain's perception.
After using the blue orb, Borishutain passed through some interdimensional passage to who-knows-where.
"Ah... Aah... Aaaah...!"
It was a higher-dimensional realm beyond even Borishutain's cognition.
The gaps between dimensions were a treasure trove of infinite mysteries in themselves.
For the first time, Borishutain— the first in the gallery to witness it— shed tears.
To behold this beautiful sight firsthand.
He still didn't fully understand multidimensional theory,
but this dimensional transfer alone sparked countless inspirations for research.
Regrettably, that moment was fleeting.
The gap between dimensions flashed by in an instant,
and suddenly his vision flipped as the dimension shifted.
Swoosh—
"Hisenna, do it!"
"Got it!"
The first sensation upon crossing dimensions was sound.
Unfamiliar voices reached his ears.
Then his vision brightened, revealing the forest scenery.
"I'll handle the finishing blow, you scrub!"
As he regained his bearings, a woman was shouting while calculating her spell, right on cue.
With her red hair and mischievous face full of playfulness, she was undoubtedly the one Borishutain had been searching for.
'Red!'
It was definitely Red.
This was his first time seeing her in person or hearing her voice,
but she matched perfectly the description from Kim Muggle's posts.
More than any "boobzilla" or top student, she was who Borishutain rooted for the most.
Kim Muggle's heroine... er, friend, who hid transparent sincerity behind her dishonest words.
Red was diligently hunting beasts during the subjugation festival.
"Whew... Still, we're not falling behind as much as I thought. Let's hunt a bit more until we're safely in the clear."
"Sounds good!"
"This much is a breeze!"
The three cadets marched on energetically.
Borishutain was right beside them, yet they noticed nothing.
Proof that his magic was working perfectly.
Right now, no one in this place could perceive Borishutain's presence.
'Hmm, hmm...'
Borishutain pondered.
He had successfully crossed into Kim Muggle's dimension, at least.
That guy was definitely Kim Muggle, the redhead was Red, and the busty one had to be Boobzilla.
If he secretly snapped a photo of Kim Muggle or pranked him now, he'd have plenty of meme material for the gallery.
But the subjugation festival itself was something Kim Muggle needed to tackle with his own abilities.
Like the other gallery users thought,
Borishutain believed Kim Muggle had to grow through his own strength, without help.
Red was the exception, though.
Giving Red the Redlight Stitch was a gift.
Since Yonggari had boosted the top-student watermelon, this seemed fair.
'More importantly... it's too peaceful.'
Instead of tailing Kim Muggle's group, Borishutain scanned the entire field.
Was this dimension really that low-level?
For the academy's largest subjugation festival,
the beasts appearing were way too weak.
Seeing cadets struggle against such meager beasts nearly made him sigh.
If they were truly promising mages, they should endure far harsher subjugations.
Borishutain hoped the subjugation would turn into a brutal survival gauntlet where even "teams" meant nothing.
And a great idea struck him.
He'd spotted a decently impressive beast slumbering in the field center.
"If everyone faces the same difficulty, it'll be fair."
Time to crank up the overall difficulty.
Then Kim Muggle could face greater trials fairly and grow.
Before that, separately, he'd secured the Redlight Stitch.
Kim Muggle could handle himself. For now, gift time for Red.
Compared to Boobzilla, Top-Student Watermelon, even the student council president and princess, Red was falling behind right now.
She'd been outpaced by Boobzilla from the start, and her magic skills lagged too.
Plus, no gallery users were cheering for her.
At the very least, Red deserved a fair shot in the competition.
He couldn't do much about the fat lumps on her chest (though he could, suggesting it might annoy her).
But with a little advice and some spotlight moments, he wanted to put her on equal footing with the others.
"The Red boom is coming...!"
Once decided, Borishutain moved.
He easily caught the Redlight Stitch.
No matter how fast, it was cadet-level—slow to Borishutain.
"Hmm. Interesting."
The Redlight Stitch was a fun tool.
Living creature, yet closer to a device.
Its red color suited Red perfectly.
"Go bring Red here."
Borishutain launched the Redlight Stitch under his control.
To wag its tail enticingly in front of Red and lure her over.
Next, he headed to the field center.
A massive beast lay in its enormous habitat.
Borishutain planned to wake this one.
"A beast placed here with no intent of it being used."
This colossal beast was leagues above cadet level.
If it woke, most cadets would fail before time was up.
But that made it all the more fun.
To call it "subjugation," it needed that level of threat.
Young mages grow greater the more trials they overcome.
With protective magic in place, no one would die.
"Hmm, yeah. This'll be fun."
No more hesitation needed.
Borishutain jabbed a needle into the slumbering beast's nape.
This should enrage it plenty.
Rumble-rumble-rumble—
As the giant rose, the entire field—no, the academy grounds—shook.
Disturbed from sleep, the beast thrashed in fury.
It stomped, rocks exploding outward like eruptions.
Teams dropped out in droves from this alone.
Now it felt like a mage's subjugation festival.
All that remained was waiting for Red.
The Redlight Stitch would lure her here.
But what to say when she arrived?
"I'm an angel sent from heaven for you"?
Borishutain's scruffy appearance didn't scream angel.
His heart raced at the thought of meeting his idol, Red.
Like a fan meeting a celebrity singer.
To calm his nerves and check the gallery, he logged in.
"Heh heh heh."
Perfect timing—Kim Muggle had just posted.
He was fleeing a Grade 2 beast awakened during a fight with a Karin doll.
Gallery users were theorizing the cause of the anomaly.
Borishutain, knowing the truth, just chuckled without commenting.
This was the feeling—dominating the gallery.
Not his post, but the chaos from his awakened Grade 2 beast had the place buzzing.
Borishutain, busy with papers and rarely posting, relished it.
Thud-thud-thud—
Then, frantic footsteps echoed from the forest depths.
Red. Lured by the Redlight Stitch.
Borishutain closed the gallery.
He paced nervously, awaiting her.
And when Red and the Redlight Stitch finally arrived,
"Eek—!"
Red burst out.
The Redlight Stitch returned to Borishutain's hand; Elrim, lunging for it, faceplanted.
"R-Red... Red...!"
Seeing Red in the flesh for the first time, Borishutain stammered worse than usual.
Cooped up researching, he rarely spoke.
His thoughts vast, he often stuttered when talking.
But he couldn't show that side to Red.
Ahem. Clearing his throat, Borishutain donned his prepared persona.
"Wh-what the hell is this scrubby old geezer?!"
But Elrim's first words upon spotting him shattered Borishutain's concept instantly.
'To hear this in person...!'
This blunt girl's prickly shout.
A historic moment for Borishutain, Red squad leader.
"H-hey, perv! That's mine!"
"P-perv?"
"Redlight Stitch!"
Elrim pointed at the Redlight Stitch in Borishutain's grip.
She'd even nicknamed it already.
She really wanted it bad.
"Oh, uh. This is a gift."
Borishutain handed the Redlight Stitch to Elrim.
But far from taking it, she brushed off her clothes with a dissatisfied scowl and stood.
Arms crossed, she grumbled.
"What kinda scrub are you, anyway?!"
"Uh, huh?"
He'd expected joy at the gift.
Caught off guard by the unexpected reaction, Borishutain panicked.
His social life was gallery posting and occasional conference talks.
Chatting with a freshly adult girl? No clue.
Unless he'd written a paper like "[20-Year-Old Women's Reactions to Gifts and Anomalies]," which he hadn't.
"I-I'm a staff member here to gift you this."
"Staff? Only cadets can enter the subjugation field, right?"
"Th-that's true, but..."
"No way! You look like a super amazing mage!"
Borishutain was shocked again.
Red... is smarter than I thought...!
And she called him a scrubby geezer knowing that...!
He'd figured a vague excuse would work, but she saw right through him.
"D-don't tell me you're some hidden legendary mage or something?"
"Uh, umm?"
Of course, Borishutain wasn't.
But he caught on quick. This dimension had "real" archmages beyond duke level.
Not widely known, from Red's reaction—just rumors.
'Hmm, that guy, maybe. Hm.'
Likely the source was that gallery dropout.
In this low-level dimension, no gallery users beyond Yonggari and him.
This excuse should hold for now.
"What're you mumbling, you scrubby geezer?!"
"Ahem. Right. I'm a mage from over there."
"Eeeek! A real hidden archmage?! Then why's an amazing mage like you here?"
"Oh, to give you this. A gift."
"Letch?"
Elrim blinked in confusion at the unidentified archmage offering the Redlight Stitch.
Why would such a being suddenly gift her?
He didn't seem harmful. Honestly, his looks weren't threatening at all.
More importantly, just getting handed the Redlight Stitch felt meaningless.
"I don't need handouts!"
Boom—
Nothing went Borishutain's way in this talk.
Red rejecting the gift short-circuited his logic.
She clearly wanted it—why refuse?
"Wh-why? Red... er, you were definitely chasing this, right?"
"Duh! Letch is mine!"
"B-but why?"
"Why?! I need to catch Letch myself to get the attention!"
Aha—Eureka—
Borishutain finally got it.
Red was an attention hog; the heroic catch was part of the package.
"Ahh, I see. The catching scene matters too."
"Heh. Obviously! Everyone'll cheer when they see me nab Letch! The guilds'll be begging to recruit me!"
"Hmm, hmm. Right. Then,"
Borishutain nodded and released the Redlight Stitch.
It flew off.
"Go on. I'll protect you, so don't worry about the Grade 2 and catch it."
A massive Grade 2 rampaged right behind them.
Borishutain kept protective spells on Red nonstop.
Hiding his mana and form so no one spotted him.
He narrowed the invisibility spell to just himself.
Now the broadcast would show Elrim catching the Redlight Stitch.
"I don't need protection! Gotta catch it under perfect conditions for real awe!"
"B-but!"
"You really think I'm some scrub?!"
But Red exceeded expectations again.
One misstep and that giant's stomp would disqualify her.
Play it off, protect only when dangerous.
Borishutain reluctantly agreed.
But,
"...What the hell are you doing, scrubby geezer?"
"Wh-what do you mean?"
"Letch wouldn't be this easy to catch! You're controlling it!"
"B-but otherwise it'd be too hard."
"Duh, it's supposed to be hard! That's why catching it gets attention!"
"B-but. Hmm. Uhh..."
Red even noticed Borishutain subtly easing the catch.
She paid that much attention to detail?
"Don't touch it! I'll catch it myself! Otherwise, you're the scrub!"
"O-okay."
Elrim warned firmly and turned back.
Challenging the Redlight Stitch again.
But she kept freezing just before grabbing it.
"Seriously... this scrubby geezer..."
Borishutain was still tweaking it subtly, unnoticeably easy.
Yet she spotted it every time and refused to grab during his interventions.
After a while frozen, Elrim slowly turned.
"...What the hell are you doing right now."
Her lighthearted expression and tone vanished.
Elrim was genuinely furious at Borishutain.