Gacha System: Reborn In The Hardest World
Chapter 38: Congratulatory Meeting

Chapter 38: Congratulatory Meeting

"Weakness?" Gael repeated.

Looking to the side, the silence from Matteo and Florentine seemed as though they were already aware of the threshold he had teetered on. The more he sat there, seeing the looks in the eyes of those who waited by his bedside, he realized how fortunate he was to still draw breath.

"Whatever it was you summoned when the dragon was vanquished...It completely evaporated every drop of mana in your body," Blythe explained to him carefully. "Mana is our essence. It is no different from the blood in your veins. Normally, it’s difficult to completely drain yourself–your body prevents that."

"I get it...I practically drained the life out of myself. Guess it is surprising I’m still alive, then," he said with a sigh.

Blythe leaned over the bed, making sure to encroach on his personal space as her expression remained adamant, "--Listen to me. You cannot manifest that familiar again, unless your life is absolutely dependent on it. Even then, reconsider, rethink, make absolutely sure it is the only option."

It wasn’t a mystery to him that what she said was correct. Even if the power that summon brought was beyond his measure, the price was too high.

He adjusted himself in the bed, fiddling with his bandages, "Yeah, I know. So, these bandages then...?"

"They’re mana soaked. It was necessary to replenish your body’s mana as quickly as possible," Blythe explained.

He hopped out of bed nimbly; all things considered, he felt better than ever as he ripped the wrappings from his arms.

"You’re feeling okay, I take it?" Blythe asked.

"Like a million bucks," Gael answered, patting his chest with a smile.

Matteo laughed, "It’s not normal to somehow feel better than ever after nearly dying."

"Well, after beating that dragon, my body evolved a lot—it feels much stronger," he explained, clenching his fist.

The feeling coursing through his body felt to him what it likely felt to take steroids, mixed with enough energy through his body as if he had consumed an entire container of pre-workout.

"Well, this isn’t entirely unexpected...the Systems of Outlanders have been said to constantly ascend their bodies. Still, I didn’t think you’d bounce back from near death like this," Blythe remarked with her hand to her chin.

With the help of Matteo and Florentine, the bandages were unraveled as he stood there as the two almost made it a competition of who could remove them faster until–

"You don’t have anything on under there, you know?--" Blythe said, though a moment too late.

As the wraps were removed with a final tug each from the familiars, he felt a cool breeze brush across his body.

Gael stood there, "Oh, right."

It wasn’t exactly like he held much shame, seeing as his body had become chiseled enough to give professional bodybuilders a run for their money. Florentine covered her eyes bashfully, while Matteo, for some odd reason, didn’t bat an eye.

On the other hand, Blythe shot him a glare as she tossed over a change of clothes, "Here."

"Thanks," he said, catching the outfit.

Just as he was about to slip into the trousers, the door to the room was opened without so much as a knock.

"Comin’ in! Oh–well, maybe I should’ve knocked."

The man who welcomed himself in stopped, adjusting the sunglasses that sat on his face as his sharp-yellow irises looked at the unclothed man. Gael could tell immediately upon seeing the stranger, from the glasses too modern for the fantasy world and the familiar air around himself.

’He’s...’ Gael recognized.

"Let me introduce myself!" The man said, removing his sunglasses. "Jae-Seong of the Heavenly Kings, at your service. And I take it you’re Gael, the newbie Outlander?"

"...You’re from Earth, like me?" Gael asked, almost in disbelief at finally finding someone in the same situation.

In the right hand of the stylish man was a black cube of some kind, which he bounced in his palm as he smiled, "Yup. South Korea. Let me guess...You’re from the U.S?"

"Bingo," Gael confirmed.

Though he was excited to talk to a fellow Outlander for once, the circumstances made it less than optimal as he stood there, having to cover himself up.

Jae-Seong laughed, tossing the cube over, "Here. Put this on. The Monarch is summoning you to the throne room. Don’t keep him waiting–that guy isn’t lenient."

As he caught the peculiar cube, there was no chance to get any more information as Jae-Seong had already taken his leave from the guest room.

"Put this on...?" Gael questioned, staring at the object.

Matteo leaned over, adjusting his glasses curiously at the strange item.

A sigh left Blythe’s lips as she tapped her forehead as if fighting away a migraine, "...Open."

The single word seemed to trigger the cube as it expanded, wrapping up the young man in a mysterious material.

"The hell is this—?" Gael reacted.

Little chance was given to attempt to stop the unknown item before it completed its process. He found himself dressed in a black-and-silver uniform, with a buttoned coat like that of a military jacket.

"A dress box," Blythe explained, throwing a vermillion cloak around her shoulders.

"I guess magic really makes everything convenient," Gael said, adjusting his sleeves as he checked out the outfit.

"Let’s go," Blythe said, opening the door. "—I’m sure good news awaits."

"I’m jealous of that optimism," he mumbled.

Through the reaches of the castle’s interior, he once again found himself entering the throne room. The natural pressure in the air didn’t lighten in the slightest.

As he brought himself in the presence of the Monarch and his lion, he felt as though he walked on a tightrope.

"Your recovery brings me relief, Outlander. You did well in the subjugation of Blair," the Monarch announced, clapping his hands together.

The kind words felt somewhat chilling when coming from the sovereign, though they didn’t seem false.

"Thank you...?" Gael hesitantly accepted.

He momentarily glanced back at his familiars and the noble woman as Blythe shot him a look as if telling him to pay attention.

The Monarch leaned forward in his throne, "Gael, you’re earned passage into the ranks of the Heavenly Kings. However, you’re not fully-fledged, not yet."