Gacha System: Reborn In The Hardest World
Chapter 51: The Other Outlanders

Chapter 51: The Other Outlanders

A whistle left the lips of the seasoned Outlander, humming into the air. He stood beside Jae-Seong alongside the others, waiting for a few moments before a familiar, wing-shaped shadow descended from the sky.

Arriving in the courtyard of Frederick Sevaraid, the titan ray flapped its wing-like limbs as the moist hedges swayed.

"Thanks for waiting so patiently, Delilah," Jae-Seong greeted the loyal creature, caressing its head as he fed it some sort of berry.

This time, he didn’t have any qualms about jumping on its back, almost too exhausted to really be afraid of the journey through absurd heights. As he sat himself down comfortably, it began to ascend like a wingless helicopter, quickly making the courtyard appear smaller and smaller.

Jae-Seong sat foremost, breathing out as the creature began its flight, "This world never gets boring, does it?"

"You can say that again," Gael agreed, though wishing it was a bit boring sometimes.

"If you don’t mind me asking, what did you do before coming here?" Jae-Seong asked.

The question came somewhat abruptly as he scratched his head, finding the topic one he was somewhat hesitant on. It was the fact he hesitated to answer that made him more ashamed, though the life he was leading wasn’t one he was very proud of.

He answered, "I worked in the food industry."

"Oh? Like a chef?" Jae-Seong asked curiously.

"Err...I guess something like that," Gael said, not having the heart to correct him. "Before that though, I played basketball."

"NBA?" Jae-Seong asked with an excited look.

Having the guess be something so outlandish was almost embarrassing as he shook his head, having to disappoint his fellow Outlander, "No, man. I haven’t played since high school."

"Ahhh, my bad, my bad," Jae-Seong laughed.

It was surprising to him, having admitted the failure of a life he had led met with no judgment from the man in front of him.

"Well what about you?" Gael asked in return, feeling the wind against his hair.

Jae-Seong smiled as if having his answer in mind, though neglecting to answer right away as he leaned his hands on the back of the ray, "You’re not a boxing fan, are you?"

"I mean, I’ve dabbled here and there, but not really. I’m more of an MMA guy," Gael responded with a shrug.

For some reason, that reeled in hearty laughter from Jae-Seong, "Oh, man–you’re totally the type!"

"Huh?" Gael raised an eyebrow.

"Oh, nothing. Just something I’ve noticed over the years," Jae-Seong exhaled as he sat up. "Anyways, I was a boxer."

"Professional?" Gael asked.

"Something like that," Jae-Seong answered with a playful wink.

As the titan ray soared through the clouds, he sat there, appreciating the wind against his tired body. The same disdain he had for the high-altitude ride wasn’t there as he experienced it with a surprising calmness.

Jae-Seong seemed to notice as he pointed at his own heart, "After the adrenaline rush you had today, not bothered by this anymore, are you?"

"Guess not," Gael admitted, looking at his own hands as they didn’t tremble. "After nearly dying a dozen times back there, I guess this is peaceful, if anything."

"Now you get it," Jae-Seong said with a smirk.

He couldn’t deny it was a somewhat soothing experience after the tiresome battle. Sitting there on the back of the tranquil creature as it strolled through the clouds, he felt the brisk air at its most fresh.

"We’re here," Jae-Seong announced after some time on the swift ray’s broad back. "Home sweet home—Galios!"

The sight of the walls that reached towards the clouds was a comforting one, Gael oddly felt. Passing over the great barriers, the ray descended, gliding right down along to the immaculate structure at the city’s peak.

"It’s pretty handy being able to summon and de-summon those guys whenever, isn’t it?" Jae-Seong remarked, watching the ray arrive towards the keep’s balcony.

"Well, sometimes it’s easier that way," Gael brushed off.

As the titan ray reached the opening into the castle, it softly landed. He carefully hopped off, taking in a breath as Jae-Seong landed beside him.

"Ahhh, feels good to be back. Missions always drain me," Jae-Seong said as he stretched, pressing on his own back.

"Yeah—grk!" Gael agreed before grabbing his stitched abdomen, sharply wincing.

"Woah, woah—yeah, we need to get you to the healers," Jae-Seong laughed, lending his shoulder.

"Guess he got me better than I thought..." Gael wryly remarked.

As he was led through the opulent halls of the royal castle, passing by guards and concerned servants, he was taken into a chamber positioned near the top.

It was a vast, open room, occupied by humid air like that of a sauna.

People entirely clad in white robes rushed over, gently taking him into their hole, away from Jae-Seong.

"Wha—?" Gael looked around in surprise.

The clothes were being torn right off of him by the robed strangers. It wasn’t very often he was exposed around anybody other than himself, especially with so many eyes.

"They’ll take care of you. Just relax and heal up!" Jae-Seong assured him.

There wasn’t a chance to oppose the help before he found himself being dunked into a soothing pool of water. Along the pristine, tan marble, it oozed steam like a hot spring, immediately capturing his body in its comforting embrace.

’Hold on...this is pretty damn nice,’ he thought, letting himself sit in the hot water.

As he let out a relaxed sigh, expelling his exhaustion, a shadow looked over before—SPLASH. He raised his arms as the steamy water hit him, looking at the one who joined him.

Rising up, Jae-Seong ran his fingers through his hair, displaying his soaked abs like some sort of model, "That’s the stuff!"

’Dude, sit down,’ he thought.

"Cannonball!"

—SPLASH.

Again, he found his peaceful, quiet time in the steaming pool interrupted by the uncalled for arrival of his familiars. Somehow, Matteo and Florentine both manifested without their outfits—a feature he didn’t know existed.

While it was natural seeing Matteo lounging in the warm water, Florentine was a different beast entirely. The two meter tall, muscle-bound woman hardly carried any shame in sitting there with her chest bare, only obscured somewhat by the steam.

"Ahh, this hits the spot!" Florentine let out a sigh, leaning her arms on the edge of the bathing spot.

Jae-Seong laughed, "It’s a full party, isn’t it?"

"This water is certainly special. It has unique properties, doesn’t it?" Matteo curiously asked, sifting his hand through it.

Jae-Seong nodded, "There’s a spell woven into the waters in the Respice Chamber. It helps the body rest, accelerating healing."

"Convenient," Gael said, letting himself sink down to his shoulders.

As he let himself relax, the capybara drifted in the center of the pool, seeming to enjoy itself. It was a bit cramped, having Florentine and Matteo on either side.

"It’s awfully noisy over there...And wouldn’t you know it, Jae-Seong is to blame. There’s no such thing as a peaceful moment when he’s around."

–The remark didn’t come from anybody present in the steam-exuding pool, but from another spot in the recovery room. He looked around for the source of the tired, feminine voice, finding a figure in another of the hot springs to the left.

Leaning on the edge, resting her head on her arms was a woman with long, black hair and captivating, olive irises.

Jae-Seong responded to the woman, "Oh, hey, Astrid! You’re back from your mission, too?"

The lithe woman answered, "I just returned. It was a bit tiring handling those giants."

"You were with Rowan, right–? Oh, hey," Jae-Seong said.

It was at the other end of the pool that the dark-haired woman sat in that the sight of a mountain of a man was found. The tan-skinned man with a chiseled body stood up, much to the dismay of Gael, waving to their pool.

"Yo, Jae! Who’s the new guy?" The towering, brawny man greeted as his dark-red hair was weighed down by water.

The entire time, Gael found himself a bit confused by the conversation, not knowing who the two were, only that they seemed acquainted.

Jae-Seong glanced at Gael before looking across to the other hot springs, "This is our newest member!"

Astrid’s tired eyes widened somewhat as she leaned up from her arms, "Oh? Another Outlander?"

"Awesome! Welcome to Galios, friend! I’m Rowan!" The muscle bound man introduced himself, stepping out of the pool and walking right towards him.

Gael looked up at the nude man that was soaking in water, watching him hold his hand out as if waiting for him to meet him halfway for their greeting. Manners obligated him to shake the man’s hand, though it also required him to step out naked as well.

’Ah, hell, whatever,’ he thought.

Climbing out of the hot springs, he stepped onto the marble, meeting the brawny man’s greeting as their hands met. Rowan stood over a head taller than him, though didn’t squeeze the life out of his hand as expected.

"Rowan, Canada!" Rowan introduced himself properly with a giddy smile.

"I’m Gael, err...U.S.A," he greeted as well.

"USA? We’re practically brothers, then!" Rowan said, pulling the man into a sudden hug.

Gael completely regretted accepting the greeting right then and there, not exactly ready for the unexpected skinship.

’Being pressed against a naked dude’s body was definitely not on my agenda for today, but I’m honestly too tired to even care,’ he thought.