Chapter 98: Road To the Finale [2]

"AND IT'S DECIDED! THE SUNKEN PEARL HAS OFFICIALLY WON AND ADVANCED TO THE GRAND FINALE, WHERE THEY WILL BE FACING...THE GRANGE."

"PLEASE TUNE IN ON WEDNESDAY, THREE DAYS FROM TODAY, FOR THE MATCH!"

Finally closing my smartwatch, I glanced out my dorm room's window and saw the massive holographic image of a clam with a diamond inside it floating above the coliseum.

Everything had gone as expected, with all my bets paying off and the finale match being perfectly the same as the novel.

At that moment...

*BZZT*

[Reed: ASH! WHO ARE YOU ROOTING FOR!?]

*BZZT*

[Grayson: Remember you're an honorary elf.]

*BZZT*

[Lily: If I see you in a green fucking elf costume, you're dead.]

*BZZT*

[Ren: ...our plans still on for tomorrow?]

*BZZT*

[Carissa: If you don't wear a clam on Wednesday, I'm telling everyone how you cried and told me to leave you behind.]

*BZZT*

[Hero Forums]

[Does anyone know which side that "Ash" is rooting for in the grand finale???]

--> [User13131 - He's a human, of course he's with the Sunken Pearl.]

---> [Winterdrag - Yeah, he's literally a student at the Sunken Pearl, no idea why people are confused.]

--> [notavbutt - Are you guys stupid? He literally fought on the elven team...they're his teammates, not the Sunken Pearl students. Also, did you see the way the Sunken Pearl students treated him and made those rumors about him!?]

--> [Ironman - You guys really need to watch the replay of his match again...he gave it his all to help the elves win. No way he doesn't support them.]

*BZZT*

[NEW PREDICTION MARKET POSTED!]

[Which team will hero, "Ash," support in the Inter-Academy Finales?]

--> [55% - The Sunken Pearl]

--> [40% - The Grange]

--> [None - 3%]

--> [Another Team - 2%]

Powering off my smartwatch, I lay down on my bed with a grin, suppressing my laughter.

Life really was...strange.

...

...

...

"Oh? You came?"

Looking at me, the edges of her lips curved upward and her light-blue eyes sparkling like the water under the early-morning sun, Evangel continued as she sat down beside me on our usual patch of grass.

"If you're rooting for The Grange...I don't know if I can be around you."

...even the girl who hadn't smiled once in class was toying with me!?

Sighing, I avoided her gaze and continued my stretch.

"...I haven't decided."

Tilting her head and staring at my side, Evangel smiled and shook her head, her usual emotionless expression returning a moment later.

"Choose wisely, then."

"..."

"Just remember, they leave after the tournament, and we'll be here for the next three years."

"...I'll keep that in mind."

*BZZT*

[Ren: Meet in our dorm's hall?]

[Ash: In ten.]

After glancing down at my smartwatch and typing a message, I finished up and stood up, saying to Evangel before turning around.

"If I don't see you tomorrow or the day after...good luck!"

Still looking forward, Evangel said with her back turned to me.

"Does that mean you've chosen the Sunken Pearl?"

Shrugging my shoulders, I simply said while walking.

"Nah, just you, for now."

Without Evangel's help, I think I would have seriously given up on running a week ago, and my poor footwork and stamina would not have developed.

I knew that she could have been doing other things like studying or reading, but instead, she took the time to teach me how to perform simple stretches without any frustration.

After showering and changing into the academy's uniform, I headed downstairs and grabbed my usual plate, which included scrambled eggs, bacon, and a slice of toast.

Finding Ren already sitting down at a table, I sat across from him as he curiously asked.

"You really bought a dungeon...?"

Nodding my head, I sent the location of the dungeon I had purchased to Ren, who quickly opened his smartwatch to look.

Although Ren was supposed to defeat this dungeon later on after becoming C-rank and receive the item from it, I wanted him to have the item now so that he was more than ready for the hedge maze.

After all...he had to be strong enough to not only defend against the enemy but also keep some of his teammates from touching the trophy.

Looking at me oddly, Ren asked.

"I really don't have to pay?"

"..."

Talking about money with Ren...was weird.

I mean, we both had infinite money with our future knowledge.

Shaking my head, I simply said.

"Just let me have first choice of the rewar-"

Before I could finish, Ren interrupted.

"Actually, I can just pay, and then we randomly decide the items! How much was the dungeon?"

"..."

Looking at him blankly, I answered, forcing my nicest voice possible.

"I insist on paying!"

Tilting his head, Ren responded.

"You're just using me to defeat this dungeon, aren't you? Then you'll take all the good items while I'm stuck with a stick."

"*PFFT*"

Unable to hold in my laughter as he mentioned the very item he was going to receive, I frantically covered my mouth and leaned back in my chair.

Looking at me uncontrollably laughing right in front of him, Ren suddenly said.

"Root for the Sunken Pearl. That's my condition."

After taking a moment to regain my composure, I shook my head and just said.

"Let's just decide item distribution fairly after the dungeon. I trust you."

"..."

Looking at me blankly, Ren sighed.

"So you're rooting for The Grange, then? I guess I'm down $200..."

"I haven't decided...let's just go, alright?"

After finishing our breakfasts, Ren and I got on the mana train and sat down, Ren taking out a book to read while I fished out a pair of earbuds from my pocket.

Watching the modern cityscape slowly transform into endless plains of green grass with icy mountains in the distance, I sighed.

Before I left this world...if I even could, I would definitely have to explore all of it.

Putting my earbuds in, I zoned out while staring off through the windows, the exhaustion from my run earlier catching up to me.