Chapter 68: At the Summit (1)
nacqQBGShirone knew that those who claimed to be experts often ended up getting fleeced at such places, down to their underwear. Of course, with Yiruki’s Savant Syndrome abilities, he would be unmatched in probability calculations, but there’s a reason why people call it gambling. Probability is just that, probability; to win in gambling, one needs the instinct of a gambler who can sense the tide of victory. Shirone could clearly envision Yiruki slowly winning money and then losing it all in one go.piSe
Uzi5T“I’m not going. You guys go. I don’t do gambling.”50R
s8Vo“You don’t have to gamble. There are pretty girls there who serve drinks and massage your shoulders, you really don’t want to go?”qps0R
8ur73Hearing this made Shirone even less inclined to go.nAwh
U2ru85“Ah, sorry. I’m just really tired. I need to keep sleeping. Have fun.”91Ox
aNyTzOnce the word ‘sorry’ came out of Shirone’s mouth, there was no turning back. After all, he was the one who had accumulated the most fatigue in preparing for this presentation. Both Nade and Yiruki lacked sleep as well, but their tasks were divided into physical and intellectual labor.UIFyj4
bH7gdIn contrast, Shirone, who had to increase the level of photon output, had undergone intense training that exhausted both body and mind for a month. Plus, at the last minute, he entered the Infinite Realm and exhausted his mental strength, so it was natural for him to feel physically and mentally drained.VhCotC
J924jtR“Alright, we get it. Rest well. Anyway, we’re going, just so you know.”CUikNC
0j3kd4“Yeah. Win big and buy me something delicious.”vPcM
3p5jxg“Ha ha ha! Don’t worry! When you wake up, we’ll have magically become rich.”8r4FsD
BnhAs the door closed, Shirone buried his face back into the bed.hVu
G8VjSL‘All this fuss for being rich already…’ECv
XBAShirone fell back into a deep sleep.mgeePW6
Pgy6R3* * *RCq7k3
xHwdSThat night.ITLD
IrZ“Huuh… Huh.”Rq0
PWumpShirone tossed and turned in his bed, sweating coldly. The nightmare that hadn’t visited him when he fell asleep like fainting was now resurfacing as he got enough sleep.EvGk
k2BW“Huuh…”GFV
XqTnOShirone grimaced and shook his head left and right. In the vast universe, humans were nothing. That intense sense of emptiness wrapped around Shirone as a powerful shock.5Yu3
7xz09XAgain, the nightmare was being sucked into a single point. Time flowed backward, reaching the beginning of the universe. Light appeared, and that light, flickering like a thread, then turned into bubbles, filling Shirone’s vision. It was only light. And the next moment, a powerful explosion occurred in the empty space of nothingness.pGad
YaaBok“Huooooh!”tW9
ZpDShirone sat up, his eyes wide open, still fixated on the afterimages in his memory. Only when he felt the dampness of his sweat-soaked pajamas did he slowly turn his head towards the window.UGam
9FPsrChirping sounds of birds indicated morning.gzMUc
Lv3“Phew. Just when I thought it was passing.”boDBzF
05g3QHe had a nightmare, yet again. A strange sensation enveloped his entire body, making him shiver.6sS2cT0
E6oBmJBut Shirone was no longer afraid.VLy
w37FHe had heard the cause from Armin and had managed to escape from the Infinite Realm with his own will on the day of the presentation.zSpLPBz
YpiTWYAs he gained some control over his power, Shirone calmly observed the phenomena happening to him.yMp
8dezc‘The universe I see in my dreams. That’s clearly a scene representing the beginning of the universe. And then, the Gauge Symmetry.’tuBc
vODMnRAlthough lacking logical information, he felt a sense of clarity. Perhaps it was a process of organizing information in the subconscious. Reminded of Armin, who had said he would come to realize it on his own, Shirone felt calm, and the sense of mourning disappeared.WVGXWv
AQiKzShirone went to the bathroom. He felt quite good, having slept deeply for what could have been several days. While brushing his teeth, he remembered that Yiruki and Nade seemed to have stopped by.kYo
PYsQ‘Was it a dream? Or did they really go?’mPWTA7U
sNvThe faces of the two, saying they would hit the jackpot at the casino, faintly crossed his mind.TdogO
8xr‘I should have gone with them. What do I do now, alone?’MkAp
S0sxwAs he finished brushing his teeth and left the bathroom, Shirone suddenly stopped, looking back at the bed. Small dust particles floating above the bed were rotating. The window was closed, so it wasn’t due to air circulation.4AuCNpW
VBgpmgHForgetting he was still brushing his teeth, Shirone ran over. Looking closely, the particles were indeed moving. He reached his hand towards the center of the rotation, feeling nothing at first, but then a strong sense of mourning hit him.rgxC
H1RG“Huooooh!”f79n
Fb0rMDShirone bent over, spitting out the toothpaste foam.LZSHvVg
NUfkWhat could it be?JpIlu
tYVsIt felt like touching a nerve where a tooth had been extracted, a sensation of confirming something he knew but didn’t have a name for.m83iXM
AEUk‘This is it! Something I know but don’t have a name for. But what is it?’Udy1l
2l0DuShirone waved his hands frantically in the air, but the strange sensation didn’t return. Calming down, he went back to the bathroom, showered in hot water, and came out, still pondering the recent phenomenon.leu8X
jj7i4‘It’s not wind, not air pressure, not temperature. But how can dust move like that?’XBx7vKH
83EIt wasn’t just floating; it was moving in a pattern driven by some force.zTFoQVt
5bJAfter over an hour of deep thought, Shirone, feeling frustrated, changed his clothes and went outside. It was the middle of class time, so no students were around.bnb
OVgeshAFeeling unfamiliar emotions, Shirone walked towards the main gate. He had a week of suspension, so he was free to do whatever he wanted for the next four days. Now that the die was cast, Shirone decided to use this time as a rest period after the intense training.jfxE4
UuYrH1e‘But where to go?’F87L
KskH5NdThe first place that came to mind was his home. The desire to see his parents grew strong as he thought of them.pwvJx
ATyKDP‘No, that’s nonsense.’iKWK59U
XSO9It would take half a day by carriage, but there was no reason to go. He couldn’t just show up at home saying, “Mom, Dad, I got suspended.”UyoEQ6Z
Iruuj7QAnd visiting the Ogent house without Rian and Reina there would only be awkward.RnF
2RSwLB“Ah, right!”sSyyF6
1p7PtDShirone suddenly realized his destination and snapped his fingers.fyknG
yeKwnOSThe bookstore it was.ICv0
ndOThough the school library was overflowing with books, purchasing them from a bookstore had always been a dream of Shirone’s. Smiling at the memory of being overjoyed by an old book his father had bought him in his childhood, he recalled the desire to own more books.eVz
hRAVHUNow, thanks to the allowance Temuran sent him every month, he could afford it. Buying books in the commoner’s area meant he could fill a basket with just a little spending.zC6pg
Lxb‘It’s the first time Im buying my own book.’Q5Kb
eXODWhile borrowing from the library wasn’t bad, Shirone, a book lover, had a strong sense of possession.0ABRA
s54With his decision made, he quickened his pace, passing the noble district and entering the commoners area. The streets he often visited with his father’s cart in his childhood remained unchanged. Entering the bookstore with a confident stride, the owner recognized him as the child who used to spend hours gazing inside.h97
QQVTcL7“Welcome… oh my, isn’t this Shirone?”86njk
2iNx1“Hello, ma’am.”7aPBvoR
YKvs“Look how much youve grown. I thought your father had left the city since he hadnt visited in a while. He always bought a book whenever he came.”e7a
eXMYJ“He won’t be coming anymore. Thats why Im buying them myself.”doa8SV
4rmV“That’s good. You still love books, I see. Feel free to browse.”bg3
mJcb7O“Sure, Ill take a look around.”Lrn1
2xuTAShirone walked around the store with a content smile. Regardless of content, well-kept books were expensive. In Creas, a city with a large population, bookstores did well despite few commoners being literate.UggUDk
sTRAlthough academic books were less common than popular novels, Shirone realized that the library at Alpheas Magic Academy housed much more advanced texts. Settling for a novel with a magician as the protagonist, he picked a clean, new copy and paid with gold. New books were expensive, but Shirone, having enough money, didn’t mind.4R3Q1qy
1e1“Buying something this pricey? Are you running an errand for someone?”losNhDH
w0dbfpj“No, it’s actually the first book Im buying myself. I wanted a clean one.”qm2SGQZ
zk2orr1“Thats admirable. Not many spend money on books. Read it well and get smart. A clever head won’t make your future wife suffer.”U92
XPXUbXNUnaware Shirone attended a prestigious magic academy, the bookstore owner proudly gave a speech. Shirone listened happily, leaving with his book.Z30
dyER‘This is my book.’LNdy
8uV9NOThe thrill of owning a book not borrowed or used by others made his heart race.ehHkm
u6ozRp“Hey, isn’t that Shirone?”PUz
3DmnTiIHearing his name, Shirone turned to see a group of kids around a cart. Recognizing them, his eyes widened.yLV
Aubx“Altor? Martin? And Lumina too?”5za9mv
gzkThey were friends from the village he used to play in as a child.KnB
aVt5“Wow, it really is Shirone!”s7rke
HWm1WHThe kids, mostly his age, swarmed around him. Altor, the leader, had grown enormously, while Martin, always small, was closer to Shirone’s size.SCJe
uiHAydAltor draped an arm over Shirone’s shoulder.KVb
zVvj01I“You! What’s been going on? You havent visited in years. Vincent only said you were living in the city.”TmPVVbX
orJvnL“Ha ha, sorry. Thats how its been.”YrCb
gWoMKVShirone was as happy to see them, despite the rough greeting. Martin, with protruding front teeth, exclaimed in awe.tnZ
8ff“Wow, you look like a noble.”6z20N
CE74eL“Do I? I hadnt noticed.”YyqD
egtShirone was surprised. Unknowingly, he had acquired the air of nobility. Lumina, the only girl in the group, chimed in.gHjD
sIvCKR7“Shirone always looked noble. Anyway, glad you’re doing well.”l8OC0hN
Wj0“Thanks, Lumina. Youve become pretty.”4TZ
Q3dHCLumina blushed. Shirone remembered her as a freckled, chubby child, but now she was a slender girl with clear skin.96iQ
h8BPZCpAltor laughed.ihM
qCZpA“Shirone, still good with words! But seriously, how did this noisy girl get pretty?”XFN2QMZ
ctlN“Shut up! What right do you have to judge me?”Qz6
4RoeLumina’s unusual outburst embarrassed Altor.OLaVY
XUouUa“It was just a joke…”jYouB
4R0Uh“Enough. I dont want to talk to you.”EAxim
gDWDv“Fine! I’m embarrassed to be seen with a girl like you anyway!”turTd
QMIU5Shirone’s heart warmed, watching them bicker like old times a typical day for the village kids.pKUt8C
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