The Protagonist Already Knows

Chapter 65: Return [5]

Multiple heroes and tycoons immediately approached Carissa, their mouths already spilling praises.

"How’s your father been? Still off working?"

"Congrats on your award!"

"Have you thought about your post-graduation plans yet?"

Moving past the crowd surrounding Carissa, I noted that some people didn’t even know...the true reason we were being rewarded or about our adventure in the Dreg Realm.

All they knew was that we had saved some people.

"..."

Weighing the gold medal in my hands, I recalled the words that the invitation letter had said.

[In addition to a medal, you will receive a $500,000 cash reward!]

Pulling out my smartwatch, I eagerly checked my bank account, grinning upon seeing the $500,000 balance.

While investing in companies that would succeed in the novel was the smart decision, I didn’t hesitate to head to the marketplace.

The stocks could wait.

Since I had progressed past the first stage of Martial Arts, it was time to find myself a Sword Technique Manual, or a set of specific sword movements that are imbued with intent or mana.

The first movement of Ren’s Bow Technique Manual would allow him to fire off dozens of arrows in different directions and times while having them all end up at the same spot at the same time, creating an arrow volley.

I scanned through the list of available dungeons and gritted my teeth while placing a bid of $400,000 on the one I knew had dropped a Sword Technique Manual I wanted.

Looking up from my smartwatch, I glanced up...and immediately stepped back in surprise, seeing someone standing right in front of me.

How long had he been watching me!?

With spiky blonde hair, a distinct red streak running through it, the figure glanced at me with his gold pupils, meeting mine.

Reaching his hand out to me upon noticing my bewildered gaze, the figure smiled and introduced himself.

"I’m Spare, Rank #55. I heard about your little expedition. Sounded like quite the adventure...you know I’m really interested in the Dreg Realm."

While I calmly shook his hand, my mind instantly exploded into chaos.

Of course, I knew him!

He was one of the main heroes who had betrayed the human realm and joined with the Dregs to help them raid this dimension.

What the hell did he want with me!?

Was he already connected to the Dreg Realm? Did he want to take revenge on Carissa and me for escaping...? Did he want to interrogate me?

No...in this crowded hall, there was no way he could do anything, right...?

Forcing myself to calm down, maintaining a tranquil expression on my face, I answered.

"Ash, and... I wouldn’t call it an adventure...more like a death mission."

After glancing around for a moment, Spare said.

"You don’t seem interested in joining a guild?"

If I had been, I would have been trying to talk and connect with as many people as possible in this room, but instead, I was just standing in a corner with my smartwatch.

As I nodded my head, Spare grinned and said while reaching into his pocket for a second.

"Since you managed to escape the Dreg Realm, I’m already quite sure I can advocate on behalf of your skills."

Forcing a gratitude-filled smile, I responded.

"Ah...thanks...but it was mostly Car-"

Interrupting me mid-sentence, Spare placed a card into my hands and said.

"Humbleness isn’t necessarily a good thing, you know? Around the wrong people, it can be an insult."

"..."

Without any care for manners, Spare continued, saying:

"If you ever get tired of frolicking around in that Academy while doing jackshit. Contact me."

Pausing for a moment, I looked at the card he had forced into my hands.

[Aesir]

[The #1 Private Independent Contracting Group]

[High Salaries for High Quality Heroes.]

Without waiting for my response, he tucked his hands in his pock++ets and walked away.

Not knowing whether or not he might have hidden some sort of tracking device or something in the card, I carefully tucked it into my pocket and turned around.

Wanting to avoid any other influential figures, I immediately found the auditorium exit and left the award ceremony.

Instead of heading to the nearest train station, I paused and stopped at a fairly extravagant building, which had its own fountain and quartz walkway leading up to it.

In bright neon-green lights, the words "Casino" were plastered all over the walls of the building.

...

Getting a headache from the sound of slots being constantly spun upon entering the Casino, I covered my ears and approached the counter.

Without any hesitation, I held up my smartwatch and said.

"I’d like to place a bet for the first match of the Inter-Academy tournament."

Of course, you could gamble on a bunch of fights between children from different academies...!

Perhaps not taking me seriously due to my age, the male attendant lazily poked at their computers before saying.

"The odds are 95% for the #3 seed Meridian, 3% for a tie, and 2% for #14 seed Purdrerry. If you bet $1 on Meridian, you’d get $1.05 ba-"

Interrupting the attendant mid-sentence, I said as casually as possible.

"I’ll bet $100,000 on a tie."

"..."

The attendant looked at me in silence.

"Y-you, are you serious!?"

Dryly coughing, I just responded.

"I saw in a dream that they would tie...and it’s the money my parents gave me for tuition...but I failed my classes. So I have to make it back!"

"..."

Breaking into a fit of laughter, the attendant regained his composure after a moment and covered the grin on his face.

"*Ahem* *Ahem* Sorry, allergy season, you know!"

Unable to hide the grin on his face, the attendant continued.

"Well, if you saw it in your dream, I guess I can’t argue with that logic!"

...

Leaving the casino with the virtual slip in my smartwatch, I finally boarded the train back to the Sunken Pearl.

Now that I had a lump sum of money, making more was easy with my prophetic knowledge.

Although...I wasn’t yet willing to go all in: after all, perhaps the butterfly effect could cause an outcome to change.