[BL] Challenge: 100 Baby in Fantasy World-Chapter 283: Alchemist Chief Election

After the celebration of Ambar’s project, Gara no longer needed to visit the lab every week.

The rest of Ambar’s team handled the remaining work since the most important phase was already complete.

But today, Gara was returning to the Alchemist Association for a different reason.

"You could’ve dressed casually, Gara. No need for the robe," Ambar greeted him in the building lobby.

"I’m more comfortable like this, Chief Ambar," Gara replied.

He really was more comfortable wearing a robe. In fact, he had to hide his cloak underneath.

Wearing a suit without a robe during the celebration party had been pure torture. ]

He still had to wear the cloak inside it!

The middle-aged woman nodded.

"Alright, as long as you’re comfortable. You can head to the meeting room in the main hall."

After they parted, Gara followed the other alchemists until they reached the main hall.

"Whoa—" Gara let out involuntarily, impressed.

This was the first time he’d seen all the alchemists gathered in one place.

The number of alchemists at Ambar’s celebration didn’t even come close to this.

Most of them wore glasses. And just as he expected, the dominant races were humans and gnomes.

Gara walked over to one of the alchemists he knew, a fellow researcher from Ambar’s lab.

"Seeing you here gives me a good feeling, Gara," the man said.

Gara offered an awkward smile, then shifted the topic. "How many candidates are running this time, Sir?"

"Just two, same as five years ago. Chief Ambar and Sir Norel."

He pointed out Sir Norel.

Gara nodded. Of course—Sir Norel was a gnome. Just as he guessed.

Half an hour later, the meeting began.

The grumbling alchemists—who claimed they had abandoned their projects for too long—finally quieted down.

The election for the new chief of the Alchemist Association didn’t take long.

With only two candidates who clearly understood everyone’s impatience, neither of them made lengthy speeches.

After their brief statements, voting began.

Each person wrote a name on a slip of paper, then dropped it into a bowl made from crystal.

The bowl was filled with a special liquid and placed on a dedicated podium.

Below it, several straight lines ran down the podium’s length.

Apparently, those lines would darken depending on whose name appeared the most.

Of course, every alchemist had a different number of points, which was why they were required to write their own vote.

No one could vote on their behalf.

The water inside the bowl read the identity of the paper’s owner and adjusted the point value accordingly.

’An entire device like that, without computer tech... The people in this association really aren’t ordinary. Whoever built it must’ve had a Talent that could perfect something like this,’ Gara thought, impressed.

Despite being a newcomer of less than a year, Gara had accumulated a surprisingly high point count.

Because of that, the human alchemists glanced his way with friendly smiles.

’I mean, I am voting for Chief Ambar... but it’s still scary being smiled at by total strangers. Even by old grandpas.’

This system showed clearly who voted for whom and which side each person took.

After casting his vote, Gara stayed to watch the results appear in real time.

Some busy alchemists left immediately afterward.

Near the end, there weren’t many alchemists left. Mostly just the human ones.

Even the gnome alchemists—who weren’t busy at all—had no intention of staying.

It was as if they had already guessed who would win.

And of course, everyone’s guess turned out to be right.

"Congratulations to Chief Ambar for becoming the chief of our association—the Alchemist Association—once again!"

People immediately swarmed around Ambar, shaking her hand and offering their congratulations.

Seeing the crowd, Gara wanted nothing more than to go home, but the alchemist beside him grabbed his sleeve.

The others stepped aside to make way for Gara; even the elder alchemists let him pass.

"Congratulations on your appointment, Chief Ambar," Gara said formally.

"It’s all thanks to your help, Gara." Chief Ambar gave him an elegant smile.

"That’s right, that’s right. It’s all because of our young rising star, Gara," another alchemist echoed.

Soon, more and more repeated the same line.

Only after Gara stepped out of the main hall did another alchemist explain that this year, everyone had expected Chief Ambar to lose,

because a senior gnome alchemist had just completed his major research project.

"But since you helped Chief Ambar finish her project, her points went up. And you earned a ton of points yourself because of the Vena Pill.

You realize how much those Vena Pills contributed to toxin-polluted regions, right? All that contribution gets counted toward your points."

For the human alchemists, Gara’s sudden rise had a huge impact.

And only now did Gara truly understand it.

...

The alchemist association election had been held on the last Sunday before the holiday ended.

As usual, the ceremony marked the first day.

Gara and his friends were seated in the same area, the special Class S seats for first-years.

"There are barely any third-years here, and only a few second-years," Gara commented, glancing at the section reserved for Class S students.

"My sister couldn’t return. She still has work to finish. She said her friends are the same. Some are out on missions," Andine replied.

"They say only we first-years stay in the academy and gather with our class like this," Miki added casually.

For someone who had never felt anything in particular toward his Class S classmates, Gara suddenly felt a faint melancholy at Miki’s words.

His gaze swept over their faces

’Maybe I should help them before we eventually go our separate ways. They’re good kids... well, except for a few.’

Gara had no intention of thinking about those "few."

Before long, the ceremony began. Headmaster Asta Elfutih stepped up to give his opening speech.

Vice Headmaster, Agus Soren?

Gara knew about him and couldn’t help clicking his tongue internally.

’That old man is unbelievably irresponsible. On the very first day, and he still locks himself away in my dimensional space?’

After the headmaster’s speech, academy staff went onstage to read the names of outstanding students.

"Is this some kind of ranking?" Gara whispered to whoever might answer.

"No," Revan responded this time. "It’s to recognize students who’ve made contributions—inside or outside the academy."

"Gara from Class S, First Year."

...