The Royal Military Academy's Impostor Owns a Dungeon [BL]

See, even Reeve Solin had absolutely no idea what was happening anymore.

At this point, he had stopped questioning it.

By now, he was familiar with the strange sensation of floating through life as if reality itself had decided to gently pick him up, pat him on the head, and say, Here. Have everything. It was a very confusing experience. Also deeply suspicious.

Ever since this morning, Reeve had been drifting through an emotional state best described as extremely elated yet mildly convinced he might be dying soon.

Because surely this was how it worked.

One didn’t just stumble into this kind of luck without the universe demanding payment later.

Clearly, something was happening to him. Either that, or he was scheduled to perish next week and was currently being allowed to enjoy a greatest-hits compilation of everything life had to offer.

Because within the span of a few hours, Reeve had crossed milestones he never thought he would reach.

Not after years of grinding.

Not after begging editors for scraps of, well, anything.

Not after meticulously building a reputation that was respectable but never explosive.

And yet here he was.

And the worst part was that he had not even planned for any of it.

He didn’t ask for this, he didn’t chase it, nor did he scheme for it.

All he had done was follow his nose to a booth that nobody else had bothered to visit at the time.

Because something smelled good.

That was it.

That single decision had apparently altered the trajectory of his entire career.

Now he was being informed, very calmly and very seriously, that his humble little stream was being simulcast across the Empire.

The entire Empire.

Reeve had stared at the message for a solid ten seconds before reading it again just to make sure he was not hallucinating.

As a journalist, what more could he possibly dream of?

The answer was apparently more, because right after that came another message.

And then another.

He was getting a bonus.

A large one.

And there was even talk of a promotion.

Because somehow, his coverage had single-handedly boosted the stock prices of Solaris Times so dramatically that even the higher-ups were scrambling to confirm whether the numbers were real.

Reeve stood there, stunned, terminal clutched in his hands, wondering if this was what it felt like to accidentally become a legend.

Then he did the only reasonable thing.

He turned to Thea.

”I’m splitting it with you,” he said immediately.

She blinked. ”What?”

”The rewards,” Reeve clarified, waving vaguely at his terminal. ”The stream. Everything. I only streamed this because you said so.”

Thea stared at him.

Then she laughed, startled and bright, clearly caught off guard.

”You don’t have to do that,” she said reflexively.

”I absolutely do,” Reeve replied, just as firmly.

She opened her mouth to argue.

Then paused.

Then smiled, a little embarrassed and very touched.

Because she knew it was kind of the other way around.

She had been annoyed at first when Reeve insisted she come along. She had thought it was just another pointless thing.

But now?

Now she was right there to experience everything. In a sense, wasn’t his persistence in dragging her over there the true gift?

And as she listened to him speak, genuinely grateful and earnest in his praise, Thea suddenly understood something.

This was exactly why Reeve Solin was being hit with this absurd wave of good fortune.

Because even when the universe handed him everything, his first instinct was to share it.

Ah really!

And now this?!

__

When they were suddenly called over by an Orc who they instantly recognized as Princess Tharkira Zulgara, Reeve and Thea nearly collapsed on the spot.

It was not a metaphor.

It was a very real moment where both of them stiffened, went pale, and strongly considered lowering themselves to the floor out of pure survival instinct.

Because who wouldn’t do that when the Orc Princess was impossible to miss?

Her presence alone felt like a physical force. Towering, radiant, and armed with flowing red hair that looked like it had been styled by fire itself, the young woman stood there like a living legend.

Reeve’s soul attempted to evacuate.

Thea’s knees actually wobbled.

But then something strange happened.

The soldiers from Zone Four, who were nearby and very visibly hardened veterans, lit up the moment they saw her.

They looked genuinely excited.

And that was the only reason Reeve and Thea managed to force their legs to cooperate and walk over instead of playing dead.

”?!”

The confusion deepened.

Because when the princess turned toward them, she smiled.

Not a terrifying smile.

Not exactly a threatening one (hopefully).

An actual, friendly grin. Or at least, as friendly as that could be.

And then she spoke.

And that was when every brain lagged again.

”Welcome, everyone!” Princess Kira announced brightly, throwing her arms wide. ”To the central atrium activity center!”

The words hit like a shockwave.

The livestream chat exploded.

Reeve blinked once.

Then twice.

Then three more times for good measure.

The princess continued, voice lively and booming with enthusiasm. ”This is a place where you can learn, relax, bond, and win prizes. Whether you want to explore on your own or compete with others, there is something here for everyone!”

Win.

Prizes.

Reeve felt his heart stutter.

Thea grabbed his sleeve.

Then, with theatrical flair befitting someone who treated life like a stage performance, Princess Kira reached for the curtains behind her booth.

She paused.

Cleared her throat dramatically.

Then yanked them open.

Gasps rippled through the crowd.

Reeve’s jaw dropped.

Princess Kira stood proudly before the revealed holographic map and began pointing with great enthusiasm.

”First, this is where we’re at. And this is where you’d return for concerns relating to the activity center.”

”Second,” she declared, gesturing toward the expansive display. ”We have live kitchen demonstrations over here! Though really, if you turn around you’d see that’s the actual kitchen over there.”

Then the screen lit up again, displaying a neat schedule this time around.

”Participants will be able to cook along and eat what they make. But better yet, you can cook with your partners and enjoy each other’s labor of love,” she continued brightly. Maybe a little too brightly. ”And if you do it right, you get to take something home!”

The pause was deliberate.

”And yes. That’s free.”

”?!”

”What?!”

”Really?”

Reeve felt his brain struggle to keep up.

But the princess wasn’t even close to done.

She turned sharply, pointing toward another section. ”Next, we have the arts and crafts area! You can paint!”

She paused.

Her eyes widened when she noticed the blank stares.

”...Each other.”

Silence.

Princess Kira’s hair seemed to bristle slightly as she leaned forward. ”This is a very important part of being on a date,” she said seriously. ”Everyone should do it at least once.”

The gathered crowd looked over to the publicly confirmed couple who had stiffened under the Princess’s gaze.

The orc then coughed, as if remembering customer relations 101.

Her posture softened instantly.

”But,” she added gracefully, ”for those who fear that painting each other may result in a breakup, you may instead paint miniature mechas.”

Relief swept through the crowd.

”These can be taken home as souvenirs,” Princess Kira continued, ”or entered into a competition for the best project award where winners will receive a special prize.”

Spines straightened.

Eyes sharpened.

Competition had been activated.

Then she gestured broadly to the other side of the map. ”As for everyone else who is blessed with passion for everything except art, there are also prizes to be won through our arcade games and guild events.”

Murmurs broke out.

Excitement built.

The princess grinned, clearly delighted by the reaction.

And then she pressed a button.

Behind her, a massive holographic list flared to life.

Reeve’s terminal buzzed violently.

Solaris Times stock jumped again.

Because right there, for everyone across the Empire to see, was a prize list that made no sense at all until people began recognizing names.

Unfamiliar items.

Strange materials.

Then suddenly, rare plant resources that sent people bolting upright from their seats back home.

”Jade Vine?”

”Bone Grass?!”

”Iron Silk?!”

”!!!”

Reeve stared at the projection.

Then checked it again.

Then checked it a third time.

No.

They weren’t hallucinating.

They had read that correctly.

And just like that, the activity center went from impressive to utterly unhinged.