The Gacha System and the Price of Power

The status window before my eyes was surprisingly well-organized. I had a few questions, but seeing the status window I’d only ever encountered in novels—the one I’d dreamed of—left me feeling deeply moved.

After staring at it a moment longer, I placed my hand on the window and swiped it away. Once I confirmed it had vanished, I spoke to the system.

"...Whoa. It’s actually way better than I thought. I love it! This is incredible!"

"...."

Ah... so it’s really time to head to the battlefield now...

I’d forgotten for a moment, but the system reminded me that obtaining this status window was merely the foundation for my departure to the war zone.

Hoo...

Seriously...

Cases of seeing real bloodshed in the modern world are rare. Even though I was a soldier... the most I’d ever done was endure the ringing in my ears from live-fire training and go through combat drills. Could I really handle this? Could I really provide buffs and do well without losing my mind?

Just then, the goddess, who had been quiet until now, called out to me.

"Human... will you step down from the scale?"

"Oh? Yes... right."

I answered her call and stepped off the scale. The goddess’s eyes, which had previously been dead and lifeless, were now filled with curiosity.

Honestly, that’s much better than the dead-fish look...

"Human... I couldn't see the status window you were shouting about earlier... did you really see it?"

"Oh? Yes... it was very neatly organized and clear..."

"Ha... a mere system, daring to copy and use the abilities of a god without permission... Ah, is this what you call 'stealing'? Is that right?"

"...No, where on earth did you hear that term?"

"...From the current Lord God... But to use that copied ability on a human who is being watched by the gods... doesn't it smell fishy to you?"

"..."

Her point hit the nail ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠on the head. Wait, why am I the one feeling guilty? I can't answer if I don't know anything!

Since I truly knew nothing, I couldn't say a word. Then, I heard the voice of Nicole, the first of the three managers to regain her composure. I turned to look and saw that she was furious; flames were erupting around her large teddy bear. Looking at that bear, I had a strong feeling I needed to choose my words carefully.

If I slipped up even slightly, that fire-wreathed bear was definitely going to smack me with a flaming fist. I had to be extremely cautious.

"Excuse me? Lying? Can't you see my machine right in front of your eyes?"

[No, I’m not foolish enough to deny even that! But a human, daring to claim they have a status window? You should know your place. Do you think I’ll believe that? Show it to me!]"

Look at her...

She’s dead set on picking a fight. Does she think I’ll fall for that? What is she, a grizzly bear? Speaking of grizzly bears, it reminds me of Russia, always picking fights with other countries. People always said they’d get a taste of their own medicine eventually... well, not that a superpower would ever really suffer like that.

Anyway, how was I supposed to calm her down?

1. Win with facts?

2. Run away?

Hmm. Option 2 is rejected. I’m in front of the managers; where would I go?

So it has to be option 1... but it seems only I can see this status window. What do I do?

As I was lost in thought, Metatron’s voice reached me.

- ...Tell her to show you the skill you obtained with that 'glorious' achievement. -

[That's right! That would work!]

- Hmph... it’s a constant that humans live wearing the mask of a liar. -

Metatron, arms crossed, was giving advice as if to empower Nicole, trying to frame me as a liar. But that advice actually came to me like a relief pitcher.

"Right! That’s it! Why was I overcomplicating it? I just need to show them the skill!"

- ...What? -

[...Huh?]

"Thank you! That advice was a huge help."

[...Metatron...]

- Uh... n-no! I wasn't talking to the human! Believe me! -

I bowed to express my gratitude to the flustered Metatron. Heh heh... Distrust: ON.

『Human? Enough with the word games. Show us the skill, quickly.』

Akasha, the benevolent one in an office look that perfectly accentuated her curves, stepped forward and spoke coldly. Watching her move, the way she swayed while standing with her arms crossed—it was perfect, as expected.

"Ahem- I’ll show you now. But... my ability is at rock bottom right now... so it might be underwhelming. Please keep that in mind."

[We know that much. Just show us already!]"

- It’s obvious, really... -

『...』

Is being a human synonymous with being an icon of distrust? Fine, whatever. I’ll break their prejudice right now.

I turned my body and looked toward the sea. After staring at the ocean for a moment, I extended my left hand and shouted the skill name.

"Tsunami!"

No sooner had I finished speaking than a siren began to wail.

WEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE-

The sound was identical to the disaster sirens I’d seen in videos on NewTube. The beach began to fill with the sound of the siren. After 30 seconds, it vanished as if it had died.

Whoosh-

As soon as the sound vanished, a white current erupted from my left forearm, traveling up my arm to my fingertips.

"...Oh!"

[Gasp...]

- No way... -

『...Wow.』

"..."

Whoa...!!!!!!!

It actually looks like something, damn it!

Everyone stared at my left arm in awe. While they were distracted, the white energy gathered at my fingertips, swirled into a ball, turned red, and began to expand upward and downward.

The energy expanding downward stopped the moment it touched the sand, but the energy expanding upward shot into the sky without obstruction.

I maintained it for about 20 seconds. As I held up a 20-meter-tall wave of red energy, something suddenly erupted from my mouth.

"Puh-huff..."

Drip, drip-

I covered my mouth with my right hand and looked down. It was bright red blood.

[Oh!!!]

- T-that human? -

『...Oh!?』

"...!"

The skill performance is definitely legit! Look at how panicked they are! They were the ones who told me to do it, and now they’re flustered to see me like this.

I lowered my left arm and looked at them all. As I did, the red wave began to vanish, turning transparent from the center outward.

"Kuh-huff... Now... is it proven? That I wasn't lying?"

I wiped the blood still flowing from my mouth and asked if it was proven. Come on, answer me!

[... O-o-okay... ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠it’s enough...]"

- Yeah, I... I... I believe you... -

『... Y-y-you really did obtain a skill...』

The three managers were frozen and malfunctioning again, but the goddess approached me to check my condition.

"Are you alright, human?"

"I’m fine..."

"What was that... why were you bleeding?"

"It’s the skill’s effect. It’s one of the conditions for using it."

"...That’s quite cruel. Did the system decide that?"

"...It wasn't decided by the system... I compromised with it to set it that way..."

"..."

The goddess stared at me with wide eyes, speechless, perhaps baffled by my answer that I’d compromised to bleed.

I felt burdened by her wide-eyed gaze and looked down at the floor. There, glowing circles were flickering and moving toward a certain point, as if they were trying to lead my gaze. When I followed them, my eyes landed on the hologram of the scale. And there, I could see the system’s message.

"...?"

"What did you say...? Change my gender...? Then what about my Johnson Baby?"

What is this nonsense... you want me to give up my gender...? That’s ridiculous! No matter how deep the meaning, how could I give up my own flesh and blood? This isn't even worth considering.

What? Even if there’s a penalty... my mind is male... and you want me to be a woman? Not a chance. This isn't worth thinking about.

"I’ll just go as I am."

What a load of crap.

Since I was leaving so suddenly, I decided I should say goodbye to the goddess and the three managers, with whom I’d formed a love-hate relationship. I turned to face them. For a brief moment, I locked eyes with each of them, then slammed my head into the sand and shouted.

"It was a short connection, but I owe you all a hell of a lot! Stay healthy, everyone...!"

Fwip-fwip-fwip-fwip-

Time must have run out, as I heard a sound like something being transmitted, and I felt my consciousness slowly fading. As I lifted my head, my body began to turn into light and vanish. Soon, my vision went black, and I lost consciousness.

Damn it... I hope things work out for me...