Gacha Time Is Back (2)

Vwoooom—

A moment later, the green light that had enveloped us vanished. The surroundings grew dim as if twilight had descended, signaling the approach of night.

My eight-person tent stood before the campfire, a clear testament to the campsite we had been occupying. As I took a few steps toward it, King Arthur reached out and blocked my path.

"Wait. Before you go off to rest, I think we have things to discuss... You haven't forgotten, have you?"

"...How could I forget? But first, I’m going to head into my tent and change my clothes."

"Clothes? Why would you... Ah..."

King Arthur, who had been about to stop me from entering the tent, saw me point to the blood-stained, torn upper half of my military uniform. She nodded in understanding and stepped aside to let me pass.

They really do have a lot to say, don't they?

Good. I’ve got plenty to say myself.

Once inside the tent, I accessed my inventory to pull out underwear, a white t-shirt, jeans, and slippers through the sub-space. After finishing my change, I stepped back outside, making sure to make enough noise to announce my presence.

"Ahem! Ahem, ahem..."

The heroes, who had been huddled together, quickly gathered at the sound of my footsteps. They approached with haste, but the fact that Cheonma moved the fastest—even utilizing a movement technique that left afterimages—showed just how desperate she was to see me pull the Gacha.

This is why Gacha is so terrifying...

To think it could make someone obsessed with martial arts pine for a lottery pull...

The heroes surrounded me in a semicircle, watching me in silence.

"..."

"..."

I suppose... they don't really know how to start.

Then... shall I be the one to break the silence?

The eloquence I honed while soothing my juniors as a senior sergeant is coming in handy at a time like this. I never thought I’d be using the skills I learned in the military in a world like this.

I made eye contact with each of them, then bowed my head to express my appreciation for their hard work.

"...First of all, you’ve all been through a lot... Thank you for your hard work."

"..."

At my words, the heroes bowed their heads in return without a word.

"Everyone... as King Arthur said earlier, I think we need to talk and clear things up..."

"..."

They nodded in agreement.

"If you have anything to say, please feel free to speak up."

"..."

As the heroes glanced at one another, King Arthur raised her hand and spoke.

"Assuming everyone is thinking the same thing, I’ll ask first... You, can you apologize for being rude to Merlin earlier?"

Rude to Merlin...?

I glanced at Merlin, but she turned her head to avoid my gaze.

I raised my hand to stroke my chin, pondering what had happened earlier that day.

'We're... comrades, aren't we?'

'Comrades? Sure... we're comrades. But we aren't exactly normal comrades. We're a mercenary-like relationship formed out of necessity.'

'...Why would you say that?'

'Well, are we a normal comrade relationship? Who says so? Who asks a comrade to prove their ability? "If you don't have ability, you die"—that's just a give-and-take business relationship. Stop talking nonsense and let's go. We don't have time.'

Ah...

Is this what they’re talking about?

"Are you referring to the conversation about our relationship as comrades earlier today?"

"...Yes."

"Hmm..."

How should I resolve this?

Just say 'I'm sorry,' apologize, and be done with it?

No... if I do that, I’ll be the one in the submissive position in our relationship moving forward...

"That’s going to be a bit difficult."

"....Why?"

"...!"

King Arthur’s eyes widened in surprise at my refusal, clearly having expected me to apologize.

Is she looking out for me because we’re from the same background?

I’m jealous...

And... isn't it obvious?

I did nothing wrong...

No, wait. Come to think of it, before weighing who is right or wrong, there’s a difference in our perspectives...

"You might have felt offended... but from my point of view, I think we need to align our perspectives before I can apologize. If I need to apologize later, I certainly will."

"...Align... our perspectives?"

"Yes. As you know... I’m sure you’ve thought about this at least once... It’s a bit awkward to say this myself, but... I’m a rather unique man in your eyes, aren't I?"

"..."

King Arthur stared at me in silence, perhaps struck by the truth.

What is she thinking with those blue sapphire eyes?

Until recently, I had zero connections with women, and now ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠I’m having a conversation with a foreign beauty with sapphire eyes?

Does this even make sense?

They must have all thought so, as they nodded slightly.

Of course they would... It’s a gender-reversed world, and they’ve never imagined a man acting prickly in front of heroes before.

I might as well just come clean and get it over with.

I’ll be the one to break the cliché of hiding one's origins.

"I’ll be honest with you. I come from a dimension completely different from yours."

!!!

"...What? What are you talking about?"

My words seemed to hit like a bomb, and I could see the heroes around me becoming agitated.

"Exactly what I said... From my perspective, you all have different backgrounds, but ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠you seem to come from a world where women are superior to men... am I wrong?"

"...You're right. So, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠are you saying you aren't from such a place?"

"Yes. I come from a dimension that pursues equality between women and men."

"...Equality between... women and men...? If you look at things from that perspective... then I understand. Why Merlin is making such a fuss, wanting to use you as a research subject..."

I saw Merlin, who was standing in front, clench her fists.

In a way, from the perspective of Merlin, a mage who loves discovery, I was indeed a research subject.

She had likely never accumulated data like this before.

But... I have no intention of letting that happen.

Ah, of course, if she offers an equivalent exchange, I’ll consider it.

And then, I dropped another bomb.

"And... the world I came from... had no supernatural powers, whether it was internal energy or mana."

"...That... is that even possible? A world that functions... without internal energy or mana? What about spirits...?"

"They were all just imagination. Until now. Until I saw you all right in front of me."

"..."

"There’s bound to be a huge gap between your perspective and mine. I ask that you please consider that difference in position. I will try my best to understand whenever our opinions clash... and I think it will be easier if we talk it out whenever that happens."

King Arthur, who had stepped forward as the representative of the heroes, was too shocked by my statement to continue.

Well, I’ve opened up about everything, so... time for a follow-up attack to keep them off balance.

"Anyway... so... let me continue with what I thought while watching you all. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Before you became comrades, you had comrades from your own worlds. From my perspective, I... have absolutely no one who understands me... I am... just... alone... That’s why I wanted to become comrades who truly understood and respected each other, even through hardship... but that seemed impossible here. I tried to make it work, but... you didn't even give me a chance... The moment we met, you called me a man and demanded a life-or-death test to see if I had the strength to fight... Watching you, I thought that was just how comrades treated men in this world."

"...I... I didn't know..."

"Exactly... So... I think we should just proceed as a business relationship where we give and take based on necessity. As long as I have the ability, that’s enough. If I’m lacking, I’ll fill the gaps myself without help."

"That... I... don't want that!"

Merlin shouted, protesting loudly.

She’s really being a pain. What is it that she doesn't want?

"Listen here. Merlin. I wanted to live, so I threw away my pride and begged for a chance to survive. And I proved it. That I’m useful as a comrade. To you, I felt like a mercenary—someone you told, 'If you want to survive, do it yourself.' Still, I’m grateful for the chance you gave me. You didn't kill me and accepted me as a comrade. I’m truly thankful for that. But... you all have comrades from your own worlds. I, however, have no one who understands me. Comrades without camaraderie. I know that’s my position. So, I’ll handle myself. That’s why I don't think I was rude, and that’s why I’m not apologizing."

Perhaps because of my sincere statement, Cheonma, who was standing next to Merlin, opened her mouth with dead eyes, looking like a soul who had been shocked out of her body.

"I... I'm... sorry... I... didn't... mean... to..."

"..."

Sigh... I wasn't trying to get an apology out of you...

Hwaryeon, who had been listening silently, raised her hand and spoke on behalf of Cheonma.

"I also... think it was wrong to have such prejudices... It’s clear we didn't know each other... So, could you forgive us and give us another chance?"

"..."

Forgiveness...?

Forgiveness...

Forgiveness, huh.

For a moment, the word 'forgiveness' reminded me of a passage the director of the orphanage, who was also a priest, used to recite.

It was definitely a Bible verse...

What was it...

Ah.

'Forgive your brother who has sinned against you even 77 times... Therefore, you must forgive.'

Forgive... huh.

The faces of the heroes I looked at were on the verge of tears...

Ha...

Is this... right?

I’ve felt it before, but my emotions seem to have withered away while my life was on the line.

If I continue on this parallel path...

I’m just acting just as selfishly as they are...

Then I’m no different from them...

Should I throw in a variable?

Should I just act crazy and twist things once?

After a moment of hesitation, I sighed deeply and opened my mouth.

"Ha... what is there to forgive... I’ll just forget everything that happened once... let’s move forward together... Hwaryeon’s words changed my mind. Thank you."

"Oh, no. Thank you. I look forward to working with you."

"Merlin."

"Uh... yeah?"

"I was a bit short-sighted too. I’m sorry. I look forward to working with you."

"I... I’m sorry too... I look forward to working with you."

Merlin said, lowering her head shyly.

Since things seem to be settled to some extent...

"King Arthur... I’ve apologized to Merlin as you wanted."

"Wait. Don't use the title 'King Arthur'... just call me Arthur. Treat me comfortably... and drop the formal speech..."

...?

Drop the formal speech...?

I have nothing to lose...

"...Sure. I’ll drop the formal speech."

"Formal speech..."

"Ah..."

Did Arthur think the title of 'King' created distance between us?

She boldly asked me to drop the title of King. And she even demanded that I speak to her informally.

Well... that’s fine by me.

It gets really awkward when I have to add 'King' to everything...

Time to go straight to informal speech.

"Yeah... anyway... like Arthur said... now that things are resolved with Merlin..."

Just as I was about to continue, Merlin glared at Arthur and then looked at me, raising her hand.

???

Why is she doing that...

"Wait. Treat me comfortably too." - Merlin

"Me... me too!" - Cheonma

"I, I as well..." - Hwaryeon

"Young master... me as well..." - Judang

"...Me too..." - Lancelot

Then, the surrounding heroes swarmed in like a hive of bees, each chattering like a parrot, wanting me to treat them comfortably as well.

Ugh, it’s so chaotic...

"Alright, alright... I get it, I get it, I get it! I’ll speak informally to everyone! Happy now!? Huh!? But are you all okay with this? I’m just a green 22-year-old kid?"

They definitely won't like a green kid talking down to them...

"It doesn't matter!"

The heroes shouted in unison.

Well... if that’s what they want...

"Anything else to talk about then...?"

"...I have something, but I won't say it now. It’s such a huge shock... I think everyone needs time to sort out their thoughts. I’ll talk about it next time."

"Is that so...? Alright. If there’s nothing now... feel free to do it later."

Nothing, huh.

Then, can I pull the Gacha now?

"Then... let me check my coins... and let’s roll the Gacha."

"GA! CHA!"

At my mention of Gacha, Cheonma’s eyes lit up as she approached.

"Status Window!"

...?

Coins... 2000?

Wow... Gacha is finished.

Just you wait.

I barely managed to hide my overflowing joy as I summoned the Rock-Paper-Scissors machine from my inventory to the side of the tent.

Hoo-ah...

I approached the machine, picked up one of the coins I had piled up from my inventory, inserted it, took a deep breath, and pulled the lever.

Just one...

Please, just one good one...

.

..

...

Zzz-ing.

Remiel, the scatterbrained angel, had moved to the location of the humans by tearing through space to deliver the results of the discussions with the other Archangels after reorganizing her legion.

Of course, since it wasn't an urgent matter, she had arrived at a spot slightly further away and was walking slowly toward the humans' location.

And then... at the spot where she expected the humans to be, a red pillar suddenly surged upward, turning the entire area crimson.

It was bright enough to make anyone think a forest fire had broken out.

"...What is that...? What on earth are the humans doing..."

IT’S OUTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT!

A scream, filled with the ecstasy of a human male, shook the entire mountain.

????

"Don't tell me a demon has appeared!?"

Remiel, who had been walking slowly, summoned her spear in preparation for a potential threat and flapped her wings, flying rapidly toward the point where the sound had erupted.