The Gacha Performance of a Lifetime
"Kwooooooooaaaaaaah!"
"W-what the!"
"What's happening!"
"Hey, are... are you okay!?"
"...!"
"Are you alright?"
"S-Sir Hero!"
I clasped my hands together, watching the heroes panic in every direction at the sound of my voice.
Alright...
I’ve drawn enough attention...
Now, time for the dramatic performance.
Behold...
This is it...
The top-tier acting I perfected while deceiving the administrative officer to get outpatient treatment at the military hospital!
Thud—
I dropped to my knees, hands still clasped, my body trembling violently.
!!
"Ah... kgh...! Ah... Ah, subspace, o... open!"
I intentionally stuttered, pouring every ounce of emotion into my voice, making it sound like I was choked up with overwhelming, tear-jerking intensity.
I focused my consciousness, intending to pull the Skill Creation Ticket Random Box from my inventory through the subspace. A black, viscous shape rippled and manifested above my hands.
A moment later, the black mass vanished, and a luxurious wooden box, designed to open from the top and bottom, appeared in my palms.
It was exactly the same as the one I’d seen before.
"What is this... just a box? I thought something amazing was going to come out."
Cheonma’s voice was dripping with disappointment.
I turned my head to see her looking back and forth between me and the box in my hands with a disgruntled expression.
Cheonma...
You just don't know what you're talking about.
What’s the point of me bragging about how good it is...
Seeing is believing, right before your very eyes!
Last time, the tickets had fluttered out and I’d looked pathetic scrambling to pick them up. I didn't want a repeat of that, so I cradled the box against my chest, carefully gripped the bottom, and used my free hand to pry the top open with force.
Click—
I held the base steady and slowly lifted the lid.
Alright... since they didn't flutter out this time... my Skill Creation Ticket must be right here inside...!
Fwoooooooosh—
!?
A blinding light erupted from within the box, a pillar of radiance shooting straight into the sky.
Should I compare it to the drop effect of a legendary weapon in a game...?
Or perhaps... like those cooking anime where a massive pillar of light shoots out from a pot... that seemed like the most accurate description.
Even though I was surprised by this phenomenon—different from last time—the appearance of the light pillar brought my master-class performance to its absolute climax.
Why?
Because our potential hot-blooded Gacha addicts, the heroes, were staring up at the pillar of light with their jaws dropped so low they looked like they might detach.
The marketing is definitely going to be effective.
"Wow... what on earth..."
"...Is that... an ability...?"
"...Haa.... haa.... I, I'm curious....!"
"......"
"So that's... what a Gacha is.... I understand why Cheonma... and Eodum are so obsessed.... It's worth dying for..."
"S-Sir Hero... what exactly are you...? Are you even human?"
I felt a rush of exhilaration at the heroes' reactions, waiting for the Skill Creation Ticket to appear once the light pillar faded.
Fwoooooooooooooooooooooooosh—
The pillar of light, which seemed like it would rise forever, hit its peak after about 30 seconds and began to slowly subside.
As the pillar faded, the light leaking from the box also began to dim.
With a pounding heart, I peered into the box...
There was no Skill Creation Ticket inside.
?????
What? Where did my Skill Creation Ticket go?
Where did it go!
It felt like... losing a lottery ticket that had just won first prize...?
I was on the verge of a panic attack, a wave of immense dread washing over me.
"L-look up there!"
?
At that moment...
Cheonma, who had been more interested and sincere about the Gacha than anyone else, pointed above my head.
Following her fingertip, I looked up to see the Skill Creation Ticket, encased in a transparent, spherical membrane—much like a 1,000-won capsule toy—slowly descending.
As it drifted down, the ticket spun slowly inside the membrane, dancing like the Earth rotating in space, showing off its form as if to say, "Look at me," amidst the fading light.
!!!
This is insane...
They give me production values like this?
It’s getting more and more spectacular as we go...
It’s getting fun.
You keep moving the customers to the point of wetting themselves with such amazing emotional impact...
When you keep providing such incredible thrills...
Is there any customer who wouldn't be moved and wouldn't make a repeat purchase?
That’s impossible.
Right...?
Everyone?
I turned to look at the heroes...
It was exactly as I expected.
Cheonma was staring at the ticket with adorable, lovestruck eyes, hearts practically drawn in her pupils.
Merlin was panting, her curiosity gauge at MAX, unable to control her breathing in her excitement.
Hwaryeon was staring at the ticket with burning eyes, as if determined to challenge the Gacha again and pull something good herself.
Arthur, who had been watching without much expectation, was staring at the ticket with a look of astonishment, as if she had finally realized the greatness of the Gacha.
Judang was staring at the ticket in shock, as if she’d found a lost Buddha amidst the Gacha shock.
And Lancelot... she was staring at the ticket with a devious smile, as if she were plotting something sinister while simultaneously harboring some expectation, even if she didn't know what it was...
Yes...
Those are the looks. Those are the looks that confirm they’ve fallen deep into the Gacha, just as I wanted!
Crackle...
As the transparent membrane covering the Skill Creation Ticket touched the box, the box began to disassemble and vanish.
After the membrane finished breaking down the box, it settled gently onto my palms.
It’s here...
My Skill Creation Ticket!
...Phew... is it just one...?
Or... will it give me a few more like last time...?
But... how do I open this?
I had finally gotten the ticket right in front of me, but the membrane was blocking it.
Just as I thought this, golden letters appeared on the membrane like a tattoo.
The tattoo on the membrane read:
'Shout "Let's Go" to break the seal.'
Just as I was about to shout "Let's Go" with a fluttering heart, I suddenly felt a sense of unease.
How should I put it... somehow... I felt like the moment I opened the seal with my own hands... only one Skill Creation Ticket would come out.
At this very moment, I felt that if I had someone else perform the Gacha on my behalf... I might get multiple tickets.
I looked at the heroes. Since only Lancelot had hit the jackpot with 3,000 Gacha coins, I had a feeling that if I asked her to shout "Let's Go" and break the seal, she might hit another jackpot.
Even though... Cheonma would definitely throw a fit...
But what can I do...
Cheonma is a "bad-luck hand" today...
How can you talk about Gacha skills to someone who pulled 3,000 coins when you only pulled 500?
Not a chance.
I willingly accepted Cheonma’s inevitable nagging and called out to Lancelot.
"Lancelot!"
"...! Y-yes!"
Tap tap tap
Lancelot, who had been wearing a devious smile while watching the ticket, immediately returned to her blank-faced self and came running over to me.
"I have a favor to ask, Lancelot."
"... A... favor...? What is it...?"
"... It’s not difficult. I’m going to give you this seal."
"T-the... seal...?"
"Yeah. Just hold the seal and shout 'Let's Go.' Easy, right?"
"Oh... okay!"
As I handed over the transparent spherical membrane from my hands, Lancelot took it carefully with both of hers.
"If it pulls something good... I’ll make you something delicious later."
"D-delicious... food?"
Well... all sorts of random items come out, so why couldn't I make her some food? I’m sure there’s some ramen sleeping in my inventory.
Lancelot, who had been looking blank, brightened up at the mention of delicious food.
The way she looked at me, her eyes felt like shining sapphires.
To see light shining from her eyes...
Yes... indeed...
Lancelot, you have the face of someone who will hit the jackpot today...
Please... I beg you... Lancelot... out of all the heroes, today... only you have given me hope...
"W-wait a second!"
Just then, Cheonma’s urgent voice rang out.
"...?"
"Don't tell me... right in front of my eyes... you're asking Lancelot to do something Gacha-related?"
Anyway... she has a nose for the smell of Gacha like no other...
It was clear that Cheonma was possessed by a ghost who died because they couldn't pull a Gacha.
Just hearing me ask Lancelot was enough for her to catch on faster than any other hero.
"Why... can't you answer...?"
"...What if I am?"
"Obviously, you should be asking me. What... what are you doing right now?"
"You...? Why would I...? You... you disappointed me. You know that?"
"... D-disappointed?"
"Yeah. You showed me you could hit zero coins!"
"Ugh... b-but! I want to do the Gacha too! I didn't know I’d lose 80 times in a row!"
"Yeah... that’s your Gacha luck today... Then... you should have proven it with results. Today’s Gacha King is Lancelot. Your Gacha skills... are hopeless today. You can’t deny that, can you...?"
"...Grrr!"
Cheonma...
No matter how much you talk, Gacha isn't something you can just show off.
You have to gather the energy of the universe with a power that transcends the gods!
Believe in yourself!
Even if you raise the probability and challenge it, you might still fail!
Cheonma glared at Lancelot, feeling frustrated that she’d been pushed aside, but she couldn't find any grounds for an argument and just huffed in anger.
Did I push her too hard...
I should give her some lip service.
"I’ll give you your share of coins later, so... just wait a bit."
"Oh... y-you'll... wait a bit?"
"Yup~"
I cooed slightly to soothe her anger, and Cheonma giggled.
Anyway...
Alright, it seems like Cheonma is settled now.
"Lancelot... I’m counting on you! Open it on my signal and shout it out!"
"..."
Lancelot nodded as if she understood and stared intently at the sphere.
It looked like the sphere was swirling in Lancelot’s sapphire eyes.
Yes...
I believe in you, Lancelot!
Right...
Now!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I approached Lancelot, who was holding the sphere and focusing intently, overlapped my hands over hers, and shouted.
"LET'S GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!"
"L-L-L-Let's Goooooooooooooooooooooo!"
Startled by my action, Lancelot’s eyes widened, and the voice she had been stuttering out, suppressed by something, finally burst forth properly.
Crack-
Cr-cr-crack-
Snap—
Fwoooooooooooooooosh—
Cracks spread across the transparent sphere, and suddenly, with a loud snap, a brilliant white flash erupted, engulfing the mountainside in pure white light.
Crazy...
A double performance... is this for real?
Alright... so...!
How many Skill Creation Tickets came out!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!