The Gacha Jackpot and the Heroines' Obsession
A few seconds passed after the blinding flash of the stun grenade faded.
I opened my eyes, which I had squeezed shut.
Fssssssssssssssst—
The object that had formed the transparent sphere began to disintegrate, emitting a sound as if it were turning into particles.
!!
The paper...!
My Skill Creation Tickets!!!
The very moment I let go of Lancelot’s hand—which I had been holding onto for fear that the papers might flutter away—
Flutter—
Snap—
Lancelot’s right hand swiftly snatched the tickets just as they were about to drift into the air.
"Nice, Lancelot!"
"..."
And then...
Lancelot shot me a coy, mischievous look, then raised her free left hand to shield the tickets from my view.
Step—
She took a slight step back, never taking her eyes off me, and I saw her right hand perform a gesture like a seasoned gambler checking their hand to see how many tickets she had managed to snag.
Ah...
Why are you doing this, Lancelot...
The way you’re acting, it’s like you’re a professional card shark checking your hand!
You... don't tell me...?
You aren't planning on pocketing my Skill Creation Tickets, are you!?
You...! That’s not okay!
Do you want to lose your hand!?
...
Of course... realistically, that was impossible, but...
"...How many... did you get?"
I asked Lancelot, my heart trembling. There was no point in approaching her and provoking her; that would do me no good at all.
She was holding the hostage I needed, but I... I had nothing to offer as a reward for that hostage. This was a negotiation war that was far too disadvantageous for me.
Lancelot...
Even one is fine.
Two would be amazing...
Three... and I’ll hug you until you’re crushed...
So, please...
Lancelot...
Just... give them back...
I’ve come so far...
Don't ruin it now...
The way you’re acting right now... it feels like a marathon runner at the very end of a long race, just before the final sprint, who tries to hand me water to support me, only to trip, fall, and drag me down by my ankle with them...
I looked at Lancelot, projecting the immense sorrow of that marathon runner onto myself, feeling as if this were my last chance and she was sending me into the abyss of despair.
Can you hear it!?
The voice of my heart!?
You crazy biiiiiiiiiiiiiitch!!!!!
After making eye contact with me, Lancelot looked startled and walked toward me, appearing flustered.
Tap, tap—
"...Here."
Lancelot held out the Skill Creation Tickets she had been clutching in her right hand.
Ha...
You could have just given them to me nicely...
Why did you think it was a good idea to joke around there...
My heart is still aching from the stress you put me through just now...
"....Five."
??????????
What... did you just say?
Five Skill Creation Tickets... appeared...?
Five stars?
Ah, seriously... stop joking around...
Looking at Lancelot’s face, I couldn't detect a hint of a lie.
...Really?
Surprised by Lancelot’s claim that there were five tickets, I stared at the hand she was holding out.
And I counted to see if there were really five Skill Creation Tickets.
One...
Two...
Three...
Four...
Five...
Really...
There are... five of them...?
There were truly five Skill Creation Tickets in Lancelot’s hand.
You...!!!
I love you! You crazy biiiiiiiiiiiiiitch!!!!!
I lost my mind and hugged Lancelot, squeezing her tight.
!!!!!
I believed in you! Lancelot! Your gacha luck!
Oh, wait...
Is Lancelot okay?
From the moment I hugged her, she didn't move a muscle and kept rubbing her face against my body, which worried me, but since I was holding her, I couldn't see her expression.
However, I could infer her state to some extent just by listening to the conversation of the heroes around us.
"...Look, look, look at Lancelot! This is the first time I’ve ever seen her make such a happy face! ...This is just my opinion, but that young master is definitely some kind of bewitching creature! To think he’d charm Lancelot like that..."
"What on earth is on that paper that he’s so curious about how many there are? But look at her? She keeps rubbing her face against him... How long are you going to keep doing that! You two!"
"...That... was supposed to be my spot... That Lancelot wench... she’s enjoying it to death... Grind, grind..."
"I’ve known Lancelot for a long time... but I’ve never seen her blush and close her eyes with such a happy expression... Is it really that good? To be hugged that tightly by a man?"
"Let’s ask Lancelot later... how it felt. I think this conversation is going to be a long one... That happy face... was being hugged that tightly really so good..."
Cough, ahem!
I cleared my throat, released Lancelot, and finally managed to take the Skill Creation Tickets from her hand as she stood there, still dazed.
Phew...
Finally, five Skill Creation Tickets are in my grasp...
With this, I... can become even stronger...
Now then... what kind of skill should I... create...
As I pondered and looked at the heroes, I noticed Lancelot was still standing there blankly.
...Those Legion Commanders... they said they were targeting me...
That means I can't keep hiding behind Lancelot forever...
Having faced the Legion Commanders, I felt that the ability to protect myself from them was the most necessary thing.
An ability to defend myself from any threat...
What would be best?
Various thoughts and creative ideas swirled in my head, but I soon erased them, realizing they were likely impossible to realize.
Why?
Because the scales of the Goddess of Justice and Fairness wouldn't just hand over some absurd, broken ability.
The scales, which prioritize high risk, high return, and balance, would clearly be extremely picky when it came to skill creation.
As I stood there with a serious expression, lost in thought with the tickets in my hand, Cheonma approached me, looking concerned.
"Eodum. Is there a problem? You were happy just a moment ago. Why are you like this?"
"...I have a chance to raise my own abilities, but... I don't know what to do... Heh, am I... a dummy?"
I looked at Cheonma, gave her a silly grin, and added a cutesy suffix to my sentence.
Seeing my silly, grinning face, Cheonma suddenly straightened up, pulled my arm toward her chest, pressed herself closer to me, and asked:
"A, a dummy...? Heh... look at this guy... seriously... he’s grinning and seducing me right now... a, no... what is it that’s bothering you?"
?
Huh?
But Cheonma.
What did you just say while you were smiling?
I thought you said something before that...
You definitely said something...
You said it so quietly I couldn't hear it?
Ah~ anyway, aren't I a total idiot? There are several martial arts geniuses right in front of me, and I’m worrying about this alone? There are beings here who have reigned like absolute rulers in their own worlds, standing right before my eyes... and I’m worrying like a fool. I should just ask for advice. If I just throw the problem out there, wouldn't these experts in martial arts and magic think about it with me and consult me on what’s appropriate? Kia... my brain is working fast. Kim Eodum!
"That’s the thing... seeing your face just now, I had a sudden thought!? About how to move forward?"
"How...?"
"I don't know much about martial arts, but... I know it’s very rude to ask someone to teach you their martial arts... right?"
"...Martial arts? That... I suppose that’s true. Unless you’re a disciple... right, Hwaryeon?"
Cheonma turned her head to ask for Hwaryeon’s opinion.
Following Cheonma, I also turned my head to look at Hwaryeon.
"Th... could you step back a bit? What kind of pathetic behavior is this... What!? You want to be taught martial arts!?"
Hwaryeon reacted with a start.
As if she had been struck by a critical blow from an unexpected attack...
?
Hwaryeon definitely said something before that too... but she said it so quietly I couldn't hear it.
Ah~ perhaps she was talking to Cheonma via telepathy? About whether it was okay to help me?
Kuh... I’m quick on the uptake with these things. Ladies~ forget the secret martial arts... just leak some detailed information about the martial world. I wouldn't be able to understand the martial arts even if you taught them to me anyway.
If you want me, you’ll spill the beans eventually.
"No... I know it’s rude to ask to be taught martial arts, so I’m not asking for that... I just... wanted to get some information."
"...Not asking for martial arts, but information... That’s unexpected. What are you curious about? Let’s hear it."
Swish—
Hwaryeon even used a movement technique that left an afterimage to move to the opposite side of Cheonma.
"You remember checking it when Cheonma reached out last time, right? I want to check it once too... could you hold out your arm?"
Hwaryeon, who had approached in an instant, said this while holding out her hand to me.
I answered Hwaryeon by adding a cutesy suffix to my words, just like I did with Cheonma, and held out my hand.
"...Yup!"
"Heh... so that’s why you were so dazed and charmed...? Let’s see."
Hwaryeon smiled brightly and grabbed my hand.
Then Cheonma reached out, grabbed Hwaryeon’s wrist, and kept her in check.
"Wait a minute! Eodum just said he wanted to ask for information, so why are you suddenly trying to check him with your internal energy? Especially when I already did it?"
"Cheonma. Eodum said it. He wanted to ask for information. I needed information about Eodum, so I did that. Is there something wrong with that?"
"...You bitch..."
"If you can’t refute it, could you let go of my arm? Let go, you wench..."
Hwaryeon said this with a smirk, her tone full of composure, as if asking Cheonma if she was wrong.
I kept hearing small whispers, but assuming it was a type of telepathy, I didn't think much of it.
As Cheonma withdrew her arm and let go, Hwaryeon interlaced her fingers with mine and squeezed.
Ah, that hurts, Hwaryeon...?
"Uh... Hwaryeon. My hand kind of hurts. When Cheonma did it, she was like..."
"Shh. I need to concentrate, so stay still."
"..."
"Don't pull any tricks...? ...That’s because I’m a greater master of internal energy."
"Oh... really? Weren't you two of similar skill? I thought you were childhood friends..."
Squeeze—
"Argh!"
When Hwaryeon squeezed our interlaced hands once more, a pain that felt like my bones were breaking surged through me, and I let out a scream before I could stop myself.
You could just say no if it’s not true, Hwaryeon!
Do you have to show a vein popping on your forehead and get angry without saying a word!?
Hurry up and finish... I have to use the Skill Creation Tickets...
If you keep going, my hand won't be in one piece!