Time to Grow (5)

BOOM!

A thunderous roar erupted from behind me, and the world turned blindingly white.

It’s here...!

As I tilted my head back toward the sky with an ecstatic expression, the palm of the Cheonma’s right hand, which had been reaching toward my face, naturally swept down from the bridge of my nose, past my lips, and all the way to my chin.

!!

Perhaps distracted by the light bursting from the Gacha machine, the Cheonma, who had been momentarily focused on the device, was startled by the sensation of my unexpected movement and pulled her hand back instantly.

She glared at me, but I just flashed her a grin, then triumphantly threw both arms toward the sky.

As the light faded, the voices of the heroes searching for me—led by the Cheonma standing right in front of me—reached my ears.

"You... are you actually insane!?"

.

..

"Young Master! A-are your eyes alright?"

"Haa... inhale— ha... inhale—ha... W-what is it this time? A guy like you... seriously... are you trying to drive me crazy?"

"...He's insane!"

"Don't think you'll get away with just being tied up. Seriously... I turn my back for one second and you're busy causing trouble? Grrr—"

"...I'm voting to tie him up and watch him, too..."

The heroes each had their say, and seemingly deciding they could no longer overlook my solo actions(?), they closed the distance until they were close enough to touch me with a single reach.

However...

There was one massive misconception the heroes had about me.

They thought I would simply give up because of some measly threats.

If I were the kind of Gacha-addict who would give up over mere threats... how could I even call myself a Gacha-addict!

I’m the type who pours my entire paycheck into Gacha, survives on cup noodles three times a day, and shares stories of risking my life just to pull a banner!

I’m the one who steadfastly endures the cold, hateful glares of everyone around me!

I’m the one who even risks my own survival for the sake of a pull!

You all underestimated us Gacha-addicts!

I lowered my hands and turned around.

Then, the Cheonma’s growling voice reached my ears clearly.

"...What are you trying to do now? Are you going to pretend you can't hear me? Do you really want to die?"

"No. The system just upgraded. Aren't you curious? About how my abilities have changed?"

"...!"

The Cheonma, who was clearly serious about Gacha, seemed unsure of my actions and hesitated to step forward.

Then, Merlin, whose interest in my abilities was exploding, asked in her stead.

"...R-right now! D-d-d-don't tell me! Are you saying your abilities have been enhanced!?"

"..."

Nod.

I answered Merlin’s breathless question with a silent nod, then dragged my slippers and slowly approached the machine.

The machine, which had been the size of a small compact car in the beginning, had expanded to the size of a large SUV, wide enough for all six heroes, including myself, to fit inside.

On top of that, the height of the machine and the screen had become much wider, and the lever, in particular, was shining with a brilliant, polished luster.

"Oooooooooh—!"

At my exclamation, the heroes couldn't contain their curiosity and swarmed around me.

"Huh!? What is this, what is this! It’s definitely... the space has expanded... how...? It feels... even more luxurious than before..."

Led by Merlin, who reacted most sensitively to the machine’s changes with her mouth agape, all the heroes began to look around the machine.

Since everyone had pulled the lever at least once to taste the Gacha, I could see them lingering on the shining, polished lever for a moment, then forcibly turning their heads away, suppressing the urge to pull it again.

Hey guys~ I think you forgot... I have 3,000 Gacha Coins sleeping in my inventory, don't I?

If I say that now... they might just rob me blind... so I'll play dumb for a bit...

Oh, right... should I try using my first Appraisal skill on the Gacha machine?

Watching the heroes' movements with satisfaction, I became curious about the machine that had been upgraded by the item that had emitted a rainbow-colored pillar or a pillar of fire—I didn't know which it was.

Wanting to check the machine I’d been so curious about, I looked at it with a pounding heart and shouted timidly.

"....Appraise.."

Pop—

The two items changed by the upgrade were displayed in bold for easy identification.

What? It was a GOD rank...?

And... a mileage system...?

What is this...?

Oh, wait!

T-this isn't the time for this!

"Oh... Ooooooh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Yes! This is it!!!!!!!!!!!!"

I drew their attention properly with my exclamation, and Merlin, the representative of curiosity, took the bait immediately.

"W-what! What is it!!! Tell me, no, tell us too!"

"..."

"Hey, tell us quickly! Don't keep it to yourself! Huh...? Wait a minute... why are your eyes like that?"

Merlin, who had been looking at me with shining eyes, asked as she noticed the change in my eyes.

"Ah, this? It’s an ability I got earlier while my eyes were hurting."

"....Hurting... ugh... what kind of ability is it?"

"It’s an ability that lets me check the stats of items pulled from the Gacha."

"Heeh..."

"And... this machine... they say it was made by a god...? That’s why it’s a GOD rank."

"...Rank is GOD... what?"

"Because it’s a machine made by a god, it’s god-tier..."

"...God-tier... it’s so absurd... it even kills my motivation to research it... Made by a god... that’s not a lie, is it?"

"...Of course not. Why would I lie?"

"...Made by a god... I guess I should just ignore all principles and such..."

Merlin’s words, tinged with disappointment, spread quietly through the surroundings.

But is this it...?

Is this the best you can do?

System?

Twinkle—

With a twinkle, the screen changed.

Jackpot!

That’s what I thought!

There was something more!

Huh? Wait a minute... I was always annoyed by the system repeating "system, system"...

It’s changed to something better now.

Does it become more human-like as it upgrades?

The moment of choice?

"C-choice? What kind of choice?"

Merlin asked, staring at the screen as if to voice my own bewilderment.

Why are you... more curious than me? Merlin?

.

..

Immediately after all the heroes saw the screen and confirmed the content, they turned their heads to look at me.

Everyone... are you looking at me because you're curious about what I'll choose?

At first, I wanted to choose option 1 and pursue individual growth... but thinking about it, I didn't want to stand on the front lines and fight... and since I have companions who will fight so hard in front of me... anyway, my ability is support-oriented... so I judged there was no need to walk a dangerous path.

"...System! My choice is number 2!"

"Don't do it! Cancel it quickly!"

The Cheonma vehemently opposed my choice.

But I didn't respond to the Cheonma’s words, keeping my eyes on the system.

I just waited silently for the system to change...

..

....

..

...

Good... it’s preparing.

As I kept staring at the screen, the Cheonma urged me on, her eyes blazing.

"Hey! Why did you do that! Huh!? You could have grown rapidly!"

"..."

Fearing I might get smacked if I ignored her any longer, I turned my head slightly to look at the Cheonma.

"...Look me straight in the eye. I'm asking why you made that choice. Why did you give up rapid growth...?"

"..."

I hesitated for a moment, as if agonizing over the Cheonma’s urging, then slowly lifted my head and opened my mouth.

"Hey... you ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠know? I made up my mind from the very beginning when I came here."

"...What is it?"

"To not be greedy, to support my companions, and for us all to survive together. I like team play... more than individual play. And... above all... seeing you all... solidified my resolve. I really liked you guys."

"..."

No...

With suckers like this everywhere...

How could I just throw them away?

If I threw them away, I’d be too frustrated to live with myself!

And...

You fools!

The reason I’m letting go now is to gain momentum from you future suckers!

Contrary to my true intentions, I smiled brightly and said,

"If... my sacrifice can bring us a huge benefit... then I... can let go of everything for a while. Hehehe..."

"You... are you laughing? You find this funny? Your choice right now! You’re throwing away your own chance of survival and just helping others! Do you understand!? You idiot!"

"...I know. I know I’m an idiot. But why? Am I not allowed to be?"

"You aren't! Why do you keep trying to give everything away! You should be a little more selfish! Always holding your worries and pain to yourself! Look at you now! You’re just trying to sacrifice yourself!"

"..."

Why is she being so emotional?

When I turned my head for a second at the Cheonma’s outburst, I saw all the heroes nodding as if they agreed with her.

Huh? Does everyone think that way?

...

It’s really hard to make excuses...

"...You said we were companions, right? Can't you... rely on us a little? Like other men... you can rely on us too..."

"...That... hearing that from a woman... it makes my heart flutter..."

"...W,what?"

"Relying on a woman... no... we're companions now... hmm..."

Just as I was struggling with how to continue, a ray of light descended upon me.

Ding—

The update must have finally finished, as a sound effect and text appeared on the screen.

.

..

Companions?

"C,companions!? He said companions! Companions!"

When Merlin said that with a strange sense of anticipation, the heroes who were looking at the screen ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠turned their gazes toward me.

You guys... why are your faces so expectant?

Phew~ Then let me live up to that expectation!

Amidst the heroes' interest, I closed my eyes and visualized the six of them: Cheonma, Hwaryeon, Judang, Arthur, Merlin, and Lancelot.

Ding—!

At the ringing sound, I opened my eyes and saw the names of the companions I had pictured in my mind displayed on the screen.

Ding—!

Ding-ding-ding—!

With the chain of notifications, holograms unfolded before my eyes and the heroes' eyes.

Ding!

The system poured an incredible amount of information into my eyes and the heroes' eyes in an instant.

What is this...

This... quest system... you’re applying it to them...?

Then... the heroes... earn coins through quests...

And I use the earned coins to pull Gacha for them...

And mileage accumulates...

And I get guaranteed Gacha items... is that what this ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠means?

This is insane...

It’s literally, "Provide the joys and sorrows of Gacha to the heroes... and I get guaranteed rewards..." isn't it?

Wow...

I’m really glad I chose the path of growth with companions!

At that moment, while I was quickly organizing and understanding the information, the heroes were going crazy over the fact ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠that they, too, could earn Gacha Coins through the system.

"W,what is this!!!!!!!!!! System?? Qu, quest!? What is it! What is this thing I see in front of me! And 500 Gacha Coins were paid out!? What is this really! I can’t keep my head straight!!!!" -Merlin-

"Don't tell me... now I can... earn Gacha Coins too...? Wait a minute... 500 coins? What are you doing! Give them to me quickly so I can pull Gacha!" -Cheonma-

"Really... companions... system...? It’s fascinating..." -Lancelot-

"This is driving me crazy... because of this, the demons can’t help but be interested in you, even if they don't want to... Wait a minute, Judang! Why do you keep pushing me!" -Arthur-

"Young Master... finally... you’ve given me a chance to show again that the Buddha exists... I will definitely show the power of the Buddha! Move aside, Arthur! Ahem! Cheonma! I’m first!" -Judang-

"Judging by the atmosphere, the hearing will have to be held later. More importantly, give me my coins first. I want to pull some Gacha too." -Hwaryeon-

Hey guys...

You all...

Weren't you angry at me just a moment ago?

It’s a relief that your interest has shifted, but...

Did you want to pull Gacha that badly...?

+++++++++++++++++++++++

*Hologram information display status as seen by the companions.