First Gacha Pull
Oliver seemed quite offended by my question, furrowing his brow deeply as he opened his mouth to speak.
"It's the first day, but... we'll proceed with the lesson."
As if in retaliation for my question, he shot me a glare before flipping open the textbook and starting the class. The other students let out gasps of admiration. Not like we had anything better to do without a lesson anyway, so I followed the instructor's lead and opened my book.
The textbook we'd received at the entrance ceremony—I'd tried reading it on my own, but it might as well have been gibberish.
"It's commonly said in the world that [Summons are determined solely by luck. It's a fate unchangeable from birth.]"
Tak tak. Oliver scribbled something on the blackboard. It was a more proper lecture than I'd expected.
"However, that's not true. We summoners, after long years of research, have discovered methods to summon specific summons."
No one knows what summon will come out of a gacha until it's pulled. But there are ways to find out before the pull—by offering a sacrifice.
Do that, and a specific hero related to the sacrifice gets summoned... But these so-called sacrifices were resources you only got after hitting pity in the gacha. Naturally, in this isekai world where I couldn't even whale, let alone hit pity, they were treated as ultra-rare heirlooms.
"The most well-known method is for this wolf series."
"...?"
With that, Oliver began drawing a wolf on the blackboard. The wolf series— the most common among 1-star summons. There were over ten kinds, differentiated by fur color, making them the summons with the highest pull rate.
"The method to pull the wolf series is simple. Offer a wolf pelt as sacrifice, and you'll summon a wolf from the series."
"Instructor. Is there any reason to deliberately summon a 1-star summon?"
"Good question. It's to lower the odds of pulling other 1-star summons. For example, the Bluebird, known as the most useless among 1-star summons..."
I felt my head spinning as I listened to them. If I kept this up, I might pass out.
What? The Bluebird is the most useless? So you're saying to waste a sacrifice on a trash summon that shows up no matter how much you don't want it?
'And who the hell has sacrifices for a crappy 1-star anyway...'
A sigh escaped me naturally. But I'd already drawn enough attention. Pointing it out now would just make them think, "What does a summonless nobody know?" and sour the mood.
So I swallowed my frustration and quietly listened to the lesson until one student raised their hand.
"Professor, please take back that the Bluebird is the most useless."
"...You there."
Her words perfectly echoed my thoughts, so I turned to look at the student who'd spoken. Then quickly turned away.
"Cadet Sheera. What do you mean by that?"
"But—such a cute summon being useless is just too sad, isn't it?"
With that, she summoned her Bluebird on the back of her hand. Oliver frowned at the sight.
"Summoning a summon during class is against the rules."
"Oh, was it? Sorry~."
She apologized but didn't dismiss the summon. Yet no one in the classroom voiced any complaint against her. Worried I might accidentally make eye contact, I fixed my gaze on the blackboard and pretended to focus on the lesson.
'Don't look, don't look...'
But my prayers went unanswered—Sheera quietly turned her head to stare at me. Then she flashed a grin.
It was a refreshingly bright smile, but inwardly, I sighed heavily.
Sheera Acacia, one of the heroines in the game and the most unpredictable one at that.
"That's the lesson for today—see you next time."
With that, Oliver left the classroom. The other cadets chatted with friends they'd made, bonding.
I quickly packed up and stood to leave, but at that exact moment, Sheera swooped in to block my path.
"Hey, you're that Ian Clark, right?"
"...Yeah. What do you want?"
"You were staring at me earlier, weren't you? Why?"
I couldn't exactly say, What do you mean why, you idiot? You ask a question in class and expect no eyes on you?
She was a 4D being driven purely by curiosity. An answer like that would just mark me as an intriguing specimen for her to pester endlessly. I hated that kind of hassle.
"...I was thinking the same thing."
"Huh?"
"You said it yourself. That the Bluebird isn't a useless summon."
"—Ah, gotcha."
But even my obvious dodge didn't deter her; she pressed on relentlessly.
"So why'd you think that~?"
"What?"
"You don't have a summon... and the Clark family has no history with Bluebirds... So how'd you know?"
"...You know about my family?"
"A little?"
Intrigued that she knew more about my family than I did, I pulled out an answer this world would buy.
"Common sense says it doesn't make sense for the Bluebird, which has zero combat use, and the gray wolf to both be 1-stars."
"Hmm... Yeah, maybe?"
"It's reasonable to assume the Bluebird has at least wolf-level combat power."
"Ooh, impressive. First time I've met someone who analyzes like that."
Of course. The Bluebird's performance was leagues beyond any wolf. The issue? Its skills didn't unlock until it leveled up.
And in this isekai where no one knew how to level summons, it was just a glorified paperweight.
"Well, then..."
"Wait, one more thing."
"...What?"
"I heard you bragged to Stella you'd pull a 3-star."
"Yeah."
"How are you so confident?"
I paused, then met her gaze. Her eyes urged an answer as I smirked back.
"In a week, see for yourself."
"Ah..."
Brushing her off, I hurried back to my room.
'Boring.'
Sheera Acacia. The emotion she'd felt most in life, born to the Marquis of Acacia, was boredom.
Life was too easy, existence too dull. Her path had rails laid from birth—like boarding a train that ran itself on endless fair winds.
'Boring.'
So it was only natural she'd grown this way. No one scolded her, no one disciplined her. The perfect setup for a free-spirited, pleasure-chasing 4D girl.
Thus, she became capricious. As years passed without correction, her inability to curb curiosity was added to the mix.
"I won't pull."
Her interest in Ian sparked when he said that. Refusing the sacred summoning ceremony? Even the Iritz duke's daughter here wouldn't dare. It was shocking enough to question his sanity.
But to her, Ian seemed perfectly sane. Not the wild eyes of someone desperate for attention, nor the gaze of madness.
After that, she tailed him sneakily. Manipulating classes to match his was child's play.
Him looking at her during lesson? Pure thrill. She wondered if this was love, the dizziness was that intense.
'Ian Clark.'
Rush to him after class. Talked with him.
He had rock-solid knowledge of summons. His confident voice proclaimed his wisdom as truth.
Where did that confidence come from? She grew curious.
'Curious.'
I want it. Keep it forever by my side, play with it till it breaks.
She hugged her arms, lost in excited frenzy.
And a week passed.
6 AM. I woke right on time, as always. No special reason.
"Loud... Can't you mute this...?"
Rubbing my eyes, I got out of bed.
A week. The day of reckoning had arrived.
Into the bathroom for a thorough wash, then meditation to clear my mind and awaken my brain. Time passed, and the dorm buzzed with activity. Time for school.
Opened the door—and kids who'd skipped class to wait outside followed me with excited faces.
Not that I planned to head straight to the temple... Would it even be open this early?
"Ian Clark."
Unlike my thoughts, the fiery Iritz lady seemed to think the temple ran at dawn.
Well, with ducal power, she could probably force it open pre-dawn.
She looked triumphant.
"You got the heirloom, right?"
"No."
"...What?"
"Didn't get it."
She scowled and glared.
Thinking I'd chickened out? She snorted.
"Hmph, figures. Knew you'd bail."
"On what?"
"Making excuses? You just admitted it. No heirloom."
"Yeah."
"I waited to see how great it was... No point in a summoning now."
She acted relieved, ordering me to the staff room for resignation papers.
"Summoning hasn't happened yet?"
"Hah, you're saying there's no need! What can a heirloom-less nobody do?"
"Won't know till we try."
"I know without trying!"
This girl... But getting heated here was amateur hour. I snorted lightly, smiled, and said,
"Scared?"
"W-What?"
"Otherwise, why block my summoning?"
"You... Gonna play stubborn to the end?"
Thinking it a final tantrum? The crowd jeered agreement.
I ignored it entirely. I knew those jeers would turn to jealous stares soon.
We headed to the Summoning Temple. A priest, prepped early—likely tipped by Stella—caught my eye.
I nodded politely.
"Sorry for the early hour, priest."
"Haha, no issue. Morning prayers had me up."
"Then..."
"Yes. Proceed right away."
He pointed to the magic circle. Stella and the others watched.
No escape now; she'd think she cornered me. Reality? Opposite.
"If I pull a 3-star here, you will give the heirloom, right?"
"Just do it already!"
"Answer."
"—F-Fine! I'll get it no matter what, so hurry up!"
Stella yelled. Noble ears perked. Even Iritz couldn't silence this many mouths.
'Checkmate.'
I reached for the magic circle. Soul Power flowed from my hand into it.
Not stopping there, I used the summoning ticket from the day-7 reward.
Would you like to use the 3-Star Random Summoning Ticket?
Yes / No
'Of course yes.'
Moments later, the magic circle began glowing gold. Stella gaped in shock.
"No way!"
Too late, girl. I watched the circle eagerly, wondering what it'd be.
I'd done all I could, but what came out? Pure luck.
Shwaaak—!
Massive wings unfurled. Pure white like a swan.
The wings scattered sacred feathers, blessing the knight within.
"Are you my master?"
Half-Angel. Half-blood of an angel, the holy knight who saved the nation raised her head.