Mom Gacha Failed (1)

A hardcore game with a 1% clear rate.

[Darkness and Fear]

A soul from another world drops into the body of a starving young NPC orphan.

Unaware that, soon enough, a fateful woman destined to lead him to salvation would arrive to rescue him from a fate of withering away from birth...

...A displeasing voice scraped against his eardrums from beyond the haze of faint consciousness.

"Get up and earn some money!"

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

The moment those words rang out, everyone bolted out from under their blankets.

"Uh, yes?"

"Hoho, not fully awake yet? Hurry up and go earn some money!"

The gods had merely rolled the dice—they had no intention of showing the path.

Possessors never get a say anyway.

[Sorry... no extra Talents today]

[What? I'm barely getting enough to eat myself...!]

The unheard-of currency unit called 'Talents'.

It wasn't the game's gold—it was the orphanage's unique system.

The problem was that he was flat broke... and lacked Talents, meaning he'd have to starve.

His stomach felt like it was about to explode from hunger. The stragglers who couldn't eat were utterly pathetic, but that didn't mean the others were chosen ones. The visual of the distributed gruel was dismal—mixed with sawdust or something? It was packed with unidentified white clumps. A foul smell stabbed his nose, but his body craved even that. The moment human dignity crumbled before food scraps!

Just then, his eyes met those of the orphanage director, Mama Gail, who was ambling by.

A familiar skill window popped ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠up before his eyes.

System notification!

But the content was a type he'd never seen before.

As the Maternal Love skill activated, Mama Gail's eyes softened.

"Tch..."

She clicked her tongue once, then tossed something over with a flick. What landed in his lap was... no way! A strip of jerky!

"Whoa!"

An exclamation slipped out reflexively, and he shoved it straight into his mouth. No time for second thoughts—he wolfed it down, and only then did vitality start returning to his body.

"Whoa... what is that? Real jerky, right?"

"Whoaaa, looks delicious."

"Me... me! Just one bite!"

All the kids stared at him with eyes full of envy. From their reactions, it seemed Mama Gail wasn't the type to hand out food like this.

The exact activation conditions were still a mystery, but his hunger eased a bit. As he chewed on the lingering aftertaste of the jerky, someone nudged his side.

"Hey."

"What...?"

"How'd you score that from Mama earlier? Spill some to me too. Heh heh..."

A pretty orphan boy was grinning mischievously. The kind who'd break plenty of hearts later on.

"No way."

He spat it out curtly, annoyed for no reason.

"You know how many Talents that jerky costs, right?"

"Of course."

Of course he didn't. He just wanted to shake off the kid quick.

"Hmmm... so this is how you really are, huh? Dodo, right?"

"Uh, yeah... that's me?"

His name was the same as before possession! It threw him off a bit.

"I'm Roni. Let's get along from now on. We're in the same boat, kinda."

"...?"

No clue what that meant, but he brushed it off vaguely.

"Sure."

The guy muttered to himself and wandered off. But there were more pressing concerns.

He slipped into a quiet corner and whispered with a sliver of hope...!

"Status window."

Oh shit... isn't ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠this a total trash roll?

Two curses, no less. And even the view conditions are locked. It reeked of malice, like they'd screw him over when it mattered most.

Whoever possessed me...! You hearing this, you fucking bastard!

...Malnutrition was obvious. Right on cue, his stomach roared for more. Low blood pressure maybe? His head started spinning. His condition was worse than imagined, but it was time for a plan.

"Sigh..."

Maternal Love—what an absurd unique skill.

Well then... Aigoo, I'm so hungry. He tried racking his brain, but his stomach protested for food again.

"Ugh..."

He naturally clutched his empty gut. Vowing to eat tomorrow no matter what.

[Meal: 5 Talents]

[Pocket Knife: 50 Talents]

…

[Jerky: 80 Talents]

Pricing fit for an orphanage with an absent mom. Meals were a struggle for the kids, and these extras were dangled as "hope." Pure deception.

To eat, he had to offer something to the orphanage, so he tried hunting. His partner was Roni, who latched on first, insisting they team up.

They hid in the bushes, holding their breath. His skinny limbs trembled, but he forced himself to hold steady.

"Dodo!"

A rabbit—prime protein source—burst out. As it charged in a straight line, he hurled the stone in his hand.

A gross crunch echoed heavily.

[Darkness and Fear]'s growth system welcomed him.

"Grr, see that? The rabbit went poof! This guy's a real man!"

"Jeez, seriously..."

He couldn't help but chuckle in disbelief. It lightened the mood.

Roni looked like a delicate pretty boy, but his speech was straight out of a perverted old man's mouth. He seemed to enjoy Dodo's disgusted reactions... the signs were already there, worrying for his future.

After repeated hunts, the tenth rabbit. Repetitive actions had a chance to generate skills and raise proficiency.

The Throw skill corrected power and accuracy on throws. Power rivaling a pro slinger. From arms with barely any muscle? What a shitty world, but its honest growth system was his only hope.

He couldn't hide everything, so he planned to confess to his temporary partner. With some bullshit mixed in, of course.

"Ahem..."

He set the mood and opened his mouth.

"Actually, I don't remember anything before yesterday..."

"Hey, you're from nobility, right?"

"Huh?"

He'd aimed for the 'I don't remember' route—what was this?

But he rolled with it flexibly.

"H-How'd you...?"

"Haha! Knew it, you can't hide that stuff. You handed over some jewelry yesterday too, right?"

"Did you see...?"

"Don't need to—it's obvious."

Roni grinned, barking up the wrong tree.

"Your throwing skills scream exclusive knight or hunter training... you got mana too?"

"I do have that noble vibe."

"Nah, not really."

Damn, savage. Stone cold rejection?

He shot back at Roni.

"Ahem, sounds like you're noble too. From where, to end up rolling in a dump like this?"

"Fallen duke's daughter—er, family. Heh heh... flat broke now."

"Alright, fellow broke asses—let's get along."

"Yeah."

Fist bump greeting. Annoying, but not a bad kid at heart.

Roni eyed the hefty rabbits and added,

"Heh heh... Dodo, with this haul, Mama might give a 'special' reward? Like, at night?"

Whoa... this lunatic's at it again.

"Is that all you think about?"

"You're a guy in your prime too, right? Why so shy?"

Roni grinned lecherously, poking his waist. His emaciated gut growled in rebellion.

"Goddamn it..."

"Heh..."

Roni grimaced in shared hunger. Silence fell; no room for other thoughts with empty stomachs.

"Hope they give lots of Talents."

One more day of starving and he might actually die.

"Dodo, what's this? Yesterday's treat paid off! Hoho ho!"

Mama Gail's mouth nearly split at the sight of over ten rabbits. 5 Talents per rabbit, 25 per person. She ruffled his hair like a fond pat—overwhelming affection.

"Ah... ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠thank you. Heh heh."

No harm in scoring points. He forced a smile to match the vibe.

"Whoa..."

"..."

25 Talents—equal to five meals—were pressed into his hand. An unimaginable fortune to the other kids.

Kids lined up behind him, offering foraged goods. Squirrels, berries, grubs. The director snatched them all as if entitled.

"Mama...! I worked hard to gather these."

A kid tremblingly offered a basket. Just a few shriveled mushrooms inside.

"Hoho! Trash. You expect Talents for this?"

Her smile stayed, but her pupils chilled like a snake's.

The kid's face drained white. Then a dull thwack and a scream echoed.

"Aaaack!"

Flesh tearing followed. She laughed. Truly delighted, her laughter a twisted accompaniment to the child's agony.

"Hoyt! Hot! Hoho!"

Only bursting sounds, screams, and mad cackles filled the space.

"Aaaaah!"

The kid collapsed screaming, then staggered up limping.

"Go over there, you useless brat. Hohoho."

"Over there" meant starving today. The kid huddled in the corner like a criminal, sniffling.

His earlier excitement was long gone. No helping it.

This was [Darkness and Fear]'s way.

Just like no one cared when he'd starved yesterday.

Mealtime followed. One spoonful numbed his tongue with bitterness.

Damn... fuck...! This wasn't food. Even a stray dog would shake its head.

No expectations, yet the worst. Too wasteful to toss, so he offered it as charity.

"Hey, you eat it."

"Huh...?"

The battered kid blinked in disbelief.

"Th-Thank you."

Bowed deeply, then slurped the gruel through tears.

Back at his seat, Roni poked his waist with a grin.

"What?"

"Hey, want half of mine?"

"Gave it 'cause it tastes like shit—don't get ideas. Eat it all."

"...Kinda touching? That's noblesse oblige, right?"

"Tch... not that."

Roni glanced at him with soulful eyes.

"Heh... Dodo, you cool bastard! Learned something."

"No, really, it was 'cause it sucked...!"

The constant hero-worship made his face burn. He hurriedly changed the subject.

"Don't laugh. Ever talked to Mama Gail? About the food, I mean."

"Hmm, Dodo, my take? Don't."

Roni's grin hardened seriously—for a moment—then poked again with a smirk.

"Hey...! You got a plan, right?"

Vague as hell, really. But he affirmed himself.

"...Of course."

"Feels suicidal to me... but fine, I'll trust ya! Heh heh..."

Whoa, worse than expected...! Cold sweat trickled down his back.

Makes sense—she was the psycho who rhythmically smashed kids' shins if offerings sucked.

Mention food and get beaten half to death—maybe break something?

...Could be suicide, but he had to try.

"What, she gonna kill me?"

He muttered, fooling himself.

"Heh heh... crazy tough guy. Rooting for ya."

Worried, Roni followed him to the door. Too far to back out now.

"Scream if shit hits the fan... uh, if it goes south... I'll take the beating with ya."

"Piss off, embarrassing."

Words aside, it touched him. Scratch the "brat" label. Roni was a real bro, a man's man.

"Hoo..."

He knocked on Mama Gail's office door. Silence. Boss room aura.

He faced the orphanage's ruler.

The skill message appeared. He reminded himself like self-hypnosis.

I'm a ten-rabbit orphan.

If the psycho director could count, she wouldn't gut the golden goose.

Approaching cautiously, Mama Gail smiled kindly.

"What is it, Dodo?"

Good—let's do this...!

He steeled himself and replied.

"Mama, the food tastes so bad I wanna eat meat."

"...?"

The dice were cast. Complaining about side dishes in the dead of night.

He'd opened with a topic the director never imagined.

Her smile vanished like it'd been washed away, eyes blinking like a glitch.

"...?"

Then suffocating silence followed.