Chapter 90

After clearing the dungeon, we went straight home.

Now, we are all gathered around the table, with our smartphones placed in the center, fully prepared to pull the gacha.

"Thank you all for today. Thanks to you, I can now pull the gacha. I am deeply grateful!"

"What for... such a polite greeting?"

"Typical creepy Ohtsuka."

I stood up to greet everyone and bowed so deeply that I almost hit the table.

I had almost given up on this, but thanks to Noelle and the others, I can pull the gacha.

There's nothing more delightful than this.

When I raised my head, their reactions to my heartfelt gratitude were somewhat awkward.

Noelle stroked Muffet on her lap and sighed, while Cischa smirked and called me creepy.

How rude... to call such a heartfelt greeting creepy?

"So, I'm thinking of pulling the gacha... Are Ester and Luna okay with not resting?"

Ester and Luna are also sitting around the table, but they seem a bit quieter and less energetic than usual.

"I'm interested in the gacha, so I'll watch it before I go to bed."

"I'm feeling a bit unwell, but I'm curious, so I'll rest after it's over."

I asked just in case, but it seems they can endure pulling the gacha.

I thought Luna would prioritize resting, but it seems the gacha is really intriguing to her.

Still, she looked so unwell, I thought Cischa might say, "No way!" and try to make Luna rest, but... when I looked at her, she was smiling and watching over Luna.

"Is something wrong?"

"Ah, no, I thought Cischa might insist on making Luna rest."

Cischa and I made eye contact, and I voiced my thoughts.

"Luna seems to be looking forward to it. I won't do anything to ruin her fun."

"It's not like I'm that excited. I'm just curious."

Cischa, still smiling, looked at Luna, who blushed and turned away.

That's right. It's hard to imagine Luna staying awake and not going to bed right after coming home.

Since she's looking forward to it so much, it would be cruel to tell her to rest.

"So, this is a step-up gacha, right?"

"Yeah, and we even have a premium ticket."

"Oh, with that, you won't go crazy this time, will you?"

The step-up gacha was challenging, but we managed to get a premium ticket this time.

This is definitely going to be a UR festival.

"Crazy...? What do you mean by going crazy with the gacha?"

"Haha... you'll see."

Luna tilted her head, puzzled by what Ester said.

Going crazy... I've always been cool when pulling the gacha.

This time... huh? So, we're only pulling the gacha 5 times?

Step-up 4 times, ticket 1 time. And we are 5 people and 1 creature.

One of us won't be able to pull the gacha this time.

...What should I do? Should we decide who won't pull before we start?

Should I choose, or should we decide by rock-paper-scissors?

But... it would be sad for one of us to just watch.

I usually get to pull more, so maybe I should step back this time.

Ugh, I want to pull the gacha.

"Since we can only pull 5 times, should Noelle and the others pull without me this time?"

"Eh?"

I tried to act normal and said this, trying not to show any change in my expression.

Everyone except Luna reacted, and even Muffet made a "Boo!" sound.

Luna, startled by the sudden noise, looked around in confusion.

I expected this, but they were still surprised.

"Is something wrong with you, Ohtsuka-sama!?"

"Are you okay, brother? Look into my eyes... hmm, you seem to be conscious."

"Maybe a Smither's residual spirit is possessing you. I'll thoroughly purify your body just in case."

Ester came over and placed her hands on my face, staring into my eyes.

Cischa took out her staff and cast a powerful healing spell that made my body glow.

Hey! That's overkill!

"I'm fine! Seriously, don't make such a fuss over this."

"I thought something was wrong. Hachiro, you're not saying anything strange."

"Luna doesn't know about Ohtsuka-sama's abnormality..."

Luna looked exasperated at Ester's reaction.

Seriously... why do I always get this kind of reaction?

"Anyway, I don't think it's right for you not to pull the gacha. So, I'll skip this time."

"Eh, but..."

"It's okay. I'll be happy just watching you all pull."

"Alright... thank you."

After checking my eyes, Ester, who was sitting next to me, offered to skip her turn.

I tried to refuse, feeling it was unfair, but she said she would be happy just watching.

I was pretending to be normal, but it seems she saw through my desire to pull the gacha.

Since she was considerate enough to let me, I'll gratefully accept it.

"Alright... should Luna pull the ticket?"

"Hmm? I don't really understand, but if Hachiro says so, that's fine."

Before pulling the gacha, we decided who would pull in what order.

Since it's Luna's first time, I want her to get something good.

But getting a guaranteed UR might be too easy, so I'll let her pull the premium ticket.

"The first and second pulls will be me or Cischa, and the third and fourth will be Noelle or Muffet."

Since there are fewer pulls, I want to put the luckiest ones in the later rounds.

So, Noelle and Muffet will go last, and Cischa and I will go first.

"We're the last ones... Ohtsuka, you must realize you have no luck."

"Shut up!"

I admit, Noelle and Muffet have good gacha luck.

I... well, I think I'm pretty good too...

After discussing, we decided on the order: Cischa, me, Muffet, Noelle.

"Then, I'll pull now."

Cischa, the first one, immediately tapped her smartphone.

The first pull guarantees an SR or better.

A treasure chest appears on the screen. The chest stops at silver, then gold.

[SR Beacon]

"Ah... as expected..."

Cischa, disappointed by the result, leaned on the table and pounded it with one hand.

The first pull isn't usually very promising... it can't be helped.

"Alright, my turn. Haha, I'll show you my gacha luck, surpassing the odds!"

"Here we go again..."

"Haha, I like your never-give-up attitude, brother."

Next, it's my turn.

The second pull has an increased chance of SSR or better.

I'll pull a UR here to prove my gacha luck!

I tapped the smartphone with enthusiasm.

A treasure chest appears on the screen. The chest stops at silver, then gold.

[SR Excalibur]

"Why is this coming out!? Ahhhh!"

I also pounded the table with both hands and shouted.

This is a joke! It's not even an SSR, it's an SR!

Cischa, seeing my reaction, covered her mouth and smiled.

"Two SRs in a row, even on the second pull. Ohtsuka must be loved by Excalibur."

Seeing me get upset, Cischa laughed.

Loved by Excalibur... more like cursed!

"...Isn't that a bit too much?"

"Ohtsuka-sama's passion for the gacha is abnormal. It's better that he didn't roll on the floor crying."

"Rolling on the floor... Hachiro... you should take better care of yourself."

Seeing us get so excited about the gacha, Luna seemed a bit taken aback.

When she heard about the time I rolled on the floor, she looked at me with pity and spoke.

...I don't know why, but when a little girl tells me to take care of myself with such a look, I feel a bit sad.

Maybe I should be a bit more restrained?

"Next is Muffet! Come on!"

In the awkward silence, Noelle placed Muffet on the table and encouraged her.

Muffet approached the smartphone and tapped the gacha button.

The third pull guarantees an SSR or better. With Muffet's luck, a UR should be easy.

A treasure chest appears on the screen. The chest stops at silver, then gold, then white.

[SSR Grimoire 'Invidia']

...Seriously?

"Grr... the dream of getting three URs..."

"Well, it can't be helped. Let's hope for the ticket."

I was hoping to get three URs this time, but reality is harsh.

The only hope now is the fourth pull and the ticket... can we get two?

I glanced at Luna with hopeful eyes, and she flinched for a moment.

"What is it?"

"Luna, it's up to you! It's either an SSR or a UR! You can definitely do it! Believe in yourself!"

"Luna can do it! Try to get a UR!"

I handed the smartphone to Luna and encouraged her.

Cischa also clenched her fist and cheered her on.

However, Luna, seeing us, got off her chair and hid behind Noelle.

What... what's going on?

"Noelle, Ester... they're scary..."

"Ohtsuka, Cischa, that's not good. You two are too intense for Luna."

"Since it's her first time, don't put so much pressure on her. Let her do it casually."

Noelle stroked Luna's head and shielded her from us.

Even Ester scolded us.

Too intense... I was just trying to encourage her.

"Alright, let's do it."

Luna, who had been trembling in fear, returned to her seat and started pulling the gacha.

The premium ticket guarantees an SSR or better.

Please, let it be a UR!

A treasure chest appears on the screen. The chest stops at silver, then gold, then white.

[SSR Synthesizer]

My wish was in vain, and the result was an SSR.

Now, the only guaranteed UR is left.

"This is... a miss? I'm sorry..."

"It's fine, Luna! There's no need to worry! Right, Ohtsuka?"

"Ah, yeah. Don't worry, Luna."

"Mmm... I see."

Luna looked down, feeling guilty.

Cischa came over and put her hand on my shoulder, saying it was okay.

I didn't mean to say anything, but it's true that it's sad for her to get a miss on her first gacha.

I told her not to worry, but Luna frowned, looking unconvinced.

I want her to be happy next time.

"Finally, it's my turn. Since it's a guaranteed UR, I feel relaxed."

"Haha, what a funny thing to say. What do you think I did by putting Noelle and Muffet last?"

"Huh?"

It's Noelle's turn, but she seems relaxed because it's a guaranteed UR.

Hey, don't tell me you forgot?

You might be thinking that any UR is fine.

"I'm hoping it's not a duplicate."

"Why are you putting pressure on me like that!?"

"Seriously, brother, you're hopeless."

If it's a duplicate, all our hard work will be for nothing.

Even with a guaranteed UR, you can't be careless.

I put Noelle or Muffet last to get good equipment or a new unit.

Noelle, who had been relaxed, started trembling.

"Ugh... I'll pull now..."

Noelle, with a trembling voice, tapped the smartphone.

A treasure chest appears on the screen. The chest stops at silver, then gold, then white, then rainbow. It naturally stopped at rainbow.

[UR Sentitubula]

Oh, an unknown UR.

It doesn't seem to be a unit, so it must be equipment?

"That's good, Noelle."

"Really good... Why do I have to be so nervous just for pulling a gacha?"

"Ha, I believed in you, Noelle! Good job!"

"Liar... You're definitely lying..."

Noelle, relieved to get a non-duplicate UR, sighed in relief.

I told her I believed in her, but she doubted me.

I trusted Noelle to do it, but... whatever.

Now, let's check the results of this gacha.

First, the fourth Grimoire. When I opened it, a blue book with a mermaid-like creature on it appeared.

---

●Grimoire 'Invidia'

+100% Water Attribute Magic Attack

Increases the user's MP recovery rate.

---

Finally, we have all four elements: Fire, Wind, Earth, and Water.

So, the remaining two are Dark and Light?

"This is for Ester, then."

"Haha, thank you. I can use even more powerful magic now."

"What are you planning to do with all these enhancements..."

Ester mainly uses fire magic, but all of them are incredibly powerful.

It's scary but reassuring to have more variety.

Next is the Synthesizer. When I materialized it, a white box about 1 meter tall and wide, about half my height, appeared.

---

●Synthesizer

Can mix two materials to create a new item with a certain probability.

---

So, you can mix things in this?

But the "certain probability" part is a bit scary... what happens if it fails?

"Quite a bulky item came out."

"Yeah. It's amazing that it can create items, but what kind of items will it make?"

Luna, curious, was tapping the Synthesizer.

I'm curious too, but I'll try it out next time.

Alright, only the UR is left!

Hehe, this is the most exciting part!

---

●Sentitubula

Can create objects that can be remotely controlled by brain waves.

Can generate up to 5 objects at once, and they will be replenished after a certain period if destroyed.

---

When I materialized it, a transparent crystal about the size of a palm appeared.

...What is this?

"It's so small."

"Since it's a UR, I guess it's supposed to be amazing, but..."

"It's kind of underwhelming."

"But remote control sounds pretty cool."

Hmm... creating objects and controlling them remotely.

Is this really that impressive?

Let's try creating one...

"Whoa!? Gross!?"

"It's wiggling, like a slime."

I focused and imagined the crystal producing something.

The crystal glowed, and a silvery, gooey liquid spilled out.

It dripped onto the floor and collected into a ball about the size of a soccer ball.

What is this... it looks like mercury.

It reminds me of the iron slimes in the dungeon.

"Brother, try moving it."

"Alright. How much can I control it?"

While looking at the silver ball, I focused on making it move.

It started bouncing and moving forward.

It moves like a slime.

Muffet, seeing this, made a "Boo" sound and pounded the floor as a warning.

"It's slow."

"Yeah. Can you only make it bounce?"

Luna poked the slowly bouncing ball with her finger.

It was interesting to see the whole thing vibrate from the point of contact.

This isn't very useful... can it do anything other than bouncing?

"Whoa!? It flew, Hachiro!"

"Amazing! The silver ball is floating!"

The moment I imagined it flying, the silver ball floated about 1 meter high.

This... it moves exactly as I imagine.

The bouncing earlier was because I was imagining a slime?

Then... how about this?

"Kyaa! Brother, that's dangerous!"

"Ohtsuka, stop it, stop it!"

"Whoa, control!"

I imagined the ball moving quickly like the slimes in the dungeon, and it suddenly accelerated, crashing into the wall.

It then hit the ceiling and the floor, bouncing around the room.

I managed to stop it by focusing on stopping it, but it seems I need to practice more to use it properly.

But this might be a pretty good item.