And, as usual, I have no clue if this thing's undercooked or burnt to a crisp straight from the author's kitchen
(Kael Rukmono - 22 May 2011)
It's a beautiful morning outside. Birds are singing, flowers are blooming... on days like these,performing a Gacha pull is a tradition for every Gacha game player.
The sun streamed through the blinds, casting a warm, dusty glow on the tech-laden chaos of my room. My Dreadons Chair, now my throne of madness, hummed softly as I scrolled through my laptop. It seems that the three weeks of tinkering with the gaming chair used by Dreadons has had an impact on my Gacha Ticket revenue.
and I reread the Starbearer email I received before going to bed last night
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Starbearer ✦
Subject: Achievements and Rewards Tickets
The following Feats have been logged:
[ Feat #1: Core Architect]
You reverse-engineered the Dreadons Gaming Chair, miniaturizing its impossible technology.
Achievements include:
Portable Forcefield Generator
Compact Flight Engine
Pocket Reactor (thermos-sized, infinite clean energy for decades)
[Reward: 3x Platinum Item Gacha Ticket]
[Feat #2: Digital Companion - TB]
By channeling Dreadons computational core into your rig, you created an autonomous AI assistant.
TB has emerged as a vibrant, loyal, and adaptive familiar with independent personality growth.
[Reward: 1x Platinum Familiar Gacha Ticket]
[Total Rewards Granted]
3x Platinum Item Gacha Ticket
1x Platinum Familiar Gacha Ticket
I have to say you really hit the gas during those three weeks, and I can say it was worth it.
Good luck again in the future.
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I started with the three Platinum Item Gacha Tickets. I took a deep breath, and with a flourish, I clicked the Roll button.
With a final, resonant DING!, the first result materialized.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Rolling Item Platinum Ticket
[Unknown Dictator]
|Epic Item|
DxD - Unknown Dictator, one of the modern Longinus. It is capable of manipulating metal and technology on a massive scale as well as being able to construct advanced technology like ion canons and aura engines at will without detailed input from the user. The stronger the user the stronger the creations made by Unknown Dictator are. When taken out of the inventory, it resembles a small marble that fuses with the person who swallows it.
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I read the description aloud, my voice growing steadily more incredulous. "...capable of manipulating metal and technology on a massive scale... construct advanced technology like ion cannons and aura engines at will..."
I fell silent. The sheer scope of what I was reading was staggering.
"Shikikan?" TB's voice was a soft, concerned chime. "Your vital signs are showing a significant spike in adrenaline and cognitive load. Are you ok ?"
"I... I'm fine, TB," I managed, my eyes glued to the screen. "I just pulled what might be one of the most broken things in the entire DxD universe in Modern Times. This isn't just a tool... it's a conceptual authority over technology."
A small, polished black marble materialized in the air and dropped into my waiting hand. It felt unnaturally cool and heavy for its size.
"The user must... swallow it?" TB asked, her avatar tilting its head.
"Seems so. No going back now." Before I could second-guess myself, I popped the marble into my mouth. It dissolved on contact, a wave of cold energy washing through me before settling deep in my body.
"Congratulations, Shikikan! Your operational parameters have been significantly expanded!" TB cheered.
Shaking my head in disbelief, I clicked the button for the second pull.
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Rolling Item Platinum Ticket
[Modified Compound V]
|Rare Item|
The Boys - Upon consuming this, the drinker will gain a random ability from the Gold Gacha that they can use even when in ability storage.
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A sterile, sealed Vial Bottle with a swirling blue liquid appeared. My blood ran cold.
"You have got to be kidding me." I recoiled from the bottle as if it were radioactive. "Compound V? From The Boys?"
My first instinct was to throw it out the window. But I forced myself to re-read the description. Modified.
"Grants a random ability from the Gold Gacha." This was... a gacha roll within a gacha roll. A 'lotto ticket' item. The "Modified" tag implied it was safe, unlike the head-popping original.
This was a wildcard. A pure, terrifying unknown. I wasn't a 'supe'. I was just a graduate who still can't get a job because I feel lazy.
But the potential... a Gold tier ability... I carefully set the vial bottle aside. "This," I muttered, "is a 'break glass in case of apocalypse' item. Or a 'when I'm feeling really lucky' item."
Oh well, I'll think about that later.
Because there are still two tickets left, and my Gacha player side is a little itchy to see what else is there.
The third and final Item Gacha Ticket was pulled.
DING!!
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Rolling Item Platinum Ticket
[Broken Biome Blade]
|Uncommon Item|
Calamity Mod - A broken sword handle that can be infused with energy to produce a blade with the properties of the element it is infused with
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"No way. The Biome Blade from the Calamity Mod?" My gamer heart fluttered. I knew exactly what this was.
An "Weak Version Sword" for an incredibly powerful sword that can transform into a sword capable of rendering gods asunder, the Ark of Cosmos.
If the tooltip text is correct, the Ark of Cosmos can create a "Big Rip," and if it interacts with Fate's cosmology, it will cause Shiro and Murasama to experience convulsions upon seeing the sword.
Broken, yes, but with my new powers, fixing and upgrading it felt like a simple afternoon project.
'At least now I have another way to get gacha tickets,' I said.
At first, I wanted to become a kind of Playthrough Youtuber with a twist that might cause a stir on the internet.
and with that, only the Familiar Gacha remains
My heart was pounding as I moved on to the Platinum Familiar Gacha Ticket. TB was a fantastic AI, but what would this be?
What kind of "familiar" would I get? A cute pet? A powerful monster?
I took a deep breath and clicked the Roll button for a Familiar Ticket.
DING!
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[CZ2128 Delta]
|Rare Familiar|
Overlord - Or Shizu Delta for short is an Automaton Sniper Maid. Shizu is an expert marksman, being able to use most ranged weapons with great skill, especially the ones she comes equipped with, her body also has the functions of an automaton as well. her skills as a maid is... questionable. Does not have access to inventory.
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Suddenly, a short girl with long, straight, golden-red hair appeared. She wore an eye patch over her left eye, while her right eye was emerald green with a target mark in her pupil.
She wore a half-maid, half-knight outfit, complete with a scarf around her neck with military camouflage patterns and also on the gloves.
"Designation: CZ2128 Delta. Greetings, Master" she said in a flat, emotionless voice.
"Right. So...CZ2128 Delta," I said, trying to project some authority. "Welcome. Can you... state your purpose here?"
"My purpose is to serve the Master who summoned me. To protect and obey the Master's commands," Shizu replied, her target eye blinking once, slowly. "My current Master is designated as Kael Rukmono."
That settled the loyalty question immediately. She wasn't bound to Ainz or Nazarick
"That's... great," I muttered, running a hand through my hair.
"Query: Should I also research appropriate first-aid protocols for automatons and standard maid training manuals? Her maid skills are listed as 'questionable,'and since she is an Automaton, it is possible to give her data directly to her without physical training."TB chimed
"Good idea, TB. Let's confirm the 'questionable' part first, though," I said, pointing toward my tiny kitchen counter. "Shizu, new command. I need one glass of sweet hot tea, prepared with exactly two tablespoons of granulated sugar."
Shizu Delta processed the command. Her target eye narrowed slightly. "Understood, Master. Commencing beverage preparation."
She moved with mechanical precision, her body language efficient and unnervingly flat.
"Holy... shit." I whispered after making sure Shizu was on far side of the kitchen.
"Shikikan, are you okay?" TB's avatar flickered to life on my Laptop screen, her face pinched with digital concern.
"Oh yeah, I'm just a little overwhelmed by all this." I said, my voice barely a whisper.
TB's avatar, a small, pixelated girl with long, silver hair and glowing blue eyes, tilted her head. "Overwhelmed? But these are all great rewards, Shikikan. Your potential for success has increased exponentially."
I let out a dry, humorless chuckle.
"Yeah, I guess you're right. But 'success' just got a lot more complicated. My goal was to live a quiet life, you know? Play some games, watch some anime, eat instant noodles and of course, that's with added vegetables, eggs, and if I want extra "healthiness," I can also add meat."
"But now this Gacha gives me One of the 13 Longinus Sacred Gear that allows me to use technology within the limits of my imagination and power,then there's the Automaton Madi girl who becomes my Familiar, and then there's the potion that can give me superhero-like powers."
"This isn't a NEET life I imagined anymore, TB. This is a superhero origin story, and I'm not sure I'm ready for the responsibility."
TB's expression softened. "Shikikan, you don't have to be a superhero.You have tools now, not obligations. You can use these tools to protect your peace, to create a life for yourself that you truly want."
Her words were like a splash of cold water. She was right. I wasn't being forced to become a hero. I had options.
I leaned forward in my chair, the humming of the device now sounding like a triumphant purr. "Alright TB, I've got a new goal now. It's not about living a quiet life. It's about living a safe life, in a world that clearly isn't."
TB's avatar gave me a digital thumbs-up. "Understood, Shikikan. A strategy of proactive defense and self-sufficiency. A sound plan."
and after coming out of a slightly Speadrun's 5 stages of acceptance, Shizu appeared and gave me the tea I had asked for.
She presented the mug to me with a bow that was exactly 45 degrees, perfectly executed.
"Sweet Tea, prepared with two tablespoons of granulated sugar, as ordered, Master," she stated.
I stared at the tea. It looked fine. It smelled… like tea.
But when I tried to drink it, instead of a sweet taste, I got a salty taste.
I almost spit the tea out in front of Shizu Delta, but luckily I was able to stop myself and only spilled most of the tea on the floor.
"Is something wrong, Master?" Shizu asked flatly.
"Did you take the jar with the salt in it?"
"Reply: I saw two jars with white contents inside, one of which contained the finest 'sugar,' so I used that."
Hearing that, I put the salty tea on my desk, stood up from my Dredon chair, and faced Shizu.
Looking again, Shizu was only as tall as my shoulder.
"I think you should start learning the basics of the kitchen so that at least you can call yourself a Combat Maid, not just a Combat Automaton in a Maid costume."
"Understood, Master. Please guide me so that I may become the perfect Combat Maid," she said, bowing her head.
And so, I think my life will be full of things like this from now on.