Gacha Addict in a Matriarchal World

For someone like me who swung a greatsword like a club, Lydia’s greatsword technique was an incredible lesson.

I’ve only learned for a day, so I can only do the basics… But there’s a huge difference between 0 and 1.

Moreover, the usage and application range were as different as the size between a dagger and a greatsword.

And just as helpful as Lydia’s greatsword technique was Benny’s acid magic.

Whether it was cool or cheesy, I don’t know, but the name ‘1/16 Scale Dragon Acid’ was certain in its effect.

Even though the acid pooled in the dented and concave glove allowed effective corrosion, I didn’t expect it to pierce through the thick glove in one go.

…And I didn’t know it would even dissolve materials that became loot.

“Huh?!”

In the blink of an eye, the inner brain and even the thin metal fabric surrounding it begin to melt away.

The brain can melt since it’s going to be killed anyway. But the metal fabric around it is a problem.

The alloy that most monsters on the 3rd Floor wear must have been an impressive thing a thousand years ago.

Even during the era when technology advanced rapidly due to war, it would have been several steps ahead.

Likewise, right after the War of the Fallen Gods, when most civilizations were lost, it would have been an incredible lost technology.

But not now.

The alloy seen on the 3rd Floor, except for a few special ones, has been thoroughly researched, and its recipe has been disclosed.

As a result, the plummeting price of the alloy is not worth the effort, so most don’t even consider it as loot.

That’s why the thin metal fabric, which can’t be reproduced even with Pangrave’s technology, still maintains a high price.

In fact, when I sold a few before, the profit was on a completely different level compared to the 2nd Floor. The problem was that taking down the monsters was tough.

…Well, now it’s melted away with holes piercing through it due to its thinness.

“Kyaaa!!”

I screamed, leapt back, and quickly reached out. Or at least, I tried to.

Come to think of it, isn’t it dangerous to touch something that can melt metal with bare hands?

Benny shook her head at my hesitation and snapped her fingers.

Snap!

Then, as if it was never there, the acidic solution vanished without a trace.

Now that I see it, the Magic Stone buried in its brain was slightly dented, suggesting that if it had lasted a bit longer, I might not have salvaged anything at all. ŘαNÔ₿Ёṩ

“Benny! What are we going to do about this! There’s nothing left!”

“Well, since I used it, there’s nothing we can do. If it were magic you had learned and casted yourself, Jonah, you could cancel it at the right moment or adjust the power appropriately.”

“Jonah can’t do anything! Just do it for me!”

“Throwing a tantrum won’t make it happen. How can I perfectly time it when I don’t fully understand your thoughts or read them in real-time, Jonah?”

“Hmm. If I think about it, that’s true.”

I’ve been asking for help too much lately, but fundamentally, I need to grow myself.

This world is a gender-reversed world, but before that, it’s a medieval land. The social safety net is nothing more than the Temple at best.

Moreover, since I was a man from Earth, I know well. The help meta, if overdone, can actually be poisonous.

“Hoo. Alright. Then I’ll give Benny the chance to teach me.”

“…I don’t know why you’re so high and mighty, but anyway, it’s a good choice. I’ll give you a simple lesson until we meet the next monster, so give it a try.”

“Huh? Right now?”

“Last time I saw you, you had mastered magic close to the 5th circle. Well, seeing how you use fire magic so well, it seems you have a talent for it… Considering that, it’s worth a try.”

“Umm. Do you think so…?”

Only then did Benny let out a deep sigh, looking relieved.

On the other hand, my confidence was plummeting in real-time.

My magic is all drawn from gacha, so it doesn’t mean I suddenly have talent. There’s a high chance it’ll take a long time for me to cast it myself, or maybe it might be impossible altogether.

Still, I have to try. At least, I should show that I’m making an effort.

Above all, thinking about the smoother battle process than last time makes me feel motivated.

I rummaged through the brain-like meat chunks and extracted the Magic Stone, then slung the Minotauros Greatsword over my shoulder.

“Anyway, it’s a good start. Next time, let’s fight only with the Greatsword without Benny’s magic. Then, let’s try coating the Dagger with Benny’s magic.”

---

To sum it up, this Labyrinth conquest was successful.

As expected, I failed to master Benny’s acid magic…but the greatsword technique I learned from Lydia worked well.

What should I say? My entire combat style changed completely.

Until now, I’ve been focusing on evasion and ambushes to cover my small stature and the resulting lack of physical abilities.

I still think this is the best combat style for me… At least, not when wielding a greatsword.

If I fight like that, it’s almost better not to wield weapons at all.

Once I realized this, combat became much easier.

Even fighting with just the greatsword reduced the battle time by almost half, and when I applied acid solution to the Unicorn Dagger, it took a bit longer.

When both were used properly, I could take down a monster in just a few moves, as I did at the start.

And when people see results, they feel good. I went on a spree, slaughtering every monster I saw.

After that rampage, I finally reached the bottom of the moat again.

“Phew. It still smells down here!”

“It can’t be helped. Since the moat dried up, it’s become a place to dump trash.”

Benny muttered cynically as she kicked a cogwheel embedded in the ground.

But was it too big of a cogwheel? Even as an upper-level adventurer, Benny’s relatively weak strength only resulted in hurting her toe instead of kicking it far.

“Ugh…!”

Hopping on one foot while holding her aching toe, Benny’s pitiful appearance was met with familiarity by everyone as I casually took out the Goddess Statue from my bosom.

The pose changed again, pointing forward. Somehow, its powerful presence created a strange atmosphere. Why was the head bent at such a neck-straining angle?

“Hmm. I guess it means to keep going?”

“I do not interpret the Goddess’s will. I merely follow it.”

“…I should be careful even when joking with Karen. Anyway, it seems like we’re on the right track, so let’s keep going.”

After walking a bit, I noticed signs of battle in the distance. It seemed like an adventurer had come through here before.

However, while the traces were fierce, the scale was ordinary.

In the meantime, it seemed the Gear Doppelganger hadn’t reappeared.

Remembering the struggle from the last time I was here, I stayed sharp, gathering all the information I could from my surroundings as I walked.

How many times did I repeat this as I moved forward? One of the wrecks, clearly unable to move, began to rise.

A Cogwheel Remnant. The person it was supposed to assist was already dead, but it moved by the last insane words left before death.

As soon as I confirmed this, I raised my Greatsword. Then, just as I was about to charge, activating the aura throughout my body.

Gulp.

From behind the back of the Cogwheel Remnant, a black ooze begins to trickle out.

Similar to the amorphous body of Shadow, but with a texture closer to stickiness than elasticity.

Large and small cogwheels gleam as they writhe and idle in between.

“Darn it!”

There was nothing wrong just a moment ago!

The adventurer who passed before me was fine!

Swallowing my grumbling, I stepped back. The Gear Doppelganger is still too much for me to handle.

“Lydia! Benny! I’m counting on you!”

“Sure. Leave it to us.”

“What bad luck. It’s usually hard to encounter it even once, and is practically treated like a Floor Guardian, yet we run into it right as it regenerates.”

Lydia takes the lead, swinging her arms as if she’s been itching for action. Benny shakes her head with a sigh.

Cheering for the two as they stepped forward, I stood next to Karen.

She stuck close to me as if trying to protect me, but her gaze was fixed on the Gear Doppelganger, unable to look away.

Now that I see it, Karen’s pupils are faintly glowing pink.

She must be activating her Power to see through the opponent’s true intentions.

“Karen, do you feel anything?”

“Yes. I don’t know exactly, but I feel a severe longing…and it seems directed at Jonah.”

“Me? Why on earth again…?”

Frowning in disbelief. Lydia and Benny instantly smashed the Gear Doppelganger.

It wraps itself in a dead adventurer, gathers the remains of surrounding monsters, and only then shows its true strength by creating a giant golem.

Right now, it’s only managed to devour a single Cogwheel Straggler, and it’s facing two higher-ranked adventurers, so it’s expected.

However, after hearing Karen’s words, the sight of the Gear Doppelganger melting away in an instant began to look a little different.

…Should I say it feels like it’s trying to cling to me, even at the cost of some damage?

Despite knowing there’s enough distance, I took half a step back, reaching for my waist due to an unnecessary chill.

The feel of the familiar Dagger, rather than the still unfamiliar Greatsword, quickly calmed my racing heart.

But this didn’t last long.

Wriggle.

A small movement felt on my chest. Just in case, I opened my inner pocket to check the Goddess Statue…

“Unbelievable, really.”

The statue’s finger was pointing precisely at the Gear Doppelganger.

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