Gacha Addict in a Matriarchal World - Chapter 90: Party Breaker (Not) (3)

Ten silver per day.

It’s certainly a suspicious offer. Especially when it’s coming from a magician who controls grotesque shadow monsters and the job description is unclear.

But do you know why high-paying scams exist?

The answer is that there are always people who fall for them. Just like me right now.

“What should I do first?”

Smiling with the grin of capitalism, I said that, and Benny took half a step back with a startled expression.

“What’s with that weird smile all of a sudden?”

“No, I was just asking. What you want me to do for you, Benny.”

“What I want you to do for me…?!”

As if imagining something, Benny’s eyes momentarily glazed over.

Then, turning her head slightly, Benny glanced over at me.

“Uh, you’ll really do anything?”

“Oh my. Benny. What were you thinking? I was just talking about work!”

“Huh? …What?! No, that’s not it! It’s not what you think, you perverted pinkette!”

Benny’s face turned red as she screamed. Tears started to well up in her eyes.

“Huh? Benny, are you crying?”

“N-no, I’m not!”

She was like that when she first mistook me for a rattlesnake, and now too. It seems she tends to cry a lot.

But for Benny, who comes from a world with reversed gender roles, it seemed to be a sensitive issue.

Benny wiped her face repeatedly until her skin turned red, then continued speaking clearly.

“I said I’m not crying.”

“I never said you were.”

I understand her feelings. She doesn’t want to show any weakness. Or, more precisely, she probably can’t afford to.

In this world, women are not the ones being protected but rather the ones who protect others. Showing tears is no different from revealing weakness.

…On the other hand, to someone like me who has memories of Earth, a crying woman, especially one who looks like a child, like Benny, stirs up a lot of guilt.

I carefully reached out and touched the corner of Benny’s eyes.

“Hold on. Stay still, Benny.”

“Ugh!”

Benny flinched as my fingers touched her. However, she stayed still as instructed, and I gave her a gentle smile before closing my eyes and concentrating.

A power is a complete force in itself. As long as you have enough mental strength, you can use it as much as you want.

That’s why adventurers go crazy over powers. Who wouldn’t want to perform miracles with minimal effort?

However, divine power is a miracle of the gods. Whether it is the power of a dead god or the living Goddess of Love, they all draw from divine energy.

Naturally, divine power can also be more potent and versatile if divine energy is consumed.

Basilieus’ original power is to accelerate my growth, similar to investing divine energy to rapidly grow plants.

The recently acquired divine power, Moist Skin, wouldn’t deviate from this principle.

A beauty power that keeps the skin moist at all times. At first glance, it seems trivial, but the principle behind it is quite advanced.

It’s the power to maintain the most ideal skin condition at any time.

The reason why the fragrant body odor disappears when it needs to be hidden is the same. Strictly speaking, it’s because it maintains the ideal body scent for the situation.

I haven’t tested it yet, but the speed of recovery for wounds on the skin should have increased dramatically.

Smooth, unblemished skin is the ideal.

It’s not called divine power for nothing.

And now. I’m trying to apply this effect to someone else by pouring divine power into this moist skin.

Wooong-

A warmth resonating with my will from deep within my body. I pulled it out and concentrated it on my fingertips.

Then I opened my eyes.

Fingertips emitting a subtle light. The swollen skin starts to subside where it makes contact.

“Heal-ing? Ellie was telling the truth.”

“When did you learn divine magic….”

Benny, touching her eyelids in a flustered voice, and Ellie, shaking her head in disbelief while holding a shaker.

I shrugged at the two of them.

“It’s not divine healing magic, but an application of power. It can only heal skin wounds, so please don’t expect too much.”

At best, it should be considered a substitute for the Lowest-grade Healing Potion. Of course, this efficiency is based on applying it to others.

If I limit the effect range to myself, it would be about the level of a low-grade potion.

…Either way, it’s not that impressive.

Perhaps because it was my first attempt, I felt a bit tired from the lack of concentration. I buried my head on the counter and turned my head slightly to look at Benny.

“So? What is it that you want to do with me?”

“Huh? Uh, well, when you touched my shadow just now, instead of being attacked, it seemed to like it, didn’t it?”

“Yes, it did. It even had a surprisingly cute side. …By the way, from what you’re saying, it seems Benny isn’t controlling it directly.”

“How nice it would be if that were possible. I’m just making requests. For it to listen to me.”

“It’s a good kid.”

It looks terrible, but its personality is gentle.

I tilted my head and reached my hand out. Then all sorts of parts rushed forward. Stroking the eyeballs, poking the horns, and scratching the tentacles made it shiver as if it felt good.

Benny, who was watching, shook her head with a disapproving voice.

“Good? How nasty it is. If it were someone else, one of their arms would be gone by now.”

“Oh. It’s a pair with Ellie!”

“…I’m really sorry to say this to someone I just met, but are you crazy?”

“Benny isn’t sane either, so isn’t it fair?”

“I’m sane! …For now.”

Benny, who had a moment of frustration, let out a deep sigh.

She opened her mouth wide, revealing sharp shark teeth, and continued speaking.

“Do you see this? Ever since it was grafted into my shadow, it’s been slowly taking over my body. At this rate, I’ll completely transform into a monster and become part of this thing.”

“…Could it be that each of these traces was originally a person?”

“Yes. This horn is Marek, these teeth are Melonia, the carapace is Frey, and the eye was Jamit. I don’t remember the names of the others because I wasn’t close to them, but they were probably all people too. Maybe when I assimilate, it’ll grow another eye? One with a heart, perhaps.”

Benny said this with a self-mocking laugh. Glancing at Ellie, wondering if it was a joke, she too was looking at Benny with pitying eyes.

My goodness. It’s real?

Nodding with a somewhat solemn heart, Benny looked me straight in the eyes.

A gaze filled with strong determination. However, that determination’s name was surely desperation.

“I’m currently researching ways to separate myself from this guy. If that’s impossible, I’m thinking of at least slowing down the erosion rate.”

“Oh? You want me to help with that experiment, right?”

“That’s right. As I mentioned earlier, this guy doesn’t exactly obey my commands but listens to me. Because of that, there are times when it doesn’t listen…”

“So, the experiments are limited because of that, I see.”

“Yeah. When I try to confirm something seriously, it either hides in the shadows or tries to bite me. It doesn’t bite hard, though.”

“Alright. I understand the reason, and I know what you want from me. You want me to coax it into participating in the experiment, right? But, can I attach one condition?”

“What is it? Are the funds insufficient? It’s not like I’m asking you to do something extraordinary, so paying more would be a bit much.”

“No. I’m satisfied with the compensation. However, the problem is the time I need to invest.”

“Hmm?”

Benny blinked her purple eyes, which had a heart shape in them. I gave her an awkward smile in response.

“I have some circumstances that require me to go up to the third floor. There’s something I’m looking for there. Well, there’s no guarantee I can find it, but shouldn’t I at least try as much as I can?”

“I understand what you’re saying. You’re worried that spending too much time on my experiment will slow down your growth, right? Isn’t ten silver enough?”

“No. But if you raise the payment to three times the current amount, then I can spend the whole day with you.”

Was asking for 30 silver too much? Benny frowned and began to ponder.

But honestly, I can’t help it either. If I want to substitute getting stronger in the Labyrinth with gacha, I need to ensure at least this much.

Benny, who was whining like a platypus whose tail had been stepped on while sleeping, let out a deep sigh.

“I can’t give you more payment. I need to have money for the experiment. But if your goal is to get stronger, I think I can help.”

“How?”

“First, I’ll go into the Labyrinth with you and assist in various ways.”

“Lydia is already doing that for me….”

“Well. It might be different?”

Benny, pretending to be nonchalant, pushedoutheirflatunwaveringchest as if she was disappointed.

“I heard you know a bit of magic? I’ll teach you the basics of magic. If you use it in the Labyrinth, you’ll improve quickly.”

“…That sounds like a good deal. So, let’s go back to the first question. What should I do first?”

“Right….”

Benny nodded and said with a serious face.

“First, could you take your clothes off?”

“…?”

You said you wouldn’t make me do anything lewd.