CHAPTER 40: GACHA WHEEL

"It’s the core from the Shadow Wraith," Azel said evenly, placing the shimmering fragment on the table. Its faint glow illuminated the room in soft hues of pale blue, like moonlight frozen in crystal form. "It was a Rank 4 monster, so you can use it to grow stronger."

Lorraine’s eyes widened, her breath hitching slightly.

The mere mention of a Rank 4 monster was enough to stir any mage’s ambitions — it was no small feat to slay such a creature, much less offer its core so freely.

Her hands trembled slightly, and her beautiful face twisted with unease.

"Why..." she began, her voice barely above a whisper. "Why are you being so nice?"

Azel raised an eyebrow but didn’t speak.

He simply watched her as she wrestled with her words.

It would be a waste to talk to her right now.

"To me and my father," she continued, her tone quivering, "you’ve done so much already. Is there... is there something you want?"

Silence lingered between them, broken only by Lilia’s faint humming as she played absentmindedly with Azel’s sleeve.

Lorraine, emboldened by his lack of response, pressed forward.

"You gave us extra money. You helped us when it was our job to protect you. You saved the town, booked this inn, and even now you hand me something priceless. I’m grateful — gods know I am but what do you want from us?"

Her voice cracked slightly at the end.

It wasn’t anger, but fear — fear of debts she couldn’t repay.

"If it’s me..." she swallowed hard, forcing the words out. "I don’t sell my body. And if it’s servants you want, we don’t need masters. My father and I... we’re fine."

Azel tilted his head slightly, his expression unreadable.

"I even got an invitation to enter Astralis Academy," she added quickly, her voice turning desperate. "We don’t need charity!"

She bit her lip the moment she finished, her heart pounding.

She knew she was speaking out of turn, breaking the careful distance she’d been keeping with him since their first meeting.

But she couldn’t help it — his kindness scared her more than cruelty ever could.

The last people who had shown her kindness were now after her life because they didn’t want her to become Clan Head...

Azel finally sighed. He didn’t answer her barrage of questions, nor did he offer her reassurances.

Instead, he placed the crystal gently atop the table, its soft glow casting faint shadows across the room.

"Take it if you want," he said simply. "Leave it if you don’t."

And with that, he turned away, his voice calm but she could feel the finality in his words.

Lorraine blinked.

She hadn’t expected that.

"Papa," Lilia’s small voice piped up suddenly, breaking the tension.

Azel’s attention softened as he looked down at her. "Food?"

"Right." He smiled faintly. "Bring the tray over, Lilia."

"Yes, Papa!" she chirped and hopped off his lap, her bare feet padding lightly against the floor.

She ran to the table, grasped the tray with surprising care for her size, and carried it over to him with both hands.

"Good girl," Azel murmured as he patted her head, earning a delighted giggle.

He took the tray, settling it on his lap, and glanced at Lorraine briefly.

She stood frozen, her fists clenched at her sides, staring at him as though torn between gratitude and indignation.

His lack of response felt like a dismissal, and in her chest, something twisted.

Did she... offend him?

Did she push too far?

She wanted to apologize, but pride and confusion sealed her lips.

Instead, she stepped forward, quietly picked up the glowing core from the dresser, whispered a soft "...thank you," and turned toward the door.

It closed gently behind her with a muted click.

Azel leaned back in his chair, exhaling deeply.

"Complicated girl," he muttered.

Lorraine’s stubbornness was exactly as he remembered from the game.

She hated taking help, hated feeling indebted, but if it was something vital for her growth, she wouldn’t reject it outright.

She was proud, but pragmatic.

He turned his attention back to Lilia and the tray of food.

"Alright," he said lightly, pulling her onto his lap again.

The smell hit him immediately — fragrant rice paired with a rich, savory stew filled with chunks of tender meat. Lorraine’s cooking, despite her aloof nature, was stellar.

He scooped a spoonful of rice, dipped it into the stew, and held it up to Lilia. "Say ’Aah,’" he coaxed.

"Aah!" she opened her mouth wide, her small voice full of excitement.

Azel fed her carefully, watching her chew with exaggerated care. When she finally swallowed, her eyes sparkled.

"Yummy!" she declared with infectious delight, her little hands clapping. "Again, Papa!"

He smiled faintly and continued feeding her. Spoon by spoon, she ate happily, humming little tunes between bites.

For a moment, it was peaceful — quiet and oddly domestic.

By the time she was halfway through the plate, her appetite seemed to taper off. She let out a tiny yawn, rubbing her eyes with balled fists.

"Tired?" Azel asked gently.

"Mhm..." Lilia murmured sleepily.

He carried her over to the bed, tucking her in beneath the covers.

She curled up instantly, small fingers clutching at the blanket. As he brushed her bangs aside and patted her head, she smiled faintly even in sleep.

"She’s cute," Azel said softly to himself, watching her breathing steady.

Once he was sure she was asleep, he sat back down and faced the system screen with his complete attention.

"Open System Shop."

In an instant, a new interface bloomed before him. It looked like a sleek storefront app from his world — clean rows of icons displaying all manner of goods.

[Bright Sword – 200 FP]

[Caster’s Wand – 300 FP]

[Health Elixir – 50 FP]

[Phantom Cloak – 450 FP]

There were even "Daily Deals" flashing on the side.

’A store with rotating discounts,’ Azel thought dryly. ’Of course it’s monetized like a gacha game.’

He really didn’t understand what Systems gained by selling these items, or was there an administrator out there that was supplying items to all the System users across worlds?

He scrolled briefly, noting a few tempting items, but his focus drifted to the glowing "Spin" icon pulsing faintly at the bottom of the menu.

When he tapped it, the screen warped and shifted until it displayed a massive wheel, gleaming with countless colored sections.

A long stick sat poised above it, ready to click as the wheel spun.

Azel stared flatly. "...This is literally a Gacha."

He pinched the bridge of his nose, sighing. "Of course it is."

If there was one thing he hated... It would be a gacha.