Gacha Addict in a Matriarchal World

“My grand entrance!”

As I swung the door open to the Fairy and Silver Coin, all eyes turned toward me.

Regulars offered smiles and waved, while newcomers downed their drinks with a hint of annoyance.

Today’s theme seemed to be butlers, judging by the employees who nodded at me, all dressed in butler uniforms.

Though, these were no ordinary butler uniforms. The shirts were short-sleeved, and the trousers ended at the knee, exposing the employees’ forearms and calves. Not to mention, their shirts were boldly unbuttoned, revealing up to just above their abdomens.

Hmm… Just another day at the office, it seems!

Despite their appearance, these guys were always kind to me. They mentioned how their incomes had tripled thanks to the outfits I designed.

I waved back enthusiastically. Venturing further in, I spotted a familiar figure.

Her ash-colored hair was wildly unkempt. She had perky wolf ears and captivating yellow eyes that seemed to be pondering mischievous thoughts. The woman snuffed out her nearly finished magical herb cigarette with one hand.

I sprinted toward Ellie with all the energy I could muster, wearing the biggest smile possible.

“Ellie!”

“Huh? Ah, Jonah. How was the labyrinth…”

“Ellie! Ellie! Ellie!”

Maintaining my momentum, I vaulted over the counter and circled Ellie, chanting her name.

Perhaps taken aback by the odd spectacle, reminiscent of a cult ritual, Ellie quickly grabbed the back of my neck and lifted me into the air.

Dangling there, I looked at Ellie, who frowned slightly. Yet, I could tell she was amused by the way the corners of her mouth twitched.

Of course, she was. Every move was a calculated act by the former macho man, Jonah Kim…!

Ellie would surely appreciate it. I would have, too.

I smirked inwardly, but Ellie couldn’t help but let a similar smile spread across her face, shouting as if to mask her amusement.

“Calm down, you shrimp! Didn’t I tell you not to come behind the counter while I’m working!”

“I can’t calm down! How can I calm down when Ellie’s right in front of me!”

“…Did something happen in the labyrinth?”

“No? Even if something did happen, that would be a secret between me and Miss Lydia that I can’t tell!”

“…….”

Ellie, who seemed to be in a good mood just a moment ago, suddenly frowned and glared at Lydia, who was following behind. This time, it wasn’t out of embarrassment but from genuinely feeling upset.

Lydia, suddenly treated like a thief, hurriedly shook her head…but that wasn’t really important.

Taking advantage of the moment Ellie was distracted, I twisted my body. It was an acrobatic move I wouldn’t have even thought to attempt if I lacked flexibility.

This too was something I learned while fighting in the labyrinth. I myself hadn’t known that I could move like this.

Despite her loose grip on me, Ellie was surprised that I managed to escape on my own. I then spread my twisted body wide open towards her, like a flying squirrel gliding through the air.

“Hug me!”

“Huh? Uh…?”

While she stood there, stuttering, she ended up holding me in an embrace. I sneakily buried my face into her chest.

I could feel the cushiony sensation even through the clothes. The warmth heated my chilled body. And only after savoring the strong scent of magical herbs tickling my nose did I lift my head.

There was barely a span of space between me and Ellie. A short distance that could be closed with just a slight movement of the neck.

Ellie, blushing furiously, stammered. I pretended to be innocent as I spoke to her.

“Listen, Ellie. Today, I caught 11 goblins in the labyrinth…”

“Uh…wow, that’s amazing?”

Ellie, as if enchanted, fixed her gaze on me, giving me a soulless response.

I could clearly see what was going on in her head, likely planning how many children we should have and then our retirement plan… But that was exactly what I wanted her to do, so I let her be.

Thanks to Ellie, I was able to learn the basics of being an adventurer from Lydia. Considering how much that helped, it’s only natural that I provided her with this much service.

So, I continued to cling to her and chattered away about every single little thing that happened today, then finally detached myself from Ellie.

“Huap.”

“Ah….”

Ellie glanced at me with a sense of longing. I gave her a sly smile in return.

“Can I borrow the second floor of Ellie’s shop again? I’ve brought enough money.”

“…Well, if that’s the case.”

Ellie, having managed to regain her composure, reached out her hand. I contemplated just giving her the money I earned today… But was slightly annoyed that she still hadn’t revealed her true intentions, and a playful mischief rose within me.

“Here!”

I placed my chin on Ellie’s hand. Then, I vigorously rubbed my cheek against her hand, still rough with calluses from her past.

Now, Ellie trembled like a drug addict experiencing severe withdrawal symptoms. I gave her a sly smile as she desperately seemed to be fighting something within her.

“Can I pay with this instead?”

“…As if!”

A split second too late, Ellie quickly withdrew her hand and hid it behind her back. However, she couldn’t stop the corners of her mouth from drooping from the disappointment.

“Ah. That’s too bad. How much is it for one night?”

“30 copper.”

“Here you go.”

I took out three sizable coins from my thickened wallet and handed them over.

Ellie, staring intently at the coins, sighed deeply and took the room payment.

“Ha… Alright. Since you’ve paid properly, you can use the same room you did yesterday.”

“Could I possibly rent a different room?”

“Huh? That’s the best room, though. You’ll be the one moving your stuff, so if there’s an empty room, do as you please.”

“Okay! Then I’ll start by moving my stuff to Ellie’s room!”

“…Stop! That’s not for sale! If you’re a guest, behave like one and use a guest room.”

“Can’t I?”

“Stop acting ridiculous.”

“Hmph.”

Pouting my lips and grumbling, I took a step back. It clearly displayed an “I’m upset” vibe to anyone looking.

Just when Ellie was taken aback yet slightly concerned… I casually lifted my top to show her my stomach, only high enough that it wouldn’t be seen over the counter from outside.

“Jonah, you…!”

Ellie’s voice suddenly rose. Then I brought my finger up to my lips, as if telling her to keep quiet, and spoke to her.

“Shh.”

“……”

Ellie, about to say something, then swallowed her words and remained quiet. I then continued to speak, now in a whisper so that only the person standing in front of me could hear.

“I won’t lock the door tonight either.”

“……!”

Ellie’s eyes widened as if she had been struck by lightning, and she froze.

Giggling softly, I turned around and went upstairs to the second floor.

As if without any lingering attachment, I strode into the room. The moment the door closed, I hopped around silently.

Kyah!

Just now. I had been so damn hot.

---

Ellie was unable to come to her senses.

Jonah had just shaken up her heart through and through, then disappeared without a hint of hesitation. She was too busy staring dazedly at his retreating figure.

‘It must be true that pinkettes are their own breed.’

Ellie’s left hand still felt the texture of his abdomen, which she exchanged for 10 silver, and his smooth abdomen was burned into her retina like an afterimage.

And what was it with him, chattering about today’s events from such a close distance, close enough that she could feel his breath…

Ellie had been so tense at the thought that they might actually kiss, she even broke into a cold sweat… but for Jonah, this was a first; he had never been so forward before.

This sense of incongruity slammed the brakes on Ellie’s rationality.

‘Is it related to the secret he couldn’t tell me? If that’s the case, I feel a bit left out…’

Ellie’s imagination, untainted by experience, began to conjure dark fantasies.

Jonah, who had become more assertive than usual. Despite claiming to be a virgin, the allure he exuded today seemed far from inexperienced.

What if Jonah had already ventured into adulthood before her? And what if his partner had been none other than Lydia?

-Ahaha! How can you still be a virgin at your age, Ellie? I guess I have no choice. As the one with experience, I’ll have to take Ellie’s virginity.

-Eh? That’s it? Lydia did it a bit better….

-Uh-uh. No. You can do better in the future. In that sense, would you like to observe how Lydia and I do it?

Imagining what came next, Ellie couldn’t contain herself and screamed.

“Aaaaaaah!!”

“Senior Ellie?”

“Lydia!! How could you do this to me!”

“…Sorry. Maybe it wasn’t a good idea to eat food from another store.”

“That’s okay! You’ve worked hard today, so I’ll give you a cold beer on the house!”

“?”

Lydia, puzzled by Ellie’s erratic behavior, shrugged it off, accustomed to her oddities.

Ellie continued to oscillate between blushing and screaming for a while, but by the time Lydia finished her beer, she had somewhat regained her composure.

Seizing the moment, Lydia addressed Ellie with a serious tone.

“Senior Ellie. I have something important to tell you.”

“What…no! Don’t do it! Don’t take Jonah away from me!!”

“Nonsense. Troublesome.”

Apparently, that wasn’t enough time.

With a sigh, Lydia went behind the counter to refill her beer herself. Only after finishing another glass did she speak again.

“Calmed down?”

“Yeah. You said it was important? What is it?”

“It’s about Jonah.”

“Growl! …Ah, no. Please, continue.”

Ellie’s exhale was much more heated than usual, making Lydia tilt her head in curiosity. But since she urged her to go on, she continued.

“What had Jonah done in the past?”

“Huh? Well… When he was young, he lived off begging, and as he grew up, he did all sorts of odd jobs. And lately, it seems he’s picked up a bad habit of pickpocketing thugs. I think that recent incident was the first time he almost got caught.”

Jonah had been lucky to escape without any trouble, but it was a close call with a criminal clan, which could have ended badly.

Ellie growled involuntarily, perhaps still angry about that incident.

Ellie had been acting a bit unstable for a while now; this was not an unfamiliar scene to Lydia. She casually dismissed the fierce aggression and shook her head.

“So, a petty criminal at best. But he’s too skilled for that.”

“In what?”

“Killing things.”

Lydia, having said that, drained the last sip of her beer and continued.

“He didn’t hesitate when killing someone. No compassion. Not even shaken. He even knew the goblins’ weaknesses, which I never taught him. And he has a considerable understanding of history and theology, more than what could be just picked up on the streets. He’s definitely not your average orphan.”

“Couldn’t it be a coincidence? People born with that kind of talent are rare, but they can be found if you look hard enough. Maybe he just studied hard.”

“I’ve sensed his lack of common human sense on several occasions as well. And his instantaneous speed was on par with a Floor 2 adventurer.”

“He’s on that level?”

“Yes. Like Senior Ellie said, each instance could be coincidental. But when you put them all together, could you still consider it so?”

“…What are you trying to say?”

“You know. You’re more deeply involved with him than I am.”

“……”

Ellie silently clenched her empty right sleeve, her eyes growing cold.

“One Who Devours the Twilight.”

A heretic willing to do anything to obtain the remains and powers of the gods, eternally slumbering within the labyrinth. This very person was responsible for Ellie losing her arm.

Hearing Ellie’s murmur, Lydia nodded, her face expressionless.

“Yes. Jonah might be a child who escaped from there.”

“…Is that so.”

Ellie’s hand, previously clutching her empty sleeve, loosened its grip. She vividly remembered the horrors she witnessed in the labyrinth three years ago.

The bodies of adventurers, dissected and used in all sorts of inhumane experiments.

A madman, wielding the power of a dead god, controlling monsters at will.

Children, their thinking twisted from being brainwashed while raised by the heretic.

And the incident where she was stabbed in the back by one of those children while trying to protect them from a rampaging floor guardian.

Because of that moment of vulnerability, Ellie lost one of her arms to the floor guardian. The children were caught in the aftermath and vanished.

The phantom pain throbbing in her right shoulder. As long as those detestable remnants of the past remain, Ellie will never forget that day.

“So Jonah…”

As the throbbing intensified, Ellie took out a magic herb cigarette from her pocket and lit it.

Upon closer thought, did the Jonah Lydia spoke of resemble the brainwashed children?

A deep sigh, accompanied by a puff of smoke, filled Ellie’s vision, momentarily shielding her from the memories of the past.

Of course, all of this could merely be Lydia’s speculation. Nothing was certain.

But. The One Who Devours the Twilight had a particular obsession with pink-haired individuals, having collected quite a few among the children.

If by any chance. If Jonah really was one of those children…

Jonah must immediately be handed over to the temple of the Goddess of Love for ‘reformation.’

But she didn’t want to do that.

Perhaps Jonah’s expressions of affection were feigned, a ploy to stab Ellie in the back once more, just as it had happened three years ago.

But she didn’t want to doubt him.

“What should I do….”

Ellie’s gloomy voice settled to the floor along with the ash.

Knowing full well that nothing would reach the boy upstairs, Ellie still hung her head low, like someone who had grown weary of life.

All Lydia could do was quietly refill her senior’s glass with alcohol.

---

While the two adults downstairs were entangled in an absurd misunderstanding,

Jonah was dancing around in the center of the empty room.

His arms, spread wide, wriggled like seaweed, and his hips swayed rhythmically from side to side in a strange movement.

“A dance to increase gacha luck…!”

It was the sacred gacha prayer dance, originating from a certain Holy Grail War.