Using Gacha to Increase My Companions and to Create the Strongest Girls' Army Corps

After finishing the discussion with Bens and returning home, I recounted today’s events to Sisya and the others while we ate dinner.

“The crab miso I was looking forward to... Diabolos, I will never forgive you! Never!”

“Yeah! We’ll never forgive them!”

“I’ll hunt them down and unleash my Prominence Finger on them!”

Upon learning that the Blue Cancer, the source of delicious crab miso, was gone, Sisya’s temple throbbed with anger. Freesia, raising her hand, also shouted in agreement.

She doesn’t fully understand, but she’s just going along with the mood...

“Haa… What a shame. We could have been enjoying some delicious crab miso dishes by now... I’ve lost my appetite; I can barely eat…”

“You’re eating just fine…”

“Still, it seems like you’re eating more slowly than usual…”

With a sigh, Noru is eating crab legs roasted over a shichirin. Although it’s true she’s eating slower than usual… she’s still faster than me.

Does she get this depressed when it comes to food? What a hopeless case.

As I sighed in exasperation, Runa looked at me with narrowed eyes and spoke.

“So, what’s the plan now? Are we continuing the investigation? I’m getting tired of this.”

“We’ll keep investigating, but we’ll be heading to a different place, so you don’t have to come along for a while.”

“Hmm… In that case, I’ll take a good long nap. I’m sleep-deprived, you know. I need to catch up on sleep.”

“Runa-chan, your bed looks so fluffy and comfy! Let’s sleep together!”

“No.”

“Wha-! Why not?!”

While Freesia complains, circling around Runa, she turns her face away in clear rejection. 

It seems she’s accepted some things, but her bed remains a sacred space.

After finishing our noisy meal, I took a bath and returned to my room.

Shortly after, Estel, who had also just finished her bath, came to my room.

“Well, things have calmed down for now… though the mysteries have only deepened.”

“True, but it’s better than finding nothing. We’re at least making progress toward solving the problem, bit by bit.”

“I hope we can solve it safely…”

Indeed, finding nothing would be worse, but we still have no clue about the true objective. 

Since arriving in Sevarya, things have only gotten more puzzling with Diabolos, the demons, and Testudo-sama, the guardian deity.

Both seem somehow related, but how exactly, I have no idea.

As I pondered, I noticed Estel smiling brightly while looking at me.

“By the way, do you remember the promise you made today?”

“Oh, of course. That’s why you came to my room, right?”

“Sure, I could’ve asked in the living room, but… I figured you’d prefer it this way, wouldn’t you?”

“Yes… Thank you for your consideration.”

Estel tilted her head, placing a hand on her cheek. 

Doing it in front of Noru and the others would be embarrassing… I’m grateful for Estel’s thoughtfulness.

“I’m not very good at giving massages, so don’t expect too much, okay?”

“Don’t worry, I’m aware. Besides, I’m only a little tired, so it’s fine.”

She knew that, huh? I’ve never given a massage before… I guess I’ll just start by rubbing.

I had Estel sit on the bed, while I sat on the floor, lifting one of her legs.

Her skin was soft and smooth, so much so that my gaze was glued to her leg.

…I never noticed because she always wears knee-high socks, but her skin is beautiful.

No, no, what am I thinking when I’m supposed to be giving a massage!

Shaking my head to clear my thoughts, I began massaging Estel’s foot.

I have no idea about pressure points, so I just rubbed randomly from her sole upward, uncertain if it was even effective.

Still, her skin is so soft. She doesn’t seem to have any tension, despite being tired…

Ah, the vitality of youth.

“Does it hurt?”

“Not at all; it feels quite nice. Just knowing you’re massaging me makes it feel even better.”

“Uh, y-yeah…”

Hearing Estel say that with a shy smile made me turn my face away.

I’m glad she’s saying something so nice, but it’s embarrassing when it’s this direct.

To cover my embarrassment, I decided to bring up a question that had been on my mind.

“By the way, what do you think is causing this disturbance? Even after collecting the magic stone and defeating the apparent source, the Shell Cancer, it doesn’t look like the hunting ground is returning to normal.”

When we defeated Grandis in Queres, the abnormal growth of Trents subsided, but this time, even after the small-scale disturbances, things still haven’t returned to normal.

Even after collecting the magic stone and continuing our so-called hunts, we didn’t see a single Blue Cancer, and the shellfish kept spawning.

“Perhaps the magic stone we found this time is one that changes the nature of the hunting grounds.”

“The nature?”

“Yes. It could cause the original monsters to disappear and new ones to spawn. Maybe it interferes with that light from which the monsters emerge and manipulates it.”

“You’ve got to be kidding… This is getting more complicated by the minute.”

Even though the magic stones look similar, could they each have different enchantments…?

It seems like there are increasingly varied effects.

But what’s the point of changing the monsters in the hunting grounds?

As I pondered this, Estel seemed to have an answer and spoke up.

“Maybe they’re experimenting, trying out different things… Or it could just be a prank.”

“A prank?”

“Yes, didn’t the branch manager say that Blue Cancer crab miso is a delicacy? Maybe they’re just trying to prevent people from eating it by removing the Blue Cancer that was relatively close to town.”

“Would they really go that far just for such a ridiculous prank? …Well, it’d certainly work on Noru.”

“Haha, yes. Even Sisya was making a fuss earlier, so if it was a prank, it’d be quite successful.”

Sisya was furious, and Noru was visibly down. 

Now that I think about it, when I reported to Bens, he seemed disheartened upon hearing about the disappearance of the Blue Cancer… Maybe he was worried about the crab miso.

If it was a prank, it might have been quite effective… but no, that can’t be it.

As we continued chatting, I massaged Estel’s foot, calf, and slowly moved upward. 

I lacked the courage to touch her thigh, so I kept repeating the upward and downward strokes.

“Is this enough?”

“Hmmm, I wonder… Maybe you could continue a bit longer since you’re at it.”

“…You’re unusually forward today.”

“Once in a while is fine, right? Lately, you haven’t been paying much attention to me, you know? It makes me jealous.”

Estel pouted, looking dissatisfied.

We’re always together when we go out, and she comes to my room quite often, so it’s not like I’ve been ignoring her…

But what is she jealous of…?

Anyway, it seems she still wants more, so I decided to continue the massage… Just as I was about to resume, I heard footsteps rushing down the hallway, and suddenly, with a loud bang, the door flew open.

“Hahaha, it’s this way!”

“I told you to wait, didn’t I?!”

Freesia’s laughter and Sisya’s angry shout filled the room.

…So they barged in.

What are they doing in here?

“Gah!”

As I tried to turn around, something hit me hard on the back, causing me to fall forward.

“Kyah!”

I crashed into Estel, who was sitting on the bed.

In an instant, I managed to catch myself by planting my elbows on the bed, preventing myself from fully collapsing onto her.

…but I ended up hovering over Estel, nearly pinning her down.

For a moment, we both stared blankly at each other, not fully understanding what had happened… As soon as I realized the situation, I quickly stood up.

“S-sorry, are you alright?”

“Y-yes… I’m fine.”

Estel, her face red, hurriedly got up as well.

We stood there in awkward silence, the atmosphere thick with unease.

Unable to bear the tension, I decided to confront the ones who caused this mess.

“You two… don’t just run into people’s rooms like that!”

As I turned my gaze toward Freesia, who had frozen upon seeing us, she flinched.

Judging by her reaction, she must have been the one who bumped into me.

“I-I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to!”

“What a troublesome elf… Chasing you around is exhausting.”

“It’s not like I’m a troublemaker or anything!”

It seems they were playing chase again… Not only the elf, but the priest chasing her around is also a huge nuisance.

Estel murmured as if thinking the same, and Sisya responded by resting her chin on her hand, looking between me and Estel.

When our eyes met, she grinned mischievously.

Wh-what’s with that smile… It’s like she’s relishing this.

“Oh, I see, you two were enjoying some alone time. Sorry for the interruption.”

“N-no, it’s not like you were really interrupting…”

“Come on, let’s go, rowdy elf.”

“I’m not a rowdy

 elf, you know!”

I was prepared for more teasing, but Sisya grabbed Freesia by the scruff of her neck, bowed, and left the room.

“What was that all about…”

“Since summoning Freesia, things have gotten quite lively.”

“I don’t mind the noise, but I’d appreciate it if they didn’t barge into my room.”

“True… But thanks to them, I did have a good time.”

Estel blushed slightly, placing a hand on her cheek with a smile.

She seemed as flustered as I was earlier, but she’s back to her usual self now.

And that “good time” she mentioned… Well, who knows what she means by that.

“So, should I continue the massage?”

“…No, I’m feeling much better now. How about we join Sisya and the others in their commotion?”

“…Yeah, let’s do that. Just let me know if you need another massage, okay?”

“Yes, thank you, big brother.”

“Alright. Let’s go, then.”