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

[[2024-06-09]TL note: fixed naming issues sorry about that. Thanks for letting me know.]

After finishing the gacha pulls, everyone returned to their rooms, exhausted.

I got a Centibar from the gacha, so I'm practicing with it now.

This crystal can be attached anywhere, so I plan to attach it to my armor's shoulder. Right now, I can only control one object, and its speed is just slightly faster than walking. It’s far from being practical in a real fight.

However, it can change shape freely, becoming a needle or a wall, so it seems useful for both offense and defense. Whether it becomes practical depends on my future efforts.

"Phew, this is pretty tiring..."

After practicing for a while, I decided to take a break. Controlling it with my mind is more exhausting than I thought. I’m also getting a bit hungry.

I decided to have a light snack and chose something from my smartphone, materializing it. I haven't had sweets much, so I wanted to try something sweet.

What appeared was a long, brown rectangular bread, already cut into ten pieces. I took one piece and tried it.

"Whoa!"

It looked plain, but it was sweet, moist, and had a slight alcohol taste. Smelling it, I detected a sweet, pleasant aroma.

...Is this a brandy cake? I’m not a big fan of alcohol, but it’s quite tasty. Though, I'd prefer it without the strong alcohol taste...

"Well, let's practice a bit more... huh?"

Just as I finished the first piece and was about to resume practicing, there was a knock on my door. Who could it be? Estel often visits my room, but she should be asleep by now, exhausted.

"It's open."

I called out, indicating the door wasn't locked. The door opened, revealing the visitor.

"Excuse me."

"Oh, Noru?"

It was Noru, wearing an eye mask and pajamas. She rarely comes to my room, only a few times before.

"It's unusual for you to come to my room. Have a seat."

"Thank you."

I offered her the only chair in the room and sat on the bed myself.

"So, what brings you here?"

"Um, well..."

Noru fidgeted, pressing her index fingers together shyly. What’s with her? ...Oh, could it be that?

"Is it about the request from the comp gacha? Do you want some food?"

"That’s not it! How rude!"

I guessed wrong. I thought she might want to eat as much gacha food as she wanted. Speaking of which, no one has made a request yet. I'm still nervous about when they might ask.

"Then what is it?"

"Well, um... I wanted to thank you for today!"

Gathering her courage, Noru stopped fidgeting and faced me, bowing deeply. Huh? What did I do to deserve thanks?

"...For what?"

"Ookura-dono, you saved me when Rigamanus caught me today. I wanted to thank you for that..."

Noru fidgeted again, looking away. I see, she’s still thinking about today. She's so sincere... If she’s going to thank me for that, I should thank her countless times for all the help she’s given me.

"You were still thinking about that? You didn't need to come and thank me."

"But... I was really happy when you blocked Smiter's attack for me when I fell... Even though you were crushed afterward."

She touched her fingers together and blushed. I’ve never really protected Noru before. She’s usually the one protecting others, so today must have been significant for her... though I think getting thrown and crushing her ruined it.

"Noru, you've always helped me. I’d be ashamed if I didn’t help you in a situation like that."

"Ookura-dono, you’ve really changed."

Noru has always been helping me. I want to be able to help her too, not just be the one getting protected. There's still a huge gap between us, so I need to work harder.

"I'm glad to see your growth, Ookura-dono, but it's a bit lonely not being relied on as much anymore..."

Noru seemed a bit sad, her voice soft. This isn't like her. The energetic Noru is what feels right.

"Oh, do you want to be relied on more? Then how about gathering magic stones—"

"That’s not what I meant! Don't joke around when I’m being serious!"

"Sorry, sorry. But don’t get so down. I still rely on you now and will continue to rely on you."

She stood up and shouted, blowing away the previous atmosphere. I couldn't help but laugh.

Yeah, this is the Noru I know. It's not that I don’t rely on her. I can fight confidently because she’s there.

"Hey, since you’re here, want to have some of this?"

"What is this?"

"Brandy cake. It’s not as satisfying as a parfait, but it's good."

With her usual energy restored, I offered Noru some brandy cake. It might have a strong alcohol flavor, but a few pieces shouldn’t make her drunk.

"This is interesting, it’s different from the usual sweets, but it’s delicious!"

"Glad you like it."

Noru took a piece and ate it in one bite. She seemed to like it, quickly finishing piece after piece. Her usual enthusiastic eating is refreshing to see.

Noru quickly ate several more pieces.

"Hey, aren’t you eating too much? Are you okay?"

"Hehe, what are you talking about?"

Seeing her eat so much in silence, I got worried and spoke up. She had already eaten four pieces and was on her fifth. Even if it's a snack, eating that much at once might make her drunk.

Despite my concern, Noru’s cheerful, relaxed voice suggested it was too late.

"Feeling so light and pleasant..."

"Hey, stop eating already!"

"Why are you taking it away~!"

"Whoa, don't push!"

I took the cake away from her as she reached for another piece. She stood up and lunged at me to get it back. Raising the cake out of her reach, Noru pressed her body against mine, trying to grab it.

Because of this, we both ended up falling onto the bed.

"Ahh, this feels nice~"

"Hey! Get off me!"

Noru clung to my stomach, her face buried in it. Just like when the Cyclops attacked. She had already lost interest in the cake and was now lying on top of me, making contented noises.

I tried to pull her off with my free hand, but she didn’t budge.

"Why do you look so unhappy? Do you hate me?"

"I don't hate you! But if you stay like this, we’ll drop the cake, and I can’t move!"

Annoyed, she pouted, inflating her cheeks. Damn, how did it come to this? I underestimated her appetite and didn’t expect her to eat so much so quickly.

"Ookura-dono, you usually treat me so poorly. I want to be treated nicely too..."

"I don’t... maybe...?"

Still clinging to me, she tightened her grip. I didn’t realize she felt that way. I do treat her poorly sometimes... yeah, often. I see her more like a male friend, so I tend to do that.

"Is it because you can’t see my face? Then I'll take this off!"

"I didn't say anything!"

Ignoring my protests, Noru got excited and quickly removed her eye mask.

"How about now? Ookura-san, how is it?"

For the first time in a while, I saw the real Noru. Her moist eyes and flushed face looking at me made me hold my breath.

"Come on, say something."

"Uh, well, who are you?"

"It's Noru."

I tried to look away, but she pulled my clothes, demanding attention.

Wait, is this how Noru normally speaks? I remember her speaking more formally like Sisya. Is this the real Noru? I’ve only seen her face a few times, but maybe this is how she talks to Estel and the others.

When I asked who she was, she answered softly, climbing up my body.

"Don't climb on me!"

"But you keep looking away. Look at me."

I tried to push her back, but I was no match for her strength. I couldn’t win against Noru in a contest of strength.

Despite my resistance, Noru climbed onto my chest.

"Got you! So, Ookura-san, how is it?"

"Ugh, get off..."

She grabbed my face with both hands, making me look directly at her. My heart pounded in my chest.

Damn... I’m getting flustered by Noru? I won’t admit it! Okay, she’s cute, but still!

"You can say something nice... right? Huh? My vision..."

Smiling, Noru suddenly swayed and collapsed sideways. She must’ve finally succumbed to the alcohol.

"...Phew, that was close."

That was dangerous. I wasn’t planning to, but looking at her directly is bad for my heart.

"Ugh... uuh..."

"Jeez... sleeping so peacefully."

I poked Noru’s cheek as she slept, looking uncomfortable. I didn’t think feeding her cake would lead to this. And now she’s asleep... well, that saved me.

I put her eye mask back on and decided to carry her to her room. I couldn't let her sleep in my bed; Sisya would definitely tease me if she found out.

As I was about to leave, the door opened...

"Oh, onii-chan."

"Whoa! Estel, what are you doing here?"

"I had something to discuss with you. But what happened to Noru?"

Estel stood in front of my room, smiling. The timing made my heart jump again.

 I thought she was asleep...

"Well, I gave her some sweets, and she got drunk on the alcohol in them. She fell asleep, so I’m taking her to her room."

"I see. She’s sleeping soundly."

She looked at Noru and seemed convinced. Carrying a drunk girl out of my room feels like I’m doing something suspicious.

"So, what did you need?"

"It’s not important. You should take Noru to her room first."

"Okay. If you say so..."

I was nervous, but Estel stepped aside and told me to hurry. I wonder what she wanted... but if it's not important, I guess it can wait.

I walked through the white hallway to Noru’s room.

"Estel, you just happened to be here, right?"

"...Yes, of course. Purely a coincidence."

After a pause, she confirmed it was a coincidence.

"Yeah, it must be, hahaha."

"Yes, absolutely. A coincidence, hahaha."

I'm glad it was just a coincidence. I was worried she might say something like, "I don’t like perceptive onii-chan."

"Estel, you should get some rest too."

"I will. Good night, onii-chan."

I told Estel to get some sleep, and she gently wished me good night. Feeling her gaze on my back, I walked down the hallway with only my footsteps echoing.