Turned Into Gacha?! - 541
--+--
The fighting spirit, which allowed for no failure, surged to an incredible peak. Boros couldn't even remember the last time he felt this exhilarated.
To secure victory in this battle, he would not regret it, even if the price was his own life.
"I will release all my energy and destroy you along with this planet!"
Boros shouted this, half-warning, half-declaration.
Countless beams of light erupted from his body, and the entire sky was dyed pink by the radiance.
Cold sweat began to bead on Child Emperor’s forehead.
Tatsumaki reached out directly toward Boros, who stood alone in the sky, only to find her psychic powers had a severely limited effect within that energy field—it was as if her efforts had vanished into a bottomless ocean.
Though she had managed to affect Boros, all she received in return was an angry glare from the alien.
Tatsumaki refused to allow herself to be useless or helpless in the face of the battle. Since an unprecedentedly powerful enemy stood before her, she would crush him with unprecedented power!
An even more intense light flared around Tatsumaki. As she pushed her psychic power to its absolute limit, blood began to seep from her eyes, nose, mouth, and ears.
Watching his energy constantly being dissipated, Boros was nearly infuriated to the point of death.
But his top priority right now was the fight against Alice!
Seeing Tatsumaki’s efforts, Alice knew this was the final signal to decide the outcome. The Sword of Light transformed back into a Railgun.
She aimed the barrel at Boros in the sky, and as electric arcs crackled along the sword, Alice drew upon the nobility within her halo as fuel, pouring it into the weapon in an endless stream.
"Mr. King!? Why are you just standing there watching!? The situation is already critical!" Child Emperor shouted at King in a panic.
"Trust in Alice." King’s expression remained unchanged, his tone incredibly steady. Without a hint of tension, he acted as if the outcome was already within his grasp.
Trust in Alice?
Everyone turned their eyes toward the black-haired girl standing on the ground.
At this point, was all they could do really just to trust her?
How could that be possible!?
Child Emperor gritted his teeth and immediately maneuvered the robotic limbs on his backpack to rush toward the battlefield.
This level of energy surpassed anything he could have imagined; the abilities Alice had shown before were simply not enough to compete with it.
Rather than standing here and watching from afar, it was better to try and help in any way possible!
Whether it meant directly attacking the alien himself or finding a way to dissipate the shockwave of the energy, anything was better than doing nothing!
Genos, standing nearby, didn't feel overly worried, thinking of Saitama being near the battlefield—after all, in his heart, his teacher was invincible.
However, he didn't want Alice to get hurt. Since even Child Emperor had moved, he decided he should contribute his own effort as well.
The two men's actions caused the other heroes to exchange glances.
The existence of S-Class heroes was vital; nobody wanted to see an S-Class hero fall, but now was the time when they had to step up.
Still... they needed a safety net. Since that alien claimed to be releasing all his energy, it made perfect sense to leave someone behind to deliver the finishing blow if necessary.
The only person present capable of facing that alien might just be King.
"We'll go and help. King, you stay here. Once this attack ends, finish off that alien leader."
After Bang left these words, he followed the other two toward the battlefield.
At this moment, everyone was essentially in the same boat; no one could afford to think only of self-preservation. Besides, not a single hero present lacked a sense of justice.
Even Flashy Flash, who always preferred to work alone, was no exception.
"Is there anything we can do to help!?"
Alice was concentrating on Boros, who was also gathering power in the sky. She hadn't expected to hear voices behind her; looking over, she saw that many other heroes had gathered there.
Genos opened the plating on his chest and pulled out his spherical core. "I can give you all of my energy."
"Tatsumaki seems to be holding that alien back. We can’t do what she’s doing, but if there’s anything you need, just say the word." Bang took one look at Tatsumaki in the sky—she was practically bleeding from every orifice—and spoke with a serious expression.
Even a fool could see that Tatsumaki couldn't hold on much longer. Her distraction was brief, but it was enough for them to quickly coordinate a plan.
Yet, despite everyone’s desperate, all-in attitude, the girl didn't show any solemnity. Instead, she smiled at them.
"Don't worry!"
Don't worry? How could they not worry?
"Your energy is incredible, but it still can't compare to that guy in the sky!" Child Emperor, assuming Alice couldn't gauge the disparity in energy, explained it bluntly: "If this continues, you will definitely lose to him!"
"Alice will not lose!"
The girl's simple, direct, and confident declaration cut his words short.
"Auntie Herta said that as Alice's sense of justice and determination grow, Alice's energy will continue to get stronger."
"Protecting everyone and protecting this planet is the responsibility of a Hero. Defeating the Demon King is the mission of Alice, the Hero! Alice will never lose!"
As if to validate the girl’s words, the original two-meter-long Sword of Light seemed to receive a vast surge of energy.
It expanded and extended; as nanobots rearranged and shifted, an increasingly massive railgun formed in her hands.
Five meters long, the barrel crackled with lightning. Before Child Emperor could react, the equipment in his hands suddenly blared a loud warning.
Dazed, he looked at the device. The energy levels—which were previously lopsided—were now rapidly closing the gap. To his sheer astonishment, the energy reading surpassed that of the alien leader!
"Magic Power Saturation — 100%"
"Energy discharge threshold exceeded."
Arcs of electricity began to leak out; the Sword of Light seemed to have reached its absolute limit.
The surrounding heroes had to retreat slightly to avoid being caught in the crossfire.
"Infuse your will into this light... the strike of justice that shatters evil...!"
"Oh Light—!!"
The low-pressure air that had reached its breaking point was pierced by a blue-and-white radiance in that moment.
An unparalleled finishing blow, carrying unimaginable energy and force, surged toward the Demon King in the sky.
'Not at my peak... but—!'
In the deepest recesses of Boros's mind, there was not a shred of conflict or hesitation.
He was indeed deeply annoyed by the "green fly" that kept interfering, but at this very moment, that annoyance had become trivial.
No matter the circumstances or the situation, for him, as the 'Demon King,' this was only natural. Facing such adversity, all he could do was unleash everything he had without restraint.
"COLLAPSING STAR ROARING CANNON—!"
To be able to engage in a battle like this—he would have no regrets!
--+--
Turned Into Gacha?! - 542
--+--
A-City had been wiped off the map.
Under the clash of energies that tore through the heavens and shook the earth, even with Tatsumaki desperately trying to dampen the aftershocks, the damage to the city remained catastrophic.
That was to say nothing of the fact that the city was already a hollowed-out ruin from the two combatants’ initial exchange before the true devastation even began.
In the aftermath, Metal Knight took it upon himself to oversee the reconstruction of A-City.
This alien invasion served as a grim wake-up call for everyone; if they truly believed themselves to be invincible, sooner or later, a threat from beyond the stars would arrive that they simply couldn't handle.
Compared to Boros, the alien who had assaulted the city, and his armada, humanity finally realized just how merciful Herta had been toward them all along.
Was Boros strong? It was plain for all to see: he was terrifyingly so.
Whether it was the energy reserves capable of vaporizing a planet or that hyper-resilient physiology that could unleash such power in a single blast, he was, by every definition, a God-level disaster for Earth.
So, what about Alice, the one who could stand against him?
If Alice—or rather, Herta—truly meant harm to Earth, was there any way they could possibly resist?
After witnessing the state of A-City, no one could maintain even a shred of confidence.
For a time, they even felt a strange sense of relief that their previous plans hadn't been fully set in motion.
The heroes' confidence in their own strength and their steadfast commitment to their convictions had, in a roundabout way, defused a situation that would have been a guaranteed, unnecessary death sentence.
While this left the "Pureblood" faction feeling utterly ashamed, it also solidified their belief in the necessity of a hero's orthodoxy.
It wasn't just about raw power; a sense of justice, too, had to be a standard for a hero’s ascent.
However, they didn't go so far as to denounce Metal Knight for proposing the original plan. It wasn't because they were complicit or shared his mindset, but because Alice herself showed no sign of caring.
In fact, after Silver Fang explained the ins and outs of the situation, she magnanimously forgave him.
When it came down to it, Metal Knight had been acting from a human perspective rather than out of selfish desire. That alone made it impossible for Alice to harbor any resentment.
Her grace and open-mindedness only made the Purebloods feel even more embarrassed.
To signal their stance to the young girl—and the Herta backing her—they refrained from any official condemnation of Metal Knight. Instead, they quietly throttled his access to Association resources, and this latest reconstruction effort was turned into a purely mandatory act of community service.
At the same time, Metal Knight’s ranking was unceremoniously slashed from sixth to eighteenth, with all other heroes shifting up accordingly.
Alice’s rank, meanwhile, soared all the way to second.
In truth, there was some internal disagreement within the Association regarding this.
Blast held the number one spot not just because he had stepped forward over a decade ago to repel Elder Centipede—a monster capable of easily destroying human cities—while displaying peerless might.
More importantly, the Hero Association needed a benchmark.
In other words, his role was to ensure that no matter what kind of disaster humanity or the Association faced, there would always be a glimmer of hope.
"We still have our greatest hero who hasn't stepped onto the field yet; we haven't been utterly defeated!" Blast was the existence that provided everyone with that singular belief.
His position was no longer just a rank tied to combat power; he had become the Association's last line of defense and its ultimate deterrent.
Although everyone knew that Alice, and by extension the mysterious Herta, were almost certainly more powerful and had deeper origins than Blast, that "last line of defense" wasn't something they could just discard overnight.
Caught in this dilemma, Yamada simply offered a suggestion: why not just ask Alice what she thought?
That was exactly what the rest of the Purebloods had been waiting for.
And so, the one left with a headache became Alice.
In her heart of hearts, as the protagonist of a true hero’s tale, Alice naturally wanted to be the number one ranked hero. The benefits were irrelevant; it was the honor that mattered.
Yet, after much deliberation, she chose the spot of S-Class Rank 2.
This wasn't out of magnanimity, but because... the very fact that everyone was hesitating meant she still wasn't quite good enough yet.
Blast was the symbol people clung to as their final trump card—the strongest, invincible hero.
The fact that the Association hadn't made the call themselves, instead handing the choice to her, proved she had yet to become that undisputed symbol.
Rather than snatching the title for herself, Alice preferred to earn it until she was undeniably the number one in everyone’s eyes.
When the day came that people would think of her first whenever they encountered a disaster they couldn't face, she would naturally become the hero at the top.
"An incorrect choice, yet one that transcends correctness."
After reviewing the files sent over by the Purebloods, Sweet Mask wore an elegant smile, though his heart was racing, metaphorically shadowboxing with excitement.
Beautiful! Powerful! Noble! This is the kind of hero I wanted to see! Alice! This is exactly how it should be!
Yes, rankings were nothing more than boring trifles; only those recognized by others were true heroes.
Recalling the answer the girl had given him during their first meeting, Sweet Mask felt his excitement crest even higher.
At the same time, he felt a sting of envy.
A true hero... surely that is what she looks like, isn't it?
No matter how hard he reached toward the hero in his heart, Sweet Mask knew he still fell short.
Yet, in his eyes, even a flawed version of himself understood the true nature of a hero better than anyone else in this world.
What was a true hero like? He still couldn't put the answer into words, but looking at the smiling face of that raven-haired girl in the news reports, that image seemed to grow much clearer.
The situation in A-City was far too large to hide.
The aftershocks of those heaven-shattering attacks hadn't just crippled A-City; they had brought earthquakes and tsunamis to the surrounding regions.
If there was one name that shone the brightest besides Alice, it was definitely Blizzard of Hell.
Moving at incredible speed to quell disasters across various cities, her combined application of psychic storms and telekinesis played a pivotal role in disaster response. It forced everyone to realize for the first time that the true value of the Blizzard Group didn't just begin and end with Alice.
As the leader of the Blizzard Group, Blizzard of Hell was not only beautiful, but her strength far exceeded that of an average B-Class hero.
She was the sister of the legendary Tornado of Terror, and with the flashy, dramatic entrances the Blizzard Group was known for, she already commanded a fair amount of attention.
The unprecedented strength she displayed during these events made it clear to everyone that she was far beyond B-Class. Even if she were appointed to S-Class immediately, no one would bat an eye.
"As expected, being Tatsumaki's sister, her strength is immense! She must be every bit as strong as her sister, right?!"
The internet thrived on building up legends, and this kind of "triumphant comeback" was the perfect catalyst to get everyone’s blood pumping.
Fubuki, however, couldn't care less about the flattery. She had no intention of accepting an invitation to become an S-Class hero.
Compared to all of that, she had a much bigger problem: the power within her Sephira Crystal was nearly drained dry.
She had been rationing it carefully until now, but the sensation of absolute, all-encompassing power she had experienced while fighting at full throttle left her feeling hollow and adrift in her current state.
Ms. Herta... have you forgotten about me?
--+--
Alice Tendou in One Punch Man Arc: End
--+--
Turned Into Gacha?! - 543
--+--
[World Restoration System is at your service.]
[Target world detected and reached.]
[Target located: Furina de Fontaine.]
[Host, please prevent the target from sustaining any fatal injuries before she returns to her original world. Current return progress: 0.01%.]
--+--
The moment she opened her eyes, Sushang heard a voice ringing in her ears, one completely different from what she was accustomed to.
While it was still a system, this navigation voice belonged to a woman, not the "Sir" she knew.
Some time ago, the Master Consciousness had unexpectedly discovered this brand-new system drifting in the gaps between worlds, birthed shortly after the Master Consciousness itself.
Although called a "brand-new" system, it was, much like Amber's, a defective product—cast aside and banished after being deemed useless by the Master Consciousness.
It had not developed a personality like the Master Consciousness, but according to the Master Consciousness, it wasn't just systems with personalities that were treated as defective.
To the deep-pocketed Main System, even the slightest flaw was reason enough to discard it like yesterday's trash.
And the flaws of this new system... well, at least in Amber's eyes, they were perhaps even more exaggerated than those of the Master Consciousness.
It was designed to restore worlds that had been played to the point of collapse by transmigrators.
Its primary focus was to track down characters who had drifted into other worlds or to handle catastrophes that had bled into foreign realities.
Compared to the Master Consciousness, who was more like a "kindergarten teacher," this system was more like a diligent, hardworking wage slave.
However, its operational capability suffered from a glaring defect: it lacked the "newcomer starter pack" that the Master Consciousness possessed.
To restore a world, it needed power, but to obtain that power, it needed to restore the world.
Given the situation described above, it would only settle the mission and grant the host rewards after the host successfully protected the target and ensured their return to their home world.
Without upfront rewards, it was difficult for an ordinary host to execute such a mission.
Binding a powerful host seemed like a good choice, but unfortunately, a system that had such high requirements for its host—and was, in specific situations, extremely demanding—was viewed by the Main System as a pure failure.
The Master Consciousness wasn't surprised by this at all.
The Main System always placed the safety of the host as its absolute top priority.
If a system developed a personality, it might develop selfish desires; if it weren't meticulous enough, it might inadvertently lead its host to their death.
These were all potential factors that could cause disaster, so it was impossible for the Main System to allow such a system to be released.
Amber could understand the Main System's reasoning, but the plight of this Recovery System reminded her of the Master Consciousness back in the day. Perhaps, for others, this Recovery System might seem like a bit of a burden, but for her, its flaws were hardly a problem at all.
The most pressing matter was to help the Recovery System replenish its energy before it ran out completely.
The only difficulty was that the Recovery System's energy requirements were different from those of the Master Consciousness.
This was to be expected, of course. The energy required by the Master Consciousness was "recognition," while the Recovery System required "world restoration progress."
It wasn't exactly a perfect match—if not entirely unrelated, then certainly not on the same page.
And so, Amber simply followed the precedent of the current Master Consciousness: she bound the Recovery System to her other selves, having several of them simultaneously carry out restoration missions in multiple worlds.
It was precisely after accepting a mission from this Recovery System that Sushang arrived in this world, commonly abbreviated as "DanMachi."
In truth, she didn't know much about this world—just a few of the characters.
Beyond that, she only recalled random discussions from forums about the "true queen" or the peculiar obsession of the protagonist, Bell, with his goal.
Other than that, she didn't have much of an impression.
Withdrawing from these thoughts, the brown-haired girl with twin tails took another look at the towering city walls before her.
As the adventurer city that sealed away the disaster known as the "Dungeon," Orario saw a massive flow of people.
Whether they were people who had traveled from afar to become adventurers, merchants bringing in or shipping out goods, or those leaving in despair, they could all be seen on this main road leading into the city.
To the guards responsible for vetting entrants, such sights were all too common.
"Hello! I'd like to enter the city!"
The guard, who had been looking down as he recorded information in the register, stopped his pen, drawn by the clear, bright voice. He looked up involuntarily.
A girl with such a lovely voice—she must be a beauty, right?
The result was exactly as expected.
The newcomer was indeed a rare beauty... no, rather than "rare," wouldn't it be more accurate to say she looked even better than many elves?
However, compared to her youthful and beautiful appearance, what intrigued the guard more was her attire.
Although the descent of the gods had brought many different styles of dress and fashion perspectives, leading to a variety of outfits inside and outside Orario, the style of the girl's clothing was something he had never seen before.
Though unfamiliar, it was certainly beautiful, and it suited her temperament perfectly.
"Hello, may I ask your name?"
While silently lamenting that Orario was about to welcome another high-profile adventurer, the guard faithfully performed his duties.
"Li Sushang."
Sushang? What a tongue-twister of a name... how is it written?
The guard scratched the back of his head and simply handed a sheet of paper to the girl, signaling for her to write her name down. When she handed it back, he saw two entirely different sets of characters.
One was in the common tongue—although not his native language, it was one he was very familiar with.
And the other... indeed, he had never seen it before. Was it the language of some small country?
"Race?"
"Heaven... Human."
Heaven?
"What are you doing in Orario?"
"Uh... helping someone find a person?"
The girl perhaps felt her reason sounded a bit insufficient, but the guard didn't think much of it.
Looking for someone? That wasn't particularly rare. After all, many people lost their lives in Orario, and families who hadn't heard from them in a long time would naturally find a way to come here and search.
So, this girl had come after receiving a request to find someone? She probably wasn't some inexperienced rookie, then.
Glancing at the sword and scabbard at the girl's waist, the guard asked a few more routine questions before letting her through.
The inquiry was just standard procedure. Once inside, whatever happened was a problem for the adventurers and the gods to worry about; it had nothing to do with a transparent official like him.
Sushang was slightly surprised that the process of entering the city was so simple, but that was a good thing.
As the girl stepped into the city, the vibrant, noisy atmosphere completely surrounded her ears.
The street that greeted those entering the city was undoubtedly the golden spot for merchants and peddlers to set up stalls; the endless cacophony of hawking filled the air, making Sushang feel a bit overwhelmed for a moment.
Pedestrians with various racial traits, whom she had only imagined before, walked past her eyes.
Even having seen so many things, the sight, paired with the atmosphere that "something was about to begin," still made her heart race with excitement.
But before that, she needed to find where her target was.
Thinking of the "Little Cake's" situation, she decided that until she knew which period of time the Little Cake was in, it would be better to treat her as an ordinary person.
--+--
Turned Into Gacha?! - 544
--+--
That said, finding someone is another matter entirely...
Scanning the dense, bustling crowd, Sushang couldn't help but feel a headache coming on. While her mastery of the Edge of Taixuan meant that sensing the life force of everyone in Orario wouldn't be particularly difficult, the problem was that she and Furina had never met before.
If you’ve never met, how are you supposed to sense their presence?
Running around like a headless chicken wouldn't work, though.
As the saying goes, "sharpening the axe won't delay the work of cutting wood." Rather than foolishly leaving things to luck, she would be better off finding a place where she could gather some information.
Taking one last look around, Sushang reached into her pocket, pulled out a small gold nugget the size of a fingernail, and approached a street vendor who was busy calling out to passersby.
"How about it, traveler? My goods are the real deal! If you have any friends among the Renard or other demi-humans, buying our combs or soaps is the right move! Oh, that’s right! We even have essential oils specifically for conditioning fur and wool!"
Sushang certainly didn't look like a demi-human herself, but she had an approachable, easy-going air about her.
Besides, who doesn't have a friend of that race? Giving these things as gifts is always a safe bet.
"Boss, I do have friends among them, but I’m not here to buy anything right now."
Sushang didn't take the bait on the sales pitch, but before the man could continue, she flashed the gold nugget in her hand right in front of him.
Gold is a universal currency wherever you go. Even if Orario had its own coins and precious goods, the value of gold wouldn't depreciate much—after all, it could always be used outside the city.
It would only take a little extra effort.
"Hehe, you’re the boss here! You’ve certainly got a sharp eye. What would you like to know? I wouldn't say I know everything, but I can answer most questions you might have!"
The vendor was quick on the uptake; he could tell at a glance that the young lady wasn't a local and had only just arrived.
It wasn't hard to guess, especially since he’d never seen a style of dress like hers before.
"Great! I love dealing with people who get straight to the point." Seeing the vendor's knowing expression, Sushang knew he must be used to fielding questions from out-of-towners.
A vendor operating near the main gate, indeed.
With that, she got right to it: "I’m looking for someone, but I’m new here and don’t know my way around. I want to know where I can go to gather information."
Having said her piece, she tossed the gold nugget to him before he could even answer.
The vendor caught the gold with nimble hands and gave it a subtle squeeze, his smile becoming even more genuine.
So, she was looking for someone.
"May I ask, miss, is the person you’re looking for an adventurer?"
"Hmm... maybe. Or maybe not?" This was hard for Sushang to say; her mission only required her to find the person.
Maybe, or maybe not?
The vendor thought for a moment. Does that mean she isn't familiar with the person she’s looking for?
He didn't dwell on it—that wasn't the kind of thing a merchant needed to concern himself with.
"If you know the name and appearance of the person, you could try posting a request at the Guild to test your luck. Alternatively, you could commission a Familia directly. As long as you can afford the price, finding someone isn't very difficult."
The vendor offered his own advice: "If they are a unique person like yourself, it should be even easier to find them."
The Guild... and a Familia, huh?
Sushang committed his advice to memory: "I see. Thank you for your guidance."
"It's nothing!" The vendor smiled. "Oh, by the way, if you’re looking to hire a Familia, you might want to try your luck at 'The Hostess of Fertility'."
"The Hostess of Fertility?"
The name felt vaguely familiar. In this strange place, it must be a fairly well-known spot, right?
"Yes, it’s a tavern with reasonable prices. Many low-income adventurers choose to go there, though sometimes the Loki Familia will hold banquets there as well. If you’re lucky, you might even run into them!"
Seeming to worry that Sushang might misunderstand, the vendor quickly added, "While most of the patrons are low-earning adventurers, many of them are just ordinary members of larger Familias."
The Loki Familia also sounded familiar. It seemed this place was indeed an important location.
Plus, places where people ate were often hubs for information; after all, people loved to chat and gossip over their meals.
Whether the rumors were true or not was another story, but the volume of information would certainly be sufficient.
Thanking the vendor one last time, Sushang followed his directions, crossed a main road, and made her way toward Orario’s West Street.
Orario was a circular city with the Babel Tower at its heart, from which six main streets radiated outward. Sushang had just crossed from the northwest adventurer’s thoroughfare to get here.
Looking at the noisy, bustling interior before her, a trace of hesitation clouded Sushang’s face.
Could she really gather any information here? Although she could hear everything everyone was saying, the sheer volume of noise made her head throb uncomfortably.
Just as she was feeling a bit at a loss, a gentle, sweet, yet girlish voice sounded beside her.
"Customer?"
"Ah, I’m so sorry! I was blocking the door!" Sushang finally realized she had been standing at the entrance for too long. Fortunately, no one had been trying to pass in or out behind or in front of her.
Hastily stepping into the tavern to clear the way, the young lady looked toward the source of the voice.
Greeting her was a waitress in a green uniform and white apron, with gray hair and gray eyes.
She was looking at her with a hint of confusion, which made Sushang wonder if she had done something strange.
Watching the guest’s expression grow increasingly uncomfortable, the waitress quickly put on an apologetic face. "I'm so sorry! I was just lost in thought. I didn't mean to stare at you like that!"
"Oh, no! It’s quite alright. I should be the one apologizing—I was distracted by my own thoughts and ended up blocking the door..." Sushang couldn't shake the feeling that the girl’s reaction had been a bit odd. Was something wrong with her appearance?
Or was it just because her style of dress was so different from everyone else’s here?
Deciding to err on the side of trust rather than suspicion, Sushang didn't probe further.
"Since that’s the case, let’s just put these awkward moments behind us." The waitress smiled, sweeping away the previous tension, and continued, "However, to ensure you keep my little lapse in professional conduct a secret, I hope you’ll accept a small bribe from me~"
"A bribe?"
"Today’s special is the chef’s signature dish! You’re a newcomer to Orario, aren't you? How about I treat you to your first meal here?"
"Ah? That won't do! You just said we should let the awkwardness go, I can't take advantage of you like that!"
"It’s quite alright, consider it hush money!"
Are the waitresses here always this enthusiastic? A pretty and passionate waitress—it’s no wonder this place is so popular.
Refusing someone's kindness repeatedly wasn't a good thing. Accepting the goodwill of others was, in itself, a way of signaling one's own.
With that in mind, Sushang stopped declining and nodded generously.
"In that case, I shall accept your kindness... Oh! I haven't done the most important thing yet. I am Li Sushang. May I ask this young lady’s name?"
"Syr. Just call me Syr."
--+--
Turned Into Gacha?! - 545
--+--
"Syr? What a coincidence! A friend of mine has a friend with that same name!"
Upon hearing the grey-haired girl’s name, Sushang couldn't help but widen her eyes.
"Is that so?" Syr also looked surprised, but that surprise quickly melted into a smile. "If we’re to become friends too, you’ll have to think of a nickname for me, guest~"
"Oh, that shouldn't be necessary... I'm not actually that close to the other Syr; I’ve only heard about her through a friend. Besides, you don't need to call me 'guest.' Just call me Sushang."
"Then I won't stand on ceremony."
Syr reached out, took Sushang’s right hand, and led her toward a seat at the bar. "Let’s start here, Sushang."
There was quite a noticeable height difference between the two. Compared to Syr’s 162 centimeters, Sushang’s 150-centimeter stature made her look like a little sister being led by the hand. Even with her heels, Sushang only reached about 155 centimeters.
(A/N: I am genuinely stunned seeing Li Sushang’s height. Sister, you look like you’d be nearly six feet tall—how are you so short? The image of the legendary swordswoman in my heart has taken a massive blow.)
Behind the bar, a tall, sturdy Dwarf woman standing at a full 180 centimeters watched Syr’s movements and the girl she was pulling along with a stoic expression.
She didn't stop what she was doing until Sushang sat down at the bar.
"Yo! A new face. You just get to town?"
She looked to be in her forties and was on the heavier side, but the tension and elasticity of the muscles visible in her movements suggested she was far more than just a simple tavern owner.
That, combined with her hearty, resonant voice and straightforward way of speaking, instantly earned her a great deal of favor in Li Sushang’s eyes.
Thinking that this was a rather specific plot point, she didn't feel the need to be evasive; after all, there was nothing secretive about what she was there to do.
"Yes, and if I may be honest with the proprietor, I’m here to find someone."
"Looking for someone, eh..."
Hearing this, Mia looked thoughtful, her eyes drifting toward Syr, who had just emerged from the back kitchen.
"Are you looking for a friend, or perhaps a relative of a client?" Syr asked with curiosity and warmth.
Seeing her demeanor, Mia confirmed her intentions.
After casting a complex look at Syr that she quickly withdrew, she said in a calm, measured tone, "If you can provide some information, we could help you post a commission."
This wasn't strictly according to the rules. Everyone had, to some degree, bypassed the Guild to post commissions, but it was usually kept under wraps.
However, Mia certainly wasn't a fool. Calling it a "commission" was just a veiled code; the specifics would still have to be discussed in private.
"That would be a huge help! I can't believe you’d do so much for me when we’ve only just met!"
Even though this was a well-known spot from the original story, Sushang didn't think this hospitality was extended to just anyone. Was there something special about her? Her outfit? That seemed highly unlikely.
She glanced at the smiling Syr. The proprietor seemed to care deeply about the grey-haired girl’s actions. Perhaps Mia’s warmth was simply because Syr was showing her such kindness?
Sushang didn't know the source of this goodwill, but regardless, since they had extended it to her first, she would make a note of it.
As for the hidden price of this kindness, she would decide on that when the time came.
"We aren't friends, and I haven't met her before—I’ve been entrusted to protect her," Sushang said.
"She’s a human. As for her features... she has fluffy white hair with blue highlights, heterochromatic eyes in deep and light blue, wears a deep blue top hat, and is dressed in a formal gown of the same color. There is a lot of gold jewelry on both her dress and her hat."
The description was so detailed that it sounded less like she was looking for an adventurer and more like a young lady who had recently run away from home.
Coincidentally, both Mia and Syr knew exactly who she was talking about.
"You mean that little girl named Furina, don't you?" Mia asked.
"Do you know her, ma'am?"
Sushang hadn't expected to get a lead so quickly. Even though Furina’s attire was anything but low-profile, surely someone with her wit wouldn't be acting too conspicuously?
"I wouldn't call it 'knowing' her, but she’s certainly been the talk of the town the last couple of days. She’s been performing as a singer at the Central Plaza fountain in the First District.”
“I’ve heard many deities are trying to invite her to join their Familias, and our customers mention her constantly—some even claim her voice rivals that of Hathor."
Mia explained, "Although I haven't heard her myself, that is already an incredibly high standard of praise."
A voice capable of rivaling the gods even while housed in a mortal body was indeed a high compliment.
"At this hour, she should still be at the Central Plaza fountain," Syr said, tapping her cheek in thought.
"Then I need to get there as soon as possible!" Upon hearing this, Sushang jumped up, feeling anxious.
If it had been anyone else who ordered food and then ran off without even eating—even if it was a treat from the shop owner herself—Mia would have made sure that person learned the rules of her tavern.
But... this was a guest brought in by Syr.
Moreover, the girl didn't seem to view the person named Furina as just a "target," but appeared genuinely concerned that the girl might be in danger.
Even Mia hadn't seen many creatures as rare as that.
"Don't worry. It’s a special menu item, so many people ordered it today anyway," Syr said with a smile, putting Sushang at ease. "So, it won't go to waste."
"Thank you, Syr! I am so sorry for letting you down!" Sushang pressed her palms together, her face filled with guilt. "I will definitely find a way to make it up to you!"
"It's fine, really. Don't worry about it."
Syr waved her hand dismissively. "Besides, you’d better go take care of what’s important, Sushang."
"Yes... I must take my leave! I’m truly sorry!"
After apologizing once more to Syr and Mia, Sushang asked for directions to the First District and the Central Plaza.
She hurried out of the tavern, and under the watchful eyes of the two women, she tapped the ground with her toes and leaped into the air.
Neither of them could see how high or how far she jumped, but both knew that anyone capable of such power without the blessing of a god was no simple person.
Mia took one last look at Syr, noted her bright, joyful smile, shook her head, and pulled her gaze away.
With a target in mind, Sushang moved in a straight line toward the directions they had given.
While she was simply leaping across the rooftops, it was enough to take in the city's layout, and the Central Plaza in the First District was easily visible.
At the fountain, a girl stood waiting. That distinctively elaborate outfit and the highly recognizable, fluffy white hair allowed Sushang to lock onto her target immediately.
Thank goodness. It looked like she hadn't gotten into any real trouble yet.
--+--
Turned Into Gacha?! - 546
--+--
Furina felt absolutely wretched.
How could she not panic? She had suddenly materialized in a place entirely foreign to her.
It wasn't just that she was alone, leaving her—someone without the strength to truss a chicken—vulnerable to any number of dangers.
More importantly, she had been whisked away without any warning, failing to maintain the dignity befitting a Hydro Archon.
She feared that this breach in her performance might leave a permanent crack in the divine image she had spent so long cultivating.
If her terror had been superficial before, it deepened into a cold, hollow dread once she realized she was no longer in Teyvat.
Naturally, she wasn't foolish enough to go parading about, asking strangers for information as a god.
She hadn't lost her wits entirely. In a strange land where she knew no one, she chose to approach others with a facade of confident pride, skillfully extracting the information she needed without drawing undue suspicion.
The good news was that she likely wouldn't have to continue her charade as a deity.
The bad news... well, if she had suddenly vanished, Fontaine might very well be doomed, just as the prophecy had foretold.
Furina didn't know the specifics of the other "me's" plan, but she knew, with absolute certainty, that she was an essential piece of that puzzle.
Could it be? Was the prophecy coming to pass precisely because of her inexplicable disappearance?
Was the prophecy's vision of the "other me"—the true Hydro Archon—weeping upon the throne the direct result of this current predicament?
While being relieved of the exhausting burden of playing a god was, in one sense, a liberation, if that freedom had to be paid for with the lives of the people of Fontaine, she would choose the weight of her loneliness and suffering a thousand times over.
Overwhelmed by a tangle of complex emotions, Furina quickly found herself lacking the energy to dwell on it further. She was hungry.
Having woken up to find herself in this strange new world, she hadn't even had breakfast. She was reaching her breaking point.
The problem was, as a god, she was never in the habit of carrying money; there was always someone else to hold her purse and settle the bills.
Penniless, she could only resort to the tropes she had read about in novels: she would try her hand at street performing.
Fortunately, the city’s rules weren't overly strict.
After a few inquiries to confirm the feasibility of such a thing, Furina chose a spot in front of a fountain where the scenery and atmosphere were both pleasant, and began to sing.
The area was frequented by couples and friends enjoying a day out—people who generally had a bit of spare change.
While a lady dressed like Furina busking was an uncommon sight, it wasn't exactly unheard of.
Many noble daughters, in their rebellious phases, had wandered this path before. But finding another noble lady with Furina’s sheer talent? That was a rarity indeed.
Out of appreciation for her gift and the underlying thought that "she might be a future member of our Familia," many were more than happy to offer a bit of kindness to serve as the young girl’s starting funds.
After all, with Furina’s looks and voice, it was only natural for their respective gods to catch wind of the commotion and rush over to recruit her.
Being the type of person who would inevitably become the star of any Familia, leaving a good impression and building a connection now was never a bad idea.
But this favorable situation didn't last long.
As Furina turned down one divine invitation after another, people became wary of approaching her. In a sense, her rejections were a slap in the face to the gods.
Perhaps the gods themselves didn't mind, but as members of their respective Familias, they certainly weren't going to give a friendly look to someone who had insulted their patron.
Watching the central fountain area grow quiet and desolate because of her, Furina felt a mix of sorrow and self-reproach.
If she stayed here, she would only make everyone uncomfortable, and she would deprive the others of the chance to enjoy the fountain's scenery.
I suppose I'll have to find another place to go…
Yet, she harbored deep-seated anxieties about joining a Familia.
It wasn't because her pride as a "god" prevented her from doing so, but because she still hoped to find a way back to Teyvat. She didn't want to forge bonds in this land.
After all, she didn't truly belong here.
Furina, feeling dejected, forced herself to maintain a natural, proud demeanor, looking not at all like someone who intended to sneak away in defeat.
However, before she could even say goodbye to the audience that had been cautiously listening to her song, she spotted a dark speck in the distance, moving toward her with astonishing speed.
What is that...?
She didn't think it was aimed at her. She hadn't done anything significant, and none of the gods had shown any signs of holding a grudge.
Besides, they were in plain view of everyone—who would be foolish enough to attack her here? Didn't they care about their reputation? Didn't they want to recruit new members?
While some gods truly didn't care about their public image, Furina clearly hadn't encountered them yet. But as she watched the dark speck grow larger and larger, heading straight for her, she finally began to panic.
It isn't actually coming for me, is it?!
As the silhouette descended from the sky, Furina looked up, anxious and uneasy. When she finally caught sight of the person's appearance and attire, she was momentarily stunned into silence.
Liyue-style clothing? From the information I’ve gathered over the past three days, this world shouldn't have a place like Liyue, right?
On the contrary, most other countries seem to share at least a few common traits with the places I know.
"Um... I'm pretty sure I'm in the right place, but I'll ask just to be safe—are you Lady Furina de Fontaine?"
Although there was a hint of uncertainty in her voice, it couldn't mask the straightforward, open-hearted nature of the young girl.
Looking at this teenager who couldn't have been more than fifteen, Furina didn't know how to carry herself.
However, to be on the safe side, she maintained her Fontaine persona, her tone light and airy as she replied, "Indeed. And you are...?"
"Oh! I'm Li Sushang. I've been entrusted by someone to come and find you. The main goal is to take you back to where you came from, and to keep you safe until you go," Sushang explained, concise and to the point. "As for the person who hired me... I can't say."
So that’s it! Does this mean this is actually part of the other 'me's' plan?!
An unnamed client, someone who knew she was here, someone who would hire someone else to retrieve her—besides that true Hydro Archon, Furina couldn't imagine anyone else!
But there was still a problem. Did the person standing before her... know about her true situation?
"I see. I have a rough idea of the situation. But... 'protect'? When the client found you, did they tell you anything about me? Besides my appearance, of course." After a moment of thought, Furina decided to probe a little.
"Uh...?"
This seemed to throw the young girl off guard. With a clear, confused look in her eyes, she reached up and scratched the back of her head.
Anyone else might have been intimidated by Furina’s demeanor, but Sushang knew exactly what was going on with her. She hadn't exactly been standing still all this time, and she naturally realized that the little cake was trying to test her.
Considering the various anxieties the little cake might be feeling, Sushang truly didn't know whether it was better to treat her like a god or just as an ordinary person.
--+--
Turned Into Gacha?! - 547
--+--
After a moment of thought, Sushang made up her mind.
“Uh… well, I’m not really sure how to put this, but could it be that you’re some kind of big shot?”
Sushang scratched the back of her head, putting on an expression that tried to be respectful but somehow ended up looking not quite sharp.
“I’d think that anyone on Teyvat who doesn't know my name is a rare bird indeed, wouldn't you?”
Furina’s suspicions grew, and she decided to probe further.
“Teyvat? Ah, right. My mission is to protect Ms. Furina and bring her back to Teyvat, though I’m not actually from there myself.”
Not from Teyvat… Does that mean she’s from beyond the stars? Just like that Traveler? Does the other me have so many connections?
No, that’s to be expected, isn’t it? She’s the one who even managed to get Neuvillette on her side.
“So you’re not from Teyvat. When I first saw your outfit, I actually thought you were from Liyue.” Furina’s voice softened involuntarily.
“If you were on Teyvat, you surely would have heard my name, or at least seen one of the operas I’ve starred in.”
This wasn't mere boasting. Having performed operas for five hundred years, there were naturally many classics that had endured through the ages.
And a classic is the kind of work that, even across different nations—even if one hasn't read it or doesn't know the author or the lead—everyone has at least heard of the headlines.
“Oh! So you’re a big celebrity!”
Hearing this, Sushang immediately looked like she understood. “I have a friend who is also exploring that path. She’s actually doing quite well for herself!”
“Oh? Is she an opera performer too?”
“Uh… she’s more of a streamer who busks on the street.”
“A streamer?”
The term was somewhat foreign to her... but busking on the street... Although this girl wasn't from Liyue, or even from Teyvat, it was just like the situation in this world. Did her homeland share some strange similarity with Liyue?
Regardless, knowing that there was someone in this strange world who recognized her and promised to protect her until she could return brought a wave of relief to Furina.
“It’s not quite like an artist such as yourself, but she has a lot of people who like her!” Sensing that Furina might not quite understand these things, Sushang offered a brief explanation.
Furina nodded thoughtfully.
“While I wouldn't spout empty platitudes like ‘the concept of art is incredibly broad,’ it seems your friend is a fellow professional who relies on her own talents to captivate people.”
The two were not speaking particularly loudly, but because Sushang had used the Edge of Taixuan to create an isolated pocket of air, everyone else could only hear a blurred murmur that yielded no information.
Many people cast curious and suspicious glances in their direction. After all, both of their outfits were quite distinct from those in Orario.
If they were in Teyvat or on the Luofu, people might think the two looked completely different, but in Orario, these two “oddly dressed” people were likely assumed to be acquaintances.
Especially since they had been talking for quite a while.
Still… seeing that girl in yellow descend from the sky, she had to be a powerful adventurer.
A cute, uniquely dressed, and powerful adventurer—it was strange not to have heard of someone like that in Orario.
Furina was quite sensitive to gazes. Noticing that people’s expressions were shifting from curiosity to speculation, and that more and more eyes were turning toward them, she decided it was time to find somewhere else to talk.
“This is a public place, after all. Let’s save the rest of our conversation for somewhere else.”
She suggested.
“Right! Then let’s go to—” Before she could finish her sentence, a loud rumble echoed from Sushang’s stomach.
Having her stomach growl in the middle of a conversation with someone she’d just met was a bit embarrassing, but Sushang wasn't the type to overthink such small matters.
She just chuckled and scratched the back of her head. “How about we grab something to eat first?”
“Alright. Since you’re here to protect me, let me treat you.” Furina smiled at the sight.
“No, that won't do! I’ve already received my due reward for taking on this mission! I can’t take advantage of you anymore!” Sushang refused righteously, then added, “In fact, I arrived a bit late, so I should be the one apologizing! Let me treat you!”
If anyone else said they were late, it might be believable, but Furina found it hard to believe coming from Sushang.
Even in their short conversation, she had basically figured out the girl’s personality.
Direct, cheerful, honest, responsible, and a little bit of a goof.
If someone like this had truly arrived late, she wouldn't have been so relaxed when they first met.
She had likely just accepted the commission—after all, there had to be a time gap between her disappearance, Furina’s request for help, and the travel time involved.
In five hundred years, Furina hadn't met many people like Sushang, but every time she did, she found herself feeling a sense of affinity.
After all, it was nearly impossible for her secrets to be exposed in front of someone like this, and there was no burden in being around her.
Thinking this, Furina smiled and said, “That may be so, but you only just arrived here, didn't you? Do you even have any local currency?”
“Hmm… I don't, but I have this.” As she spoke, Sushang fished a gold bar she had brought along out of her pocket.
To her, this thing wasn't worth much at all. Even without using Amber’s ability to create things, it was considered one of the cheapest items in the system shop.
Based on the news she had gathered during her stay, Furina had some concept of the purchasing power of Mora here, even though in this world, Mora was simply called gold.
In Teyvat, “gold” was just a description of Mora’s shape; aside from metaphorical contexts like Liyue’s Golden House, almost no one called it gold directly.
On Teyvat, while Mora was valuable, it wasn't exactly a luxury item. But in this world, gold was something that only circulated in the upper echelons.
This was true even in Orario—while adventurers were everywhere, those who weren't adventurers still made up a significant portion of the population.
She had earned quite a bit from her street performances over the last two days, but it amounted to about the same as this single piece of Mora.
“Let’s save this for when we’re truly desperate,” Furina said after a moment of reflection.
Since she still had some savings, and perhaps she could continue to earn Valis.
“It’s fine, I have plenty more!” Sushang patted her chest, indicating that Furina shouldn't worry.
Furina’s gaze flickered up and down with the movement, and an inexplicable feeling bubbled up inside her.
She glanced at their respective heights and heel sizes, concluded that they were about the same height, and remained silent for a moment before saying, “In that case, I shall accept your generosity.”
--+--
Turned Into Gacha?! - 548
--+--
Furina actually isn’t very picky about her food.
While she has always had a refined taste for exquisite pastries and gourmet meals, that was mostly because those things aligned with the persona she had to maintain.
For her, as long as something could satisfy her hunger, it was enough.
The news of Furina and Sushang’s departure, along with the sheer spectacle of Sushang’s entrance, had spread with startling speed.
After all, in a place like Orario, which was already teeming with oddities, the two of them were undeniably special—a perfect conversation starter for the gods, who were always hungry for a bit of entertainment and novelty.
Since Furina wasn't particularly fussy about dining, and since Sushang was treating, they naturally returned to the place she had just left: The Hostess of Fertility.
Returning right after walking out might have been awkward for some, but Sushang didn’t mind at all.
As for how they traveled... Sushang had toyed with the idea of simply picking Furina up and carrying her back to save time, but Furina had firmly resisted.
Even if she didn’t care much about maintaining the dignity of a god at the moment, she at least refused to be carted around like an inanimate object in broad daylight.
With no other choice, the two had to walk, though it was a fair distance.
It turned out to be a stroke of luck, as there was plenty to talk about.
Or rather, Furina had no shortage of burning questions that served as perfect conversation fodder—it not only satisfied her curiosity but also helped kill time on the journey.
"Sushang, may I call you that? Or is 'Miss Li' more appropriate?"
"Just call me Sushang. 'Miss Li' sounds way too formal."
It sounded like they would be spending quite a bit of time together, which meant she probably wouldn't be returning to Teyvat anytime soon.
"Miss Sushang, how do you intend to send me back to Teyvat?"
"Uh... I’m not entirely sure about that part myself. But as long as we stay together, I’m certain that when the time is right, you’ll be able to head back to Teyvat."
So, the other me didn’t reveal the method... Does she have to anchor my location through her connection with Sushang, and then pull me back using some technique beyond my current understanding?
"If that client entrusted you with this task, she must have complete faith in your abilities, right?"
"Of course! Don't you worry—no matter what happens, I’ll keep you safe, Miss Furina!"
Furina remained skeptical about that promise to handle anything that might happen, especially since the girl before her clearly had just arrived in this world and knew precious little about it.
Wait... if she really thought about it, she was someone the other version of herself had scouted.
Since the other version was the true Focalors, she should be capable of sending someone over, and it would be unlikely that she would send someone here completely clueless.
If she chose this girl despite the circumstances, perhaps she was more reliable than she looked.
That reliability couldn't just stop at "her personality is so simple that she’d never discover our secrets."
Remembering how Sushang had descended from the sky, Furina’s confidence in her strength rose a notch.
Wait a minute.
A thought suddenly struck Furina.
Perhaps her arrival here wasn't just some random accident. If this girl was sent by Focalors specifically to protect her, then is it possible that she was sent here by Focalors for a reason?
Gods, Familias, adventurers, blessings, strengthening one’s power.
Furina’s mind quickly connected the dots. When she really thought about it, this place was practically tailor-made for a normal person to grow stronger.
And to have someone sent to guard her almost immediately after her arrival? If Focalors had sent her here to train and improve, it all made perfect sense!
If that were the case... shouldn't she consider joining a Familia?
Furina frowned, lost in thought.
"Is something wrong, Miss Furina?"
Sushang couldn't read minds, so she naturally didn't know what Furina was pondering, but she was good at reading expressions.
Besides, Furina had been so focused on her internal monologue that her composure had slipped, and her facial expressions were hardly perfect.
"Instead of 'Miss,' just call me Furina."
The white-haired girl was shaken from her train of thought, but she wasn't annoyed. In a place where no one knew her, she felt surprisingly at ease.
Especially since she realized that Sushang didn't know about her identity as the Hydro Archon—likely because Focalors hadn't mentioned it.
And if she hadn't mentioned it, it probably wasn't a major issue, right?
Though she couldn't afford to be completely reckless on her adventure, there was no harm in letting her guard down a little, right? She was a stranger from another world, after all.
"We seem to be spending some time together, so constantly calling me 'Miss' is just plain weird," she said, matter-of-factly.
"Besides, I’m calling you Sushang now. Even though we just met, we’re both newcomers to this strange world—I suppose you could say we’re companions on this journey."
"Alright then! I’ll just call you Furina. Hehe, that’s much easier."
Sushang, naturally, had no objections.
The two chatted as they returned to The Hostess of Fertility. Mia looked surprised at Sushang’s quick return, apologetically explaining that the original meal had already been served, so it would have to be remade.
Sushang understood perfectly well. She had hoped to exchange a few more words with Syr, but she learned from Mia that Syr had just headed to the warehouse to organize stock and wouldn't be back for a while.
Mia showed no intention of charging Sushang, and it seemed the meal Syr had promised remained valid in Mia’s eyes.
This made Sushang feel even more embarrassed; since the person who had actually offered the treat wasn't here, she couldn't even deliver her gratitude and praise.
It was a shame, but there was nothing to be done. The person who treated her would have been happier if she had enjoyed the food, after all.
Furina was surprised that Sushang had been treated to a meal so soon after arriving, and Sushang, equally surprised, could only guess that they shared some kind of fated connection.
That has a distinct Liyue flavor to it, Furina noted to herself.
"I still want to know more about this world. How much do you know about this place, Furina?" Sushang asked suddenly at the table.
Furina: ...Is it really okay to be talking about "this world" so openly?
"Ah, don't worry. Others won't be able to hear our conversation. It’s just a little... trick I picked up from my training," Sushang whispered, noticing the other girl’s eyelid twitch.
She wasn't some schemer plotting treason in a public square; she knew better than that.
"They can't hear us?" Furina glanced around skeptically. It was true—not many people were looking their way, and even the ones who did seemed more struck by their appearance than suspicious.
This "otherworldly" girl certainly had plenty of mysterious tricks up her sleeve.
Furina didn't understand it, but she was deeply impressed.
Without further ado, she began to recount everything she had witnessed over the last two days in a hushed tone.
--+--
Turned Into Gacha?! - 549
--+--
As someone who arrived in this world early and managed to gather some intelligence, Furina started by giving Sushang a rough rundown of what she had discovered: the gods, the Familias, the Falna, the retainers, and the Dungeon.
This world, which felt like a massive online game, piqued Sushang’s interest.
Viewed through the lens of a Western fantasy setting, the mechanics were incredibly easy to grasp and adapt to.
Forming parties, joining guilds, leveling up, and fighting monsters—it was all almost too straightforward.
Following this, Furina began to voice her own theories about why she had ended up here.
Of course, she didn't just blurt it out. Instead, she asked tentatively, "When that client sent you here, did they say anything about why I was brought to this place?"
"...?"
Although it sounded like a casual question, Sushang sensed that there was more to Furina’s words than met the eye.
It couldn't just be her imagination. Furina’s acceptance of her current situation was suspiciously high. Was it acting? Sure, she was here to protect her, which might provide a sense of security, but not to this extent, right?
The composure didn’t look like acting, so why? Where did this feeling come from, as if she already knew what she was supposed to do?
Sushang’s momentary daze was interpreted by Furina as a trip down memory lane, so she didn't interrupt.
In reality, after a brief moment of thought, Sushang uploaded her memory to Herta.
[Herta: ?]
[Herta: You really need to bug me for something like this?]
[Herta: She assumes Focalors is the one who sent you here, and she’s convinced her own arrival is also Focalors' doing.]
Thank you, Lady Pointy-Hat.
With the help of her external brain, Sushang finally understood the root of Furina’s peculiar mindset.
After mulling it over, she decided against bursting the little cake’s bubble.
While Furina thought she had reached her conclusion through rational deduction, the logic wasn't exactly airtight. It was clear that she hadn't been in a completely calm state of mind while thinking it through.
Or rather, she was trying to construct a narrative that would make her feel more at ease, and her guesses were based on that.
"I haven't heard anything about that..."
Once she had the situation figured out, Sushang put on a look of regret and gave a gentle shake of her head.
This left Furina feeling a bit disheartened, though it was within her expectations. Even if this place was outside Teyvat, she and Focalors could never truly lower their guard.
"Still, she must have had her reasons for doing this."
Sushang scratched the back of her head, opting to stop thinking about it altogether.
That’s true...
Furina found herself agreeing with Sushang’s remark. Since that was settled, she moved on to the next topic: "I’ve been thinking... I should join a Familia."
"Join a Familia?"
The little cake wants to improve her strength, huh? This world was perfect for that.
Ever since she heard Furina talk about the Falna, Sushang had thought as much—grinding levels by fighting monsters was the ultimate beginner’s zone.
"Yeah... but because I didn't have enough information before, I turned down quite a few invitations," Furina frowned slightly.
She didn't want to think the worst of people, but from a practical standpoint, if she went crawling back to the gods she had just rejected, she wouldn't just be shifting from the one being sought to the seeker—she might even invite some bad blood.
Stuff like suppression, suppression, and... more suppression.
Thinking about it gave her a headache.
Furina had originally wanted to consult someone like Neuvillette, but looking around, her only companion was a brown-haired girl who knew even less about this world than she did and clearly wasn't the sharpest tool in the shed.
Relying on her advice? Might be better to just think it through myself.
That said...
Furina glanced at Sushang, who was burying her face in her food.
Remembering the girl’s uncanny good luck, she recalled that in dramas and novels, these types of characters often had flashes of brilliance at the most critical moments.
"What do you think about me joining a Familia?"
"Hmm, it’s probably best to find one that’s quite powerful," Sushang said, responding to the inquiry. "Of course, a newly established one wouldn't be bad either."
So, either pick one near the top or one at the very bottom?
Well, a top-tier Familia would certainly involve more competition, but the resources would be top-notch. It’s like how even the gear of a standard soldier is better than what most Treasure Hoarders have.
Scale dictates that junk in the hands of the powerful is often more valuable than the best gear in the hands of the weak.
And as for the bottom-tier?
Better to be the head of a chicken than the tail of a phoenix. There was some wisdom in that Liyue saying.
Although the resources weren't comparable to a large Familia, the resources of a small one would be concentrated on a single leader.
Furthermore, whether it was a top-tier group or a startup, neither sounded like they would overlap with the gods she had previously turned down.
But there was still one problem...
How was she supposed to find a Familia that actually suited her preferences?
As she pondered this, she heard the sound of footsteps approaching.
"Sushang! Sorry, I was just at the warehouse."
Syr’s voice rang out from the kitchen area. The brown-haired girl eating her meal looked up and swallowed her food: "What’s there to be sorry about? When you put it like that, Syr, now I feel bad."
"Haha." Syr chuckled, then looked at Furina sitting across from Sushang, her eyes widening slightly: "Is this the person you were looking for? She’s just as pretty as the rumors say."
"That’s right, this is Furina. My protectee," Sushang said, gesturing toward her. "And this is Syr, the kind soul who’s treating us to this meal! By the way, the food here is super tasty!"
"Hello, I am Furina de Fontaine." Even at the dinner table, Furina offered a greeting with an elegant posture: "Your establishment's cuisine is a style I haven't encountered before, but the quality surpasses many of the master chefs I've known."
"And it is my honor to receive such praise from a lovely young lady like yourself."
"Wow..."
Syr wore a dazed expression.
"Wow! As expected of a big star. Was that acting? No, it doesn't feel like it!" Sushang offered an awestruck reaction in perfect coordination.
"...It was just a standard greeting." And even that was quite restrained.
Furina smiled.
"Right! It’s perfect that Syr is here!" Sushang looked at the gray-haired girl, who still looked a bit dazed. "So... if we wanted to join a Familia, is there a specific process or way to go about it?"
"You two want to join a Familia!?"
The gray-haired girl, previously in a daze, immediately perked up. She quickly hid the pleasant surprise that flickered in her eyes.
She had thought Sushang would leave once she found her target, but she hadn't expected them to stay... it seemed it was because of this Furina person.
Having these two stay behind was the best-case scenario. She had just been trying to think of a way to make them stay.
"What kind of Familia are you two looking for?"
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Turned Into Gacha?! - 550
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"The Familia I'd like to join..."
Sushang turned her gaze toward Furina. She didn't have many strict requirements, provided the Familia wasn't morally bankrupt.
In this, she trusted Furina’s judgment. As the God of Justice, even if their moral compasses were shaped by different environments and eras, she believed there wouldn't be a significant rift between them.
Sushang’s look of trust left Furina feeling a bit complicated.
For starters, she hadn't expected Sushang to suggest joining a Familia 'together.'
If she really thought about it, if she joined a Familia and entered the Dungeon, the difficulty of Sushang having to protect her would undoubtedly skyrocket.
Furthermore, even if it were more convenient for protection, giving her full discretion so easily was just too…
Though her heart was in a whirl, in front of outsiders, Furina maintained her composure and voiced her thoughts: "If possible, I would prefer a Familia with significant strength, or perhaps one that is just starting out and currently without a leader."
A powerful Familia…
Syr’s fingers tightened almost imperceptibly, but she smiled as she spoke:
"In that case, I would recommend aiming for a powerful Familia. The reality of Orario might be a bit different from what you two imagine; here, life is quite difficult for weak Familias."
"If you don't do anything that attracts too much attention, you might manage to scrape by with an ordinary, quiet life. But in Orario, there is a rule known as the War Game."
"War Game?"
It was the first time either of them had heard the term.
Since they were fresh arrivals, they didn't know much about the city’s deeper workings, and the War Game wasn't exactly an everyday occurrence that people talked about incessantly.
Seeing their confusion, Syr wasn't surprised.
She looked at Furina, hesitated for a moment, and then spoke with a hint of concern: "A War Game is a large-scale 'game' where one Familia petitions the Guild, and both sides formulate their own rules under the witness of the gods."
Though she made it sound light, the element of war was perhaps more prominent than the element of play.
I see. If a weak Familia were targeted by a powerful one, they might not just face secret harassment—there was also this thing called a War Game.
Furina couldn't help but think back to all those gods she had rejected. She had to consider the worst-case scenario.
So that’s why she needed to join a powerful Familia...
The silver-haired girl fell into deep thought.
Sushang, standing by her side, hadn't realized there was such a thing as a 'Guild War' here. Looking at it this way, perhaps starting her own Familia would be the safest bet rather than joining someone else’s.
She suddenly realized that Furina’s situation had its own unique complexities. While she was confident in her ability to settle matters with force, violence had always been her last resort.
If they wanted to avoid trouble, simply joining a powerful Familia might not be enough.
With this in mind, she quickly queried her system:
"Speaking of which, once Furina returns to Teyvat, what will happen to the world-line there? Will it be completely restored to its original state? And what of everything she has experienced so far?"
[As a World Restoration System, this system will strive to repair any butterfly effects caused by external factors to the best of its ability.]
'So, everything she’s experienced here will be forgotten?'
The workaholic system remained silent. Even though it lacked a personality, it possessed artificial intelligence; Sushang’s pointed question caused it to pause for a moment of calculation.
Then, it replied: [This system has now been abandoned by the main system, and most of the clauses in the system protocol have become invalid.]
[If a portion of those clauses can be traded for the host’s support and assistance, this system will prioritize the host’s wishes.]
'Since you can send Furina back to Teyvat, does that mean you have the coordinates for that world?'
[There are countless Teyvats in the vast multiverse. Once this system’s target is locked, the coordinates for the destination world can be acquired.]
That settled it.
What had held Amber back was never the method of traveling to other worlds; after becoming a god, Amber had obtained full authority over the system and made it her own. Transcending worlds wasn't exactly a rare ability.
In fact, every time they traveled, they just followed convenient coordinates.
Now that they had precise coordinates, reaching that world was no longer a difficult task.
In truth, Amber could have sent Furina back directly, but… unfortunately, that wouldn't have been handled by the system, so there was no way to provide the energy the system required.
It wasn't that it couldn't be provided at all, but there would be significant degradation in the process.
The reason was that the return wouldn't have gone through the system—it would have been an unauthorized, unexplained return, and the "performance credit" wouldn't be granted.
Since neither she nor Furina wanted to stir up unnecessary trouble, and the system had already located Furina’s specific Teyvat, their task was simple: send Furina back.
But there was one more thing before that.
'You said your terms could be altered to a certain extent based on my attitude. Can you ensure that Furina and Focalors won't lose these memories once they return?'
The system’s AI felt confused by this request.
[Furina and Focalors need to deal with the prophecy. These memories could lead the world toward unpredictable changes.]
'But you’ve already sent Furina back, haven't you? You can't exactly recall the progress of that return, can you? You just haven't performed the final wrap-up yet.'
That was true, but what benefit was there for the host or the system? Clearing away those "unnecessary" memories would clearly earn them more.
Neither the system nor Sushang cared much about the prophecy itself. After all… resolving a prophecy was really no big deal to these two "extraterrestrial" powerhouses.
You want to cut down the Hydro Archon Throne? Let me introduce you to the Edge of Taixuan.
You want to cut down the throne without Focalors dying? Let me introduce you to the Edge of Taixuan.
You want to keep the throne intact, save Focalors, and solve the prophecy? Let me introduce you to the Edge of Taixuan.
Through countless years of progress and deduction, both Fu Hua and Amber had achieved countless breakthroughs in optimizing and innovating the Edge of Taixuan.
Amber, with her profound understanding of the world and its fundamental powers, could use the Taixuan Eminence to sever absolutely anything she wished.
(Perhaps it could be understood as something like the "Root" in the Type-Moon universe?)
Once Focalors and Furina returned with their newfound mastery, how they chose to resolve the prophecy would depend entirely on their level of proficiency with the Taixuan Eminence.
If all else failed, she could just leave a manifestation of the Taixuan Eminence with them. After all, that was the least of her worries.
Put simply, it was a world where they already knew the coordinates. No matter the situation, Amber had the "Deus Ex Machina" capability to resolve any crisis.
She had the self-indulgent desire to see both of them live well, and the power to see that desire through. What could possibly stop her?
Having reached this conclusion, Sushang made up her mind.
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