Chương 28: Chapter Twenty Seven: Non-Refundable Purchase

The Penguin watched me rave over the function briefly before interrupting my gush session."Why don't you check out the gacha system?" I thought about it for a second.

"Sure. Open it please." He waved a flipper and the screen belonging to it materialized in front of us. Huh. I don't need an explanation for this part because it looks pretty straightforward but I did the tutorial anyway. The screen I'm looking at has five different gacha events currently available. A service function (whatever that means), warrior, sustenance, pet, and tool gacha. Golden tickets are required to play each, but the prize you could win differs based on the event you play in. That's pretty neat.

How many golden tickets do I have? I checked the number in the corner. Three? That's all? I turned to the Penguin." How do I get more tickets?" He chirped back in a rare good mood." Through missions or by paying for them. Each ticket costs five hundred gold." I screech back in disbelief." Five hundred?!"

"Yes." Damn. They're so expensive it's practically daylight robbery! I have almost three thousand gold due to Harley spoiling me but that's my escape fee. Fine. I'll buy two more tickets and use one for each event. I bit the bullet and gnashed my teeth while ordering."I'll buy two tickets." The Penguin chirped."Sold. Transfer complete." My heart bled at those words—this stingy system. I continued making orders."I want to use one ticket for each event. Please help me purchase it."

"Understood." Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there. The gacha screen flickers before turning into a painting of a galaxy. Bright stars burst in outer space and shot straight towards me. I tilted my head and widened my eyes when I realized they weren't going to stop. Five stars broke through the screen and flew in front of me. Barely touching my nose and blinding me. I clicked my tongue." How theatrical."

The Penguin shielded its eyes and asked pleadingly." Would you like to skip the animation next time?"

"Yes. Can we open them?" I scooched back from the stars. The Penguin nodded and I tapped the first star while leaning back. It popped and invisible trumpets sang a lively tune as the prize was unveiled.

"Congratulations! You've drawn the bow of Astraeus!" A bow made of silver presented itself to me. It floated for a while before dropping to the floor. Interesting. I guess having a weapon is pretty cool. If only I could use it in the real world. My current baby arms are too useless right now. I sighed and opened up the other stars.

"Congratulations! You've drawn the recipe book for Light Elven Kingdom Cuisine!" Sweet. I took a brief look at some of the recipes. It's mostly vegetarian and Western food recorded here. Which I love. I can't wait to read that in full later. I tossed the book into my inventory and opened another star.

"Congratulations! You've drawn the Mount Love Cervere!" Aw. A cute little black panther popped out of the star and meowed at me. Now that's a pet. I stored it in the pet space for the moment while I dealt with this. I'm going to give it so many kisses later. I've always wanted a cat.

"Congratulations! You've drawn the service function... Gardening!" The Soul Space shook for a little while. Then in the distance, I could see a small patch of farmland. The grass seemed to be completely black though. I guess that's a nice hobby. Hey! I could grow my food and ingredients for the machine! A smile split my face at the thought of being so self-sufficient. This system isn't as bad as I thought. I tapped the next star without any reservations. I wonder what kind of warrior I can get.

"Congratulations! You've drawn the five-star goddess…Melinoë!" The soul space rumbled like a mortar hit it and the Penguin and I shared a terrified look.

"WHAT?!" I squawked. The Penguin let panic seep into its robotic tone."I wasn't aware Gods could be summoned!" I lost all my shit and yelled at him over the rumbling while trying not to fall over."What the fuck is wrong with you?! I hate you! I hate this system! Oh my—?!" The words are stolen from my throat as the star collapses to the floor and starts forming this petrifying inky monster. I scream in horror as the ink grows larger. I run to the stupid duck and hide behind it.

"Make it stop! Wake me up!" It shivered before replying."I can't!"

"Liar! Who's your manager?! Who's in charge?!" I want an explanation. Aren't the gods trying to kill me? Holy shit! I'm going to die! The ink monster forms the vague shape of a woman and I shudder. Anyone but her. Holy Shit! She is part of the very few myths that I remember from my time on Earth. Daughter of Persephone and…Who the fuck cares!

"Hello." She waves at me girlishly and I cringe. God, she is haunting. I screech when she blinks at me. Nasty! The Goddess of Madness, Ghosts, and Nightmares. Her dual nature is represented on her face and in her clothes. Her entire body seems to be divided down the middle. One part is a freakishly pale white and the other a gloomy morose black. Oh and of course. She has no eyes. Just eye sockets that hold a void in them. Because why wouldn't she? Fuck! She arrogantly hisses out in my direction." I know. I know.

It's me. Hold your applause." She really stands there waiting for a standing ovation.

"..." I turn to Penguin and decide on the spot.

"Shove her in the pet space with the other freak." He shakes his head no."No can do. She is a warrior. Not a pet." Melinoë shouts indignantly.

"Excuse you?" I sneered and ignored her."No. How do I get rid of her?" This trifling bird better fess up. She scoffs and I jump. The Penguin just shakes its head. Please don't say it.

"We can't. Non–""Don't!" He emphasizes each word as he crushes my hopes."Non. Refundable. Purchase. Would you like to greet her?"