Episode 347: Trauma

"Again! 《Pīrika pirirarara, poporina pepeoru》!"

Pepeoru, pepeoru, pepeoru...

The incantation turned into a mountain spirit and took root in the wood.

"Next! 《Pīrika pirirarara, poporina pepeoru》!"

A mysterious sound effect: "Pirorin♪"

For some reason... I think my shoulder pain just eased up.

"Still not enough! 《Pīrika pirirarara, poporina pepeoru》!"

Hmm. My shoulder pain seems to have returned, just like before.

Checking the clock, it had gone back by about three minutes.

"Once more! 《Pīrika pirirarara, poporina pepeoru》!""

The fifth fire-element manifestation appeared, and a pillar of flame erupted in the middle of the zombies.

The damage inflicted was about as significant as throwing a single pebble at an ant colony.

"……《Pīrika pirirarara, poporina pepeoru》!"

Oh? The exact same spell. In the same place.

"……Nmooh! 《Pīrika pirirarara, poporina pepeoru》!"

Then Nanami suddenly collapses to her knees.

"G-gomen… 'Nameless'… I drew a bad card…"

"Sure, sure."

Immediately, I cast《Healing Magic II》.

"Thank you. —《Pīrika pirirarara, poporina pepeoru》"

And then, in the next instant.

Before my eyes, a button labeled '500 Million Years Button' suddenly appeared, then rapidly auto-clicked with incredible force, scattering countless millions of yen at my feet.

Upon picking it up, I noticed a note tucked between the bills that read: 'It's my treat—go ahead and take it.'

"What's this?"

"No deep meaning here. Just ignore it. —《Pīrika pirirarara, poporina pepeoru》!"

Water spurts from her fingertips—this is definitely the best of the water elements.

"Once and for all...《Pīrika pirirarara, poporina pepeoru》!"

Huh.

Feeling suddenly full, like I've eaten too much.

Mana recovery effect. Lucky break.

"I won't give up!!《Pīrika pirirarara, poporina pepeoru》!"

I look up at the sky.

There, high above, I see a whale falling straight toward me.

I was about to exclaim in astonishment, thinking success was finally within reach, when he suddenly vanished—just before crashing violently into the ground. Nothing at all happened.

"This is a miss too. ……《Pīrika pirirarara, poporina pepeoru》!"

By then, I was idly doing calculations in my mind.

If every possibility were equally random, the odds of hitting the target would be roughly one in twenty-three.

That means it's a gacha with less than a 5% chance of winning—pretty tough. Isn't there some kind of double-rate campaign for SRs or something?

Incidentally, the spell just cast summoned a Level II Water-elemental.

Nanami casually tossed the created water sphere onto the ground like trash,

“Pīrika pirira ra, poporina peperoru!”

A banner appears: 'Legend Gacha Event—SSR Rate Doubled, Currently Active!'

...What is this, scary. Is my mind being read?

"《Pīrika pirira ra, poporina peperoru!》"

My shoulder pain disappeared once again.

"《Pīrika pirira ra, poporina peperoru!》"

My shoulder pain returned once more.

I really wish you'd stop.

"《Pīrika pirira ra, poporina peperoru!》"

A single "zombie," utterly confused about why it's even here, suddenly appears with a thud.

Without a word, I slice off its head and toss it downstairs.

"——Pepelotoo!"

A pink elephant danced an incomprehensible dance and vanished instantly.

"——Pepelotoo!"

Pepelotoo, pepelotoo, pepelotoo...

"——Pepéé!"

Lightning Type II aimed at me. Dodged.

"——Pepéé!"

Something else came. I dodged it.

"——Péé!"

Now that I think about it, Nanami-san, aren't your spells a bit too long? You okay?

Nothing happened, so it's probably one of those time-reversal things.

"——Péé!" "——Péé!" "——Péé!" "——Péé!"

"——Péé!" "——Péé!" "——Péé!" "——Péé!"

Looks like magic backlash is happening a lot, huh.

I've taken a few hits from that hard-to-dodge Lightning Type.

Even though the effect is reduced, my skin still tingles painfully.

I’ve heard this *Mystery-type Magic* is acquired by trading away all the spells I’ve learned so far—whether that was truly worth it is questionable.

That’s exactly why I can’t bring myself to advance to a higher-tier job.

"Enough of this… come here! ——pééé!"

Just as I was thinking my luck with the gacha wasn't likely to improve anytime soon, given the number of attempts... that moment came.

"Oh... oh my god!?!"

Following the sound of Nanami's excited cry, I looked over and saw something resembling smoke spreading out with incredible force.

The smoke gradually took shape, eventually manifesting in midair as three giant figures.

To my surprise, each of their faces was one I recognized.

Matsu, Yoshtake, Ume.

The three who were brutally killed by Hamada.

The three who fought over Nanami.

"Uwah... Shit! They're here...?"

"What exactly was traumatic about those three?"

"Well, you know..."

Nanami looks slightly uncomfortable, glancing away.

Being yelled at like that... and then being told it was all my fault, it's kind of scary, you know? After that, everyone kept acting awkward, all because of me."

Huh.

I thought Nanami seemed pretty cool and collected back then, but she was actually scared inside.

"Aw, that's kinda cute."

"What are you talking about...? Don't you dare giggle like that, 'Anonymous'."

"Fufufu fufu fufu"

"Even you won't laugh, huh?!"

The three of them stood on the road with bodies as massive as the building we're in, thudding down hard,

"Hey you...! You're not taking...! My girl...! Don't you dare...!"

They roared in flat, monotonous voices, kicking aside the "zombies" at their feet and marching on.

Strangely, the zombies didn't seem to target them directly, and from the looks of it, they were doing whatever they wanted without restraint.

Alright. Whatever the case, let's go ahead with the plan. Let's move out!