Chapter 41 – 50%

Ｒｅａｄ ​ｏｎ ＫａｔＲｅａｄｉｎｇ​Ｃａｆｅ

–

Continuing to stand was getting to me, so I sat down in a suitable spot and began to lament my worries, prompting Hosanna to ask with a puzzled expression.

“So, you’re saying you’re torn between increasing the number of dolls first or strengthening the doll itself, and you’re wondering which to prioritize?”

“Ylep.”

Perhaps because I had a candy in my mouth, the pronunciation came out garbled, but I didn’t particularly care.

As I savored the sticky sweetness, I nodded, and Hosanna propped his chin on his hand, muttering.

“Then it’s simple. Increase the number of dolls first.”

“Increase the number of dolls first?”

“Either way, your goal is to eventually descend to the second floor, right? And alone, at that.”

“That’s right…?”

“Then ultimately, you need to be able to control at least two dolls simultaneously… Can you do that?”

“Um, um… I probably can’t…?”

For convenience, I was using both hands to control Doll 505, but when it wasn’t a combat situation, I could control it perfectly well with one hand.

Considering that, I might be able to control two, but I wasn’t sure.

In the first place, controlling even Doll 505 required my full concentration, so two seemed impossible.

Wouldn’t it be as difficult as drawing a triangle with one hand and a circle with the other? I haven’t tried it, though.

As I muttered with an insecure voice, Hosanna took out a sack full of gold.

Not just one, but four sacks. I stared with a questioning gaze, and Hosanna continued in an indifferent tone.

“That’s 200,000 gold combined. I’ll give it to you, so do both.”

“Yes, yes? 2-200,000 gold? Why such a large sum all of a sudden…”

“Your concerns ultimately stem from a lack of money. Both increasing the number of dolls and strengthening the doll itself are things you have to do eventually, but because you lack resources, you’re wondering which to do first for efficiency.”

“Uh… I guess so…”

Both increasing the number of dolls and strengthening the doll itself were elements that a Doll Master couldn’t give up.

The same was true for me, who had become a Doll Master. But 200,000 gold… That’s a fortune I could only earn by catching 200 rabbits. Was it okay to receive such a large sum so easily?

As I hesitated, Hosanna pushed the sacks of money toward me and asked.

“What are you doing? Aren’t you going to take it?”

“But, receiving such a large sum without any compensation is a bit…”

“Huh? Without any compensation? Did you think I was just giving it away?”

“Yes, yes? Th, then…?”

“Of course, I’m investing in you. I told you, I see potential in you.”

“So you mean you’ll be collecting the compensation later…?”

For some reason, I couldn’t help but imagine Hosanna saying with a sinister expression, ‘I will be repaid in full.’

What on earth is he planning to get from me…! Trembling with fear, Hosanna said in a flustered voice.

“I don’t know what you’re thinking, but it’s not like that. It’s just a simple matter of going down into the dungeon with me later.”

“Going to the dungeon with you, Hosanna…?”

“That’s right. You may not realize it, but not that many people are passionately striving to clear the dungeons. Most are staying on the 2nd, 3rd, or 4th floors. On the 1st floor, there are only a handful, including you.”

“Then the 5th floor…”

“Including me, 15 people.”

15 people? It was an ambiguous number, neither too few nor too many. Based on the game I used to play, it was about three parties’ worth of people. As I was thinking that to myself, Hosanna sighed and said.

“I know it can’t be helped. It’s 10 years, not 1 or 2. It’s not surprising that everyone is taking their time without being impatient, even though the world is supposedly ending.”

“Th-that’s true…”

Honestly, I felt a little guilty. Even I had been secretly thinking that since there were 10 years, it wouldn’t hurt to take it easy.

As I subtly avoided eye contact, Hosanna propped his chin on his hand and muttered.

“Of course, there are also people who aren’t like that.”

“…”

“You see, I want to return to the original world as quickly as possible.”

At those words, my gaze, which had been wandering elsewhere, fixed on Hosanna.

“Wh-why…?”

“Well. I don’t really know that part myself.”

“Huh?”

He said he wanted to go back, but he doesn’t know why he feels that way? What does that mean?

As I wore a puzzled expression, Hosanna grinned and said.

“To be honest, I like this world. I’ve always admired things like this. Above all, I can actually use magic. It’s truly the best world for me.”

“Then why are you trying so hard to go back…?”

“I told you, I don’t really know. Since I have this opportunity, it would be fine to enjoy it to the fullest, but why do I want to go back?”

It sounded like a somewhat melancholic statement, but Hosanna’s expression wasn’t dark as he said those words.

Hosanna, who was raising the corners of his mouth as if he was enjoying even those worries, then slapped his forehead with his palm and said.

“Oops, I didn’t intend to talk about this. Sorry, I got carried away.”

“Ah, no. I didn’t really think that…”

“Anyway, don’t think too hard about me helping you. The compensation will all be collected later, so don’t worry.”

“Hiek…!”

I was horrified by Hosanna’s appearance as he laughed in a sinister voice.

‘I will be repaid in full’ is becoming a reality, not just an imagination…!

What on earth is he going to do to me in exchange for that 200,000 gold? As I subtly scooted away, Hosanna said with an awkward expression.

“…It’s a joke, so don’t be genuinely scared.”

“R-Really…?”

“How much compensation could I get for just 200,000 gold? It’s money that can be quickly gathered by hunting a little on the 5th floor. So don’t feel pressured and get stronger quickly. I’ll even give you your favorite candy, okay?”

“I-I’m not a child, and I wouldn’t be swayed by just, just candy, would I?”

“Don’t you feel a little guilty saying that while holding a handful of them?”

“Ugh…!”

At those words, I quickly hid the hand holding the candies behind my back.

Thanks to forgetting a little while talking, only the wrappers were left, so the rustling sound was loud.

I swallowed the embarrassment that was rising up and shouted.

“Th-this is something I received as fair compensation…!”

“Yeah, yeah.”

I knew it was a hopeless excuse, but I felt unfairly sulky as I listened to Hosanna’s relaxed reply.

I pressed my lips shut and glared resentfully, and Hosanna chuckled, stood up, and said.

“Anyway, if you have similar concerns again, come find me anytime. I’ll help as much as I can.”

“…I won’t go.”

“It’s okay. If you don’t come, I’ll come find you.”

What. I stared with surprised eyes, and Hosanna turned back to me as if he had belatedly remembered something.

“Since this conversation came up, how about you?”

“Wh-what about me?”

“Do you want to stay in this world as long as possible? Or do you want to return to the original world quickly, like me?”

“Huh?”

I could only blink and couldn’t answer right away.

It wasn’t because I didn’t understand the intention of the question, but because I had never thought about it before.

“I-I…”

“Ah, I’m not asking for an answer. You don’t have to try to answer it difficultly.”

I belatedly tried to answer while stammering, but Hosanna waved his hand to stop me.

Thanks to that, I could only slump down, feeling drained.

“I-Is that so…”

“I feel a little bad that I seem to have disappointed you. Anyway, I’m going to go now, so do your best.”

With those words, Hosanna started walking in the direction of the village.

I bowed toward the receding figure, and only after I was completely alone did I sigh and slump down on the spot.

“I feel kind of exhausted…”

It was a slightly different feeling from Yuika. If Yuika drained my energy because she was too active, Hosanna drained my energy because I was being led around by his words.

In times like this, I should replenish my energy by eating something sweet. After unwrapping one of the few remaining candies and chewing on it for a while, I finally started to feel strength returning to my body.

After completely melting one and putting another in my mouth, I took the money sacks left by Hosanna, and my assets instantly swelled to 224,000 gold (+20 magic stones), but it was still too early to rest assured.

“Core Crafting.”

[Core Crafting]

[The grade of core that can currently be crafted is Basic.]

[Crafting a Core (Basic) requires 30,000 gold and magic stones (the number varies depending on the type).]

[You currently possess 224,000 gold (224,000/30,000) and 20 magic stones (Low-grade) (20/20).]

[Would you like to craft a Core (Basic)?]

The message I saw last night appeared as is. But unlike yesterday, the screen changed when I expressed my intention to craft without stopping there.

[Commencing the crafting of Core (Basic).]

[The probability of completion is 50%.]

“I knew it…!”

I thought that if there was a probability when repairing, there would also be one when crafting, and I was right.

I sighed in relief that my expectations were met, but my eyes widened when I saw the probability on the screen.

“Wait, 50%?”

Isn’t that too low? 50% means you fail once out of every two times.

No, rather, since you succeed once out of every two times, should I say it’s high?

I clutched my head and continued to agonize, then let out a deep sigh.

“I don’t know. When I don’t know, the answer is just to press it.”

Even if I failed, I could still try it six more times.

Of course, there was the hassle of having to collect magic stones again, but it was worth it in that I didn’t have to collect gold as well.

“But please, let it succeed in one try…!”

As I expressed my intention to craft, the magic stones and gold disappeared from my inventory.

Watching the brightly burning light in the air, I squeezed my eyes shut.

Please, let it succeed in one try!

–

And five days passed.

I checked the shop window with listless eyes.

[Gold Held: 14,000G]

Out of 224,000 gold, only 14,000G remained. The money used to make the core was a whopping 210,000 gold.

But there wasn’t a single core to be seen in the inventory.

It was only natural. After seven attempts, I hadn’t succeeded even once, so it was only natural that there weren’t any.

“Why haven’t I succeeded even once…”

It was definitely 50%. But why…

Unable to believe the reality, I hugged my knees inside the blanket and muttered blankly.

It was about two months since I was summoned to the Floating Island.

Author Note

A/N (Author’s note):
Apparently, if you try something with a 50% chance seven times, the probability of failing all seven attempts is about 0.78%.

For reference, yesterday I experienced a 2.1% chance item breaking on my very first try.

While that’s about 3 times more likely than Mari’s case, really… what’s the difference between 2.1% and 0.78% anyway???

Or not.

Translator Note

T/N (Translator’s note):
Does it hit home to a lot of gacha noobs? 

Does it hurt? Yes…?

Good, be hurt harder, smh.