Ch.64[Episode 64] My Little Universe

“That was a close call. I almost lost all the Gacha Stones I’ve collected.”

At the same time Sir Dominic and Sir Dominica began their tag match with the Chief of Staff and the administrator.

Star I’m Not Little exchanged her points for Gacha Stones at the currency exchange she visited after a long time, then headed back to the street.

Her gaze briefly lingered on the more chewy octopus bread made with a steam cooker at the specialty goods corner, but right now she needed to save every penny to increase her chances of drawing the card she wanted.

“With this much, I should be able to get at least one, right?”

Since GachaLand’s card pool was marked by probability rather than quantity, she didn’t know the exact number, but judging from the seven decimal places, it couldn’t be that many.

The fortunate thing was that Starter Packs and Knight Packs weren’t particularly popular at the moment.

Due to GachaLand’s low influx of new players, Starter Packs were only opened occasionally for nostalgia, and Knight Packs were avoided because they were considered outdated and not fitting the current meta.

Despite the variable of Sir Dominic, there would surely be sufficient pack inventory.

With that thought, the Star stopped briefly to catch her breath.

Having sealed most of her power to enter GachaLand, I’m Not Little, now with strength even more girlish than an actual girl, became short of breath after walking just a little.

Deciding to rest briefly, Star I’m Not Little took out her phone and checked social media.

To see what was happening while she rested.

‘Card Pack Exchange experiencing unprecedented boom!’

‘Mountains of cards, yet the one you want remains elusive.’

‘Big spenders appearing now! Someone bought Starter Packs with millions of Gacha Stones!’

“Ah.”

Social media was ablaze with card pack discussions.

After checking social media, I’m Not Little got up again and ran toward the exchange on trembling legs.

The big spenders were on the move.

This was no time to rest.

…

At the entrance of the Card Pack Exchange.

“The line starts here for two days! Those with odd-numbered tickets, please go that way tomorrow when the expansion construction is complete!”

A person holding a crudely made sign shouted.

Although the exchange was large enough to accommodate hundreds of people at once, the combination of new card pools and event periods created the unfortunate situation of waiting lines.

“We’re urgently expanding the exchange servers! If you wait a moment, you’ll be able to enter more comfortably!”

The employee’s words fell on deaf ears as they drifted away.

People’s eyes were bloodshot, and they clutched Gacha Stones in their fists until they nearly crumbled, muttering something with manic voices.

“Shut up and take my money! I have plenty!”

“Almighty Prophet, protect me with your light, Almighty Prophet, protect me with your light.”

It was truly a scene of mass hysteria.

Those at the front of the line, who would soon be able to enter the exchange, were somewhat better off.

“I’ll give you 30,000 Gacha Stones if you let me take your place in line!”

“Mister, would you like to switch places with me? I’ll give you an epic item.”

However, they were merely better off, not calm.

This all happened when the waiting line formed.

The Card Pack Exchange usually had many people, but due to its large size, it normally felt spacious.

In GachaLand’s history, the exchange had rarely—fewer than 100 times—appeared as small as it did today.

Despite running the exchange servers at twice their normal capacity in anticipation of the event, the waiting line continued to grow with no sign of shrinking.

“It can’t be helped.”

A man in a gas mask standing in line muttered.

“How many years has it been since new cards were added to the card pool?”

“Speak properly, Commander. To be precise, a new tank was added.”

A bizarre man with purple skin standing behind the gas mask man said.

“Ah, Governor. It’s been a while. I heard you’ve been busy with the Desert of Fear event lately.”

“And you, Commander, isn’t it the revival period for Project Junk Gear? I’m surprised to see you here during such a busy time. How’s your ranking?”

The two eccentric individuals engaged in an intense battle of wits.

They were called by various titles.

Commander, Teacher, Governor, Principal, Master, Admiral…

But in GachaLand, the collective term for them was Pioneers.

Those who gathered their own card pools to form units, exploring and pioneering outside of GachaLand.

And those who always grumbled about the lack of content.

Unlike ordinary citizens who proved their worth as characters, these were people who proved their worth through their amazing charisma that united diverse individuals.

“My clan agreed to help me for the time being, Governor.”

“I’ve already finished the event, so I just need to run some sweeps.”

The two could be considered rivals in a way.

They grew up similarly, at similar times, and became Pioneers similarly.

Because of this, they had respect for each other, but also an equal measure of hostility and disgust.

In the tense atmosphere, the gas-masked man’s hand moved toward his waist.

At that location was a gold-decorated pistol, which he intended to fire if provoked further.

The purple-skinned man was the same. He secretly held a whip behind his back. If necessary, he would disarm the other with a flick of his wrist.

Though they knew each other’s moves all too well, they simply smiled to each other’s faces while planning to stab each other in the back.

Fortunately, this cold war did not escalate into bloodshed.

Because it was finally their turn.

“Next ten people! Next ten people may enter!”

At the employee’s call from inside the exchange, both men deflated and put away their weapons.

“It seems we want the same thing. How about a little bet?”

“A bet, quite an enticing proposal, Commander.”

Before entering, they made a simple wager.

Naturally, whoever drew the desired card first would win.

It didn’t matter how much money was spent in the process.

After all, they were the two people who prided themselves on having the most Gacha Stones in GachaLand.

In fact, after seeing today’s card probabilities, they had both stockpiled hundreds of thousands of Gacha Stones.

“The card you want. Sir Dominic. Right?”

“You know well. You too?”

They looked at each other and nodded.

An implicit agreement.

Now began the meaningless war of washing Gacha Stones with more Gacha Stones.

They each headed to the seats the employee guided them to.

The Governor looked around as he walked.

“Is it coming? One, two, three, hey! It didn’t come! Hehehehehe!”

People going mad because they couldn’t draw the card they wanted.

“This is all because my efforts weren’t enough.”

A person who died and came back to life once as an offering each time they bought a card pack.

“From here to there. Give me all of them.”

A person mindlessly pouring in enough Gacha Stones to buy almost anything.

Besides them, there were people opening cards with their eyes closed, people asking employees to open them on their behalf, and people who just came to buy one card but got swept up in the frenzy…

It truly showed how far human madness could go.

The Governor looked at them with contemptuous eyes, but then realized he was about to become just like them.

No, he might be even worse.

As a Governor with obsessive collector tendencies, he wouldn’t be satisfied until he obtained every card, even ones he wouldn’t use.

If he couldn’t get it today, he would sell his organs if necessary—

“Welcome! It’s a bit chaotic outside, isn’t it? Fortunately, you came early!”

A dwarf with an impressive beard greeted him with a bright, hospitable smile.

Somehow, he was already seated at the exchange counter.

The dwarf was cleaning up the remnants of card packs that the previous person had opened and discarded.

“So, what packs would you like? Today’s recommended pack is Arsonia’s Second Coming—”

“Starter Packs and Knight Packs. As many as possible.”

The Governor decided to start lightly.

100,000 Gacha Stones. In volume, enough to fill a 1.5-ton truck.

That’s why he “lightly” tossed what was commonly called a truckload.

“…You’re a big spender, I see.”

The dwarf’s expression darkened.

Normally, Gacha Stones were very precious resources, so ordinary citizens and pioneers would save for a year just to do 50 or 100 pulls.

However, the bizarrely-shaped figure before him started with 100,000 Gacha Stones.

Clearly, this was someone who took this world “seriously.”

The dwarf, whose attitude changed from friendly to respectful, soon brought out eight packs worth 100,000 Gacha Stones with a solemn expression.

To be precise, they were worth 96,000 Gacha Stones, with four Starter Packs and four Knight Packs.

Each pack contained 10 cards, which was due to GachaLand’s tradition of calling one pack a “10-pull.”

Packs containing a total of 80 cards.

The Governor twisted his already split mouth into a grotesque smile.

“Good. Let’s have a time of madness.”

However, the Governor’s smile didn’t last long.

Because the desired card didn’t appear in the 80 pulls.

“Another 100,000 Gacha Stones.”

“More.”

“This is tantalizing. 500,000 Gacha Stones.”

The Governor’s fortune was rapidly diminishing.

He had already hit the pity ceiling seven times, but since Sir Dominic’s card was excluded from this pickup, it couldn’t be exchanged with mileage.

The agony of no ceiling. The Indian-style gacha method of spending until the card appears.

But there was no sign of it coming.

“Wow! I got it! Is this a good one?”

The Governor irritably glanced at the person cheering next to him.

Then, in an explosion of frustration, he threw down the card pack in his hand.

In the other person’s hand was the brilliantly shining card of Sir Dominic.

With a deceptive smile that only a victor could wear.