Gacha Addict in a Matriarchal World

Chapter 166: Retry (3)

For someone like me who swung a greatsword like a club, Lydia’s greatsword technique was an incredible lesson.

I’ve only learned for a day, so I can only do the basics... But there’s a huge difference between 0 and 1.

Moreover, the usage and application range were as different as the size between a dagger and a greatsword.

And just as helpful as Lydia’s greatsword technique was Benny’s acid magic.

Whether it was cool or cheesy, I don’t know, but the name ‘1/16 Scale Dragon Acid’ was certain in its effect.

Even though the acid pooled in the dented and concave glove allowed effective corrosion, I didn’t expect it to pierce through the thick glove in one go.

...And I didn’t know it would even dissolve materials that became loot.

“Huh?!”

In the blink of an eye, the inner brain and even the thin metal fabric surrounding it begin to melt away.

The brain can melt since it’s going to be killed anyway. But the metal fabric around it is a problem.

The alloy that most monsters on the 3rd Floor wear must have been an impressive thing a thousand years ago.

Even during the era when technology advanced rapidly due to war, it would have been several steps ahead.

Likewise, right after the War of the Fallen Gods, when most civilizations were lost, it would have been an incredible lost technology.

But not now.

The alloy seen on the 3rd Floor, except for a few special ones, has been thoroughly researched, and its recipe has been disclosed.

As a result, the plummeting price of the alloy is not worth the effort, so most don’t even consider it as loot.

That’s why the thin metal fabric, which can’t be reproduced even with Pangrave’s technology, still maintains a high price.

In fact, when I sold a few before, the profit was on a completely different level compared to the 2nd Floor. The problem was that taking down the monsters was tough.

...Well, now it’s melted away with holes piercing through it due to its thinness.

“Kyaaa!!”

I screamed, leapt back, and quickly reached out. Or at least, I tried to.

Come to think of it, isn’t it dangerous to touch something that can melt metal with bare hands?

Benny shook her head at my hesitation and snapped her fingers.

Snap!

Then, as if it was never there, the acidic solution vanished without a trace.

Now that I see it, the Magic Stone buried in its brain was slightly dented, suggesting that if it had lasted a bit longer, I might not have salvaged anything at all.

“Benny! What are we going to do about this! There’s nothing left!”

“Well, since I used it, there’s nothing we can do. If it were magic you had learned and casted yourself, Jonah, you could cancel it at the right moment or adjust the power appropriately.” РaNôꞖÈꞨ

“Jonah can’t do anything! Just do it for me!”

“Throwing a tantrum won’t make it happen. How can I perfectly time it when I don’t fully understand your thoughts or read them in real-time, Jonah?”

“Hmm. If I think about it, that’s true.”

I’ve been asking for help too much lately, but fundamentally, I need to grow myself.

This world is a gender-reversed world, but before that, it’s a medieval land. The social safety net is nothing more than the Temple at best.

Moreover, since I was a man from Earth, I know well. The help meta, if overdone, can actually be poisonous.

“Hoo. Alright. Then I’ll give Benny the chance to teach me.”

Remembering the struggle from the last time I was here, I stayed sharp, gathering all the information I could from my surroundings as I walked.

How many times did I repeat this as I moved forward? One of the wrecks, clearly unable to move, began to rise.

A Cogwheel Remnant. The person it was supposed to assist was already dead, but it moved by the last insane words left before death.

As soon as I confirmed this, I raised my Greatsword. Then, just as I was about to charge, activating the aura throughout my body.

Gulp.

From behind the back of the Cogwheel Remnant, a black ooze begins to trickle out.

Similar to the amorphous body of Shadow, but with a texture closer to stickiness than elasticity.

Large and small cogwheels gleam as they writhe and idle in between.

“Darn it!”

There was nothing wrong just a moment ago!

The adventurer who passed before me was fine!

Swallowing my grumbling, I stepped back. The Gear Doppelganger is still too much for me to handle.

“Lydia! Benny! I’m counting on you!”

“Sure. Leave it to us.”

“What bad luck. It’s usually hard to encounter it even once, and is practically treated like a Floor Guardian, yet we run into it right as it regenerates.”

Lydia takes the lead, swinging her arms as if she’s been itching for action. Benny shakes her head with a sigh.

Cheering for the two as they stepped forward, I stood next to Karen.

She stuck close to me as if trying to protect me, but her gaze was fixed on the Gear Doppelganger, unable to look away.

Now that I see it, Karen’s pupils are faintly glowing pink.

She must be activating her Power to see through the opponent’s true intentions.

“Karen, do you feel anything?”

“Yes. I don’t know exactly, but I feel a severe longing...and it seems directed at Jonah.”

“Me? Why on earth again...?”

Frowning in disbelief. Lydia and Benny instantly smashed the Gear Doppelganger.

It wraps itself in a dead adventurer, gathers the remains of surrounding monsters, and only then shows its true strength by creating a giant golem.

Right now, it’s only managed to devour a single Cogwheel Straggler, and it’s facing two higher-ranked adventurers, so it’s expected.

However, after hearing Karen’s words, the sight of the Gear Doppelganger melting away in an instant began to look a little different.

...Should I say it feels like it’s trying to cling to me, even at the cost of some damage?

Despite knowing there’s enough distance, I took half a step back, reaching for my waist due to an unnecessary chill.

The feel of the familiar Dagger, rather than the still unfamiliar Greatsword, quickly calmed my racing heart.

But this didn’t last long.

Wriggle.

A small movement felt on my chest. Just in case, I opened my inner pocket to check the Goddess Statue...

“Unbelievable, really.”

The statue’s finger was pointing precisely at the Gear Doppelganger.