[Mission Completed]
A familiar chime echoed in Riku's mind, accompanied by the translucent blue screen announcing his success. He felt a quiet sense of satisfaction. One less troublesome task to worry about.
[System: The prize of this gacha will be an exclusive item from an anime.]
A small smile touched Riku's lips. Since it was an item gacha, there was no risk of summoning something unpredictable or dangerous within the confines of the village. He could indulge his curiosity safely here.
With a mental command, the familiar gacha interface materialized before him. He tapped the spin button, and the virtual reels began to whirl, a kaleidoscope of colors and symbols flashing before his eyes. He watched with a detached interest as the digital machinery spun for a full two minutes, the anticipation building slowly before finally grinding to a halt.
[Congratulations. You won Braham's Ring from Max Level Newbie.]
'I thought Max Level Newbie was a manhwa… did they actually make an anime adaptation of it? I'd really like to see that. For now, though, let's check out the item description.'
Riku focused his mental command, selecting the item description.
[System: Braham's Ring, a magic item capable of trapping any being, famously used by Joe to break the progenitor Alice of Ataraxia out of prison. True to its anime counterpart, Braham's Ring can only contain one soul at a time. However, unlike its anime version, this Braham's Ring can be used without any inherent magic and is capable of storing any non-human creature.]
A thoughtful expression crossed Riku's face. This could be incredibly useful. A way to capture powerful non-human entities. The limitation of holding only one creature at a time was a drawback. He wondered what kind of creatures he could potentially trap with it.
Riku stored Braham's Ring safely within his inventory, his mind already strategizing potential uses for the unique item. He then turned his attention to the next mission notification.
[Gambler will have to cut his hand by himself.]
Difficulty: B Rank
Time Limit: 12 Hours
Penalty: Your village will be discovered by Flugels.
[Gambler's hand will be fully recovered in an hour.]
A wry smile touched Riku's lips. From his perspective, this mission was laughably easy. Even at an E-rank difficulty, the consequence was negligible given his healing abilities.
'The system really thinks that because this would be incredibly difficult for a normal human, it will be a significant challenge for me too. I mean, seriously? Well, whatever its reasoning, I'll play along. I'll make it seem like I'm struggling immensely with this task, just to keep the System from escalating the difficulty too much. And hopefully, it'll throw another mission my way soon.' Riku mentally plotted his performance.
As Riku was formulating his elaborate act of feigned struggle, his gaze drifted back to the System menu. A small notification blinked in the corner.
'One more spin? Oh, right! That last gacha spin I completely forgot about. Let's see what we get this time.'
With a mental tap, he initiated the final spin. The wheel whirled into motion, a vibrant display of colors and icons. It was only as the images blurred that Riku realized this was a different kind of gacha altogether. Anime characters flashed across the screen.
'The Hell?'
[Congratulations. You got Erina Nakiri.]
'Whyyyyyyyyy? What is the neeeeeed of her here?' Riku mentally groaned.
He couldn't deny that Erina Nakiri was a vision of exceptional beauty. The memories inherited from the original Riku, the otaku, clearly held her in high regard. She was, or rather is, one of that human's "waifus."
The System presented him with two options:
[Take Prize]
[Leave]
If he selected [Take Prize], the System would undoubtedly materialize Erina directly in his room within the village. The sheer absurdity of such a beautiful and refined girl suddenly appearing in his humble dwelling would create utter chaos. He would be bombarded with questions, forced to explain the bizarre circumstances of this world, a conversation he desperately wanted to avoid.
Therefore, Riku decided on a preemptive measure. Without a word to anyone, he swiftly mounted his horse and rode towards the nearest secluded location where he could safely summon Erina.
Once a sufficient distance from the village, Riku used Braham's Ring to store the horse, a temporary solution for transport. With Igris's spectral assistance, he moved with unnatural speed, quickly reaching his chosen destination: a dimly lit cave nestled amongst the rocks.
The System screen still hovered before him, the [Take Prize] option beckoning. Taking a deep breath, Riku steeled himself for the unknown and finally tapped the button. In a flash of light, Erina Nakiri materialized before him, her elegant figure a stark contrast to the rugged surroundings of the cave.
Erina Nakiri stood before him, a vision of refined beauty. Her eyes held a captivating shade of purple-pink, and her long, honey-blonde hair cascaded down her back, the ends swaying just above her lower waist. Elegant side bangs framed her face, partially obscuring her cheeks before trailing down to her neck. It was the kind of beauty that seemed to radiate an aura of privilege, a testament to the high regard she held in her own world.
Even in this unfamiliar setting, Erina exuded an air of someone accustomed to the finest things life had to offer, a pampered existence where only the best was acceptable. The anime version of her, Riku recalled, was an unyielding perfectionist, her culinary standards absolute and her ego formidable. She commanded immense respect, and perhaps a touch of fear, throughout the gastronomic world.
A wave of concern washed over Riku. How would someone like her, so accustomed to luxury and a very specific environment, possibly survive in this brutal reality? He began to mentally formulate an explanation, a way to gently break the news of their current predicament. But before he could utter a single word, Erina spoke, her voice surprisingly composed.
"Are you Riku?"
"You… you know me?" Riku asked, his surprise evident in his tone. How could she possibly know his name?
"Yeah, I was shown a… movie about you," Erina confirmed, a delicate wrinkle forming between her perfectly sculpted eyebrows. "Honestly, I can barely believe how you live in this world?"
"Well, that certainly saves me some trouble with the explanations," Riku admitted, a touch of relief in his voice. "By the way, what exactly happens in that 'movie,' and who showed it to you?"
Erina's expression turned slightly guarded. "I'm not allowed to tell anyone specific details about that. All I can say is that it was some kind of… system who showed it to me. It was quite… informative."
"Understood," Riku said, piecing things together. The System seemed to be providing some form of orientation to those it summoned. "So, do you have any idea how I should take you to my village?"
Erina tilted her head, her gaze surprisingly direct. "Just like you took Shuvi with you."
Riku froze, his mind reeling. Shuvi. How did Erina know about Shuvi? All this time, he had assumed Black March's knowledge stemmed from constant observation. But Erina's comment suggested a more comprehensive information transfer upon arrival. The System wasn't just showing them his current life; it was revealing aspects of his past as well.
"What happened?" Erina asked, noticing his sudden stillness and the bewildered look on his face.
"Nothing much," Riku said quickly, trying to regain his composure and steer the conversation away from Shuvi for the moment. "Can you just tell me… how much exactly do you know about me?"
Erina regarded him with a thoughtful expression. "I know what happened in your past life, the one before you came to this world. Apart from that, I also know that you possess a… system, which provides you with tasks, and you receive rewards upon their completion. It might sound strange to say," she added, a delicate blush gracing her cheeks, "but perhaps… I am also a reward."
Riku absorbed this information, the implications sinking in. The System's methods were far more intrusive than he had initially imagined. "Alright," he said, a new determination hardening his gaze. "I will complete my next mission, and after that, we will go to the village."
"What is the next mission?" Erina asked, her brow furrowing slightly with concern.
"I have to cut one of my hands off," he stated matter-of-factly.