[You have found a Store.]

[Do you wish to learn more about Stores?]

I recalled when I installed a game app on my cell phone. It was very popular when it launched, and had quite simple mechanics, with some puzzles and tons of different characters I could choose to complete my daily missions. The main issue most players had with that game, however, was its gacha system. 

The initial characters were bland with lacking designs, and the scenarios people had to complete with them got repetitive after a few months. To get the good characters, I had to spin the roulette. To get different skins and weapons for the characters, had to spin the roulette. To gain access to new and fun scenarios, spin the roulette.

It didn't help that the algorithm was unfair and rarely gave the best prizes. To win the characters I wanted, I had to dedicate my entire week to playing that game, and in the end, it was simply not worth it. I had better things to do with my time and if all I was seeking was a way to distract myself, there were other games I could, and did, play.

However, I could still recall my frustration and anger with every spun roulette where I got the same trashy characters and boring scenarios. I actually broke my cell phone screen one night—such an embarrassing memory.

As I stood at the store, all those memories came rushing back to me. In front of my eyes there was a giant gacha, with a few categories I could choose from. Armor, Weapons, Cards, and Consumables. It even had in display the best items: an incredible full-set golden armor, a breathtaking ice spear, potions with the most powerful and vivid colors, and at last, purple and silver cards with beautiful covers.

Yet they could be giving me a fucking black, flying unicorn for free, with crispy fries and gold on the side—

It was still a gacha system.

"If you could see the look on your face..." Hal's voice brought me back to reality, the boy holding back his laughter with great difficulty. I passed my hand through my hair, trying to calm the rage. They couldn’t settle for a normal, decent store, could they?

"How does it work? Do you have to exchange your points here as well?"

Hal opened his mouth yet Hildr jumped in front of him. "You choose the type of item you want, then you say how many attempts you will make and the system will convert the value! It's pretty cool."

"If your Coin status is high, you can get better items." Hal's head popped up behind Hil's shoulder, resting his arms on her.

If I remembered correctly, the Coin status meant 'Luck'. 

Hah.

Was that system joking with me? If I could punch whoever was behind it...

"Did you try to get anything yet?"

Hil gave a spin while Hal took out a small knife from his pocket.

"Hil got the dress, I got this knife. But we increased our Coin status before trying."

How could a kid like that hold a knife in such a carefree way?

Better question; why did he know how to use it so well, enough to do tricks with it?

"My dress protects me against fire spells!" 

I raised my eyebrows. That was actually very good. Maybe it was worth it to invest a bit in 'Luck', and try to get a nice armor. My clothes were practically a tutorial equipment, they granted me no bonuses or skills whatsoever.

I had no idea what those cards were, and potions' effects had time limits. At the moment, I wanted ever-lasting items that could give me an advantage not only during the next trial but throughout the 'games'.

I tried to open the menu without speaking out loud and it worked, the icons popping up in front of me. I went to the Statuses window, clicking on the Coin icon.

[Do you wish to spend 75 points to increase Coins by 3?]

Oh? It was cheaper. Interesting.

I confirmed, then repeated the transaction a couple of times. By the end, I had spent 710 points.

[Coins: 10]

This seemed good for a first try, right?

"Wait, are you seriously going to try?"

"Oh, what are you trying to get, mister?!"

They spoke almost simultaneously, getting closer to me as I approached the gacha.

"I will try to get an armor."

"You should try some potions too. A guy came here earlier and left with two full bags."

"He also got a cool coat."

"It was not that cool. It was a boring coat."

"It was cool." Hil reaffirmed, which only gave her an annoyed look from her brother.

At that point, I was wondering who was the person who decided to invest so much in potions.

I pressed the 'Armor' button, and then the number one that appeared in front of me; my jaw fell off my face once I saw the price.

[Do you wish to expend 1500 points to buy 1 attempt at the roulette?]

Yeah, I really wanted to know who was the maniac who spent points enough to leave not only with a coat but two full bags of potions.

1500 points? For ONE attempt?!

I wanted to meet the demonic spawn who created the gacha system so I could curse their entire life and family line. Perhaps it was a good thing I didn’t have a cell phone in this world.

Damn it, should I really spend so much just for one item? No matter how I looked, it was quite an investment.

Hal appeared at my side, impatience showing in his voice. "What are you waiting for? Are you going to get something or not?"

"You know, kids like you should act cuter."

"Bite me."

"Hal, language! My brother is actually really cute, mister. He just doesn't express himself well."

"Yes, I do. I mean exactly what I say, all the time."

Somehow, seeing how the two interacted and supported each other... It reminded me of me and Hana. She was the cute, kind, and polite child who would steal attention the same way she would steal people's breath away.

Our parents doted on her as if she was a national treasure and my mother...

I shook my head. I did not want memories of that woman haunting my memories at this moment. I was finally free from her; I wanted to keep it that way.

"Okay! Let's do this. Hope I won't regret it."

I confirmed, the entire gacha trembling and shaking. I could see thousands of colored ampoules turning and moving from the inside until finally, a single one began its descent in a spiral.

When it finally reached the end, the sound of trumpets echoed into the space.

The twins widened their eyes briefly, exchanging glances.

"What? Something wrong?" I asked as I furrowed my brows.

"Just see what item you got already."

Yup, Hal—not a cute kid at all.

My hand reached for the ampoule, a strange starry liquid inside.

"What do I do now? Do I drink this or-"

Hal took the object out of my hands, throwing it on the ground. A dense, purple, and glowing mist came out of the glass, going up and condensing itself in front of me, taking shape.

After only a few seconds, there was a silver breastplate facing me with an eerie glow surrounding it.

[You received 'Warrior's Protector'!]

I clicked to see the descriptions.

[Warrior's Protector - B Class Armor]

[An item that once belonged to a powerful warrior; It shall protect its user from physical attacks.]

[Increase Wands by 2]

[Rarity: Uncommon] 

I raised my eyebrows, touching my chin. That was not bad at all. Especially the status increase, it could be extremely helpful. I noticed a '+' icon at the top of the description and the moment I pressed it, a small window appeared with a single sentence being displayed.

[This item possesses a hidden trait. Meet the requirements to unlock it.]

I must have pressed that button a thousand times, trying to see what the requirements were. Apparently, the system was not fond of telling me. Could I expect anything less from a system that used a gacha store?

Still, a hidden trait, huh? That was actually quite interesting; my curiosity was picked. I wondered what I had to do to unlock the mysterious trait.

I kept trying to remember everything I knew about these kinds of games and also the fantasy stories I would read from time to time, yet I liked strategy games best and would usually read thrillers and suspense novels.

There was a game I really loved; StarAlliance Across Frontiers, it had quite a unique system for invading and conquering planets. One of the rules was that players could not enter planets they knew nothing about, and to increase their knowledge they had to study the planets' atmosphere, gravity, and classification; if it was a gas or ice giant, terrestrial worlds, and so on.

Another thing; players had to reach a minimum level depending on the planet they wanted to conquer and the levels were based on the players' knowledge regarding the type of planets.

Maybe my current situation was similar...? Still, it was hard to know when the system would share nothing more regarding the item's requirements.

"Pick the item already. How long it takes for you to read the descriptions?"

"Mister, what does it say?! Is it a cool item?"

"It looks pretty ugly."

"C'mon, Hal, it looks cool!"

I left the twins to their own discussion, reaching for the breastplate. It disappeared for a moment, appearing on my chest only a few seconds later. Huh, didn't look so bad.

"So, what does it do?"

Although there was annoyance in his voice, I could see curiosity shining on both the twins' faces. They were children after all.

"It says it protects me against physical attacks and also possesses a hidden trait."

I wished I had a camera to take a photo of their faces.

"A hidden trait—this sounds awesome! Do you know how to activate it, mister?"

"I bet he doesn't." When he saw my expression, Hal grinned; a smile so wide it could swallow his face. "Hah, you really don't know?! Maybe the system thinks you are stupid t-"

Hildr pushed her brother to the side, giving him a nasty look. When she turned to me, she was back to being a small angel. "Mister is smart! You will figure it out in no time."

Damn it, she was too adorable. That cuteness hurt my heart.

"Well, thank you both for sharing what you knew. I'm sure this item will come in handy." I said as I knocked a few times on the breastplate, feeling the metal vibrate on my chest. "Are you guys hungry?"

They both nodded.

"Do you know a place where we can eat?"

And the look they gave me was priceless.