After finishing his breakfast, Sho returned to his room, a grin spreading across his face. "It's gacha time," he announced as the familiar machine materialized before him.
"Let's go. Ten pulls! and Leave rest for some another day." he said eagerly, yanking down the handle.
" Please something good..."
The classic gacha machine sound echoed as ten golden capsules rolled out one by one. Sho opened them carefully, and the system voice echoed in his mind:
> Congratulations, Host. You have received:
• 200 Gold coin (Common)
Use: Spend however you like.
• Stamina Recovery Potion ×4 (Rare)
Use: Instantly reduces physical fatigue.
• X-Syringe (Legendary S)
Use: Extract any organism's blood and inject into yourself to inherit its bloodline and abilities.
• Stealth Cloak (Rare)
Use: Grants full camouflage when worn.
Drawback: Camouflage breaks immediately if the user launches any kind of attack.
• Neighbor's Aunt's Pink Panty (Common)
Use: ...Can be sniffed.
• Healing Potion ×2 (Rare)
Use: Heals physical injuries instantly and normal internal wounds.
Sho's eyes widened as he stared at the golden syringe glowing faintly in his hand. A Legendary S-rank reward. He reread the description, barely believing it.
"System, explain exactly how this syringe works," he asked, trying to stay calm.
> Host must extract blood from any target using the syringe. Then, inject it back into yourself. Once done, you'll inherit that target's bloodline traits, including any special abilities.
"Holy shit…" Sho whispered, awe-struck. "I can literally become a Saiyan…! My childhood dream is within reach!"
He paused, trembling slightly from excitement. "To go Super Saiyan… to feel my hair turn golden and my power skyrocket... man, that dream kept me going through half of school!"
Then reality hit him. "But… there are no Saiyans here. Damn it!"
He sulked for a moment but quickly snapped back to his usual optimism. "Well, it's fine. This world has dragons, devils, angels… so many possibilities. Devils have long lives, but the power gains are limited. Angels... not interested. Dragons though… they're apex predators. But getting a dragon's blood isn't gonna be easy."
Suddenly a thought struck him. "Wait! Issei has the Boosted Gear! That means Draig's inside him. Could I... could I actually use Issei's blood to get a dragon's bloodline?"
The gears in his mind started turning. "But I haven't even figured out what point in the timeline I landed in… Has Issei become a devil yet? Or is he already the strongest Red Dragon Emperor?"
Sho scratched his head, frustrated. "I've been so focused on my work-outs I forgot to investigate anything... And I don't even know where Issei lives!"
He sighed "Well, I guess I'll find out soon enough. My first day at Kuoh Academy is just three days away."
Sho stored the X-Syringe in his inventory along with the other items. He knew how the cloak worked, so he didn't bother testing it yet—its moment would come. As for the panty...
He picked it up with two fingers, looking at it with a deadpan expression. "Again with this? Seriously?"
Deep sniff.. " Blue berries "
Then tossed it straight into the bin without hesitation.
No matter how many times he asked the system for this absurd reward, the answer was always the same:
> Item drops are completely random. System has no control.
"Sure... totally random," Sho muttered, rolling his eyes.
As Sho looked out the window toward the mountain range in the distance, he narrowed his eyes with quiet determination. "I guess it's time to gain some real combat experience… If this world is filled with monsters, then to defeat them—I'll have to become one," he muttered to himself.
Without wasting a second, he grabbed his shoes, slipped out of the house, and made his way toward the nearby mountain. It was a place people often used for trekking, but Sho wandered deeper, searching for a quiet, isolated spot surrounded by thick trees. Once there, he took out the E-rank dungeon key from his inventory.
"System, how do I use this?" Sho asked, holding the key tightly.
> Just hold it forward and imagine a keyhole. Once the portal opens, you'll enter the dungeon. To exit, you must either find the return stone crystal hidden somewhere inside, or defeat the main boss to clear the dungeon. Be warned—death inside the dungeon is permanent. Host is advised to remain vigilant.
"No pain, no gain," Sho said, breathing steadily.
He followed the instructions. As he imagined a keyhole while putting the key, a strange distortion shimmered in the air, and with a sharp crack, space tore open—revealing a swirling passageway.
Sho stepped through without hesitation. Inside, it was dimly lit, like a natural cave illuminated by faint glowing moss along the walls. The air was cool and heavy.
> Mission Assigned:
Clear the dungeon
Rewards: 10 gacha tickets and Additional rewards.
"Additional rewards?" Sho asked curiously.
> Items that you may stumble upon inside and if the dungeon is cleared.
After that clarification, Sho cautiously moved forward but something felt off. There wasn't a single monster in sight. No sounds, no movements—no signs of life at all.
It was completely empty.
He kept walking until he reached a large open space inside the cave. In front of him, there were two passageways—one to the left and one to the right.
Suddenly, a small stone dropped on him from above.
Sho instantly jumped sideways. His instincts flared—something falling from above usually meant someone, or something, was up there.
He narrowed his eyes into the darkness. It was hard to see clearly.
Bending down, he picked up a loose stone from the floor and tossed it playfully in his hand. Then, with a sharp breath, he hurled it upward.
Clack!
The moment it struck the rocky ceiling, dozens of tiny crimson eyes blinked open in the dark.
"...Bats?" Sho whispered, but his voice caught in his throat as a deafening screech filled the air.
A massive swarm of bats erupted into the air, wings flapping wildly as they descended in a frenzy.
> Zombie Bats spotted.
Description: Typically found in swarms and are Bloodsuckers. Stay cautious.
"Shit!" Sho hissed
"Inventory "
Immediately pulling out the Iron Sword with one hand and flinging the Stealth Cloak over himself with the other.
He yanked the hood up.
In an instant, his presence vanished.
The bats, mid-dive, stopped abruptly—squealing and spinning in confusion. Their prey had disappeared without a trace.
Sho slowly walked toward the left passage. Fighting those bats was out of the question. They might seem weak, but their overwhelming numbers and ability to fly gave them a massive advantage. With no desire to get swarmed, Sho chose to press forward.
Not long after entering the passage, he spotted a child-sized green creature ahead—a goblin—striking a stone repeatedly for some unknown reason.
> Goblin Grunt spotted
Description: Weak and cowardly. Roams in packs.
Roams in packs? Sho glanced around. I don't see any others. Maybe he's alone for now. But… should I kill it? Or just move on?
After a moment of hesitation, he decided not to attack. The goblin looked small and kind of pitiful. There was no need to pick a fight unless necessary.
As Sho quietly walked past the distracted goblin, a sudden growl stopped him in his tracks. Three brown-furred wolves emerged ahead, eyes locked in his direction, growling with bared fangs and saliva dripping from their jaws.
"Wait… they can see me?" Sho whispered, alarmed.
> Mutated Wolves spotted
Description: Possess a powerful sense of smell. Roam in packs.
Host cannot be seen by them, but they can sense someone nearby. Their perception isn't perfect.
"I get it…" Sho muttered as he observed the wolves sniffing the air, confused. They knew something was there, but couldn't pinpoint it.
The wolves looked at each other, still growling, then eventually turned away, unsettled by their instincts but unsure of the threat.
Wolves be like "My gut says someone's here… but where?"
As Sho passed by the wolves, they stirred slightly, their ears twitching and noses sniffing the air. They seemed confused—like they could sense someone nearby, yet see no one.
Sho held his breath and quietly slipped past them, step by silent step, until he was finally out of their range.
Meanwhile, the wolves...
First Wolf: "I swear… I felt like somebody was here."
Second Wolf: "Bro, same. I got goosebumps."
Third Wolf: "Could it be… our grandfather's Alpha Spirit watching over us?"
First Wolf: "Wait, we have a grandfather?"
As the wolves remained lost in their mysterious conversation, Sho continued on and soon reached something unexpected—a village. Yes, a goblin village. Small, crude huts lined the area, with several goblins busy working. In the center stood one who looked different. He was only slightly taller than the others but stood out with a staff in hand and actual clothing—unlike the others, who only wore rough, brown leather skirts.
"That guy seems like the leader," Sho muttered.
> Host has spotted a Mage Goblin
Description: More intelligent than standard goblins. Possesses magical abilities.
> Mission Assigned
Objective: Defeat the Mage Goblin
Rewards: ???
Seeing the mission prompt, Sho frowned. "Hey, why does it say '???' for rewards?" he whispered.
> Because the rewards are unknown. That's what the question marks mean.
The system's sarcastic reply earned a sigh from Sho, but he didn't argue. He had already made up his mind—he would assassinate the Mage Goblin.
The plan was simple: sneak in close without being noticed, strike with the poison dagger, and finish the job by severing the goblin's head.
Take out the leader, and the rest would fall apart.
If the Mage Goblin really was more intelligent, as the system claimed, then he was likely the one commanding the others—using them as subordinates and soldiers. Removing him would send the village into chaos.
The tactic was clear: Assassinate the brain. Clean up the body later.
Sho's plan was in place—now came the preparation.
He quickly slid into a shadowy corner and pulled out the armor he had received from a gacha pull. As he equipped it, the armor silently wrapped around his chest and arms, blending into his body like an invisible jacket. It didn't weigh much, but it gave him a comforting sense of protection. He then slid the poison dagger into the waist belt(Common)—also a gacha reward.
With everything set, Sho moved silently toward the Mage Goblin, who appeared to be talking—or more likely—giving orders to another goblin.
Creeping closer, step by step, he closed the distance. Just a few centimeters away now. Sho tightened his grip on the dagger, heart pounding.
'Come on, Sho… You can do this. Think of it as a chicken with magic,' he tried to reassure himself. But his nerves betrayed him.
This was the first time he was going to kill someone. Sure, it was a goblin—but thinking about killing and actually doing it were two very different things.
He took a deep breath, steadied his hand, and thrust the dagger forward—aiming for the goblin's back.
Clank!
Sho's eyes widened. "...?"
A blue shimmer flared to life as his dagger was stopped mid-air.
"A magic barrier," he muttered in shock.
Before he could even react—
BOOM!
A fireball erupted from the goblin's staff, slamming straight into Sho. The impact sent him flying backwards. He crashed into a wall with a loud thud. His cloak's hood slipped off, exposing his face.
Now everyone could see him.
Sho got up immediately. He wasn't seriously injured, but he definitely felt the impact — it was strong. The armor he wore now had a visible crack running across the chest plate.
"System, why is this armor so weak?" Sho whispered, clearly displeased with its durability. After all, a single fireball from an E-rank goblin had nearly broken his Rare Category reward.
> Host's armor is of Rare Category only. Durability is average. Also, Host took a full blast of amplified fire magic from point-blank range. That goblin mage's staff boosts his spells. Be cautious.
Sho sighed. "I thought this would be easy…"
He glanced up at the goblin mage, who was now pointing directly at him and shouting something in their native tongue. Around him, the other goblins stood alert, weapons in hand—bows, spears, and rusted swords gleaming under the dim light.
"System, can you tell what that mage goblin just said?" Sho asked, squinting at the shouting figure. He couldn't understand a word.
> Translating: "Bring that intruder's ass over here. I will f*** it."
…
Silence.
Sho's expression darkened.
"That gay mother f*****!" he seethed, gripping his dagger tightly. His aura turned cold as his gaze locked onto the mage goblin.
"This time—no plan. I'm just gonna f*** him up," he muttered before dashing forward, murder in his eyes, This time No hesitation like the previous time.
The smaller grunt goblins rushed at him, swinging crude weapons—spears, clubs, swords. Sho didn't bother blocking. He kicked them aside like trash, sending some flying and even squashing a few under his boots.
Arrows flew from the goblin archers, but they lacked power. Most bounced harmlessly off his armor, while the few aimed at his head were swiftly dodged with quick tilts and swift footwork.
Woosh!
A massive fireball roared toward him.
Sho dropped flat onto the ground just in time, feeling the heat blaze over his back as it passed. Without wasting a second, he sprang up and charged forward, dagger in hand, aiming straight for the goblin mage.
He lunged—his poisoned blade struck the barrier again with a sharp crack.
"Arghhh!"
Teeth clenched, he pushed with all his strength, trying to pierce it—until he noticed the mage's staff glowing a deep red.
His eyes widened. Not again.
Sho instantly jumped back, using a kick off the barrier as a springboard to launch himself away.
The mage finished his chant—Boom!—a fireblast launched toward where Sho had just fallen.
But before the fireball hit the ground, Sho rolled away from the spot and immediately launched himself at the mage again. He had picked up on a key detail—the goblin couldn't rapid-fire. He needed time to cast.
Once again, the dagger was stopped by the barrier—but this time, the force behind Sho's strike caused it to crack. The goblin paled.
He was too focused on channeling mana to maintain the barrier, which slowed his fireball incantation even further.
On the other hand, Sho had a massive grin on his face. "Now you're gonna fuck your own ass," he said, pressing with even more force.
The barrier crumbled under the pressure, and the goblin's spell was still incomplete. In a panic, he tried to swing his staff at Sho, but Sho caught it with one hand and lifted the goblin along with the staff.
"All that firepower, but still so weak," Sho mocked, and without hesitation, drove the dagger into the goblin's stomach. Then he tossed him away like trash.
> For killing the Mage Goblin, Host obtained:
• Basic Fire Magic Book (Common)
• Magic Staff (Rare)*
Use: Amplifies magic power
• Defensive Barrier Pendant (Rare)*
Use: When mana is passed through it, a barrier forms around the user. Mana can also be stored in the pendant for instant barrier activation upon sensing killing intent.
• Return stone
Use: Crush it to Exit the Dungeon.
"Magic book? Do I have to read all this?" Sho muttered as he flipped through the pages. Strange symbols and some kind of ancient writing covered every inch. He couldn't make sense of a single thing.
> Host doesn't need to worry. The knowledge contained in the book can be transferred directly into your mind. Simply touch the book with your forehead.
"Seriously?" Sho raised an eyebrow but followed the instruction. As soon as his forehead touched the book, it glowed softly before vanishing into thin air. In the next instant, a wave of knowledge flooded his mind.
Sho exhaled with a sigh, "If I had this trick in my previous life, I could've topped the university rankings."
He stretched his hand forward, palm facing the terrified goblins who stood frozen, too afraid to move. A few even turned tail and ran for their lives.
"Alright then… my first magic as a magician," Sho smirked, full of anticipation. "Fireball!"
…Nothing happened.
"…Wait, what's going on?" Sho looked around, confused.
> Host does not have mana to use magic.
"…F**k!"
> System recommends using the Gacha Machine. Perhaps the situation and your luck will bring you the reward you need.
Without wasting a second, Sho summoned the Gacha Machine and quickly inserted 10 gacha tickets. One by one, the rewards popped out—and with every pull, his expression grew darker.
"All common trash," he muttered in frustration. "Except this healing potion, everything else is junk."
He stared at the last remaining 10 tickets, weighing the odds. Then, with a deep breath and narrowed eyes, he growled, "Fuck it. Let's just gamble."
He yanked the handle hard with his eyes shut tight.
The machine rattled and whirred. When he opened his eyes, the rewards lined up before him: three common items—leather jacket, leather boots, and a leather vest—followed by two stamina recovery potions and two healing potions.
Then came the real surprises.
> Electric Boots (Rare)
Use: Greatly increases speed
> Mana Potion ×2 (Rare)
Use: Instantly recovers mana
Sho's eyes lit up with relief. "Finally! Something decent!" he exhaled, rewards weren't anything exceptional but getting trashes every now and then this was much better. "Not only did I pull an rare item, but I also got mana potions."
Pleased with the reward, he wasted no time. He slipped on the Electric Boots, feeling a faint hum of energy course through his legs, and uncorked one of the Mana Potions. Tilting it back, he drank it in one go.
"…Hmm, that's surprisingly refreshing," he muttered, licking his lips.
> Congratulations Host has unlocked Mana. Mana can Be recharged through Mana Potion or Taking rest.
"Now then… let's try that again." Sho extended his right hand forward, his palm open. A glowing red magic circle began to form in front of it, its intricate patterns spinning slowly like a wheel of fire.
The reason Sho didn't need to chant an incantation was simple—he now possessed the complete knowledge from the magic book, every rune, every casting method etched into his mind. Compared to him, the mage goblin earlier was like a toddler who barely knew a few tricks, relying completely on the staff's magic amplification.
"Fireball!"
With a sharp whoosh, a baseball-sized fireball shot out of his palm… only to fizzle mid-air and vanish before it could even hit the wall.
Sho stared at it blankly. "…Well, that was disappointing. I'm pretty sure I did everything right, so why's it so weak?"
> Host did everything correctly. The magic book is a basic one and only contains low-caliber fire magic. However, Host can use the Magic Staff to amplify his spells for greater effect.
"Ah, I see…" Sho nodded, the explanation making sense. Still, he couldn't help but feel a twinge of disappointment. Even so, the fact that he could now cast magic at all brought a grin to his face.
"Alright then… since the boss of this dungeon isn't here, that means it's probably in the other passage."
He packed everything back into his inventory without hesitation, not even bothering to wear the stealth cloak this time. With his new medium for ranged attacks—something he had lacked until now—Sho felt far more confident.
This time, he could start the fight on his terms.
As Sho retraced his steps back through the passage, he once again came face-to-face with the three wolves from earlier. For a brief moment, they all stood frozen—Sho's sharp gaze locked onto them, and their glowing eyes locked onto him growling.
Without a word, Sho slid his arm into his inventory and drew out the Magic Staff, raising it to aim directly at the pack.
Whoosh!
A massive fireball blasted forth, lighting up the tunnel. As expected, the wolves' agility saved them—they leapt aside with ease. But that had been Sho's real intention all along: separate them.
In the blink of an eye, Sho dashed forward, electric sparks trailing in his wake from the boots as his speed surged. He closed in on the nearest wolf, his dagger flashing. A quick slash sent the beast reeling, its vision started to Disoriented due to poisoning, and a solid kick to the head finished it off.
The other two wolves lunged at him, but Sho's reflexes didn't falter. Another fireball roared from the staff, forcing them back. In that opening, he sprinted toward the second wolf and delivered a crushing punch to its skull, dropping it instantly.
The last wolf hesitated, then turned and fled to save his last bloodline.
"Good choice," Sho muttered with a smirk. "These boots are great." He didn't bother chasing it. No reward, no reason.
Further along the path, Sho stumbled upon a familiar face, the small goblin from before, punching the rock. Sho tilted his head, half-convinced the little guy was mentally unstable.
But the truth was different. This goblin once had a wife he loved deeply… until the mage goblin stole her away. Worse, she had gone willingly. From that day, he swore to become the strongest goblin alive—and so, every day, he punched at that same rock, training himself for a a brutal revenge.
Sho passed him by without interfering.
Moments later, the tunnel opened up, and as Sho stepped out, the swarm of bat dived at him from above. Sho didn't even flinch. He simply raised the staff, fired off a fireball, and~Boom!~the bat roasted mid-air before crashing to the ground in a smoking heap.
Sho continued forward, taking the right passage. It led him into an unexpected sight—a forest, growing within the dungeon itself, with a narrow dirt path cutting through it, almost like something a human would build.
The path was far from empty. Dozens of goblins lurked in the trees, waiting for a chance to ambush. They leapt down at him in groups, snarling and swinging crude weapons—but Sho cut them down without effort, leaving a trail of bloodied goblin corpses behind.
With each encounter, he noticed something: he was getting used to killing. The hesitation he once had was gone, replaced by a cold efficiency.
On top of it, he could feel himself getting stronger. Maybe unlocking mana really did have an effect.
As the forest ended, the trees gave way to an open clearing… and there it was another goblin village. In the center stood a hulking, seven-foot-tall goblin wielding a massive wooden club.
He sat upon a crude wooden throne, his posture dripping with arrogance, his sharp eyes fixed directly on Sho. It wasn't random, this goblin had been waiting for him. Word of the intruder had already reached him through his surviving minions.
"It seems this is the boss," Sho muttered under his breath. The goblin wasn't truly gigantic, but compared to the rest of his kind and even compared to Sho he was undeniably bigger, stronger, and more dangerous.
> Goblin king Spotted
Description : Stronger than most goblin and blood thirsty
Sho moved forward at a steady pace, his eyes never leaving the towering goblin. With a flick of his hand, he pulled the Defensive Barrier Pendant from his inventory and slipped it around his neck. The faint shimmer of mana flared around him, forming a thin but sturdy protective shell.
The Boss Goblin rose from his throne, muscles rippling under his rough hide, gripping the massive wooden club in one hand. With heavy footsteps he pressed forward until the two stood some inches apart, the air thick with killing intent.
Their eyes locked.
"I don't like looking upward," Sho said coldly. "Why don't you kneel?"
Before the goblin could react, Sho bent his knees and leapt upward, pressing his palm against the goblin's head, trying to force him down.
A guttural roar erupted from the boss as he swung his massive club in a horizontal arc.
BAM!
The strike connected with Sho's barrier—the protective field flaring bright for an instant before the sheer force blasted him sideways. Sho skidded across the dirt, boots digging trenches into the ground before he came to a halt. Cracks spiderwebbed across the barrier, faint wisps of dissipating mana trailing in the air.
"That was strong," Sho muttered, straightening his stance. His voice was calm—almost amused. There was no fear in his eyes, only a sharp, unshakable confidence. He knew he could take this monster down.
With a deafening roar, the Goblin King charged, wooden club raised high, and brought it crashing down. Sho's body blurred as he leapt sideways, the ground where he had stood exploding into a deep crater, chunks of dirt and stone scattering.
His physical strength is insane. Taking that head-on would be suicide, Sho thought, his eyes darting to the jagged pit.
The Goblin King pressed the attack, swinging with brutal force again and again, each strike gouging massive craters into the earth. But Sho slipped past every blow, his movements quick and precise, Electric Boots sparking faintly with each dodge.
The relentless misses only fueled the King's frustration. His glares grew darker, breaths heavier, muscles coiling tighter with rage. Sho smirked deliberately, letting the boss know he was being toyed with.
With a sudden, guttural snarl, the Goblin King hurled his massive wooden club straight at him. For an instant, Sho's mind went blank—it was so unexpected—but instinct kicked in. He twisted aside just in time, feeling the rush of air as the weapon tore past.
The club smashed into the stone wall with an earth-shaking BOOM, leaving behind a gaping crater. Shards of rock rained down, clattering across the ground.
"Idiot… that was the wrong move," Sho said coldly, lightning sparking from his boots as he exploded forward.
The Goblin King swung a desperate punch, forcing Sho to twist mid-strike. The dagger's edge cut shallow across the King's thick arm, and Sho himself felt the sting of a grazing blow to his own hand. But the weapon's ability was already at work—Hallucination.
The giant's breaths grew ragged. His vision blurred, doubling, then tripling. Shadows of Sho flickered in and out of his sight until he could no longer tell which was real. His swings became sluggish, clumsy.
"That's it…" Sho's voice was a low murmur before he darted in, blades flashing. A flurry of precise cuts and one brutal stab ended it—the Goblin King collapsed to the ground with a loud thud, his massive frame going still.
> Congratulations, Host. Dungeon cleared. Calculating rewards…
10 Gacha Tickets
• Mana Circulation Method – Rare
• Goblin Slayer (Title) – Increases user's strength and doubles the attack power when fighting against goblins .
• Wooden Club – Epic
Strong as metal. Resistant to magic.
The dungeon walls began to fracture like glass, shards of light peeling away into nothing.
"Not bad," Sho said with a faint smirk. "I needed the mana circulation book… and the Goblin Slayer title will give me a strength boost. But a wooden club as an epic item? That's surprising."
He adjusted the dagger at his belt and asked, "System, how do I activate the Goblin title? I don't have a status screen… do I just say the word?"
> Title is a passive ability, always active. As for the status window, Host must win it through gacha. Even without it, System can help gauge Host's stats—though it may not be perfectly accurate.
"I see. Then tell me, how much mana do I have left?" Sho asked, while he also pressed the Mana Circulation book to his forehead. The object shimmered before dissolving into light, and in the next instant, complex magical knowledge burned into his mind.
> Host has approximately 20% mana remaining.
"Only that much…" Sho muttered. "After learning the proper circulation method, I can tell my capacity is also way too low. I'll need to work on increasing it."
He lifted his gaze—and found himself standing on the mountainside once again. The dungeon was gone, erased completely as if it had never existed.
"By the way, can you also tell me in numbers how much strength I have?" Sho asked as he descended the mountainside.
> System can attempt an estimate, but for an exact value, I need a proper measurement of power levels and more knowledge of this world. For example—meet the strongest person alive of this world, have them launch a full-power attack at you, and based on the result, I could create an accurate, numerical status for you.
Sho snorted. "Yeah, sure… and make sure to engrave that status on my grave."
With that dry remark, he continued down the mountain trail, heading toward home.
> System was merely making a suggestion.
Sho rolled his eyes. "Yeah, well, next time, try suggesting something that doesn't involve my early funeral."
After a few minutes, Sho finally reached home.
"Sho, can you go shopping for dinner?" Ayaka asked, handing him some money. Being the good son he was, he didn't complain and immediately set out.
It didn't take long to buy everything, and soon he was walking along the roadside, heading back.
That's when three figures passed by him—two boys on either side, and a thin, smaller boy trapped in between. Sho caught only a glimpse at first… but then his steps slowed. His eyes locked onto the boy in the middle.
"Wait… that's—" he muttered, turning to look. "Isn't that Hiroto?"
Sure enough, it was his best friend from school. They had shared everything: the pain of being bullied, having their money taken, splitting what little food they had left, even doing the bullies' homework together. Now, Hiroto was being dragged along by two older kids.
Sho's gaze darkened. He knew those faces—they were the same bullies who once tormented him… and robbed him of 150,000 yen which was his live savings he collected through pocket money and Gift from grandparents after all his family is quite well-off.
A smirk tugged at his lips. "Well, well… they've been keeping my money for far too long. Time to collect it back.. with interest."
He slipped the shopping bag into his inventory and quietly followed them into the alley they had entered.