That morning, before the sun had fully risen, Takuya was already sitting in the corner of the horse stable, staring at the gacha screen floating before him. Sitting on the pile of hay that hadn't been changed since the day he was summoned to this world, he let out a long sigh.
"If I get another apple today… I swear I'll curse the Goddess of this world," he groaned.
With fingers trembling slightly, he pressed the [YES] button.
Blue light flared once more, the wind stirred again. A magic circle appeared and… just like yesterday…
Plop.
A small object dropped to the ground.
Takuya peeked slowly.
"…A slime?"
A small green transparent slime, about the size of a watermelon, rolled around lazily. It let out a sound like, "pyuu~."
[Congratulations!]
[You've summoned: Support Slime – Jacket Form]
[Effect: Can be worn as a jacket. Warm. Slightly sticky. No additional effects.]
Takuya froze.
"…"
He stared at the slime. The slime seemed to stare back with a blank, innocent expression—if such a thing could be said about it. Then, without warning, the slime leapt at his chest and immediately… wrapped around his body.
"Uwaagh—?!"
The slime adjusted to Takuya's shape. In mere seconds, it transformed into a transparent light-green jacket clinging tightly to him.
"…Why does this feel like I'm wearing a jacket made of living jelly…" he muttered weakly.
Sticky, gooey, but warm. Not bad for a cold morning… or for the freezing nights spent in a horse stable. In that sense, it was more useful than the apple from yesterday. But still, it wasn't a combat skill, not a weapon, not even close to an overpowered item.
Completely different from the isekai novels Takuya used to read back on Earth. Disappointment burned inside him.
Takuya let out another long sigh. "…Please, tomorrow, give me some overpowered item or skill. I beg you! If it happens, I promise I'll offer you an entire basket of apples and… my respect!"
He prayed desperately to the Goddess of this world. Whether it would be heard or not, he didn't know. At least he prayed.
Standing up, he muttered, "Alright, today I have to do better."
**
Several hours later…
Takuya stood behind the other summoned heroes.
Before them lay a forest considered safe for beginners. All summoned heroes always started here.
The smell of damp soil, rotting leaves, and monster blood mixed into one. Low-level monsters wandered around freely.
Lady Seraphina stood at the very front, surrounded by several royal knights.
"Let's begin. Our goal today is to reach level ten."
Shigeru gripped his sword tightly. Hiroshi prepared with his wolf companion, Raijin. Aika stood elegantly with her glowing magic staff.
And Takuya? He stood awkwardly, the slime-jacket clinging strangely to his body.
"Pyuu~," the slime squeaked softly.
"Can you stop saying 'pyuu~'? You're making me look weird," Takuya complained.
"Pyuu~."
Takuya exhaled in defeat. He realized it was pointless. The slime he summoned didn't understand human speech. Just a stupid monster.
"I really am cursed with bad gacha luck. Seems like the Gacha God truly despises me."
**
The first battle.
A Lizardfang—a large lizard with iron claws and a poisonous tongue—appeared. A dangerous foe.
The fastest way to level up was to fight monsters higher than your level. Risky? Absolutely. But with Seraphina and the royal knights present, it wasn't impossible.
Shigeru charged forward. He struck first, decapitating the beast in a single blow with his skill, Phantom Slash.
The second battle.
A Poison Moth the size of a goat flew out of the bushes, flapping its toxic wings.
Aika focused her Mana, her entire body glowing, and unleashed a massive spell. Her blast brought the Poison Moth crashing to the ground instantly.
The third battle.
A Red Boar, a forest monster with skin hard as steel.
Hiroshi pointed forward. At the same time, Raijin the wolf lunged and sank its fangs charged with lightning into the boar's neck. The beast collapsed and died.
The three summoned heroes won their battles with ease, thanks to their extraordinary talents.
And Takuya?
He just stood there. Like a walking statue, scratching his head repeatedly.
Every time a monster appeared, he ducked. Once he even tripped over a root and fell flat—but his slime jacket saved him from getting scratched. That was all.
The rest of the monsters were slain by the other heroes.
"Are you alright?" Shigeru asked, extending a hand.
"Thanks," Takuya said, taking it and standing up.
But several eyes turned toward him. Eyes filled with disdain. Takuya could only let out a long sigh.
"What's the point of bringing this kid along?" whispered one soldier.
"If he dies first, I won't be surprised," another added.
Seraphina heard them, but said nothing. She only stared at Takuya with an indifferent face. More like… she didn't care at all.
After nearly an hour, the other heroes finally reached Level 10.
[Shigeru Lv. 10 – New Skill: Phantom Step]
[Aika Lv. 10 – New Skill: Chain Lightning]
[Hiroshi Lv. 10 – New Skill: Summon Beast King – Cub Form]
They all marveled at their notifications.
Aika smiled in satisfaction. Hiroshi summoned a golden-horned cub with his new skill. Shigeru moved faster—so fast he was almost invisible. They grew stronger and stronger.
The three of them received praise from Seraphina, along with gold coins as rewards for their progress.
Then, Takuya opened his own status.
[Takuya Lv. 9 → 10]
[New Skill: None]
[Available Skill: Daily Gacha (Cooldown: 14 Hours 12 Minutes)]
Takuya just stared blankly at the screen.
"…Pyouu…" his slime whimpered softly, almost as if pitying him.
He sighed, turning toward Seraphina. The woman didn't say a word. She just looked at him as if he were… a pile of hay in the stables.
Trash.
"Is there really nothing I can do?" he muttered helplessly.
He scratched his head. While every other summoned hero gained new skills, he got nothing.
Seraphina glanced his way while he was lost in thought. She whispered something to two royal knights. They nodded. She turned her gaze away again.
**
That night, a campfire was lit. Meals were shared among the heroes: roasted meat, warm bread, even light wine.
And Takuya?
He was given only a single potato, stale bread, and plain water.
He looked at his slime jacket, then bit into the hard bread.
"Maybe tomorrow's gacha will finally give me something useful."
He exhaled, though his tone was more pessimistic than hopeful.
Not long after, Shigeru walked over. He sat beside Takuya and handed him a piece of roasted meat.
"Eat! You're still growing, so you need plenty of food," he said.
Takuya's eyes widened. Then, smiling, he replied, "Thank you."
Without hesitation, he ate the meat. But as he chewed, he heard whispers from the others. Of course—they were gossiping about how useless he was, and how kind Shigeru was for still helping this piece of trash, despite his worthlessness.
"If I ever get a strong skill… all of you will bow before me," Takuya muttered while chewing the meat he had been given.
"Hah, are you kidding me?!" Takuya roared.
[Congratulations!]
[You've summoned: Smelly Socks.]
He clicked his tongue in utter frustration. Without hesitation, he threw the socks away.
"This is even worse than day one. Are you seriously mocking me, Gacha God? I swear, I'll smack your ass, you bastard!" he shouted furiously.