Gacha Addict in a Matriarchal World

“Benny! We won!”

“…Ah, yeah.”

Benny, with a somewhat exhausted expression, avoided my gaze.

So harsh.

I pouted inwardly for a moment.

Woooong-

The divine power that was emanating from the Goddess statue in my arms began to wane.

At the same time, the Sanctuary that was pushing away this white space gradually shrank and soon disappeared entirely.

With the enhanced physical abilities and regeneration gone, my body suddenly felt heavy. It was hard to breathe due to the lack of energy.

A kind of backlash. But that’s not important right now.

“Ba-ba-da-bum! Jonny Boy has obtained an expensive staff!”

I raised Morgana’s staff high, speaking in the style of a classic RPG game.

The transparent, shining jewel had turned red, but it still looked to be an incredibly expensive magical artifact.

Since it was something used by an elder of the Magic Tower, selling it would fetch an enormous amount of gold. Even if it was too pricey to sell, I could just use it myself.

Considering the majesty of Morgana, who manipulated space as if it were her own without any special incantation, it was definitely worth it.

Giggling, I placed the staff into the now accessible Subspace Ring.

Benny fought alongside me, but I played the most crucial role, so this much should be fine, right???

With that thought, I glanced at Benny cautiously. But…

“Con…congratulations?”

Benny trembled like a frightened person, stepping back nervously.

…No way, she’s still acting like that?

“Benny. I’m a bit hurt.”

“Wha-what?!”

“Why are you avoiding me? I ran all the way here to save Benny!”

“I’m not avoiding you! It’s just…”

“Just what?”

“My body feels strange. I can’t make eye contact. When I try, I start trembling…”

“Gasp! Could it be that you’ve fallen for me?! Oh dear. This is troublesome. I already have Ellie.”

“It’s not like that! …But I really don’t know why this is happening. It feels like my body isn’t mine. I don’t know if I should say it’s become overly sensitive or soft…”

I carefully observed Benny, who tilted her head in confusion.

Her dress, already clinging tightly to her body, was now soaked with sweat, revealing even more of her figure.

To the extent that the shape of her navel was clearly visible through the fabric.

Of course, it was the same for other parts as well. What was at most knowing how modest Benny’s chest was, had now reached the level of knowing that Benny was only wearing nipple patches instead of underwear.

The claim about how small and cute her butt was, had now reached the level of knowing she was wearing a thong.

Nodding, I recorded every piece of new information in my brain.

“Benny’s body originally seemed soft and sensitive though?”

“…???”

Benny was bewildered and did not understand what I was suddenly talking about. Well, that’s not important right now, so I decided to switch topics.

“So, to summarize, Benny is currently vulnerable to psychological stimuli, right?”

“Yeah… Morgana cast a spatial cut at the end, didn’t she? Do you know what she cut?”

“Spatial severance? Could it be that the guillotine that was quietly behind you was a spatial severance spell?”

“Yeah. I’m not exactly sure, but ever since it activated, I feel like my condition has become strange.”

Benny, usually full of confidence, repeatedly puffed out her flat chest proudly, only to shrink back in surprise.

It crossed my mind that she was boasting about a figure that wasn’t much to boast about, but I didn’t voice it.

Solving the problem at hand is more important right now…. It’s not because I’m afraid I won’t be able to see it again if I point it out!

“Could it be a mental magic spell?”

“Not sure. Probably not, though? Morgana was exclusively specialized in spatial magic, and while she also dabbled in related fields like time magic and rejuvenation research, she never delved into mental magic.”

“…Time magic?”

“Yeah. Space and time are closely related. But you won’t be able to use such great magic. At best, you can only accelerate or decelerate the flow of time for yourself.”

It cannot be applied to others or objects. Only a slight manipulation of one’s own time.

That’s all the time magic allowed to mortals.

It’s not that there are restrictions or that it’s a forbidden, dangerous power.

Purely because it’s so difficult that no mage has accomplished more until the day they die.

“That’s probably why Morgana used magic directly without any incantations. She must have accelerated her own time to assist the calculations in her head.”

“Come to think of it, she never chanted spells or formed seals. She just summoned pre-drawn magic circles.”

“Yeah. It was possible because the calculations were already perfectly completed in her mind with accelerated thinking. …We got a bit sidetracked, but anyway, Morgana is clueless about mental magic.”

“Then I have no idea what to guess….”

“It’s fine. Once we get to the surface, there are mages and priests who specialize in treating these unknown status effects. We just need to get out… Do you know the way?”

“Of course! Just follow me and this time…oh, um. Wait a moment.”

“Why, why?”

Lowering her voice, Benny flinched, staring endlessly at the ground. As if she sensed something ominous.

“Hey. Benny. What do we do about this?”

“About what?”

“Morgana is dead but this strange space isn’t dissipating.”

“…What?”

Benny jumped up and sat down abruptly, closing her eyes.

Concentrating in that state, she extends her remaining magical power in all directions. It feels like an invisible hand groping the entire space, inferring its contours.

How much time has passed like that? Benny, who reopened her eyes, still avoiding my gaze, stared into the void and spoke.

“…I think I know what Morgana cut at the end.”

“What is it?”

“Here.”

“…???”

“She cut and isolated the space we’re in.”

“Oh… So it’s similar to when we were trapped without knowing why at the beginning?”

“Yes. Whether it’s being trapped in a repeating corridor connecting the beginning and the end, or being trapped in a realm created by Morgana’s magic, the fact that we’re trapped is the same.”

“Whew. That’s a relief. So, it means we can escape the same way this time too. Of course, that would be after Benny fully recovers.”

“…That’s the problem because we can’t.”

Benny, with a gloomy expression, hugged her knees. Her slightly exposed ankle looked round and cute.

“I got separated from Shadow while being isolated in this space. The connection isn’t cut, but it feels like he’s far away, out of reach.”

“Come to think of it, I haven’t seen Shadow since earlier.”

“That’s the second problem. This space was originally created to deal with me. Of course, since Morgana is dead, it’s not dangerous… But the nature that restricts my power hasn’t disappeared.”

Benny sighed deeply and buried her face in her knees.

“My magic comes from my past. Because I was confined, I’m skilled in magic that destroys things, and since I witnessed many human experiments, I often use magic that utilizes body parts.”

“Come to think of it, Benny’s magic was quite gruesome. I think it’s unique and interesting, though!”

“Thanks. But this space was created to negate my kind of magic. It doesn’t acknowledge any sort of ugliness. I don’t know what the criteria are, but for someone like me, even moving my magic is difficult.”

“Uh, um. So that means…”

“That’s right. It means I can’t force my way out as I did initially. Magic that concentrates pure power might not be restricted, but my magic itself is limited, and even if I somehow create a crack, Shadow, who would rip it open and expand it, is outside.”

Benny trembled, speaking in the most sorrowful voice in the world.

“Maybe my mind is unstable right now because Shadow is too far away. Ahaha. Isn’t it funny? No matter what, I could only stay sane thanks to Shadow’s erosion.”

“……”

“I’m sorry, Jonah. You actually came back. You even defeated Morgana. But because of me, you’re trapped and are going to starve to death… I promised to return you safely to Lydia…hic.”

Now Benny was outright sobbing.

Hmm. It does seem like her mind is unstable. No matter how bad it is, to be crying already?

After a moment of thought, I sat down next to Benny. Then, I took off her witch hat and patted her sweat-soaked purple head lightly.

“Benny.”

“…Yeah.”

“I don’t blame you, Benny.”

“……”

“Because if that’s the reason, we can escape tomorrow.”

“…Huh?”

Benny lifts her head abruptly and looks my way. However, perhaps due to her weakened state, she immediately turns her head away as soon as our eyes meet.

“Wh-what do you mean we can get out tomorrow?”

“Do you remember how I nullified Morgana’s magic?”

“…The power of a miracle?”

“That’s right. I opened a small Sanctuary of the Goddess. Inside, with the Goddess’s help, I stabilized the space into its normal form.”

“A Sanctuary?! That’s something that takes several high-ranking priests days of near-ascetic prayer to barely open for a single day!”

“Yep. But since I’m alone, I can only open it for about 15 minutes.”

“Even opening it alone for 15 minutes is unbelievable?!”

Thud.

Benny, startled, crouched down and performed some kind of amusing trick by hopping on her butt.

“H-however, since we opened it this time, it will take a long time before we can open it again, right? Okay. Then the key is how we will endure until then. The food we have…”

“I can open it once a day though?”

“…?”

Benny blinked, as if she couldn’t understand what she had just heard.

I grinned at her.

“Who am I?”

Then I jabbed my chest with my thumb and continued.

“The Goddess’s Favored Future Saint.”

Until the Sanctuary’s cooldown resets. About 24 hours to go.

I smiled broadly at the dumbfounded Benny.

“So, what shall we play in the meantime? What shall we play?”

A day is long.

There are many things we can do in that time.