「…Ahem. Anyway, Alec-kun, thanks to yesterday’s little make-believe session, you’ve safely reached level 5. That’s why I called you here after you fell asleep last night」
Noticing my slightly cold gaze at last, Mikoto-san forcefully steered the conversation back to the main topic.
「So that means I get to spin the roulette again, right?」
「That’s right. The talk got a bit sidetracked, but… in any case, congratulations」
Well, after all, it’s been six years’ worth of things only the three of us could talk about. I suppose it’s natural for it to run long.
Anyway, I’ve achieved the goal I had before reincarnating, 『survive somehow, raise my level to 5, and make it back here』.
…Though honestly, I don’t feel like I actually put in much effort, but for now, I’ll take it as a win.
「Thank you. …So, can I throw it now?」
I subtly conveyed to Deis-san, who had been clinging to me the whole time, 『Would you mind letting go?』.
—However, it seemed the message didn’t get through, as Deis-san didn’t budge an inch. Mikoto-san seemed to understand though, and forcibly pried her off me.
「Really now, Mikoto, you’re so forceful」
「Roulette, roulette. Let’s get started already」
「Alright. Just a moment, Alec-chan, here you go」
Deis-san disappeared behind the roulette for a moment, then quickly reappeared holding a dart, which she handed to me.
On the dart was a chibi drawing of me with a smiling face… such attention to detail.
「Do your best, Alec-kun!」
「Good luck. I’m sure Alec-chan will get something great this time!」
「Thank you. Fufu, but don’t worry. There’s no way I can get anything worse than a scrubbing brush, ah」
I tossed out a lighthearted remark to the two cheering me on…and instantly regretted it.
That was way too much of a flag… I shuddered at the fact that I had just raised such an obvious one myself.
「Fufu. That’s true, there’s nothing worse than a scrubbing brush」
「Ufufu. Yes, my Alec-chan wouldn’t draw something like that」
Please stop.
「Alright then, Cheat Roulette, start!!」
Deis-san gave the roulette a vigorous spin. This is bad, it’s already begun. Could I break this flag? Come on, me, defeat fate.
「Par◯ero! Par◯ero!」
…Do you have to call that out every time? And is that even a real thing?
No, this isn’t the time for that. Just calm down and throw the dart carefully. Here goes…
「Take that!」
Alright, it stuck firmly on the board.
The problem starts from here. I waited for Deis-san to stop the roulette, then approached the pitch-black board and stared at the spot where it had landed, no, it’s no use. Even with elven eyes, I can’t see it.
「H-how is it…?」
「Good for you. This time, it’s a proper skill」
A skill!?
「――Congratulations! You’ve acquired the skill 『Woodworking』!!」
Deis-san smiled warmly at me, offering her congratulations. Yes! I broke the flag! It’s a proper skill. The 『Woodworking』 skill! …Wait, the 『Woodworking』 skill?
「『Woodworking』 skill?」
「That’s right. Just wait a moment」
Deis-san disappeared once again behind the roulette. …What exactly is back there?
She returned almost immediately, holding a small cup in her hand.
「Here, congratulations」
「…What is this?」
「Drink this, and you’ll acquire the 『Woodworking』 skill」
She handed me the cup, filled with a yellowish-brown liquid.
Is this color because it’s the 『Woodworking』 skill? It’s not the most inviting shade… but it’s not like I have the option to refuse now.
「Um… then, here I go…」
I gulped down the yellowish-brown liquid.
…The taste was… odd. Not exactly pleasant. It was like a citrus juice, but with an off-putting sourness and a clinging sweetness that lingered on my tongue. And being lukewarm didn’t help either.
Well, the taste doesn’t matter. What’s important is that I’ve obtained the skill… right?
「So, I’ve acquired the 『Woodworking』 skill now, right? By the way, what kind of skill is 『Woodworking』?」
I set the empty cup on the conference table and asked the two of them.
「Yes, it seems you have. The 『Woodworking』 skill is—」
「Stop, Mikoto. …I’m sorry, Alec-chan. Even if it’s my son asking, I can’t answer that」
Deis-san stopped Mikoto-san from answering and apologized to me with a regretful look. Though, I’m not her son.
「Um… is that something you can’t tell me?」
「If I explained everything from start to finish, it wouldn’t be any fun, would it? Part of the thrill of the Cheat Roulette, where you can acquire all sorts of cheat abilities, is figuring out creative and effective ways to use your skills yourself. That’s why I decided from the start not to explain too much. Even if Alec-chan is my son, it wouldn’t be right for a god to easily overturn the rules. I am a god, after all.」
「Yeah, that’s true. Sorry, Alec-kun. I can’t answer either.」
Hearing the words “God’s rules” feels strangely overwhelming…
Come to think of it, Deis-san has been calling me her son this whole time. Does that mean I’m the child of a god? That would make me a messiah… somehow, that feels overwhelming too…
「If that’s the case, I understand. Once I return, I’d like to try various things myself」
「Well, I can at least give you a brief explanation. You can probably tell from the name, but it’s a skill that gives you a bonus when processing wood」
「Ah, I see」
「In fact, that might be the entirety of the woodworking skill… oh? Did a god just break her own rules out of nowhere? …Well, whatever. In any case, it’s definitely a useful skill, so don’t worry. Actually, everything in the Cheat Roulette is either a useful skill or item…」
The scrubbing brush though… I wonder if it will ever be useful…
And now, after the scrubbing brush, it’s woodworking. Not to be rude, but that’s pretty plain… The “cheat” part of “Cheat Roulette” isn’t doing its job at all…
「Alright, that concludes the level 5 Cheat Roulette. Next is level 10, I’ll be cheering for you, Alec-kun」
「Eh, we’re already saying goodbye? I’ve been waiting six years, you know!?」
Once again, Deis-san hugs me tightly, squeezing so hard my insides might pop out.
「I told you to stop…」
This time, Mikoto-san quickly rescued me, so without missing a beat…
「I’ll miss you, but I think I should head back now. Well then, let’s meet again at level 10」
I gave my farewells to the two of them. To be honest, Deis-san is a little scary, so I’m eager to leave quickly.
「Alright, see you then. Take care of yourself and don’t overdo it」
「Thank you, Mikoto-san. I’m heading back now, but please take care of Deis-san」
「You’re worried about me!? I’m so blessed to have such a kind son!!」
…In a way, I’m very worried. I can only pray Mikoto-san will handle things before I reach level 10.
Now then, back to my original world… huh? How exactly am I supposed to get back?
As I was wondering that, Mikoto-san said 「Here, here」 while grabbing Deis-san, forcing her to point her right hand toward me. Same pattern as when I was reincarnated, I guess?
Reluctantly, Deis-san began preparing the spell. Light gathered in her right hand. As expected, it was so bright I couldn’t keep my eyes open, so I shut them tight.
――And then I was teleported.
next chapter: The Potential of Elves
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