Gacha Kingdom Building was a strange Gift.
It seemed to have limitless potential, but its unpredictability left me unsure of what to do next.
Since I wanted to be an adventurer, the [Skills Banner] felt like the correct choice. Regardless of what it gave me, it should help.
Yet, last time I rolled on that banner disappointed me so much, I ended up betting on the [Companions Banner] and... Considering how careless I was, it wasn't all that bad, all thanks to Licia.
Even though I was unsure about using the [Companions Banner] after Licia's summoning, I couldn't deny how much of a help she was.
The ability to share skills between citizens was also pretty enticing.
If I were to get another citizen as strong as Licia, that could make us much stronger than any weapon or skill would.
Giving Licia someone she can relate to could also help her settle in a little more, but... If it meant reviving someone, for these selfish reasons...
Regardless, there were far too many problems with the [Companions Banner]. I couldn't control whoever I summoned, and they could easily be dangerous to Licia and me.
Before using the [Companions Banner] again, I'd have to prepare accordingly.
I'd also have to get Licia on board with it, too.
Licia: "Hmmm?"
I stared a little too hard, so she tilted her head.
Rather than confused, she looked amused, teasing me with a smug smile.
Miwen: "Sorry, I was just deep in thought."
I was almost sure she wouldn't mind helping me.
But at the same time, I liked being just the two of us...
So, aside from [Companions] and [Skills], I could also rely on the [Weapons Banner].
The problems with it remained the same.
If I got a weapon too strong for myself, I could grow dependent on it or attract unwanted attention.
That was a problem Licia probably wouldn't suffer from, but giving her a strong weapon was also overkill.
The rest of us already had a tough time keeping up the pace as it was.
Besides, we'd be fighting the floor boss the next time we ventured into the Dungeon.
Defeating it without relying on a weapon would be a great milestone for us, and proof that we had the strength needed to keep pushing forward.
And then, after we progressed through more floors...
We'd run across fewer people in the Dungeon, and we'd have enough strength not to worry about losing our weapons mid-fight.
It'd also pair nicely with more companions...
One person with a flashy weapon might look like a target, but an entire group was a problem.
Though I'd have to trust the entire group as much as I trusted Licia, which was probably easier said than done.
Miwen: "...I was really lucky to have summoned you, huh?"
Licia: "Eh? You think so?"
She tried her best not to show it, but I could see her face turning red.
While she fiddled with her fingers beside me on the sofa, I began thinking of other banners I could use.
I had noticed the [Spellbooks Banner] recently, and now that I shared Licia's [Mana Control], learning some magic could be useful.
For what it's worth, I also had the [Reading Speed Up] skill.
The only problem with that was...
Since I had no [Available Skills], I had no idea what affinities I had, if any.
It would suck to get a good spellbook, only to learn I couldn't actually use the magic in it...
Yeah, that'd be the last straw for me.
I'd probably do something dumb again after that.
For the time being, I should probably wait to get Licia's [Ice Magic] through skill sharing.
If I had the affinity to at least one type of magic, then I could justify spending tickets on magic-related banners, even if I didn't get anything useful for a while.
The last option still on the table was the old and not-so-reliable [Skills Banner].
No matter how much I wanted to run from it after last time's result, in the end, skills were the bread and butter of adventurers.
It was also true that, while it disappointed me here and there, it also made up for it with quite a few good skills...
Miwen: "What do you think?"
Feeling a little stuck, I relied on my trusted companion, a veteran adventurer.
Licia: "Dunno..."
She was a little distracted by the TV, so her first answer wasn't that sincere.
When she noticed that she had spoken without thinking, she raised her hands, completely flustered.
Licia: "I mean... I think you have good skills for that Dungeon, so it might be better than you think? And also, if you got new skills, I'd get new skills too, right? Hehe."
Her evil plan aside, she raised a good point.
Both the [Companions Banner] and the [Weapons Banner] benefited from the [Share] mechanism of my Gift, but perhaps the [Skill Banner] was the one that enjoyed it the most.
It was a double tap since I'd strengthened myself and every companion at once, even that only meant Licia for now...
Having more skills and getting stronger myself would also be useful to prevent newly summoned [Companions] from acting out as soon as they are summoned.
After her advice, I decided to give this banner another chance.
With three Gifts invested in it, the out-of-body experience I always had when using the gacha was the strongest it had ever been.
It never lasted long, but that blank-mind feeling lingered slightly less than usual this time.
Maybe it was because I was getting used to it, or because I was stronger now.
Whatever the case, it still lasted enough for Licia to worry about me.
Licia: "Are you alright? For a second, it seemed like you were... out?"
I found her leaning a little closer.
The warm expression she had before disappeared from her face.
Miwen: "I'm fine, it happens all the time I use my Gift."
I tried to reassure her, but her eyes still studied me.
Licia: "I do remember that you seemed out of it when we first met, but I was pretty much the same at the moment, so I thought it was the normal reaction..."
There were many reasons for that. It wouldn't be fair to say that this effect was the only culprit.
Even just thinking about it, I end up remembering the way she looked and her naked body, and... Suddenly, it was best to think about something else.
Unfortunately, she was paying close attention to me, so after noticing the reactions I couldn't control, she blushed and turned her face away.
Though for some reason, she kept looking back at me from the corner of her eyes.
Feeling the awkwardness in the air, I turned my attention to the skills I had obtained.
[Faster Tree Climbing
As the user already has this skill, its level has been increased, allowing even faster tree climbing.
This skill has no mana cost and can be deactivated at any time.]
Seeing this skill get another level-up did away with my excitement.
I clenched my fist hard, and if Licia wasn't around, I might've said a few nasty things.
Still, I continued looking at the results...
[Unending Determination
Increases the user's determination, giving several effects.
First effect: This skill grants its user an extremely low chance to resist otherwise fatal attacks.
...
Fourth effect: This skill grants its user a low chance to enter a [Determined] state when training, which boosts its effects and lowers the fatigue, as long as the training can be affected by the user's determination.
...
This skill has no mana cost and can be deactivated at any time.]
While there were plenty of effects, most were a little too unreliable or not that useful for me.
However, the first and fourth seemed pretty good.
[Sight Enhancement
The user can better perceive fast-moving objects, see things from farther away, and also see more details when close to their target.
Sight-related illnesses will be alleviated and may be cured entirely upon acquiring or improving this skill, depending on their severity.
This skill has no mana cost and can be deactivated at any time.]
Overall, I was actually pretty happy.
Sure, there was one rotten fruit in the basket, but [Unending Determination] and [Sight Enhancement] were more than good enough to make up for it.
Of course, it'd be better not to find myself in a situation where I'd need the first effect of [Unending Determination], but it was definitely good to have it, and the training boost seemed fantastic.
[Sight Enhancement], on the other hand, was useful not only in combat but also in every daily situation.
Not to mention, it paired incredibly well with [Movement Speed Up].
With the two together, I could react much faster than the enemies.
Hopefully.
It'd be happier to get another level in [Movement Speed Up] since I had already tested it, but for now, my faith in the [Skills Banner] had been restored to some extent.
Licia: "Pfft. You're grinning now?"
Miwen: "I mean... Wait, you're worse than I am with this stuff."
Licia: "Guilty as charged..."
I could tell she was already eyeing up some of the skills I got this time, but strangely, it made me a little happy.
Teasing her about it was plenty of fun, too.
Still, I had one last experiment I wanted to do before calling it quits.
Now that I had Licia's [Mana Control], I thought I'd get a discount in the [Mana Gacha], or at least, roll on it without suffering from mana depletion.
Unfortunately, my hopes were shattered almost instantly, as the cost had not changed at all.
Perhaps I'd get a better result nonetheless, but I decided to wait.
By now, I already trusted Licia enough, but...
I didn't want to leave her alone, in case she needed me.
And also...
I enjoyed the rest I got last time, and I wasn't in a rush to get another knife or ring.
After so long, I owed myself a full night's sleep.