My Unique Skill [Gacha] Will Save the World - Episode 2: Mission Failure

Episode 2: Mission Failure

“Eh? What’s going on?!”

Gakuto grabs the collar of one of his followers nearby and asks. But the follower shakes his head. He clearly doesn’t know what’s happening.

Rindou also tries to figure out what’s going on by looking around. But the crowd that’s gathered in large numbers obstructs his view.

However, as soon as he hears a cry, he immediately understands the situation—or rather, he has no choice but to understand.

“Gegegegegyagyagyagyaaahhh!!!”

“…Could it be… the cry of a monster?”

Monsters were pouring through the gate, flooding into Earth— a stampede had occurred.

Normally, when a gate is conquered and the core of the otherworld it leads to is destroyed, the gate will automatically disappear once the player steps out.

However, if the conquest fails after entering, the gate can open again from the inside unless it’s locked. It allows monsters to flood into Earth.

Rindou had heard that many people had been sacrificed, including awakened players, when the gate first appeared because of this very issue.

“Tch! Hey, we need to run!”

“What are you talking about, Gakuto! You’re in the reserve squad, right?!”

The reserve squad’s role is to assist civilians and fight monsters in case of an emergency, such as a failed conquest leading to a stampede. 

However, in recent years, the gate’s conquest had been carried out with perfect preparation. So there had been no failures. This was Gakuto’s first experience with a stampede.

“I don’t care! My life is the most important thing to me! Let’s go, hurry up!”

“”Y-yes!””

Gakuto and his followers disregarded the civilians and immediately fled.

Rindou should have been escaping as well. But he had his body move on its own when something caught his eye.

“You! Get up, quickly!”

He extended his hand to a girl who had been knocked over in the chaos. She was crying in fear.

“Waaaah! I’m scared, I’m so scared! Mooooom!”

“It’s okay, a player will help us. Let’s get away.”

“B-but… my mom…”

“You were with your mom, right? I’ll help you find her, so let’s get up, okay?”

“…O-okay.”

The girl must have felt the urgency to run. And at Rindou’s gentle words, she nodded and took his hand. However…

Clang. Clang.

The sound of metal clanging in a steady rhythm grew louder. It was drawing closer to Rindou. He gripped the girl’s hand tightly, swallowing nervously, and turned around.

“…No way.”

The crowd had disappeared. But Rindou could see multiple monsters emerging from the path where the bystanders were looking.

“Reserve squad, go!”

“Uoooooohhh!”

Players who had decided not to flee were preparing to face the monsters. They appeared with weapons drawn, charging in heroically.

“Look, players! We’re safe now!”

“Guwaaaahhh!?”

Just as Rindou was about to tell the girl they were safe, a scream pierced the air.

He quickly turned around to see that many more monsters had spilled out from the streets. It was nearly double the amount from before. And they were about to overwhelm the players who had arrived.

“Waaaaahhh!”

“Don’t cry! The monsters will hear us!”

“I’m scared! So scared!”

Clang. Clang.

The clashing metal sounds rang out once again.

A heavily armored monster. Its eyes were glowing red in the areas where eyes should be. It locked its gaze onto Rindou and the girl.

(Damn it! We’ve become the target!)

Rindou could have fled here, leaving everything behind.

But he couldn’t make that choice—not when he admired players.

(I’m not a player. But the player who saved me didn’t run away! They risked their life to save us! If they can do that, then I can too!)

Taking a deep breath and steeling himself, Rindou quickly scanned the area. He noticed a sword that a fallen player had likely dropped.

“Listen, kid. When I slap your back, run as fast as you can in the opposite direction of the monsters.”

“Sniff, sniff!”

“Got it? Here I go!”

“…Yeah!”

“Run!”

Shouting that, Rindou slapped the girl’s back. And she ran off as instructed. Though she was still crying, he didn’t mind as long as she was escaping.

This was because Rindou had volunteered to take on the role of drawing the monsters’ attention.

“Uoooooooohhh!”

Rindou glanced at the armored monster. He sprinted forward and grabbed the sword that had been lying on the ground.

(Woah! This sword… it’s so heavy!?)

Since he wasn’t a player, Rindou rarely had the opportunity to handle any weapons. And this was no different. The sword was the first one he’d ever held. It was far too heavy for an ordinary person like him. He could barely lift it with both hands.

“…Even so, I have to do this!”

Tightly gripping the sword’s hilt, Rindou glared at the armored monster. He then charged toward it, closing the distance.