The Luckiest Draw
Eriri paid no attention to the passersby and continued exploring the town, brimming with the distinct charm of this fantastical world, alongside Ais.
The adventurers who had seen Eriri snapped back to reality and hurried back to their respective Familia bases to report their sightings to their gods. Some simply wanted to share the news with their deities, while others, with ulterior motives, sought to curry favor with their gods by offering this information.
Among them was Hyacinthus, captain of the Apollo Familia. While he, too, was captivated by Eriri's beauty, his primary concern was his devotion to his god, Apollo. Thus, he decided to present news of Eriri to Apollo in hopes of gaining further affection from him.
A beauty of Eriri's caliber appearing in Orario was bound to draw significant attention. Yet, it was clear to everyone present that she was a complete stranger—an absolutely new face among them. This led to the collective conclusion that Eriri must have just arrived in the labyrinth city of Orario.
What remained uncertain was whether she had already joined the Loki Familia. If not, every Familia harbored the same desire—to recruit Eriri into their ranks.
High atop Babel Tower, Freya, the Goddess of Beauty, used her unique means to glimpse Eriri and was immediately enraptured.
But Freya found herself unable to perceive Eriri's soul clearly, as if it were shrouded in a dense mist. This veil of mystery only deepened Freya's infatuation.
"Ah, so beautiful! I must have her!" Freya caressed her own body with both hands, her face flushed as she gazed obsessively in the direction of Eriri's presence.
Behind her, Ottar, the captain of the Freya Familia, stood stoically. His admiration and devotion to his goddess were unwavering, and Freya's sensual movements elicited no reaction from him. Clearly, such scenes were routine for Ottar.
He didn't inquire about what had happened either. Based on past experiences, he could infer that Freya had found a new target of interest. This time, however, the target seemed unusual—he had never seen his goddess exhibit such an unrestrained infatuation.
Even so, Ottar felt no jealousy toward the individual Freya had set her sights on. He had never entertained the idea of monopolizing Freya's affection.
In his heart, Freya was like the wind—impartial and unattainable. Merely receiving her favor was enough to fulfill him.
To Ottar, Freya was his everything. All he needed to do was follow her orders. If Freya wanted the new target brought to her, Ottar would stop at nothing to fulfill her wish.
...
Within the chat group, the members had just finished watching the four memory clips Eriri had uploaded, thanks to the immersive viewing mode. Once the viewings concluded, the group chat quickly returned to its usual lively atmosphere.
[Azusa Aizawa (Level 3, Stage 9): Hmm, it feels pretty good. I didn't expect so many people to visit my home.]
[Yuna (Level 1, Stage 2): I think it's nice too. Looks like my future life will be pretty laid-back.]
[Adele (Level 3, Stage 7): It seems like achieving an ordinary life is still a long way off.]
[Chika Fujiwara (Level 5, Stage 9): It's all cute and cozy otherworldly lifestyles, huh. Seems like your worlds aren't all that dangerous.]
[Kaede Honjou (Level 1, Stage 2): Um… I think I'm not actually in an isekai…]
[Chika Fujiwara (Level 5, Stage 9): Fully immersive games count as a kind of isekai too. It's basically the same thing. Most of the memory clips were set entirely in the game anyway.]
[Ruri Gokou (Level 5, Stage 9): That reminds me, why is Mile so obsessed with being ordinary? Having strength is a great thing, isn't it?]
[Adele (Level 3, Stage 7): I stood out too much in my past life and had no friends. That's not the kind of life I want.]
[Eriri (Level 8, Stage 9): Now that you're in the chat group, are you going to work hard to save points and improve your strength?]
[Adele (Level 3, Stage 7): I'm kind of torn on that. While I don't mind getting stronger, my dream is to be a regular person, make normal friends, and live an ordinary life.]
At this moment, Mile was indeed conflicted. Honestly, being part of a chat group connecting countless worlds filled her with excitement and joy.
She actually liked her own strength quite a lot. Otherwise, she wouldn't have experimented with all kinds of magic after awakening the memories of her past life.
But she was deeply afraid that once her power was exposed, she would once again face the alienation she had experienced in her previous life. That fear was why she endured bullying and hid her abilities to avoid drawing attention.
Fortunately, the prospect of meeting new friends who wouldn't react differently because of her strength gave Mile a sense of relief.
[Eriri (Level 8, Stage 9): Talking about these ideals is pointless. Without strength, you might not even manage to live a peaceful life. Only with overwhelming power can you truly choose how to live.]
[Eriri (Level 8, Stage 9): And now that you're part of this chat group, the things you faced in your past life will never happen again. No matter what, none of us here will distance ourselves from you.]
[Arifureta (Level 6, Stage 2 / Group Leader): Exactly. And by the way, your current strength is at the bottom of this chat group's rankings.]
[Chika Fujiwara (Level 5, Stage 9): Oh, oh, oh! I've got a question. Do you guys think Mile looks better before or after reincarnation?]
[Adele (Level 3, Stage 7): Uh… this…]
[Fumino Furuhashi (Level 5, Stage 2): Hard to say. I think both are cute.]
[Eriri (Level 8, Stage 9): On one hand, you've got a stunning beauty with long black hair and a great figure. On the other, you've got a lively, adorable, flat-chested little loli. Hmm… I'd say both are great.]
[Adele (Level 3, Stage 7): Ah!!! Don't call me flat-chested! I'm only twelve years old! I'll keep growing! Frustrated.jpg]
[Azusa Aizawa (Level 3, Stage 9): Mile, your reaction is exactly the same as in the memory clip, hehe.]
[Adele (Level 3, Stage 7): …]
[Arifureta (Level 6, Stage 2 / Group Leader): Azusa, Maple, and Yuna, which timeline are you currently in? Just curious.]
[Arifureta (Level 6, Stage 2 / Group Leader): Oh, and by the way, should we call you Kaede or "Maple" from now on? @Kaede Honjou (Level 1, Stage 2)]
[Kaede Honjou (Level 1, Stage 2): Just call me "Maple." I've gotten used to it over the past few days.]
[Arifureta (Level 6, Stage 2 / Group Leader): Got it.]
[Adele (Level 3, Stage 7): Why didn't you ask me? Are you leaving me out? So hurt.]
[Arifureta (Level 6, Stage 2 / Group Leader): Didn't Eriri already ask you earlier, and you answered?]
[Adele (Level 3, Stage 7): Oh, that's true… ehe.]
[Azusa Aizawa (Level 3, Stage 9): My two adorable daughters, Falfa and Shalsha, are already living with me, but Halkara hasn't appeared yet.]
[Kaede Honjou (Level 1, Stage 2): I just finished the first event in NewWorld Online. I got third place!]
[Yuna (Level 1, Stage 2): Seems like everyone's timeline is right at the start of the memory clip's plot. Same here—I've only been in this other world for a few days.]
[Arifureta (Level 6, Stage 2 / Group Leader): If you'd joined a few days earlier, you could've attended the first Chat Group Martial Arts Tournament in person.]
[Adele (Level 3, Stage 7): Martial Arts Tournament? That's a thing?]
[Chika Fujiwara (Level 5, Stage 9): Absolutely! The prizes were incredible. Just for participating, you'd get a reward of one million points, and the champion got a whopping one hundred million points. You guys came too late.]
[Adele (Level 3, Stage 7): ???]
[Adele (Level 3, Stage 7): Just for participating, you get a million points? Is the chat group always this generous? I thought points would be super hard to earn.]
Seeing Chika Fujiwara's message, Mile froze, her face slack with shock. The other passengers on the carriage grew even more curious as they noticed the variety of expressions flickering across her face like a performance.
Meanwhile, in a cozy inn room, Yuna was similarly stunned as she read Chika Fujiwara's message.
After reading the chat group announcements, Yuna already understood how many points were needed to level up.
A million points would be enough to upgrade her from Level 1, Stage 2, all the way to Level 4.
Her entire strength depended on the bear costume she wore. Without it, she was just a Level 1 ordinary girl who had barely arrived in this other world.
After discovering that transcendent equipment could be exchanged for points, Yuna tested the value of her Bear Gear. The result was beyond her expectations—the set could be exchanged for five million points.
Truly a gift from the gods.
Still, Yuna had no intention of selling her Bear Gear. Doing so would feel like an enormous waste.
The Bear Gear's abilities were incredibly powerful. Even as a Level 1 ordinary person, Yuna could wield at least Level 2, upper Stage strength using the Bear Gear.
Moreover, the power of the Bear Gear was determined by the user's own strength—the stronger the user, the more powerful the set's effects. If she became a Level 4 powerhouse and wore the Bear Gear again, her strength would absolutely multiply.
[Chika Fujiwara (Level 5, Stage 9): Of course not, the Martial Arts Tournament rewards were entirely provided by Eriri.]
[Azusa Aizawa (Level 3, Stage 9): Does that mean Eriri has an enormous amount of points? Shocked.jpg]
[Eriri (Level 8, Stage 9): It's alright, it's not that much. Honestly, most of you don't need points for now—only you four newcomers are in short supply.]
[Yuna (Level 1, Stage 2): Too bad. It's all in the past now.]
[Adele (Level 3, Stage 7): @Eriri (Level 8, Stage 9), Big shot, take me under your wing! Cling-to-thigh.jpg]
[Eriri (Level 8, Stage 9): Since we have new members, there's no way I'd be stingy. I'll send a lucky-draw red envelope to celebrate. Everyone, remember to grab your share!]
[Ding! Eriri (Level 8, Stage 9) sent a lucky-draw red envelope.]
In an instant, a red envelope divided into thirty shares, containing a total of ten million points, appeared in the chat. Within a few seconds, the envelope was completely claimed by group members. Even Myne participated this time, rather than letting the points return to Eriri after expiring.
As expected, the luckiest winner was Maple. She alone received over one million points—more than one-tenth of the total. Truly fitting for the all-server-dominating super luckster who scored 100 points just by signing in and now snagged the best share of the red envelope. If she used the chat group's lottery system, she'd likely reap extraordinary rewards.
Meanwhile, Mile, Azusa, and Yuna each claimed tens of thousands of points—a modest but respectable haul, avoiding the tragic outcomes of a few thousand, or even a few hundred, points.
[Rin Tohsaka (Level 4, Stage 9): Waking up to a red envelope falling into my lap is such a blessing.]
[Sakura (Level 6, Stage 1): Sister, you got 380,000 points. That's incredible luck.]
[Rin Tohsaka (Level 4, Stage 9): Hehe, not bad at all. It's just slightly above average.]
[Sakura (Level 6, Stage 1): It's already great! I only got 180,000 points.]
With the appearance of the Tohsaka sisters in the chat, the group grew lively again, and much of the conversation revolved around Eriri's red envelope and the newly joined members.
Meanwhile, the subjects of discussion—Azusa and the others—were busy thanking Eriri enthusiastically in the chat.
[Yuna (Level 1, Stage 2): Thank you! With these points, I can finally enhance my base strength. Even if I take off the Bear Gear I won't be completely powerless anymore.]
[Azusa Aizawa (Level 3, Stage 9): I casually spent some points and realized that after hitting my previous max level, my strength is improving again! Truly amazing. As expected from the chat group connecting the multiverse. Eriri, thank you again for the red envelope! Without these 400,000+ points, I don't know how long it would've taken me to save up.]
[Adele (Level 3, Stage 7): Hehe, suddenly getting 300,000 points feels a bit overwhelming. Is this what being nouveau riche feels like?]
[Elaina (Level 6, Stage 1): If you're overwhelmed, you can transfer the points to me. I promise I won't mind.]
[Adele (Level 3, Stage 7): No way!]
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