Part 1: Morning in the Sanctuary
Ren woke up to the sound of trickling water. For a split second, he reached out for his smartphone to turn off the alarm, but his hand hit the rough texture of the Toadskin armor he had fallen asleep in.
"Right," Ren groaned, sitting up on the memory foam mattress. "Still a Goblin. Still in a dungeon."
He rubbed his eyes. The blue glow of the mana crystals in the ceiling provided a soothing, eternal twilight. He felt... good. Surprisingly good.
[System Notification]
[Rest Complete.]
[HP: 42/42]
[MP: 52/52]
[Status Effect: 'Well Rested' - XP Gain +10% for 2 hours.]
"A bed buff," Ren grinned. "Civilization is truly the greatest magic."
He stood up and stretched. His Goblin body was nimble and full of energy. He walked to the edge of the underground pool and washed his face. He caught his reflection. The "Tinkerer" evolution had given him sharper features, less monstrous and more elven-like, though still distinctly green and fanged.
Then, a flashing icon in the corner of his vision demanded his attention. It was a spinning golden box.
[Daily Gacha Available!]
[Streak: Day 1]
[Spin Now? Y/N]
Part 2: The Gacha Addiction
"The Gacha," Ren whispered reverently.
In his past life, Ren had a problem. He would spend half his paycheck on PNGs of anime girls and rare weapons in mobile games. The dopamine rush of the "Pull" was something he knew well.
"God-san said this skill is based on my collection," Ren mused. "But the Gacha... does it pull from my inventory? Or from the void?"
[Tip: The Daily Gacha pulls from the 'Unacquired Wishlist' of your past life. Items you wanted but never obtained.]
Ren's heart skipped a beat. His wishlist? That list included everything from limited edition consoles to military-grade hardware he saw on the news, to... well, unspeakable 18+ figures.
"This is dangerous," Ren muttered. "But I'm a gambling man."
He mentally pressed [Spin].
A giant holographic roulette wheel appeared in the grotto. It spun with a satisfying whirrrr.
Common (White) ... Uncommon (Green) ... Rare (Blue) ... Epic (Purple) ...
The needle clicked past a White (probably a pair of socks), past a Green (maybe a potion), and slowed down.
It crept over a Purple sector.
"Stop! Stop!" Ren yelled.
It ticked one more time.
It landed on Blue (Rare).
[Congratulation!]
[Item Acquired: Soul Core (Type: Artificial Intelligence / Basic)]
Part 3: The Ghost in the Shell
A small, glowing blue sphere, about the size of a marble, materialized in Ren's hand. It pulsed with a soft, rhythmic light.
[Item: Soul Core (AI - Basic)]
[Description: A magi-tech core containing a rudimentary learning personality. Can be installed into inanimate constructs to grant them autonomy and life.]
[Usage: Insert into a compatible vessel.]
Ren stared at the orb. "I can bring something to life."
He looked at his inventory. He had weapons. He had a chainsaw. He had a drone. Giving the chainsaw a personality sounded like a horror movie waiting to happen.
"I need a partner," Ren decided. "Someone to watch my back. The drone is good for scouting, but it can't fight on its own."
He scrolled through his [Figure Collection].
He stopped at his most prized possession. The one he had bought on pre-order three years in advance.
[Item: 1/7 Scale Figure - Holy Knight Alaria (Limited Battle Damage Ver.)]
Origin: "Chronicles of the Silver Rose" Anime.
Material: PVC/ABS Plastic.
Height: 24cm (approx 9.5 inches).
"Alaria..." Ren whispered. In the anime, she was the stoic, loyal captain of the Royal Guard who died protecting the protagonist. She was the ultimate "Kuudere" (cool/emotionless but caring).
"If I put this core in her... will she become real?"
It was the dream of every Otaku. To bring their "Waifu" to life.
"I have to try. For science. And for survival."
He summoned the figure. She stood on a plastic base, holding a silver sword, her white armor chipped and cracked (part of the aesthetic design). She was frozen in a dynamic combat pose.
Ren held the Soul Core to the figure's chest.
"Tinker: Install."
Part 4: The 9-Inch Paladin
The Soul Core sank into the plastic chest of the figure.
For a moment, nothing happened.
Then, the plastic skin began to soften. The painted eyes blinked. The rigid PVC cape fluttered in a wind that didn't exist.
A blinding white light filled the grotto.
[System: Construct Animated.]
[Race: Living Doll (Construct)]
[Name: Alaria]
[Level: 1]
The light faded.
Standing on the sand—no longer on the plastic base—was the Holy Knight Alaria. She was still 9.5 inches tall. She looked up at Ren, who towered over her like a green mountain.
She blinked her violet eyes, then looked at her hands. She gripped her tiny silver sword.
She looked up at Ren again.
"Are you my Master?" Her voice was tiny, like a bell, but crisp and serious.
Ren nodded, stunned. "Uh... yes. I am Ren."
Alaria immediately dropped to one knee, driving her sword into the sand.
"Knight Captain Alaria, reporting for duty. I await your command, my Lord."
Ren covered his mouth to suppress a squeal of delight. "She's so cool! And she's adorable!"
He cleared his throat. "Rise, Alaria. Can you... fight?"
Alaria stood up. She looked at a nearby rock the size of a fist. She dashed forward—a white blur of speed.
Shing.
She sheathed her sword.
The rock split cleanly in half.
[Appraisal]
[Name: Alaria]
[Race: Living Doll]
[Level: 1]
[Strength: 5 (High for size)]
[Agility: 15]
[Skill: Swordsmanship (Expert - Downscaled)]
"She has higher agility than my base stats!" Ren realized. "She's a glass cannon."
Part 5: The Party of Two
"My Lord," Alaria said, looking at Ren's patchwork armor. "Your equipment is... unconventional."
"It's custom," Ren said defensively. "Listen, Alaria. We are in a dungeon. We are surrounded by monsters. I need you to be my vanguard. You are small, so they might ignore you. Use that."
"I understand," Alaria nodded seriously. "I shall strike at their ankles with the fury of the Silver Rose."
Ren picked her up. She didn't resist, standing on his open palm.
"You can ride on my shoulder," Ren said. "We're going back to the cave. I have unfinished business."
He needed to check the battlefield. He wanted to recover the chainsaw he had stored, but more importantly, he needed to know if the Chief had come.
And he needed to test his new Ember-Edge Knife and his tiny, lethal companion.
Ren walked into the water. Alaria looked at the surface with concern.
"My Lord, I am made of high-density material, but I do not believe I can swim well in armor."
"Right," Ren realized. "Inventory."
"Store."
He stored Alaria back into the Inventory (which effectively acted as a Pokéball for her now).
"Time to go," Ren said.
He dove back into the underwater tunnel, swimming toward the danger, no longer alone.
End of Chapter 10
Summary of Assets:
Party Member: Alaria (Living Doll, Level 1, Agility Striker).
New Item: Soul Core (Used).
Current Status: Heading back to the Mushroom Cave.
Goal: Reconnaissance / Looting.