The Gods’ Gacha Game: Return of the God-King

Chapter 77: Meeting an Old Acquaintance

“Yup.” I nodded as I approached the counter. “I’m looking for two specific ones this time—Calm Mind and Fast Equip. Do you have them in stock?”

She tilted her head thoughtfully, then turned toward one of the nearby shelves filled with neatly organized skill books sorted by type and rank.

“Both are fairly common utility skills,” she said while scanning the titles. “We should have a few copies left… Ah, here we go.”

She pulled out two slim volumes bound in faded leather and brought them back to the counter, setting them gently in front of me. “Calm Mind, a rare-rank mental skill. It passively reduces the effects of mental interference and helps stabilize focus during emotional or high-pressure states.”

Exactly what I needed, not just to suppress the side effects of the cursed coat, but also to keep Berserk and other mind-altering skills under control when they kicked in.

To be completely honest, it wasn’t a particularly useful skill for most divine warriors. Most relied on raw power, flashy abilities, or regeneration to brute-force their way through enemies. But I was playing a different game here; I valued stability and long-term efficiency over reckless bursts of strength. Besides, having a clear mind in chaotic scenarios was an advantage that could easily tip the odds in my favor, especially with what was coming.

“And this one,” she said, pointing at the second book, “Fast Equip. It allows the user to instantly swap gear from their inventory.”

This was also another niche skill that not many people would bother with, nor would they know its true potential. For me, I could use Grant Plausibility to alter the concept of my Inventory skill to allow shortcut management and even create a personalized loadout system.

“How much for the two?” I asked.

“Two thousand soul coins total. One thousand each,” she replied.

This was another reason why most divine warriors wouldn’t even consider purchasing these two skills. Being rare-rank, each one was priced at one thousand soul coins. If given the choice between a flashy offensive skill and a utility skill with a niche function like these two, most would obviously choose the former without hesitation.

Hmm, Boris and Michelle could definitely benefit from these skills.No, wait, Boris wouldn’t need them. He never really changed his equipment mid-combat, and I was fairly certain he already had something similar to Calm Mind. Michelle, on the other hand, would benefit greatly from both.

“I’ll take two of each, please,” I said.

I figured I might as well buy an extra set for Michelle. I still had plenty of soul coins to spare, and considering she probably spent at least half of hers on class advancement, it was a worthwhile investment and my way to repay her help.

“Very well,” the storekeeper replied with a nod. She retrieved one skill book of each skill from the shelves and placed them neatly on the counter.

“Alright.” I handed over the soul coins without hesitation and immediately used two of the skill books.

Soul Coins: 8,850 → 4,850

You have acquired a skill: [Calm Mind].

You have acquired a skill: [Fast Equip].

[Calm Mind]

Rank: Rare

Type: Passive

Allows the user to maintain mental clarity under pressure by suppressing emotional fluctuations and external mental interference. Reduces the effects of confusion, fear, and other mind-affecting debuffs. Also improves focus when using skills that require concentration.

[Fast Equip]

Rank: Rare

Type: Passive

Enables the user to instantly swap between weapons, armor, or equipment sets from their inventory during combat. Reduces equipment switch time to nearly zero and supports the use of preset gear loadouts for faster tactical responses.

Now that I had these two skills, I’d become even more versatile in battle. The chances of being struck by mind-controlling debuffs would be significantly reduced, allowing me to stay composed under all sorts of conditions.

With that done, I turned toward the section of the store that offered books for free reading, searching for storybooks about legendary figures I hadn’t already read during my last visit. Unfortunately, many of the storybooks were about similar figures that I already possessed. Still, I did manage to find a few unfamiliar titles tucked in the back corner, with their covers faded with age.

You have acquired a new vessel: [Eirwen the Frozen Witch].

You have acquired a new vessel: [Thalos the Mirrorbound Trickster].

You have acquired a new vessel: [Ysra the Hollow Choir].

Not bad.

Eirwen was known for her powerful ice magic and unshakable will, said to have frozen an entire valley to seal away an ancient evil. Her legend described her as a solitary figure, encased in mystery, whose frost magic could freeze the hearts of even the most reckless berserkers. A control specialist. Just what I needed for dealing with fast or overwhelming enemies.

Thalos, on the other hand, was a different breed entirely. He appeared to be a rogue-mage infamous for turning the tide of battles using illusions, decoys, and reflections. He wasn’t the strongest in terms of raw power, but his ability to confuse, counter, and disrupt was something I could see myself using in layered engagements.

Then there was Ysra. A name whispered in old bardic tales—she who sang to the dead and silenced the living. Her abilities were strange and appeared to be related to sound, being able to conjure sound-based constructs, silence fields, and spiritual bindings. She felt more like a support, but she could also be a wildcard.

None of them were suited for direct brute force, but that wasn’t a problem at all. I already had Uldrek, Alric, and several other figures I hadn’t even tapped into yet for that role. What I needed now were tools for control, versatility, and subtle manipulation. These three would be excellent additions to my arsenal, broadening my tactical options significantly in the scenarios to come.

I gently closed the last book as it finished registering through Fabled Vessel. This should be enough for now.

With my business here done, I exited the store and stepped back onto the street. The sun was still hanging halfway to noon. That meant I had at least one or two hours left before our agreed meeting time at the main plaza.

Suddenly, a thought crossed my mind, and I decided to head toward District F—the very first district I had set foot in when I arrived in Fantasia. As I made my way there, the streets gradually grew quieter. And once I crossed into District F, the surroundings transformed into a full-blown slum. It was a stark contrast to the modest but relatively clean District E.

Well, the part of District F I headed into was the worst of the worst—a place filled with crumbling buildings, narrow alleys, and the pungent stench of decay that clung to every surface. There was something I wanted to check by going here, and while I was about to do that, I used Fast Equip to instantly wear my cursed coat.

Regardless, this place was just as miserable as I remembered. Mud-caked roads squelched underfoot, the air reeked of mold, smoke, and sweat, and every building looked like it could collapse if you so much as leaned on it. The deeper I went, the fewer divine warriors I saw. Those who remained here had either given up or been abandoned by their friends.

Desperate stares peeked from dim alleyways, following the occasional passerby with hollow eyes. I even noticed a group of beggars sitting in a huddle, quietly asking for soul coins. There were fewer of them than before, likely thinned out by the mandatory scenario. Thanks to the upgraded effects of my coat, none of the people here noticed me, and I passed through like a ghost.

Compared to before, this place hadn’t improved in the slightest. If anything, it looked even worse now that the residents were forced to challenge new scenarios every week. At the same time, though, there were fewer people lingering here. Those who had once cowered in fear had finally been pushed to forge their path toward strength—whether by desperation or necessity.

Eventually, I reached a dead-end alley near the border wall, and that was when I discovered someone I recognized. A red-haired man, likely in his thirties, was slumped against the wall. He looked like he was on his last leg—skin and bones, body covered in bruises and scrapes. One of his arms was missing entirely. I didn’t even need to use Inspect Eye to know about his current physical condition in number.

What a coincidence.

Truthfully, I had come here to find someone I could use as a test subject for what I intended to do next. But for me to stumble upon him…

This red-haired man was Rex—the same person I had saved from Raphael right after we completed the first scenario. I remembered how Elysia had guided him to a healer afterward, hoping he could recover his lost arm. It looked like they had managed to stabilize him back then… but apparently, his arm had never regrown.

That wasn’t surprising.

One important rule that one had to know was that if you entered a scenario with a pre-existing injury—even something as severe as a missing limb—completing that scenario wouldn’t heal it. The System only reversed damage sustained within the scenario itself.

In Rex’s case, he had already lost his arm before stepping into his next scenario. No matter how well he performed inside, that missing limb was now permanent—unless he could afford a rare healing item like the high-quality potion or, better yet, some healing spell from a high-rank healer.

“But this is my chance,” I murmured, pulling out a white mask shaped like a human face before slipping it on.

Mask of a Thousand Faces

Grade: Rare

Type: Magic Mask

A mystical mask crafted by an ancient illusionist. The mask is imbued with powerful enchantments that allow the wearer to alter their facial appearance at will, but it cannot change voice, body, or aura.

Durability: 40/40Can only be used to change the wearer’s face and can only copy or create up to one thousand distinct faces.I activated the mask and altered my face into that of a man in his late thirties—handsome, with sharp cheekbones, calm green eyes, and a neatly trimmed thin beard that gave off a composed, mature aura. At first glance at a nearby window’s reflection, I bore a passing resemblance to the alchemy shopkeeper from earlier, though notably younger.

This magic mask, obtained as a reward from the fourth scenario, had finally found its purpose.

I slowly approached him, keeping my footsteps light even though he couldn’t see me through the veil of my coat. Up close, his condition looked even worse. His remaining arm was wrapped in tattered cloth, and his breathing was shallow. He didn’t even flinch when I stood a few feet away.

He’s barely hanging on… but more than that, he seems to be losing the will to live, I thought, narrowing my eyes. Still, there’s hope.

I was fairly certain that Rex hadn’t just given up. Knowing his temper, he had likely challenged the scenario at least once after we parted ways—perhaps more. But as a hunter, losing an arm would’ve crippled his fighting style. And from the look of him now, it wouldn’t be surprising if he’d tangled with shady characters in desperation.

That settled it. He would make the perfect candidate for what I had in mind. Someone I’d already saved once. Someone clinging to life by a thread.

Someone… who might just be desperate enough to accept my offer.

“Hey, you. Speak.” I finally broke the silence, my voice cutting through the stagnant air. “Do you still have the will to live?”