The rest of the journey passed without anything worth mentioning—just a few minor bandit encounters here and there, each yielding only a handful of CP. Now seated atop the carriage, Axel watched the road stretch endlessly ahead. They were close to Shirotsume.
As the sun dipped toward the horizon, painting the sky in shades of orange and gold, Axel felt the gentle sway of the carriage and the quiet reassurance that came with nearing a major city. At this distance, the bandit attacks finally stopped altogether.
It was the perfect moment to check the System.
Achievement Summary
Physical Mastery (Low Risk) — 80 CPQuick Defeat (x3) — 30 CPPerfect Guard (x2) — 20 CP
Total Earned: 130 CP
His updated Conquest Point total:
670 CP + 130 CP = 800 CP
Only 200 CP remained until the Boosted Gear.
Axel opened the menu and navigated to the [GACHA] tab.
The gacha still fascinated him. After all, it was where he had obtained the Super Soldier Serum and Shadow Step. And the coincidence between his Sleeping Dragon Soul (a Hidden Magic reward) and the unusually low shop price of the Boosted Gear was far too suspicious to ignore.
The System listed the ticket options:
Common Ticket — 10 CPRank C — Extremely high risk. Very high chance of useless items.
Rare Ticket — 50 CPRank B — High chance of low-level abilities or lacrimas.
Epic Ticket — 200 CPRank A — Guarantees a rare Magic or Skill. Chance of SSR.
Legendary Ticket — 500 CPRank S — Guarantees a high-level Magic or Artifact. Chance of EX.
Mystic Ticket — 1,000 CPRank SSS — Guarantees an Origin Power or Dimensional Bloodline.
The prices beyond that were so absurd Axel didn't even bother checking.
He pressed his lips together.
He had 800 CP.
He could gamble—buy a Legendary Ticket for 500 CP and pray for the Boosted Gear… or even Dragon Slayer Magic, which cost 1,500 CP in the Shop but might appear in the gacha. That would still leave him with 300 CP.
But luck wasn't something he trusted.
— The risk is too high, Axel decided. If I spend 500 CP and pull something useless… I'm back to square one.
Reason prevailed.
Still, his gaze lingered on the Epic Ticket.
Two hundred CP.
If he bought one, he'd still have 600 CP. Then he'd only need 400 more for the Boosted Gear. And if he pulled a useful Rank A magic—Archive, Possession, Elemental Support—anything solid—it could be worth it.
He inhaled slowly… then exhaled.
— No. The plan is the Boosted Gear. Stay focused.
Axel exited the Gacha menu, though the temptation lingered. To distract himself, he opened the [SHOP] tab, searching for something small, practical, and inexpensive—something that could give him a minor edge.
Camping Sleeping Bag — 5 CPRank C — Guaranteed comfort.
Simple Communication Lacrima — 20 CPRank B — Short-range two-way communication.
Magic Manual (Basic) — 30 CPRank B — Accelerates understanding of Rank B and C spells.
Axel smiled faintly.
— The Basic Manual will help me adapt to Earthland magic faster.
He confirmed the purchase.
[30 CP DEDUCTED][ITEM ACQUIRED: MAGIC MANUAL (BASIC)][Remaining CP: 770]
The book didn't physically exist. Instead, structured knowledge flooded directly into his mind.
In an instant, Axel grasped Makarov's foundational theories on Ethernano, the distinction between Caster Magic and Holder Magic, and the fundamental principles behind how Earthland mages shaped and circulated mana.
[ACHIEVEMENT UNLOCKED: Magic Theory (Basic)][Reward: 10 CP][Remaining CP: 780]
— Perfect. Almost refunded the cost.
In the distance, the lights of Shirotsume flickered into view, signaling the journey's end.
Only 220 CP remained until the Boosted Gear.
Axel stood atop the carriage, steady and alert, ready for the final stretch of the escort mission—and eager for the payment awaiting him.
With just two more successful jobs, he would reach his goal.
And he already knew exactly where to find them.