Gacha Addict in a Matriarchal World

Chapter 88: Party Breaker (Not)

Seeing Ellie made me feel good, but only for a moment.

Thud!

Suddenly, a little girl with purple hair jumped onto the counter and looked down at me.

“Hey. Are you the kid porter that Lydia mentioned?”

As soon as I heard those words, I carefully examined her appearance.

A witch-like pointed hat. Wavy purple hair flowing from it. Slightly upturned cat-like facial features.

She was wearing a tight-fitting black dress that revealed her figure, but…her small stature and flat chest made it not very provocative.

Pure wholesomeness.

In other words, a real little girl who was as young or younger than me.

“…You’re a kid too, so why are you talking down to me?”

Confucian switch ON!

The little purple-haired girl flinched at my words and started stomping her feet.

Thump thump.

“What? Who are you calling a little kid now?”

Unlike her previous full-body jump, this time she only moved her feet, making a very light sound.

Though it wasn’t a very threatening sight, the problem was that she was stomping her feet on none other than the counter.

And the counter at the Fairy and Silver Coin was the same as those in bar-style pubs. It wasn’t just a place for transactions, but also for eating and drinking.

In other words, it was a dining table.

“You rude girl. Didn’t your parents teach you not to put your feet where the food goes?”

“No. I don’t have parents.”

“What a coincidence. I don’t have any either.”

“……”

“……”

Amid the slightly awkward atmosphere, we briefly glared at each other.

The purple-haired kid hopped off the counter and introduced herself.

“I’m not a kid, I’m Vanitas Benibeni. Lydia’s original companion.”

“What…!”

How can someone’s name be Vanitas Benibeni.

Internally startled, I once again scrutinized the one who introduced herself as Benibeni.

Now that they were off the counter, it was clear that their height was similar to mine or slightly shorter.

Wondering if it was just their height, I took another look at their face, but as expected, they had a youthful appearance similar to mine.

…A bit cute, actually.

However, there was something more concerning.

Benibeni’s eyes.

Her amethyst-like purple eyes uniquely had heart-shaped pupils.

Between her lips, sharp teeth like those of a shark could be seen peeking out.

In the end, I couldn’t help but ask.

“What species are you? Are you a succubus by any chance?”

“Then are you an incubus? Why are you covered in so many enchanting powers?”

Benibeni frowned and took a step back. It seemed she had noticed the fragrant scent and the power of my moist skin.

“…You noticed this.”

“Of course. Any high-level mage can… Wait. You didn’t believe me until now?!”

“…….”

Instead of answering, I looked at Ellie beside me.

Ellie, who had been cleaning a cup instead of continuing her previous motions, glanced over and answered indifferently.

“Benny’s correct. Long time no see. Did you finish what you were doing?”

“Of course! Who am I? I’m the Creepy Witch Miss Benibeni! The old men at the Magic Tower’s research was a piece of cake!”

“So, how about your research you said you would do in return?”

“…I failed again.”

Benibeni grumbled as she sat down at the counter. Watching her, I asked cautiously.

“Are you really Miss Lydia’s companion, Benny?”

“Why. Are you suddenly scared now? It’s okay. I’m generous. I can forgive you for calling me a kid by mistake…”

“A kid like this?”

“…Hey!”

In the end, Benny, now furious, glared at me. Then, the long shadow behind her suddenly rose up and transformed into a black clay-like mass.

It felt as if the shadow, which should have been stuck to the floor, suddenly gained the concept of height.

That alone was surprising, but something began to sprout from the shadowy mass in an instant.

Bloodshot eyes, shark teeth, hands that seemed to be melting, wings with feathers sparsely missing, spines, long protruding horns, a tongue covered in sticky mucus, a half-rotted beak….

A nightmarish scene that combines all sorts of disgusting things. Just looking at it brings up a nauseating feeling of discomfort.

Indeed. Is this why her nickname is Creepy Witch?

Benny, who didn’t seem to have any intention of attacking, just summoned the shadow monster from afar. Ellie, who seemed to know this well, just narrowed her eyes but didn’t stop it.

And I…

“Oh my! It really is Miss Benny! Goodness. You look so young that I didn’t recognize you! I’ve heard a lot about you from Miss Lydia!”

I entered flattery mode, rubbing my hands together like a sycophant.

Yes. If she’s a high-ranking mage and Lydia’s colleague, this is the right approach.

It’s clear that some magic was used to make that youthful appearance. If she can create such a monstrous creature, surely she can manage some rejuvenation.

Of course, Benny seems quite startled by my demeanor.

“What kind of sudden change in demeanor….”

She made a strange face for a moment. Then she turned her head smoothly and continued speaking.

“Well, calling me ‘Miss’ feels too awkward. Just call me Benny.”

“Didn’t you just say to call you ‘Miss Benibeni’ earlier?”

“It’s different when I say it myself and when someone else says it! Just drop the ‘Miss’! Everyone calls me that anyway!”

“Okay. I’ll do that, Benny.”

Only then did Benny nod with a slightly more relaxed face. In the meantime, she subtly approached the shadow monster.

“Wow. It looks really creepy. Is this magic by any chance?”

“…Well, something like that.”

Benny, who said that, moved her fingers slightly. Following her gesture, long tentacles extended from the materialized shadow.

The sticky, mucus-covered tentacles swept across the counter where Benny had climbed up a moment ago.

Dirt and dust clung together with the mucus, and as the tentacles detached, they turned back into shadows and returned to Benny’s feet.

The dirt and dust that were there had disappeared somewhere.

“Wow.”

Come to think of it, I heard from Lydia before that Benny uses a peculiar magic to swallow entire monster corpses and only spits out the drops and cores.

This must be it.

I nodded with a pleased smile.

“So Benny had it all planned out? Although climbing onto the counter with dirty feet is a bit much, I’ll forgive you since you cleaned it up nicely.”

“…Who is forgiving whom?”

Benny gave a hollow laugh and shook her head. Then, as if puzzled, she asked me again.

“You. Your name is…?”

“It’s Jonah.”

“Yes, Jonah. Aren’t you scared of this? Something like you could be swallowed in one bite.”

Benny pointed to the monstrosity emerging from her shadow. I tilted my head towards her.

“Why should I be scared?”

“Huh?”

“I mean, isn’t it true? If you’re a colleague of Miss Lydia, then you must be a good person.”

“Uh, well. That’s…right?”

“And even though Ellie glared a bit, she didn’t move beyond that, so it seems you had no intention of harming me.”

No matter how sharp the sword, how fast the arrow, or how mighty the magic that topples castles.

In the end, if it’s not aimed at me, there’s no reason to fear it.

Benny, who had heard my words, opened her mouth with a perplexed expression.

“…You thought that far? In this short time?”

“No? Actually, I added this part later. I just acted out thinking Ellie would save me if something happened.”

“…Rattlesnake.”

“That’s rude. Could you call me a husband candidate?”

“Hus, band?”

Benny looked at Ellie with wide eyes, as if hearing an unbelievable story.

Ellie started to ramble under the gaze that looked at a criminal beyond a thief.

“N-no? It’s just that Jonah said it one-sidedly, it’s nothing like what you’re thinking, Benny.”

“That’s too much, Ellie! Yesterday…no, the day before yesterday, you stayed up all night doing that with me!”

“…!”

Benny’s eyes cooled down, and a contemptuous sigh flowed out between her sharp shark teeth.

“Woo. Trash.”

“Ugh!”

Ellie couldn’t rebut Benny’s quiet insult and ground her teeth.

Why is it? A woman like Ellie, who seems cool and chic, looks so beautiful when her face contorts with shame and guilt.

However, if I torment her more here, Ellie will be too pitiful, so I decided to help a little.

“Please don’t be too hard on Ellie. She’s just inexperienced and has no immunity to men.”

“…Jonah, you’re the worst.”

I shrugged, listening to Ellie’s grumbling as if she were sulking.

“Last time, I groped Miss Lydia’s chest, so I was considering making Ellie next. But I guess I’ll forget about it. Ellie, just watch! Like the red books scattered in your room! …Like the red books!”

Ellie pricked up her ears, momentarily tempted. But then, as if remembering something, she shook her head vigorously in refusal.

“No. I didn’t say it last time, but Jonah, you need to take better care of your body…”

Just as Ellie was about to back off with her usual Ellie-like words, Benny interrupted her, stammering.

“T-t-t-the…”

“Benny? Calm down and try taking a deep breath first.”

“Hoo… Hoo…”

Following the instructions, Benny took deep breaths obediently and then spoke clearly with a trembling voice.

“You infiltrated to destroy my party! You wicked lecher!”

“…?”

I said I wasn’t an incubus.

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