After that incident, Rain continued his day-to-day life while focusing on training to raise his stats. His results grew far greater after consuming the physical pill, and thanks to that, he finally succeeded in completing his first task.
As for the matter with Sarah Sacred, surprisingly, she didn't make any moves. But even if she had, Rain had nothing to worry about—he was already prepared with a counterattack.
Rain was sitting on his bed, staring at his stats.
"Hnn…"
[Name: Rain Brightwell]
[Race: Human]
[Age: 18]
[Strength: 16]
[Agility: 15]
[Stamina: 16]
[Endurance: 15]
[Mana: 6]
[Charm: 8]
[Intelligence: 11]
[Luck: 6]
[True Core: None]
[Remaining Points – 100]
Rain nodded, satisfaction clear in his voice. "This looks good enough… and I don't have to worry about the academy."
A grin spread across his face. There was no problem left to solve.
'This should be all for the task at hand.'
His gaze fell on the screen again as he murmured, thinking, "Now what to do with these 100 points…"
He clicked his tongue lightly.
'What is there to even think about… saving them? Nah… let's just spend them on pulls.'
A reckless smile appeared on his face—the kind worn by someone used to taking risks to win big.
"Let's roll," he said, excitement creeping into his voice.
[Hubby, you will surely get something good this time!] the message appeared with a confident smile.
Rain quietly stared at the screen, expression flat.
'Why do you always have to curse my luck…'
He let out a breath. "Whatever… let's be it."
'No point thinking about it.'
After all, a true gacha player—one in whom it runs deep to the core—can't control the temptation to spend when they have resources. Even if they know it's going to be a total failure in terms of return… of course, there are a few—very few—exceptions when they can resist this temptation for greater gains.
Rain said, "Open sl—" but was interrupted before he could finish, cut off by a new message on the screen.
[Hubby, the new feature: Blueberry Store, has been unlocked!]
Rain silently read the message.
But the moment his eyes caught two magical words—
His eyes started sparkling, almost like shooting stars, his face lighting up with pure excitement.
The words were—
"New" and "Blueberry."
For a player like Rain, someone who loved experiencing what he hadn't before, just that single word—new—was enough to bring endless excitement into his otherwise dull life.
"New features."
"New characters."
"New updates."
"New maps."
"New items."
The word new itself meant excitement.
No one could disagree.
And as for the second magical word—blueberry—
It was simple. He just loved blueberries. That was it—no reason, no story behind it, just a quiet, stubborn preference that somehow stayed with him no matter how much everything else changed.
"Open it! Open it!" Rain said in haste, not even trying to hide his childish excitement.
[That's the reaction I was hoping to see, hubby!] the message appeared with a thumbs-up expression.
The screen shifted instantly—
Filling with a completely new interface.
An online shop-like layout, filled with images of items, their names, and prices neatly displayed.
Rain's eyes darted all over the screen.
The shop was filled with—
[ Beginner Level Mystery Weapon Box: 2000 Points ]
[ Mask of True Dominance: 5000 Points ]
[ Fragment of Random True Core: 20000 Points ]
…and many more.
But after checking everything carefully, Rain's thoughts didn't linger on how great those items were. Instead, his face twisted slightly, a faint creepiness settling in as he muttered,
"Such shit prices…"
He didn't even have enough to afford the cheapest item in the shop.
He kept scrolling. And scrolling. Searching for something—anything—within his budget… a budget that looked like a beggar's pocket compared to the absurd prices listed.
Then—
His movement stopped.
His chin rested on his hand, eyes narrowing, a serious glint flashing across them.
"…Hmm. How could it be this cheap?"
Suspicion laced his voice.
Among all the items, buried near the bottom, sat something unbelievably low-priced compared to the rest. And for once—by some miracle—it wasn't a useless protein bar.
Instead—
[ Ominous Portion of Trait of Seven Domination: 1000 Points — Limited Time (24 Hours Left) ]
The price was perfect. Too perfect. Just one missing zero from what he currently had. And yet… too cheap. Way too cheap for something like this, like the store was practically begging him to take it, as if it already knew he wouldn't be able to resist.
"But really… I never expected to find a trait here of all places… and it's even on limited time…"
A grin slowly stretched across his face—like he had just hit multiple winning rows in a Las Vegas casino.
Yet even then… he couldn't believe it. How could he? A trait… being sold this cheap? Something felt off.
"Trait" are innate abilities people are born with. They are extremely rare—truly, absurdly rare. These abilities contain powers that normally cannot be obtained or even used by ordinary means. Even in games, only a handful of characters possess a trait.
There are three known ways to obtain a trait.
First, those who are born with it—which is already an extremely rare occurrence.
Second is "Devouration"—the process of obtaining a trait by consuming the Soul Core of someone who already possesses one. This method is even rarer, since after death, the chance of a trait-holder leaving behind a Soul Core that still contains their trait is nearly impossible… though not entirely zero.
And third is "Succession"—the most stable and guaranteed method, commonly used by families that already possess traits.
Rain thought, 'But which trait is it? I've never seen this one before…'
His expression twisted slightly in irritation as he murmured, "Who cares which trait it is… it's a trait. I want it."
'Limited time…? No way to save and buy it later…'
'Think. Think. Think!' he forced his genius mind—mostly trained on gacha games and probability abuse—to find a solution.
But it was useless. Every path led to the same dead end. The opportunity was right there, yet slipping away like a slippery eel through his fingers.
Even though he used all his brainpower thinking of another way, frustration clearly showed on his face. Until his gaze finally landed on the solution itself—
[What's the problem, hubby!] With a confused, worried expression.
Rain's mind suddenly cooled off, and an idea—no, a brilliant idea—popped into his head after realizing the solution he was searching for had been in front of him all along.
He stared at the Empress of Domination screen for quite a while before a faint grin appeared on his face.
'Just perfect!'
'Time to put my award-winning performance on the stage.'
A tear slipped from Rain's eye as he suddenly began sobbing out of nowhere, covering his face and rubbing his eyes softly like he was breaking apart.
The screen floated in front of him, circling slowly around his body.
[Hubby! Hubby! What happened! Why are you crying!] Her worried expression only grew more intense.
Rain continued sobbing, "I-It's nothing…"
[Hubby, you can tell me!]
Rain looked at the screen with a face that could be pitied by the heavens itself—adorable, trembling, stuttering—
"It's j-just that… I wanted to buy the trait in the shop… but I don't have enough points…"
[Really! Such a trivial matter! How could my hubby—the future husband of me, the one and only supreme, the most powerful Empress of Domination—be short on anything!] Her smile proudly arrogant.
A grin appeared on Rain's face behind his covering hand.
'She took the bait. Keke.'
Everything had gone exactly as planned.
He kept his sobbing act going, proud of his performance.
'She's really doting on me… I love it. My sweet wife. I'm such an actor.'
Rain was proud of his performance; after all, everything is fair in love and war, and reaping fortune, rewards, and opportunities is also just part of it—so there was nothing wrong with using any tactics to achieve this.
[...]
[But I can't provide points…] Her eyes darted away, unable to meet his gaze.
Rain's sobbing stopped instantly, his eyes blinking once—then again—as silence settled over him.
Then chaos erupted in his mind.
'Then what was that supreme ruler act for!? What was the point of my entire performance!? What about my limited-time chance!?'
[But… I can make the item 90% off if you… do one thing in return, hubby.] Her face softened, flustered, eyes still avoiding him.
'You couldn't say that earlier!? What kind of catch is this!?'
Then he noticed her expression.
…Why is she like that?
A bad feeling crept in.
"…What is it?" Rain asked carefully.
Not knowing what she might throw at him, but he was ready for it all.
After all, for a trait, everything was just a grain of rice compared to what was in exchange for it. Of course, there were always expectations.
[T-then hubby, just say these words to me!] with a shy and embarrassed face.
A chill ran through Rain's spine.
'Why am I getting the chills again… but whatever. Just saying some words can get me a trait, so it's worth it.' He simply ignored that bad feeling.
But as soon as the words he needed to say appeared on the screen—which he could read clearer than his white shining teeth, another of his many charms—only one thing could describe what he felt and what he had to say:
[My dear beloved wife, I love you from deep within my heart. I can't live without you. Without you I am only half. You and only you are for me in past, present, and future." Even if it's thousands of years or eternity, I will love you forever and ever, my beloved wife."]
The words were: "Total Cringe."
Rain asked with a hesitant smile, a fear he felt—not of dying from pain, but—
"You want me to say these?" — the fear of dying from embarrassment.
[Y-yes hubby], a very shy expression, avoiding his eyes.
'Really!? Isn't this like I'm proposing to her? What the fuck… my first time proposing, and to none other than a damn floating screen!'
His thoughts were a mix of confusion over the great gain, and a slight loss of honor, frustration, and anger.
It was a loss of pride for Rain. The matter wasn't about saying cringe words—it was about his first time. Even the creatures called "men" have feelings they care about; they do care about their "first," without a doubt.
Rain had never proposed to a girl before. Even his ex-girlfriend was the one who proposed to him. So there was no way he can do it like it was no big deal.
He let out a deep breath and clenched his fist, gathering the courage to say those words.
'Who cares about pride or anything… I must get my hands on the trait. One of the many ways for me to get stronger. Otherwise, I will surely die. After all, who knows when I might get involved in trouble.'
A faint grin formed on his face—not happiness, not anger, not hatred, but something wary… wary of the danger he could face in the future.
'But if I'm going to do it… let's do my best.'
Seriousness returned to his eyes.
He got off the bed.
"My dear belov—"
But before he could say another word, the screen shook violently in front of him.
[STOP! STOP! ENOUGH! I CAN'T TAKE IT ANYMORE! JUST TAKE THE DISCOUNT, HUBBY!] She exploded in extreme embarrassment.
"What!?" He stared at her with a blank face. 'It was easier than I thought… at least my dignity is still intact… just my luck, I guess?'
A faint excited smile formed on his face.
"Anyway… time to reap the fruit of my labour." He couldn't wait to taste his new power.
His hand moved, pressing the "BUY" button—excitement in every motion.
[Ominous Portion of Trait of Seven Domination: 100 Points]
[Purchase Successful]
In front of his eyes, a jade bottle appeared out of nowhere. Its top was sealed with talisman-like markings, as if it were cursed.
It slowly descended… then—
THUD!
It crashed onto the floor as gravity suddenly took effect again, returning to natural laws.
Rain shouted in anger, "Hey! That's worth my dignity—be careful!"
He picked it up, holding the jade bottle tightly. With a passionate smile, he removed the seal.
"Time for level up."
Rain flinched. His eyes twitched in disbelief. The words left his mouth in a hesitant, awkward smile as he saw something that wasn't supposed to be there.
"Please tell me this is a joke!"