Gacha System: Reborn In The Hardest World

"Now what? I've got time to kill," he wondered while walking, looking around. 

For the time being, at least, he found himself intrigued by a small shop that seemed fairly quiet in the crowded city. He walked into the open door, finding a familiar scent like that of coffee grounds as he entered the establishment. 

"Welcome in, sir!" 

A freckled waitress greeted him with a bow, dressed in an olive uniform. She was rather cute, in the way of a quiet, country girl sort of way by her soft smile and blue eyes. 

Rather unique he found was her dark-gray hair that remained short in a bob. 

"I'm Delilah, I'll take care of your order today! What can I get you?" The waitress asked with a smile, tilting her head. 

He sat himself at the wooden table by the window, enjoying the fact he was one of only a few patrons there. 

"It's my first time here—well, new to the city entirely. What do you recommend?" He asked, patting the spot next to him as the capybara joined him. 

"Mm…Well, my favorite is the wyrm omelette with a cup of hazel manacron!" The freckled girl excitedly recommended. 

"I'll have that, then," he ordered with a smile. 

"Coming right up!" Delilah cheerfully said with a bounce. 

Finding a cafe in the foreign world was a comforting discovery, confirming much of Gaia to resemble his own world. 

It didn't take more than a few minutes before the cheerful waitress returned with his meal, leaving him the chance to relax and take in the new city. 

"Here's a little treat for your friend here," Delilah offered with a smile, holding a biscuit towards the capybara. 

Pucha didn't hesitate to hop up, snatching the snack out of the girl's fingers and gobbling it up. 

"Woah, look at him go! Glad he likes it," Delilah watched in delight, giggling to herself. 

Gael smiled, patting the capybara on the head as its fur had some crumbs stuck to it, "Yeah, I swear he's a bottomless pit." 

"He's a cutie, though!" Delilah laughed, scratching the chin of the snack-loving rodent. 

As she went back to her duties, he gave the meal a try, cutting up the omelette with his fork. It was practically steaming, though he didn't hesitate to start chowing down. 

'Damn, the food here is good,' he thought. 

Washing down the savory egg dish with the coffee-like beverage, he let out a satisfied sigh. 

The waitress stepped up once the door to the cafe abruptly opened, bringing her to turn around as she greeted the patron. 

"Welcome in—!" Delilah cheerfully said, though stopped partially as she stepped away. "…Sir!" 

Gael looked up, watching as a man with a massive frame stepped in, dressed in black, studded leather. The dark-skinned man had a blocky chin with an expression like that of a bull. 

As the stranger stepped inside the establishment, he had to lean slightly forward as the top of his head didn't quite fit in the room. It didn't make sense, seeing as the ceiling was at least eight feet high. 

'Who's he? He's huge,' Gael thought. 

To his surprise, the towering patron sat himself in the seat right across from him, welcoming himself to his table. 

"Can I help you?" Gael asked with a raised eyebrow. 

The massive man's eyes were hidden behind tinted glasses, though it was clear he wasn't looking at him fondly, "You roughed up a few of my guys. Gave them a real beat down." 

"—" Gael remained quiet. 

"Now, don't get the wrong idea here," the imposing stranger said as his lip furled, waving his hand. "I'm not here to get payback. Frankly, those punks had it coming." 

"Really? You're their boss or something, right?" Gael asked. 

"Yeah. Thing is, idiots like that aren't any good for business. You and I though? We might be able to work something out," the large man offered as his expression loosened, leaning forward with both elbows on the table. "The name is Darius, by the way." 

It was a bit out of nowhere, though he found himself having to slide his plate of eggs away from the man. Glancing over, the staff at the cafe seemed like deer in headlights with the presence of the criminal boss. 

"Listen, dude. I'm just trying to eat my meal here. I don't really care about whatever deal you've got, but leave me out of it. I'm not a criminal," Gael rejected, attempting to just enjoy his meal. 

It was a bit annoying, seeing as the natural aroma of coffee in the cafe was overwhelmed by the musk of the large figure. Across the table, he could see the man's expression stiffen again. 

"I'm not asking you to break any laws here, don't get the wrong idea," Darius corrected the notion. 

"Then what do you want? If it's a fight, I might not be opposed," Gael said, standing his ground as he was annoyed at having his cafe time interrupted. 

Darius released guttural laughter, leaning back in the chair, "Oh, man! You're just the kinda guy I like! You're new to this city, aren't you? Well, you'll fit right in with an attitude like that. Anyways, I do suppose a "fight" is what I'll give you."

Those words brought him to stand up from his chain, ready to lunge across the table and send his knuckles against the crime boss' chin, though he was stopped by the lax expression of the man. 

"Settle down. Don't do anything stupid now–you wouldn't last a minute doing that, trust me," Darius warned him with a serious tone before speaking lightly again. "I'm talking about a sanctioned fight."

"Sanctioned?" Gael questioned. 

"In The Bejeweled Colosseum," Darius explained, lowering his glasses as his silver irises stared right at the young man. "I'm a sponsor there. I'll enter you for a fight, and I'll even split the rewards fifty-fifty, if you win." 

It wasn't entirely the prospect of money that interested him, but the idea of further leveling his system through fighting. The more summons he obtained, the better–that's what he believed. 

'I'd like to have much more in my arsenal before I face a Venator again. I need to take every opportunity I can to level up…That's my best route,' he thought. 

"You don't look disinterested. So, what's the answer, kid?" Darius asked. 

"When can I start?" Gael asked.