11. Save Tickets and Draw Eleven Times

Expectations are fine. What does this actually do.

I held the lottery ticket and tried to remember.

「……」

It crumpled.

I looked around fast. Nothing happened.

「What do I do with this. Wrong idea. Just paper.」

Embarrassing.

Worse the longer I stood there. Hole to crawl into.

Lucky nobody saw.

I left. Back the way I came. Around the corner. Nap.

Then.

「……Where am I.」

The hall was gone.

A room. Long table. Someone across it.

Lottery drum on the table.

「Welcome.」

「That it?!」

Same room. The one before the transfer.

Same staff.

「It has been a while.」

「Here.」

I held out the ticket.

「I can draw with this.」

「Yes. One ticket, one draw. Are you sure you want to do that.」

「What is wrong with that.」

「Nothing is wrong with it.」

「Hmm.」

Did not look like a lie. I let it go.

I looked at the list behind him.

• Participation: Magic Ball (black)
• Fifth: Magic Ball (white)
• Fourth: 50% shopping coupon
• Third: Interdimensional warehouse
• Second: Warp feather
• First: ???

Different from the first draw. No spa. No phone. Otherworld list.

He saw me looking.

「Do you need the prizes explained.」

「Half of it I get. The magic balls. Black and white.」

「Black is attack. White is recovery. Throw at the target.」

「Huh.」

「Anyone can use them.」

「Seriously.」

That I wanted. Even the participation black, given to Miu, is a defense.

「The 50% coupon.」

「As written. Half price on anything. Unlimited uses.」

「That is strong.」

「Only the person who drew it.」

「All right. The warehouse.」

「Storage in another space. You only. Access from anywhere.」

「Warp feather.」

「Instant travel. Unlimited. Only to places you have been.」

All of it strong.

Something stronger sat on top.

First prize. ???. I remembered.

「And first prize…」

「You will have to draw to see.」

「Not that. Is there a grand prize here too.」

「How do you know that. You came after the one who took first.」

「Yeah.」

Mall lottery. Someone took first. Then I took the grand prize.

First had been ??? on the board then too.

First was one draw. Grand prize was draw until you liked it.

So.

「First, then grand prize. Grand prize is better than first.」

「Yes! That is already a great deal. Please draw.」

「Yes.」

I was up for it. Curious what this side would pay.

I reached for the ticket.

「Are you sure.」

Same question.

「You said that. What does it mean.」

「Bring ten tickets at once and you draw eleven times. One extra.」

「I do not remember lotteries doing that.」

Gacha, I had heard of.

「We do.」

「I see.」

Fair. Same kind of machine. Bonus draw is not strange.

That is why he asked. Either choice is fine.

I can draw now, or hold and get one more.

「All right. I will draw when I have the set.」

「Understood.」

「How do I collect them. Shopping somewhere.」

「No.」

A small laugh.

「Then what.」

「Live in this world as you like. You will feel it when one is close.」

「Feel it.」

「Gut.」

「I see.」

Vague. I still bought it.

Same feeling as when I saw the ticket on the floor.

「I will see you later.」

「I will be waiting.」

Back in the mansion.

Hall. Mid-corridor.

The corner I had used.

Transfer point, maybe.

I would learn it when I wanted back. From the look of it I could go any time.

I walked the way I had chased the ghost.

「Ah. Master.」

Miu came up. Flutter. I wanted to fluff.

Ghost right after I got home. No welcome-home fluff yet.

「Master has a guest.」

「A guest. For me.」

「Yes. I have her at the entrance. What should I do.」

「Front is fine.」

I went.

Not many people who would visit. Who.

The girl from the diner. The face of the place.

I know the shop. Not her.

I was a little surprised.

She was too.

「What are you doing here.」

「I heard there was a skilled man from the Andreu Trading Company… Is that you. The customer.」

「Andreu… skilled. Yeah. That is me.」

The shop that buys mountain ox. Me.

「…Please help me.」

Eyes on me. Holding. Expecting.

I flinched.

Ah.

That.

I crumpled the ticket in my pocket without meaning to, then smoothed it out again.