Chapter 1

"What in the world is this!?"

Those were the first words that instinctively came when I saw "that."

After finishing work, I decided to take a road, which I had never taken before, back. Suddenly in front of a ruined building, I saw "that."

It was one of those gacha machines. It was ridden with a lot of words meaning to trick people, like:

<Limited time only!>

<Now only!>

<Guaranteed R!>

<Countless marvellous prizes!>

<Big surprises!> and so on.

'So, it's this kind of thing huh!'

Even though I said it was a "gacha," it wasn't one of those ones that you put a coin in, spin the switch, and wait for a prize to come out. I would rather compare it to a small vending machine. When I got a closer look at it, there was nothing on it except for the place where you insert bills.

One try was 10,000 YEN (TL/N: ~100 USD).

"So expensive!!!"

'Only a crazy person would be willing to pay 10,000 YEN to this suspicious thing.'

'There's no one that crazy!!!'

While thinking about those kinds of things, I slowly started walking... however!

'Ugh I'm rather curious... rather...'

'I'm extremely curious!!'

'Does it use the fact that it's so shady to attract people?'

'Or does it try to lure people who cannot resist the "limited time" offer and such?'

At the moment, I've got 12,000 YEN on me, which means I can technically give it a shot. Even though I know that it's the same as throwing away money. After all, I'm currently 28 years old and a part-timer. I work at an Izakaya (TL/N: A Japanese pub), and can scrape together 160,000 YEN at most.

To a guy like me, 10,000 YEN is a huge sum, however...

I took a deep breath, put the 10,000 YEN bill in the gacha, and pressed the button. After a series of rumbling sounds, a capsule dropped down.

After seeing it, I could at least relax a bit. After all, there was the possibility of nothing coming out even after putting the money in.

I took the capsule, opened it, and took what was inside. There were two items; a small bead and a small piece of paper that looked like an explanation. The thing written on it was

<Space and Time Manipulation> SSR

After eating this, it will be possible to freely manipulate space and time.

"I'm supposed to eat this?!"

'Isn't this a bead?'

'No, wait. It might be some sort of candy.'

'Either way, it says I'm able to manipulate space and time? What a joke...'

A long time time ago, I did actually spend money on gachas in games, however, I never would have thought that I would actually be stupid enough to spend 10,000 YEN on a stupid one like this.

I thought that I would call the manufacturer to complain, but there wasn't a phone number written anywhere. Even if there was, I doubt they would actually bat an eye.

I swallowed the candy, and turned towards the machine with a depressed look on my face. There was a slight taste to the candy, but if I have to be honest, it was rather disgusting.

While thinking that I probably wouldn't have another encounter with this gacha, I slowly headed home.

After getting home, I started preparing my dinner. Due to living alone, I needed to take care of everything by myself.

I cracked a can of beer open, drank a sip, and left it on the desk. Afterwards, I turned towards the fridge to grab a snack. While taking it out, I accidentally pushed the can with my elbow.

"Ah!"

That's when it happened.

The beer can was frozen in mid-air. It appeared like a movie scene being suddenly paused. Surprised by the sudden events, I looked around only to realize that the clock, and the TV had stopped as well.

After a couple of seconds, the beer, as well as the clock started moving like usual. After which, the beer fell on the floor.

"You must be kidding me..."

I got goosebumps all over me due to the unbelievable event that had just unfolded.

I decided to try it once more. I went in front of the clock and wished for time to stop.

37, 38, 39...

It didn't go to 40. Rather the clock's hands didn't even move an inch from 39.

Time really did stop.

"That gacha. It actually works?"