Story Reader / Festival Event Story / Moonlit Night / Story
All of you have brought your crafts with you when you meet again.
Let me see... Woah, they look amazing!
Excellent, it can surely pass the pre-selection. Come, this way.
Just hand in your crafts, and you'll get the VIP tickets.
Time to watch the mechanic puppet show.
A show...
Wouldn't it be a pity if some art forms were only stored as data? It's the mission of Kowloong to recreate them in the real world.
Besides, it can attract more guests this way. Pretty smart plan, right?
Led by the three, you and the others make your way to the pre-selection stage and exchange the crafts for VIP tickets.
Great, we've passed the pre-selection.
I know you'll make it.
The four of you put the tickets on the machine. The light curtain in the front melts, revealing a glittering stage.
A mechanical puppet is spinning a wooden wheel in the middle of the stage.
Just in time, the show has just started.
What is that?
A spinning wheel, which is used to spin threads according to the records in the data.
In the past, people needed to use the spinning wheel to twist the materials into a string before weaving them into cloth.
The mechanical puppet who is spinning threads stands up with the music, and follows several similarly dressed mechanical puppets up the steps projecting the clouds. The surrounding scenery changes into a lake.
Gradually, people with different expressions gather around the stage. They all remain quiet while watching the mechanical puppets perform.
The spinning mechanical puppet falls in love with a shabby-looking puppet, but the two of them are forced to separate amidst a thunderstorm on the stage.
To get together again, the puppet slaughters a mechanical cow and tears off its cowhide. Having given up everything, he runs to the sky with his child.
Poor them... Why can't people who love each other be reunited, even in a story?
Based on reality...
It's the same way in reality. People who love each other will always be separated.
Yazi has been standing behind everyone for some time.
...The same happened to "Qu".
Indeed. If they had a choice, they'd be standing here today.
Yazi turns back. Her mask is silent like a rock smoothed out by a river stream, hiding all emotions beneath it.
If there's a choice...
Liv recites the sentence silently, as if remembering something of the past that she does not want to recall.
The mechanical puppets on the stage are separated by the Milky Way amidst the sad music, creeping on the shore, trying to reach out to each other.
The story was set from the moment they were born as the cowherd and the weaving maid.
They think they can change the future through their struggles, but the truth is that they've merely chosen the path that hurts the least.
Or, the path that must be trodden, no matter the cost.
The floor of the stage turns into a bridge made of magpies in the projection. Upon such a touching scene, Yazi lets out a bitter smile.
Is it important? They'll never be apart anymore, yet I'll always be here.
The mechanical puppets hug and cry on the magpie bridge. The audience under the stage bursts into applause. Eventually, some begin to stand up and leave.
Yazi does not answer your question. She simply joins the crowd of departing people.
Though the M.I.N.D. of "Qu" and Huaxu were damaged, they were also merged in such a way that's inseparable.
Is that freedom?
Even if it means they have to end up like this?
Liv lowers her head thoughtfully.
It's nothing...
She looks up with a gentle, but enigmatic smile.
At least... not now. I can't tell you something uncertain.
...?
Alright.
At this moment, a loud discussion breaks out.
The lucky draw is about to begin.
A projection screen rises in the middle of the stage, gradually revealing the list of prizes for this draw.
There are ten Lucky Prizes... the winners can choose any two pieces of crafts.
Aren't those the crafts we handed over? What's the point?
Because it's just the Lucky Prize, I guess.
The third prize seems to be the chance to shake hands with Miss Pulao.
Haha... It's just to... save money.
That's the third prize?
I'll have it if you don't want it. I'd love to meet the Kowloong Crew!
The second prize is a collection of guqin pieces played by Yazi herself?
Hey! Look at the first prize!
The first prize on the screen is, as Changyu originally said, a million grubs.
That's miles different from the other prizes!
It's the prize that drew me to make the craft!
Please, let it be me. Come on, ticket, you're the hope I've been waiting for!
However, underneath the text "A Million Grubs" seems to be a small line of fine print.
Please... please don't be [player name]...
Pulao folds her hands, as if praying for something.
Afterward, the lotto numbers chosen by the ticket holders appear on the screen one after another, and the crowd falls silent.
Announcing the winners of the ten Lucky Prizes!
With ten numbers appearing on the screen, murmurs arise in the crowd.
Well, better than nothing.
Let's go.
The winners of the third and second prizes are then revealed. None of the Gray Ravens' ticket numbers are shown on the screen.
...
Announcing the winner of the first prize! Who is our lucky person going to be?
The projection screen flashes up in a dazzling light. After a burst of music, an unfamiliar number appears in the center.
It's not one of us...
The odds are just too small based on the number of people participating in the lucky draw.
Better luck next time.
The crowd leaves in sighs. Changyu and Sophia stand up and wave at Pulao.
Good, now it's a sure bet.
I'll leave the award ceremony to you. After all, you're the only one who can control it.
Bye.
After the two leave, Pulao sighs in relief and steps onto the stage to greet the winning craftsman.
...Let's congratulate our lucky winner.
Slightly nervous, she welcomes the winner onto the stage.
Please welcome the presenters...
Several heavily armored mechanical guards step on the stage.
Now, a million grubs will be yours after you defeat them.
What's that about? I've never heard of such a requirement!
Y-you just didn't pay attention, you see?
Look, it clearly says here that "Only if certain conditions are met"!
Who would notice the fine print! You scammers!
Nobody can survive fighting that many mechanical guards! Keep your prize!
He stomps off the stage in a fury, throwing the ticket away and leaving the place.
?!
No, no, noooo, it's not yours.
What are you...?! Next time... I'll apply a real-name system!
Copy, Commandant.
