Story Reader / Event Story / Stellar Narratives / Story
Outside the main venue, there's a separate recreation area set up for visiting guests.
You were planning to take a short break, until you spot Rosetta locked in an intense card duel with a mechanoid.
Whoa! The mechanoid rolled a 6! Rosetta's in trouble now.
According to this card's effect, Rosetta must roll a dice. If she rolls lower than my 6, she'll take 6,000 damage and lose this round.
Mm...
Based on prior match data with Rosetta, her current chance of winning is less than 5%.
Don't be so sure about that!
Under everyone's watchful gaze, Rosetta rolls the dice. It spins across the table several times and settles on a 1.
...Lost again.
She looks clearly frustrated by the loss and seems ready to challenge the mechanoid for another round.
[player name]...
The moment she hears your voice, she glances over for help, but embarrassment flashes across her face.
The card-playing mechanoid butts in and announces the tally as if showing off.
Match record: Mechanoid 5, Rosetta 0.
You know me, [player name]... my luck has never been great.
I need at least one win. Otherwise the Engineering Force will tease me forever.
Yeah, [player name]! This time I'm winning.
Rosetta has repeated that line four times with zero success.
After the trash-talk ends, they both roll dice to see who goes first. Unsurprisingly, Rosetta's 2 loses to the mechanoid's 4.
Based on previous data, Rosetta's chance of winning after losing the first move is only 0.37 percent.
Ignore him. With your cheers, and your luck...
She looks at the cards in her hand, then shoots you a look full of resolve.
I'll win!
Even with your support, luck still won't smile on Rosetta.
Uh...
The mechanoid's early defense blocks every attack, and her life points are barely flickering, like a candle in the wind.
If Rosetta fails to win this turn, my chance of victory next turn becomes one hundred percent.
So I really can't win...
I'm sorry, [player name]. It looks like I'm breaking my promise.
She turns to you, helplessness clouding her face.
The odds are just too slim...
Rosetta? Win probability? Still... 0.37 percent.
Watching your calm, confident expression, Rosetta recalls the "miracles" you've pulled off before. For a moment, she forgets how tiny 0.37 percent really is.
(If luck can change anything, it's probably [player name]'s luck that can turn this around.)
If Rosetta agrees, I have no objection. Note: Her win rate will not increase because of [player name]'s participation.
You and Rosetta place your hands on the tiny deck. Your confidence blows away her doubt; whatever happens, she's eager to see what card you'll draw together.
With this draw, we'll turn it all around!
Rosetta slips the new card into her hand. You watch her tense expression soften, as if the card is shining inside her visual module.
We can win. This will do it!
The mechanoid has never encountered this card in any previous duel with Rosetta, so it has no counter ready.
Thanks to the card you drew together, all of its moves are sealed. Now is Rosetta's perfect window to strike back!
Now it's my turn to attack!
The mechanoid's earlier lockdown had trapped several cards in Rosetta's hand. She unleashes them in a dazzling flurry.
Cards flash in and out of play until the entire enemy defense is wiped. Then she summons enough power to zero out its life points.
The combined strike drives the mechanoid's life to zero. Rosetta has seized that 0.37 percent chance and turned the duel on its head!
Phew... That was a tough win, thanks to you, [player name].
[player name], do you remember this card?
This is the one you told me to include back when I built the deck. Never thought your pick would be the key to my comeback today, [player name].
For a heartbeat, the scene blurs. A memory surfaces: you and Rosetta in the Engineering Force maintenance room long ago.
Since when did you care about card games, Commandant?
The effect is strong, but it clashes with my deck's style. Drawn at the wrong time, it is dead weight.
Then it could very well decide the match... but that window is extremely narrow.
[player name], [player name]...
The Construct's voice pulls you back to the present card table.
What are you thinking?
No way, 1-5 is still awful. I need the score in my favor.
With your luck and my skill, we'll claw it back for sure!
You duel the mechanoid together until the streetlights come on. The final tally: Rosetta 6, Mechanoid 5. Pleased at last, she stands and leaves by your side.
[player name], check this out.
Walking side by side down the now-quiet street, Rosetta hands you the card that turned the tide.
How did you know we could claw this back when the odds were so low?
I never expect much from my luck... and the card has strict use conditions, so I only kept one copy even though you suggested it.
Honestly, if you hadn't drawn that card, I might have forgotten it was there.
My luck is terrible, yet I always cling to tiny hopes.
Turns out the card was meant for you—only someone truly lucky could pull it at the perfect moment.
Believe what?
That is so like you, [player name]. If it were just you versus that mechanoid, the match would have been so easy.
So I'm really one of the ingredients for victory? Thank you, [player name].
But we've been winning ever since we teamed up. I'm curious, are you always this lucky, [player name]? Let's test it! I shuffled. Draw again!
It's the same card again! You're cheating, aren't you?
Is it really just luck?
You look at her earnestly. Under the dim streetlamp, even the blush on her cheeks feels intoxicating.
With shy courage, she meets your gaze. The knight's smile seems to hold the lingering warmth of daylight.
No wonder. Looks like you used up all my luck.
Promise me: if I ever need you to return a little of it, you won't say no.
Deal.
