Chapter 136: Premium Random Game (1)
“What…? I didn’t know there was a special way to affect the outcome of the game!”
“Ppo! Bang! Ha!”
The three fantastical creatures nodded their round heads. The three of them nodded so hard that their fat bellies shook. Lloyd rose suddenly, and fixing his posture, he spoke.
“Affect the probability? Wait, do you mean that I can up the chances of picking the fantastical creature I want?”
“Ppo! Bang! Ha!”
“…”
Their voices brimmed with confidence. Since these creatures never lied, their answer had to be true.
Oh, in that case… this is going to be very helpful.
Lloyd quickly did the math. Right now, he was deliberating about the material to be used for the wire mesh of the gabion retaining wall. But if a fantastical creature that could do the job came out, the problem would be solved. From any way he looked at it, it was a jackpot for Lloyd.
“Then,” said Lloyd expectantly, “can you tell me how I can do it?”
“Ppodong!” Ppodong beamed. “Ppo-do-dong! Ppodong! Ppo-do-dong!”
“Eh? I just have to desperately want it?” asked Lloyd.
“Ppodong!”
“…”
“Ppodong? Ppo-do-dong! Ppodong?”
“Okay,” said Lloyd, “so all I need to do is envision a fantastical creature with a certain power of my desire, and it’s going to affect the result of the game…”
“Ppodong!”
Ppodong nodded again as he tapped his belly.
“Ppo-do-dong. Ppodong!”
Ppodong was saying that he himself was proof, and that the same had gone for Bangul and Hamang. Lloyd’s skepticism started to dwindle as he listened to the creatures.
Hmm… It sounds sensible.
Does my strong desire affect the outcome? It sounded absurd, but as Lloyd heard Ppodong’s words and his experience with the game, he realized that it could be true.
Truly, I’ve been very lucky.
Indeed he was. Ppodong. Bangul. Hamang. Each of them was summoned with skills Lloyd needed the most at the time.
When I needed to excavate the land, Ppodong came out. For tunnels, Bangul was summoned, and I got Hamang when I had to get rid of the water in the Maritz Wasteland.
Up until now, he simply considered himself lucky. A blessing and nothing more. Lloyd thought that he was being compensated for all the times he had lost the lottery back in South Korea. But it turned out that wasn’t the case.
I wasn’t just lucky. What affected the chances of the game was my dire wish in my unconscious mind. The images I unconsciously formed in my head while playing the game.
Just then, Lloyd saw hope. He started to think that it was doable. He, thus, made a decision.
“Okay, I made up my mind,” said Lloyd as he flashed a big smile toward his three friends. “Let’s play the fourth round of the random game.”
“Ppo! Bang! Ha!”
Lloyd’s words elated Ppodong, Bangul, and Hamang. Ppodong brought out a welcome sign on his own while Bangul opened a tent. Hamang got ready to throw confetti in the air.
“Woah… Did you prepare for this all this time?” asked Lloyd.
“Ppo! Bang! Ha!”
“To use it on the day a new friend arrives?”
“Ppo! Bang! Ha!”
“But I won’t be summoning here. We’re in the bedroom,” said Lloyd.
“Ppo! Bang! Ha!”
“Okay, okay, hold on. Wait, to the training hall? Now?”
“Ppo! Bang! Ha!”
“Hey. We can’t go out now. Why don’t we wait until no one’s around?”
“Ppo! Bang! Ha!”
“It’s afternoon right now, so there’ll be a lot of people. People think that I summoned you all through magic. So, it’s best to be unseen when I play the game.”
It surely was the case. No one, including the count and countess, Javier, and people in the fiefdom, knew about the RP system. They all thought that Lloyd was a well-trained magician.
“So, let’s head to the training hall past midnight after putting Javier to sleep. Okay?” suggested Lloyd.
“Ppo! Bang! Ha!”
“You know you can put them down for now.”
“Ppo! Bang! Ha!”
“But we have hours until it’s midnight,” pointed Lloyd.
“Ppo! Bang! Ha!”
“…”
It dawned on Lloyd that they had waited for their new friend for a long time. Hours passed, and he headed down to the training hall under the moonlight. He imagined the capability of the fantastical creature in his head.
I want someone who can create wire mesh. Or someone who can create a material that can replace a wire mesh.
Lloyd tried his best to envision the image of the creature in all his earnestness. And he opened the random game menu.
Ding Dong.
[Random Summon Game]
[Spend RP to pick a summon.]
[A strong and unique summon partner will provide their unwavering loyalty along with a wide range of skills to their master.]
[Cost of the 4th Random Summon Game = 150 RP]
[Current RP: 4,783]
Okay. I have plenty of RP.
Lloyd had saved up the RP like the miser he was, never using it unless there was an emergency. Thanks to his spending habit, he was able to amass a whopping amount of about 5,000 RP.
[Would you like to start the random summon game?]
[YES / NO]
Of course, it’s a yes. Let’s gooo!
There was no reason to hesitate. He selected “YES” as he thought about the capability of the fantastical creature.
[The random summon game is starting.]
Fwoosh! A blinding light appeared in the air, and it rotated as it engulfed the darkness. Lloyd stooped a little as he saw it. Relaxing his shoulders, he stared at the lump of light, and his posture looked like an outfielder waiting for the ball to come.
Something’s going to burst out.
It was always the case. The blinding light would flash brightly, and a new fantastical creature would come out to his embrace as it shouted its name.
It’ll probably be the same this time too.
Lloyd waited as he stared at the lump of light. He waited for the new fantastical creature to come out and land in his embrace. But…
Psh… Psh…
The light stopped rotating, and it grew hazy until it vanished. Nothing burst out of the light. In its stead, a message appeared in front of Lloyd’s eyes.
Ding Dong.
[Sorry! Looks like you weren’t so lucky this time. Please look forward to the next game. <3]
“…”
Whoosh. The cold night air blew. No one spoke at length until Lloyd finally burst out in awkward laughter.
“Ahaha… It happens. I mean, it’s random. Don’t you think so?” uttered Lloyd.
“Ppo…dong!”
Ppodong smiled awkwardly as he put down the welcome sign. Lloyd pulled himself together.
That’s right. I mean, it’s random. So, it’s possible that I won’t win.
Yes, yes, indeed. Lloyd considered that he was just lucky all this time. He should not be too perturbed by this. Thinking so, he opened the menu to play the game again.
[Cost of the 5th Random Summon Game = 225 RP]
[Current RP: 4,633]
[Would you like to start the random summon game?]
[YES / NO]
Great. I’m not going to fail this time!
Lloyd’s determination grew stronger than before. It was fiercer, and he was more desperate. He conjured an image in his head and selected YES.
[The random summon game is starting.]
Fwoosh! A pale light appeared once again in the air, rotating hard and illuminating the area around it. Lloyd gulped dryly.
Please!
But his wish was in vain. The light grew faint until the terrible message appeared again in front of his eyes.
[Sorry again! Looks like you weren’t so lucky this time. Please look forward to the next game. <3]
Whoosh.
An air of awkwardness hung in the air around them.
What the? Every fiber of his soul was disturbed. It was as if someone had decided to add pineapples to his pizza without asking. Total chaos. Lloyd muttered aloud.
“Hey.”
“…”
“I thought earnest yearning would give me what I want.”
“…”
Bangul quietly folded the welcome banner. Lloyd bit his lips hard.
Okay, stay calm. Stay calm.
He shouldn’t be swayed. This was nothing but the result of random chance. Today was not his lucky day. He was just paying for the times he was lucky. So, the third try would work.
“Whew.”
Lloyd collected his thoughts and decided to trust his fantastical creatures once more. There was just no way he would not win on the third try, he thought to himself. But when he tried out the third time with such determination, he was once again faced with an unbelievable message.
[So sorry again! It really is unfortunate. Please look forward to the next game. <3]
Whoooosh.
“…”
What was life? And why was reality so hard and harsh? Lloyd found himself crying, and he wondered why. Just then…
“Hamang!”
Hamang, a clueless fellow that he was, sprinkled confetti high in the air. Ppodong and Bangul lowered their necks as they saw him. Lloyd, who was wiping his tears, spoke.
“Everyone, drop.”
“Ppo…! Bang! Ha!”
Drop!
No one was an exception. The fist-sized creatures stuck their heads into the sand in the training hall. Lloyd wiped his tears as he looked at them.
“Whew…”
He had struggled to save up the RP. So many accomplishments and achievements. He had to fight the strong impulse to use it. But now, three failures cost him a whopping 713 RP. And now, he only had 4,070 RP.
Woah. Is this for real?
Lloyd felt bitter and empty. He wondered if this was what it felt like to gamble all your fortune away and ruin your family.
“Tsk,” Lloyd clicked his tongue. Should I continue or not?
Lloyd was skeptical. He considered the strong yearning affecting the outcome of the game a bogus, which suddenly made him grow diffident.
Maybe it’s wise to stop here.
He could go on, but that didn’t guarantee a win. It seemed only right to give up hope that he would be as lucky as he always had. What was more, the next try was the 7th one, which meant that it would cost him 507 RP.
If I try again and lose…
Then, his RP would be reduced to 3,563. If he lost his cool and tried again in anger, only to lose again…
The 8th try would probably cost me 760 RP. Then, I’ll be left with 2,803 RP.
He would lose half of what he originally had. The mere thought of it terrorized him. No, he wouldn’t consider it. By this point, he realized that the action he had to take was given.
I should stop right now. If I let my emotions get the better of me and keep trying, I’m going to lose both my RP and sanity.
Today wasn’t his lucky day. As such, he had to make an objective judgment and behave rationally. Thinking so, he threw his gaze toward the random game menu and tried to close it. Just then…
Ding Dong.
There came a clear dinging sound, and an unexpected message popped in front of him.
[Accomplished a hidden condition: Three Consecutive Losses.]
Eh?
Lloyd wondered what it was. He then read the cascading messages.
[You have accomplished the hidden condition in the game,
What the?
Lloyd’s eyes widened. He started to process things fast. The power and image of the fantastical creature of his desire. And its effect on the outcome of the game. Ppodong’s advice.
That was all true?
It appeared so, indeed.
“Everyone, rise,” said Lloyd.
“Ppo! Bang! Ha!”
The three jumped to their feet.
“Ppodong?” asked Lloyd as he looked at them.
“Ppodong!”
“Wait, is that what you were referring to in the first place? The premium random game?”
“Ppodong!”
“Did you know this from the beginning?” asked Lloyd.
“Ppo-do-dong?”
“That you had to lose three times in a row to enable this function?”
“Ppodong!”
“Then… did you suggest that I do this in advance, knowing this would happen?”
“Ppo-do-dong!”
Ppodong nodded as though it was only obvious. At that moment, Lloyd became curious. Did Ppodong completely forget about the fact that he was being punished up until a second ago? Or was he forgiving Lloyd with a big heart? Ppodong was beaming, and his smile was so bright and shiny. Lloyd bit his lips without knowing.
And yet, I acted rashly.
He shouldn’t have taken it out on them. Lloyd felt apologetic, remembering that they wanted nothing but the best for him, and all they had was him. Penitent for being blinded by his own selfishness, Lloyd choked into tears.
You selfish bastard.
Lloyd wanted to slap himself. But Ppodong, Bangul, and Hamang slowly approached him as though they saw what was happening in his heart. Rubbing the back of his hand, they comforted him.
“Ppo! Bang! Ha!”
“Um, yes, I should go with the premium random game since it’s going to work out well this time, right?”
“Ppodong! Bangul? Hamang!”
“Yes, thank you…”
Lloyd decided to keep his repentance deep inside his heart and trust his friends first. He once again opened the random summon game, and he noticed a new menu at the bottom.
[Premium Random Summon Game]
[You can amplify the chances of summoning the fantastical creature with your preferred power by investing slightly more RP.]
[Cost of a Conditional Random Summon Game = 800 RP]
[Current RP: 4,070]
[Would you like to start a conditional random summon game?]
[YES / NO]
Okay. It’s a do-or-die situation.
He had gone this far. If he was doing it, he might as well do it right. Lloyd clenched his fist as he tapped the YES button. A new message appeared.
[Envision the power you wish the fantastical creature to own.]
Lloyd obeyed. He thought hard about the wire mesh to complete the gabion. He thought about the fantastical creature that would enable it.
Metal wire or rope that’s robust and tenacious and unchanging. I want a fantastical creature that can give me that.
When he thought so…
[Your condition has been registered.]
Fwoosh! A brilliant light appeared along with the clear message, driving away the darkness under the moon. And it rotated violently until the outlines of a new fantastical creature appeared at last.
“Ggoming!”
In the light, there came a powerful and energetic shouting.