Chapter 136
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Translator: Prime Works
Chapter: 136
Chapter Title: Premium Random Draw (1)
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“......What? There’s a way to specially influence the random draw probabilities?”
“Ppo! Bang! Ha!”
The three fantasy beasts bobbed their round heads.
They nodded so vigorously that their plump bellies jiggled with a ppoyit.
Lloyd raised his upper body from the desk where he had been slumped over.
He straightened his posture and asked,
“Influence the probabilities? So you’re saying that means the odds of getting the type of fantasy beast I want go up?”
“Ppo! Bang! Ha!”
“......”
Their response was delivered with such utter confidence.
Fantasy beasts were not the type of kids to lie.
So that answer was genuine.
‘Well then, this could be a huge help.’
Lloyd quickly ran the calculations in his head.
Right now, he was agonizing over materials for the wire mesh in the gabion retaining walls.
But what if a fantasy beast that could make that wire mesh for him just popped out?
‘That’d solve all my problems in one shot.’
No matter how he looked at it, it was a total jackpot.
Lloyd asked with anticipation,
“Then, can you tell me what that method is?”
“Ppong!”
Ppoding beamed innocently.
“Ppo-dong! Ppong! Ppo-dong-dong!”
“What? You just have to desperately want it?”
“Ppong!”
“......”
“Ppong, ppo-dong, ppong!”
“So, if you form a specific image like ‘I hope a fantasy beast with this kind of ability comes out’ and desperately wish for it, that desire influences the result?”
“Ppong!”
Ppoding nodded again.
As he did, he patted his own belly with ppong ppong sounds.
As proof of his claim.
Bangul and Hamang chimed in that they were proof too.
Lloyd, who had been half-doubting, finally started to let go of his skepticism after hearing that.
‘Hmm. There might actually be something to it.’
Desperate longing and changes in probability.
At first glance, it sounded utterly ridiculous.
But reflecting on Ppoding’s words and all the random draws he’d done so far, a different thought began to form.
‘I have been ridiculously lucky up until now.’
It was true.
Ppoding.
Bangul and Hamang.
They had all appeared at the exact moments he needed them most, with the perfect abilities for the job.
‘When I needed comprehensive digging skills, Ppoding showed up. For tunnel construction, Bangul came. And for draining the water from the Marez Reclaimed Land, Hamang appeared.’
Until now, he’d chalked it up to pure luck.
Just the blessing of randomness.
Like all the lottery luck that never came in Korea had been dumped here.
That’s all he’d thought.
But now, it didn’t seem that way.
‘It wasn’t just luck. The images I desperately wished for and envisioned unconsciously when drawing them—they must have influenced the random draw probabilities.’
Suddenly, a ray of hope glimmered.
The scent of possibility wafted in.
Lloyd made up his mind.
“Alright, I’ve decided.”
He grinned widely at the three fantasy beasts.
“Let’s do our fourth random draw.”
“Ppo! Bang! Ha!”
Thanks to him, Ppoding, Bangul, and Hamang were thrilled.
Without being asked, Ppoding pulled out a welcome sign.
Bangul unfurled a banner.
Hamang prepared to scatter confetti.
“......You guys had all this prepared in advance?”
“Ppo! Bang! Ha!”
“For the day we draw a new friend?”
“Ppo! Bang! Ha!”
“But we’re not doing it here. This is the bedroom.”
“Ppo! Bang! Ha!”
“Let’s go out quick? To the training grounds?”
“Ppo! Bang! Ha!”
“Hey, even so, right now might be a bit tricky. Let’s wait. Until nighttime when no one’s around.”
“Ppo! Bang! Ha?”
“Probably because it’s broad daylight and there are too many eyes. Everyone thinks I summoned you all with summoning magic, right? So it’s better if no one sees me doing the random draw.”
That was certainly true.
The countess and count, Haviel, and countless others in the territory were completely unaware of the RP system.
They all thought he was just skilled in summoning magic.
“So after putting Haviel to bed, let’s head to the training grounds at midnight. Sound good?”
“Ppo! Bang! Ha!”
“You’re gonna hold onto that stuff until then?”
“Ppo! Bang! Ha!”
“There’s still over half a day until midnight?”
“Ppo! Bang! Ha!”
“......”
They must have been waiting desperately for him to draw a new friend all this time.
And so, half a day passed.
Under the midnight moonlight, Lloyd descended to the training grounds.
He pictured in his mind the ability he hoped the fantasy beast would have this time.
‘A guy who can make wire mesh. Or one who can produce a substitute material for the mesh.’
As specifically as possible.
As desperately as he could.
He envisioned the image and wished for it.
Then he opened the random draw menu.
Ding-dong.
[Fantasy Beast Gacha]
[Invest RP to draw a fantasy beast.]
[Powerful and unique fantasy beasts pledge absolute loyalty to their summoner and provide a variety of abilities.]
[Random Draw Cost (4th Draw) = 150 RP]
[Current RP: 4,783]
‘Good. RP is more than plenty.’
He’d been hoarding it like a miser.
He hadn’t spent any unless it was absolutely critical.
Thanks to that, he’d amassed a whopping nearly 5,000 RP.
[Execute Random Draw?]
[YES / NO]
‘Of course yes. Let’s go!’
No hesitation.
He envisioned the desired fantasy beast’s ability and image, then selected YES.
[Executing Fantasy Beast Gacha.]
Fwaaah!
A pale light appeared in midair.
It spun, encroaching on the darkness under the moonlight.
Watching it, Lloyd lowered his stance slightly.
He relaxed his shoulders and focused on the glowing mass.
His posture resembled a baseball outfielder waiting for a fly ball.
‘Something’s definitely gonna pop out.’
Based on his experience so far.
The pale light would flash.
A new fantasy beast would shout its name and appear.
Then fly straight at him for a tackle hug.
‘Probably the same this time?’
Lloyd watched the light mass intently, waiting.
Anticipating the new fantasy beast that would fly to him and hug.
But......
Pzzzt... psssh...
The light mass stopped spinning.
It seemed to fade, then vanished.
Nothing emerged from it the whole time.
Instead, this message appeared before his eyes.
Ding-dong.
[Dud! Too bad. Look forward to the next random draw♥]
“......”
Whiiiish.
A chill night wind blew.
No one spoke.
After a long moment.
Lloyd forced an awkward laugh.
“......Ahahaha. Yeah, it happens. It’s random, right?”
“Ppo...... dong!”
Ppoding gave an awkward smile and stealthily lowered the welcome sign.
Lloyd steadied his shaking resolve.
‘Yeah, right. It’s random. Duds are totally possible.’
That’s reality.
He’d just been too lucky until now.
So don’t get rattled by one failure.
With that resolve, Lloyd opened the random draw menu again.
[Random Draw Cost (5th Draw) = 225 RP]
[Current RP: 4,633]
[Execute Random Draw?]
[YES / NO]
‘Good. No failing this time!’
Lloyd steeled himself even more fiercely.
More intensely than before.
Much more desperately.
He pictured the image in his head.
Then selected YES.
[Executing Fantasy Beast Gacha.]
Fwaaaah!
The pale light adorned the air.
It spun fiercely, illuminating everything.
Lloyd swallowed dryly.
‘Please!’
But his wish was in vain.
The light began to dim.
Soon, another horrific message appeared.
[2 in a row dud! Too bad. Look forward to the next random draw♥]
Whiiiish.
“......”
What was this? This soul-crushing sense of despair down to his roots.
This apocalyptic feeling like watching sweet-and-sour pork sauce poured ruinously before his eyes without permission—what was it?
He stammered,
“Hey.”
“......”
“You said if you desperately wish for it, it comes true.”
“......”
Bangul stealthily folded the welcome banner.
Lloyd bit his lip hard.
‘Stay calm. Calm.’
Don’t waver.
It’s just random.
Today’s luck is a bit off.
Or maybe he was paying the price for all his good luck so far with these two duds.
So the third one would work.
“Phew.”
He pulled himself together.
He vowed to trust the fantasy beast kids again.
Part of him thought there was no way he’d get three duds in a row.
Maybe that’s why.
His third random draw, fueled by determination.
Led to an unbelievable message.
[3 in a row dud! Really too bad. Look forward to the next random draw♥]
Whiiiish.
“......”
Where does life begin, and where does it flow?
Was reality always this hardcore dumpster fire?
And since when had tears started welling in his eyes?
That was the moment.
“Hamang!”
The tactless Hamang flung the confetti he was holding wide.
Startled, Ppoding and Bangul shrank back.
Lloyd, wiping his eyes, said,
“Bash your heads in. All of you.”
“......Ppo! Bang! Ha!”
Thud thud thud!
Ppoding, Bangul, Hamang—no exceptions.
The fist-sized kids slammed their heads into the training ground floor.
Lloyd wiped his eyes watching them.
“Haa.”
RP, so hard to save up.
Earned through diligent achievements and feats.
Held back every urge to spend, scrimping and saving.
Yet three duds in a row had burned through a whopping 713 RP.
His nearly 5,000 RP was now down to 4,070.
‘Hoo. Is this for real?’
It was bitter.
Empty too.
Was this the feeling of going blind on gambling, blowing your fortune, and crashing into ruin?
‘Tch. Should I keep going with the random draws?’
Doubt crept in.
The idea that desperate wishing influences results seemed like nonsense now.
That realization crushed his confidence.
‘Maybe it’s wisest to stop here.’
No guarantee the next one would give a proper fantasy beast.
Better to ditch expectations of endless luck like before.
Plus, the next draw would be the 7th attempt.
The cost had skyrocketed to 507 RP.
‘If I try again and dud......’
Remaining RP: 3,563.
If his mentality breaks?
If defiance surges?
If he tries again?
And duds again?
‘8th draw would cost about 760 RP. Then remaining RP: 2,803.’
RP halved in an instant.
The thought alone was horrifying.
No, he didn’t even want to imagine it.
So the answer for what to do now was clear.
‘Stop. If I keep going swept by emotions, I’ll lose RP and my mind.’
Today just wasn’t his day.
So judge coldly.
Act rationally.
With that thought, Lloyd glanced at the random draw window.
Intending to close it.
But that was the moment.
Ding-dong.
With a clear notification chime.
An unexpected message appeared before his eyes.
[Hidden Condition Achieved: 3 in a Row Dud]
‘Huh?’
What’s that?
He read the scrolling messages.
[You have consumed a certain amount of RP to achieve the hidden condition [Fantasy Beast Gacha 3 in a Row Dud]. As a reward, the [Conditional Premium Random Draw] feature is unlocked.]
‘What.’
Lloyd’s eyes went wide.
His mind raced simultaneously.
The fantasy beast ability and image he’d hoped for deep down.
Ppoding’s advice that such longing influences random results.
‘It was true?’
It seemed certain.
Probably.
“Rise and shine, everyone.”
“Ppo! Bang! Ha!”
The kids popped up as if they’d been waiting.
Lloyd turned to them and asked,
“Ppoding?”
“Ppong!”
“Hey, was this what you meant? Premium random draw?”
“Ppong!”
“So you knew from the start?”
“Ppo-dong?”
“That you need three duds in a row to unlock this feature.”
“Ppong!”
“Then...... you deliberately pushed me to do random draws knowing this would happen?”
“Ppo-dong!”
Ppoding nodded vigorously, as if of course.
Had he already forgotten he’d just been punished?
Or did he understand even such mistakes on Lloyd’s part?
His face was filled with nothing but the purest, innocent smile.
Maybe that’s why.
Lloyd unconsciously bit his lower lip.
‘I had no idea.’
He’d lashed out needlessly.
He felt sorry.
Thinking about it, these kids always just wanted him to succeed.
They looked only at him with no ulterior motives.
Yet he’d failed to recognize that heart, blinded by momentary losses, and snapped.
‘What a selfish materialist.’
He wanted to slap his own cheek.
As if sensing even that, Ppoding, Bangul, and Hamang waddled over softly. They rubbed their whole bodies against his hand, encouraging him.
“Ppo! Bang! Ha!”
“Hmm, you’re saying it’ll go well this time, so do the premium random draw?”
“Ppong! Bangul! Hamang!”
“......Yeah, thanks.”
Reflection stayed in his heart.
For now, he’d trust the kids.
With that, Lloyd opened the random draw menu again.
He noticed a new menu had opened below.
[Premium Random Draw]
[Invest slightly more RP to greatly increase the odds of drawing a fantasy beast with the summoner’s desired ability.]
[Conditional Draw Cost (1st Draw) = 800 RP]
[Current RP: 4,070]
[Execute Conditional Random Draw?]
[YES / NO]
‘Alright. All or nothing.’
He’d come this far already.
Might as well do it right.
Lloyd clenched his fist and selected YES.
A new message appeared.
[Please envision the desired fantasy beast’s ability in your mind.]
He did as instructed.
He pictured it vividly.
Wire mesh for constructing gabion retaining walls.
A fantasy beast with the ability to make that mesh.
‘Tough, durable wire or rope that doesn’t deform. I want a fantasy beast that produces something like that.’
The moment he wished so fervently.
[Your condition has been registered.]
Fwaaah!
With a vivid message, a brilliant light bloomed.
It instantly banished the darkness under the moonlight.
It spun fiercely.
Finally, the silhouette of a new fantasy beast began to emerge.
“Kkoming!”
A spirited, snappy cry echoed from within the light.