“Four-leaf clover...”
The festival really started after dark.
To celebrate the birth of the Moe King, the shopping district of Nielstein had gone full carnival. Even at night, the street was bursting with life. Drums and flutes echoed through the market, people flowed past in a tide, stalls shouted their deals, little events popped up everywhere. It was chaos in the best way.
A black‑haired girl in a priest’s robe wandered down the commercial street. Because the celebration had started, she’d wanted to get something good, so she’d traded a few apples with Vivian for this thing—a four-leaf clover.
“May it bring you good luck. Emma gave it to me,” the tiny Vivian had said.
But the not‑actually‑that‑tall girl, Xiao Hei, had her doubts.
“Silk, do you think this really works?”
Xiao Hei asked Celeste. Celeste shook her head slightly, not sure.
“Knew I shouldn’t have—”
Just as Xiao Hei was feeling she’d been scammed, the four-leaf clover suddenly gave off a faint glow.
“No way!” Xiao Hei stared at the clover, excited. Was her luck finally turning?
And then...
Xiao Hei fell. Someone had stuck out a foot.
“Wait, don’t step on—”
“Ow.” (HP -2, Endurance +1)
Thankfully Silk grabbed her in a rush and hauled her up, sparing her from a serious injury.
[You okay?] Celeste held up a little note.
“I’m fine. It’s Vivian who might have a problem later.”
“...” Celeste seemed like she wanted to say something, but didn’t know what.
“We should just stick to normal window shopping.” Xiao Hei stuffed the four-leaf clover into her backpack and stopped caring about it. The best cure for a bad mood, obviously, was food.
“Boss, one skewer.” Because Silk didn’t eat meat, Xiao Hei had to enjoy it alone.
“Sorry, Silk. I’ll buy you pastries and fruit later, okay?”
Celeste didn’t mind, but she did raise a note, a little worried.
[Is it okay to eat random street food?]
“It’s fine~ I’ve been here before. And it’s just one skewer and—”
The four-leaf clover in her backpack glowed faintly.
Before she even finished the sentence, Xiao Hei’s pale face went a shade whiter. The food was way less fresh than she’d expected. (Stamina -2) (Intelligence +1)
“I was wrong. I won’t eat from roadside stalls ever again.”
Passing a barbeque stall.
“I know what you want to say, Silk. This smells amazing. It has to be fresh.”
Girl is now eating.
“Ugh... my stomach...” Xiao Hei clutched her belly as waves of pain hit. Celeste gently patted her head as she squatted there in discomfort.
In a way, Xiao Hei hadn’t been wrong. The meat skewers were fresh. Just a little too fresh. Still raw, actually... (Gained: Diarrhea) (Intelligence +1)
“This time, even if it’s free, even if someone shoves it in my mouth and puts a knife to my throat, I’m not eating it!”
...
“Why can’t I just control my stupid mouth?” (Gained: Poisoned) (Intelligence +1)
Xiao Hei smacked her own cheeks, piapia.
Celeste covered her face with one hand. She honestly had no idea what to say anymore.
“What a cute little sprite. Here, this is for you.” While Xiao Hei was busy purifying herself, some kind soul handed Celeste a small gift.
“Eh, a Dragon Spit Fruit.”
[Thank you]
Seeing Silk’s innocent, adorable smile, Xiao Hei froze for a moment. Then she suddenly remembered why she’d come to this festival at all. She slapped her cheeks and pulled herself together again.
“Silk, let’s go play over there.” Up ahead, there was a fishing game with tons of prizes.
They’d joined just for fun, not really expecting to win anything. But somehow, they landed the top prize.
(+2 silver, 22 copper)
“We can buy two more Dragon Spit Fruits, Silk~” Seeing Celeste wiping away drool in that cute way, Xiao Hei felt that even getting stepped on again would be worth it.
Then she really did get stepped on. Her backpack fell to the ground, scattering everything inside, including the four-leaf clover.
“This four-leaf clover’s still glowing.” Xiao Hei felt more and more like she’d been lied to. She remembered Vivian was somewhere on this street. She better hope I don’t see her.
“Silk, you okay... Where’d you get that?” Xiao Hei stared at the item in Celeste’s hand.
[Omen of Theft]
Which bastard gave that to my Silk! I... wait, is that Vivian?
It really was that idiot.
“Silk, give me the Omen of Theft.”
Celeste seemed to know what Xiao Hei wanted to do, but she didn’t stop her.
“Viiiviiiaaan~” Sugar content 100%. Even Celeste shivered all over when she heard that tone. Xiao Hei walked toward Vivian with absolutely no good intentions.
“Who’s calling me—ah, Silk! Let me pet you!”
“Leave Silk alone. Here, this is for you!” Xiao Hei grabbed Vivian’s hand, shoved the item into it, then scooped up Silk and took off in a full‑on hundred‑meter sprint.
“Why are you giving me this?” Vivian finally got a good look at the thing in her hand.
“Eh? Where’d they go?” In front of her was only a bustling crowd. Xiao Hei and Silk were already long gone.
“May you get robbed down to your underwear!”
...
—— Below is the boundary line for the actual adventure log ——
Astima Year 720, 2/22, 14:42: You began your adventure in the commercial street.
The four-leaf clover in your backpack gave off a faint glow...
Astima Year 720, 2/22, 15:16: While shopping, you were tripped and almost smashed your front teeth, but Silk grabbed you in time. (HP -2, Endurance +1) (Intelligence +1)
The four-leaf clover in your backpack gave off a faint glow...
Astima Year 720, 2/22, 16:18: You ate some not‑so‑fresh food at a roadside stall. (Stamina -2) (Intelligence +1)
The four-leaf clover in your backpack gave off a faint glow...
Astima Year 720, 2/22, 17:31: You ate an undercooked meat skewer from a small stall. Your stomach felt extremely uncomfortable. (Gained: Diarrhea) (Intelligence +1)
The four-leaf clover in your backpack gave off a faint glow...
Astima Year 720, 2/22, 18:38: While happily shopping with Silk, the little sprite’s innocent, adorable smile kept earning you all kinds of small gifts. Gained item: Fresh Dragon Spit Fruit. (Intelligence +1)
The four-leaf clover in your backpack gave off a faint glow...
Astima Year 720, 2/22, 19:54: You and Silk joined a fishing game and won first prize! (+2 silver, 22 copper) (Intelligence +1)
The four-leaf clover in your backpack gave off a faint glow...
Astima Year 720, 2/22, 21:02: While shopping, you were tripped and almost smashed your front teeth, but Silk grabbed you in time. (HP -2, Endurance +1) (Intelligence +1)
Astima Year 720, 2/22, 22:23: While happily shopping with Silk, the little sprite’s innocent, adorable smile kept earning you all kinds of small gifts. Gained item: Omen of Theft. (Intelligence +1)
I gave the theft omen to Vivian anyway = =
