Chapter 242: Is Today Just Not Your Day, Stelle?
If skipping this crucial mystical ritual caused her luck to plummet, transforming her from a gacha player who occasionally tasted the shores of fortune into someone cursed with the worst luck imaginable, the loss would be catastrophic.
But who could possibly be a substitute? Stelle's gaze swept around the room.
Beside her, Dan Heng was holding a communication slate, his expression serious as he contacted Mydei. They had, after all, vanished without a word earlier. Mydei and the others had left a message upon their return, so it was only right to reply and explain the situation.
On the other side of the room, March 7th had fully embraced her new role as a doting pet owner, enthusiastically playing with her little Moon.
She tried to issue a command. "Little Moon, little Moon, could you bring me that water cup over there?"
The small, blue jellyfish obediently floated over. Its soft tentacles carefully wrapped around the cup and delivered it steadily into March 7th's hand.
"Wow! You're so well-behaved!" March 7th chirped, happily patting little Moon's head before giving it a new order. "Little Moon, do a somersault in the air!"
A soft starlight twinkled across little Moon's body as it obediently tumbled through the air in a graceful arc, drawing a peal of laughter from March that was as bright and cheerful as Belle's.
The sound of their playful joy reached Stelle's ears, striking her ritual-obsessed mind like a bolt of lightning.
That was it! Pom-Pom wasn't here, but she, Stelle, had her own companion, too!
Stelle's eyes lit up. She immediately focused her thoughts, calling out in her mind.
The next moment, with a subtle ripple of spatial energy, Mimi made a dazzling appearance, materializing in the air before settling softly onto her lap.
"Mi?" Mimi lifted its eyelids, letting out a confused little cry. It didn't seem to understand why it had been summoned outside of a combat situation.
Stelle carefully cupped Mimi in her hands, an unprecedentedly solemn expression on her face. Her gaze locked onto its large, innocent eyes.
"Mimi! Listen up. This is extremely important. This is a matter that will decide whether my future is blessed or cursed, whether I'll be rich or poor! I need your help!"
Mimi was taken aback by Stelle's serious demeanor. Its small body involuntarily straightened as it listened intently to her words.
"All your good luck!" Stelle declared, enunciating each word with the utmost devotion. "Lend it all to me! Bless me so that this ten-pull is filled with golden light and I don't get a single off-banner!"
"Mi..." Mimi tilted its head. While it didn't quite grasp the specific meaning of "gacha" or "off-banner," it could feel the weight of anticipation and solemnity in Stelle's tone. This was the first time it had ever seen her like this outside of a battle. This had to be a very, very important matter.
So, Mimi did its best to adopt its most serious posture. It concentrated, then replied with a determined cry. "Mi! (I'll bless you with all my good luck and make you the luckiest person ever!)"
An invisible, pink-hued wave of blessing energy seemed to flow from Mimi's body, enveloping Stelle completely.
Stelle immediately felt her confidence double, as if the goddess of luck herself was already smiling down upon her.
The blessing was in place. Next came the indispensable sense of ritual.
Under Mimi's still slightly puzzled gaze, Stelle took a deep breath. As if performing some ancient sacrifice, she solemnly retrieved the sacred object from her inventory—the one with the deepest bond to her, the symbol of her very identity and taste—her golden trash can.
She skillfully sat down on it, a sense of sacred purpose washing over her as she adjusted her posture until it was just right. The cool touch of the metal seeped through her clothes, yet it brought her a strange sense of peace.
She closed her eyes, silently chanting in her heart, 'Mimi's blessing, Pom-Pom's spirit, manifest.'
Then, her eyes snapped open. With a single, decisive thought, she pressed the ten-pull button—the switch that would set the wheel of fate into motion.
The Chat Group's gacha interface blazed to life before her. Countless item icons flashed past in a dizzying carousel.
White, green, blue… The lights alternated and shifted, each flicker tugging at Stelle's heartstrings. She held her breath, her eyes wide, staring intently at the constantly rolling stream of light.
Suddenly, a brilliant, singular purple light—like the brightest star just before dawn—erupted from the stream, instantly overshadowing every other hue.
"It's purple! It's really purple!" An intense fire ignited in Stelle's eyes. Her heart pounded against her ribs so hard she thought it might leap out of her chest.
She didn't even bother to see what the other nine rewards were; all her attention was completely captivated by the violet glow representing the highest possible quality.
'It's here, it's here! Am I finally going to get my own powerful purple-tier item?'
Would it be a pocket dimension that devours energy like Lumine's Serenitea Pot? Or a cool Zanpakutō like Rin's? Or maybe some incredible new skill?
Under her unwavering gaze, the purple light slowly converged, the radiance fading to reveal the true form of the item within.
It seemed to be… a strand of hair?
The wild joy on Stelle's face froze instantly. She rubbed her eyes hard, wondering if she was hallucinating from the sheer excitement.
She leaned closer, her face nearly pressed against the virtual interface, checking again and again.
No, she wasn't mistaken. It was just a strand of hair.
A single strand of hair, about a finger's length, entirely pure and shining gold. It looked quite soft, and even seemed to have a subtle, iridescent glow shimmering at its edges… a single, fine hair.
Stelle: "..."
The expression on her face cycled from extreme excitement to astonishment, then to disbelief, and finally collapsed into a deathly gray despair.
"A purple… item?" Stelle's voice was dry and trembling. "Is… a strand of hair?"
She felt her vision darken as if all her strength had been instantly drained away. Her entire body, like a punctured balloon, went limp, slumping dejectedly over her beloved golden trash can.
Why… Why on earth?
She had finally done it. With Mimi's blessing, she had drawn the coveted purple-tier prize.
Why was it that other people's purple items were either powerful, growth-type weapons with immense potential, or incredibly magical special abilities, or at the very least, a powerful Stand like Paimon's, which was both cool-looking and formidable in a fight?
And she, Stelle of the Astral Express, the great and powerful Stelle, after spending so many points and investing so much hope… what she ultimately received… was a strand of hair?
A single, golden, fine hair?! What could this thing possibly be used for? Scratching an itch?
Stelle remained slumped over the trash can, her eyes blankly staring at the lavishly decorated ceiling of the bathhouse. She was a salted fish who had lost all her dreams.
In the background, the playful laughter of March 7th and little Moon, and the steady cadence of Dan Heng's voice as he spoke with Mydei, still echoed faintly. But none of it could penetrate the fog of her despair or cushion her from this devastating blow.
She, Stelle, was officially having the worst day ever.
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