Story Reader / Event Story / Magpie's Fortune / Story
Constellia
Outskirts Street
Thanks for all your hard work, Gray Raven Commandant. The festival draws more visitors than we expected, and we just don't have enough manpower. We really appreciate your help...
Well, there aren't many shops or tourists on your side. Fewer people means fewer issues, so I don't expect things to go wrong.
You look up and see only a few shops scattered along the street, with around a dozen visitors. Everyone is browsing quietly at the storefronts, no fuss at all—a complete contrast to the bustling main street.
Suddenly, you spot a figure you never expected to see.
The agent is hovering in front of a small street stall, pointing at an item as she talks to the owner. He just shakes his head. She waits a moment and tries again, but he still refuses with the same silent gesture.
She stops talking and studies the items on display for a while. Then, when she's about to leave, she turns—and that's the moment she notices you watching her.
At the instant your gazes lock, the girl's usually aloof demeanor shows the faintest hint of change.
Hey, you just stopped talking. Is something up?
In the alley, now that the call is over, Luna stands before you with her arms crossed and starts to speak in a measured tone.
Sheltering an agent is a serious crime.
...
Luna stays quiet for a moment.
When I was a kid, my family brought me to a festival like this. I remember... it being quite fun.
I heard there's a similar festival happening here, so I decided to come see it for myself.
Luna tilts her head toward the alley's mouth, which opens onto the street. Sometimes tourists pass by, flaunting their new souvenirs and chatting excitedly about upcoming shows...
But the alley is too deep, and their laughter never reaches here.
Luna pulls her gaze away.
...There are too many people.
She gets up and moves farther in.
Pretend you never saw me—it'll spare you a lot of trouble.
Luna walks away without looking back, and her once-proud silhouette now stirs an unexpected feeling...
Just as she's about to vanish at the end of the alley, Luna stops in her tracks.
There's still plenty of time before night falls.
There's always someone who can spot me. If that happens, they might cancel the celebration, though it doesn't bother me.
I can't avoid being caught, unless...
Luna turns around, fixing her gaze in this direction.
Someone's willing to offer some "help."
The girl regards you with a cold, measuring stare, as if she's weighing your proposal in her mind.
Time slips by, second after second, and someone on the street notices you, leaning forward in curiosity. After a brief pause, she steps closer.
What's your plan?
In that case, bring some extra help.
Her voice sounds nonchalant, making it hard to tell if she knows it's impossible or if she's just utterly sure of her own strength.
You go over the streets you're responsible for, consider any issues that might arise, and try to remember which places are less crowded yet still intriguing...
Yeah, yeah, I hear you...
With your role as on-duty personnel, you're able to get insider intel.
Armed with this intel, you can quickly snuff out any sign of trouble the moment it appears.
Luna cooperates seamlessly. Even if she's fascinated by the shop displays, the moment you say you need to move, she doesn't hesitate. Thanks to that, you dodge multiple searches for "suspicious individuals."
The most nerve-racking moment is when you run into Harley Jo at a street corner.
It all happens so fast that you have no choice but to grab a human-sized plush from a nearby stall and shove it into Luna's arms so she can hide behind it. With some effort, you manage to fool him and slip away.
After that, nothing else worth noting happens. Time flows by gently, and before long, night falls.
Late into the night, Constellia still bustles with excitement. Skyscrapers gradually go dark as the light show's stage takes shape. One by one, tourists fall silent, gazing skyward in anticipation.
Far away on a tower rooftop overlooking the city, the white-haired girl hovers beyond the railing, hugging a stuffed toy even bigger than her size, her face blank.
That's not your concern.
It looks like she already has her own plan of handling that giant plush.
This is a question you've asked before, hoping to see if Luna's answer changes after half a day of hustle and bustle.
Too many people...
And it's pretty interesting.
No one says a word after that. You wait quietly, and the light show begins.
Neon lights wash over the night sky in dazzling color, their vivid hues reflecting in the girl's eyes, making them gleam even brighter.
[player name]...
Luna holds out her left hand. In her palm rests a beautifully crafted wooden piece, divided into two sections, each carved with a small, simple figure. The one on the right looks like Luna, and the one on the left... looks like you.
Before when I headed off, I wanted a souvenir to remember this by.
I noticed the piece, but the stall owner insisted it was a Double Seventh Festival couple's set, to be engraved with both people's images upon completion.
Seeing me alone, the shop owner wouldn't sell it to me. Even when I said I was there with my sister, he still wouldn't agree.
As Luna explains, she takes the wooden piece—joined in the middle—and splits it into two halves. She keeps the right half and hands you the left.
So I used you as an excuse.
Luna mentioned that this is a Double Seventh Festival couple's set, which means if she wants to buy it...
I'm giving this half to you.
You take the half piece of wood, still warm from Luna's palm.
The girl buries her chin in the plush toy, stays quiet for a moment, then softly speaks.
...Happy festival.
