[ The desolate Gobi Desert stretched under the twilight. Scorching winds kicked up fine sand and gravel, slapping against several rickety makeshift tents. A blonde woman staggered out of a tent, trembling as she tightly gripped the boy's shoulders. ]
[ "Kakavasha, where have you been… You're hurt!?" ]
[ The boy slowly pulled his sand-covered fingers out of his pocket, bringing out a crystal-clear necklace. ]
[ "I got it back… Sister." ]
[ The woman asked in disbelief: "You went to find them…? It's too dangerous! It's just a necklace. It can't be eaten and it's not water. We can live without it." The woman's voice trembled, almost choking. "But I can't live without you, brother… Don't go near those Katica people anymore, okay?" ]
[ "Sister, don't be afraid. The Katica people are stupid, but I'm smart. If I play games with them, I'm definitely the one who wins." ]
[ "Win? What exactly happened? Tell me." ]
[ The boy said in a childish yet hoarse voice: "I made a bet with them—two little birds in the desert and me, which one would die first. I won." At this point, the boy proudly puffed out his thin chest. "They suspected I cheated, but I didn't… I won fair and square." ]
——
Miss Kobayashi's Dragon Maid.
"Don't say something so terrifying in such a casual tone!"
Tohru covered her eyes with her hands, unable to watch any longer.
He was still so young, yet he was already gambling with his own life. If she hadn't seen it with her own eyes, she would find it hard to imagine this was the childhood a human child should have. It was like dancing on the tip of a knife!
"He's been gambling with the Katica people since he was a child and actually managed to grow up and even become a Company executive. It's a miracle…" Kobayashi found it unbelievable. It meant that in his gambles with those executioners, Aventurine had never lost… not even once.
Losing meant death.
This could no longer be explained by mere good luck. It was as if he had been kissed by a god in the dark.
"I want this kind of luck too…" Tohru lay on Kobayashi's lap and began making wishes fervently.
"Perhaps luck did account for most of his success. But there's one thing I admire most about him. Do you know what it is?" Kobayashi played with the hair on Tohru's forehead and suddenly asked.
"Hmm? What is it?"
"…He dares to bet." Kobayashi said. "No matter how much he has or how high his status is, he dares to go all in without hesitation. Not only that, he can even attract his colleagues to join him in this life-or-death gamble."
"In this game that belongs only to the brave, he is definitely the bravest one."
——
[ "I know you can win… You've always been a very lucky child. Your luck is the blessing of the Earth Mother… But that's not a reason for you to confront the Katica people head-on. They are bloodthirsty, cruel, and insatiable—don't forget about Mom and Dad…" ]
[ Her voice caught in her throat as she tried to hold back the sudden warmth welling up in her eyes. She hugged the boy tightly, wishing she could pour all the love from these years into this one embrace. ]
[ "It's just a necklace… But Kakavasha, you are my last remaining family." ]
[ Feeling the collar wet with tears, the boy suddenly panicked: "Sister, I'm sorry… I thought you would be happy. Because this is the necklace Mom left for you…" ]
[ The woman gently shook her head: "It is very important, but you are even more important, my beloved little brother… I won't blame you, but you must remember what Mom said… Suffering and poverty are tests from the Earth Mother. She also gave us an opportunity—that is your luck, Kakavasha. Your good fortune is ours… and the most precious wealth of all Avgins." ]
[ "You are a child blessed by the Earth Mother. You can lead the clan to happiness. So, always remember to protect yourself, and never resent suffering and poverty… okay?" ]
[ The little boy didn't quite understand. ]
[ But the woman just gently rubbed his head: "Be good and swear to the Mother Goddess." ]
[ "…Okay. I swear to the Mother Goddess that I will always protect this wealth… But, Sister… if the three-eyed Mother Goddess is really watching over us… then when Dad was swept away by the quicksand, why didn't the Mother Goddess protect him? Dad only went to the Katica people's place to prepare offerings for her…" ]
[ "When Mom slowly grew cold in our arms, where was the Mother Goddess… Until the moment she closed her eyes, Mom was still begging for her forgiveness…" ]
[ "Sister, everyone says I'm smart, but I don't understand… If every rain is the Mother Goddess's forgiveness and blessing…" ]
[ "Then how many mistakes did we make… that we had to be born into this world just to die…?" ]
——
MyGO!!!!!.
"Is this Mr. Aventurine's childhood? His sister was his only family! The Katica people wouldn't even spare his only sister?"
"Uuuuuuuuu…"
On the first floor of RiNG, a certain pink dragon girl had already collapsed on the dining table crying uncontrollably. The entire restaurant was filled with her sobs. In just four or five minutes, the napkins used to wipe her tears and snot had already filled the trash can beside her feet to the brim.
Soyo let out a soft sigh. She, who was always elegant and composed in front of others, couldn't help but feel a sting in her nose. "Indeed… The first time I saw him in the Celestial Screen, I thought he was a playboy. I didn't expect he actually… Sigh."
They all knew what happened afterward. After that, Aventurine's clan suffered a horrific massacre, and he was most likely the only survivor among the Avgins.
And his sister…
Thinking of this outcome, the atmosphere in the entire hall became exceptionally heavy.
"The only one who survived must have felt very lonely." Takamatsu Tomori closed her notebook and whispered softly.
"Hey, Tomori—" Riki was about to open her mouth to comfort her, but was interrupted by Anon's sudden movement. The pink-haired girl suddenly bounced up from her seat. Because the movement was too big, her knee accidentally hit the corner of the stool with a "thud."
"Ouch! It hurts—!" Anon hopped on one foot in a circle, tears still hanging from the corners of her eyes, but she was already waving her arms energetically. "But! Everyone, I just thought of a brilliant idea!"
"What?"
"Let's write a song for Mr. Aventurine! Even though we can't send it to him through the Celestial Screen, we can sing it at the next Live. How about it?"