The sun lit up the streets of the City of Beginning as Necky and Galf walked calmly towards the infamous "Shame Board," the epicenter of the guild's most humiliating quests.
"I feel like today is going to be a great day," Galf said with an optimistic smile. "Something tells me we won't have to scoop manure or look for more dead donkeys today."
"Hehehe, how adorably naive you are," Necky scoffed. "With your luck, we'll probably end up carrying potato sacks."
Suddenly, something on the path caught their attention. Bright, shiny, striking. A brand-new gacha machine had been installed in the square.
"Gacha!" they both exclaimed in unison, running like children towards the machine.
The metal structure was decorated with exaggeratedly epic drawings of legendary warriors, powerful shining swords, and magical scrolls floating in a whirlwind of power.
"Let's see what's inside..." Necky rubbed her hands greedily as she read the prize list.
First prize: Hero Summoning Ticket from Another World ("Summon a legendary savior for ruined worlds! Guarantees the summoning of a student from another world.")
Second prize: Returned Hero Summoning Ticket ("Summon a dead hero, to modify this timeline with their knowledge of having lived!")
Third prize: Holy Sword Blessed by the Gods ("Cleave evil with divine light!")
Fourth prize: Cursed Sword with a Will of Its Own ("It might possess you, but at least it's sharp!")
Minor prizes: Various items like stale candies, used socks from fallen adventurers, and a manual titled "How to Become a Hero in 10 Steps" (with a 1-star review rating).
"This... this is incredible," Galf said, his eyes shining with excitement. "If we get the first prize, we could summon an almighty hero to help us with our missions!"
"Or resell the ticket on the black market," Necky added with an entrepreneurial tone.
"That's sacrilege!"
"Sacrilege is the price of this machine; each attempt costs two copper coins."
"That's... a rip-off," Galf exclaimed, pulling four copper coins from his pocket.
They both looked at each other.
"Let's make a bet," Necky proposed with a mischievous smile. "Whoever gets the best prize pays for lunch."
"Deal!" Galf put in his coins and turned the knob with excitement. "Get ready to buy me lunch."
The mechanism whirred loudly, and after a few seconds of suspense, a small blue capsule fell into the slot.
"Yes, yes, yes!" Galf opened it enthusiastically... only to discover a pair of holey socks with a terrible musty smell.
"Pfft... HAHAHAHAHA!" Necky bent over with laughter. "What is this?! The sacred relics of a destitute hero?"
Galf frowned.
"There must be some mistake... I'm going to try again!"
"Don't even dream of it, you good-for-nothing! It's my turn, stay away from the glory, you simpleton."
Necky confidently inserted her coin and turned the knob. The machine glowed for an instant and a golden capsule fell into the slot.
Galf paled.
"No way... You got a grand prize!"
Necky slowly opened the capsule, savoring the suspense. Inside was a scroll with shining letters.
"Congratulations! You have won a holy sword blessed by the gods."
"What?!" Galf nearly choked. "That sword was mine! Destiny wanted me to have it!"
"Well, it seems destiny is on my side," Necky replied, holding up the scroll with a mocking laugh. "And now you owe me lunch!"
Before Galf could protest further, the holy sword magically appeared before them, shining with celestial light.
"It's beautiful!" Galf gazed at it with teary eyes.
"Too bright for my taste," Necky commented, turning it over indifferently.
But as soon as Necky tried to take the sword...
BOOOOOM.
A bolt of divine light hurled her against a wall.
"AAAAAAAAH!"
Necky was smoking, her hair even more disheveled than usual. The sword had been destroyed upon sensing dark magic.
"Ha... ha... it seems the holy sword doesn't like necromancers."
Galf put his hands on his head.
"No way! We couldn't even use it!"
"Well, well," Necky dusted herself off and returned to the machine. "If destiny doesn't want me to use a holy sword, then I'll use something else."
She put in her last remaining coins and forcefully turned the knob.
A black capsule fell into the slot.
Both fell silent.
"That's... the cursed sword capsule..." Galf whispered.
Necky opened it with a smile. Inside was a scroll, with red-tinged letters.
"Congratulations! You have won a cursed sword with a will of its own. We are not responsible for possible demonic possessions."
"HAHAHAHA! Ah, this is more like it!" Necky rubbed her hands together excitedly. "Give me my cursed sword."
The sword appeared in a halo of shadows. Its black blade crackled with dark energy, and a glowing eye opened on its hilt.
"WHOEVER WIELDS ME SHALL PAY A TERRIBLE PRICE!" the sword roared with a deep, chilling voice.
Necky took it without flinching.
"Uh-huh, uh-huh. Whatever you say. Can you cut flesh?"
"I THIRST FOR BLOOD AND DESTRUCTION! THE PRICE IS YOUR SOUL!"
"Oh, perfect, I already have a debt with the Inquisition. Let's add this to the list."
Galf put a hand to his face.
"We're going to die."
"And we're going to die with a good lunch, because you're paying."
Galf looked at his capsule with the smelly socks and sighed in resignation.
"Damn this gacha..."
With Necky excited about her new demonic talking sword and Galf lamenting his luck, the pair continued their way to the Shame Board.
Destiny had big plans for them. Stupid plans... but big ones.