Steampunk: Sixth Era Epic

Chapter 889: Chapter 889: The Lucky Burden

Mr. Roland didn’t look at Shard’s cards, but took the glass from the waiter who delivered the wine:

“Although I consider myself to be better than the knights of the Northern Country, I had some minor issues at home in the fall, so I couldn’t make the trip to the Northern Country. Actually, I planned to go.”

Only after saying this did he notice everyone was looking at the table. The middle-aged waiter in an apron didn’t leave immediately after delivering the wine; instead, he glanced at the table and then patted the poet’s shoulder with a smile:

“Mr. Roland, it seems you’ve met your match this time.”

Only then did the poet look down. On the table, Shard’s three cards were Moon 2, Flower 11, and Sun 8, totaling 21 points.

“Is that even possible?”

Mr. Roland murmured in surprise, but he didn’t say much more. Instead, as if inspired, he jotted down a few words in his notebook and then gestured for Shard to proceed to the second round:

“I’ve seen the photo of that Big City Player champion in the newspaper.”

The poet spoke casually, taking the first bottom card for the second round:

“For some reason, all the newspaper photos of the knight from Draleon don’t have a frontal view.”

“I know this.”

Shard also picked up his bottom card:

“I’ve heard people say that, although the gentleman is a champion, he personally despises gambling and only plays the Roder Card for fun and as a hobby. Therefore, upon hearing that underground casinos were betting on the champion during the Big City Player event, he decided not to let himself appear in the newspapers to prevent tarnishing his reputation.”

“Truly a person of high moral standing.”

Mr. Roland praised, and after confirming Shard wanted a third card, continued to draw cards. Shard smiled:

“After all, he’s the only knight of this era in Draleon to be knighted.”

“Carsonrick hasn’t knighted anyone with a titled name in many years, either. Rejed’s Hamilton is probably the only true knight of this era. I stand with 19 points.”

Mr. Roland revealed his cards, Flower 9, Flower 1, and Star 9.

He looked expectantly at Shard, who continued to ask for a fourth card:

“I’m actually curious, Mr. Roland, since you’re so lucky, why don’t you go to the casino to make a lot of money, giving yourself more time to write poetry? Bookstore translation work probably doesn’t make much money.”

“Because the translation work itself is interesting, and lately we’ve been busy translating the ‘Hamilton Detective Stories,’ which is a good book.”

Mr. Roland said, then watched Shard reveal all his cards: Sun 4, Sun 10, Star 1, and Flower 5, totaling 20 points, just one more than Mr. Roland.

The poet shook his head helplessly:

“Besides the work being interesting, it’s also because I’m afraid of meeting people like you.”

He drank a large gulp of wine, speaking amidst the cheers of those around:

“I’ll keep playing. It seems I’ve truly met my match today.”

The third round continued, with Mr. Roland explaining while taking cards:

“Alright, back to the point, I don’t go to casinos because, on one hand, I’m a decent person, and on the other, I believe that luck comes with a price.”

“Mr. Roland, I’d rather pay the price and have your luck.”

A bearded man with a loosely tied brown belt at his waist standing beside the poet joked, but Mr. Roland didn’t laugh. Instead, he reached for his second card:

“If you were me, you probably wouldn’t think that way. Luck really does have a price.”

Shard noticed his expression was a bit strange, but before Shard could delve deeper into this topic, Mr. Roland displayed the cards in his hand:

“Look, I drew a Special Card: Star 1, [Carsonrick Horror Story: Headless Horseman Jack]. When this card is drawn, if the opponent’s first bottom card is also a Star suit and has a value of 5 or less, you can choose to forcibly reduce the opponent’s total points by one.”

The people watching immediately began to discuss excitedly; the appearance of a Special Rule Card always caused such excitement.

Shard leaned in slightly, also interested in the card’s face. The face didn’t depict a particularly terrifying scene but showed a headless knight in armor standing in a cemetery, back facing the three-moon in the background, holding his own helmet in his hand. Because it didn’t depict anything inside the helmet, this scene appeared only slightly eerie.

“Carsonrick Horror Story series?”

Shard asked with a smile. This series began its release twenty years ago and has been reprinted four times to date. Correspondingly, there’s the [Draleon Horror Story] series. These Special Rule Cards feature traditional horror stories and modern urban legends from both countries.

Due to their unique card face, they’re fervently sought after by a small number of Roder Card enthusiasts. Don’t mention Special Rule Cards; even the more common Special Card faced cards are priced above the average of similarly unique Roder Cards from the same era.

Of course, although Mr. Roland drew a Special Card, he still ended up busting and losing to Shard’s 18-1=17 points.

And in the next six rounds of play, the poet also fully demonstrated his luck by drawing another of his Special Cards, Star 7’s [Modern Girl: Tavern Girl]. The card face depicted a girl sitting alone at the tavern counter under a gas lamp holding a stemmed glass, her expression lazy.

The effect was to roll a 20-sided die, and if the result was 1 or 20, the card points could be adjusted between 6 and 7.

But even after drawing a Special Card, in the total of nine rounds, the poet Mr. Roland didn’t win a single round, not even a tie. This was very unusual; knowing even if Shard were playing against someone with ordinary luck, the opponent wouldn’t lose so miserably.

“Today might not be suitable for gambling.”

Mr. Roland looked miserably at the Queen Shard drew in the ninth round, admitting defeat willingly, as he searched for bills from his pocket. Meanwhile, he laughed off the crowd of onlookers, claiming his good luck had ended and he didn’t want to play cards any longer.

As the people left one by one, the poet pushed the money he had lost towards Shard and tentatively asked:

“Mr. Watson, you didn’t just happen to be here and play cards with me by chance, did you?”

He handed Shard three small silver coins of 1 Ore each and some paper bills.

Shard raised an eyebrow:

“Mr. Roland, you are very perceptive.”

He pushed the coins and bills back:

“I have always disliked gambling actually, but this time I wanted to get to know you better, so I acted as your opponent.”

He pointed at the money:

“Please take the money back, but I have some questions I wish to presumptuously ask you.”

Mr. Roland squinted at the young man in front of him:

“Have you also seen ‘Cherub’?”

“Are you talking about the Lake Goddess? Oh no, no, I haven’t seen her.”

In local folklore, many names have been given to the “Lake Goddess.” The disabled Professor Drake called that lake “Lake Cherub,” so the Lake Goddess can also be referred to as “Cherub.”

“You haven’t seen her, did you really defeat me with your card skills and luck?”

Mr. Roland was greatly surprised, Shard thought for a moment:

“Actually…I’ve always been very lucky.”

As he spoke, he shuffled his deck simply and then randomly picked one to show, and it showed Sun 1:

“However, I indeed came here for the ‘Lake Goddess.’ I heard about your story from Professor Drake and wanted to learn more details.”

“So it was Professor Drake. Yes, I did mention my situation to him while searching for some information.”

Mr. Roland’s left hand held the handle of a wooden wine cup, his expression began to relax:

“Young man, your luck is already good enough. I advise you not to seek out that goddess in the lake.”

“I have a compelling reason to seek her, Mr. Roland, please tell me about your experiences in the spring, and for that, you may ask any favor possible.”

The poet sighed, raised his right hand missing two fingers, and showed it to Shard:

“Everything comes with a price.”

“I understand.”

Shard nodded.

“Do you really understand?”

Mr. Roland smiled wryly, seeing Shard was earnest, he nodded:

“I have refrained from bringing up that matter again, but since your luck is even better than mine, I suppose even if I don’t tell you, you’ll find out sooner or later. Very well, I can recount the specific experience, but you must promise me one thing. If, I mean if, you really get to see Cherub, please ask her if she can take back my fortune.”

The atmosphere in the small tavern was very leisurely in the afternoon, with not too many customers yet, and after the card players left, no one paid attention to the two at the table.

“Take it back?”

Shard asked hesitantly:

“You paid the price for extraordinary luck, why would you want to take it back?”

“Too much luck is a burden for a mortal.”

Mr. Roland stroked his chest with his disabled hand:

“I think Cherub granted a wish, she merely took away a poem I created at the time.

Upon returning home, outwardly I was completely the same as normal people, but since spring, I’ve increasingly felt like I am carrying a mountain. It’s like installing the latest fuel tank on an old steam engine. Sometimes, people don’t need things they can’t use.”

The poet looked at Shard again, and the young Outlander showed an understanding expression:

“As a poet, your inspiration must be very high, so you can perceive things that ordinary people cannot.”

“Yes.”

Mr. Roland nodded:

“Mr. Watson, since you understand, then let me tell you my story. It is not long, but the process is somewhat unbelievable, I hope you can believe me.”

The two ordered some more drinks, and the poet began to tell his story.