Chapter 25: Another Pull

Now, Lumine, since you're the hotshot of the Knights of Favonius… Maybe you can give it a shot.”

“Why me… why can’t Jun do it.”

“Because you’re the one who is more sociable and less threatening.”

“Fine…”

Lumine approached the nun again asking for the lyre but still with no luck and went back to me and Venti.

“It didn't work... I knew it.”

“You "knew it?" Paimon said

“I just wanted to know how influential (Traveler) — the hotshot of the Knights of the Favonius — is. You see, the best warrior should always be presented with the best sword, and yet here we are… Does the story not make for a fitting ballad?

“So what are you trying to say? That we're not good enough?” said Paimon a bit peeved

“No, that's not it. More of a commentary regarding Mondstadt's inability to see the warrior standing right before its very eyes. Very well. Looks like borrowing it is not going to be possible. We're simply going to have to steal it. Today we stand for free will! Any suggestions on just how we steal it?”

“...” Us three were silent

“Come now, speak up. That's what free will is for.”

“I don't want to steal anything!” said Lumine

“Hahaha, look at you. Sidetracked from the start. Aside from singing, I don't really have any other talents. Besides, if I was caught, I'd have no one to right the grave injustice of my arrest.”

“How can it be a "grave injustice" if you got caught stealing red-handed?” Paimon asked

“But things are different for Lumine and Jun. You two are the superstar of the Knights of Favonius. You have made contributions to Mondstadt. Should you get caught, you would easily be able to talk your way out of it. The guards here, it seems they're off duty throughout the night. If we manage to seize this opportunity, it should be smooth sailing from here.”

“Stop mentioning us getting caught!” Paimon said

“So... What do you say?”

Before Lumine could say anything she suddenly thought about what Venti said about him being Barbatos

“I'm sorry— Wait... Did you just say... you're Barbatos?”

“Ah, yes. Seems I did mention that… Your point being?”

“If you really are a god, then we can't simply abandon you.”

“Why does your decision hinge upon whether or not I am a god?”

“Paimon'll fill you in on (Traveler)'s background story when we get the time…”

“And if you're not a god, then I'll help Dvalin anyway.”

“Huh?”

Lumine, Paimon, and I exited the church reflecting on what we just talked about

“To think that bard would be the Anemo god Barbatos. Paimon would never think he is a god with how he acts.”

“Yeah, to think we can find him this easily.” Lumine looks about looking nonchalant about the revelation of Venti

“You knew didn’t you Jun”

“Meh”

“Is this part of what you can’t tell me.”

“Yes”

“I see, I’m really looking forward to our talk more now.”

“Anyway, what is our plan for stealing the lyre.”

“There are too many guards in the daytime we should sneak it at night. The guards should lessen and we can get into the basement.”

“Sounds like a plan, let’s meet up here when it is midnight. We should prepare in case something goes wrong.”

“Is it because you know something ‘will’ go wrong?”

“Maa~ybe,” I said with a bit of sarcasm

“Okay, let’s meet her at midnight.”

We both went our separate ways to prepare for our night of thievery which I will not be proud of. I went towards the plaza and turned a corner into a secluded alleyway. I checked around me if anyone was following just in case. Seeing everything was clear I opened my system

[Rate-up banner: Kamen Rider Zero-one - 7 days left]

[Standard banner: Kamen Rider Zero-one world]

[Primogems: 3,840]

Seeing I have a little over two 10-pulls for the gacha I decided to try my luck to see if anything I would pull will help

“God of RNG please bless my pulls!” I pushed the button in hopes I get something good and was immediately disappointed on seeing the color blue

“Fuck!!!”

Hiden Phone 3*

Ring 3*

Rice ball 3*

AIMS suit 3*

Hiden watch 3*

Chocolate cake 3*

Baton 3*

Solar Charger 3*

Flashlight 3*

Honey 3*

I despaired on getting nothing useful to use for tonight and dropped down to the ground in a fetal position. “All of my hard work gone down the drain...” I sobbed for a few seconds before getting up and hyping myself 

*Insert Kamen Rider Zero-One OST: Aruto no Ketsui*

“Shotaro Ishinomori sensei please bless my pulls!” I prayed, pleading to get something I needed. I closed my eyes and with my heart beating fast I pressed the button. I heard the animation but I was still closing. I slowly opened them and saw what I got.

…

“Yes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”

Kamen Rider Zero-One 5*

Trapping Spider Progrisekey 4*

Hiden phone 3*

Solar Charger 3*

Sun Glasses 3*

Umbrella 3*

Frozen Chicken 3*

Ring 3*

Backpack 3*

Boxers 3*

*End OST*

I finally got my first five-star pull and I even got a new Progrisekey. “Trapping Spider?” I took it out and began inspecting it.

The color was purple and had an image of a spider on it with the engraved words TRAPPING SPIDER. The ability was TERRITORY for this Progrisekey. “I have never seen this Progrisekey before in the series… Was this part of the toys released? I don’t know, but I have a feeling that this will be useful. Since it is a spider I can expect to wall crawl and shoot webs. Maybe with this, I can become Spider-man. I can't wait to find out! This has never before been seen so I wonder how will the armor will look like.“ I fantasized a bit about how the armor would look like and things I could do with this key before looking at the five-star I got.

“Since I got another copy I should unlock the boost for Zero-one.” I looked into my menu and saw a core boost in my inventory. Interacting with it says I could use it to unlock the boost for Zero-one. With no hesitation I used it and I got a new Progrisekey. I got the Shining Hopper Progrisekey.

“Nice! I got it, with this, my power will go up another level.” I took it out and inspected it. It looked different from other Progrisekeys, it looked more mechanical with yellow transparent attachments looking similar to an outline of a grasshopper. The image on it is gold with the face of the new form of Zero-one and a grasshopper on it. The words inscribed are SHINING HOPPER.

When I was inspecting it I saw a window above it.

[Disabled: Host has not yet met the requirements to use the item]

“I can’t use it… Well, let’s not get down, I will get to use it someday I just know it. Besides, I got a new Progisekey that I can actually use and will be useful later tonight.”

 I put the Progrisekey back into my inventory and loitered around Mondstadt waiting until midnight