Lucky Dog

Once there was a child favored by fortune from the day he was born. Try as they might, even the most vicious bandits could not lay a finger on him. He became known as Lucky Dog. The child grew up, and one day in the throes of adulthood he found himself stumbling drunk along the back alley behind the tavern. Under the starless sky, a vicious bandit prepared to rob Lucky Dog, taking advantage of his compromised state. But just as the bandit was about to strike, a flying goblet hit him square on the forehead, knocking him out cold. Naturally, this makes Lucky Dog one of very few people known to have benefited, rather than suffered, from being in the vicinity of a tavern brawl.

One who is favored by fortune tends to experience at least their fair share of miracles. The legendary four-leaf clover, for instance, is a precious find that brings luck to its bearer. Once, while playing in the field, the carefree young boy known as Lucky Dog happened across just such a clover. Delighted, he plucked it from the ground and put it in his pocket. No one knows whether it was the clover which brought him his good fortune, or the other way around.

When fortune has your back, even the most ferocious monster has to yield. Strolling in the forest, the boy known as Lucky Dog had no idea that a monster was lurking nearby, having singled him out as its prey. The boy became distracted by some colorful mushrooms, and the monster pounced. He leaped out and landed on the poisonous mushrooms, stomping them flat. This was going to be an easy hunt, the monster thought — until a feather from the eagle circling above fell quietly onto its back.

One who is favored by fortune can even find priceless treasures in the most deadly of traps. While wandering around some ruins, the boy known as Lucky Dog accidentally fell into a deep pit. He landed safely on a pile of dust. It turned out to be a mattress that over the years had gradually broken down, eventually turning to dust. Just like that, Lucky Dog discovered a treasure trove left by the old aristocrats. This circlet came to epitomize his luck.

Even time itself could not leave a wrinkle on the face of the happy-go-lucky boy known as Lucky Dog. Lucky Dog had no family, let alone children of his own. But in the course of his life of good fortune, he considered all he met as his friends and family. As his life was nearing its end, he saw an hourglass with sand flowing down, as if counting down his remaining time. He simply chuckled, took a slingshot, and shattered the hourglass.