The Special Nature of the [Destiny Thief] Class: The Growth of a "Child of Luck" Matters More Than Anything

Hachiman Hikigaya reflected on what had happened during the battle and defined the reason Kazuma Sato had been struck as a "fluctuation in luck."

There seemed to be nothing wrong with that analysis. Luck was never supposed to be something constant and unchanging.

But was that really the reason?

"Does luck truly rise and fall unconsciously, like the tides?"

Hachiman Hikigaya said inwardly.

A bolder hypothesis gradually surfaced in his mind:

What if this had not been a "fluctuation" or "disorder," but a deeper instinct of "luck" itself—an instinct to seek benefit and avoid harm?

It sounded absurd. After all, as a probabilistic phenomenon, "luck" should have neither consciousness nor purpose.

But Kazuma Sato's [Destiny Thief] class had clearly elevated the vague concept of "luck" to something almost like a living creature or an embodiment of Rule.

It possessed the capacity to grow, resilience, and could even "evolve" when threatened.

Then, could it also possess some rudimentary optimization mechanism, something akin to a "program" or instinct?

In other words, could it subconsciously guide events on a macro level toward outcomes more beneficial to its "host," Kazuma Sato, in the long term?

Hachiman Hikigaya began reevaluating the outcome of this battle.

In the short term, Kazuma Sato had lost, and it was a thoroughly frustrating loss.

But what about the long term?

If Kazuma Sato had relied on his nearly unbeatable luck to win this duel with ease, what would he have gained?

Most likely, he would only have become even more convinced of his own "luck," more dependent on that gift, and might have neglected to hone himself in other areas.

Over time, that luck might instead become the shackles hindering his growth, turning him into a person who could only rely on luck.

And what about an "accidental" defeat