TLed by NolepGuy
Chapter 93
Inside the dark casino.
In the gloomy casino filled with cigarette smoke, the Middle-Aged Man swallowed dryly.
‘Four of a Kind…!’
Two years into his gambling career.
For the first time ever, he held in his hand the Golden Hand that had never appeared before. Four cards of 9. A hand called invincible in poker. The Man, fully aware that this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, clenched his teeth to suppress the smile creeping out of his lips.
‘Don’t fold, everyone. Stay in….’
The Man looked at the three men seated around the Round Table.
An Old Master with a long white beard.
An Old Master who didn’t look like someone familiar with gambling, and the Blond Guy he often saw at the casino. He couldn’t remember his name, but he knew they were a fellow professional gambler like himself.
And finally, one more.
“Ah… Uh…”
It was the Red-Haired Youth.
The Young Man, who had lost enough money to build a house on the outskirts, was the Push-Over the Man had been keeping an eye on.
It seemed he had become a Parvenu at a young age.
A guy who didn’t fit in with this ruthless world of schemes and tricks. His inability to maintain a poker face and his tendency to join the next game to recover his losses whenever he lost even a little made it obvious he was a Push-Over.
As the bets went back and forth, the pot started to grow, just as the Man had intended. At the sight of stakes he had never seen before, the corners of the Man’s lips began to tremble.
‘Good… This is great!!!’
It seemed that the Blond Guy also had a good hand this time, but unfortunately for him, the Goddess of Victory was favoring the Man.
If he won this time, he could pay off the overdue loans and shut up his nagging wife who complained about his gambling. Moreover, if he returned the Daughter’s Tuition he had secretly taken for gambling, he could finally live as a proud Father.
Pouring his hope into being seen as someone who treated gambling as a profession rather than a pastime, the Man declared firmly.
“All-In.”
The White-Bearded Old Man, who didn’t seem interested in money, chuckled and pushed the chips in front of him forward as he spoke.
“I’m All-In too.”
The Blond Guy followed suit.
“I’m All-In too!”
The Man looked at the Young Man, whose face had turned pale, and asked.
“What about you? All-In or fold?”
“Uh… no… this…”
Seeing the flustered face of the Young Man, a strange sense of guilt arose, but in this world, pity was a luxury. Hoping this would serve as a good lesson for him, the Man offered some advice.
“Just fold. If you lose more here, you won’t be able to go home.”
“Ah… but still…!”
The Young Man swallowed hard and pushed the chips in front of him forward, speaking in a trembling voice.
“All-In!”
The Man thought to himself.
‘Idiot. Even when given a chance, he can’t take it.’
As one by one the cards were revealed.
A bright smile began to spread across the Man’s lips.
“How should I apologize for this? It’s Four of a Kind with 4s.”
‘That was close. But I have Nine Four of a Kind…!’
The Old Master brushed off his hands and commented.
“J One Pair.”
As victory became certain, the Man revealed the smile he had been hiding and reached out his hand to sweep in the chips.
“How should I apologize for this! Ah… I had such a hard time holding it in. I was worried everyone would fold. I have Nine Four of a Kind! Hahaha!”
The Man smiled brightly at the exhilarating feel of victory. As he reveled in the thought of the mountain of chips becoming his, a cold voice shattered the moment.
“Aren’t you going to look at my hand?”
“What?”
“My hand. You should look at it.”
With a cold voice, the Red-Haired Youth spoke. Gone was the youthful face pale with fear; instead, he wore a stern expression.
Tap. With a light gesture, he spread his cards on the Table. The Man’s body froze like ice.
“Royal Flush.”
“What? No… This can’t be.”
The Young Man, who revealed the best hand in poker on the Table, showed no emotion. His face was utterly expressionless, as if he were merely showing something self-evident. The Man’s eyes began to tremble violently.
“No… Definitely…”
Looking at the Man, the Young Man whispered softly.
“See? You should’ve just folded.”
[Limit Break tests your ‘Luck.’]
“Too bad for you.”
[Gwen Villian]
[Job: Gambler]
[Favorability: 100 > -50]
[Favorite Topics: Four of a Kind. Life Turnaround. The Nine Four of a Kind in My Hand. Father is Coming!]
[Disliked Topics: Honey, I’m Sorry. I Love You, My Daughter. Don’t Call Me a Gambler. Ruined Life.]
The Young Man handed the most expensive chip to the Man and said.
“Give it up. That’s the best thing you can do for your family.”
The Man looked at the Young Man with hollow eyes and asked.
“You… your name?”
“Call me Agui of Hamel.”
“Agui…”
Thus began the legend of the Empire’s greatest gambler, ‘Agui.’
*
On the way to the store with a lot of money.
I walked toward the store where the Young Lady was, wearing a Bright Smile.
Thinking about how the Young Lady’s sullen face would brighten, a smile naturally spread across my lips.
“By the way… I didn’t expect the Tower Master to be here.”
The White-Bearded Old Man.
The Tower Master of the Empire’s Magic Tower.
I never imagined one of the five Archmages of the Empire would be here.
Given his free-spirited nature, I thought it wouldn’t be strange for him to go anywhere, but meeting him in a casino was beyond my expectation.
‘Did he come to see Ruin?’
No, that’s not it.
I nodded, recalling an Episode that had occurred recently.
Hans.
It seemed he had made a rare appearance to search for his fallen Disciple.
Shivering from the eerie encounter, I was walking down the street when—
-Plop.
Something wet and sticky fell on the top of my head. It was too heavy to be rain and too unpleasant to be snow.
I muttered curses in my heart as I touched my head, letting out a Deep Sigh at the sight of the white substance on my hand.
“Ha… a Penalty, huh.”
What had fallen on my head was pigeon droppings. Though the smell wasn’t too bad, bird droppings were a symbol of bad luck.
I stood still in place, humbly accepting the misfortune that had come my way.
It was a misfortune I had anticipated.
Limit Break.
A skill that pushed the User’s abilities to their limits, but it came with definite Penalties.
A skill I had obtained the moment I awoke in Another World.
Among all the abilities I possessed, it was the highest-grade skill and the one that had shaped who I was today.
Even my exceptional Martial Arts at a young age were partly thanks to this ability.
The Penalty for Limit Break was clear.
Testing the limits of luck resulted in misfortunes like bird droppings falling on my head or an entire day of things not going my way.
When using abilities related to the body, I would experience severe muscle Pain. When using abilities related to Regeneration, I would endure excruciating Pain. The Penalties were certain, but the rewards were abilities beyond imagination.
‘I’m relieved that today’s misfortune seems to have ended with bird droppings, but it still feels unpleasant.’
Leaving behind the devastated gamblers, I was heading back to the Store.
“Haha… You’re lucky, Young Man.”
The White-Bearded Old Man called out to me.
The Old Man with a kind face.
Just moments ago, he was the same Old Man Who Sat at the Table and also the Tower Master of the Magic Tower.
I gave him a small nod as I looked at him.
“I don’t intend to return the money, though.”
The Old Man looked at me with wide, startled eyes. It seemed he hadn’t expected me to bring up the money.
I smiled slightly at the surprised Tower Master and said.
“I can give you enough for your travel fare home.”
“Haha…”
The Tower Master stroked his beard and laughed.
“You’re an amusing fellow.”
“I know.”
The Tower Master of the Magic Tower.
A man who would be killed by his Disciple, ‘Hans.’ Though it was far in the Future, it was a Future I intended to prevent.
With Tirbing in my possession, I had no intention of letting that happen.
I bowed my head slightly, wishing the Tower Master well.
“Well then, I’ll go buy something delicious with Father’s money.”
“Are you mocking me?”
“Yes.”
“Hahaha… What an amusing Young Man.”
*
At that moment.
A cold atmosphere filled the Store.
“What?”
The Plump Female Student was looking down at Olivia with disdain, while Olivia glared back at her with eyes brimming with Killing Intent.
Despite the disadvantageous situation of being one against three, Olivia stared at them calmly, unafraid.
“Shut up.”
“Pfft…!”
The Plump Female Student laughed as she looked at her Friend.
“What did she just say? This kid?”
“No idea. She told us to shut up.”
“Pfft.”
The mocking laughter of “Puhaha” echoed throughout the Store. Even as the students ridiculed her, laughing so hard they claimed their sides hurt, Olivia silently tightened the noose around her prey.
The Plump Female Student took a step closer to Olivia and said.
“Hey. Say that again.”
“…”
“I said, say it again. Are you threatening to kill me? Puhaha, do you still think you’re the Olivia of old?”
“…”
“You’re in no position to just say, ‘Oh, I’m sorry.’ Get a grip.”
“…”
Olivia let out a deep sigh and spoke to the student in front of her.
“You look like an Orc with a triangular head, yet you won’t stop yapping.”
Olivia picked her ear as she looked at them.
Despite Olivia’s warning, they only retaliated more fiercely.
“What?”
Olivia smirked slightly and said.
“Am I wrong?”
Olivia’s specialty was her words.
And.
-Vroom…!
A reliable weapon was protecting Olivia.
*
The Store was in Chaos.
“…?”
Holding my Money Pouch, I stared blankly at the Young Lady standing in the middle of the Store.
“Was this the work of a Monster?”
“No.”
“Uh… Then did a Meteor fall from the sky?”
The Young Lady shook her head sullenly and said.
“No…”
Seeing the Young Lady’s shrinking posture and her voice trailing off into the ground, I felt an ominous premonition.
With a trembling voice, I asked the Young Lady.
The Store was in Chaos.
The Clerk’s flustered eyes.
And the trembling eyes of the students looking at the Young Lady.
“Sigh… Young Lady.”
“Yes…”
At my heavy sigh, the Young Lady lowered her head even further.
I spoke with certainty.
“A Thief must have come in.”
“Huh?”
“Don’t worry. Just think of the stolen money as a donation.”
I examined the Young Lady to check if she was hurt.
“Your fingers are intact…”
“Your face is… still pretty.”
“Hehe…”
“I’m glad you’re not hurt.”
“Thank you.”
The Young Lady smiled bashfully but still couldn’t lift her head. With a faint, awkward smile, she spoke in a sullen voice.
“It’s just that…”
“Are you in pain?”
“It’s not that… I got into a fight with them.”
“What?”
At my shocked voice, the Young Lady flinched.
“You fought?”
“Yes.”
“With them?”
I looked at the students sprawled on the floor and asked.
Burnt and bruised, the students were in a pitiful state. I patted the Young Lady’s head and said.
“So. Are you hurt anywhere?”
“Huh?”
The Young Lady looked up at me with startled eyes. Her tear-streaked face carried an expression of guilt.
“Aren’t you going to scold me?”
“No.”
“Why not?”
“Because you must have had a reason to fight. I trust my Personality Patch is flawless.”
“Personality Patch?”
“It’s a thing.”
The Young Lady nodded her head and bit her lips firmly.
“There’s a lot to compensate for.”
“I have more money.”
“Ricardo told me not to hit people, but I rammed into them.”
“You can be careful next time.”
“And…”
In a gloomy voice, the Young Lady confessed her mistakes. She muttered that she hit someone with the Fairy Unit 1 and hurt them with harsh words.
Pinching the Young Lady’s cheek, I asked in a Gentle Voice.
“So, are you not hurt?”
“Mm…”
Seeing the Young Lady lower her head sullenly, I gave a Small Smile and said.
“Then it’s fine.”
The Young Lady lowered her head sullenly.
“I cursed at them.”
“What did you say?”
“Beep───!”
“Oh…”
Stretching the Young Lady’s cheek, I said.
“At least you didn’t make a Savage Insult, right?”
“Their parents are precious, after all.”
“You did well. I think that’s enough.”
I know the Young Lady’s personality well.
That she can be kind.
And that her temper can be terrible.
So.
I think this was a decent outcome.
Handing over the bundle of money I earned today to the Clerk, I said.
“I’ll pay back the remaining amount later.”