Chapter 27 (1/2)

Strange People Are Everywhere ~ Birds of a feather flock together ~

The next day, I and Firia go to the guild as usual.

However, today is somewhat different from usual. I've felt it since the time we were shopping yesterday, but not a few people are whispering to each other while staring at me and Firia.

My beautiful muscles and Firia's beauty surely are standing out, but is it just my imagination that I feel like their reactions are slightly different from usual?

And so I decide to strain my ears and eavesdrop their conversation.

“Hey, aren't they the ones from the martial arts tournament?”

“You're right, moreover isn't that guy the champion?”

…I see. So they're gossiping about me winning the tournament, huh.

While having a slight uncomfortable feeling, we arrive at the guild.

I've confirmed that I now can take C ranking requests at the counter, but there's no request that particularly catches my interest. The tournament was just yesterday, so I think it won't be bad to rest our bodies for a while, but suddenly I hear a deep voice coming from behind us.

“Oioi, isn't it the champion we have here? What's with that displeased face of yours?”

What I ponder who it is, it turns out to be Babandongas. Looks like he isn't together with Ortemia today.

Before I manage to say anything, Babandongas makes an expression as if understanding my thought.

“It's that right? The gossiping people about you winning the tournament, right? But don't worry, everything will settle itself in about three days. It's only for now, for now.”

Come to think of it, Babandongas was the champion of the last event, wasn't he?

“It's so uncomfortable, I'm even thinking about going to another town.”

Babandongas then says as such while laughing and patting my back. Isn't this guy acting kinda too over-familiar?

“Oioi, hold your horse a bit. There are also many good things in this town, you know? Not that I know much about it myself, though…. Ah, right! You're free right now, aren't you? I will take you to a fun place then.”

“Okay, but I'll punch you if it's boring.”

“I feel like you'll send me directly to afterlife with that punch of yours so please don't…”

I and Firia have no particular plan so we decide to follow Babandongas.

When I'm wondering about where he's taking us to, the destination turns out to be a casino.

“You guys have never went to a casino, haven't you? This place is quite fun, you know?”

“I've never partic.i.p.ated in any kind of gambling in my entire life.”

“Same for me, rather than doing such a thing, I'd prefer do some muscle training.”

After murmuring 'what a strange people' with an astounded face, he then leads us into the casino.

Music echoes loudly, and the air is teeming with the smell of alcohol and tobacco. That gives this place a bad first impression in my book.

“The most popular here is this one! Here you spin the roulette and then predict the number between one to eight where it'd stop later. Well, experience is the best teacher they say, try it first.”

Following Babandongas' words, we then sit in front of the roulette.

He's expressly invited us here, so it'd be too disrespectful to decline now.

“I'll bet on three then.”

“Seven for me.”

After the dealer spun the roulette, it lands on number seven.

“Oh, not bad, Firichan.”

“Thank you.”

…I definitely can't afford to lose here.

I don't want to lose in gamble against her. Because otherwise, I'm sure she'll make a fun of me later.

“Come on, come on! Three, three!”

However, the rolling ball heartlessly lands on number four.

No matter how many times I've tried, I've never won. What the h.e.l.l is going on here?

When I take a glance to my side, I can see Firia, who miraculously wins about once each two spin despite the one eight winning chance, staring at me while br.i.m.m.i.n.g with complacent smile.

“Unfortunately you seem to have no talent in this, Yuri-san, unlike me.”

And says so while flapping the banknotes.

….I can't refute her.

I don't want to spend too much money uselessly like this, so I decide to stop gambling there.

“Sup, so, how was the casino?”

Babandongas, who just returned from playing at another game, asks so.

“It was the very great.”

“Very bad.”

I and Firia give him the exact opposite reactions.

Seemingly has guessed our result based on our answer, he then loudly laughs.

“Well, at least it was a good change of pace, wasn't it?”

“Hmm, well, yeah.”