130 129. Before the epilogue.txt (1/2)

Gray smoke fills the air and a sweet smell tickles my nostrils.

The sound of a roulette spinning sounded carelessly and a lukewarm bustle crawled into my ears.

The ceiling was lit by lights made of processed magic stones.

However, it's a clever amount of light that doesn't illuminate the entire space.

In the corner of the room where the light doesn't reach, adults whose expressions are hidden by the darkness are drinking.

It's a large basement.

However, perhaps because there are no windows, there is a strong sense of entrapment.

I don't need to check the 《Dimension》 to know that this is a place where people with a guilty conscience gather.

This is a 'gambling den (casino)' where the security of the country cannot reach.

Because of the location, the place is filled with people who are well dressed but black inside.

I was sitting at one of the tables in the casino.

I don't want to stay there too long.

There is a problem of my warm sense of value, but above all, I am suffering from the fact that ”sensitivity” mercilessly picks up the malice of human beings.

Nevertheless, I don't use ”Dimension” openly.

In high-class casinos, the use of magic is prohibited in order to prevent cheating. Magic stones are placed all over the place to detect magic. If those magic stones shine even a little bit, you'll be kicked out of here.

I didn't use any magic power at all and was playing the game.

I follow the ball as it spins around in the roulette wheel, making a caracara sound, with my eyes alone.

I analyze and predict where the ball will go.

I measure the ball's momentum with my inhuman kinetic vision. Then I calculate the ball's kinetic energy, speed, and estimated travel distance. The experience of manipulating dimensional magic, as well as the status 'skill' and 'cleverness' and 'parallel thinking' skills made it possible.

Of course, that's not all. The ability of the skill ”Sensitivity” to fine-tune the theoretically predicted range is also significant.

I declare with certainty.

''I'm betting on two of the 'yang' three. The amount is--

The rules of roulette are not so different from my world.

It's just that the names and numbers are a little different. There is also a total take of the parents, and there is time to add bets while the balls are spinning.

Just in time, I was glad to find a game that even I could understand.

This game would allow me to get to my target amount in the shortest amount of time while making the most of my abilities.

-- the full amount, sir.

The dealer taking in the parents of the place pulls a face.

No wonder they are terrified of the customers who keep going all-in, endlessly doubling the amount of money they have to pay.

Instead, the customers around him get excited.

They think he's a foolish man who keeps betting all his money, but it turns out he's a rare lucky man, and they're watching. Most of them wanted to see my demise, but still, for sure, the place was on my side.

The gorgeous roulette, decorated with gemstone magic stones, slowly lost its spinning momentum. And the ball rolling around inside, as if it were being sucked in, fell to the spot I had declared.

'This is 2 of 3 in 'yang' ....... All-in customers, it's 72 times more: ......

The dealer declared with a shaky voice.

At the same time, the cheers around him jumped.

The lucky man, who had become one of the richest men in an instant, is treated with admiration and envy.

Finally, the store calls out to him.

'Sir. Can you still continue to play the game ......?

'Yes, I bet. I was going to bet all the money again, but why not?

'That's fine, but its ....... First of all, it looks like the person above you needs to talk to you about .......

Basically, the dealer would never make anything other than a clerical statement.

That statement would be the same as him indicating his surrender.

At the dealer's urging, I look to the rear.

Late in the game, the people in the store who had been watching me win big were bowing their heads. They had probably been watching to see if I was cheating, but hadn't been able to find any evidence of it.

I was treated like an important person (Vip) and taken to another room.

Then, after some checks, the store tells me that I'm not allowed to use the restaurant in a distant way. I didn't bite down and accepted the ban as soon as I could. I knew it was going to happen, and I had no intention of coming here again.

I leave the other room, checking the money I have on hand.

With that, a beastly woman dressed in a dress approaches from a distance. The bewitching beauty's name is Sera Raydiant. If you don't 'pay attention' and check the name, even now that you've gotten used to it, you'll mistake it for something else.

”How much is there now?

Sera-san doesn't pay attention to my safety, she just checks her hands.

It's not enough. ...... He wants you to do the rest among the customers.

...... You're in trouble. There aren't many gambling establishments bigger than this one. At this rate, time is running out and we won't get the 'ship'.

-- ”The Ship”.

After the tournament, we escaped from Lauravia and headed for the southern country of Gliard.

But as we were about to head out to sea, we stopped.

Rastiara said that if we were foolish enough to board the ship, we would have all the people we wanted to chase. And she was so excited that she suggested that we should have our own ship.

It wasn't a bad idea.

It would be for the sake of the future to be able to install the 《Connection》 on the ship without worrying about it. However, it was also certain that this was Rastiara's hobby.

After that, when we looked for a special ship that could be moved by us alone, we would find that it would require an exorbitant amount of money.

But we don't have time to dive into the labyrinth and save up the money without a fight. Then Rastiara says, ”Go earn some money by trolling the gambling den. You must not lose,” she said, and left me and Sera here.

--And now, to this day.

It hasn't even been a few hours since the 'Dancing Tournament' escape.

But as long as we get the ship, we can rest as much as we want. Repeating this in my mind, I whip my tired body to move.

I moved with Sera to a corner of the gambling hall.

Then I ask for a drink at the bar in the gambling hall.

We take our seats and have a strategy meeting. By the way, I don't drink just because I ask. I don't drink just because I ask. I can't drink, but I can pose.

It's a waste of time to move. We'll find a private partner here and continue to place our bets.

But you were winning so much. How many people would be interested in gambling with you?

No, I think it's okay. There are probably a lot of people in the same position I'm in right now in this casino: ......

The ones who were watching from afar while you were winning?

'Quite a feat, Sera. You're the one. Now let's wait for them to call me. They'll think I'm an up-and-coming rookie.

I'll do what you say. If not, I'll just sell you to the Hoosiers for money.

'What?　I have a bounty on my head: ......?

'Even if it doesn't cost you, you can take it where you want to take it and it will be worth the money. If you turn it in to the Walker family or around the Hoosiers, you'll get enough gratuity money to play it to death.

I have his permission for both of them. ...... I'll check later to see if I have a bounty on them: ......

Sera and I continue to chat, counting the amount of gold we've gambled away.

Just as Sera asks for her third glass of fruit wine, a man approaches us.

He is a small, fat, thin-eyed, middle-aged man.

He wears gleaming ornaments and his clothes are of fine silk. Perhaps a mansion could be built with just what he wears.

The man takes his place across from our table and asks for a fine drink.

He immediately 'gazes' at the man.

And, of course, the strong men who are standing behind him.

[Status]

Name: fey als HP33/33 MP0/0 Class: merchant

Inherent Skill:.

Acquired Skill: Fraud 1.33 Negotiation 1.06

Finally, the man I had been waiting for arrived.

I waited for the man's words, trying not to let my inner joy leak out.

You have earned a lot of money, haven't you? You have a lot of guts for such a young man.

I respond to the man who speaks to me in a friendly manner, and I respond to him in a friendly manner.

...... No, it was just an accident. In desperation, I was repeatedly betting all of my money in desperation, and it seems that I've used up a lifetime's worth of luck. Oh no, it really was on today.

”Haha, just by chance? It's not just a coincidence, it's not just a coincidence, it's not just a coincidence, it's not just a coincidence, it's not just a coincidence. ...... But from what I've seen, you still don't have enough to play with?

'I can understand. ...... Perhaps you've been listening to us?

Yes, with all due respect, a little. Apparently, I'm going to need a lot of money by the deadline.

'Ha, I'm ashamed to say, but I'm in debt. That debt is due today. But I'm short of a few more. I'm in a bit of a bind.

The conversation moves along at a brisk pace, like a greeting.

We already know each other.

Neither I nor the man have any use for this random chitchat; our only goal is to gamble.

The man laughs and tries to end the farce.

Hmmm, hmmm, you're really lucky. And I'm lucky too. On a whim while peddling, I stopped by and found someone in my situation. Maybe this is fate.

And then we get to the point.

”-- I don't know. Would you like to play a bet with me?

I answer immediately, not cracking a smile.

'Yes, I hope so.'

'Oh, wow, what a quick answer!　After all, he's a young man as you might expect: ......!

The man contorts his face and laughs, holding my hands.

Then he repeats the compliment, not letting me off the hook.

After the toothed compliment, we begin to decide what we're going to gamble on. There are no conditions I'm willing to put up. I'm confident I'll win, so I take the game on the terms the man offers.

'-But even though you've made a rough deal today, it still won't be enough to reach the chips I have. I don't mean to be rude, but if you don't mind if I tell you what happens if you fall short of your chips?

'We gamble. It happens. Feel free to tell me.

The difference in money in my possession is obvious.

Probably, from his point of view, after years of winning in this casino, I'm just a little rich man who made it in a day.

The man's smile never falters, and he states matter-of-factly.

'If you don't have enough money in your possession, you'll pay with alternatives ....... You are young and beautiful ....... And I'm also in the business of dealing with such people ....... So, I suppose you will have to pay for the shortfall with your own body.

I see. But I don't need that kind of confirmation. You're betting here, that's the least you can do. I'm rather relieved to hear that it's very sweet.

'Hmph, of course. Still, yes. Sorry to talk about the obvious, hmmm.

I answer the man with a smile, too.

But I'm not at peace. In other words, he also dabbles in the slave trade.

I reaffirm the 'class' of humans behind the man.

Most of them had become slaves.

Just that much makes my heart whisper.

But now, I'll restrain myself.

I shouldn't show it to my face.

Rather, we should feel lucky.

I don't care how nicely I embellish my words, I'm going to make him unhappy. So it's easier to do it with someone like him. It makes my mind easier.

The skill '??' That's very important to me, as I have a

”-- you just can't bet on this woman. She's not mine.

I finally tell him firmly, only that Sera is irrelevant.

Then I saw a shadow on the man's face, who had been in a good mood all along.

'Hmm ....... I'm sorry to hear that .......

The man puts his hand over his mouth and begins to ponder.

From his blatant reaction, I understood that the man's goal was Sera.

The man's persistent gaze is on Sera. Now he's thinking about how he can get his hands on her.

I get impatient.

If we continue to talk about Sera without her being involved, we may not be able to gamble with a high amount of money. If the man's only goal was Sera, he would cut off his gamble at the appropriate point.

That would be a problem. It's a waste of time.

I try to think of another way to get the man's attention.

”-- fine, Kanami. Bet me.

But before he could answer, Mr. Serra offered himself up like a man.

The man lifted the corners of his mouth and this time he praised Mr. Sera out of it.

'Oh, this is good. Apparently, you have the gall to be as bold as the young man.

Immediately I get up from my seat to talk with Sera alone.

''Huh, I'm surprised too. However, can I have a little chat with her?　--Excuse me for a moment.

We keep our distance, turn our backs to each other and talk in small voices.

'Are you sure, Sera?'

He's a scoundrel so bad that his name would have reached the Who's Yards. He's a black marketeer who bribes the state to do all sorts of bad things here and there.

'Oh. You knew about that guy: ......

I don't like those people. Until now, I couldn't touch them because I was serving my country, but ....... I've been serving my country and I couldn't do anything about it, but now I can get the guy to come up with a plan without hesitation. I won't miss it.

That's what I'm talking about.

Just go ahead and destroy him.

I'm off to .......

It just seemed to be the result of a strange sense of justice run amok.

But I've heard good things about it. It seems that the man in front of me is a villain with Sera-san's blessing.

If that's the case, then it's okay to go all out.

I turn around and declare with a smile.

We're done talking. Let's do it. You and me, one on one...

The man responds to that with a smile.

'Then let's change places. The casino will provide you with a referee and a dealer, so you don't have to worry about it. We have a dedicated room for you.

The man leads me through the casino side and begins to move to another room.

On the way, I tell him of my intention to win, as I'm the one in charge of Sera-san's body.

'Leave it to me. I'll do my best as long as you trust me.

”Hmm ....... I don't have any faith in .......

Sera denies it with a thin smile.

Then she cites her trusty Rustyala.

...... just doesn't think that you, by that young lady's own admission, can be beaten by this guy.

There was a distorted form of trust there.

I would never be able to lose for the sake of Rastiara's honor.

While entering another room hidden in the shadow of the large casino, I vowed to win.

◆◆◆◆◆ ...

A separate room with no windows.

When we arrived at the table, the casino dealer dealt the cards to us.

The new game was a card game.

The high rank of this game can be seen from the fact that the cards are handled in a clean manner that is not unlike this world. The cards were laced with pieces of magic stones, which seemed to make them sturdy and also prevent cheating.

However, the presence of magical stones means that the casino has a chance to incorporate a magic formula into the cards. If the enemy man and the casino teamed up, they would be able to cheat as much as they wanted.

And I knew that I would be cheated for sure.

A person who bribes the country and earns a grudge from a knight can't be connected to the casino. There's no way they wouldn't cheat.

In fact, we start playing a game in the other room, and soon I find out about one of my cheats.

At the beginning I have the upper hand, but the game is slowly tipping and my money is dwindling. There was no doubt in my mind that the man had the game in his hands.

Nevertheless, I pretended not to notice and continued to play the game in a straightforward manner.