V6C139 (1/2)

(139) Miri’s Adventure 11

Translator: Tseirp

Miri and Norn, together with Gorsa, descended down a different flight of stairs instead of the spiral staircase they climbed up with. The staircase did not lead to the first floor but seemed to continue downwards to the basement.

Gorsa’s expression was not as grim as Norn had imagined.

504 black medals, 50.4 million sense. Despite it being an amount that could let Norn enjoy 30 to 50 lifetimes without working.

Norn implicitly asked Miri about it.

“That was just a show. Between the greatest gambler Gorsa and an ordinary person who earned a fortune with luck on the first floor … right. Winning or losing didn’t matter. To be honest, losing 50.4 million sense isn’t that big a deal for this gambling parlor.”

” … Eh?”

“Norn, didn’t you realize? There were people holding onto silver and gold medals on the second floor. I’m just guessing but the silver medal would be equivalent to 10 black medals and the gold medal would be equivalent to 100 black medals, do you understand now?”

Norn initially couldn’t understand what she was explaining to her but she quickly realized and her face turned pale.

100 black medals, in other words, a regular in the VIP area can take out a medal equivalent to a large sum of 10 million sense.

Norn was shocked at the vast difference from her own world and she also understood the reason why the VIP area was separated from the ordinary area.

“The greatest gambler … I was once called that but now I am just the owner of a humble gambling parlor. In fact, I still lost to you like this.”

“Eh? I said it just now. It’s my loss. Well, I would be taking 90% of Norn’s medal though.”

“Eh?”

Norn raised a voice to protest … and curled herself up after taking the glare from Miri.

Norn never thought from the start that she would take everything but she at least thought that it would be an equal split or at the very least a 30% cut.

Then, the place the two of them reached was ―

” … What’s this place?”

A dim wide room. Illuminated in the center was a stage that somewhat resembled the atmosphere that can be felt from the guild arena.

“It’s an underground arena. Humans versus monsters or occasionally humans are made to fight against each other and money is bet on the winner. Well, it’s a tasteless show.”

” … No, no way. There’s no way such an illegal act can be allowed ―”

“Have you forgotten? This is a state-owned gambling parlor.”

In other words, this show was endorsed by the country.

“Either way, you can’t blame it on Gorsa. Since this place has been running since before Norn or I, no, before Gorsa was even born. People who became slaves because they could not repay the debt they owe to the gambling parlor. Adventures who wanted to make a fortune overnight. Many people have fought here.”

” … Not a single person among the guests at the VIP area knows about this place though.”

Gorsa mumbled in a troubled tone.

“You don’t have to worry about it. The means I came to know about this place was special after all. It’s not because there are rumors spreading about outside.”

“Could you tell me the way you got to ―”

“It’s a secret.”

“Understood.”

Norn was looking at the two of them respectfully bow to each other when cheers came from the hall.

When they turned to look at the arena, there was a man holding up a sword ― although, he was really just holding onto it, looking like he was inexperienced in fighting, as he was surrounded by four goblins. Just now it was just nice in her blind spot so Norn didn’t notice it from her position.

“So this is a bet to see how many goblins he will defeat huh. 2.1 odds for zero goblins defeated, 2.4 odds for 1 goblin … sigh, in other words, in most cases they all die before they defeat all the goblins.”

“Die … oh my god.”

“Norn, you can see that the guy is wearing a black slave collar right? That’s a collar meant for criminal slaves that are sentenced to death. There’s no need to sympathize with him.”

“Yeah. He stole from the mansion of a noble from the Kingdom and was sentenced to death after the trial. And I picked him up. If he wins 10 times consecutively, he will be granted a pardon. This is the second round but he injured his foot in the first round so this would probably be his end.”

“Incidentally, has there been anybody who escaped the death penalty by surviving through 10 battles?”

Gorsa didn’t answer Miri’s question. That was the answer.

A death penalty would stay a death penalty. The only ray of hope they have is to fight until the end with the hope that they could be saved. And the instant when that hope turns into despair ― they would turn into food.

Currently, a goblin’s club directly stuck that man’s back. He killed a goblin while looking like he was about to collapse but it looked like it was the end.