Chapter 14
Chapter 14
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 14
Chapter Title: Experienced Worker (3)
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#014
1.
Old World Mall, where one pull costs 5pt and you can do more gachas.
Or Joker Random Box, costing 30pt per pull but letting you see more variables.
What I carefully chose was the Joker side.
《Joker Random Box》
- One draw: 30pt
- Consumable item that can become a powerful variable.
- Try getting that one card that can shake your fate.
Modern goods definitely provide convenient items.
If the costs were mediocre, I might've considered selling them for money.
But the money I need to gather is an inhuman sum: 500,000 Universal Currency plus Bios.
Even a Rolex watch would be too much.
Even if a Patek Philippe came out, I'm doubtful it'd sell for full price.
This is the moment I desperately need that one card to shake fate.
"Good."
Can't leave the patient outside too long, so head home first.
I laid Arbel Montraven on the bed and knelt reverently.
If I could, I'd want to purify myself with a bath.
Maximum possible gacha pulls: 4.
No hesitation? Not really.
What if this goes to shit? That vague fear blocks my path.
At that moment, I thought of my favorite philosopher, Nietzsche.
He said,
'Was that life? Good! Then once more!'
Words that always gave me courage at moments of choice.
"Yeah, if I regress, that's it~"
Gacha is originally the man's pleasure given to those who enjoy it including ruin.
A true battlefield that weak cowards can't enter—I'm gladly stepping in.
"One pull."
[Points used: 132pt => 102pt]
-Thud thud thud thud thud thud!
Cheerful music rang out, and suddenly the little clown in the UI started dancing.
Blaring trumpet sounds, blowing ridiculous horns, scattering colorful confetti.
My heart pounded.
An animation I'd never seen before.
The clown laughing maniacally tosses out a box.
Intense red light leaks from inside.
Red.
The precursor to SR.
"Yes! That's how it should be!"
I clenched my fist and stood up.
Arbel frowned, probably disturbed by the noise, letting out a cute 'uuung...'
But SR grade doesn't guarantee usefulness.
I moistened my dry lips from tension.
Please, not some bait like 'Sturdy Stomach,' but something really helpful.
People die here!!!
"Hup...!"
I pressed the box.
-Piuuuu! Boom! Boom! Boom!
With red fireworks, an old scripture like one you'd see at the Central National Museum popped out.
No matter what it looks like, it doesn't matter.
What's important is the effect.
I just pray it's the one move to overcome this crisis.
「Copy of the Mysterious Insect Scripture」
- Grade: SR
- Description: A scripture containing the teachings of mysterious insect sounds, this is a copy.
- Effect: Summons minions of an outer god for 5 minutes.
- Note: Does not distinguish friend from foe. One-time use.
"Mysterious, huh...."
Truly subtle.
The effect is clearly a rampage Joker at first glance.
I don't know what an outer god is, but since it's super rare, it'll send some pretty strong guys.
In a way, it fits the 'Joker' concept best...
But the note 'Does not distinguish friend from foe' is a big concern.
"How do I make money with this?"
What comes to mind right away...
Release this at Ceres's place and steal the money from that safe?
I'd glimpsed inside the thick safe behind the painting—full of all sorts of riches.
If I take it all, forget three generations, I could live lavishly for thirty.
Since I can get revenge from the previous loop, it'd be satisfying, and tempting in its own way...
"Fuck that."
Logically, it's too reckless.
Unclear if the Mysterious Insect Scripture's outer god minions can beat Ceres, and even if they do, problem.
The monster that eats the mage will have me as dessert.
Fighting is obviously out.
I have Laplace's Eye and the revolver, but this world's too vicious.
Even if John Wick really came, excommunication means 3-hour cut.
Nor can I fish in troubled waters and open the safe amid chaos.
I don't have the skill to open that nuclear-blast-proof thick safe.
Maybe thinking of using 'Joker' to scrape quick cash was a mistake.
Ditching Arbel might be the wise choice.
"Mom..."
Did my brainwaves stimulate Arbel's survival instinct?
Sleep-talk leaks from Arbel's lips.
To me, it sounds like 'Sedric, why'd you sell my body...'
"Okay, okay. Got it."
When this loop ends, we're square.
[Points used: 102pt => 72pt]
This time, a bland effect played.
As expected, white—Common grade Joker.
「Dying Message from the Future」
- Grade: C
- Description: Receive a letter from future me. Not a love letter.
- Effect: Upon death, get a hint on previous loop's cause of death in five characters or less.
- Note: Auto-activates immediately on loop restart. One-time use.
My philtrum crumpled.
Future me?
Who the hell is that future me? Result-oriented universe view?
My most hated universe view.
Isn't it like your cards are decided before entering the casino?
And the effect isn't that great.
Hint on death cause sounds okay, but five characters? Who cares?
'Fuck I'm dead' and done.
"Sigh."
Decided not to get disappointed by this stuff anymore, right?
Just shake it off.
"One more pull."
[Points used: 72pt => 42pt]
Third gacha animation: not bad.
This box is blue. Rare grade.
「Curse Ward Talisman」
- Grade: R
- Description: Talisman that prevents curses.
- Effect: Prevents death penalties. Does not remove already imposed penalties.
- Note: Auto-activates immediately on loop restart. 5 uses remaining.
"Oh?"
Not bad.
From experience, death penalties are big variables.
If not for [Delayed Response] immobilizing me for 24 hours post-regression, I wouldn't have fallen to Necropolis.
I had ample time to return to the casino, draw 200 million Bios, and escape.
Sucks that existing penalties don't vanish, but it's worth the grade.
"...But somehow feels off."
Two out of three are like life insurance items.
None helpful for current situation.
Feels like they're holding a ritual to let me die easy this loop—paranoia?
Remaining points: just 42pt.
Last one.
One final bet.
Stake fate on the last dice roll.
Time to leave it all to the gods.
-Thud thud! Thud thud! Bapam! Babapam!
Cheerful music flows, little clown dances ridiculously to the rhythm.
Confetti swirls.
"It's coming, coming, coming!"
Red light shinier than fresh pomegranate seeds! Super rare! Again!
Two SRs in four pulls?
This is way more generous than I thought?
"Arbel, I'll definitely get you in reverse bunny girl!"
With solemn resolve, I touched the box glowing faint red.
-Pat
Like turning on an old brown TV, the UI went completely black.
"What."
No more noisy sounds, no clown's wiggling butt.
No interactions, status window frozen.
All that's left: silence. Stillness. Blackout.
"Hey, hey, what's wrong with this?"
Status window confiscated now? For real?
Then.
-Kiyathou! Hahahahaha!!!
Clown's laughter echoed from all directions.
Free-spirited, madness-filled, arrogant laugh no one can bind.
At the peak of the mad laughter's abrupt stop.
-Crack
Cracks form on the black screen filling my view.
-Cr-a-a-ck
Cracks spread like shattering glass.
The brilliant glow peeking through the fissures is what humanity has craved since ancient times.
Transcending East and West, since civilization began, invariably symbolizing 'wealth.'
The purest, primal desire's golden light.
-Cra-a-a-a-ck!
Like a crevasse collapsing,
The black screen that overturned the UI shattered with a roar.
[ 7 7 7 ]
[ JACKPOT!!!! ]
[ CONGRATULATION!!!! ]
The condensed light becomes a storm swirling through the room, dyeing everything golden.
In the eye of the raging storm.
SUPER
One by one.
SUPER
Rising.
RARE.
Blazing golden letters.
[ SUPER SUPER RARE!!!!! ]
"Kiyathou!!!!!!!!"
Whoa, fuck, what a rush!!!!
This production is genius!!!!! Even 4D support?!!
"Ah."
Dizzy, nosebleed.
Such ecstatic thrill in ages.
After flipping my eyes and soaking in victory's booze for a while, I checked the item.
After chugging kimchi soup reservoir, it better not be shit again.
"Claim! Hand it over quick!"
First time facing an SSR grade item.
-Clunk!
It dropped with a heavy thud: a massive leather pouch nearly as big as my upper body.
「God's Dropped Pouch」
- Grade: SSR
- Description: Just open it once.
That's the end of the description.
No effect, no notes.
My lips curl up.
"What'd you give me to make me this excited!"
Grinning, I tried lifting the pouch but gave up.
Too heavy for my strength.
"Why so heavy?"
Untied the leather knot sealing it, opened the pouch, and...
"......"
I was overwhelmed.
The pouch overflowed with coins gleaming as brilliantly as the SSR effect.
"How many... are these?"
How many exactly?
Considering the size, thousand? Ten thousand? No way ten thousand.
I reached in and pulled out one coin.
"No, fuck...."
Then I realized belatedly.
These weren't ordinary coins.
The coin slipped from my hand, spun, scattering mystical sparkling dust.
"All of these Universal Currency?"
Yes.
Every stacked coin was Universal Currency.
How many Bios is that?
Dump all this in Necropolis, hyperinflation?
Nah, unlikely.
Big corps like Twilight Resource Development or Overnus Pharma suck it all up, commoners still suffer low wages high prices.
Unreal luck's messing with my head.
Joker! You could do this much!!!
"Coming to this world was the right call."
Jumping into that parking spot was genius!
With this much Universal Currency, I can do anything.
"Arbel, let's go."
Bundled Arbel up.
Heading straight to Isis to get her treated.
Even at 3 AM, no problem.
Kick the door, yell 'Owner out here!'
Who am I?
Necropolis's great J. Gatsby.
'What is it?'
'Brought money. No change needed.'
'Oh my! Two Universal Currencies? Treating right away!'
*Ahem, after seeing doctor sis, something suddenly feels off with me too...*
'My place is pricey though...'
.
(omitted)
.
'Ugh ugh! Why's treatment so expensive!'
'Aaahn! Next time...! No consultation fee ooooh!'
I can do it!
Pouch wouldn't fit in inventory, so pocketed four Universal Currencies and stepped into the night streets.
The acrid dawn air sickening the lungs no longer bothers.
Even pleasant.
"Arbel, hang in a bit longer. We'll escape this shithole and head to a resort."
On a white beach waves crashing foam, Arbel in reverse bunny girl for me, me with casino winnings stacking champagne towers, living young and super rich.
"Ah, that life will surely be dazzlingly beautiful...."
Lost in fantasy, midway through the dim underground passage to Aquarium Street.
Musty mold smell.
Mud puddling on broken tiles from poor cleaning.
Mercury lamp hum and my footsteps echo in the silence, then.
A sound that shouldn't be heard.
-Clack
Suddenly, all mercury lamps in the passage extinguish at once.
Dim darkness.
-Clack
Silhouetted against faint light seeping from both ends, a figure leisurely rounds the corner.
-Clack
Unique footsteps stop.
Goldfish embroidery flowing on black silk, scabbard of the wakizashi at waist reflect eerie light in darkness.
"Hi?"
No way.
"No... fuck...."
No fucking way, right?
This loop, didn't even meet the stalker Ceres.
Yet my beautiful death found me faster than last loop.
"You're Sedric Montraven, right?"
Under the ornate fedora's shadow.
Amethyst eyes gleaming spun with a smile.