Chapter 6
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 6
Chapter Title: Addiction
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Kim Jin-seong had arranged to meet Seong-gwang after work.
Since it had been a while since his friend called, he headed to the meeting spot with a glad heart.
But when he actually came face-to-face with Seong-gwang,
Jin-seong couldn't hide his bewilderment.
Seong-gwang's face was a total mess.
A scruffy beard, deep dark circles under his eyes,
and a body that had wasted away.
One look told him this was no ordinary situation.
"Seong-gwang, what's wrong with you? Did something happen?"
Jin-seong asked worriedly.
Seong-gwang hesitated for a moment before finally opening his mouth with difficulty.
"I lost everything... gambling."
Jin-seong's heart sank.
The nightmare he'd feared had become reality.
In truth, Jin-seong had half-expected it deep down.
He knew the terror and thrill of gambling better than anyone,
so he also knew better than anyone that no amount of advice would make Seong-gwang listen.
A brief silence fell between them. Seong-gwang spoke cautiously.
"Jin-seong... could you spot me some cash?"
Jin-seong couldn't answer right away.
He knew all too well that lending money to a gambler was as good as giving it away.
But seeing his close friend in such a pitiful state tugged at his heart.
"How much do you need? Wait, more importantly,
how much debt do you have right now?"
Seong-gwang hung his head and mumbled softly.
"About two million..."
Jin-seong let out a sigh.
It hurt to watch his friend treading the same hellish path he'd once walked.
"Is this loan to pay off interest,
or are you planning to gamble again?"
Seong-gwang bit his lip and couldn't give a straight answer.
Jin-seong already knew without hearing it.
Seong-gwang would probably gamble again.
After a short deliberation, Jin-seong said,
"For now... would a million do?"
Seong-gwang's eyes lit up in an instant.
Jin-seong handed over the money to his friend, knowing full well he'd never see it back.
"Let's take a quick walk along the path.
We can talk while breathing some fresh air."
The two walked quietly along the trail.
They didn't speak for quite a while.
Then Jin-seong broke the silence.
"Seong-gwang, if you somehow win back two million,
do you really think you can quit gambling for good?"
Seong-gwang replied slowly.
"I've gambled for a long time too... but I've never fallen this hard before. Honestly, I'm terrified."
After some thought, Jin-seong made up his mind.
He decided to help Seong-gwang using his recent method.
"Lately, I've been playing just a few rounds a day and managing it strictly to rack up wins.
If I help you, are you confident you can pay off your debts and get back to normal life?"
When Jin-seong showed Seong-gwang his recent betting and cashout records,
Seong-gwang's expression changed completely.
It was like a golden lifeline had dropped right in front of him.
"Jin-seong, I'll do exactly whatever you say.
Please, help me out."
The two sat on a bench tucked away in a corner of the trail.
Jin-seong had Seong-gwang deposit the full million he'd just given him onto the site.
And so began their private two-man project.
Sitting on the bench, Jin-seong and Seong-gwang started playing Ladder Game rounds.
Right in view was an odd streak section.
Jin-seong looked straight into Seong-gwang's eyes and said firmly,
"Seong-gwang, during a streak section, don't let any other thoughts creep in.
Ditch the doubts, ditch the arrogance that wants to cash out early.
Just ride it until it breaks.
Even if you win five and lose one, you're still ahead.
Think about the next move after it breaks."
The line already had three odds in a row.
From the fourth round, Jin-seong picked odd with full confidence,
and Seong-gwang bet 300,000 won on odd as instructed.
The result was odd. The balance hit 1.29 million won.
Jin-seong stayed calm for the next bet too.
"Now, leave 700,000 aside and bet 590,000 on odd including winnings."
Seong-gwang followed without hesitation.
Odd again. The balance jumped to 1.78 million won in a flash.
It had only taken ten minutes. Seong-gwang's heart raced.
"This time, leave the original 100,000 and bet 780,000 on odd."
Seong-gwang did as Jin-seong said.
Odd once more. Now at 2.52 million won.
Jin-seong gave his next instruction in a steady voice.
"From here on, until the odd streak breaks, bet a flat 200,000 each time. Don't cash out."
On the seventh bet, Seong-gwang placed 200,000 on odd.
Odd again. Balance now at 2.72 million won.
"Jin-seong, that's already seven odds in a row...
Wouldn't it break around now?"
Seong-gwang asked anxiously, but Jin-seong didn't waver.
"I lost millions doubting and cashing out early like you wanted to.
Just go all in on odd, thinking it might go wrong once."
In the end, odd came ten times in a row.
The balance climbed to 3.3 million won.
But even fell on the eleventh bet,
finalizing at 3.1 million won.
It was a ruthlessly disciplined bet: three all-in doublings followed by flat bets until the streak broke.
Build big early in the streak, then flat bet to finish.
Jin-seong instructed Seong-gwang to cash out and said,
"Gwang, never bet just because you're bored or for fun.
I'll keep exact records of these winnings,
so promise me you won't bet alone when I'm not around?"
Seong-gwang, his face much brighter, promised firmly.
"Got it. I won't bet alone, ever.
Two weeks like this, and I can clear all my debts."
Seeing Seong-gwang's happy expression, Jin-seong sighed in relief,
but a lingering unease and worry gnawed at him still.
Knowing the dangers of gambling better than anyone, he feared his friend might get hooked on this high and fall again.
For a week after that, Jin-seong helped Seong-gwang after work every day.
As the days passed, a bright smile began to return to Seong-gwang's once-dark face.
They met every evening after work,
sat in a cafe sipping coffee, waiting patiently for a clear easy streak.
Whether it took one hour or two, they only bet lightly when a sure section appeared,
and Seong-gwang's money grew steadily bit by bit.
Meeting so often brought them closer,
and Seong-gwang treated Jin-seong like a savior, always covering coffee and all expenses first.
Jin-seong figured that much was fine as a friend's gesture.
They joked around and laughed like old times,
slipping back into being normal friends.
Before long, the million Jin-seong had given grew to 14 million won.
Jin-seong said calmly to Seong-gwang,
"Gwang, cash out for now and repay me 10 million first thing tomorrow morning."
Seong-gwang hesitated a bit before asking,
"Wouldn't it be safer to keep a little backup?"
Jin-seong replied firmly.
"Repay 10 million tomorrow without fail.
And send me the proof.
If you don't, I'm done helping."
Seong-gwang nodded and agreed.
The next day at noon, a message came from Seong-gwang.
『Jin-seong, repaid 10 million. Here's the receipt. Thanks so much.』
Jin-seong checked the repayment proof and breathed a sigh of relief.
Now only 6 million won left.
That evening, eager to clear the rest quickly, Jin-seong bet a bit more aggressively.
Luck was on their side, turning 1 million into 5 million won.
Just 1 million won to go.
Only then did Jin-seong lay it out straight for Seong-gwang.
"Seong-gwang, we're down to the last million.
But chasing that final million could wipe it all out.
Honestly, recovering this fast was insane luck,
and I'm not confident anymore.
You can cover the last million with next month's salary,
or I'll lend it to you if you're short.
But tomorrow, repay everything and quit the site for good.
Can you promise to stick to that?"
Seong-gwang's eyes welled up with gratitude as he replied.
"Got it. Thank you so much. I'll work hard, save up, and pay you back right away. And I swear, never again with gambling. Jin-seong, thank you."
And so Jin-seong had cleared Seong-gwang's 19 million won debt,
heading home with a light heart.
But the next day, oddly, there was no word from Seong-gwang.
Jin-seong waited for the repayment notice, but nothing came.
By evening, he called, but Seong-gwang's phone was off.
Days passed like that, yet Seong-gwang remained unreachable.
An inexplicable anxiety gripped Jin-seong.
A chilling sense that something was wrong enveloped him.
Three days later, a message suddenly came from Seong-gwang.
『Sorry, Jin-seong...』
It was an out-of-the-blue apology.
Jin-seong felt a surge of anger.
He'd helped his friend with pure sincerity, yet after ghosting for days,
this guy thought a single "sorry" would cut it? It was ridiculous.
But Jin-seong forced himself to reply calmly.
『Let's meet briefly this evening.』
They sat in their usual quiet cafe.
An awkward silence hung over them.
The moment Jin-seong saw Seong-gwang's face, words failed him.
In just a few days, Seong-gwang looked wrecked again, right back to square one.
Jin-seong realized his uneasy premonition had been spot on.
Finally, he spoke gravely.
"What happened? What did you do this time?"
Seong-gwang hung his head and said softly with great difficulty,
"That last million... I couldn't let it go, so I played alone and ended up losing all nine million.
I'm so sorry to you... I felt so pathetic and ashamed, I couldn't even contact you."
Jin-seong let out a deep sigh upon hearing it.
The anger he'd barely held back boiled over,
but he clenched his teeth and suppressed it.
"Heaven gave us a lucky break to recover it all... and you threw it away with your own hands?"
Jin-seong's voice carried low fury mixed with profound disappointment.
Seong-gwang could only hang his head lower, speechless.
He had no excuse or reason to argue back.
A heavy, cold silence settled between them once more.
Jin-seong looked at Seong-gwang with a voice turned icy.
"Gwang, there's nothing more I can do for you.
I already know you won't listen no matter what I say. I've been through it all myself."
His gaze was cold but composed.
"Even if I keep helping, it's just pouring water into a bottomless jar.
At least you paid off half the debt.
A few months of honest work, and you can clear the rest."
Seong-gwang kept his head bowed deeply, unable to speak.
Jin-seong caught his breath and added in a quiet voice,
"If you're gonna keep losing your mind to gambling,
no amount of stopping from me will work anyway.
From now on, it's your choice.
Quit gambling, pay off the debts, then contact me.
That day, I'll buy you a proper drink.
I can wait as long as it takes."
Jin-seong left those words and stood up.
He walked out of the cafe without looking back.
Seong-gwang sat alone, head down, lost deep in thought, unmoving.
A heavy silence lingered between them for a long time,
and the two wouldn't see each other again for a while.