Chapter 44
Chapter 44
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Silver Dragon
Chapter: 43
Chapter Title: Casino!
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Jessica's recommended restaurant was a sort of fusion Western cuisine.
We had pasta and steak loaded with unique spices. They were tasty enough, but not really my thing.
Even while eating, Kim Yang kept shooting me sharp glares, while Ryu Seram devoured her food like a beast, repeatedly marveling, "This is the taste of the future!" in a way that was hard to buy.
"Stomach's full, but it feels weirdly bloated."
"H-here."
Kim Yang handed me some digestive aid.
They say meds in Cyber City work fast, and sure enough, my gut settled right down.
"This stuff works great. I should stock up before we go."
I knew there were limits on how many meds you could buy, but I'd pack 'em tight.
A few in the office would be perfect.
"Hey, Ryu Seram. You're not buying any meds here, right? Then grab some for me too."
"Huh? Call me sis first."
"...Don't be annoying."
"Pfft! Hey, more importantly, where we headed? It's Christmas! With two beautiful ladies on either arm?"
At her question about our destination, Kim Yang perked up and glanced over, curious too.
"Beautiful ladies, my ass."
One's a company employee, and the other's a dude in drag.
"What do you think we can do on Christmas like this?"
"Hotel?"
"Ryu Seram, you sound just like some old perv."
I could totally picture her on a day off, sipping beer and cursing out baseball players on TV.
"Cyber City's Christmas has one very special spot with a big event going on."
Just in case, I'd bookmarked a few tourist spots on the way up to the 6th floor.
"Let's go! Time to make a killing!"
Cyber City's casino, Volboom.
From the entrance, the clattering spin of roulette wheels greeted us like a shower of cash.
Even nearing 2 a.m., the dazzling golden lights showed no sign of dimming, and amid the bustling crowds, cheers or despairing sobs echoed like ghost stories now and then.
"Oppa! Come on in, pyong!"
A woman in a bunny girl outfit at the door started her pitch, and men's jaws naturally dropped.
'Is this why people love beastkin?'
"A-ah, aren't you cold?"
Kim Yang, watching from the side, tugged lightly at the bunny girl's latex in disbelief.
I stood on tiptoes for a peek down her cleavage, but Ryu Seram blocked me.
"Oh my! Sis! You into this, pyong? I can do it all. Just equip me, pyong!"
Equip...?
She deflated instantly.
No matter how you slice it, that's a no.
"Alright, if you're coming in, put these on, pyong!"
Our brief chit-chat was just business after all. The bunny girl promptly handed us clip-on earpieces.
"Language set to 3rd Floor Earth, Korean, right? Say your first words after putting 'em in, and it'll auto-translate. Heads up, pyong!"
I popped one in and muttered something random. Sure enough, translation kicked in.
"Wait... Bunny girl, you speak Korean?"
"I got the language translation module installed! Pyong! Latest model, handles 130 languages, pyong!"
Ryu Seram pointed at her with a baffled look and glanced at me.
"Module bugged or something? Keeps going 'pyong pyong.' What is this, a broken game console?"
"Oh pyong! Sis, that's what makes it cuter, pyong! Right, oppa?"
Look at her, linking arms with me right away.
"Yeah, pretty cute."
I nodded, so Ryu Seram grumbled about seeing something she shouldn't and headed inside. Kim Yang followed without a word.
I hurried after them, embarrassed.
"Oppa! Win big and tip me, pyong!"
She thought she'd hooked a sucker, leaving that lingering tease.
"That's pro service. Kim Yang, you gotta learn to greet like that."
"I-I'm not a bunny. I'm a sheep."
"Who said pyong? I'm talking customer service."
"......"
Kim Yang went into headbutt stance, so I apologized quick and hustled inside.
First things first: exchange for chips.
We headed to the exchange counter for Volboom-exclusive chips.
"Uh, Juseon."
"...?"
I startled as Kim Yang called while I punched in at the kiosk.
"What'd you just call me?"
"Ju-Juseon."
"I'm your close—oh, right."
We agreed she'd call me Juseon till she paid up.
Remembering the bet, Kim Yang's lip curled in a smirk.
"Y-you got money? Th-the buy-in. It's pricey."
"...A little left. Casinos are for playing small stakes anyway."
"B-broke, so only a l-little?"
"Same result, so whatever."
I scraped together two million won—my blood, sweat, and soul—for some coins.
Ryu Seram came back from another kiosk with a basket of chips, including three gold ones—the highest denomination.
"...300 million?"
What the hell?
"You planning to move in here? Cashed 300 mil?"
"Why? I can afford it. Money's meant to be spent from the bank."
Goddamn, jealous.
Kim Yang finished exchanging, and we headed straight to the main gaming lounge.
Rows of slot machines, poker tables, hologram fishing, coin fountains, and more.
Machines like mesmerizing sirens stretched out, challenging us to duel.
Win it all or lose it all.
People yanking levers with wild eyes—not just for cash, but drunk on the vibe.
"Hey, whatcha gonna play?"
Ryu Seram grinned, caught up in the atmosphere, eyes drifting to one spot—she'd already decided.
"Was thinking cards... but ugh, that vibe's sketchy."
Poker tables looked rough. Full of fixers and mob types from Cyber City.
Even if you win there, walking out with it? Doubtful.
Faces like they'd pistol-whip your skull outside.
Blackjack or baccarat? Dealers were AI—no edge in mind games.
"Nothing? Come with me then."
Ryu Seram grabbed my arm like she'd been waiting.
Kim Yang tagged along quietly.
We ended up at—
"...Baseball?"
[Hologram Super Baseball!]
This chick's a die-hard baseball nut.
Baseball, even here?
Hologram baseball.
Under the mini field, holographic players filed in.
Like chess pieces, but a bit bigger.
[05:03]
Five minutes to game start, per the central scoreboard.
Player lists showed hex stats for physicals, plus situational strengths.
"Basically a game."
"Baseball is a game."
Ryu Seram eyed the players intently. I checked the odds.
Win/loss was low payout.
Score predictions, hits, homers, etc.—way more options than expected.
'Just follow Ryu Seram.'
Overthink it, and I'd know jack.
Trust the self-proclaimed expert.
"Hey, decided?"
"Omega Devils are the safe pick. Let's go."
Three gold coins.
300 mil straight on Omega Devils, no hesitation—even one on the cleanup hitter going yard.
'That's the beast's heart.'
Or so I'd think.
But to Ryu Seram, 300 mil was pocket change.
My life's on the line here.
Her 300 mil's spare; my two mil's my nest egg.
(Though I've got stocks buried.)
"Betting on your call."
"Who else but sis, huh?"
Almost spite-bet the other side.
We sat in Omega Devils seats post-bet, but my neck prickled nonstop.
'What? This feeling?'
Wondering why so uneasy, Kim Yang—munching popcorn she'd bought—asked from beside me.
"Ju-Juseon."
"...Yeah."
"Y-you know baseball good?"
"Rules, yeah."
"Hmm, I-I don't."
"Wanna learn now? Influencers got cheerleaders too."
"Y-you watch that?"
"......"
Mid-rule explanation, lightning insight flashed.
"Oh."
Ryu Seram's a true fan—of perennially last-place Daeheung Bearforce.
"Aaaah!"
I jolted like a horror flick jump scare, desperate to switch—but
[PLAY BALL-!]
Game started anyway.
Not full games for betting—10 minutes tops.
Holograms zipped sharp.
Not plain baseball.
Ace pitcher caught with a secret prosthetic arm, ejected; batter sidelined for doping; fielder oiled wrong, couldn't sprint.
Like a sitcom from a goofy cartoon.
Fun for them, agony for bettors with skin in the game.
"Fuck! What're you doing?!"
"Rigged! This is rigged, you bastards—!"
"Prosthetic? That guy's got one too! 'Over spec'? Bullshit!"
"Agh! Fucking hell."
Holograms played on briskly, oblivious to fans shredding throats nearby.
"Hey, Seram."
"...What."
"Feel like cussing."
Our Omega Devils faltering, rage boiled in me too.
Runner on third "reboots" leg, hits but stands pat—blood-boiling.
Got why Ryu Seram's always pissed.
"Watching baseball, I can't hold back rage? Got a chant for that."
Her magic spell for me.
I stared—what kinda nonsense?—but she just nodded.
"Bullshit."
"For real. Calms you a bit."
"...Fine. Better than swearing."
Suuuck, deep breath.
Me and Ryu Seram yelled in sync.
"Hey! This egg bread's so damn sweet! Aaaah!"
"Yaaah! This egg bread's so damn sweeeet!"
Shockingly, it actually soothed a tad. Wild.