The Jackpot and the Jealousy

"IT... HIT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

"HOLY SHIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIT, IT HIT!!!!!!!!!"

"I KNEW IT WOULD HIT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

Coins... 3,000 of them?

...Is this even possible?

I rubbed my eyes, blinked a few times, and stared back at the screen.

It’s real. It’s actually real.

"Wh... What!? It, it hit!? How many!? How many did you get!? My share is in there, right!?" — Cheonma

"...Lancelot actually did it... Wait, why are you asking for your share, Cheonma?" — Arthur

"...How many should I ask for? To think we can try again... I’m so excited!" — Merlin

"That’s amazing... Thanks to this, we might... be able to try again!" — Hwaryeon

Listening closely, I could hear the heroes under the machine already counting their chickens before they’d even hatched.

Beep-

With a beep, a message flashed on the screen before disappearing.

Heh heh heh...

At least this way, they won't get swiped.

Thankfully... it seemed I could protect the 3,000 coins that Lancelot had managed to win with her own hands from the other heroes.

After watching the heroes jumping around in excitement under the machine for a moment, I looked at Lancelot.

She was checking her remaining coin count, wondering when the coins she’d won would appear.

"Lancelot."

"...Yeah?"

Should I try mimicking her tone?

I suddenly felt like messing with her.

"Coins. They won't appear."

"...Eh?"

"I have them now. I can take them out whenever you need them. Want them now?"

"...Don't... mimic... my tone!"

"Don't mimic my tone!"

"...You jerk..."

"Heh heh heh."

Fearing she might bash me with her shield if I teased her any more, I quickly changed the subject.

"Jokes aside... like I said before... they’re your coins. I won’t interfere. The choice is yours... and whether or not you share them is up to you."

"..."

Lancelot seemed to be deep in thought.

As I watched her struggle with the decision, Judang, who was standing nearby, spoke up.

"Young master..."

"...Hm? Did you call me? Judang?"

"Indeed. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠I ask this out of genuine curiosity..."

"...?"

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

"...Do you... truly, truly, truly have a talent for bewitching women? How is it that a man... can... sway a woman’s heart so easily?"

"..."

What...

In what way?

This girl is seriously... what is she talking about?

Hah...

But then again,

What are the men like in this world, anyway?

I’ve never seen one...

I have no experience, so I can't really say.

I have nothing to compare it to.

I should ask her.

Exactly what part of me is so "swaying."

She keeps saying nonsense, and it’s getting under my skin.

Unable to suppress my curiosity, I asked Judang.

"Hey. Judang. I’m asking because I’m genuinely curious... can you tell me what exactly it is about me that sways women's hearts?"

"...This humble monk... is pursuing the path of the Buddha... I am too embarrassed to say..."

"..."

Judang turned her head away, her face flushing as if she were shy.

Damn it.

You?

Talking nonsense again.

No matter how I look at it, this girl is definitely an erotic-delusion monk, isn't she?

It was my fault for asking.

Zzzzt-

?

I felt it again... that sensation...!

A chill suddenly ran down my spine.

I turned to find the source, and Lancelot was glaring at both me and Judang with daggers in her eyes.

What the...

Lancelot...

You... were this kind of character?

This won't do...

I need to distract her, fast.

"Lancelot."

"...! Y-yeah?"

Lancelot relaxed her eyes and stared at me.

"So. Have you decided? What are you going to do with the coins?"

"...Yeah."

Oh...

She made a decision faster than I thought.

She seems a bit ditsy... but she's more decisive than she looks?

"...Coins... I'll give them all... to Eodum."

"...?"

"...Lancelot, my disciple?"

Excuse me?

What did you just say...

You’re giving me all 3,000 of those jackpot coins?

...Hah...

Should I take them?

I felt like I was stealing candy money from a kid.

Just as I was about to refuse,

I heard the heroes below climbing up onto the machine.

After hearing what they had to say... I accepted Lancelot’s decision.

Why?

"Oh, come on! I’m Cheonma. I’m telling you I’ll win and pay you back! Don’t you trust me?"

I heard Cheonma’s voice, confidently reciting the classic script of a chronic debtor.

Just listening to that, I knew Lancelot would end up lending them one coin... then ten... then a hundred... until she had zero left.

This, at least, I had to protect.

It felt like... money set aside for a daughter’s dowry! That’s what it was.

Ah...

Come to think of it,

Is this... the heart of a father(?), the same way the orphanage director who protected me and got me a house in my old world felt?

I don’t know for sure... but I can guess... is this what it feels like?

"Trust you? Rather than handing the coins to you... I think it’s better if Merlin and I split them and try that... 'Ga-cha' thing ourselves."

Arthur, trying to subtly put Cheonma down to benefit herself...

"Yeah, yeah! We’re from the same background, so we should get more benefits! Are you close with Lancelot? No, you’re not! Tee-hee!"

And Merlin, subtly bringing up school ties and regionalism to get her share of the nepotism...

"Ah—Hwaryeon! Why couldn't you do it!"

"What did you say? Are you hearing yourself right now? Cheonma, have you lost your mind?"

"If only you had succeeded... by now I would have been..."

Licking the spaces between Hwaryeon’s toes, begging for coins...

That’s what she would have been doing.

It’s a shame I missed that rare scene...

And honestly...

I could use Lancelot’s coins, but... I don’t want to.

Anyway... there will be plenty of opportunities later.

So...

I decided to draw aggro from the heroes.

Gladly.

I will bear the cross of Lancelot’s harassment.

"Whaaaat—!? You’re going to give... ALL of those coins... to ME!?"

"...!"

I exaggerated my movements, pretending to be shocked, and shouted loudly.

At that, I heard the murmurs of the heroes below.

"...That’s so like Lancelot."

"La... Lancelot! Why... why would you make that decision...!"

"...That’s a bit disappointing."

"...My 3,000 coins. Why would she...?"

...? Wait a minute.

Did I hear that wrong...?

Everyone is disappointed,

But why...

Cheonma...

Why are you the only one who thinks those 3,000 Gacha coins belong to you?

Was that for real?

You were actually planning to gobble them all up?

Hearing that, I was convinced once again that my decision was the right ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠one.

Whoosh-

Clatter-

With a gust of wind, Cheonma used a movement technique to appear on the machine, landing right in front of me and grabbing my T-shirt.

The impact caused the pile of coins to come clattering down.

"My... my coins! ...If you don't want to die, give me my coins right now!"

Cheonma’s internal energy-infused shout slammed into my eardrums.

Ouch-

My ears are going to fall ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠off...

Are you seriously a robber?

If I say I won't give them to you, you’re just going to rip my clothes right off, aren't you...

"Cheonma... why are those your coins? They’re Lancelot’s... no, wait... they’re my coins now. And could you let go of my shirt? Are you trying to rip it again?"

"..."

Cheonma bit her lip and took a step back.

Sigh... I know how addicted you are to Gacha...

How could I just leave you be?

I calmly began to persuade Cheonma with "logic."

"Do you think I’m just going to swallow them whole? Let’s just calm down, regain our senses, and think about this. If we can get a bigger profit out of this, shouldn't we try that?"

"..."

Thinking my words weren't wrong, Cheonma turned her back and looked at me with a pouty expression.

"...If the results are lackluster, just you wait... I won't let it slide. I’ll make you regret touching my coins."

Th-that!!!

...Look at that cheeky girl!

Are you really that serious about Gacha...

Fine... I’ll try my best to make sure you get some.

But...

Seriously... she’s so alluring.

Watching Cheonma’s back with a satisfied smile, I urged the heroes to get down.

"Alright, alright! Let’s get down first and check what we got from the Gacha. That’s what I’m most curious about right now. You guys are too, right? What on earth did we pull to get such an insane effect?"

"...You’re right about that... but like I said, just try stealing my coins..."

"...Why are those your coins... never mind. Fine. I’ll secure your coins for now and think about it. Just trust me."

Man...

Sorry...

Cheonma...

Your coins...

I don't think I can protect them...

From what I’ve seen so far...

The coin drain is no joke.

It seems like she can't stand coin inflation to save her life...

Gomen ne...

I was afraid of the results to come, but...

Right now, checking the Gacha was more important.

As I climbed down from the machine, the heroes surrounded me.

"...Let’s see... Status Window!"

A rectangular status window unfolded before my eyes, displaying my information.

The item information was visible at a glance in my inventory.

?

Skill Creation Random Box x1, System Upgrade x1

It says... ???!!!

Finally... I can get another skill...!

Kuh...

In the midst of my overwhelming joy, I saw the heroes looking at me with sparkling eyes, full of anticipation.

Shall I show them what a real hype-man is capable of...!

I let out a scream with exaggerated gestures and a shocked voice.

"KROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOT!"

"Wh-what!?"

"What’s wrong!"

"Hey, are you okay!?"

"...!"

"Are you alright?"

"Yo... Young master!"

I could see the heroes panicking from all sides.

Heh heh heh.

This is fun...

But more importantly, I need to open it quickly.

I’ve been looking forward to this moment so much...