Chapter 48

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Translator: 8uhl

Chapter: 48

Chapter Title: Jackpot Misfortune

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ZZZzt.

As I approached where Se-bin was, a burst of noise stabbed into my ears. The monster targeting Se-bin was probably the "Video Tower." It didn't attack directly, but I remembered its clear condition being a real pain.

Kwang!

A beige trench coat suddenly whipped through the empty air. At the same time, one of the television screens was shattered by a pitch-black blade, its debris plummeting toward the floor.

"Ji-ui?!"

Se-bin leaped down from what had to be dozens of meters up, landing lightly on my shadow.

"Came to help."

"Thanks..."

Tzzzt.

"...Hold on a sec."

One screen among the dozens of televisions suddenly flickered on, replaying Se-bin's image inside it.

Bam!!

Se-bin thrust out her hand, and shadowy hands erupted forth, shredding the screen to pieces.

"You have to hit the lit-up screens to deal damage. If you don't attack within ten seconds, its HP recovers."

'Ah, right, that was the kind of monster.'

Se-bin turned toward the Video Tower, waiting for the TVs to light up. I hooked my finger on Ego's trigger and perked up my ears.

Tzzzzzt!!

'They're all lighting up?!'

Sparks flew as every screen on the Video Tower ignited at once.

'Hey, give me the fastest bullets you've got!'

'On it.'

Tat-tat-tat-tat-bang!!

I pulled the trigger, and Ego spat out dozens of bullets in an instant, vibrating the air as they struck each screen dead-center.

By the time I'd destroyed all the screens on the first floor, Se-bin had blinked to the top of the Video Tower in a flash. Moments later, she hurled herself back to the ground.

Kwa-gwang-gwang-gwang!!

"Whoa..."

An awed exclamation slipped out before I could stop it.

Se-bin had sliced the entire Video Tower in half with her shadows. At the same time, shadowy hands burst from its shadow, smashing dozens of screens.

Thud, thud.

Se-bin slid down onto her own ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠shadow as the TVs crashed into the ground behind her.

'Good thing she's on my side.'

That ridiculous thought hit me first. After reverting her shadows to bracelet form, Se-bin turned toward the half-melted black sun.

"Looks like Ha Mi-jun Hunter's side isn't cleared yet."

"Yeah, seems like it."

'Lucky Claw Machine.' True to its phase-two monster traits, the clear condition must be a nightmare. I couldn't quite recall the details.

'Let's head over anyway.'

I pushed down my unease and poured strength into my running legs.

Bam―!

"No, let me go! I swear smashing it will work!"

"Ha Mi-jun Hunter, hold on~! Whoaaa!"

"...Huh?"

The scene before me was a disaster in a whole different way. Charming face, tall build, world's ninth-richest heir, killer fashion sense, effortless charisma oozing from every word and gesture...

Ha Mi-jun Hunter, owner of every flattering descriptor, had lost his mind in ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠front of a rundown claw machine. A pretty silver axe gleamed in his hand, its honed edge aimed at the machine.

"Ha Mi-jun Hunteeer~!"

Han Jin-woo Hunter was hugging him from behind, trying to stop him, but the physical gap was too much—he was just getting dragged along.

'Wow, if anyone saw this, it'd be front-page news.'

I sidled up to Choi Min Hunter, who was watching from afar. She nodded at me. From the looks of things...

"She said you have to grab a doll to make it vanish."

'Called it.'

Ha Mi-jun Hunter slumped against the claw machine's lid, hands planted on top. I approached him cautiously.

"Our Ji-ui's here~?"

He glanced at me with a grin, but his forced smile trembled, killing all credibility.

The Lucky Claw Machine was your standard street vending type. Out-of-place classical music piped from the worn machine, and behind the glass front, cloth dolls of the warning monsters we'd fought piled up.

"Anyone can grab one, right? Doesn't have to be you, Ha Mi-jun Hunter."

"Once you start, you get competitive. I have to be the one to get it."

With his death grip on the joystick, no way he'd snag a doll.

"Cool off first and let someone else try."

I shoved the fired-up Ha Mi-jun aside and stepped up to the machine.

Claw machine... Last time was high school, I think. Even then, successes were rare.

"Gonna give it a shot?"

"It's the clear condition, so someone's gotta."

Se-bin leaned lightly against the machine with a sly smile.

"Feels like we're back in second year. You won that bunny doll and gave it to me."

"Oh, did I?"

"Don't even remember who you gave it to? Rude."

Se-bin pouted, staring at me. I mostly recalled being thrilled at winning and gifting them to friends on the spot.

Figured I'd given her one too—and apparently, I had.

"...Want me to win you one?"

"Eh... Not really my style."

The dolls inside looked cursed just to own. There was even the Fairy Queen Titania's shoe doll from earlier. That one's Video Tower, the back one's Mighty Salmon something. A guillotine doll with a bunny head on the blade, too.

Beep-boop.

I hit the "Start" button, and the claw lit up noisily. I yanked the joystick sideways, sending it toward the pile.

"Closest one first..."

It stopped over the protruding Video Tower. I pressed ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the button, and the claw inched into the gaps. It clamped the side and lifted—then shook, dropping the Video Tower doll with a plop.

"Ugh... At least it grabs. Some machines won't even latch."

"Shin Ji-ui Hunter, you're good at this?"

"Used to play a lot back in the day. Not great, but... Han Jin-woo Hunter, wanna try?"

Han Jin-woo nodded solemnly and mashed the button. The claw whirred to the guillotine doll and descended.

"Got it!"

"Hold on till the end, hold on!"

It precariously hooked the open guillotine slot—way steadier than my Video Tower grab.

Yeah, just make it to the drop!

All six of our eyes bored into the claw, which met our hopes by...

Plop.

Dropping it.

"Argh! So close! It was right there!"

"Ha Mi-jun Hunter! Can't we just flip it and take it out?!"

"Tried that. Shaking, smashing—everything. Just keeps saying 'Please grab with the claw~'."

Ha Mi-jun clutched his forehead, slumped on a makeshift wooden chair he'd somehow procured. Still fuming.

"My turn next."

Se-bin peered intently, then boldly gripped the joystick. Beep-boop, the claw headed for the salmon doll, arms wide, diving down.

"Ah."

"Just scratched its back."

Se-bin chuckled sheepishly and stepped back as the claw returned empty.

'At this rate, have everyone here give it a go.'

I scanned around and locked eyes with Choi Min Hunter munching a cereal bar.

"Choi Min Hunter, wanna try?"

"No confidence."

"It's fine! Nothing to lose."

Choi Min strode up and hit start. She eased the joystick sideways, stopping over the guillotine Han Jin-woo missed.

Clunk.

Hoping for beginner's luck, we watched intently—but it barely caught the edge, then slipped off near the exit.

"Respawn's coming soon. Better hurry."

"Haaa... I'll give it one last shot."

Bam!!

I slammed the start button with my fist and yanked the joystick toward the guillotine again.

Best shot out of all of them.

'Please work, come on!'

Under my intense stare, the claw descended into the guillotine slot like before.

"Make it safe, make it safe..."

I clasped my hands, muttering nonstop, eyes glued to the wobbling doll on the claw's tip. My heart pounded with every sway.

"Feels promising."

Kim Min-sook Hunter, who'd joined us, chimed in, fixated on the machine.

A measly 1-HP claw game, and here we were sweating bullets?

The claw rattled with its guillotine prize and crept toward the exit.

Clunk.

"Got it!"

The guillotine doll popped out as the Lucky Claw Machine melted away.

♪♩♬♪

A trumpet fanfare straight out of a variety show blared across the whole space.

A massively ominous premonition and gut-wrenching dread dragged up buried memories from my subconscious. As I held my breath and scanned around, the guillotine doll sparkled and floated into the air.

"Blessing?"

The doll flitted over my head, the bunny's neck lolling on the guillotine each time.

Thud!

The dripping sun finally hit the ground, and colorful objects began crawling out from within.

"...Ah, damn it."