Chapter 252
Chapter 252
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>Translator: Ryuma
>Chapter: 252
>Chapter Title: The 31st Horse Overturns the Game Board
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An amount three times the bet placed on Kang Seol was handed over. It pained Jin Ryeo’s heart to suffer this loss, but there was nothing she could do about it.
“You’re going to do it, right?”
“Of course.”
“This is getting boring, so I’ll increase the number of cups.”
“By all means.”
Kang Seol promptly added an amount equal to what he had just won.
“Hahaha! Things are heating up!”
“Everyone, come here! It’s a big game!”
“Where, where? It’s Jin Ryeo? Aw, damn…”
“Jin Ryeo lost.”
“Jin Ryeo lost?”
Yong Seok and the other subordinates of Yong Hwa swarmed over.
Kang Seol felt uncomfortable with all the attention, but Jin Ryeo was reveling in it.
She flashed a sly smile as she hid the die inside a cup.
‘I’ll strip you bare!’
Truth be told, Jin Ryeo wasn’t originally from Khan.
She was a child of the Kiki Du tribe, one of the northern minority tribes. She had come to Khan in her mid-teens.
The northern tribes, including the Kiki Du, worshipped beings that were neither demons nor spirits. They were the high spirits known as ‘Jin.’
There was even a theory that the roots of spirits branched off from Jin, such was the immense power each individual Jin possessed.
The problem was that manifesting that power in the human realm required various rituals and sacrifices.
In any case, in the north, contracting with Jin to borrow their power was as commonplace as folk beliefs.
Naturally, Jin Ryeo, hailing from there, was also contracted with a Jin. The many martial artists she had faced had fallen to her more easily than expected because her eastern techniques differed in their subtleties.
Jin Ryeo’s Jin was named Kunna.
The ability Kunna granted her was this: if she offered something of value to Kunna by her own standards, Kunna would grant her a wish.
The quality of the wish she could borrow depended on the assessed value.
Jin Ryeo had never asked Kunna for a big wish. Until now, even the smallest wishes had resolved most situations.
For example, moving the position of a die trapped in one teacup to another teacup.
A simple wish achievable with just one silver coin—a steal compared to the stakes involved.
Hoo…
Jin Ryeo drew a triangle with both hands.
The ritual to assimilate with the Jin.
Kang Seol narrowed his eyes as he watched.
He had realized she wasn’t an ordinary martial artist.
‘She’s using some unusual ability.’
It wasn’t mana, nor qi.
‘Karma, or perhaps chakra?’
His judgment was spot on from the start. If Jin Ryeo’s cultivation level had been higher than Kang Seol’s or at least on par, no traces would have remained, but unfortunately, a faint afterimage lingered.
Kang Seol could speculate on her ability based on that.
‘Esoteric abilities come in so many varieties they’re hard to deal with…’
Karma that manipulated karma, or chakra that weaponized mental discipline—these were generally very tricky to face. There were so many types, including abilities one had never even heard of.
However.
‘There are ways around them all the same.’
Since his opponent was Kang Seol, the notion of “general” didn’t apply.
Guessing the teacup with the die earlier wasn’t pure luck, nor was it clearly an ability.
Ultimate technique: Asura.
An ability usable only in Night Raven state. Yet, for some reason, that power faintly extended outward, enhancing his senses.
He hadn’t even deployed his domain, but it was definitely that which allowed him to sense the die moving inside the cup.
‘My senses have awakened? Well… whatever it is, it won’t be enough this time.’
His opponent intended to get serious now.
In that case, he would show a bit of his own seriousness.
Swoosh…
He shifted his posture.
He concealed his ring finger in his crossed hands.
Swish…
His ring finger turned pitch black.
‘At least my persistence in trying despite failures paid off.’
Back in the early days after arriving in the East, when he couldn’t summon Karuna or anyone else, Kang Seol had relentlessly worked to reclaim even the Night Raven.
Enduring the pain, he succeeded in gradually fusing his body with shadows.
In the end, without a summon, his wrist was the limit, but after Karuna returned, this technique had improved further.
‘Even a tiny fusion lets me use the abilities.’
If even a minuscule part of his body was infused with shadow, abilities exclusive to Night Raven state unlocked.
That meant Asura as well.
Zzzzzzt…
Four invisible hands appeared.
Now, not a single crawling worm on the ground or a drop of sweat trickling down his neck could deceive him.
“Let’s begin.”
Shhhhhhh-!
Jin Ryeo’s hands moved like lightning, twice as fast as before.
“My God… Is that even human movement?”
“They say everyone under Tae Yul is a monster…”
“Jin Ryeo! As expected of Jin Ryeo!”
Even Jang Du, who had lost money, watched her hands intently.
“It’s just sleight of hand… but I can’t deny it, kahaha!”
Jin Ryeo moved the cups erratically, sweat beading on her forehead. She meant to crush her opponent for real.
When he half-wondered if the cups might shatter from the sharpness, Kang Seol gave up tracking her movements with his eyes.
Not because he couldn’t keep up.
‘Even before, the die was in a different place from the cup I saw.’
Probably due to her ability.
Foresight was meaningless here, and Insight was too slow to react.
‘In that case…’
He had to rely on Asura.
Thud!
The moment the cups stopped.
[Temperament: Shadow Theft activates.]
[Ultimate Technique: Sustained: Six Senses Asura influences Shadow Theft.]
Kang Seol’s black hands moved like beams of light. He flinched from the recoil.
Then, after checking his grasp, he grinned.
Whether Kang Seol did or not, Jin Ryeo focused on the game.
“Haa… haa…”
She had been holding her breath; now she panted heavily, her chest heaving.
“Haa… So, where’s the die…?”
A choice appeared before Kang Seol.
[Which teacup contains the die?]
1. The first teacup from the left.
2. The second teacup from the left.
3. The middle teacup.
4. The fourth teacup from the left.
5. The fifth teacup from the left.
…
Kang Seol stared intently at the teacups.
Jin Ryeo eyed him, silver coin at the ready.
She could activate the Jin’s power anytime.
But consecutive chakra expenditure was burdensome, so she’d act based on his answer.
“Hehe… Too hard? If it’s difficult to guess…”
“I know.”
“…What?”
“That one.”
Kang Seol nodded toward it.
“That one what?”
Kang Seol leaned in and whispered to Jin Ryeo.
“Your ability. You’re using what’s in your hand, right?”
Flinch…
Jin Ryeo tried not to show panic, but her lips twitched.
“W-what are you talking about? Ability?”
“You’re not going to use your ability?”
No, she was going to.
Jin Ryeo quickly scanned the onlookers.
Suspicious glances. Why had so many gathered?
She clicked her tongue and reluctantly answered.
“Haa… Yes.”
“Swear it.”
“Yes. Who should I swear to? Tae Yul?”
“That’ll do.”
“So, your answer?”
Kang Seol’s face hardened as he spoke.
“There’s no die in any of these cups.”
“…….”
The crowd’s eyes widened as they looked at each other.
“What?”
“Is that for real?”
“No way? I swear I saw it go into that cup with my own eyes.”
Jang Du scowled fiercely.
“I’ll flip the cups.”
“Wait…”
Jin Ryeo stopped Jang Du.
Then she shook her head.
“No need. There’s no cup with the die.”
The crowd erupted in protest.
“Ha! It’s real?”
“You cheating bitch!”
“Wait! Watch your words! It’s never happened before with any of you that the die wasn’t in a cup! And he got it right!”
“You call that—”
“Bullsh—”
Kang Seol raised his hand slightly.
A gesture that oddly commanded silence.
“I’ll take the money.”
“One moment.”
Jin Ryeo met Kang Seol’s eyes and said,
“…Let’s keep going. Yes, the die is in my hand. So, which hand is it in…?”
“Jin Ryeo.”
Kang Seol cut her off and replied,
“Why should I play along?”
“Well… true.”
“Hard to admit defeat?”
Hard to admit?
‘Ah, I see.’
His words made her realize.
She couldn’t accept losing to Kang Seol. It was pathetic.
‘So what if it’s pathetic?’
It was all or nothing now.
“If I lose, I’ll pay double what I owe!”
“Hmm…”
“But if I win… let me flick your forehead once.”
“…Forehead?”
“Yes! Just once, please. I really want to flick it. With my finger. How about it?”
Kang Seol stroked his chin and smiled.
“I’ll take that deal.”
“…What?”
“The money as originally agreed is enough. Deal?”
Jin Ryeo nodded.
“Good!”
At that moment, the voice of Kunna, the Jin contracted with her, rang in her head.
- Stop, Jin Ryeo.
‘Too late!’
Ignoring Kunna’s warning, she pressed on.
“Come on! Which hand has the die?”
Having lost the money already, Jin Ryeo had nothing to lose.
‘I’ll flick him hard, just once!’
It was pure probability now.
No ability; exactly fifty-fifty.
Or so she thought.
Smirk…
Kang Seol said,
“It’s in neither.”
Jin Ryeo couldn’t hold back her laughter.
‘Fell for my own trick!’
Kang Seol seemed clouded by caution and poor judgment.
Otherwise, he wouldn’t give such an absurd answer.
“No take-backs!”
“Fine.”
Jin Ryeo burst into laughter.
“Hahaha! Wrong! It’s in this hand…”
Empty hand.
No die.
“So I must’ve miscounted. This hand…”
The other hand was empty too.
“Ah.”
The crowd panicked as if seeing a ghost.
“What the—?”
“Where’d the die go then?”
“Didn’t Jin Ryeo hide it somewhere else?”
Jin Ryeo was stunned.
‘Why… why is it gone? The die…’
She’d definitely felt it in her hand…
No, thinking back, even that sensation was uncertain now.
Maybe she’d mistaken the silver coin for the die?
The die was made of such light material, it was possible.
Did it fall?
Jin Ryeo frantically searched the floor.
She looked pitiful.
‘Wait!’
Jin Ryeo snapped her head up and asked,
“But how did you know the die wasn’t there again?”
“Well…”
Kang Seol opened his palm.
“Because I have it.”
“…….”
The die sat in Kang Seol’s palm. A chill ran down Jin Ryeo’s neck.
‘When… exactly when?’
Coincidentally, during the brief gap after she shuffled the cups and pulled out the coin, Shadow Theft had activated.
The shadow hand, now evolved into Asura, had stolen the die right then.
Kang Seol hadn’t even intended it.
He’d just meant to guess the position, but his temperament triggered perfectly on time.
He still found it amusing how he’d suddenly felt something in his hand and looked down to see the die there.
Of course, his answer that the die wasn’t in her hands came only after verifying with Asura that it was indeed the die from this round.
“Kahahahaha! Hey, Jin Ryeo.”
Jang Du’s brutal hand clamped on her shoulder.
The other Yong Seok members, fooled by her before, glared murderously.
But since Jang Du stepped up first, they just watched.
“You got owned by that guy. Bet you used tricks on us too, right?”
“That’s…”
“Save it! Jang Du forgets lunch by dinner! The rest of you too, huh?”
At Jang Du’s fierce glare, they all flinched and nodded. He seemed to have a plan.
“…You’re forgiving me?”
“Of course! If you keep your promise.”
“The promise…”
“Forgot? Put out your forehead.”
“You’re going to hit me?”
“Nah? That guy will.”
Kang Seol approached with a bright smile.
Charming, but to Jin Ryeo now, it was like a demon’s grin.
“I’m ready.”
“I-I’m not yet…”
Jin Ryeo schemed.
‘Wait, this isn’t a bet?’
Twisting her lips, she said,
“I’m ready.”
She pocketed the gold coins.
Her mind was at ease, more than ever.
‘Kunna, ready?’
- If the sacrifice is enough, I’ll grant your wish.
‘So stingy over dodging a finger…’
Still, she gripped a platinum coin just in case.
‘I’ll make it look like it grazed me!’
If it didn’t feel satisfying after hitting, the hitter would get mad instead.
Ting-!
The platinum coin stamped with Khan’s emblem flipped upward.
Szzzz…
It vanished in midair with a glow.
“Ready!”
“Then…”
Jin Ryeo trusted Kunna.
Swooo…
Kang Seol’s movement looked slow.
As if time itself slowed.
Kunna’s power had activated.
‘Got it! I can dodge!’
Kang Seol’s middle finger extended horizontally toward her.
She needed her waist’s power.
Snap her waist and…
‘Dodge…’
But something strange happened.
‘…Why?’
It wasn’t faster or stronger. Yet her mind filled with the certainty she couldn’t dodge.
- Ah, this value isn’t enough for your wish.
‘You idiot! Warn me first!’
Finger.
Nothing but the finger filled her vision. A bizarre sensation as if her world was being swept away by Kang Seol’s middle finger.
Her body trembled like an aspen, prickling sensations racing through her.
‘Damn… finger…’
Perfectly timed, impeccably spaced—like a flawless technique.
His middle finger touched her forehead inescapably.
Thwack-!
Not a hard hit.
Average power, average speed.
Still enough to leave a brief red mark.
Jang Du laughed.
“He went easy.”
But Jin Ryeo’s reaction to the finger flick was odd.
“Ow… finger…”
Sway…
As her body tilted sideways, Jang Du quickly supported her.
“Finger… finger…”
Mumbling incoherently, unable to recover, as the Yong Hwa group descended the stairs now that the show was over.
Kang Seol looked up, locking eyes with a man glaring fiercely at the scene.
The successor, Tae Yul.