Chapter 28
Chapter 28
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 28
Chapter Title: Skill & Run One-Card Poker: Round 3
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The number 2 card is the lowest.
In One-Card Poker, ties are impossible—even same-number draws don't happen.
'But if a bluff works...?'
He could try, but it wouldn't be wise.
Dokgo Hyun had the most chips, sure, but going all-in blindly on that alone would be insane.
'The hint was a waste. Better to fold quick.'
But folds had order, so he waited.
"Na Youngho, Player? Time to bet."
"I'll check for n...!"
"Fold, Na Youngho sunbae."
Oh Sua commanded quietly.
"Fold? I could check?"
First betting round meant he could check to gauge.
Even so, Oh Sua ordered a fold.
"Yes. Just fold."
Her command was calm.
Na Youngho grumbled softly but complied with the fold.
"Fold declared, so the card is revealed!"
Thud.
The card was a K.
'Hmm.'
Honestly, a great card.
No ties meant it'd beat anything but an A—100% win.
Not a raise-worthy hand, but checking made sense. Still, Oh Sua's order forced the fold.
Na Youngho bared his fangs in frustration.
But instead of glaring at Oh Sua, he just trembled at his own card.
"Some real harsh brainwashing, huh?"
Dokgo Hyun asked outright.
Oh Sua smiled faintly and turned to him.
"Who knows? Sunbae will probably die after this Run Phase anyway, but I can't reveal my real skill's nature."
"Die after this Run Phase? What does that mean?"
Oh Sua ignored Dokgo Hyun's question.
"I'll fold too."
Oh Sua declared her fold.
The principal revealed her card.
Thud.
Oh Sua's revealed card was a 3.
Just as the hint said.
"Kinda anticlimactic. Winner of this round: Dokgo Hyun, Player."
Clatter.
Chips gathered to Dokgo Hyun.
Three chips, that is.
'What a twist.'
In this variant poker, the two folders revealed their cards, while Dokgo Hyun—who sat tight with his trash 2—claimed victory without showing.
Another dull result after Round 2.
"Damn it!!"
Bam!!
Na Youngho slammed the table with his fist.
Chips and cards flew.
"Na Youngho, Player? Calm down."
"You think I can calm down right now?!"
Grab!
Na Youngho clutched his K card.
"Look!! I drew a K! And still I folded!!"
Na Youngho's rage was bizarre.
He didn't lash out at Oh Sua, who ordered the fold.
Because he was under her control.
So he vented at the poker game and dealer instead.
Oh Sua watched with a wry smile at her skill's power.
The principal shook his head.
"Na Youngho, Player? As I said last round, warning you again. Post-game actions are fine now. But damaging cards or table mid-game counts as cheating—20-chip fine."
"Arrrgh!! Screw this!!!"
Rip! Rip!
Na Youngho tore his K card and flung the pieces at the ceiling.
Whoosh...!
Dokgo Hyun and Oh Sua ended up covered in the scattered shreds.
The principal just chuckled dryly.
"Pet! Got in my mouth."
Oh Sua grumbled softly.
Dokgo Hyun brushed large card scraps from his hair, shoulders, and thighs, then asked,
"Oh Sua. What was that?"
Dokgo Hyun fiddled with scraps without looking at her.
"Hm? I didn't tear the cards."
"Don't dodge. I'm asking about you controlling Na Youngho."
"Hng...?"
"I figured you're manipulating him somehow. But look—he drew a good card. Making him fold anyway? Doesn't make sense."
Dokgo Hyun nodded at Na Youngho.
The command clashed with self-interest, and he couldn't overcome the fury.
'Definitely harsh brainwashing...'
"Skill use is free, but what's the point? Not like you're mocking the game."
"Hm. I agree."
Even the principal said so.
Agreeing with Dokgo Hyun's point, he gave players time to talk instead of jumping to Run Phase.
But Oh Sua smiled without flinching and declared,
"No long excuses. Just one thing."
"What?"
"Dokgo Hyun sunbae dies this Run Phase. Sorry."
Oh Sua nodded to the principal to proceed.
"Hm. Feels like something's brewing next round. Fine!"
The principal snapped his fingers sharply.
Flash!
Players teleported instantly.
'Library basement floor 1, huh...'
Most club rooms were in the main building B1, but some were by B2 parking or library B1.
'Book-related clubs clustered in library B1.'
English Newspaper Club was one.
'Good teleport luck.'
Dokgo Hyun entered the Mystery Novel Club next door.
Then the new poker room location dropped.
'Poker room location's decent too.'
1st Year Staff Room 1 was main building 1F.
'Run there, it's quick.'
Dokgo Hyun flicked on the Mystery Novel Club's fluorescent lights.
Click.
'...It's here.'
The room was messy, but supplies intact.
Shelves packed with classic mysteries, crime news scrapbooks, post-its from festival quiz prep, whiteboard debates on escape room collab...
Peaceful club traces left Dokgo Hyun bittersweet.
'No time for nostalgia. Oh Sua was in Mystery Novel Club.'
Her novel should be here.
'Found it.'
A short story anthology.
'Extreme Love: Hanshin High Mystery Novel Club 23rd Anthology.'
"What a weird title."
Confirmed Oh Sua's name, pocketed it, and left.
Up the stairs quietly, sat in the locked 1F library lobby.
'Hidden from outside, but I can spot anyone entering the library.'
Dokgo Hyun opened the book.
'Roughly this plot.'
A twisted boy-who-cried-wolf tale.
Flip flip!
He speed-read it twice.
'Story of a girl who toys with the world with lies.'
Content checked, book closed.
'From observation, skills tie to user's personality.'
Archery Club Na Youngho got bow skills.
Baduk Club Lee Jong-eun got go-stone summons.
Cat-loving Baek Seonghui got cat skills, etc.
'Awakenings often link to past experiences, specialties, values. Oh Sua likely same.'
Dokgo Hyun gauged her psyche via her story.
Reverse-engineering author intent is tough—calculations interfere.
But a normal high school girl's first story pre-death game? Pure values likely infused.
Dokgo Hyun got the answer.
"Oh Sua has a skill to deceive with lies. Uses it to dominate..."
He pinpointed her skill mechanics from guesses.
And grasped the brainwashing mechanism.
'Lie-based control confirmed. How to resist?'
Tough to infer.
'Recall. Oh Sua's habits...'
Vaguely hesitant speech.
Unyielding posture anyway.
Round eyes not avoiding gazes...
'Eyes!'
First meeting, she eye-contacted during handshake.
Later too, wide-eyed stares.
'Prolonged eye contact! That's the brainwashing trigger!'
Dokgo Hyun was very close to the truth.
'Hear her lie while locking eyes long—brainwashed!'
Chills from near-misses.
But not all.
"No real weaknesses in the skill...?"
No inherent flaws came to mind.
'Sure, Oh Sua's body is small and weak. But the skill itself—no flaws?'
Dokgo Hyun pondered briefly.
Then smirked.
And.
Rip!
Tore one page from her book.
And.
Shred! Shred!!
Ripped it to pieces.
"Time to test."
Dokgo Hyun experimented.
With faint unease.
'...Too quiet anyway. Why hasn't anyone come to kill me?'
"That seals my win."
Oh Sua smiled contentedly, four spirits knelt before her.
While Dokgo Hyun lingered in the library, she dominated all four.
Hard and scary to sway one with [Shepherd Girl], but once one fell, they bridged to easier conquests.
Na Youngho stood behind her.
"This really best?"
"Yes. Best strategy. Doubting me?"
"Doubting?"
Na Youngho tilted his head slightly.
But.
"Not doubt—discontent. Watch it."
"Yeah. Got it."
"And tired of casual speech. Use respect, sunbae."
"Yes."
"Pfft!"
Oh Sua couldn't hold the laugh.
"Time to prep."
Dokgo Hyun was probably on high alert now.
She declared he'd die this Run Phase.
But.
'That was a lie.'
No skill—just a plain lie.
Oh Sua's real goal...
"Spirits. Face left. Don't move, no matter what."
Snap!
They lined up kneeling, left profiles to her.
Oh Sua gripped a large cafeteria frying pan two-handed.
"Yah!"
Smack!!
Smashed to kill a spirit.
Even this, her firm [Shepherd Girl] held.
To break it, demand "suicide," etc.
But "face left" was fine.
Even if death obvious.
Smack!! Smack!! Smack!!
Oh Sua slew all spirits, claimed all four hints.