The Roulette's Gift

Deluxe Premium Room.

With the Seoul skyline visible through the floor-to-ceiling windows, I cut into the steak I had ordered via room service.

"Delicious. Melting."

Until a moment ago, my lunch had been a convenience store bento.

Avoiding the eyes of colleagues, I would huddle on the rooftop terrace to eat it and save a few thousand won.

At this moment, it felt like a dream all over again.

"As expected... Jeong Si-hoo's Go is on another level."

Live broadcast of the Ciel Bank Cup round of 32.

While eating and watching the game, I was captivated without end.

Completed reading.

Refined senses.

Flawless Go.

And the fighting spirit that couldn't be felt in past game recordings was perfectly transmitted.

"I want to play against him."

Seeing that Go, I distinctly felt the desire to compete.

I quietly put a piece of steak in my mouth.

'Yuzuha's match probably isn't being broadcast.'

Unfortunately, but it couldn't be helped.

As Song Tae-gyu 9-dan said, it was unusual for my Go to be broadcast live.

The screen switched, and Lu Quanyi's game began to flow.

China's #2 ranked player.

Surpassing Jeong Si-hoo 9-dan, now the one evaluated as closest to AI.

"... In the middle game, but the accuracy rate exceeds 67%?"

I was unable to contain my astonishment.

In a completely mixed position, the ability to accurately find the Blue Spot was at a mad level.

Even so.

"Eh, eh? Lu Quanyi 9-dan left his seat again. This is the fourth time today."

'Is he ill?'

Seeing him frequently go to the bathroom during the game... his condition didn't seem good.

Despite that, the fact that he was playing such Go was admirable.

Then, while concentrating, vibrations rang one after another.

It was Jeong Soo-yeon team leader.

"Yes, team leader."

-Is the call okay?

"Go ahead."

-I asked the Korea Baduk Association to postpone the issuance of the entrance certificate, filming, and official profile registration. Is that true?

The tone was incredulous.

I answered calmly.

"Yes, I requested it."

-In-ha, you know how big an issue entering the pro is, right?

"I do."

-In-ha's story is at a turning point. The promotional materials are already prepared... Is there a reason to suddenly postpone?

The tone wasn't accusatory.

Polite, inquiring about my intentions.

'I know.'

Professional entry for an ordinary office worker.

That alone was news, a turning point in my story.

But.

"Now, that makes sense. But if I keep winning and climbing... "

I took a breath and continued.

"Wouldn't it be better not to have the amateur title? For me, and for the public, and for the sponsors."

There was silence for a while after my answer.

She couldn't continue.

From the phone, a quiet breath could be heard.

-In-ha... you're a scary person.

"Me?"

-Yes. Someone who accurately understands their own value and intentionally uses it... I've never seen it.

I smiled silently.

Sometimes I surprise myself.

Was I originally like this, or had I changed?

Or was it the influence of the 'Go' talent?

-Remember this one thing. All the premises you said must be backed by 'victory'.

"...I know. So I'm planning to win."

-I'll believe it. As always.

Click.

The call ended.

I put down the smartphone and slowly exhaled.

"Actually... it wasn't just that reason. I had one more thing I wanted to confirm."

A solitary murmur slipped out.

Besides raising my value, there was one unspoken reason.

I opened the folded system window.

The last line of the updated 'Career'.

-Achieved entrance points. Scheduled to obtain official certificate 'Pro Chodan (1-dan)'.

'Scheduled.'

Not completed, but scheduled.

At first glance it seemed finished, but in reality it was still pending approval.

Until then, if I won, it would ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠be processed clearly like 'Obtained Amateur 5-dan'.

But this time it was different.

Because it was point-based entrance, perhaps.

Since it's a way to recognize by numbers, procedures and formalities seemed necessary.

That is, I was currently in the state just before becoming an official pro.

According to the system, still treatable as amateur.

"What if... what if I keep winning in this state?"

With ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠amateur qualification, reaching 8th, 4th, or winning a world tournament.

How would the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠system accept that?

The notification window that had appeared before.

[Defeated the 'Legend of Korean Baduk' with amateur qualification.]

[Advanced to 16th round of world tournament with amateur qualification.]

At this moment, I was standing in that ambiguous gap.

The highest achievement recordable as an amateur before official pro entry.

I knew its meaning better than anyone.

That I could never miss it.

"Well... if I win tomorrow, I'll find out."

I quietly cut another piece of steak.

Ciel Bank Cup main tournament round of 16.

My opponent was Yoo Jun-yeol 9-dan.

He had passed the integrated preliminaries as a senior and advanced to round of 32.

With his experienced management, he had completely defeated Lee Woo-ping 7-dan.

But he.

'Is also the champion of the 8th Ciel Bank Cup.'

A legend who left his name in Korean Go history.

Nicknamed 'God of War', he pioneered aggressive fighting Go in Korea.

Even now in the senior category, after his prime, he is still evaluated as the best in the country in middle game fights.

Click, click.

However, his expression was gloomy.

He was swallowing a heavy silence while looking at the board.

His expression was dark, and his fingertips trembled slightly.

After early and middle game, now entering the middle game.

The board wasn't even half filled yet.

Less than 80 moves, not even 100.

Still, this Go had already tilted to a point where it couldn't be reversed.

"...I lost."

Yoo Jun-yeol 9-dan quietly placed the stone under the table.

Scratching his nearly bald head, he pointed to the upper right corner.

"I didn't expect you to cut here and come out."

He pointed to the move with his finger.

"From the beginning, pushing the board to the extreme, no compromise."

I nodded silently.

That was ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠my plan.

Yoo Jun-yeol 9-dan accepted my gaze.

"Was it a studied move?"

"No. Because you kept resisting, I also resisted."

"...It would have been dangerous?"

"Wasn't it the same for you, senior?"

"Hah."

My answer made Yoo Jun-yeol 9-dan smile in disbelief.

"It wasn't reckless, but you had confidence?"

I nodded silently.

A collision without any retreat.

The life and death of the captured stones in early and middle game.

Confidence that I could perform all the reading without error.

"Losing to such Go... no regrets."

It was a sincere word.

More relieved than regretful expression.

"Congratulations. I hope to see you on the national team someday."

The words were short, but the weight was not light.

National team.

I bowed and saluted respectfully.

"Thank you."

He nodded once more, then descended from the stage.

At that moment.

-Ding!

The awaited system notification sound rang. 'Career' updated.

The air in the hall became strangely cold.

Quite blunt question.

Reducing my achievement to luck, trying to boost the next opponent.

I slowly took a breath.

"If I win, it's luck, if I lose, lack of skill. How convenient."

Momentarily, silence fell.

"...Sorry, I don't know who Liu Cheng 8-dan is."

After the translation ended, the Chinese journalist's expression froze.

A word that could be taken as rude.

But I didn't care.

"So, I naturally don't know Liu Cheng 8-dan's Go either."

I put down the microphone and bowed quietly.

The camera shutters flashed again.

The Chinese journalist flushed and raised his hand, but no more questions were allowed.

Because I had already left the photo wall.

After the interview, I returned to the hotel room.

A space that felt more comfortable than my own room now.

I quickly took off my coat and called my mother.

"Hello. Yes, mom. Yes. I won. I'll call you for congratulations later. Where are you? Ah, almost there. When I arrive, I'll go down to the lobby."

After hanging up, I quietly exhaled a relieved breath.

Today, I would let my parents stay in this hotel.

I had reserved a course meal at the hotel's famous restaurant.

The filial piety I had postponed.

A small but important task I wanted to do.

"Alright... check the delayed notifications later."

I put down the smartphone.

The article link from Yeon-hui, congratulatory message from the branch manager, etc.

Dozens piled up, but now there was something more important.

"Today's feeling is good."

I felt the senses alive while playing Go.

The reading was precise, the shape judgment accurate.

My calculation that targeted the system's blind spot hit beautifully.

To finish, I would enjoy a good time with my parents.

"Such a day, I shouldn't return it, should I?"

I opened the system window.

The 'Gold Roulette' I received as a reward for advancing to the 16th round came to mind.

Let's go.

The familiar roulette window with golden border appeared.

Drdrdrd.

Dozens of slots marked with ?? began to spin rapidly.

The roulette spinning at a speed that made it impossible to look away.

Gulp.

As time passed, the roulette gradually slowed.

The needle slowly stopped in front of one area.

The question mark gradually faded, and the name of the hidden talent appeared on the screen.