Part 162: The Essence of a Gambler

"Essence of a gambler, you ask?"

As she spoke, the gambler replied with the calm detachment of someone explaining office work, her tone flat and unemotional.

"Listen. As you know, the strength of a gambler lies in their ability to 'attract fortune.'—but"

The hobbit girl turned her face toward the dim light, offering a faint, weary smile.

It was as if she were bidding farewell, not just to this life, but to the world itself.

...To bring good fortune to oneself, in other words, is also to bring misfortune to someone else.

Is that so...?

You know, in gambling, there's absolutely no way that everyone can hold hands and live happily together. Someone has to win, which means someone else has to lose. If there are people making money, there are also those who end up losing everything—literally their last shred of dignity.

"Ah, I see."

"……You get it, right? The essence of my job is, in exchange for my own happiness, I bring misery to the people around me."

Hm.

Really?

"So that's why they called me 'the enemy of all players'...?"

"Probably what the two horses meant was exactly that."

"Ah, so that's it."

I couldn't help but let out a wry smile.

"I was even thinking about scenarios where I'd be the one who totally wrecked this world..."

It might seem like a bothersome ability, at least from what I've heard.

We now have "magic control."

Isn't it just a matter of turning it on and off as needed?

...Yeah. Maybe that's right.

The girl maintained her listless expression without change.

"---but the real point starts here."

"Oh?"

"The thing we need to talk about is my skill, 'Fate Manipulation.'"

'Fate Manipulation' is one of the mysterious abilities of the so-called 'Gambling Master.'

"This 'Fate Manipulation' is essentially the ultimate manifestation of the 'Gambling Master' job---in other words, the 'Gambling Master's' ultimate technique."

Oh.

So, it's like my 'Ultimate Sword,' huh.

"It's hard to explain exactly what this skill does... but in short, using this skill allows you to prevent any 'bad luck' from affecting yourself."

"Wha—?"

I was genuinely shocked.

"So that means... things like tripping and hurting yourself, or dying from an accident..."

"Disappearing."

...No way. No way at all.

That's not just cheating—it's straight-up god-tier power.

Are we talking about a story's main character here?

"To be precise, you can't just erase the 'misfortune' that actually happened. Isn't that how it works in manga? Cause and effect circling back around... that sort of thing."

"Cause and effect...?"

"The 'I want to go, I want to go, fly away' that was cast—means someone somewhere has to take on the burden."

"...Someone somewhere?"

Ignoring my question, the "Gambling Master" continues speaking rapidly.

"By the way... I never mentioned this, but I once lost my life....My neck was severed, and I was nearly dead."

"………………"

"At that moment, I made a wish. I couldn't help but wish. 'I want to live, even if it means someone else takes my place.'"

"………………………hmm"

I think that thought came to me in an instant—after all, it was only the brief moment between being decapitated and losing consciousness. …Anyway, I used my [Fate Manipulation] ability. I exchanged my fate for a better one, a more "fortunate" one.

By the way, the person I exchanged fates with…

I can't choose them myself. …That's usually how [Gambling Master]'s job skill works—there's usually an element of chance involved.

With that, the "Gambling Master" narrowed his eyes, gazing off into the distance as if seeing something far away.

"Still, I was told—among those bound by some sort of 'fate,' one is chosen. Directly from the Death God."

…………Ah.

"In this case, then—someone who severed my head..."

…………I see.

"Koihara Hakka. One of the few companions I have..."

…………That's why.

That girl, Hakui Iroha... You understand what I'm saying, don't you?

...Yes.

Hakui Iroha is dead. I killed her. She doesn't exist anywhere in this world anymore.

The image in my mind—on that day.

Just before I was captured in "Master Dungeon."

▼

...Come on...

...Hey!

...Pull yourself together!

Sister!

What should I do!?

Which one!?

Which one is the enemy!?

Hakka or Kōon?

My sister's enemy is my enemy...!

So tell me, please!

Sister!

At that moment.

Having narrowly avoided a fatal blow, I said to Saya.

"We can't fight them head-on...! We can't beat them like this!"

It was at that very next moment.

Hakka's "Nebula" bounced wildly through the "dungeon," shattering the ceiling above.

"——Whoa!"

Dust and debris filled the air, blinding everyone as Kagami's figure disappeared from view.

"Let her go!? ——Not this time!"

As Hakka began launching another assault,

"……Damn it! What's with you, Hakka? Can't you read the air? Don't you see I'm in trouble here, sis?!"

For a moment, Saya seemed to hesitate, torn between prioritizing my recovery.

But in the end, she chose the action most true to herself.

"Hey! Hana! Can't you think about me for once?! I'm gonna knock you out!"

At that moment—

Something.

An odd, indescribable force, nothing short of "something," seemed to stir.

"………………W-What the hell?! Why are you showing up now, Saya?!"

The trajectory of the magic whip controlled by Hachibaku—Nebula—became erratic.

"Ahh"

What I saw was the moment her neck snapped, amidst the crumbling ceiling and swirling dust.

And then,

"………………………………………………………………………………………huh?"

Suddenly, the dungeon fell utterly silent.

Time froze.

In that stillness, the one whose expression was most stunned was none other than Hachibaku herself—the one who had been controlling Nebula.

"……S-so… this can't be…"

At that moment, the despair in her eyes was so palpable that anyone observing objectively would have been struck breathless.

The human heart.

The color of the heart.

The way it turns pitch black.

I could do nothing but stare helplessly.

A ball rolled into view right in front of my eyes.

Our eyes meet.

"...I-Iroha-chan...!"

Voices mourning the loss of a close friend,

"Me... I did this...?...Ugh, damn it!!"

Her voice, laced with venom, drowned out the words.

At the same moment, a single white snake appeared, shielding her.

The enormous serpent, stretching dozens of meters long, unleashed shock and destruction so overwhelming that even the Nebula seemed insignificant by comparison.

Suddenly, I realized the raging white serpent's attack was already upon me.

"Damn it—!"

I had to dodge.

But I was already injured. My body wouldn't respond as I wanted.

"——gaaah!"

I took the serpent's strike full on the head.

…………No good, I'm going to die.

Just as I became certain of it—

A strange sensation enveloped my entire body.

――Compliance (Compliance) has been activated.

――Due to specific conditions being met, I am transferring you.

Consciousness from that point onward is unclear...