41.
At first, I should let them take advantage of me a bit. That way, everyone will notice that the scoundrel Yu Jin has come to the gambling house. Yu Jin smiled confidently.
“Isn’t that person the scoundrel of Lucid?”
“Yeah, I heard he started appearing at banquets again after being quiet for a while. What’s he doing here?”
Of course, others already knew Yu Jin had come to the gambling house. Yu Jin was famous not only for being a scoundrel but also for his angelic appearance. But the past Yu Jin didn’t know that. The current one did, however.
“But is it okay to bet so recklessly? He’s going to lose it all.”
“Looks like a beginner. He seems to be taking gambling too lightly.”
While games like cards require personal judgment, roulette was truly a game of chance. People started murmuring at the rare sight of someone betting all their money at once.
“Now spinning the roulette!”
After the chip betting was over, the dealer spun the roulette. Then he handed the ball to Yu Jin, who was standing nearby. Usually, the dealer throws it, but occasionally they let other participants throw the ball as an event, and this time it was Yu Jin. Probably because he bet the most chips.
“Then please, throw the ball.”
At the dealer’s words, Yu Jin carelessly rolled the ball. The ball started rolling along with the frantically spinning roulette.
“17!”
“5! 5! It landed on 5 twice before!”
Behind, others kept shouting numbers, praying to be the lucky winner. And when the roulette stopped, so did the ball.
“Red 25!”
At the dealer’s shout, dejected exclamations burst out.
“Damn, missed again!”
“Why isn’t it working?”
“Wait a minute. Wasn’t there someone who bet on that?”
There was. Yu Jin looked at the red number 25 partition where he had put all his chips, then checked the roulette where the ball had stopped.
“It worked?”
He hit the jackpot. The 50 chips he started with instantly multiplied by 20.
“Congratulations!”
“Wow. That’s amazing! Beginner’s luck?”
Someone even whistled. The greatly increased chips immediately went to Keith’s hands. Seeing the different size of the pouch compared to before, Yu Jin felt strange.
‘What is this?’
His heart fluttered and his mood elevated. His cheeks started to flush red with excitement. Yu Jin put his hand on his heated cheek and shouted loudly.
“One more time! Black 8!”
He went all-in again. When Yu Jin shouted, some followed him and put their chips in the same place. They seemed to hope that the beginner’s luck might touch them too. The roulette spun again and the ball dropped.
Roll, roll.
The sound of the rolling ball made him swallow involuntarily. Yu Jin’s eyes followed the rapidly moving roulette. The sound of the rolling ball grew quieter, and the number on the stopped roulette was black 8.
Another jackpot hit. Far more chips came in than before, so much that they had to exchange for larger denomination chips midway. Those who won chips thanks to Yu Jin poured out words of praise to him.
“God of luck! Thank you!”
“My goodness, how can it happen twice? I should have followed too!”
While some lamented and others rejoiced, the roulette kept spinning. From the middle, Yu Jin started betting half his chips each time, and although he lost a few times, he hit more often and ended up with a huge sum.
Ordinary modern people are well aware that gambling is dangerous. Apart from being socially illegal, there are people who get deeply addicted and ruin their lives. Of course, Yu Jin with his modern memories knew this too.
But still.
“Red number 1.”
It was more fun than he thought. The ball rolling on the roulette, the chips pouring down, the words of praise he heard, all excited Yu Jin.
“It’s going, it’s going!”
“With the god of luck, we can go anywhere!”
“One more time! Let’s go again!”
An enormous amount of chips fell to Yu Jin. The dealer’s expression was as white as if bleached as he handed over the chips. He suggested to Yu Jin, who was watching the roulette numbers with hawk-like eyes, in a trembling voice.
“W-would you like to try other games?”
Anything but roulette would do. The dealer wanted to cry under the sharp gaze of the gambling house guard. What was a dealer’s duty? To make people lose moderately and win more. But this didn’t work on Yu Jin. At first, suspecting manipulation, he secretly used a magic tool, but there was no trace of such. Realizing this made him fearful.
To win so many chips without any tricks? If he kept losing like this, the dealer’s head might fly off at the hands of the gambling house manager.
“Other games?”
Fortunately, Yu Jin showed interest in the dealer’s words. The dealer desperately racked his brains.
“Finding the marble is fun, and card games are fun too. Even beginners can enjoy easily, and it’s not difficult so many people play. Or battle chess is good too. You can show off your abilities in a separately provided room.”
Only then did Yu Jin realize why the dealer was suggesting so desperately.
‘I got too excited.’
Yu Jin cleared his throat and gestured to Keith to collect the chips.
“Then shall we try other games?”
As he started to move, intending to look around the gambling house first, people flocked behind Yu Jin. Those who won money thanks to Yu Jin acted almost like followers.
“You’re truly beautiful!”
“Your fingertips must surely be blessed!”
“You’re wonderful!”
“Angel!”
“God’s representative!”
Words of praise burst out endlessly, starting from compliments on his appearance. At first, Yu Jin was embarrassed, but as he kept hearing it, his shoulders began to rise proudly.
Suddenly, a man jumped out in front of Yu Jin, blocking his way. Judging by the accessory on his arm, he seemed to be someone working at the gambling house. The rough-looking man looked at Yu Jin and then opened his mouth. But the voice that came out was completely different from his appearance.
“Oh my, isn’t this the youngest master of Lucid? Thank you for visiting our gambling house. Please forgive me for greeting you only now.”
And with that, he suddenly knelt down on the spot. As he was about to prostrate himself completely on the floor, Yu Jin waved his hand with a disgusted expression.
“Such greetings are unnecessary.”
Only then did the man slowly rise from the floor. Even in that situation, he kept his hands politely clasped in front.
“The thing is, those who win chips above a certain amount can move to a space where they can enjoy more. If you wish, I can guide you there. That place has wine from the Bella region, snacks made by a chef from the imperial family, and beautiful people waiting.”
While he didn’t care about the other things, the mention of snacks made by an imperial chef piqued his interest. Since it seemed nothing would change even if he won more on the second floor, Yu Jin decided to move as the man suggested. The third floor he arrived at under guidance was distinctly different from the second floor.
Music played by a band flowed, and an elegant atmosphere prevailed. Unlike the lower floor, it felt like a space for the wealthy.
“What would you like to enjoy?”
“Let’s try cards.”
In truth, he didn’t know how to play cards. He might have played some simple games a few times as a student, but he had forgotten almost everything through university, military service, and work. Still, he chose that table because there was a familiar face.
A sophisticated-looking man with bright red curly hair, Count Lumine. When their eyes met, Count Lumine raised the corner of his mouth. He had heard that this man didn’t discriminate between men and women when it came to relationships. He was said to be a playboy.
As Yu Jin sat down next to him, Count Lumine put down the cards he was holding and said:
“My, what brings Yu Jin here? Weren’t you not interested in gambling?”
Although this was effectively their first conversation, he acted overly familiar as if they had met just yesterday. Yu Jin rolled his eyes and asked as if he knew nothing:
“Who are you?”
“Oh my, you don’t remember? We met at a viscount’s banquet before.”
“I’m afraid my memory isn’t very good.”
As Yu Jin spoke slowly, Count Lumine laughed out loud.
“I am Count Lumine. You can call me Rock, Yu Jin.”
Count Lumine’s real name was Rockwell von Lumine. So Rock was a nickname, but in this world, nicknames were usually only used between lovers.
‘What a sly human.’
Yu Jin clicked his tongue internally. But his deliberation didn’t last long.
“Rock.”
As Yu Jin sweetly called the nickname, Count Lumine’s body lightly trembled. The meeting with the count was coincidental, but given the situation, it seemed better to get closer. Knowing yourself and your enemy leads to victory in every battle, doesn’t it?
“Is it okay to call you like this?”
At Yu Jin’s words, Count Lumine’s face brightened.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
