Inside the dimly lit casino.

Amid the thick tobacco smoke, a middle-aged man swallowed his dry saliva.

‘Four of a kind…!’

Two years into his  gambling career.

He held in his hand the golden set of cards that had never come up before. Four nines. A hand called invincible in poker. Knowing this was a once-in-a-lifetime chance, the man clenched his teeth to suppress the smile creeping onto his face.

‘Don’t fold, everyone join in…’

The man surveyed the three others seated at the round table.

An old man with a long white beard.

One old fellow who didn’t seem the type to frequent casinos, and a blond guy he often saw around. He couldn’t recall the name, but the man was a fellow professional  gambler.

And the last one.

“Ah… Uh…”

A young man with red hair.

The youth who had already lost enough money to build a house in the outskirts was a mark the man had been keeping an eye on.

Apparently struck rich at a young age.

But he didn’t fit in with the brutal world of tricks and schemes. He couldn’t manage his expressions and would always join the next game trying to recoup even the smallest loss, a clear sign of an easy mark.

 Bets were placed, and the stakes grew as the man intended. His lips trembled with excitement at the sight of the pot, an amount he had never seen before.

‘Good… Perfect!!!’

It seemed that the blond man also had a good hand this round, but unfortunately for him, Lady Luck was on the man’s side.

If he won this time, he could pay off his debts and stop his wife’s nagging about his  gambling addiction. He could even return the tuition fees he borrowed for his daughter’s  education, finally living as a proud father.

With a hope that  gambling would be respected as a profession rather than mere entertainment, the man declared with a firm voice.

“All in.”

The old man, who seemed indifferent to money, laughed heartily and pushed his chips forward.

“I’m all in too.”

And so did the blond guy.

“I’m all in!”

The man addressed the pale-faced youth.

“What about you? All in or dead?”
“It’s… no… this is…”

The flustered youth’s face evoked a strange sense of guilt, but in this world of  gambling, sympathy was a luxury. Hoping this would be a good lesson for him, the man gave him some parting advice.

“Just die, right? If you lose anymore, you can’t go home.”
“Still… I will!”

The youth gulped down his saliva and pushed his chips forward with a trembling voice.

“All in!”

The man thought to himself.

‘Idiot. Can’t even grasp an opportunity when it’s given.’

As the cards were revealed one by one.

A smile began to spread across the man’s face.

“I’m sorry about this, but I have four of a kind.”

‘Close call. But I have four nines…!’

The old man brushed off his hands and said.

“J, one pair.”

As victory seemed certain, the man’s hidden smile blossomed, and he reached out to sweep up his chips.

“I’m sorry about this! Ah, it’s a lot of work hiding it… What would I do if you all died? I have four nines! Hahahahaha!”

Ecstatic with the feeling of victory, the man couldn’t contain his joy. As he reveled in the mountain of chips becoming his, a chilling voice shattered the moment.

“Aren’t you going to look at my hand?”
“What?”
“My cards. You should see them.”

The red-haired youth spoke with a cold voice, having shed his previously frightened expression, now impassive as he spoke.

With a casual flick of his wrist, he revealed his cards on the table. The man froze like ice.

“It’s a royal flush.”

“What? No… this can’t be happening.”

Before them, the youth had laid down the best hand in poker. His expression remained stoic, as if it was expected, without any thrill or pleasure, causing the man’s eyes to shake violently.

“No… but surely…”

Whispering softly, the youth said to the man.

“You should have just died, as you said.”

[A breakthrough challenges your ‘luck’.]

“What a pity.”

[Gwen Billian]
[Occupation: Gambler]
[Affinity: 100 > -50]
[Favorite topics of conversation: Four of a kind. The comeback of a lifetime. The hand I’m holding is four nines. Daddy’s got this!]
[Disliked topics of conversation: Honey, I’m sorry, I love you, daughter, don’t call me a gambler, disgrace.]

The youth handed the man the highest-value chip and said.

“Fold. That would be the best thing for your family.”

The man looked at the youth with a defeated expression.

“Your name?”
“Just call me ‘The Shark of Hamel’.”
“The Shark…”

It was the beginning of the legend of the Empire’s greatest gambler, ‘The Shark’.

*

On my way back to the store, carrying a large sum of money.

I walked toward the shop where Miss Olivia was, a bright smile on my face.

The thought of lighting up Miss Olivia’s sullen face naturally brought a grin to my lips.

“That being said… I didn’t expect to find the Tower Master here.”

The old man with the white beard.

The Tower Master of the Empire.

I would never have guessed that one of the Empire’s five Archmages would be in a place like this.

His freewheeling nature meant it wouldn’t be strange to see him anywhere, but meeting him in a casino was unexpected.

‘Came to see Ruin, perhaps.’

No, that wasn’t it.

I remembered a recent episode and nodded.

Hans.

He must have come to seek his wayward disciple.

Shivering at the chilling encounter, I walked through the streets when—

-Drip.

Something viscous dropped onto the top of my head. Too heavy for rain, too unpleasant for snow.

I muttered curses internally and reached for my head, only to sigh deeply at the white substance on my hand.

“Ah… A penalty, then.”

It was pigeon droppings on my head. Not particularly foul-smelling, but bad luck symbolized by bird droppings.

I stood still, humbly accepting the misfortune that came my way.

It was the expected misfortune, after all.

Breakthrough.

A skill that could push the user’s abilities to their limits, but the penalty was a certain one.

A power I had acquired as soon as I opened my eyes in this other world.

The highest-grade skill I possessed, and the greatest ability that had made me what I am today.

I had also wielded extraordinary authority at a young age because of this ability.

The penalty for Breakthrough was definitive.

If you tested the limits of your luck, unfortunate incidents like bird droppings on your head or a day without a single good thing happening would ensue.

If I used physical abilities, I’d be stricken with severe muscle pain, and if I used regenerative abilities, I’d be met with intense pain. The penalties were certain, but the rewards far exceeded imagination.

‘I’m just glad today’s misfortune ended with bird droppings, but it still feels awful.’

Leaving the despondent gamblers behind, I headed back to the store when—

“Hehe… Lucky young man.”

The old man with the white beard stopped me.

The kindly-faced senior was the same man who had been at my table earlier, the Tower Master.

I nodded slightly to him.

“I have no intention of returning the money.”

The Tower Master looked at me with surprised eyes, not expecting the conversation to be about money.

I smiled at the astonished Tower Master and said.

“I can at least give you enough for a ride home.”
“Hehe…”

The Tower Master stroked his beard and laughed.

“You’re an interesting fellow.”
“I know.”

The Tower Master.

The man who was supposed to be killed by his disciple ‘Hans.’ It was a future far ahead, but it was also a future that would never happen.

I had Tirving, and I planned to prevent his death.

I bowed my head, wishing for the Tower Master’s well-being.

“Then, I’ll use the money you lost to enjoy some delicious food.”
“Are you eating well?”
“Yes.”
“Hehehe… What an amusing young man.”

*

At that moment.

A chill hung in the air inside the store.

“What?”

The plump female student looked down disdainfully at Olivia, who returned her gaze with eyes brimming with intent.

Despite the unfavorable situation of 1 against 3, Olivia remained fearless and silently faced them.

“Shut up.”
“Pfft…!”

The plump female student laughed at her friends.

“What did she say, girl?”
“No idea. She’s telling us to shut up.”
“Pff.”

The ‘haha’s and laughter filled the shop. Even as the students jeered and mocked each other until they were out of breath, Olivia quietly and steadily tightened the noose around her prey.

The plump female student stepped closer to Olivia.

“Hey. Say it again.”
“…”
“Say it again. Threaten us with death? Pff, do you still think you’re the Olivia of the past?”
“…”
“Speak up. A single word and you should be begging for forgiveness now. Get your head straight.”
“…”

Olivia sighed deeply and addressed the student in front of her.

“You’re as noisy as an orc with its head struck by a triangular ruler.”

Olivia looked at them, picking at her ear.

Despite Olivia’s warning, they only became more belligerent.

“What?”

Olivia smirked and said.

“Am I wrong?”

Olivia’s main weapon was her words.

And then.

-Rumble…!

A reliable weapon was protecting Olivia.

*

The store in disarray.

“…?”

Holding the money pouch, I looked bewilderedly at Miss Olivia standing dumbfounded in the middle of the shop.

“Did a monster do this?”
“No.”
“Uh… Then did a meteor fall from the sky?”
Olivia shook her head gloomily.

“No…”

With a voice as if crawling into the ground, Olivia’s shrunken figure made me sense an ominous feeling.

I asked Miss Olivia with a trembling voice.

The shop turned upside down.

The clerk’s panicked eyes.

And the female students looking at Miss Olivia with trembling eyes.

“Ah.. Miss Olivia.”
“Yeah…”

A deep sigh made Olivia lower her head even further.

I said with certainty.

“It must have been a robbery.”
“Huh?”
“Don’t worry. Just think of the money taken as a donation.”

I checked Miss Olivia for any injuries.

“Fingers are intact…”

“And the face… is pretty.”
“Hehe…”
“I’m glad you weren’t hurt.”
“Thanks.”

Olivia smiled bashfully but couldn’t lift her head, speaking to me in a sullen voice.

“That’s…”

“Are you hurt?”
“It’s not that… I fought with them.”
“What?”

With my voice tinged with shock, Olivia shuddered.

“You fought?”
“Uh-huh.”
“With those girls?”

I looked at the female students sprawled on the floor.

Their tragic appearance, blackened and bruised. I stroked Olivia’s head and asked.

“So, where are you hurt?”
“Huh?”

Olivia looked up at me with confusion. I could read a sense of guilt on her face, tears welling up in her eyes.

“Am I not in trouble?”
“No.”
“Why?”
“You must have had a good reason to fight. I think my character patch is perfect.”
“Character patch?”
“Yes, that’s a thing.”

Olivia nodded and bit her lip hard.

“I have a lot to make up for.”
“I have more money.”
“I wasn’t supposed to hit people with the wheelchair, but I crashed into them.”
“Just be careful next time.”
“And…”

Olivia spoke in a gloomy voice about her faults. She mentioned bumping into people with the wheelchair and muttering harsh words that had hurt others.

I pinched Olivia’s cheek with a caring voice and asked.

“So, you’re not hurt?”
“Uh-huh…”

With Olivia’s head drooping sullenly, I smiled softly and said.

“Then it’s fine.”

Olivia kept her head down miserably.

“I cursed.”
“What did you say?”
“Beep───!”
“Oh…”

I pulled on Olivia’s cheek and said.

“But you didn’t use any profanity, right?”
“Their parents are precious to them.”
“You did well. I think that’s enough.”

I know Miss Olivia’s personality well.

How kind she can be.

And how temperamental she is.

So.

I consider this a good outcome.

I handed the money earned today to the clerk and said.

“I’ll pay back any shortfall later.”