Ch.54Enjoyed, So Caught Again as an NPC. (2)

The guards showed up again, claiming we won too many prizes at the [Game Center]. But this isn’t the same situation.

Actually, we agreed to spend only 1 million each, and we ended up spending almost all the money we won at the end. We were even prepared to understand if they substituted cheaper prizes, and we didn’t go around insistently checking what prizes we’d get for high scores.

Ragni said that they’d prepare something appropriate for us anyway, so we should just enjoy ourselves and leave. After all, they’re running a business, and if all their prizes were suddenly cleaned out in one day, our relationship with them would surely deteriorate.

“Wow. I saw you playing earlier, and you were pretty good! Do you come here often?”

“No. This is our first time here. And since it’s getting late, we were thinking of leaving now. Could we talk another time?”

“Late? The night is just beginning!”

‘It’s past 2 AM, you idiot.’

I smiled at the man who stopped us and politely declined, but he looked back at me as if something was strange.

Damn it. Gorg definitely mentioned this last evening, so why did I forget? I knew this man would be here. Damn, I should have avoided drawing attention.

The man with black hair and eyes—rare in the Eight Continent—approached me wearing casually unbuttoned expensive-looking clothes and spoke.

“Don’t be like that. Why don’t you have a drink with me and chat? I’m just curious about something.”

“I’m really tired today. Honestly, I’m a bit drunk too, so…”

“Excuse me.”

As I continued making excuses, a sharp female voice interrupted. Ragni had stepped in.

“Our master says he’s tired, so could you stop here? I’ll give you the address of our inn, so if you have something to discuss, come by later.”

“That’s right. We were about to head back, and it’s troublesome to be held up any longer.”

I was somewhat touched seeing both of them stepping in to take my side.

I could have just agreed to talk briefly with him, but they unconditionally took my side.

Maybe I’m a little happy?

But despite their direct rejections, the man chuckled and continued.

“Tired? I saw those fists earlier. Maybe not the blue-haired one, but you and the swordswoman don’t seem like people who’d get tired from missing a day or two of sleep, right?”

“I don’t understand what you’re saying. How can anyone not sleep?”

What nonsense is this? I feel like I’ll die of exhaustion if I don’t get at least 6 hours of sleep!

I frowned at the persistent man’s words and exchanged glances with my companions.

This guy is nothing but trouble. It’s best to leave quickly.

“Huh? What? Are you really leaving?”

“As I said, I’m truly tired. If you want to talk, come to our lodging later. Ragni.”

“Here. This is the address of where we’re staying. Come by later if you want.”

After handing over the address that she had somehow prepared, we quickly turned around and left. This should be enough. With his personality, after being rejected like this, there’s no reason for him to follow—

“Hah. Actually, I saw you playing that shooting game earlier, and you weren’t even that good.”

*Flinch*

“And why does the blonde bet like that? Is it because you’re a swordswoman that you hold the bat like a sword? Come on. You should at least copy other people’s posture when you watch them.”

*Twitch*

…Suddenly?

The man who had been trying to talk to us and approached with compliments suddenly started criticizing the games they played.

Normally, they wouldn’t fall for such provocations. I’m certain of that. But right now…

“And the same goes for that guy. What kind of throwing form was that? Babbling something about ‘the left hand just helps’ while throwing the ball with both hands like a girl. If you had kept gripping the ball with both hands, you might have come close to the top score ‘I set.'”

A dismissive comment aimed at me too. Plus, I don’t know how long he’d been watching us, but his various remarks were starting to irritate me.

However, I had no intention of playing along with such cheap provocation. Right now, we should just quickly…

*Grip*

*Squeeze*

“…Ray? Ragni?”

“Wait a moment.”

“I simply cannot let this slide.”

Both of them grabbed my arms and stopped me.

They turned their gaze away from me toward the man. Following their line of sight, I saw the man with a mocking smirk on his face.

“Ah~ That’s right. I hold the highest score in that shooting game. I hunted down to the 5th boss. And I didn’t ‘cowardly’ use two guns while playing.”

Stop!! No more! Are these two drunk right now?!

“…Master. You have some money left, right? Give it to me. I need to destroy every score that human left.”

“Could you give me another 100,000 cans too? So my betting posture is the problem? I should swing with both hands like everyone else, right?”

“Ragni. Ray. That’s just cheap provocation. You’re not the type to fall for this…”

“I also saw you bowling earlier. You just mindlessly relied on strength to roll the ball? Don’t you have any athletic ability at all?”

The man’s provocations were incredibly effective.

Especially my two companions, who had been enduring insults directed at them with just frowns.

They were at least showing they weren’t fools by saying they’d only change their scores and methods, despite their patience being weakened by alcohol.

But when the “You’re terrible at this” taunt was thrown at me, both of them immediately flared up with blazing eyes.

“Hey!! Come with me!! The employee was saying you’re the one who plays this the most here, right?!”

“It was my first time playing that game today?! You’re saying Jack has no athletic ability?! Are you the one with eye problems?!”

“Ra-Ragni. Ray…”

Was it the alcohol kicking in? Ragni and Ray’s faces turned red with anger, and they looked at me with furious expressions even when I called them.

“You!! You’re not suggesting we just leave after hearing that, are you?!!”

“Jack!! I cannot stand any more disrespect toward you!!”

No. It’s just a game, isn’t it? Why are you two getting so angry over this?

But the two who had completely fallen for the provocation forcibly searched my pockets and took my money.

…Oh dear.

“Haha!! Good. The women are better than the man? Jack, was it? Don’t you have too little pride to be among such pretty women? How about getting your dick cut off?”

“Hey!!! Who do you think you are?!! Whose dick are you talking about cutting off?!!”

“Argh! I can’t take it anymore!! You think you’re so good at games?! Follow me over there! I’ll absolutely destroy you in the sword game!! I’ll cut off that useless thing between your legs!!!”

The two of them were now stomping their feet and yelling, not even caring that people around us were staring.

And the man, finding their reactions amusing, let out a hearty laugh instead of his previous sneering one.

With a strange gleam in his black eyes, the man delivered his final blow.

“You guys were terrible. Are you confident you won’t cry when you lose?”

Finally, Ragni and Ray’s eyebrows shot up as if they would pierce the ceiling.

*

“Ray. Don’t let your guard down.”

“Don’t worry. He won’t even make it to your turn, Ragni.”

Having moved to the sword game arena, Ray immediately paid 100,000 cans and looked at the man who had climbed onto the ring.

This game is a 1-on-1 battle.

Players use soft stick-shaped swords provided by the game center and try to “paint” their opponent more times within the time limit to win.

Yes, the sword-like sticks provided here are toys that paint colors on the opponent’s body like brushes.

The goal of this game is to achieve 10 consecutive wins against any opponent.

At first, Ray was interested in this too, but after seeing men and women fighting in the ring with clothes getting wet or dirty, and the somewhat suggestive appearances in front of many people, she decided not to participate.

It wasn’t that she thought she would lose to anyone, but she didn’t want to be viewed that way by others. Above all, the decisive factor was when she happened to see a woman whose clothes got completely soaked, making her look practically naked.

But now.

“Jack. After I go up and completely paint that man red, you come up and paint me. They say the game doesn’t end unless you lose once.”

“…That sounds strange, Ray.”

Besides, your stick’s color isn’t red but blue?

“I’m jealous. If I knew how to use a sword, I would have said that too.”

“What exactly are you jealous of?”

Ray, wearing the minimal protective gear provided by the game center, climbed onto the ring with blazing blue eyes.

Hmm. Well, it’s not a bad idea to check that man’s skills here.

The water is already spilled, and the two won’t calm down anytime soon.

As Ray climbed onto the ring, Ragni, who remained by my side, spoke to me.

“Honestly, I wasn’t going to ask because it’s obvious, but who do you think will win?”

“Hmm?”

I immediately understood what Ragni meant by “obvious.” Ray can’t possibly lose. She’ll definitely win. That’s what she meant when asking me. However.

“Well, since Ray is out of earshot, I’ll say this—I think there’s about a 70% chance Ray will lose.”

“…What?”

Ragni, who knows that Ray has awakened her skills and greatly improved, looks at me in disbelief.

But what can I do? It’s true that Ray has grown rapidly since meeting the player in ep.1 and traveling with me, but the opponent is just too problematic.

As the beautiful blonde swordswoman climbed onto the ring, people around started murmuring. She and her opponent seemed to be exchanging words, but I couldn’t hear anything.

And I carefully looked at the status window that appeared beside me, thinking about how to console Ray when she comes down.

[-Profession: Spirit Magic Nation Elf Elder- Level: 402 Name: Green Stone: 4007 years old.]

The deus ex machina of ep. 2 and a gambling addict. A black-haired elf swordsman.

The soft swords coated with liquid began to cross between the man and Ray.