When a butterfly starts to flap its wings (8)

“…Fold.”

I wanted to show Kang Yohan.

That miracles aren’t far away.

“…Fold.”

I wanted to show Jung Suhyuk.

That royal straight flushes really exist.

“…Fuck, fold!”

“Yujin-nim. Swearing is bad.”

“…Yes.”

It was definitely like that, but.

It looks like I’m going to go broke before I can even show them.

What’s going on?

Every hand I get is crap.

On the rare occasions when I get a good hand, Jung Suhyuk smartly folds.

When I mixed in some bluffs out of frustration, he caught them like a claw crane and slowly stole my chips.

Do the cards have eyes or something?

So far from winning chips, I was struggling just to maintain what I had.

“…Fold.”

I’m probably the sucker at this table.

They say the sucker in Hold’em is called a ‘fish’.

I feel like I’ve become a fish placed in front of a snake’s mouth.

“…Fold.”

But I’m still hanging in there patiently.

Because the rule of the game is simple.

Either hit the jackpot or go bust.

All in or nothing.

A chicken game where everyone dies except one.

The simple and thrilling addiction was driving me crazy.

It felt like the red blood cells in my body were spinning rapidly and my complexion was changing in an instant.

I don’t know if I’m drunk on the champagne I’m drinking now, or drunk on the drug called competition.

As expected, you, Han Yujin…

You’re a hopeless dopamine addict.

A pervert who enjoys standing on a precarious single-log bridge more than standing on solid ground.

But you know what,

Jung Suhyuk seems to be the same.

Jung Suhyuk, who had been contemplating while shuffling chips distractingly, pushed forward a tower of chips and said,

“5000 raise.”

And then he smirks at me.

“Han Yujin.”

“What. What, what!”

“You’re going to fold again, aren’t you?”

“Yes.”

“You can’t win this game if you just keep folding.”

What do you want me to do?

Jung Suhyuk provoked me like the serpent of Eden tempting Eve.

“…Fold.”

I licked my lips, moistened by champagne, and handed my cards to the dealer.

It meant I was giving up on betting.

Jung Suhyuk spoke in a casual tone.

“You’re hopeless for life insurance. You keep dying all the time.”

“Ah, really…”

I just want to, that mouth of his!

I pursed my lips and whined to the dealer, tattling.

“Dealer-nim. This guy has been teasing me relentlessly, isn’t this bad manners?”

“Since this isn’t a cash table, table talk isn’t specifically prohibited.”

Ugh, how annoying.

I’m going crazy wanting to break that nose of his, really!

I thought while pressing my temples.

The rules of Hold’em are simple.

Two cards received from the dealer.

Five cards laid out on the board.

It’s a game where the player who makes the highest hand combination out of a total of 7 cards takes all.

It’s quite different from <Galaxy War> in that not everyone starts equally.

Some players can have the best start, while others can have the worst start…

The problem is,

We’ve already played over 60 hands, but the cards I’m getting are far from satisfactory.

Should I dream of pigs or something?

I took a deep breath and looked around.

The people sitting at the table.

Four including me.

They all have illustrious careers.

Well, needless to say for Kang Yohan and Jung Suhyuk.

This man sitting next to me.

His name was… Shin Junmyeong?

He was the domestic rank 1 Go player who swept this year’s tournaments.

So right now, I’m…

Playing a game of thrones at the same table as the incarnations of mind sports.

Thinking about it that way, I suddenly feel sober.

People gathered like a swarm of bees, as if they’d found a good spectacle.

“Oh, are they playing Hold’em with four people?”

“The lineup is amazing.”

“Whew, this is the best side dish!”

The voices gradually increased, and

Even among the spectators, betting started.

“I’ve been a die-hard fan of Kang Yohan for 10 years. 100,000 won on Kang Yohan’s victory.”

“Ah, hyung. But he can’t beat Shin Junmyeong 9-dan. His nickname is ‘Stone Buddha’.”

“What are you both talking about? Jung Suhyuk has the most chips, so isn’t he the right bet?”

…Not a single mention of me.

Cheer for me too!

That’s when.

“It seems you all don’t know that person well yet.”

A round, mellow voice suddenly interjected.

“I’m sorry, but our Han Yujin client will definitely win.”

It was my agent, Jang Bongyu.

His stomach protruded roundly like a honey pot, as if he’d eaten a hearty dinner today.

…He’s like a pig, a pig.

The men who were betting among themselves asked doubtfully.

“On what grounds? She has the least chips, and she’s been eating the least too.”

“Hahaha, you don’t know anything! Our Han Yujin client is…”

Yes, yes.

Say it quickly.

Hurry up and fill my self-esteem to the brim, Mr. Jang!

“Our Han Yujin client is an original pure pervert. She’s the kind of woman who can’t stand it if it’s not a come-from-behind victory!”

I almost spat out the champagne I was drinking.

“…Really?”

“Of course. She’s a terrifying woman to have as an enemy. She’s like a tiger that bites the nape of the neck when the opponent is intoxicated with the feeling of victory.”

“Ooh!”

Ooh my ass!

…Anyway, thank you.

“Fold.”

By the way, about the current situation.

There’s no good solution.

Can’t bluff.

Can’t shark.

Can’t use techniques because I don’t know how.

Chips are decreasing.

Tipsiness is increasing.

…What should I do?

They say there are times in life when you need to go all-in at a moment of crisis.

Should I leave it to fate too?

---

Kim Hwachang, who was watching, bit his lip and muttered to himself.

“Is that Jung Suhyuk a ghost? He’s catching every single one of Han Yujin’s bluffs.”

“It’s probably because of Han Yujin’s habit.”

“Habit?”

Sung Dojun answered.

“Han Yujin has had this habit since she was young. When she’s nervous or unsure, she sucks on her upper lip, and when she’s confident, she raises one corner of her mouth. Jung Suhyuk must have noticed that. Look at her now.”

Han Yujin was busily licking her upper lip while rolling her eyes.

Kim Hwachang laughed out loud.

“Ah, that Han Yujin, that’s really cute. Is she an anteater or what?”

“Sheesh, that idiot.”

When Jung Suhyuk, who had noticed, raised, Han Yujin folded by discarding her cards.

And then.

The 69th hand.

Han Yujin received two cards.

Without moving her hand to check the cards, she just crossed her arms.

“What is Han Yujin doing?”

“She’s not even checking what her cards are?”

Kim Hwachang and Sung Dojun looked on with bewildered eyes. It was like looking at a freak of nature.

Jung Suhyuk also noticed this and quietly asked Han Yujin.

“Aren’t you going to look?”

The answer that came back was peculiar.

“I looked. With my heavenly eyes.”

“…That means you’ve given up.”

Han Yujin suddenly put her hand to her mouth and shouted while looking at the ceiling.

“Please give me some good cards, Dad!”

“Stop talking nonsense and fold.”

“Dad, please help me teach this Jung Suhyuk a lesson!”

“……”

Kang Yohan and Shin Junmyeong smiled at that sight, finding it cute.

And then,

“Call.”

“Call.”

“Call.”

“Check.”

The four players called.

“I’ll flop.”

Three of the five cards were first revealed on the board.

[♠Q] [♠10] [♠J]

The three players desperately tried to hide their smiles.

That’s when.

Words flowed from the tightly closed lips of Han Yujin.

It was a quiet tone, but

It was the most intense word of all.

“All in.”

The watching crowd stirred.

“All in without looking at the cards?”

“That’s basically saying she’s leaving the game.”

“No. When you’re on a losing streak, blind all-in is the best move.”

“Bullshit.”

“It’s true. This actually works.”

Hearing Han Yujin’s words, Kang Yohan opened his eyes wide and scolded her.

“Yujin-ssi, you should check your cards before going all in!”

“Ah, stop nagging.”

Han Yujin twisted her hair and answered grumpily.

“Well, I can’t possibly win with skill, and the only thing I have is luck, right?”

“Haah, even if there’s no money at stake, this is too reckless…”

Jung Suhyuk, who was listening, pushed all his chip stacks forward and said to Kang Yohan.

“Leave her be. If she wants to empty her mind and give up on her own. I’m all in too.”

Kang Yohan and Shin Junmyeong, who had been clicking their tongues, also went all in one after another.

“Alright, then we’ll have a showdown.”

The atmosphere changed in an instant.

All the watching people held their breath and focused on the dealer’s hands.

The remaining two cards were slowly placed on the board.

[♠Q] [♠10] [♠J] [◆10] [◆Q]

The players who matched the hand rankings in their heads each smiled inwardly, confident in their victory.

Shin Junmyeong opened his cards first.

[♥10][♣10]

“I have four tens.”

Seeing that, Kang Yohan smiled and flipped his cards.

[♥Q] [♣Q]

“I’m sorry. I have four queens.”

“Ah, I lost.”

Then…

Jung Suhyuk flipped his cards.

[♠9] [♠8]

“I have a straight flush.”

Straight flush.

0.0215%.

A combination of 5 cards with consecutive numbers and the same suit.

Realistically, the strongest hand.

“Wow, a straight flush!”

“See? What did I tell you? I said Jung Suhyuk would win.”

“What are you talking about? Han Yujin is still left.”

Jung Suhyuk was confident in his victory.

He looked at Han Yujin while trying to suppress his bubbling laughter.

Han Yujin with her arms crossed and eyes closed.

“Han Yujin. Look at your cards.”

At Jung Suhyuk’s impatient words,

Han Yujin’s closed eyelids slowly rose.

A heterochromatic green sparkled in her eyes like ryegrass.

And she slowly opens her mouth.

“Player Kang Yohan.”

“Y-yes?”

Han Yujin tapped her two covered cards with her finger.

“Some unlucky bastard said that player Kang Yohan’s chances of winning were a royal flush.”

“…Ah, yes.”

Kang Yohan glanced at Jung Suhyuk with his eyes.

“But I think it’s entirely possible.”

“…Thank you.”

Hearing Han Yujin’s words, Jung Suhyuk snorted and retorted.

“But if it’s not a royal flush, you’ll be utterly humiliated.”

“I’m prepared for that. Life is either a big hit or a total bust, after all.”

“Stop talking nonsense… look at your cards.”

Cold sweat trickled down Jung Suhyuk’s nape to his shoulder blades.

Han Yujin…

Because it was Han Yujin, he became uneasy.

If that was a royal flush, it would be an unbelievable stroke of luck.

Coincidentally, the other players’ hands were good too, so they all jumped into the all-in.

Sweeping up all the chips in a single match.

It was an issue that Jung Suhyuk’s worldview simply couldn’t accept.

It shouldn’t be like this. If it was, he would hate God too much.

How could He give him a straight flush, but give Han Yujin a royal straight flush?

Folding such thoughts like paper,

Jung Suhyuk smiled.

Because the possibility was too slim.

“Han Yujin-ssi, please open your cards.”

At the dealer’s words, Han Yujin flipped her two cards. It was a quick motion, but it felt like slow motion.

And then,

All sound at the scene disappeared.

[♠A] [♠K]

“…”

“…”

“…”

“Kyaaah!”

0.0032%.

A slim probability, but one that clearly pierced through a realizable chance.

It was a royal straight flush.

Han Yujin smiled and said.

“It came out? Jackpot.”

“……”

Jung Suhyuk covered his mouth while breathing heavily.

Faced with an existence like a natural disaster he had never experienced before,

Jung Suhyuk’s breath caught in his throat.