episode_0048

After Hyunho gave blood to Rebecca on the upper floor of the building, he went downstairs. Rebecca asked him to do it again next time, and handed him a black object with instructions on how to use it before they parted ways.

‘Was it when the full moon rose…? I should go and see in 20 or 50 days.’

The identity of the black object was something like an invitation to visit Rebecca’s estate, and it was said that if you poured blood into the sphere on a full moon night, it would show you the way.

Perhaps, since he has received blood, he is going to wake up his sleeping comrades. He may be inviting me to his territory to replenish the strength he expends in the process. Or, he may simply want to show off his territory. I doubt that would be the case… No, but upon thinking about it again, it is quite possible.

I sorted out my thoughts and when I got down there, there were other familiar faces waiting for me besides the two people.

“Nacha? You were here too?”

“Yeah. I just got back. Dad, do you remember this?”

What Nacha immediately took out from her bosom and showed me with a greeting was a golden coin. The large word DEMON engraved on it looked familiar. Where have I seen it… Ah, that’s right.

“Ah, ah! Of course. I remember.”

Now I remembered. The chip that Nacha received as a reward from the lab last time serves as an entry card to the casino. The related memory came back because of the invitation that Rebecca had just given me. Of course, I asked her to come with me, saying that I wouldn’t go in alone. Is she planning to visit the casino this time?

“Because my dad didn’t seem to want to go, I already went in by myself. I made some friends at the casino. But, of course, he brought one or two dolls. He kept asking me, so I told him I was bringing the dolls I had at home. Is your time okay?”

“Oh, really? I’m sorry. I promised to go with you, so why are you saying this…”

I glanced over at Esther and Lina. Is this how a father feels when his child calls him to play with him, but he can’t because of work?

Lina seemed to notice the gazes on her and spoke first.

“It’s okay if you go with Miss Nacha. Rather, I’d like to ask you a favor.”

“Oh, really?”

I thought Lina would object because she had other things to do, but surprisingly,

“Nachayang showed me the casino catalog, and the item we were looking for was there. As the spirit said, it seems the demons took it from the forest and are displaying it as a product. Since it seems like you can buy it with chips, it would be better to buy it rather than take it by force if possible.”

“I wrote the order to get Rebecca out of the corner of the room, so there is no disagreement.”

From Lina to Esther. It seemed like Nacha had already finished talking, so the conversation went smoothly. If Nacha had already said everything, there would be no reason to object.

“Then, if you go with Nachayang and buy something at the casino… it’s a bit expensive.”

“Then I’ll have to call the chips in the casino, but I’ve never been there before… By any chance, Nacha, how much do you think I’ll need to buy that item?”

“It’ll be hard, but it won’t be impossible. It’s not that popular, either… Can I just call the chips?”

It seemed as if he had decided to use the money he earned at the casino to buy things, but Esther added something ominous.

“Oh, but you might want to be careful. That casino belongs to the other Four Heavenly Kings I mentioned before.”

***

“…I don’t like it.”

“Still, it’s better to be safe.”

Instead of going straight to the casino, Hyunho turned towards the castle.

Having Lina with me is a great help to my power, but… I can return to where I was before I died if something happens, and I’m half-demon, so I’m not on guard, unlike Nacha. Since we’re going into the middle of enemy territory, it would be better for Lina to wait in the castle for safety reasons.

“I don’t like the idea of going to such a dangerous place alone.”

“I can’t help it. I’ll get a second chance if I have to. But Lina, I’m not that different from you.”

“…Were Dad and the Queen always this close?”

Because we suffered together, it turned out like this.

“Let’s talk about that later. Since we have some time before we arrive, why don’t we try out the casino? I can’t play roulette, but I have cards. I’ll be the dealer.”

“Okay, then you’re going to fight me and Lina?”

Natcha took the cards out of her pocket and shuffled them, explaining the rules of the game.

“No. If there are three people, Blackjack would be fine. It’s the most popular card game in casinos, and the rules are simple.”

“Ah, I know Blackjack. Isn’t it a game where you win if you make the number 21?”

“I have a rough idea. But since the Queen doesn’t know, I’ll explain it again to confirm.”

The basic rules of blackjack are as follows:

A card game where the player who receives a card and makes it closest to 21 wins. However, if it exceeds 21, the player loses.

You will receive at least 2 cards, and you can receive more if you wish. It is important not to be greedy.

2~10 are reflected as numbers, but K, Q, and J are calculated as the number 10. Here, A can be calculated advantageously by choosing between 1 and 11.

“I’m the dealer now, so you’re playing against me. I’ll reveal all but one of my cards, so calculate it carefully. I’ll tell you the rest as I go.”

“Okay. Then shall we do it?”

.

.

.

“Hyunho, don’t ever play games there.”

“Yes…”

Arriving at the castle, 6 wins and 19 losses in 25 matches. It’s not a bad record. Sometimes you can think that you just had a bit of bad luck… but the problem isn’t the number of losses.

“I’m +4000, Lina is +2450, and Dad is -6450, right?”

“Hey Natcha… You didn’t cheat or anything, did you? I only lose when the stakes are high, did you take the bottom or something… No, sorry. That was a slip of the tongue.”

The eyes of Nacha glaring at me were fierce. Honestly, it’s a problem that I should have bet more money on when I could have won. Let’s not make any ugly excuses.

“Haa… Originally, all casino games were designed to favor the dealer. This blackjack rule also subtly increases the dealer’s chances of winning.”

“It’s not 50/50? Then, is it possible to make money at the casino? If the probability of losing money is higher, the longer you play, the more you lose money.”

“No. There are one or two people who are like dads, so you just have to suck them up.”

The finger pointing at me stabbed my heart… Am I not good enough to do that?

“Wow. I guess I’m a total beginner. I didn’t use it this time, but if I had put my mind to it, Dad wouldn’t have won a single game.”

Oh, I guess you can do it.

“Can you show me?”

“…I don’t really feel like it, but okay. Take the card.”

The cards Nacha dealt were A and 4.

Since A can be counted as 1 or 11, I can treat my hand as 5 or 15.

“One of the cards I got was J. Want another one?”

J, J is 10, so it seems like a pretty high number… In this game, 10, J, K, Q are all treated as 10, so the expected value of the blank card is high. Then, the probability of not winning with 15 is high. If it’s different, I can treat A as 1 and calculate it, so I should get one more card.

“Okay, give me one more.”

“Okay, I’ll stop here. Let’s not count the bets. This is for show purposes.”

Since you said you were going to do a bottom-up, I’ll have to keep an eye on your hand. Shuffle the cards and hand me the top card. …Did you do that? I’m not sure.

The card received is 4.

A(11)+4+4 = 19, a fairly high hand. Normally, it would be worth a gamble.

“Okay. I’ll just go without the die. I’m 19.”

“10, J, total 20.”

Was there really a trick? But from the moment the cards were shuffled to the moment they were dealt, I didn’t feel anything awkward at all.

“Can we have one more round?”

“As much as you want.”

I kept trying after that, but I kept getting the same number as 19 and Nacha got 20. Sometimes I would combine four or five cards to make 20.

If this keeps happening, I have no choice but to admit it. I don’t know what number I used, but Nacha was picking out the cards she wanted and dealing them out.

“I’ll… just stay still when I get there.”

“You don’t know? Dad, don’t worry too much. There might be other things to do to earn chips once you get inside.”

Instead of going to the casino to play, I ended up working as an employee…

“Arrived. Before you go, it would be a good idea to stop by Kuzunoha-sama. There will be a lot of eyes watching, so it would be a good idea to disguise yourself. So that you don’t get caught in color magic and such. ”

“Oh, that would be good.”

***

“You mean… to look like a doll?”

“Yes. Is that possible?”

If you go in human form, people around you will probably be suspicious. Also, you have to erase your energy so that you don’t get caught in detection magic.

“I can correct every single movement, just like a doll… but since your mental barrier is so strong… if it’s okay with you, could you accept it as it is?”

“Ah… that’s a little…”

Even so, Kuzunoha has a criminal record… It’s not that I don’t believe she likes me, but the direction is distorted. I’m afraid of being kidnapped.

“Oh my, then would it be okay if Mom watches from the side?”

“Cecil’s mom? Then, it’s okay.”

If that’s the case, then it’s a different story. Since Kuzunoha can’t move her demonic powers on her own inside this barrier, there’s no way she could have done anything to Cecil’s mother.

So, if you keep an eye on Kuzunoha with your mind at ease, you won’t be able to do anything foolish.

“I always get help… If I could do something… Oh, I have some delicious honey I got from outside. Would you like some?”

“Outside? To whom…”

Received from Alaune – A good tool for making honey with just water and sunlight. It is also rich in nutrients.

“Oh my… But I’ll accept your heart. Anyway, are you ready?”

“Yes. Then, please.”

“Let’s get started.”

I sat on the chair with my back straight and obediently accepted Kuzunoha’s placement of the talisman on my forehead.

The energy flowing through my head, I shouldn’t be accepting this kind of thing… but since Cecil’s mother is watching…

As Kuzunoha waved her brush and hand over the talisman several times, Hyunho’s eyes gradually lost focus.

“…Are you done?”

“Yes, now you can say what you want. I never thought I’d get a chance like this. Hehe… Well then, shall we begin?”

Cecil watched to see if Kuzunoha was properly hypnotized as promised.

However, it was not for Hyunho, but to check if the hypnosis he had ‘requested’ from Kuzunoha was working well.