episode_0082

“Uh, umm… Asia, which one should I go with?”

No, why is Karin seriously thinking about this?

“How about the right?”

“I think the Lord is saying left.”

It’s not just Karin.

They were also concentrating and trying to pick out a 10G cup!

“Haa… Then let’s do the middle one.”

As I made my rough choice, his expression darkened slightly.

“Are you sure you want it in the middle?”

“Yes.”

“I’ll give you one chance to change it.”

Ha! Who knew how to change it?

This guy, he panicked because it took 10 G?

I crossed my arms confidently and shouted.

“In the middle! Never change it! You know I won’t change my words and say I got 10 G, right?”

“Umm… I’m telling you this because I feel sorry for you, but in the middle… .”

“middle!”

He shook his head and turned the glass in the middle over.

And what it says there is…!

[1000 G]

“Huh…?”

“That’s why I’m on the left!”

“Ah, I should have chosen the right one!”

Oh, oh?

“Thank you.”

He put away three glasses and smiled.

The stupid Asia and her party members barely managed to get a room by offering 1000 G, a lot of money.

… Now that I think about it, weren’t all three actually 1000 G?

I should have asked to see it then.

***

“Ugh, it’s a shame to throw away 1000 G, but there’s nothing I can do. Let’s quickly investigate that casino and go back!”

Yeah, you can’t stay attached to 1000 G forever. Think of it as a donation!

“Yes, the sun will rise again after the night has passed. There is no need to miss the sun that has set.”

I’m not sure what you mean, but I guess it’s meant to be comforting.

Okay, Asia Party is going to dig up the truth!

“But where is the casino?”

“Let me ask.”

If I gave you 1000 G, you wouldn’t answer something like this?

“These three glasses contain 1 G, 10 G, and 100 G respectively… ”

“No, just tell me!”

Eventually I gave him 100 G and got the location of the casino.

This city is full of casinos, so the help of locals is essential to find the casino the homeless man mentioned.

It was a regrettable but necessary expense.

… and I should have asked you to show me this time too!

The conversation was so smooth that I found myself lost in it without even realizing it.

“Ugh… .”

“Ah, I arrived.”

While we were lamenting our own foolishness, we finally arrived at the casino in question.

[Heart Casino]

“… I guess it was easier to find than I thought.”

No, isn’t that too obvious?

Give me back my 100 G!

“Hmm, well… maybe we over-thought it and over-thought it?”

“Sigh… .”

Yeah, let’s not dwell on the past!

No, but it was money I didn’t have to spend… Ugh…

As we hesitated at the entrance, the guard looked at us strangely.

“Okay, let’s go in first.”

Yeah, if you stand still, you’re more likely to be suspected!

“Do you have a membership card?”

“Yes?”

Is this a membership-only place?

We exchanged awkward glances.

Of course there’s no way something like that could happen.

“You cannot enter this place without a membership card.”

“Where can I get it issued?”

The guard looked at me with a pitiful expression at my innocent question.

“I can’t tell you.”

Damn, why are you so picky when you’re doing business with a sign out in the open?

You don’t want to receive guests?

Anyway, if I can charm a guy like that…!

“Let’s step back for now, Asia.”

Oh no, what was I thinking!

I couldn’t control my habit again and almost lost my charm.

Be careful, be careful.

“What should I do? As expected, Asia-san is charming… .”

“You shouldn’t keep relying on that kind of thing.”

Yeah, that’s right.

It’s just like Lisa said.

You shouldn’t rely on sorcery like charm!

“But that old man, you didn’t tell me that this place was a members-only place.”

Karin grumbled in discontent, but you probably wouldn’t have asked her if you had asked her about it, right? It was obvious she’d just say the same thing.

Or else I’ll just take out three more glasses!

“Hmm… Should I just grab some people passing by and ask them?”

“You wouldn’t make another weird bet, would you?”

Yeah, I don’t think everyone here is like that, there must be at least one sane person.

We decided to grab a nice-looking person and ask him.

“Excuse me, do you know how to get a Heart Casino membership card?”

“Heart Casino? If you’re curious, let’s play a game with me! I’ll let you know if I win!”

What is this betting-crazy city?

Why does everyone passing by look like this!

“Well, let’s give it a try, Asia. I guess all the city people here are like this.”

“Okay, I’ll try first.”

Since I agreed with some of what Karin said, I decided to approach him first and challenge him.

“Okay! I’ll be your opponent, Asia! What kind of match is this?”

“The first one to leave loses!”

“Yes?”

What, what kind of match?

“I’m so excited♥ I’m going to lose, I’m going to lose… ♥”

Asia, defeated!

Oh no, but you’re so good at petting!

I admitted defeat while squeezing the treasure.

“Ah, Asia!”

“Oh, what should I do? Next time I will… .”

“This kind of match seems dangerous. Let’s find someone else.”

Huh…? Then why did I do it?

I went around meeting a few more people with that feeling, but they all kept asking for the same conditions, so it wasn’t easy to get information.

“… I think that grandpa is the most normal one.”

“Do, it costs a lot of money… .”

The conclusion we reached in that way is back to square one.

Me… why did I compete?

“It’s okay, Asia. Your sacrifice was not in vain!”

“That, right? It meant something to me, didn’t it?”

“That, then.”

For some reason, Lisa’s words seem slightly trembling, but I must be mistaken!

We went back to the innkeeper, who was like a bartender.

“Oh, you came back so quickly. Do you have any business with me?”

“I have more questions!”

“Hmm… .”

He looked at us for a moment and then stroked his chin.

Please, you won’t suddenly start another climax here or anything, right?

Keep your character!

“There are three glasses here… .”

Phew, that’s a relief.

And of course, we chose the most expensive glass.

“Wait a minute!”

Me, Asia.

You won’t get hurt three times.

“… Why are you doing that?”

That embarrassed face, it caught me!

“The rest. Show me.”

“Ah, ah, no way!”

“Oh, come to think of it!”

Phew, was I the only one who noticed this?

It’s not their fault.

It is common sense that modern people are smarter than medieval people!

That’s what I saw in light novels and comics.

“Hehe, you wouldn’t say that and then say all three are the same price… You know what I mean, right?”

“Hehe, would I do something like that in my own store?”

You speak well.

You know when your horse’s tail gets longer?

“Huh huh… .”

“Hehehe… .”

Reveal it!

The glasses he turned over had 1 G, 10 G, and 100 G written on them, respectively.

“Oh my… .”

“What did I say?”

Hey, isn’t this it?

“Asia… .”

“You shouldn’t doubt people.”

“Oh, oh… I’m sure, I’m sure it’s a scam… .”

Otherwise, there’s no way you’d get three duds in a row!

“This is what happens in life.”

He laughed heartily and passed it over leniently.

Oh, my, you just let my mistake slide… This old man is a good person!

As he started to organize the glasses, I could see countless 100 G and 1000 G glasses behind him.

But surely not!

There’s no way such a kind person would do something so bad as betting normally just this once and then scamming others on a regular basis, right?

“Anyway, what would you like to ask?”

“Ah! That Heart Casino… .”

This is how I got the membership card from him.

that…!

“You must have a referrer.”

“Yes?”

“There is no other way than getting a recommendation from an existing member.”

…it was the most difficult method for outsiders like us.

“Uh… Do you have a membership card… .”

“I don’t have one, by the way. Not many people in this city have a Heart Casino membership card.”

Ouch, we’re in trouble!

“Do you know if anyone has it?”

“Here are three glasses… .”

Aaaah!

He chuckled as he saw our pale expressions.

“Just kidding. I’m just letting you know as a service.”

“Sigh… .”

I almost donated 100 G again!

He smiled playfully, polished his glass, and told me the characteristics of the people who had membership cards.

“Heart Casino is a fairly expensive casino. The amount of money coming and going is different from other places. So the members are usually organized around people with a lot of money.”

No, then what about the homeless person we met?

… Did he really lose all that wealth?

I realized once again how scary gambling is.

“Hmm, if there are rich people in this city… .”

“If you have a house in the golden city of Gemu, you can say that you are a wealthy person.”

It seems like land prices are high in this casino city.

If you build a house in a place like this and visit the casino every day, you must be rich.

Okay, so our goal is set.

“Thank you! Then, everyone, let’s go quickly!”

“Huh? What, what are you going to do?”

“Yes? Of course!”

Raid the houses, and coax… no, coax and cajole them into giving you a letter of recommendation!

A secret technique that only JRPG heroes can use!

While I’m at it, I should raid every corner of the house and sneak in some emergency funds.

Will it be okay? I’m the main character!