The second round of the game began. Only five players remained.
The host picked up the die. "Now we'll choose the player to draw the Bullet Card. If it lands on six, we'll reroll."
The default seating order was based on Player #1's position. But when it came to shooting order, the first was always the one with the muzzle pointed at them.
The die rolled across the table and landed on four.
Naoki's heart stirred. How lucky she got to draw the card.
"Player #34, please draw."
The host presented five cards.
Naoki frowned. This set was brutal: three cards had four bullets, one had five, and only one had three.
Clearly a setup to kill most of them.
"I'll take the fifth one," she said.
Naoki took the card with three bullets. Too many live rounds meant high risk.
Next came the distribution of Item Cards.
Players #23, #34, and #78 received two cards each.
Naoki's second Item Card was a Duel Card. It could be used in any round to challenge a player to a one-on-one showdown, with priority to fire.
A powerful card if someone targeted her with a bullet, she could instantly duel and possibly reverse the situation.
To be honest, Naoki had been quite lucky with Item Cards this entire game. Maybe she'd absorbed some of Midari's insane luck.
The revolver was loaded and placed on the table.
With only five players, being the first to shoot meant more chances an advantage.
Naoki glanced at the revolver: bullets were in chambers 1, 4, and 5.
It spun rapidly and stopped with the muzzle pointing at Player #1.
Hands trembling, he picked it up. With ten million yen on him, he knew how tempting that was to others.
He didn't dare shoot himself.
He skipped Player #34 and #53 both had bounties. Becoming a target this early was dangerous.
But he knew Player #23 only had one Item Card and a big bounty.
"I choose to shoot Player #23."
Player #23's expression changed.
"Anyone using an Item Card?" the host asked.
Even though it was the first shot, Player #23 clearly lacked the nerve. This was a deadly game.
"I'm using an Item Card!"
It was a Copy Card randomly duplicates one previously used Item Card.
So far, used cards included Bullet Removal, Double Reward, and Target Redirect.
If he got the Redirect Card perfect. Even the Bullet Removal Card would help.
The host reshuffled the three discarded cards and held them out.
Player #23 chose the middle one his lucky number.
"It's a Bullet Removal Card. I'm using it!"
Naoki narrowed her eyes. Of course, even with three bullets loaded, it was never going to be easy.
A bullet was removed at random.
It was chamber 5. Chambers 1 and 4 still held live rounds.
Player #1, hands sweaty, aimed at #23 and pulled the trigger.
Bang!
Gunpowder filled the air. Player #23 fell, a hole in his forehead. The room froze.
The revolver clattered from Player #1's shaking hands.
The host calmly walked over, checked the body, and announced his elimination.
Now only Players #1, #34 (Naoki), #53, and #78 remained.
Naoki was up next.
She knew the next round would be blanks. Unless #78 got the live one.
"I choose to shoot Player #53."
She handed the bounty to #53, making all three players equal with ten million each balancing the odds.
And to bait a card from #53, she added casually, "One Bullet Removal was used and still someone died. There might've been four or more bullets."
Player #53's face darkened.
He was vicious but not reckless.
He gripped his Item Card tightly.
Sure, dodging might work. But if this was the blank, the next could be live. And if he ducked this shot, the next might kill him.
He hesitated...
Then raised his hand.
"I'll use my Item Card!"
It prevented a specific player from firing this round.
Naoki raised her brows. So he rejected free money?
"Player #34 cannot act this round," announced the host.
She returned the gun.
Player #53 picked it up and quickly aimed at #78.
Everyone had come to the same conclusion take out threats first, forget the prize.
"Any Item Cards?" the host asked.
#78 said nothing.
Maybe her cards wouldn't help here.
#53 fired.
Click.
A blank.
He sighed, regretful. If only he hadn't wasted his card...
"Player #78 gains five million!"
Her turn.
Four shots remained.
"I choose..." She looked at each player.
#53: no Item Cards. A coward.
#1: reckless and simple, only one card left.
Only one real threat remained
"Player #34."
Gun barrel pointed at her, Naoki smiled.
"Any Item Cards?"
"I'll use one."
Everyone blinked. It was #78 speaking.
"I'm using a Bullet Add Card."
The least-used Item Card only good for ensuring an enemy's death.
The host had the revolver reloaded.
The new live bullet was added to chamber 3.
Now: chambers 3 and 4 held live rounds.
Naoki tightened her lips.
"I use my Duel Card!"
"Duel initiated. Player #34 shoots first."
#78 stared at Naoki. Was she really that sure the next was live?
Bang!
The bullet hit #78 in the stomach. She dropped, unable to move.
Cheers broke out. One threat gone.
Only #1 and #53 left.
#1 stepped up.
"I'm using my Item Card X-Ray Vision."
He was shown whether the next round had a bullet.
He peeked.
"Yes."
A live one.
He trembled with excitement.
Only #34 had a card left. #53 annoyed him, sure but #34 was dangerous.
"I'm shooting Player #34."
Midari frowned from the sidelines.
If Naoki died, it would genuinely upset her.
"Any Item Cards?"
Naoki raised hers her last one.
"Copy Card."
#1 tensed.
"I'll copy Player #53's Card."
"You're copying the Target Redirect Card?"
#53 had used that and the Action Denial Card.
Most would've picked the redirect.
Naoki smiled.
"No. I'm copying the Action Denial one."
Gasps all around.
She had a reason.
If this round's bullet hit and she redirected it to #53, the bounty would stay with #1 or vanish if he died.
But if she took the shot herself, she'd gain it.
The host's expression soured.
"Player #1 cannot act. Player #34's turn."
Naoki picked up the revolver, aimed at #1, and fired.
Bang.
Blood spurted. Player #1 fell.
"Your expression gave it away," she murmured.
Only a live bullet could spark such glee.
It was a dead giveaway.
"Player #1 eliminated. His ten million goes to Player #34. Total: 20 million."
"Player #53, your turn."
Three big announcements pushed the game to its final peak.
Two bullets left. Fate would decide.
#53 sighed. No cards left. Pure luck now.
Three real bullets had already fired. Maybe the gun was empty now?
Still, odds were high that one remained.
"Hey, let's not be violent. How about this?" Naoki smiled. "You shoot yourself. If you survive, I'll do the same next round."
"It's Russian Roulette. Shooting yourself is the real thrill, right?"
#53 sneered.
She thought he'd fall for that?
"You're bluffing. You'd shoot me the moment you got the chance."
He pointed the gun at her.
Pulled the trigger.
Click.
A blank.
He slumped in his seat.
Odds said the next would be live.
"Player #34 gains five million. Total: 25 million."
"Player #34, your turn."
Naoki lifted the revolver, spinning it playfully.
#53 watched her, hopeless.
Everyone expected her to shoot him. The safe play.
Naoki pointed the gun at herself.
"You refused my offer. I'll keep my word anyway."
Gasps echoed.
No one gambled like this.
Not after winning so much.
Only Midari, in the crowd, looked thrilled. She wished she were the opponent.
Naoki pulled the trigger.
Click.
Silence.
Then chaos.
Everyone stared at the girl who defied logic.
The fearless are always the scariest. The fearless and lucky? Terrifying.
"Player #34 gains five million. Final total: 30 million. Game over."
#53 collapsed in his chair, finally realizing he was never in her league.
Naoki had claimed absolute victory and walked away with 30 million.
#53 survived with just five.
Naoki wasn't even happy.
Until the system chimed in.
**System: Your fearless act of shooting yourself deeply impressed Midari Ikishima. Her affection increased by 5 points.
**System: Midari Ikishima Affection Level: 23. Reward: 1 Orange Mystery Box!
**System: Congratulations, host. You've completed the Russian Roulette game. While you basically cheated your way through, there were no particularly clever plays. Still, surviving and achieving total victory earns you 1 EXP.
Meh, doesn't matter. One point of EXP was enough.
Winning the gamble was secondary.
The real prize was affection.
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(All chapters have been fully revised and polished for your reading pleasure! I sincerely apologize if there were any mistakes in the earlier translations. If you notice any incorrect names or anything that feels off, please don't hesitate to leave a comment. Your feedback means a lot and helps make the story even better!)