One match, and Naoki had pocketed thirty million yen. That was more than enough. She came here just to accompany Midari Ikishima. Whether she kept playing or not didn't matter anymore.
After the first day, the cruise was almost deserted. Of the original crowd, only a dozen or so normal players remained, along with a few lucky ones who had been rescued in time.
Those who stayed had two reasons: they were either thrill-seekers like Midari, or they hadn't won enough to clear their debts yet.
Midari wanted Naoki to keep playing, but Naoki had no intention of sitting at a gambling table with outsiders watching.
After firmly rejecting Midari, Naoki spent the following days eating, drinking, and sleeping on the cruise. It was a rare vacation.
Before leaving, she received her thirty million in prize money and filled out a contact form. The organizers, fully convinced she'd blow through the winnings soon, promised to invite her to future events.
Was this what it meant to be a member of the Death Gamble Club?
This sort of thing would never work at the academy. Sure, the students were gambling maniacs, but they only bet money. No noble family would let their child risk their life.
Even the lowest-ranked livestock students were only subjected to mild bullying a few shoves, maybe being locked on the roof overnight. Beating or killing was out of the question.
Life-or-death gambling? That was a poor man's game.
That's why Midari was always so bored at the academy. No one dared gamble with their life.
...
What would you do if you suddenly had thirty million yen?
Naoki had thought about it. Because she won it all at once through gambling, it didn't feel hard-earned at all.
She wasn't attached to it either. If she couldn't take it with her, she might as well burn through it fast.
So she decided she'd use it as gambling funds.
Commuting daily was a hassle anyway. Why not just live on campus?
Eating at the school cafeteria also saved her the trouble of cooking.
While Naoki was daydreaming in class, the teacher entered with a new girl.
"Everyone, I have an announcement. We have a new special transfer student. This is Mary Saotome. She'll be joining our class. Please give her a warm welcome."
The class burst into enthusiastic applause. Many students stared at the newcomer, visibly delighted, as if sincerely welcoming her.
Naoki, having seen her classmates' true colors, rested her chin on her hand and studied Mary Saotome the next target to be conquered.
She examined Mary closely. The girl was neatly dressed, maybe not fashionable, but still a pretty and proper high school student.
Mary smiled nervously at the class, her eyes betraying a hint of unease typical of someone new to the environment.
Clearly, Mary had no idea what kind of place Hyakkaou Private Academy really was. Right now, she still thought her classmates were nice.
After all, they seemed so friendly.
What she didn't know was that this friendliness was the kind hunters showed prey.
Every year, transfer students got targeted. Naive about gambling, they were easy marks.
Just like Naoki had been.
"Mary!" Hanatemari Tsuzura exclaimed excitedly. She was thrilled to see someone she knew.
Since Tsuzura only had Naoki as a friend in class, seeing an old classmate again made her genuinely happy.
Naoki turned to her. "You know her?"
"Yes, we went to elementary school together. Mary's amazing."
Tsuzura had a great impression of Mary.
Naoki looked back at Mary. With her golden twin tails and energetic appearance, she seemed like an easygoing girl.
Naoki pulled up Mary's character panel.
**System: A girl completely new to gambling, but with astonishing potential. Current strength level: Unrated.**
Her talent? **Justice Ally.** When fighting alongside allies, her strength increases. If she gambles for justice and to protect her friends, her luck and skill rise by one level. If she gambles with malice, they drop by one.
That sounded... exactly like a typical protagonist.
A burst-type underdog hero, unlike naturals like Yumeko Jabami, who could manipulate dice at age eight.
Meanwhile, watching Naoki intently from across the room, Aoi Mibuomi gritted his teeth.
Naoki hadn't paid attention to class all week. But now she was staring at some plain transfer girl?
She wasn't even that pretty! Clearly some clueless commoner.
Unable to admit Mary was actually more attractive, Aoi fumed with resentment. Why did Naoki always look at others?
"Would anyone like to show Mary around the school?"
Dozens of hands shot up.
But what enraged Aoi even more was that *she* raised her hand too.
The girl he desperately wanted to approach was offering to help someone else?
Unforgivable. This transfer student had to go.
In the end, the teacher chose the class rep to show Mary around. He didn't seem thrilled about it but accepted.
At Hyakkaou Academy, class officers were mostly bottom-rung students with no real authority. They just did grunt work.
Naoki wasn't worried. Mary would be tricked soon enough. Newbies always lost their first few games.
Gambling was inevitable here. To fit in, you had to play. And then...
Naoki just didn't expect it to happen so quickly.
Right after class, Aoi was already pulling Mary into a game.
Was he always this efficient? A textbook minor villain.
Mary, meanwhile, was pretending not to know Tsuzura. Unlike her friend's joy, she clearly wanted to avoid being recognized.
"Mary, I'm so happy we're classmates again!"
Mary looked awkward.
Naoki already knew Mary's backstory: she wanted to appear like a perfect student in high school and leave her past behind.
Mary held a grudge because her parents once groveled before Tsuzura's rich family.
Disgusted by their groveling, Mary projected her distaste onto kind and well-liked Tsuzura.
Aoi, acting all friendly, dragged Mary into a card game.
"Know how to play? Want to try a few rounds?"
Wanting to fit in, Mary agreed. The betting amount startled her 10,000 yen per game but she went ahead.
The game was Short Monopoly: two roles, Pauper and Tycoon. Each player got five cards, played one at a time. The Pauper played first. First to empty their hand won.
Joker was the highest card, 3 the lowest but 3 beat the Joker.
Simple rules. Mary nodded and joined in.
She got crushed.
Aoi was a master cheater. Mary lost several rounds.
She assumed it was just bad luck and kept going.
Lost even more.
Finally, she realized something was wrong.
She suspected Aoi was cheating, maybe using surveillance to peek at her cards.
No one helped her. The class laughed like they were watching a circus.
This trick only worked on newcomers. But it was still fun.
Mary wanted to stop, but by then she'd lost over 100,000 yen. Just like Naoki once had, she saw Aoi flip instantly.
"Can't pay? Then welcome to livestock status."
He sneered, watching Naoki out of the corner of his eye. He hoped she was disgusted by Mary's pathetic performance.
He didn't realize Naoki had been waiting for this.
"Don't worry, Mary. I'll lend you the money."
Naoki placed a suitcase on the desk. Opened it.
**"Ten million yen. It's all yours."**
Gasps.
Even in this school, ten million was a lot especially to lend a transfer student.
Mary froze.
What kind of romcom plot twist was this?
Wait were rich girls this generous?
Wait no did she like her or something?
"Uh, that's too much... I can't pay that back."
"Borrow whatever you want. Pay me back whenever. Or not at all."
Mary: ...
That made it worse.
Was this a trap? Was she working with Aoi to trick her into debt?
Tsuzura stepped in. "It's okay, Mary. Naoki's a good person. She's always helped me."
**System: Your act of kindness increased Mary Saotome's affection by 5 points.**
Naoki: ...
So *that* worked better than all her grand speeches?
Mary looked at the suitcase.
If Tsuzura vouched for her, she was trustworthy. Tsuzura was gentle and honest. Always had been.
So then... was this girl really rich? Or just interested in her?
With ten million, she could lose to Aoi all day and still not go bankrupt.
Aoi stared in disbelief. Why was Naoki always helping people who opposed him?
With Mary funded, Naoki lost interest and waved goodbye.
"You two enjoy. I have things to do."
She had cleaning duty at the Student Council building.
Mary was easy to befriend and raise affection with. For now, Naoki needed to focus on the student council.
Mary, staring at Naoki's retreating figure, felt... something.
A minute ago, she thought she was being courted. But Naoki just left like it didn't matter.
So she wasn't interested?
Just filthy rich and casually generous?
Why were there people like this in the world?
As she watched Naoki disappear, a mix of jealousy, curiosity, and admiration bloomed in her heart.
Behind her, Tsuzura cheered her on. Because Mary hadn't become livestock, Tsuzura felt a little brighter today.