**System: "Congratulations, Host, on winning the gamble against Mary. But since you basically cheated and didn't use your brain and a million yen means nothing to you now no points will be awarded."**
What? A million yen is *nothing* now? Then what *does* count as gambling?
**"At least half your net worth, Host."**
Naoki: ...
**System: "Due to the confidence and skill you displayed, Juraku Sachiko's interest in you has increased significantly. Favorability +5."**
"Wait, give me another chance!" Mary suddenly stood up and bowed toward Juraku.
"Double the stakes it's fine by me."
Still going?
Naoki raised an eyebrow. Mary wasn't the reckless type. If she dared to continue, she must've thought up a strategy to win.
Could it be...?
Juraku turned back with renewed interest. "Oh? I could lend you the money. But this time, it's more than just a loan."
"If you lose you'll become my personal livestock. Understood?" Her voice turned cold and dangerous, like a bloodthirsty wolf. She tugged Mikura's chain and wrapped her slender fingers around the girl's neck. "Come when called. Fetch things when I order. Sleep at my feet through the night. Are you prepared for that?"
"Lady Juraku... ahhh..." Mikura, oddly enough, shed happy tears under the abuse. Clearly, she was already a well-trained M.
Juraku released her at just the right moment. Mikura collapsed, euphoric.
Naoki cleared her throat. Wasn't that a *reward*?
"I am."
"Mary, you can't seriously " Hanatemari protested. Becoming someone's exclusive livestock? That was just too cruel.
Mary scoffed. "I lost because you peeked at my cards. I won't give you another chance."
"That's not true! I didn't "
Naoki observed quietly. She knew Mary well enough to tell this wasn't just pettiness.
She wasn't that dumb.
This performance was likely staged for Naoki's benefit.
Mary must've come up with a tactic that could still win, even if Naoki knew her hand.
The x-ray card had expired.
Mary now assumed Naoki had another way to read her cards. But Naoki didn't know what Mary would draw next.
Time to draw.
Three-card pull!
**System: "Congratulations, Host, you've drawn the special ability card: Ghost Hand."**
**System: "Congratulations, Host, you've drawn the special ability card: Telepathy."**
**System: "Congratulations, Host, you've drawn the special ability card: Koi Luck."**
All strong cards. No x-ray vision.
But with Telepathy it's good enough.
To grab Juraku's attention, Naoki had to display greater value.
...
"I object," Naoki said, standing to interrupt. "A raised-stakes match needs both sides' consent."
Juraku's gaze narrowed. "Afraid?"
Naoki smiled mysteriously, retrieving a box from the corner and placing it on the table with a thunk.
"This gamble's for casino rights. For me, there's no personal risk." She popped the box open and dumped out 30 stacks of 10,000-yen bills.
"Too boring. I'm raising the bet to thirty million!"
The sight of so much cash made Mary and Mikura freeze.
"Well, Mary? Are you ready to risk thirty million? If so, I accept the match."
Thirty million? For just one casino?
If she lost, she'd be in debt for three years.
"But even if Mary agrees Chairwoman Juraku, would *you* lend her that much? Even knowing she might lose right away?"
A jab at Juraku's pride but one meant to bait her.
The more she lost, the more invested she'd become.
The greater the cost, the greater the obsession.
Naoki was playing the role of a plump, irresistible prey.
"Heh. Interesting. You're not after Mary you're after *my* money, aren't you?"
Being able to casually throw down thirty million proved Naoki's guts.
True gambling requires boldness.
"Lady Juraku," Mikura said nervously. If Juraku herself were playing, she wouldn't be worried but Mary was a different story.
She had already lost once.
"Mary, I can lend you thirty million. Do you dare?"
"I..."
It wasn't about interest in Mary. It was curiosity about *Naoki.*
What was her real limit?
A true hunter must be willing to make upfront sacrifices.
"I accept!"
Retreating now would mean she'd never be a winner.
Even if the abyss awaited, Mary had to move forward.
Mikura sighed internally. Guess she'd have to help switch the cards.
"You've got guts," Juraku nodded to Mikura. "Let's begin round two."
"Yes." Mikura stepped forward. "We'll now begin Round 2 of the Three-Roll Dice. Please write down your predictions and hand them to me."
Mary took her time writing.
Naoki just stared at her... and used Telepathy.
*No idea how Utsugi peeked at my hand, but now she'll walk right into my trap. She'll assume I'm writing DUU, and I'll counter with DDU. I used nail polish remover to fake my card if it's DDU, I'll spill water to reveal the ink. If it's UUU, I'll do nothing.*
*Hope this works. It's my best shot.*
So Mary was writing UUU and planning DDU.
Naoki glanced at Mikura.
*This Utsugi's caught Juraku's eye. Gotta turn her into livestock. I've got every combo pre-written. Once I know her card, I'll swap Mary's to counter. Make her lose it all. Juraku will be thrilled.*
So Mikura was planning something, too.
But Mary didn't know Mikura would help.
"Hanatemari, come here a sec." Naoki whispered in her ear.
Mary narrowed her eyes. Had Hanatemari betrayed her?
"I don't use nail polish, but you do, right?"
Girls who date girls don't grow their nails so no polish.
Mary's trick was good. Might as well use it.
Naoki wrote UUU and secretly drew slashes using Hanatemari's polish remover.
They placed their cards. Mikura checked them, then returned them.
*Why are they both writing UUU? That's one of the rarest combos.*
*Fine. I'll change Mary's to DUU. Guaranteed win.*
Naoki smiled. "Hanatemari, I'm thirsty. Can I get some water?"
"Sure." Since Mary ignored her, Hanatemari eagerly helped her other friend.
Mary, watching this, grew more annoyed.
"Beginning the toss."
"First roll: UP."
"Second roll: DOWN."
"Third roll: DOWN."
*I swapped Mary's to DUU. Utsugi can only win if the result is UUU 1 in 8 odds. Impossible now.*
"Fourth roll: UP."
"Oops," Mary spilled her water, soaking her card.
Mikura scowled. "What the hell? The card's drenched."
"Sorry, my hand slipped."
Naoki giggled and knocked over her own cup.
"Again?!"
"Sorry, I couldn't help it after seeing Mary do it."
Mikura fumed.
*These two are such clumsy messes. Juraku will lose interest fast.*
Mary, however, looked grim.
*Wait... did she use the same tactic? Why bother if she knows my card? Why fake it?*
*Maybe I'm overthinking it...*
"Now, fifth roll," Mikura said.
At that, Mary felt reassured.
If Naoki had written UDD to counter her, Mikura would've declared victory after the third roll.
That meant Mary had won.
She smiled. "No need to continue."
"Huh?" Mikura blinked.
"Because DDU already came up. I've won."
"What?" Mikura was stunned. She remembered Mary writing UUU.
"She's right," Naoki said. "But actually, I'm the one who won."
Mary's smile froze. Did Naoki also write DDU?
A draw, then. Fine. At least she didn't lose thirty million.
Mikura, confused, flipped Naoki's card. "What are you two even this clearly says UU..."
The water-soaked card revealed DDU faint slashes now fully visible.
"Nail polish remover ink. Water-activated. There's no rule saying it has to be written in pen."
Mary clenched her fists. She was right Naoki had used the same tactic.
"Chairwoman Juraku, looks like you owe me thirty million," Naoki said with a grin.
Mary picked up her card. "You're mistaken. I wrote DDU too. It's a tie."
"Is that so? Open it and see."
Mary's heart sank. She opened it blurred ink: DUU.
"No way! This isn't mine! You swapped it!"
"Got proof?" Naoki shrugged. "I never touched your card."
Mary whipped her head toward Mikura, suddenly understanding.
Mikura's face was twisted with frustration. "Damn it."
"Why'd you swap it?!" Mary lunged.
*Because you sucked last round! I was saving you from total defeat! Damn it!* But Mikura couldn't say that aloud.
As the dealer, she couldn't admit to cheating. It would shame Juraku.
"I didn't swap anything. Prove it."
Mary: !!!
Naoki simply smiled.
Without proof, and with Mikura denying it, the gamble stood.
"Hehehe." Juraku chuckled, clearly entertained. Even if she lost thirty million, she was thrilled by the show.
Both girls had performed brilliantly.
But Naoki had outplayed them all even predicting Mikura's interference.
A rare gem among first-years. Juraku couldn't wait to see her cry.
But for now, she'd take Mary.
"Gamble's over. The Second Prep Room remains Togakushi's. I'll transfer thirty million to Naoki. Mary, you owe me thirty million. Wear this. You're now my personal livestock."
She held out a collar.
Mary stared at it in despair. Becoming like Mikura? Wearing *that*? Worse than death.
But she had lost.
This was gambling. Losing was part of it.
Her school life wasn't over. She could still earn the money back.
Mikura scowled. Another girl to steal Juraku's attention.
But like always she'd find a way to drive her out.
Only *she* could be at Juraku's side.
"Wait," Naoki spoke. "I'm forfeiting the thirty million. Mary doesn't owe anything and she doesn't need to be livestock."
Everyone looked at her. Hanatemari teared up in relief.
Mikura was secretly overjoyed. No more rivals.
Juraku, surprised, gained a new perspective. Naoki hadn't gambled for money just for the thrill.
A rare kind soul in this school of sharks.
Not everyone liked a villain but everyone liked a hero.
Mary clenched her fists. "Why?"
Why beat her, only to show mercy?
It reminded her of the rich people her parents fawned over disgusting charity.
She would rather owe thirty million.
"Oh? You prefer debt? Then you can be *my* personal livestock."
Mary: ...
"No way! I'll repay you!"
"Good luck with that. Chairwoman Juraku, if I don't claim the debt, she won't be classified as livestock, right?"
"Correct."
If the creditor gives up the claim, the debt vanishes.
**System: Mary's favorability +5.**
**System: Juraku Sachiko's favorability +5.**
**System: Congratulations, Host, on completing the gamble with Mary. Despite the risks and use of special abilities, your judgment was flawless. 1 EXP awarded.**