"What... is the Ghost Nun saying?"
Upon hearing the words "I need more money," Yasui felt her head spinning; her worldview was on the verge of shattering.
A Ghost Nun—an evil spirit—was actually haggling with a player?
Was this dungeon just too insane, or was she hallucinating?
Or were they not even playing the same game?!
"You win. Can't you lower the price a little?"
"No... I want it all."
"Fine, have it your way."
"..."
Meanwhile, Natsuki had reached an understanding with the Ghost Nun, successfully defusing the crisis through bribery.
The Ghost Nun took the underworld currency from Natsuki and tucked it into her pocket with satisfaction. Her jaw, which had previously been torn open down to her chest, snapped back into place, and her pitch-black eyes regained their whites and irises—a stark contrast to her earlier terrifying appearance. She clasped her hands together and said:
"Guests, please take note: do not violate the rules again from this point on, or things could get dangerous."
Natsuki nodded:
"Rest assured, Sister; I guarantee there won't be a next time."
"In that case, I shall take my leave."
The Ghost Nun bowed slightly and turned to depart.
Click.
The door to the confessional closed softly, and the room fell silent once more.
"Phew..."
Yasui clutched her chest and let out a long sigh of relief. She then turned to Natsuki, bowed, and said gratefully:
"Thank you so much, Natsuki-kun!"
Regardless of the methods used, Natsuki had successfully saved her from the Ghost Nun. She had to remember this debt of gratitude; had Natsuki and his group chosen to stand by and watch, she almost certainly would have been no match for the Ghost Nun.
Haruno smiled playfully:
"Well, verbal thanks don't mean much; Ms. Yasui needs to show some sincerity..."
"Sister, stop it."
Yukino couldn't help but interrupt.
It was one thing to tease her, but she shouldn't toy with an ordinary bystander player! "Ah... I'll stop talking now." Haruno raised a hand to cover her mouth and slumped pitifully against Natsuki's shoulder. She extended a slender finger to point at Yukino, whispering a grievance in a plaintive tone: "Natsuki, Yukino-chan was mean to me... I'm so scared..."
Yukino: "..."
Watching Haruno use her own body to make such expressions and gestures made Yukino feel incredibly uncomfortable; she could practically feel goosebumps rising all over her skin.
Affected.
It was just too affected!
You're a university student, for heaven's sake—stop putting on an act like a little kid!
However, Natsuki was a sucker for this kind of thing. Seeing Yukino—who usually presented a cool, aloof demeanor—suddenly transform into an affectionate, kitten-like figure was simply irresistible.
Unable to help himself, Natsuki reached out his right hand and gently pinched Yukino's cheek; her skin felt like smooth, creamy jade—incredibly soft and supple.
If it had been the real Yukino, she would have dodged away instantly after such a pinch, glaring back with eyes cold enough to freeze a person solid.
But with Haruno, there was no need to worry about that; far from dodging, she actually stood on tiptoe and tilted her lovely face upward, fully cooperating with the gesture.
"Stare..."
Yukino shifted her gaze, glaring over with murderous intent.
"Alright, I'll stop pinching."
Natsuki raised his hands and looked at Yasui, offering some polite, standard remarks:
"We're all players here; it's only natural to help each other out when there's trouble..."
Of course, the reason Natsuki chose to help wasn't because he was a fool with money to burn; there was an underlying consideration as well—namely...
"Underworld currency... it really works."
Back when he had helped resolve that family dispute and Mrs. Kato had offered a stack of banknotes as a reward, Natsuki had wondered if the money was actually usable. Now, having put it to the test, he confirmed it was indeed valid currency.
"Underworld currency... what's that?"
Yasui asked curiously. Natsuki explained:
"It's currency given to me by the dungeon's native inhabitants during a previous mission. The money I just used to bribe the Ghost Nun was 'Underworld currency,' not real-world money."
On top of that, Natsuki switched his title to [Friend of Urban Legends]; had he been an ordinary player, the Ghost Nun likely wouldn't have stopped her attack even if he held that Underworld currency.
Yukino crossed her arms over her chest—a pose that, combined with her nun's habit, gave her a somewhat alluring air—and mused:
"To think this dungeon has a circulating Underworld currency that can be used to bribe the locals... there must be multiple ways to clear it..."
Dungeons come in many types, and the methods to clear them vary accordingly.
Take "battle royale" style dungeons, for instance: the evil spirits within are essentially mindless, intent only on killing—it's a "kill or be killed" scenario.
The current dungeon, however, is different; most of the evil spirit inhabitants possess their own reasoning and can communicate, plus there is that circulating Underworld currency...
Natsuki looked at Yukino.
Their eyes met.
They both realized there was a hidden path to clearing the dungeon.
The inspiration came from the previous dungeon, [Sinful Park]: any trouble that can be solved with money isn't really trouble at all.
In a dungeon, one must abide by its hidden rules.
Natsuki was confident enough—with Sadako, Hachishakusama, and the Yandere Kaguya backing him up, plus himself and Yukino, they could easily take down even ten Ghost Nuns—but what then?
Could he simply punch the entire dungeon into pieces?
Whether in Red Dead or Holy City, reckless behavior by players invites sanctions. While no player had verified it yet, experts at the Administration speculated that similar punitive measures likely existed within these dungeons.
Thus, Natsuki chose the prudent path and refrained from slapping the Ghost Nun across the face. "Huh? So those banknotes were actually incredibly valuable?" Haruno said with a tone of regret. "It's a shame I gave them all to that ghost nun; if I'd known, I would've helped haggle."
"No need for all that trouble."
Natsuki shook his head, reached into his pocket, and slowly pulled out a stack of bills.
"Huh? What?" Yasui exclaimed in surprise. "Are those the underworld banknotes you gave the ghost nun earlier?"
Natsuki replied without batting an eye:
"That's right—those are the ones."
Yasui looked puzzled:
"But the ghost nun had already put them in her pocket... How did they get back here? Is Mr. Natsuki a magician?"
Yukino and Haruno, however, saw through Natsuki's "trick" immediately.
Even a magician couldn't simply pluck money from someone else's pocket out of thin air without anyone noticing; the fact that no one felt a thing clearly indicated the use of a time-stopping ability.
"Honestly..."
Yukino extended a slender finger and pressed it against her brow in exasperation.
Giving the money away one moment and stealing it back the next—it was truly shameless.
Noticing Yukino's look of disdain, Natsuki retorted with a confident air:
"First of all, I didn't steal it; I took it back openly—right in front of you all. Secondly, this is my 'seed money'; without capital, I can't make money grow."
"Only someone with a guilty conscience would spout such high-sounding justifications."
Yukino crossed her arms over her chest, her eyes filled with scorn. Natsuki turned to look at Haruno beside him and said aggrievedly:
"Yukino-chan, someone is mocking me."
Haruno stepped forward, wrapped her arms around Natsuki's neck, and then rose onto her tiptoes, bringing her soft, lips close to his:
"A kiss~ Don't feel bad, Natsuki-kun; I'll be the one who feels sorry for you, anyway."
Seeing this scene, Yukino involuntarily clenched her small fists and gritted her teeth:
"...You two need to know when to stop!"
Since there was no telling when Yukino and Haruno might swap souls back, and they couldn't stay in the church forever, the three of them exchanged a few more words before taking their leave.
This time, the door to the confessional wasn't sealed by any mysterious force, so the trio exited easily.
"Please follow me."
A ghostly nun stood silently in the night, holding a lantern; she was not the same nun as before.
That made sense—in a church this large, if there were only one ghostly nun, it would have been taken over by someone else long ago.
Led by the unfamiliar ghostly nun, the three of them walked outward in silence.
Just as they reached the main entrance of the church, a piercing, ear-splitting scream suddenly rang out from the darkness behind them:
"Who stole my money?!"
"Huh..."
Haruno blinked and asked, feigning ignorance:
"That voice sounds a bit familiar."
Natsuki replied nonchalantly:
"It does sound a bit familiar."
The bystander girl: "..."
It was obvious the theft had been discovered—how could the two of you have such nerves of steel?
Before the ghostly nun could chase after them, the three of them seized the opportunity to leave the church.
"Mmm... I'm happy!"
Haruno raised her hands above her head, clenched her fists, and gave a vigorous stretch before tilting her lovely face upward:
"Natsuki-kun, what should we do next?"
Hearing this, Yasui girl also cast a bewildered look at Natsuki.
Mr. Hirata's grievance quest had refreshed, but whether it was solving the problem of the unfinished building or finding Mr. Hirata's ex-girlfriend, it felt like there was no starting point, completely without any clues.
At a time like this... naturally, the best move is to latch onto a powerful ally!
As an ordinary player, Yasui girl knew exactly what to do: hitching a ride with a strong player to survive was the only thing that mattered; pride and dignity were completely irrelevant.
Besides, Yukino was so beautiful and knew exactly how to act cute and clingy—there was no risk of her being assaulted, right?
Natsuki took out a map and, while scouting the route, asked:
"When you arrive in an unfamiliar place and want to live a comfortable, happy life, what is the one thing you absolutely can't do without?"
"Hmm..." Haruno tilted her head in thought and held up a slender finger. "Money?"
"Correct." Natsuki memorized the route and tucked the map into his pocket. "Let's go make some money first."
"..."
They had to stay in this instance dungeon for a full seven days; they couldn't just eat, sleep, and relieve themselves inside a security booth the whole time. Improving their quality of life was essential, and that naturally required money.
So, their destination was a place where they could make quick money through legitimate means...
The journey passed in silence.
Half an hour later.
"We're here."
Natsuki stopped at an intersection.
"Huh?" Haruno looked up in surprise. "There's actually a pachinko parlor inside the dungeon?"
Yasui was equally astonished and whispered:
"Would a pachinko parlor inside a dungeon actually have any customers?"
"We'll find out once we go inside."
Natsuki led the two girls toward the shop.
Upon entering, Yasui was surprised to find the place far from deserted; it was actually quite noisy, filled with the deafening clatter of steel balls—though every single customer was an evil spirit.
As soon as they entered, an evil spirit standing two meters tall—with a face that was nothing but a skull—stepped forward. Without a word, it swept its crimson eyes coldly over the three of them.
"We're here to play."
Natsuki calmly produced a stack of underworld banknotes.
Upon seeing the money, the evil spirit enforcer silently stepped aside, allowing the trio to enter the parlor. Haruno glanced around and said softly:
"It feels just like a real-life pachinko parlor."
Natsuki whispered:
"Have you been to a pachinko parlor before, Haruno-nee?"
"Pachinko is a national pastime, after all; I was naturally curious about its allure." Haruno didn't deny it; she linked her arm with Natsuki's as they walked. "But I only played for a little while before leaving—I just couldn't find the fun in the pinballs."
The machines in pachinko parlors generally fall into two categories: slot machines—yes, the very same kind that used to be all the rage in arcades (which actually originated in Japan)—and the pinball-style pachinko machines themselves.
While these games operate within legal boundaries, they are, at their core, forms of gambling.
And since gambling is involved, it was the perfect stage for Natsuki—the "God of Gamblers"—to make his entrance.
"Both the pinball machines and the slots are machine-controlled, so you can't use time-stopping, right?"
Haruno whispered close to his ear.
Both types of machines are games of pure chance; a player's victory has nothing to do with skill and everything to do with the machine's programmed odds—rendering time-stopping useless.
Natsuki nodded slightly and took out the Coin of Destiny:
"That's why, today, I'm choosing the Goddess of Luck."
"..."
Before entering the instance, Natsuki had already fully charged the coin; by invoking the Goddess of Luck's favor, he could strike it rich in mere minutes.
After exchanging "Underworld currency" for coins, the three of them found an empty corner and sat down quietly.
Hum.
Natsuki flicked the coin into the air with his finger, then casually caught it in his palm.
[You flipped Heads; you have received the favor of luck...]
Without even reading the rest of the notification, Natsuki dismissed it and slammed both hands down onto the two slot machines in front of him. "The God of Gamblers... has returned!"
Favored by the Goddess of Luck, Natsuki's odds of winning were practically one hundred percent; as cheerful music played, a cascade of coins came pouring out.
Each coin was stained with a bloody hue—clearly the currency of the underworld used within this dungeon space.
"Bag them up, bag them up." Haruno had produced two black cloth bags—clearly well-prepared—and urged Yasui as she handed one over: "Ms. Yasui, hurry and pack them away. We might run into trouble if the enforcers spot us."
"O-okay."
Yasui snapped back to reality and hurriedly took the black bag. Shielding the slot machine with her body, she quickly scooped the pouring coins into the bag.
Amazing!
She'd hit the jackpot so effortlessly—so much for the saying that "gamblers end up with nothing."
This was the very definition of striking it rich overnight!
Yasui licked her lips, her heart pounding wildly; she was nervous about being discovered by the shop's enforcers, yet simultaneously felt an extraordinary rush of excitement.
Clang!
A moment of carelessness caused a coin to slip from her hand and hit the floor; she hurriedly crouched down to retrieve it.
"Steady now, don't panic," Natsuki said calmly. "There's more to come."
The "Coin of Fate" buff would only hold for a few minutes before requiring two or three days of arduous recharging; naturally, Natsuki wasn't about to stop there.
For the next few minutes, Yasui felt as though she were on a roller coaster—shifting from tension to thrills, from surprise to a state of numb awe—as she unknowingly fulfilled a childhood dream of bagging so much money her hands grew sore.
"Time's up; we can leave now."
Seeing the luck-enhancing buff fade away, Natsuki decisively stopped.
A common gambler wants to win back losses or win even more after a victory, but a true God of Gamblers knows exactly when to walk away.
"Is it over?"
Yasui clutched her chest, letting out an involuntary sigh of relief. It was so nerve-wracking—so thrilling!
They had actually won a massive amount of money in one go; the machine had been completely drained. If the shop's guards found out, there was no way they'd be able to walk out unscathed.
Fortunately, the trio had deliberately chosen a secluded corner, and the whole thing had happened so quickly that none of the shop's bouncers had noticed...
"Huh? Wait, what?"
Yasui's eyes widened as she watched Natsuki walk toward a bouncer nearby. She instantly grew anxious and hurriedly lowered her voice:
"What is Natsuki-kun doing?"
"Relax," Haruno said calmly, showing no concern at all. "Just trust Natsuki-kun."
Yasui: "...That's exactly why I'm asking—because I'm worried!"
Natsuki had a serious reason for approaching the bouncer, of course—namely...
"Excuse me, where can I find a higher-stakes casino?"
As he asked, Natsuki casually slipped a handful of coins into the man's hand.
A true "God of Gamblers" belonged at the gaming tables, not playing pachinko or slot machines in a parlor. The "Coin of Destiny" still needed two days to recharge, but money was something he couldn't do without for even a second; he had to find a new way to make a fortune.
The guard—whose face looked like a skull—took the coins, his expression instantly softening, and quietly gave Natsuki an address.
"Thanks."
This time, Natsuki didn't use his time-stopping ability to take the money back; he was flush with cash now, so there was no need to be stingy.
"I got the info." Natsuki returned to the two girls and whispered, "Let's go."
The underground casino was located near the pachinko parlor. Natsuki took Haruno and Yasui there, looked around, won a quick round, and then headed back to the Happiness Apartment Complex. "Hey there, underclassman—you're back!"
Just as he reached the entrance of the residential complex, the door to the security booth swung open, and Tsubame trotted out happily. "Oh, and Yukino-chan is here too."
Natsuki gave a slight nod and said gently:
"I'm back."
Komi and an unfamiliar girl emerged from behind his senior. With three girls already inside, the cramped security booth was barely big enough for them to sit; there wasn't even room to stretch their legs.
Now that Natsuki had brought back two more players—making a total of six people—there simply wasn't enough space for everyone to squeeze in, even if they all stood.
So...
"Senior, let's look around nearby for any flyers."