"Sierra, and… Emil, right?"
Lia looked back and forth between Sierra and me, who were sitting down, and asked.
Her expression was very excited and eager.
"I'm Lia! This is Bran, who joined yesterday!"
"I'm Bran."
"Yesterday? So you've been doing club activities since yesterday? Summer vacation starts today, though?"
At Lia's introduction, Sierra tilted her head and asked.
"Oh, you didn't know? You can do club activities starting three days before summer vacation. Most clubs take a break from then anyway."
"Ah, I see."
'Indeed, is that why Bran joined first?'
In the previous third regression, Bran joined about four days after I joined the club.
The timing of his joining changed…
'Well, there have been too many incidents different from the last regression, so I can't pinpoint just one.'
It's like a butterfly effect that occurred while pursuing Mari and Chris.
Well, it doesn't matter since there's no major problem in pursuing Lia.
And then.
"Mm-hm-hm-hm…"
Lia smiled slyly in front of us.
She flashed her eyes brightly with a sinister smile.
And.
*Flash!*
"Alright! Since we have a new friend, we should check your skills first, shouldn't we? How about this today? I really, *really* wanted to play this!"
"Huh? Dice and… a board? And cards?"
"It's a game called Bulruk Marbul!"
As expected, that was the first game.
Burumarbul.
'She really loves that game.'
In this world, it's a game called Bulruk Marbul, like a modern-day Easter egg.
The rules are the same.
Collect money, buy land, and bankrupt your opponent to win.
"Alright~! Who here knows the rules of this game?"
Lia looked around at the three of us with an excited face.
And the only one who raised a hand to her question was me.
"Oh? Emil, you know this game?"
"Ooh! Newbie! To know this game, which only board game fanatics know! You're extraordinary!"
"…I haven't played it before. I only know the rules."
"Heeh, so you really joined because you're interested in this kind of thing."
Sierra stared at me, as if surprised.
Feeling a little embarrassed by her gaze, I subtly avoided her eyes.
"Then Emil can take one person and teach them! Who do you want to teach?"
"..."
At Lia's words, I was momentarily flustered.
'Am I choosing?'
It's not a particularly important issue, but.
"..."
"..."
I met the eyes of Sierra and Bran, who were looking at me.
Bran was still expressionless.
It was the same as the last regression; his face was unreadable.
And Sierra.
"..."
She twirled her hair around and glanced at me.
…What kind of expression is that?
No, let's not unnecessarily misunderstand.
It's a meaningless expression.
"Then… I'll teach Bran. Since he's also a guy."
I chose Bran.
The reason was…
Just because somehow, choosing Sierra in this situation made me hesitate a little.
*Glowering.*
'…She's glaring.'
At my choice, Sierra puffed out her cheeks slightly and glared at me.
Then, Lia, who was next to me, laughed and patted my back.
"Ahyahyahya, what's this~, Emil, you're quite shy, aren't you?"
"No, that's not it."
"What do you mean, 'no'? Your face is all red, though? Mm-hm-hm, well~, Sierra is quite pretty, after all. Right?"
"..."
This girl, what is she suddenly saying…!
Feeling my face redden, I glanced at Sierra.
Then, Sierra, who had been glaring just moments before, withdrew her gaze.
And looked at me with a somehow annoying smile.
"What's this~, ho-ho, is that why?"
What's 'that' about?
*Poke poke.*
*Poke poke.*
The two girls poked my arm and shoulder simultaneously.
…Annoying.
***
"…So, card luck is also important. You can break through crisis situations with it."
"Hmm, I understand everything."
I sat in front of Bran and explained the rules of Bulruk Marbul with the game in front of us.
'His face still shows no emotion.'
After finishing the explanation, I looked at Bran's contemplative face.
'No way… I never imagined a guy like this would do such a thing.'
What if he was someone whose expressions were obvious?
Could I have prevented it beforehand?
'It's no use thinking about it now, though.'
I let out a soft laugh and glanced at the seat next to me.
There, a smiling Lia was explaining to a focused Sierra.
And a moment later.
"Great! This side is done too! How about yours?"
"Already finished."
"Oohooh-hoo~, then, shall we start our fun board game?"
Once the club members understood the rules, Lia began setting up, humming a tune.
Soon, we sat around the table and each received a set amount of money.
"Ah~, I really wanted to play this game. That's why I was super gloomy when it was just Bran. I'm really glad you guys came."
"True, you can't play this with just two people. Besides, board games are more fun with a group."
"Ah! What~, Emil, you know a thing or two~."
"Just a little…"
At Lia's compliment, I let out a soft laugh.
'Actually, it's not just a little.'
I'm pretending to be a beginner right now, but.
In the previous third regression.
To pursue Lia, I joined this club and tried all sorts of board games during summer vacation.
Therefore, I'm quite confident when it comes to my knowledge of board games.
'The problem is my skill, though.'
I looked at Lia, who held the dice in her hand.
"Then~, the person with the highest roll goes first!"
Lia.
To pursue her, a certain level of game skill is necessary.
So, did I play board games well in the third regression?
No, to be honest, losing to Lia every time was a daily occurrence.
'Oohooh-hoo-hoo~, what, what, are you struggling there? Is that going to be okay? Ohhh~? Will it really be okayyy?'
'Ahyahyahya! Oh Emil, you never cease to amaze me~!'
'Lo~ser… *Pfft*.'
"Hmm…"
"Huh? Emil, what's wrong? Are you uncomfortable?"
"No…"
I subtly lowered my head and wiped my face once at Sierra's question, who was looking at me.
My expression seems to have hardened.
'Thinking about it again makes me angry.'
In the third regression, I had just enough skill to barely pursue her.
Thanks to that, the pursuit succeeded, but…
That girl… she enjoyed humiliating me by making me lose by a hair every time.
'Well, it was somewhat cute, but.'
Still, I often felt quite ashamed and humiliated back then.
Plus, I was stabbed in the back at the end.
A sense of revenge, separate from the revenge using 'Memories of Despair,' welled up.
'Alright… then, shall I check? My skills in Easy Mode.'
Although Bulruk Marbul is actually a game of luck.
I hardened my expression, looking at Lia, who was smiling broadly.
***
"Hmm, well… Bankrupt."
Bran was the first to lose in Bulruk Marbul.
Bran had bad dice luck, landing on Sierra's and Lia's properties consecutively and paying money.
Finally, even his last dice roll betrayed him, leading to bankruptcy.
"Noooo! Why, of all numbers, did it have to be a 4?!"
"Ahyahyahya! Delicious! Miss Sierra, CEO! Did you enjoy our magic festival at the Magic Tower~? Kyahyahya!"
Sierra was somehow maintaining second place, accumulating money.
From a certain point, she started landing on Lia's properties more often.
Eventually, she landed on Lia's Magic Tower branch, which had the highest toll fee that turn, and went bankrupt.
Game over.
"Then~, only Emil is left. Mm-hm-hm-hm…"
"..."
My case was nothing special.
"I really thought you were a cockroach, Emil. But it's time for you to leave now, isn't it~?"
"...Well, you never know yet."
As Bran and Sierra continued to land on Lia's properties, Lia's assets continued to increase.
Moreover, she had good dice luck, building landmarks with hardly ever landing on other people's properties.
In my case…
'Is this all that's left…?'
I was barely clinging on.
My rank had been 4th from the start of the game.
Then, Bran, who was 3rd, dropped out, and Sierra, who was 2nd, dropped out, making me accidentally 2nd.
It was a situation where I couldn't tell if I was lucky or unlucky.
"Eh-heh~, Emiiiil~, is that all the money you have? Ohhh? Aren't you going to go bankrupt next turn~?"
"..."
"Want me to lend you some money? Hmm~, I have this much, you see~. Oh, of course, there are conditions. If you bow your head and say 'Please~,' I might donate a bit? Like, maybe one gold coin? Kyahahahaha!"
"..."
*Crunch…*
"Emil… you're quite serious about this game…"
"...No, I'm just concentrating."
"But the dice… look like they're about to break."
Sierra, who was observing from the side, cautiously looked at the dice in my fist.
Lia was currently completely ignoring me.
She was looking down on me entirely.
Of course, her assets and mine were almost three times apart.
Lia loves games.
Specifically.
She likes to win and taunt the losers.
That's why the current situation was something Lia absolutely savored.
Lia, becoming utterly arrogant, even showed her canines and flapped the banknotes in her hand.
"Ahyahyahya! Emil, your funds are so pathetic~! Isn't it cute~? No, is it pitiful~?"
"..."
"Looks like you've already lost, don't you? Hello there~, Mr. CEO! You're going to lose anyway, are you going to keep playing~?"
"...Be, quiet."
"Ehh-heh~, you're going to keep playing~. ...Even though you're a lo~ser."
*Grind…*
My hand, which was carefully looking at the board, clenched tightly.
And seeing me like that, Lia grinned even wider.
"Heyy~, Emil. Shall I give you a good condition to cheer you up? Hm?"
"..."
"What if, you know? If Emil wins? *Pfft*! Of course, there's no way you'll win~, but if you do~."
Lia leaned closer to me and whispered softly into my ear.
"I could be your one-day slave, or something? Shall I call you Master~? How about it? Doesn't that really cheer you up?"
"..."
"Alright~! You can do it~! If you win, a cute girl will serve you for a whole day~!"
"..."
"If you ask me to sing, I'll sing, if you ask for a massage, I'll give one? …Maybe even strip if you ask me to? Kyahahahaha!"
I took a deep breath.
Don't get caught up in her pace.
Didn't I experience plenty of this during the third regression anyway?
'Right now, I have cockroach-like vitality… That kind of luck is continuing.'
I looked at the dice with composure.
And gently dropped the dice onto the board.
Then, the three people observing the game with me checked the dice.
*Thud, thud-thud…*
"Ah, it's a double."
At Sierra's voice, Lia burst into laughter.
"Ahyahyahya! What~, are you really going to try? Your life really is tenacious, isn't it?!"
Ignoring her voice, I moved my piece.
*Thud, thud, thud.*
The place I arrived at was…
"Oh, it's a Golden Key!"
The place I landed on, along with Sierra's voice, was the Golden Key space.
"Eh…?"
Suddenly, Lia's laughing voice quieted.
"What's the card? Wow! Toll fee doubled!"
"..."
Lia stared at the board, her laughing expression frozen.
Her hand, which was covering her mouth, was visibly trembling slightly.
"Quickly! Quickly, throw the next dice! Quickly!"
At Sierra's urging, I threw the dice one more time with the double roll opportunity.
"Huh? Another double?"
"Eh…?"
What came up was another double.
I maintained my composure and moved my piece.
*Gulp…*
The sound of someone swallowing, whose it was, was unknown.
My piece…
…just passed by Lia's most expensive city.
"Eh, it, it passed by? Uh, uh?"
I heard Lia's flustered face muttering.
My piece remained.
It reached the Golden Key space again.
'The card is…'
The card I drew was 'Heavenly Travel Ticket.'
"Wow! Heavenly Travel Ticket! That's super good~!"
"…Eh, ehh, ehh-eh."
Cold sweat began to bead on Lia's face.
"Since it's a double, I'll throw one more time."
And as per the opportunity, I picked up the dice again.
Then, Lia suddenly forced a laugh, as if trying to hide her bewilderment.
But there was a clear difference from her playful laugh just moments before.
"Ah, ahyahyahya~! Y-You're lucky~, Emil. You really are like a cockroach, aren't you? Well, if you get another double this time, it's off to the deserted island~."
"..."
Indeed.
At this rate, it feels like the next one will also be a double.
Three doubles means a deserted island.
Then I won't be able to move for three turns, which would be very disadvantageous.
But I calmly threw the dice.
*Thud, thud-thud…*
"Ah! This time it's just a normal roll?"
"Ehh-eh-eh! W-Wait a minute!"
I moved my piece normally.
The 'Heavenly Travel Ticket' I just obtained.
Using that authority.
I forcibly acquired Lia's most expensive city.
"Hmm~, double toll fee. …Should I put it here?"
"..."
I grinned and looked at Lia.
She was frozen, pale as a sheet, still in her laughing posture.
It seems because it's Easy Mode.
My luck is quite good.