Ding!
[Granting reward for satisfying a target...]
[Granting reward for completing the hidden third trait — Divine Scenery: A Couple's Night...]
He scratched his cheek with a small, awkward smile. "Ah… I actually forgot about the reward."
Two cards materialized in front of him.
One bronze and one golden.
Ren's gaze locked onto the golden one.
"…Well damn."
A slow, greedy grin spread across his face after seeing the golden card.
"Come to daddy."
He tapped the bronze card without much expectation.
The card flickered—
[ Item — Random Clothes: Portable Version ]
[ Description — After use, a random set of clothes will materialize on the selected target in perfect fit. The card can be carried without storing it in the system. ]
[ USE ]
He stared at the card for a moment.
"…Yeah… this could come in handy."
Without wasting time he put the broze card into his pocket, his hand moved to the golden one.
Please be OP… just once… give me something good…
He tapped it....
His expression slowly went flat.
"…Huh."
A long silence.
"…What the hell is this."
He stared at it for a few more seconds.
Then sighed.
"…It'll probably be useful… I guess."
With a lazy flick, he pressed—
[ STORE ]
The golden card vanished in midair.
[ 2/2 Skill Card Stored ]
He glanced around once more, then let out a small breath.
"…Yeah."
"I should probably head out now."
---
The smell of wine and sizzling food filled the street, vendors shouting as people crowded around the stalls.
Ren walked through casually, chewing on a piece of meat.
"Hm… this tastes pretty good," he muttered. "I should buy some for Lucia when I head back."
He glanced around at the busy exchanges happening everywhere.
"But why are the security already trading food for currency…?" he wondered.
"It hasn't even been a month or two since the virus spread."
Maybe they're stocking supplies for the future in advance…
Ren smirked slightly.
Pretty smart, I have to say.
Ren looked around and nodded to himself. "I have to say… this part of the city is pretty good compared to the other areas I've seen so far."
He reached into his pouch and weighed it in his hand.
"…Tch. Feels way too light."
I need to do something about this money problem…
As he walked further, his eyes caught a strange sight.
A steady stream of people going into one place.
And many coming out—
Depressed and broken.
Muttering to themselves as they lost everything they possible could.
"My money… my money… I lost everything…"
"Damn it… all gone…"
But others walked out with wide grins as they winned.
"Hah! I made a small fortune today!"
Ren's gaze slowly sharpened.
"What is that place…?" he muttered.
Then he saw the signboard.
Bloody Hound Gambling Den
He stared at the signboard for a second, his face going completely flat. "…What a cringe name..."
"Whatever."
A slow smile spread across his face.
"Looks like luck is on my side today."
He cracked his knuckles lightly while entering the place.
"Let's try some gambling."
Ren stepped inside the gambling den.
The moment he entered, noise flooded his ears—coins clinking, people shouting, cards slamming on tables. Dim lights mixed with flashes of gold, the air thick with tension and greed.
He looked around with a curious smile. "This place is… surprisingly lively."
His eyes moved from table to table.
"…Where should I start?"
"Hm?"
A woman in a bunny outfit walked up to him. Yellow hair, a fairly pretty face, and a figure that stood out a bit too much—two bazookas paired in front with dual mountains in the back, complementing each other perfectly.
Ren gave her a quick glance.
Not bad… but nowhere near Lucia.
He nodded casually.
The girl tilted her head slightly, confused. "Sir, is this your first time here?"
"Yeah," Ren replied with a relaxed smile. "So… show me something easy to play."
"Of course, sir," she said politely. "But first, how much would you like to exchange for chips?"
Ren tossed her his pouch.
"All of it. Should be around a hundred coins."
She caught it carefully. "Please wait a moment, sir."
As she walked away, Ren leaned back slightly, eyes scanning the room again.
A grin slowly spread across his face.
"…This place is going to be fun."
After all… I've got just the right things in mind.
She came back, holding a tray neatly stacked with 100 chips.
"Sir, if you may," she said, gesturing ahead.
Ren nodded and followed her.
She led him through the crowded floor—
and stopped at a table.
The bunny girl stepped beside him with a polite smile. "Sir, this is blackjack. You play against the dealer. Get as close to 21 as possible without going over. You can 'hit' for another card or 'stand' to keep your total. Beat the dealer, and you win."
Ren nodded lazily. "Got it."
He dropped into the blackjack seat, stacking his chips with a lazy flick. "Hit." A card slid in. "Hit again." Another. "…Yeah, that's horrible."
"Bust."
Chips slid away.
Again.
"Hit."
"Bust."
More chips gone.
Within minutes—half his stack vanished.
Ren leaned back, stretching like he just woke up from a nap. "Ah… I'm getting robbed legally. Nice."
The man sitting beside him scoffed loudly. "Kid, go drink your mom's milk and come back after you grow up."
Ren didn't even look at him. "Then why are you here?"
A pause.
"Now I get it… you weren't raised right. Grew up on your dad's milk or something? That's why you're still this bad."
A beat—
Laughter broke out around the table.
The man's face twisted. "You little—!"
Ren tapped the table once, slow… deliberate. Alright… warm-up's over.
"…Use. Gambler God's Luck."
[ Activating — Gambler God's Luck ]
A faint golden shimmer flickered around him—then vanished.
Ren's lips curled into a crooked grin. Heh… let's break something.
"Deal."
Ren pushed all his remaining chips forward in one smooth motion.
"All in."
The man beside him froze—then burst out laughing. "Are you that eager to lose?"
Ren smiled—bright… harmless… dangerous. "Yeah… winning everything right away would be boring."
A slight tilt of his head.
"…Or are you scared I might win? Should I call your mommy now, or will you start crying after you lose?"
A sharp pause.
"…What did you say?"
"Hmm?" Ren blinked innocently. "Did I stutter?"
The man's jaw tightened. "Let's see how long that smile lasts."
Cards were dealt.
"Hit."
"Stand."
"Bust."
"Blackjack."
Chips shifted.
Again.
And again.
The rhythm changed.
No—
Time passed—
Ten minutes.
Nothing changed… except their expressions and tides of table.
The dealer kept losing.
The pile in front of Ren kept growing.
Ren leaned forward slightly now, chin resting on his hand, watching the cards like a bored predator.
"H-How… how is he winning every round…?" the man muttered.
Ren stacked another pile of chips, humming softly. "Hmm… maybe the cards like me more… or maybe they just don't like being in the hands of a grown-up baby."
A pause.
He glanced sideways.
"Or maybe… you're just that pathetic."
The man's fingers tightened around his cards, knuckles turning white.
"No… no, that's not possible…"
Another round ended.
Ren won.
Again.
The dealer pushed the chips forward—but even his movements had slowed now.
A quiet tension spread across the table.
The man let out a dry laugh, sweat forming on his forehead. "H-He's just getting lucky… yeah… just luck…"
Ren tilted his head slightly. Luck?
A faint grin stretched wider.
If only you knew.
Another round.
"Blackjack."
Flat. Final.
More chips slid toward Ren.
The man's lips trembled. "…Again…?"
Ren stacked the chips neatly, almost lovingly. "Looks like I won."
The man stared at the growing pile—his face pale, eyes unfocused. "…This… this is insane…"
He staggered slightly in his seat.
"I… I'm out…"
His body slumped back, completely drained.
Ren watched him for a second.
"…That's it? You were talking so big just a minute ago. That's just pathetic—even for a grown-up baby. I told you, you should've called your mommy."
A small disappointed sigh.
"Just too pathetic."
The dealer finally looked up properly at Ren, a hint of disbelief in his eyes. "...Is this really your first time?"
Ren shrugged lightly. "Yeah."
A small pause.
Then—
"…Beginner's luck, I guess."
He glanced down at the mountain of chips in front of him—
…around 600 chips.
His grin slowly widened.
Oh… this is fun.
The bunny girl stood frozen at his side, eyes wide, completely stunned.
"S-Sir… you kept beating the dealer…"
She stepped closer, almost unconsciously.
"That… wasn't normal at all…"
Ren leaned back, stretching like he'd just finished something trivial.
"Hmm?"
A lazy grin tugged at his lips.
"Normal is boring."
He flicked a chip into the air—caught it clean.
"Winning like this… is way more fun."
His eyes glinted faintly.
He leaned forward again, resting his chin on his hand, staring at the table like a predator eyeing fresh prey.
"So…"
A slow, dangerous smile spread across his face.
"What should I try next?"