Chapter 117: Chapter 117: Maintaining Elegance Under Pressure
"Hey, you're kidding, right? That has to be a toy gun."
"This… this isn't gambling anymore! This is straight-up murder!"
"That lunatic, what the hell is she doing?! There's no way Haruto would agree to something this insane!"
"The student council… are they all this crazy? With Haruto's wealth, there's no reason for him to humor her madness."
The classroom buzzed with frantic discussion.
BANG!
A deafening gunshot rang out.
Midari had raised the silver revolver and fired.
The barrel still smoked.
A hole had appeared in the classroom ceiling.
The revolver had a large caliber, piercing straight through the concrete ceiling.
Everyone stared at Midari in horror.
This lunatic had brought a real gun!
"Come on, Haruto! Rather than letting the president break you, I'd rather be the one to enjoy you first!"
Midari raved.
Haruto ignored her and turned to Yumeko.
"Yumeko, if it were you, how would you handle this?"
At his question, Yumeko touched her cheek with a finger, tilting her head cutely in thought.
After a moment, she seemed to figure it out and smiled.
"If it were me, I'd probably agree. But I doubt I'd enjoy it much."
Haruto chuckled and ruffled her hair.
As expected of her.
Clearly, Yumeko had seen through Midari's true nature.
This woman wasn't gambling, she was actively seeking death, treating the pain of losing as a reward.
For Yumeko, this kind of gamble was boring.
Because Yumeko sought games where both parties took on true risk.
"Hey, you! What nonsense are you spouting?!"
Midari scowled at Yumeko, worried she might ruin her gamble with Haruto.
"Let's begin."
Haruto suddenly spoke.
The entire classroom fell into stunned silence.
Haruto had agreed.
A few students who wanted to get on Haruto's good side rushed forward, hoping to dissuade him.
But Midari's lackeys immediately blocked them off, pushing them into a corner.
"Fantastic! Absolutely fantastic! I knew it! Haruto, you're exactly the one I've been searching for! Let's get started! I can't wait even a second longer!"
Midari grabbed the revolver and opened the cylinder.
Five bullets and one empty shell clattered onto the desk, producing a crisp metallic sound.
She picked up a bullet, preparing to load it.
But Haruto suddenly grabbed her wrist.
Midari looked at him with confusion, and even a hint of pleading, as if afraid he would back out.
"Let's add one extra rule."
Haruto smiled.
Realizing he wasn't backing out but merely adding a condition, Midari relaxed and nodded.
"In Russian roulette, whoever gets shot naturally loses. But let's add one more rule. After both players have fired at least once, either player may call to stop. The winner is determined by whoever has more empty chambers. Of course, if one player stops, the other may continue, accumulating empty shots. If you agree, we start. If not, leave."
Haruto's tone left no room for negotiation.
Midari furrowed her brows but quickly let it go. It wouldn't stop her from pulling the trigger, so she didn't care.
"Fine! Let's start!"
Midari grinned, her mouth stretching into a manic smile.
A single bullet was loaded into the cylinder.
She spun the chamber forcefully.
The deadly roulette game had officially begun.
The students of Class 1-A watched, thinking these two were absolute lunatics.
Russian roulette? They'd only seen that in movies.
Even at Hyakkaou Academy, known for its gambling, no one had ever gambled with their lives for real.
And yet, these two were doing just that.
The silver revolver rested on the desk, with both standing across from each other.
Everyone else had backed far away, terrified of getting caught in the crossfire.
Except for Yumeko, who remained beside Haruto.
"Aren't you going to step aside?"
Haruto ruffled her black hair, smiling casually, completely unfazed by the life-and-death gamble.
Yumeko also smiled brightly.
"Master, I don't feel like there's any risk for you, so there's no need to move away."
Seeing their carefree demeanor, Midari scowled.
"Hey! Let's start already!"
She spoke to Haruto in dissatisfaction.
However, the moment Haruto's gaze swept over her, Midari immediately fell silent.
When that gaze landed on her, she felt as if she had plunged into an icy abyss. A fear even greater than death instantly enveloped her entire being.
Her legs went weak, and she almost collapsed to the ground.
That gaze...
It was even more maddening than a life-and-death gamble.
However, the feeling vanished in an instant.
The classroom remained silent for a long time before Midari regained her senses. But when she looked at Haruto again, her eyes had changed.
Still, the gamble had to continue.
"Ladies first."
Haruto smiled and gestured for Midari to go first.
His impression of the woman in front of him was genuinely poor.
So, let's test her luck.
Haruto didn't bother watching her spin the chamber, nor did he use any abilities to cheat.
If her luck was bad and the bullet was in the first chamber, she would truly die.
Midari didn't protest. She simply picked up the silver revolver on the table and aimed it at her temple.
As the cold muzzle pressed against her head,
The fear of death stimulated her nerves.
Her face started turning red, as if she were engaged in some indecent activity.
She gasped heavily, her breath rapid and deep.
Click!
The trigger was pulled.
Unfortunately, her luck wasn't too bad. With a one-in-six chance, she survived.
With a thud, she collapsed onto the floor, her expression one of pure ecstasy, as if she had just... well, reached a high.
(T/N: Beyotch found some alternatives.)
She was completely insane.
That thought appeared in everyone's minds.
Before she pulled the trigger, they had been wondering if this crazy woman was just bluffing.
After all, who would actually bet their life on something like this...?
"Your turn, Haruto!"
Midari handed the silver revolver to Haruto.
Her expression grew even more maniacal.
Haruto took the revolver with a hint of helplessness.
"Hey, Haruto! Just stop already! Gambling with your life is absurd!"
Someone shouted.
Haruto looked in their direction and merely smiled.
He gave the revolver a slight shake.
With his inhuman senses, he immediately pinpointed the bullet's position.
Bullets had weight.
When shaken, the force acting on each chamber was different.
This gamble was an assured victory for Haruto, even without using his special abilities.
"How convenient."
Haruto murmured.
The bullet was in the sixth chamber, the very last shot.
That meant he didn't even need to use his ability to adjust its position.
Raising the revolver to his head, Haruto looked at Midari .
"Yes! Just like that! Haruto, let us revel in the thrill of life and death—"
Before she could finish her crazed declaration—
Click!
The crisp sound echoed through the classroom.
The crowd widened their eyes in disbelief.
Did he just... pull the trigger?
Haruto's movements had been as fluid as flowing water, without a moment of hesitation. The instant the gun was against his head, the trigger had been pulled.
This...
Calling him crazy wouldn't even begin to describe it. Even someone seeking death wouldn't be this decisive.
But for Haruto, since he already knew the outcome, there was no reason to hesitate.
Besides, even if the bullet had fired,
It likely wouldn't have been able to pierce his skin.
Midari burst into laughter.
"Amazing! Absolutely amazing! Haruto, you are truly a gift from the heavens!"
She reached out, wanting to take the revolver for the next round.
However, Haruto didn't lower his hand.
Click!
Another trigger pull.
The classroom fell into complete silence.
Everyone stared at Haruto with wide eyes.
He pulled the trigger twice in a row!?
Midari was just as shocked, her eyes full of disbelief.
But this was far from over.
"Midari, what's the key to great comedy?"
Click!
Haruto asked as if he were merely making conversation, pulling the trigger once more.
"Timing."
That made three times.
"Midari, what is courage?"
Click!
Another trigger pull.
"It's maintaining grace under pressure."