Surviving a Shounen Manga

1vs5 Poker

The next day, around noon.

I was just about to enter the casino lobby.

A cheerful voice suddenly rang out from the nearby public address speaker system.

– We would like to inform all our distinguished guests, domestic and foreign, who have visited the casino! Yesterday evening, an idiot made a commotion and attacked a VIP in the kitchen. After a long discussion, our casino has decided to give him one chance to make up for his mistakes. It was the Queen's decision. Truly a blessing for that thug!

Upon entering, there was a guy near the second-floor railing, talking on a microphone. He seemed to be the one speaking.

‘By the way, there was also a moderator.'

I didn't notice it when I read the manga, but seeing it now, it's quite strange. It's like you're not playing cards but participating in a sports meet.

– Now, what is this opportunity given to him? What is it, that allows you to compensate the casino for the damage caused through a game! And is it just that? No! Through this opportunity, he can seize the chance to turn his life around. A guy doing chores in the kitchen can become a casino VIP in an instant!

For a moment, I couldn't help but laugh out loud.

A life-changing opportunity, or becoming a casino VIP in an instant.

How artful an explanation. Because this wasn't some ‘opportunity', to say the least.

– Then what is the opportunity given to him! Those of you who know, will know. Goldam Casino's specialty! Its name, the Race of Death!

"Wow!"

"Oh, oh!"

"It's the Death Race!"

As soon as the announcer finished speaking, cheers arose from all over the casino. In other words, the Death Race was a very famous spectacle here.

To describe it in a single phrase, it was a ‘public execution'.

In the name of compensating the casino directly with his own hands, it plunged the target into an inescapable abyss. By playing a game that can never be won, the participant is pushed further into hellish debt and is forced to work as a slave in the casino for the rest of his life.

According to the setting of the manga, a total of thirteen Death Races have been held so far, and only one challenger has ever passed the finish line.

– Now, let me briefly explain. The Death Race is divided into seven stages. At each stage, there are games and opponents for the participant to challenge. The passing condition for each stage is simple. Make the opponent go bust. If you pass stage 1, you go straight to stage 2. If you pass all 7 stages like that, you become the winner. Taking all your opponents' money at the same time.

It wasn't explained, but that was not the only passing condition. If the opponent declares their defeat midway through the game, the competitor may advance to the next stage.

The problem was that this, too, was never beneficial to the participant. When a participant gets used to a game and wants to ride the momentum, the opponent immediately declares defeat and makes him move on to a new game. Forget about raking in more capital, even the tempo of the game is outside your control, so the structure of the race forces the participant to continue accumulating fatigue.

It's a really vicious rule.

– That was a long explanation. So, shall we start right away? Oh, and there he is, today's challenger! Where did that cheeky and ferocious punk from yesterday go? How cute it is to see him so timid! Now, let me introduce you, the bad boy, Leo!

Boos erupted everywhere as soon as the announcer finished speaking.

"Boo!"

"You're finished, kid!"

"How dare you fight against the casino!"

"Die!"

In fact, it was a very strange sight. In other words, there was absolutely no reason for the spectators to cheer for the casino's side. On top of that, they were even cursing at the challenger.

On the contrary, shouldn't cheering for the underdog be the more common reaction?

But, oddly enough, that was the setting in the manga. Here Leo – was the villain.

I looked at the boy with tufted hair walking in from a distance.

‘You look good.'

The main character of this story, whom I hadn't seen for a while, as always, had an innocent face.

Immediately afterwards, the host introduced the first stage of the ‘Death Race' and its opponents.

– The first game is 1vs1 Texas Hold'em. And that cheeky kid's opponent is Kurino, our long-time VIP here at the Goldam Casino!

As expected, it was Kurino.

Where did the dazed expression of yesterday go? He was once again showing a crafty and confident smile.

However, the crowd's reaction was rather flat.

"Kurino?"

"Um… well, it should be fine."

"Yeah, let’s give it a try!"

I couldn't help but laugh for a moment.

It wasn't like this when I read the manga. There must have been a scene where everyone bellowed out a cheer.

The reason the reaction was not the same as before was simple. The decisive battle with me yesterday was probably the cause.

Kurino also seemed a little embarrassed by the muted reactions of the spectators.

‘I think he's a little wary.'

If he stays vigilant and guards his heart, Leo will have a bit more of a difficult time. Originally, Kurino wasn't somebody you could easily deal with.

Soon, the first game began.

I left the lobby quietly after watching the scene where Leo sat down at the table and asked the referee the rules of the game.

This was just the beginning, but it probably won't take long. For that monster to reach level 6.

Even if the games were incredibly unfair, and even if his opponents were ‘sharpers' who used special abilities…

Because he was the one who received the most intense and inequal affection from the creator of this world.

"See you later."

1vs5 Poker.

The rules are simple.

The game is played by six people, and the basic rules are the same as those of 7 Card Stud.

However, five players in a team share their cards and the pot.

In other words, they can complete their hands by picking and choosing from up to 35 cards.

"Isn’t it fun?"

I glanced at the middle-aged bald man who spoke to me.

Curty Jones. One of the VIPs of Goldam City, who was currently playing 1vs5 poker along with me.

"I’m a new VIP who just joined a while ago, so I just entered the game as I was asked. What can you do, right?"

"Still, he seems to be holding up pretty well, huh?"

"Hey, can’t you see his face? Just wait, he will collapse sooner or later."

As it turned out, Leo's face sported quite a contorted expression.

A total of 18 rounds had passed so far.

Out of those, Leo won only once. And that too, a pot of only 3 million gold.

However, the money our team had sucked out of Leo till this round was a whopping –

"Raise. Twice as much."

"Raise. Double again."

"Raise, take it and double it."

"It's the challenger's turn. Would you like to bet?"

"… Fold[1]."

– 5 billion.

If this continued, Leo would soon go bust.

‘Hmm, is it too much?'

Leo defeated the first five stages with absurd ease, but this time he had no choice but to struggle.

First of all, the problem was the probability.

Make your hand out of 35 cards? Straight Flushes come a dime a dozen. In other words, you can't even imagine losing.

Of course, if pitted against Leo's strong luck, the game might somehow become interesting. This is a manga world, and he's the protagonist, so maybe he can break through the odds of 1 in tens of thousands, and pull out a Straight Flush several times.

However, there are reasons why Leo can never win. If Leo seems to luck into a strong hand, it's enough if we all fold together.

In poker, it's not how many rounds you win that's important. It's important to win money, even if you win just the one round. So what if Leo gets a good hand? A hand strong enough to win even against 35 cards? Then we fold together. Unless we bet, there is no way for Leo to get money.

So, the writer has no choice but to prepare the same tricks as me.

Then –

"May we come in?"

With a knock, a group of people entered the room.

One man in a suit, two women in maid clothes, and Kiriko in a waiter's uniform.

They had a food cart with them, and on top of it were cakes and other desserts, tea, coffee, and wine.

"We thought you'd need some snacks…"

When one of the maids said that, some of the VIPs accepted with delight.

"Oh! That's good. I was so bored; I was even thinking about chewing some gum."

"Heh heh… well, let's sip some tea as we have fun."

At that time, I saw Leo's bewildered expression when he saw them coming in.

That look on a face I knew so well was just plain embarrassing to see.

‘No one here is noticing, despite them almost holding up signboards that they're trying something suspicious.'

Obviously, this kind of unreasonable development inevitably destroys the flow of the narrative. The author hasn't thought about this properly.

Anyway,

"Hoo…"

It was the moment I had been waiting for.

I had to prove it now. My value, in this chapter.

Taking a couple of deep breaths, I spat out a single sentence.

"Wait a moment."

For an instant, all movements in the room ceased.

"Where did you get these…?"

When I asked, one of the maids answered in a fluster.

"From the kitchen…"

"The kitchen, is it… But didn’t that guy work in the kitchen for a while, too? He even got involved in an argument with a VIP there."

"That, that has nothing to do with this food…"

"Who sent the food? Did anyone here ask for these?"

Then, the atmosphere around us began to change little by little.

"I see, that's how it is."

"What, you suspecting something?"

"Not gonna eat?"

At that moment, Kiriko's eyes met mine, and widened. He must have recognized me.

Okay, this development wasn't half bad.

In addition, there was no restraint from the preceding plot yet. This was evidence that the author was also observing the situation.

Then, I immediately made the final move.

"It would be nice to have food and tea after the game. I don't think we'll have to wait that long anyhow."

My heart was pounding.

Would the preceding plot really not stop my actions?

To be honest, I thought the chance was about half and half.

My current action was completely against the development planned by the author. A guy who suddenly popped out was trying to block his solution to the problem. Originally, it should have been blocked long ago, but nothing like that happened.

Presumably, it was because the author had confirmed the dissatisfied feedback of the readers.

In the movie, there was a scene like that. Long before the 1vs5 Poker game started, the chef and the others in the kitchen were preparing food to overturn the match. Also, the scenes of selecting the people to carry the food, the maids being asked by Leo, Kiriko volunteering, etc.

Why was I not being restrained by the preceding plot? This meant that the author, who confirmed the dissatisfaction of the readers, also felt conflicted about the current development.

Of course, I wasn't sure if the restraints would come afterwards. The author must've also been unaware of the consequences of my actions.

Even so,

"Okay, let’s stop eating. Wouldn't it be sweeter to drink the wine later while enjoying our victory?"

Not yet.

I pushed the cart back.

‘Hoo…'

The die is cast.

Having destroyed the author's solution, from now on, the situation must be solved by me. If not, I will probably be deleted by the end of this chapter.

The game started again.

I quietly imbibed the special potion I had prepared.

[I hear only you, Whisper Potion]

Compared to its ridiculously expensive price, the special ability conferred by this potion was simple. To secretly convey your words to a single subject.

I immediately cast my ability on Leo.

– Just listen. This is the squat-jawed guy sitting opposite you.

In an instant, Leo's eyes turned round like saucers.

– You may not remember me, but I know you. And I know your colleague, Kiriko, too. I'm here to help.

OK,

"What? No, what is that…"

Why is he making such a fuss?

– Shut up! You stupid bastard! Or I'll get caught because of you!

Leo, who had been looking bewildered, quickly nodded as if he understood.

Of course, it was also another stupid act that got everyone's attention, but there was no time to fuss about the little things.

– I'm not telling you to trust me. You won't believe me anyway. If you just get a good hand, don't be afraid and start betting. Then I'll make you win. If you understand, just nod your head. Not as flamboyantly as before.

After a moment, Leo, who seemed to be in agony, nodded his head very slightly.

Then, I immediately drank the second special potion I had prepared.

[Hey, I got tricked! Duplicity Potion]

From now on, I had to wait. Until Leo got a good hand.

Before long, three rounds in a row ended with Leo's defeat, and it was around the time that my turn came again.

"… Raise."

It was Leo's signal.

I immediately checked Leo's hand.

Apart from the 2 face-down ‘hole' cards, the 3 cards he had face-up on the board – the Third, Fourth and Fifth Street cards – were Spade K, Spade Q and Spade J.

The hand that Leo was aiming for seemed clear. Royal Flush. The highest hand you could hold in this game. By collecting Spades A, K, Q, J, and 10.

As soon as I realized this, I applied the special ability to ‘trick' one of my cards, hoping this would be the decisive factor for this game.

Then,

"Raise?"

"No sweat."

"We'll probably finish soon?"

The VIPs also placed their bets along with Leo, who raised again and again.

When all our bets finished, the dealer dealt our next card.

This time, the (Sixth Street) card that was dealt to Leo face-up was the 10 of Spades.

Now, slowly, everyone seemed to be raising their guard, as Leo's hand had caught their eye.

"That guy, maybe…?"

"Let's get a Straight Flush first."

"That's not enough. If he gets the Royal, we'll lose."

"Should we just fold?"

Right then,

"He can’t complete it."

I showed them my hand.

"Because the Ace is here."

It was a trick, making the card look like the Ace of Spades.

Come on. If anyone has any doubts here, it'll become a mess.

But fortunately –

"Oh, no problem then."

"It’s fine as long as he doesn’t have a Royal. Anything else, we can win."

"Let’s finish it soon. I'm looking forward to that strawberry cake from earlier."

Seemed they bought it.

Then the raises continued like crazy.

‘Hoo…'

Of course, even after deceiving these guys, I didn't know if Leo could actually throw a Royal Flush.

However, if you can't win even after all this…

After a while, the dealer dealt us the River, the final and face-down card.

"Challenger, would you like to bet?"

And then, what appeared on Leo's face was the clear smile of a winner.

"All-in."

Even though we were in a separate room, we could hear the cheers of the onlookers below.

Advance to the final and 7th stage of the Race of Death.

It was something that would go down in the history of this casino.

"Eeh!"

"You, this bastard…!"

I shrugged at those who glared at me and rolled my eyes.

"I'm sorry. I misunderstood. I thought it was a Spade…"

Then I shook the card in my hands.

"Is it a Club?"

The reactions were pretty staggering.

From the guy who cursed, to the guy who threw everything he could get his hands on.

Of course, I easily dodged them all.

"Damn it!"

"He tricked us!"

But hey, what can you do even if you're angry? The game is already over, and Leo is already gone.

Then,

"Even if he reaches the next stage, anyway, the outcome is already decided. Because his opponent is the Queen."

One guy, who had kept his composure, muttered.

"Yeah."

"Because no one can win against the Queen."

That was correct. She was the only invincible gambler here, with a 100% win rate.

Well, after all, it didn't matter to me. Because I'd already done everything I could for this chapter.

I glanced at Leo, who had appeared on the electronic display.

He was walking towards the golden table on the top floor of the casino. A place where the final battle with the Queen was to be held.

"Now we can have some fun."

I sat down on a nearby chair and stretched my legs out.

Now all that was left was to wait.

Editor's Notes:

[1] 죽을 (lit. dying) should mean folding.

Who knew a card game in a webnovel could be so intense? We added some poker terminology here and there, and some clarifications so the readers could follow along even if you don't know Jack about poker. Was it successful? Suggestions welcome.