NOVEL NEXT Chapter 76: [76] Is My Body Really This Valuable?
Chapter 76: Is My Body Really This Valuable?
After receiving the business card, it felt too impatient to rush over immediately. So, a few days later, Shunsuke chose the time after school to visit the front gate of Hyakkaou Private Academy.
This school was like two different worlds before and after classes ended.
To put it in chuunibyou terms, it was as if "the hour of twilight" had arrived.
Stopped by the gatekeeper at the entrance, Shunsuke dialed Kirari Momobami's number.
"Hello, who is this?"
The respectful voice of a secretary answered. Anyone who knew this number was either wealthy or powerful—not a nobody.
"Yo, secretary, it's me. Come help me get through the gate."
"Ugh." Sayaka clicked her tongue audibly. "What are you doing here?"
"Well, didn't President Momobami warmly invite me? Out of respect for her, I thought I should at least drop by."
Shunsuke could hear the grinding of teeth on the other end of the line.
Just as Sayaka was about to say something, a slender, pale hand took the phone from her.
"Shunsuke? Come on in. I've already informed the gatekeeper, and I'll send someone to escort you."
"Great. As expected, President Momobami is much more gracious than certain people. The host doesn't mind, so why is the servant acting so anxious?"
Shunsuke's sarcastic tone earned a soft chuckle from Kirari.
She seemed amused—perhaps it had been a long time since someone had spoken to her like this.
If this were a cliché CEO romance novel, this would be the moment for her to say, "Man, you've caught my attention."
After waiting at the gate for a short while, a little girl in an orange bunny hoodie, sucking on a lollipop, came bouncing toward him.
"You must be Shun-kun. The President sent me to pick you up."
"And you are?"
"My name is Yomozuki Runa. I'm sort of a member of the Student Council. Don't be fooled by how I look—I'm actually a third-year senior!"
"Oh, I see. Nice to meet you, Yomozuki-senpai."
"Nyahaha! So Shun-kun is such a polite guy? That's not how I imagined you at all," Runa said, looking thrilled. She pulled another lollipop from her pocket and offered it to him. "Here, it's really tasty."
"Uh… thanks," Shunsuke replied, accepting it with a hint of awkwardness.
Shunsuke took the lollipop, glancing at Runa, who seemed cheerful, lively, and full of energy.
Yet, who would have guessed that behind her childlike appearance was a master of exaggerated expressions?
Unwrapping the thin paper around the lollipop and popping it into his mouth, Shunsuke followed Runa into the campus.
As they walked, his non-standard uniform and the fact that he was accompanied by a Student Council member instantly made him the center of attention.
Hyakkaou Academy students along the way whispered among themselves, clearly intrigued.
Runa, unbothered by the gawking onlookers, led Shunsuke straight to the Student Council room.
Pushing open the grand doors, they entered to find Kirari seated at her luxurious wooden desk.
Behind her stood a silver-haired woman in a mask, and Sayaka hovered nearby.
"Shunsuke, I'm surprised you decided to come so quickly," Kirari said. She rested her interlocked hands beneath her chin in a commanding pose reminiscent of a certain iconic anime commander.
Despite her words, her tone was utterly indifferent.
"Well, I have a favor to ask of you, so naturally, I couldn't wait," Shunsuke replied, half-joking.
"Oh?" Kirari raised an eyebrow but didn't inquire further. In Japan, there were few requests she couldn't fulfill, and certainly none that someone like Shunsuke could pose to stop her.
"You're aware of the rules here, aren't you?" she asked coolly.
Shunsuke snapped his fingers. "Gambling, right? I get it. Lucky for me, I have a lot of faith in my luck."
"Nyahaha! Luck? Seriously?" Runa doubled over with laughter, clutching her stomach.
Kirari ignored her and nodded approvingly. "With your abilities, Shunsuke, I doubt money is the issue here. That makes things simpler. So, what will you wager? Your hands? Feet? Left eye? Right eye? Or perhaps your kidneys or other organs?"
"Hey, hey, isn't that way too extreme right off the bat? Can't we gamble something a bit more civilized?"
Though Kirari spoke casually, almost as if joking, Shunsuke had no doubt she was serious.
If you dared to wager something, she wouldn't hesitate to take it.
Outlandish bets like this were not uncommon at Hyakkaou Academy.
The school even employed a highly skilled medical team.
If you wagered an eye, they'd ensure your other one remained unharmed, with no aftereffects apart from the loss of the organ itself.
One of the Student Council members, Yumemi Yumemite, had famously lost her left eye in a bet with Kirari and now cosplayed as a pirate captain daily.
Kirari thought for a moment. "Then how about a pinky finger?"
"That's more like the yakuza, not civilized people!"
Seeing Shunsuke repeatedly object, Kirari didn't insist. "Fine, tell me your request, and I'll determine the collateral required."
Shunsuke briefly explained his situation.
Kirari listened without any visible reaction.
Meanwhile, Sayaka initially stared at Shunsuke in astonishment, as if she couldn't believe that this rude individual was also a writer.
However, upon hearing his request, her gaze shifted to one of disdain.
"Hmm. So you want to first win a literary award and then secure the Akutagawa Prize for the first half of this year?" Kirari mused. "I haven't read any of your books, so it's hard to gauge the effort required. But since the chief editor at Shulin Publishing House is going all out for you, I assume your work has some merit."
After a moment of thought, Kirari casually named a figure. "Let's say… 3 billion yen. Wager that amount, and if you win, I'll help you achieve your goal."
Shunsuke raised an eyebrow.
3 billion? Are you trying to scam me?
Also, is my body really worth that much?
Kirari seemed to pick up on his thoughts and calmly explained, "That amount is to ensure absolute success. If you're only aiming for a high probability of success, 1 billion yen would suffice."
—1 billion is still ridiculous, Shunsuke thought.
But people with connections could set whatever price they wanted. In the end, he said, "Let's go with 3 billion."
"Nyahaha! Shun-kun, you're really bold, betting such a huge amount for a literary award!" Runa laughed, clearly entertained.
"Chasing a literary dream," Shunsuke shrugged. "Besides, as long as I win, it doesn't matter how much I bet."
"Such confidence—I love confident people," Kirari said with satisfaction. "Alright, then let's gamble. Let's go with—"
"Wait, Kirari-senpai," Shunsuke interrupted. "I don't have that kind of money right now."
"How much are you short?"
"I'm short by… about 2 billion."
"So you have 1 billion, then?"
"No, I mean I only have 100 million."
"..."
Kirari froze for a moment.
Are you messing with me?
Shunsuke felt a little awkward. Coming to Hyakkaou Academy with the intent to "earn money" felt a bit too obvious.
However, earning money was nothing to be ashamed of.
So, he pressed on.
"Then… could I use this 100 million as my starting capital, win my way to 3 billion, and then gamble again?"
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