“I’ll go.”
Wi Seoryeon shook her cup, thinking. The gambling of matching the dice in the cup she’s shaking is certainly different from other forms of gambling.
The key difference is that the shaker doesn’t necessarily have to control their dice.
In games like Go-Stop or street gambling, if you don’t know the position of your dice or the order of your cards, the game wouldn’t make sense. But with this type of dice gambling, even if the shaker mixes the cup chaotically to the point where they themselves don’t know the outcome, as long as they can prevent their opponent from knowing, it’s a gamble worth taking.
Since the first move advantage ultimately lies with the opponent, it’s better to keep everything concealed than to risk being read during a careless shuffle.
‘The only problem is how to mix the cup without Ho Cheon-an noticing…’
Just toss the cup around without care?
Such a crude trick certainly wouldn’t fool Ho Cheon-an.
Unlike the martial arts that allow you to gauge your opponent’s skill through intuition, there’s hardly any way to accurately assess someone’s abilities before stepping into the ring.
There are far more people lacking skill than those with great skill in this world. Experienced gamblers become accustomed to the petty tricks of amateurs.
So what should she do?
As she contemplated, Wi Seoryeon quickly changed the way she handled the cup.
Tap, tap, tap!
Wi Seoryeon’s cup moved, providing her with the answer.
Mix using every technique available. It’s a chaotic blend that clearly goes beyond controlling the numbers, but though the result is the same whether you shake chaotically or not knowing the outcome, the quality of the process differs.
Thump!
Wi Seoryeon set her cup down. After a moment’s thought, Ho Cheon-an placed a bet on 7.
Wi Seoryeon also placed her bet on 6.
“I’ll reveal.”
There was a hint of tension in Wi Seoryeon’s voice. If Ho Cheon-an managed to catch up with her previous actions, there would be no way for her to win.
As the cup was lifted, the revealed dice showed… 10.
Wi Seoryeon clenched her fist inwardly.
I can do it!
I don’t know how high my chances are, but having gained a little victory in both attack and defense means even if I can’t win outright, a competition can still be established.
With that thought in mind, Wi Seoryeon shook her head to clear her thoughts.
Can’t win? Then why take the risk in the first place?
Even if the probability is low, I shall struggle for that little chance.
“I’m going in.”
Thinking this, Wi Seoryeon focused on Ho Cheon-an’s cup movements.
* *
An unexpected challenge from Wi Seoryeon.
The party kept a suitable distance to not disturb the two as they watched the duel unfold.
The turns had already passed at least twenty times.
Surprisingly, the one gaining the upper hand was Wi Seoryeon.
Currently, the bets stood at 65 to 35.
“It’s amazing that the Heavenly Demon has gained an advantage against the Honorable Person.”
Miss Yeo Il-ye remarked, while Moyong Yeon-hwa, completely unfamiliar with gambling, asked as she observed the duel between the two.
“I’ve heard that the Great Hero has mastered gambling, but is it really surprising to see the Heavenly Demon in such a position?”
Moyong Yeon-hwa’s question brought a slightly awkward expression to Yeo Il-ye’s face as she answered.
“To be honest, I’m not well-versed in gambling myself, so I have no insight into the outcome. I’m merely guessing based on what the Honorable Person has shown us so far.”
Dokgo I-seol chimed in as well.
“I share the same sentiment. The Great Hero has demonstrated exceptional skills even with the split dice. It’s hard to imagine him losing.”
Hyeok Gi-rin turned to look at the Black Cat, curious.
“I wonder what the Black Cat thinks. You’ve watched these two gamble several times, haven’t you?”
“Wi Seoryeon has improved tremendously compared to back then. But I still think my senior will win.”
“What makes you think that?”
Moyong Yeon-hwa’s curious gaze fixated on the Black Cat. Naturally, in any duel, it is reasonable to assume that the one with superior skills stands a higher chance of winning.
However, there was a certainty in the Black Cat’s tone implying that Ho Cheon-an couldn’t possibly lose, making Moyong Yeon-hwa curious about what aspect of Ho Cheon-an instilled such confidence in the Black Cat.
As Moyong Yeon-hwa asked her question, the Black Cat briefly recalled Ho Cheon-an’s gambling technique.
“My senior has a knack for seeing the bigger picture.”
* *
Over forty turns had passed.
Wi Seoryeon had been gaining the upper hand against Ho Cheon-an.
Yet slowly, she began to feel the flow shifting towards Ho Cheon-an.
“It’s three.”
“I place a bet of one on six.”
“I’ll raise and place another one.”
“I’ll raise and reveal.”
Wi Seoryeon raised her cup, revealing a dice face of 3. Some time ago, she had seemingly been successful in both attack and defense, and now, suddenly, her defenses were crumbling.
Wi Seoryeon narrowed her eyes, trying to decipher Ho Cheon-an’s cup movements, but she couldn’t catch his techniques as she had at the beginning of the match.
Why is that?
Is it because I’ve figured out which techniques aren’t working?
Wi Seoryeon denied that thought, shaking her head.
It’s perfectly normal for one’s techniques to be deciphered. As the turns progressed, Wi Seoryeon was also gaining insight into Ho Cheon-an’s methods.
If both became familiar with each other’s techniques, it wouldn’t put Wi Seoryeon at a disadvantage, rather, it should be to her advantage.
Throughout their encounters, Wi Seoryeon had regularly fought Ho Cheon-an, which meant he was familiar with all her techniques. On the flip side, due to the disparity in skill, she had been unable to pinpoint the essentials of Ho Cheon-an’s abilities.
Through her recent battles with the Tang Clan, she had rapidly advanced and now, she felt she had reached a level where she could understand Ho Cheon-an’s techniques to some extent; thus, as the match continued to unfold, the skill gap should have been narrowing.
So why?
Why was the gap seemingly widening instead of closing?
Grrr!
Wi Seoryeon, deep in thought about deciphering Ho Cheon-an’s techniques and pondering the shift in the flow, suddenly realized the answer due to a sudden headache.
In the blink of an eye, trying to catch the numerous hand movements demanded all her concentration, and the focus that had already endured for over two meals began to wane.
Thump.
Wi Seoryeon observed Ho Cheon-an, who had set his cup down. Having engaged in the match for more than forty turns, in terms of time, at least two meals had passed.
Ho Cheon-an looked as fresh as if he had just completed one turn.
“I’ll place a bet of one on three.”
“I’ll raise one on twelve, and then place another one.”
“I’ll take one.”
Wi Seoryeon placed two bets, and Ho Cheon-an’s dice showed 12. With that sight, Wi Seoryeon felt a sense of certainty.
Ho Cheon-an hadn’t shown even the slightest sign of fatigue.
Realizing that fact struck her like a blow. Each of Ho Cheon-an’s movements drained chunks of her concentration, yet he seemed unperturbed.
That can’t be true.
Surely, Ho Cheon-an must be feeling some strain too. It’s just that he has enough composure to not show it.
Wi Seoryeon examined the match closely.
She held 68 chips in total. While the flow had begun to shift, she still held an advantage in total stakes.
If this continued, she would gradually lose her stakes. Therefore, she needed to raise several bets while she still had a lead.
Wi Seoryeon slowly rotated her cup, mulling over a plan to secure a decisive blow.
Twenty would suffice. No, even ten would be enough to draw out Ho Cheon-an’s bets and seal her victory.
If only she could lure him into a large bet…!
Just as she was lost in that thought, Wi Seoryeon’s cup abruptly stopped.
Without realizing it, she glanced toward Ho Cheon-an. Although she had halted her shuffling, the expression on Ho Cheon-an’s face was not one of confusion or worry, but rather calmness.
[After all, rolling the dice is my strongest suit.]
That line from Ho Cheon-an about choosing a game of matching the dice in the cup flashed through Wi Seoryeon’s mind.
‘Was this what he meant…?!’
Finally, Wi Seoryeon understood that the conditions for a large stake had never existed.
The game currently was about matching the dice in the cup.
The structure of gambling purely revolves around the opposing party holding the ability to place the stakes.
In stark contrast, variables abound in Go-Stop, making the chance of losing large sums due to misjudgments or bluffs extremely likely.
With this type of dice matching, as long as the intent of both parties does not align, it can never escalate to larger bets.
If one fails to decipher how their opponent mixed the cup, they can at least bet the minimum for a loss.
If when I mixed the cup and my number was guessed by the opponent, then losing is the end of it.
As long as ‘mistakes’ aren’t made during the mixing of the cup, there’s no variable called ‘luck,’ which ordinarily accompanies gambling.
Therefore, before the advantage of the stakes vanished, the opportunity for a decisive showdown had never existed.
Realizing this fact, Wi Seoryeon lamented.
“Was the outcome determined before the contest even began?”
Ho Cheon-an, still maintaining an inscrutable expression, nodded calmly at her query.
“Once you sit at the gambling table, there’s no turning back.”
“…I see.”
Wi Seoryeon pondered.
She had been too hasty and immature.
Though she had resolved to do her best once seated, she had overlooked many elements that could influence the match’s outcome before entering the game, casting them aside.
“I’ll place a bet of one on 8.”
“I’ll raise one on a 4.”
The flow shifted to Ho Cheon-an, while Wi Seoryeon pressed on without giving up. Nevertheless, with her concentration and the advantage in stakes both slipping, there was simply no way for Wi Seoryeon to regain her upper hand.
“I concede.”
Thus, Ho Cheon-an emerged victorious from their duel.
* *
The long battle of gambling came to an end.
“You both did well.”
“I had no idea the Heavenly Demon had developed such skills.”
Just how long had they been gambling? Three meals? Four meals? It must have been quite a while, far past lunchtime.
Finally, as the victor and loser were determined, leaning back in her chair and exhaling a long sigh, Wi Seoryeon caught sight of Ho Cheon-an fiddling with the dice.
Her reminiscence of the battle was dripping with regret.
Hmm.
Perhaps it’s inappropriate to say, but that was not the Wi Seoryeon she knew.
The Wi Seoryeon I know would usually find joy even in a loss, viewing it as fuel to push forward toward tomorrow.
Was it that much of a disappointing match?
Did the Black Cat sense her mood as she spoke to Wi Seoryeon?
“Don’t be too down. You’re still growing fast enough!”
A wry smile formed on Wi Seoryeon’s face at the Black Cat’s encouragement.
“I was too hasty.”
“What do you mean?”
“Tang So-yeol told me to just keep it up as I am. Watching her face light up with joy made me strangely anxious.”
So that’s why we’d suddenly suggested a match.
“I honestly didn’t feel I had developed enough to earn that kind of praise… But seeing her enjoy herself, I felt the need to do something right away.”
“I see.”
With one gain inevitably coming with a loss, having amassed skill comparable to Hyeong-gyeong at her age, Wi Seoryeon hadn’t yet experienced the simple things that everyone encounters at least once.
A sudden rush of expectation, perhaps.
Or the trust of friends, something like that.
“Just continue as you are.”
That statement from Tang So-yeol was likely meant as an encouragement to take things slowly while enjoying life, but Wi Seoryeon interpreted it as a push to rapidly improve her gambling skills.
Well, human nature is to become impatient when expectations are high, isn’t it?
“I rushed in carelessly, and now I’m in this comical state of perhaps having lost without even realizing it.”
It seemed Wi Seoryeon too had succumbed to that urgency.
“That sounds oddly strange.”
“Hmm?”
“You weren’t necessarily gambling against your Master, right? Would the Master truly be pleased simply because your gambling skills improved? I don’t think so.”
At my comment, Wi Seoryeon’s eyes widened slightly.
“Your Master merely took joy in watching you play happily on the board they set for you. So simply enjoy gambling as you are now, and that should suffice.”
Seeking agreement from the party with a glance, all of them nodded with smiles.
Upon witnessing their nods, Wi Seoryeon quietly mused.
“That might be true.”
While her words seemed to seek answers, I remained silent, slowly sipping the lukewarm tea that had cooled some time ago. Given Wi Seoryeon’s face blossomed into a confident, ominous smile, it didn’t seem my answer was required.
“I feel like gambling again.”
“…Again?”
The Black Cat asked with exasperation, but it seemed Wi Seoryeon’s enthusiasm had overridden her ears.
“I’m going to the Tang Clan’s gambling hall. I’ll likely be back late tonight!”
With those words, she left with a spirited stride toward the gambling hall. As I and the party watched her go with blank expressions, we burst into laughter.
Looks like Wi Seoryeon’s passion for gambling won’t be extinguished anytime soon.
