kscans

Chapter 96 - Pro

We left the restaurant in a pleasantly tipsy mood and headed to the racetrack. Unfortunately, there weren't any races going on, but since Enma's main goal was food, it wasn't a problem. Though it would have been more fun to eat while watching the races.

"Yes... yes... delicious, truly delicious, Hideo."

Enma seemed quite satisfied. And honestly, I was quietly pleased too. To be frank, I don't know much about horse-related stuff. It's outside my area of expertise. So I wasn't expecting much, but... you really can't underestimate these places. We bought some food we could eat while walking around, but it looks like the sit-down options are winners too. That kind of atmosphere was there.

"Hmm... when it comes to this, it's a shame there are no races."

Since this was so sudden, it couldn't be helped, but if we were going to do this, I would have liked to enjoy not just the food but the horse racing too. The food is good, but this is still a racetrack. That's the main attraction.

"Speaking of which, you don't gamble much, do you?"

"Huh? Oh, that's right. I might bet some candy, but nothing involving real money."

Not because of moral principles. Don't expect something like that from me. So why don't I gamble? Simply because it's not fun.

"The real thrill of gambling is that nerve-wracking tension, right?"

"Win or lose, gain or lose... that's it."

Exactly. Since we're at a racetrack, let me use horse racing as an example. Let's say you put your entire monthly salary on a long shot. From the moment you buy the betting ticket until the race results are decided, your heart would be pounding. Your livelihood is on the line. Your heart would be racing. If you lose this bet, there's no going back. You'd be constantly assaulted by that burning tension. And precisely because of that tension, the dream of what would happen if you won would burn endlessly.

"If you can't enjoy that, there's no point in doing it."

It's not because I have financial security. Even if you have money, you can still enjoy the tension. For example, you could set a rule like if you bet your entire salary and lose, you can't spend any money until next payday. So why can't I enjoy it? Because I can tell what's going to happen.

"In more relaxed settings, it's not really like that."

In places like this racetrack where there are other people around, my sense for winning and losing becomes too sharp. I think it's because I get influenced by the atmosphere of people who come here not to play around but to seriously compete. There's nothing I can do about this myself.

"Pachinko and slots have anime and manga tie-ins, don't they?"

"Indeed."

"I'd like to see those presentations and such, but... it's no good. The moment I walk in, I can tell which machines are going to pay out."

And conversely, which machines are hopeless too.

"So I just can't enjoy gambling when real money is involved."

If anything, I get more fired up over competitions with punishment games as stakes. Those are desperate in their own way, but not to the same degree as when money is involved. Currency is one of the worst demonic forces that has continued to drive people mad since its concept was born. It's on a different level.

"I see. So that's why you don't gamble unlike your ancestors. Being a transcendent being is troublesome too."

"When you bring up the word 'transcendent' in this kind of conversation, it suddenly feels cheap... wait, ancestors?"

Why ancestors?

"Hmm? Oh, naturally I have judged your ancestors generation after generation. So I understand their personalities as well."

I can't even imagine how many humans he's judged since hell was created. Don't tell me he remembers them all? Seeing me slightly freaked out, Enma said with a laugh.

"Only roughly. Additionally, I checked the records of your ancestors again after you began to distinguish yourself."

"Even roughly is crazy..."

"Let me get back to the topic. Your ancestors. On your father's side. It's not that there were no villains, but the tendency was toward more good people. Few went to hell."

Well, that's nice to hear. There are probably ancestors in hell too, but I hadn't gotten involved with that side. I mean, it would be awkward, right? Plus, if they were the type to fall into hell, they'd probably misuse my name.

"And ninety percent of those good people were frivolous."

"Ugh."

"Drinking, gambling, and buying women, the three-piece set was like basic RPG starting equipment for all of them."

Seriously? I only exchanged simple greetings with the ancestors who came to greet me... so that's how most of them were... But wait. Think positive. Think positively. Despite all of them being loose with money, women, and alcohol, they all made it to paradise, which means they accumulated just as many good deeds.

"You're no exception when it comes to being loose with alcohol and women, but..."

"You seemed uninterested in gambling, so I was a bit curious."

"Indeed. In that sense, your father is also one of the rare exceptions."

"Ah, my dad isn't interested in that sort of thing."

"Indeed. Instead, all that energy seems focused on one point."

After that, for about two hours I think? We ate various things and enjoyed the horse racing museum inside the facility before leaving the racetrack. Next, we headed to Ura-Akihabara. He had been interested in this place for a while too.

"We're being watched."

"Of course we are."

His power is suppressed so as not to affect humans in the mortal world, but that's all. Since his face isn't known, they don't realize he's King Enma, but anyone with good instincts would notice he's a dangerous existence. And the person next to him is me. It's natural they'd be wary. Look, even now, that guy who made eye contact with Enma hurriedly ran away.

"Being feared comes with the territory, but it does hurt a little."

"Well, this is your private time."

Just then.

"Oh my! Satou-san!!"

A sweet fragrance tickled my nostrils, followed by a soft sensation against my back.

"This is the first time we've met in person since that time! You look well, which is wonderful!!"

It's Kawasaki. Kawasaki, resting her face on my shoulder with a beaming smile. Normally, a guy would be happy to have a beautiful woman do this to him, but... it's Kawasaki...

"Yo, Kawasaki. Did you fix Kaiser already?"

"Unfortunately... I can't think of any good modification plans."

Kawasaki drooped dejectedly. Just her appearance... just her appearance is that of an incredible beauty... Takahashi and Suzuki. My best friends and former men. Even though I understand this intellectually, I sometimes get aroused, yet I don't react to Kawasaki at all.

"It's not just the machine, but the pilot's skill that's important, right?"

"Of course! I'm working hard on that too... but I'm not seeing visible results there either..."

She said she came to Ura-Akihabara to take a break from that.

"By the way, who is that person? I can tell they're quite powerful."

"Hmm? Oh, King Enma. He's on vacation for Obon, so he's sightseeing."

"I see, King Enma... Enma? Hmm? Enma?"

Oh, does this guy have the sense to be intimidated by Enma?

"Using King Enma as a bio-core, this could work."

Nope...

"Hell Kaiser? Devil Kaiser Hell Edition? Hmm... well, let's set the name aside for now."

With a hop, Kawasaki separated from me and made this proposal with a full smile.

"Enma-sama! Would you like to become the foundation of my dreams!?"

Amazing... I can't sense any malice at all...

"Um..."

"It's fine, don't worry about it. I have judged various types of humans, after all."

Enma chuckled.

"Words are useless against this type of person."

That's heartbreaking.

"I'm sorry, but I cannot accept that proposal. I have work to do as well."

"I see, that's unfortunate."

What's unfortunate is your head.