kscans

Chapter 761 - Recreation

How you spend your time on a trip is, needless to say, different for everyone.

Do you visit all the tourist spots? Do you wander through unfamiliar lands in search of local specialties? Or do you hole up in your inn, healing both body and soul?

As college students, we exist in the space between adult and child, so the number of tempting options is practically infinite. My friends were no exception, and from the crack of dawn, they were passionately debating the day's plans with a storm of 'what-ifs' and 'how-abouts'. But—

Honestly, as I watched them get all fired up from the sidelines, I was already certain of one thing.

Despite their outward appearance as a picture-perfect group of cool college kids, those four were, to varying degrees, all the type to pour their entire passion single-mindedly into the things that captivated them.

In other words, otaku. Which meant...

"—And so, let's kick off the first-ever! Ruthless Game of Life Tournament!"

With two of the players they were most interested in right beside them, the thought ofわざわざ going out of their way to travel somewhere else just wouldn't cross their minds.

It was the morning of our second day. After finishing breakfast, the six of us, abandoned by the maid who had vanished at some point, gathered once again in the guys' room.

The motion that passed after a heated debate was the grand plan to be shut-ins. Yeah, yeah, I knew it, I thought, not particularly surprised. Sora-san, who must have pieced things together from my expression, was roped in along with me. The other three applauded Shoko's announcement, her energy as high as it was yesterday.

You guys are full of life. You were all making a racket until three in the morning last night, weren't you?

"Just out of curiosity, are you guys not interested in any of the tourist spots—"

"Nope!"

"Not really."

"Not particularly."

And there you have it. Kaede, who remained silent, was probably not completely uninterested, but simply chose to prioritize this instead. As usual, she wore the graceful smile of a sensible young lady, but I know you're more intense than anyone, you hardcore otaku.

Yeah, she and Rinne would probably become best friends. In any case...

"Well, I don't really care either way... but what's with this title?"

It wasn't just Shoko being dramatic; the board sitting on the table was literally engraved with the words The Ruthless Game of Life. I hate to say it, but I had a bad feeling about this.

"Well, I asked the proprietress if they had anything to play, and she showed me to the game room! She said we could take whatever we wanted, so I grabbed everything that looked interesting—yay!"

"I see."

"Hey, Toshiki, did you see that? He totally stonewalled Shoko-chan's killer wink."

"Was that a wink? I thought your eyes were just dry."

"What's that, you wanna pick a fight? Step outside."

You guys get along so well. Leaving the bickering childhood friends to their own devices, I glanced at my partner beside me.

As a board game enthusiast herself, the young lady of the Yotsuya family was staring at this ominous Game of Life with great interest.

"I've never played one of these before, digital or analog. How about you, Sora-san?"

"H-ah, um... This is my first time, too."

I could tell from her reaction, but it seemed we were both beginners. I knew the basic concept, of course, but my understanding of how the game actually played was fuzzy at best... Well, either way.

"Alright, let's get this started! And of course, the loser gets a penalty game!"

"It's always most beautiful when the person who suggests it ends up losing."

"Should we target her?"

"Ah, haha... Please go easy on me."

"Got it. We'll go easy on you while we target you."

"Wait, Kaede-chan?"

"W-wait, that's not what I meant...!"

Since I was getting dragged into this high-energy mess, I had a feeling it wouldn't be a peaceful game.

◇◆◇◆◇

"—Hey, what the hell is this? 'Go bankrupt and pawn yourself. Miss all subsequent turns.' What was this idiot, me, thinking, pawning his own body?"

"Nozomi, you..."

"Nozomi-kun, this is, um, a little hard to say, but..."

"Your luck is so bad it's almost moving."

"Hee hee, what a difference between you and Sora-chan, who's cruising in first place, eh, partner?"

"Stop laughing and help me. 'Miss all turns until you receive another player's charity'—this game is fundamentally broken. Get your act together, game!"

"Truly 'ruthless.'"

"Isn't it more 'heartless' than 'ruthless'?"

"Toshiki's making a face like he said something clever, so I'm not helping you out of spite."

"Hey, my only lifeline just got cut off. Get your act together, Toshiki!"

"Don't start redirecting the hate my way for no reason—Whoa, what's this... 'Suffer a massive stock market crash. Lose half your money and get a divorce.' ...This is just way too merciless, isn't it?"

"Goodbye, darling."

"My wife is so cold it's making me cry."

"Apparently, the remaining half comes to me as alimony, so it's all upside."

"Hey, get your act together, you stupid game!"

"Hah. Now you can get a taste of life at the bottom."

"Don't lump me in with the guy who not only went bankrupt but is now being kept by a pawn shop."

"Don't say 'kept.'... Sora-san, what are you smiling about?"

"I-I'm, pfft... I'm not smiling."

"You're not hiding it at all. Dammit, somebody help me already...!"

"Oh, alright, alright. I guess the merciful Shoko-san will just have to help you."

"What's with the sudden change of heart? Not that I'm not grateful, but..."

"Okay, Nozomin, from now on, you're my slave."

"Huh?"

"Hey, that's what it says. Look, right here."

"Huh?"

"'Roll the spinner. Buy another player's human rights for 10 million yen times that number and make them your slave.'"

"Huh?"

"By the way, I rolled a '1'. Okay, payment of ten million, complete."

"Pffft...!"

"The lowest possible price..."

"Nozomi-kun..."

"................................"

"Hee... U-um, Haru. It's just a game, so, um, cheer up..."

"Damn you all, laughing at my misfortune! I'll never forgive you...! Prepare yourselves, everyone! From this day forth, I shall become a demon of the Game of Life—"

"Alright then, Mr. Demon Slave. From now on, ninety percent of your income is mine, so work hard, okay?"

"HUH???"

"Hee hee hee—if you're a good boy, I'll take proper care of you."

"......................"

"...Haru?"

"Hold on, what? No. That wasn't me trembling in humiliation. It absolutely wasn't me thinking something weird or anything like that, definitely not."

"By the way, as the first-place player, I have a card that says 'I can forcibly purchase a designated player's human rights for half of my current money.'"

"This game has no respect for human rights!"

---

The first-place finisher was the young lady of the Yotsuya family (Sora-san), who, after purchasing the Demon Slave's human rights, continued her solo run to the top.