In one of Tokyo's hidden casinos, Erison sat before a pachinko machine. A black hoodie covered his head, and a dark mask hid half his face. Only his black eyes were visible, reflecting the flashing lights from the screen.
He kept his head low. He didn't want to be recognized.
The machine's lights blinked. The reels spun.
"Congratulations! You've won the jackpot—1 million yen!"
The number 777 flashed on the screen, followed by chaotic victory jingles filling the entire hall.
A faint smile curved beneath his mask.
'Hah... earning money is too easy.'
The sound drew the attention of nearby players.
'What? Never seen someone win a jackpot before?' he muttered with a lazy smirk.
Suddenly, his phone rang. Erison glanced down, and immediately a wide, genuine smile appeared on his face. He quickly stood up, walking away from the crowd.
On the screen, the caller name popped up: Yuki.
"Erison, where are you?"
Her gentle voice carried a hint of panic.
"I'm still at home!" he lied quickly.
"Really?" Relief filled her tone.
"I was worried you already left for the restaurant. Something came up at work so I had to stay overtime... I'll be a bit late." Then she added with a small sigh of relief, "But luckily, I've just finished it."
"That's fine," Erison said softly, his voice calm, trying to ease her guilt. "I haven't gotten ready yet either."
"Eh... but isn't our dinner at nine? It's already past eight-twenty!" Yuki's voice rose slightly. "Will they cancel our reservation if we're late?"
"Don't worry. My place isn't far from the restaurant, and your office isn't either, right?" he replied. "Sorry I can't pick you up... we're heading from opposite directions."
"Ah! It's okay, Erison! I'm just happy you invited me out," Yuki said, cheerful again.
He smiled faintly at her words before the call ended.
Sliding the phone back into his pocket, Erison walked out of the pachinko hall, leaving the flashing lights and metallic sounds behind.
He approached the prize counter. Behind the glass, a middle-aged man sat half-asleep until Erison placed a slip of paper before him.
"Oh! A one million yen jackpot?"
The man's tone instantly brightened. "Congratulations, sir! Is this your first big win?"
Erison only nodded.
"I see..." The man's grin widened. "We actually have special offers for big winners like you. VIP membership, bonus tokens, or..."
"Not interested," Erison cut him off coldly.
The man's smile faltered. "Alright then. Please note that your prize will be taxed. About five percent."
Erison just nodded again.
The counting machine buzzed behind the counter, sharp and rhythmic. Finally, the man handed him a sleek black envelope.
"One million yen, after tax. Please check."
"No need," Erison replied. "I trust you."
Without another glance, he turned and walked away.
At the casino exit, two security guards in black suits stood watch. Erison lowered his head, pulling the hoodie further. He passed them calmly, steps confident, movements precise.
Once outside, the night air hit his face.
"Hahhh..." he exhaled deeply, feeling the weight lift from his chest.
You might be wondering, why was he so tense after winning?
It wasn't fear of being robbed. It wasn't even fear of being followed.
It was something far deeper. He was afraid someone might recognize who he really was.
Because in the gambling world, there was one name whispered like an urban legend.
'The Lucky Bastard.'
A man said to possess Absolute Luck. Cards. Roulette. Slots. Pachinko. It didn't matter the game, he never lost. Dealers called him 'The Devil in a Hoodie.'
Whenever he appeared, money simply... flowed toward him. No tricks. No patterns. Just pure, impossible luck.
But tonight, under that hoodie, the legend was just a man. Erison.
A man trying to hide the greatest blessing and curse he'd ever been given.
"Good thing no one recognized me," he muttered. "If even one of them knew, chaos would've erupted."
He walked through the wet streets toward his car.
SPLASH!
A speeding car hit a puddle, soaking him from head to toe.
"...Great," he muttered, staring at his now-soaked jacket.
Ironic, isn't it? The man with Absolute Luck, drenched in filthy street water.
People think being lucky means life's easy. Endless money, no worries, endless women.
But not for Erison.
His luck only worked in games of chance. In life—and especially love—he was cursed. Every woman who'd ever dated him ended up hating him. Rumors piled up until the "miracle man" became a walking scandal.
But tonight, he thought that curse would finally break.
After twenty-four years of loneliness, he was finally going on a date.
With Yuki. The first woman who truly saw him, not his luck.
He opened his car trunk. Inside were his date clothes: a crisp white shirt, black suit, matching tie, and brand-new shoes.
'If this date fails too, I swear my curse just leveled up.'
Staring at his reflection in the car window, Erison changed clothes in a hurry. He knew the risk, someone could walk by, but to him, it was safer than a public restroom.
Once ready, he shut the trunk with a thunk, slipped into the driver's seat, and started the engine.
The screen flickered: "Welcome back, Erison."
He smiled faintly. This Mercedes was the only luxury he truly trusted.
"Alright... if this date goes south, I'm selling you too," he joked to the dashboard.
He drove through the glowing streets of Tokyo.
Suddenly, rain began to fall. Heavy. Relentless.
The sound pounded against the car roof like bullets.
'What the hell...? It was clear a minute ago.'
He turned on the wipers, but the rain only grew stronger.
And then... traffic. Complete standstill.
"Of course," he groaned. "Should've known."
Minutes crawled by. The clock read 8:48 PM.
It turned out the traffic jam was caused by an accident ahead. Once the road finally cleared, he slammed his foot on the gas. But the rain poured harder than ever, sheets of water streaking across the windshield.
Through the haze and heavy rain, Erison didn't notice the upcoming intersection.
Where another truck was trying to cross.
"Damn it!"
He hit the brakes and jerked the steering wheel. But the wet asphalt betrayed him. The tires lost grip.
CRASH!
The car slammed into the truck, flipping over several times before colliding with another vehicle. The sound of metal twisting, glass shattering, and the relentless downpour blended into one chaotic roar.
Inside the overturned car, Erison could barely move. His body was pinned by the crushed frame. Warm blood trickled down his face, blurring his vision into a sea of red.
Outside, people screamed. Desperate voices calling for help. But to him, it all sounded distant.
'Wh... what's happening?' he muttered weakly. 'Did I... hit that truck?'
His vision dimmed.
"Cough! Cough!"
Blood spilled from his mouth.
'Am I... going to die here? Alone? Die as a failure?'
"Yuki..." he whispered. A single word, soaked in regret and longing.
It was the last thing he ever said.
The world fell silent. Darkness swallowed everything.
'Is this... heaven? No... it's too dark. And too quiet for hell.'
Out of nowhere, a dim blue light appeared before him.
A rectangular screen floated in the darkness, glowing softly.
[GAMBLE SYSTEM — ACTIVATED] [Greetings, bearer of Absolute Luck. Your luck defies logic and probability.] [Do you wish... to be reborn?]
'A system...? Like in the novels...'
[To begin, make your first choice.] [Spin the symbols to determine your fate.] [Rules: 3 Hearts → Reincarnation. Joker → Instant death.]
Erison frowned. "What kind of divine joke is this?"
[Awaiting your input...]
"Gambling... to decide whether I live or die? What kind of bullshit is this!?"
He stared at the blue screen.
Deep down... he wanted to live. To see Yuki again. To love, to marry, to have kids. To live a normal life.
"Fine... fine. I'll play your damn game."
He pressed the glowing panel.
[Spinning...]
Symbols rolled one by one.
[First symbol: Heart] [Second symbol: Heart] [Third symbol: Heart]
The screen exploded in blue light.
[Congratulations! 3 Hearts achieved. Rebirth granted.] [Absolute Luck successfully transferred to the new world.]
[Processing Data...] [99%...] [99.9%...]
The blue light grew brighter. So bright that it devoured everything around him.
It felt as though he was being dragged into a vortex made of lightning. His body felt weightless... then heavy... then as if it no longer existed at all.
He could still hear it. His heartbeat.
Thump... thump...
The rhythm slowed, struggling against the cold.
Thump...
And then, the next beat never came.
For a moment, there was nothing. No sound. No pain. Just emptiness.
A soft breeze brushed against his face.
The gentle rustle of leaves followed, accompanied by the faint chirping of birds. The air carried the scent of wet earth and grass.
Erison's eyelids trembled open.
Golden sunlight poured through the gaps between the trees above him.
He sat there, speechless, feeling the warmth of the light against his skin.
The grass beneath him was soft, and his body... felt light.
"Did... I really come back?"
His eyes drifted down to his hands. The skin was smoother, softer than he remembered.
He frowned and tried speaking again, only to freeze.
His voice sounded different too. Younger. Clearer.
"Huh? My voice—" he gasped. "Why does it sound like this!? What the hell happened to me!?"
Before panic could take hold, the familiar glow returned.
A floating blue screen appeared right in front of his eyes.
[Welcome to the New World.] [Transmigration successful.] [Status: "Absolute Luck" has been activated.]
Erison stared at the screen in stunned silence.
"New... world?" he whispered.
Then, as realization finally sank in, his eyes widened in disbelief.
"NEW WORLDDD!?"