Truth and Lies (4)
Melkidu, the refuge of murderers.
Slot number one on the outer track was the only town newcomers to Melkidu couldn't enter.
Town No. 1, Vital.
The reason was simple: attacks between users were forbidden there, and there were no missions at all.
On the other hand, it had abundant conveniences, so many users stayed there.
"Finally, we've gathered enough."
Shirone and his party sat in a restaurant, spread out the map they'd made themselves, and began their meeting.
"Crime points: one hundred million."
At Nade's words, the friends' minds replayed their hardships like a slideshow.
Eden sighed. "That was rough. We took the honorable-evil route and cleared everything without a single ordinary murder."
The honorable-evil special reward was lost the moment anyone committed a normal murder.
Iruki said, "If we ran the outer track seven times and got a hundred million, that's already near perfect. Some missions handed out ten million for a single bomb. But the problem starts now."
Their handmade map was densely covered with the outer track of Melkidu.
"A total of 468 tracks. We've personally experienced and documented 207 of them. At this rate, trying to accelerate point accumulation is impossible."
For example, some missions worked by rolling dice to chip away at a villain's HP.
Against those missions, the opponent's attacks shaved huge amounts of points, so quick elimination was essential.
"The Lord of Depravity. That's the only mission where we actually lost points. We'll need items and to strengthen our dice. It's time to start moving into the inner track."
Shirone said. "The item to enter Melkidu from the inner track costs 100 eok points." (100억 포인트 = ten billion points)
"If we keep going like this we'll reach it someday, but we don't have that kind of time."
The optimal route was to strengthen the dice on the inner track and sweep up points.
Nade said, "We've got a hundred million now, so let's double that first. I saw a casino on the way here."
Gambling existed in other towns, but Vital's gambling hall was run by the system.
"You don't have to get tangled with other users, so it's comfortable. But you only get a betting chance once every time you pass the start point. And there are limits on bet sizes by unit: 1–99 points, 100–999 points..."
That was why they'd come to slot one after earning a hundred million points.
"It's impossible to wait and save up to ten billion. Even if we win a hundred million in one go, it's huge."
Eden asked worriedly, "What if we lose? We'd lose almost everything."
"Haha! We have Shirone. He never loses at gambling—except maybe to Satan."
A sudden silence fell.
"Melkidu is Satan's—"
"Hahahaha!"
Nade laughed awkwardly and jumped up. "Ah, ah! Let's drop the useless thoughts and get going. We can make a hundred million points!"
The friends breathed out.
"I'm a little nervous." They closed the restaurant door and headed to the gambling hall in the town center.
There were about ten slots and people were lining up.
'You don't see this many people in other towns. No wonder Vital's so busy.'
A man came out of slot one. "Jackpot!"
He must have won; other users looked on enviously.
"How much did he win?"
At Nade's question, Iruki replied, "Probably not a massive sum. Even with fifty percent odds, your life's on the line. Nobody bets the amounts we do unless they're a points tycoon."
The line for slot six was the shortest; slot seven was the longest.
"As expected, superstition runs wild in places like this. Where should we wait?"
No need to ask. "Let's go to six."
A moment later the door to slot six opened and a woman came out looking distraught.
"Sob... snif."
She trembled and finally slumped to the ground, as if her legs had given out.
"Waaah! What do I do!"
She must have bet a lot, but no one showed pity.
When Shirone and his group stepped through the door, a spatial field opened up just as it did when they completed a mission.
- Welcome to the Devil's Casino. Please set your betting points.
Shirone exchanged glances with his friends and spoke. "One hundred million points."
- Points are being deducted. Your current remaining points: 6,878,300.
Shirone snatched up his Crime Dice—the pair of six-sided dice—as they fell.
- The higher total wins.
Since the system used the same dice, strengthening their dice offered no advantage.
"Here we go."
Holding their breath, the friends watched the dice hit the ground.
6 and 6.
- Double. You are granted one extra opportunity.
Shirone didn't hesitate and threw again; the result was the same.
"Phew, that's enough. Honestly, that was nerve‑wracking."
Iruki was cautious. "We can't relax yet. The system could get the same hand, and then it's a tie."
Before anyone finished, the system rolled—and two sixes appeared again.
Nade's eyes widened. "What the—?"
If another 6 and 6 came up, they'd tie with Shirone on a total score of 24.
- What happens if it's a draw? (system)
- A rematch will be held, and doubles will be reset. However, if accomplices are involved, participant targets will change.
A chill ran down their spines.
If it were truly fifty‑percent odds, they never would have bet a hundred million to begin with.
'Please, please. I'll throw next.'
Nade's heart pounded as the two dice glowed. One showed a 6, the other a 4.
- 24 to 20. Congratulations. You have won the game. You are awarded twice your bet.
Nade nearly collapsed.
"Ugh, how many sixes did that make? My stomach's in knots."
"For ordinary people that'd be horrendous luck. But this is basically free money."
- Victory reward: 100,000,000 points added. Your current points: 206,878,300.
"Nice, only 9.7 billion more to go."
After their silly joke they stepped out of slot six and felt other people's gazes.
'No point making a show of it.'
PvP was banned, but you could still run into others anywhere.
"You lot."
When the group turned, the woman who had gambled earlier was following them out.
"Did you win?" she asked, shrugging. "Don't be so guarded. I'm basically a points pauper now. You can at least tell me if you won or lost, right?"
Shirone said, "We won. Why?"
"Hmm, well—" The woman twisted uncomfortably. "I really am out of points. If you'd buy me just one thing from the shop—"
"Let's go."
Nade shoved his friends forward coldly. The woman narrowed her eyes. "Those bastards! Do you know who I am?"
"Who else? Pena the Con Demon."
At the voice from behind, Pena's eyes widened and Shirone turned his head.
"Huh?"
Curtis, who had helped them when they first arrived in Melkidu, waved to the group.
"Long time no see."
This place was a kind of underground district, so time flowed differently from the real world.
"Curtis? What are you doing here?"
"The dice god led me here… that's a lie. I was waiting for you. I figured you'd pass by a casino after this long."
He'd guessed right.
Pena scoffed. "Tch, what? You two know each other? Hanging out with Curtis? You lot aren't much."
Curtis smiled. "You'd be better off dropping that thought. These guys are pro mages in the real world."
"Oh?"
While Pena reassessed the group, Shirone asked Curtis, "Do you two know each other well?"
"More like... familiar faces. Not particularly strong, not weak either—just the kind who mind the outer track."
"Give me a break! Don't treat me like I'm the same as you! I'm furious from losing at the casino."
"Haha. And don't believe a word she says. Her nickname wasn't given for nothing. Even if she loses at gambling, she usually has her stake left."
Pena scowled.
'What the—?' Shirone thought. Curtis spilling information so easily was more surprising than Pena's revealed identity.
'Why would he casually hand out info? Does he think these guys can't lose?'
Curtis asked, "How many points do you have right now?"
As expected, there was no answer.
"Heh heh, you're a pretty experienced bunch. Then could you tell me how many laps of the outer track you've run?"
"We can't reveal that. You could infer our points."
"That's why I asked. We aren't perfect allies, but there's enough trust to exchange information, right?"
"Is Curtis's information worth the risk of exposing our points?"
"Maybe. What I know is a hidden method for getting into Melkidu."
Shirone met his friends' eyes.
"Well? Drinks are on you guys." Curtis pointed to the restaurant, and Pena cut in.
"I'll come! Okay? Can I? I won't listen to anything. I'm starving."
'So that's why she's called the Con Demon,' Curtis said. "Take her along. In the real world she's got twenty‑seven fraud convictions, but she's a fairly reliable friend."
There was a contradiction in his words, but there must have been a reason he insisted on bringing her along.
"All right. Let's hear it then."
They took seats in the restaurant. Pena opened the menu and started ordering all kinds of food.
"Also a beer for the table. And the lunch roll is free, right?" She was obnoxious as the buyer, but she didn't pick anything expensive.
"This much is fine. We'll try to save on the rest."
"Okay."
They'd just won a hundred million points, so they could at least afford a meal.
Curtis asked again, "How many laps did you do?"
"Seven."
"Pretty fast. If you stuck to the honorable‑evil route, that's about fifty million points, right?"
Curtis couldn't imagine how efficient Shirone's group had been.
"What..."
"All right. If you won't deny it, that means you've got at least around fifty million. Then there's a possibility." Pena reached out her hand.
"Wait. We're eating. Is it okay for me to even be here?"
"Doesn't matter. Knowing won't change anything. Also, the number of people matters."
Curtis put a cigarette between his lips. "You either save up 100 eok points, get lucky, or take the standard route into Melkidu. But there's a hidden way. I go bankrupt."
Eden frowned. "But if your points hit zero, the guards come after you. You get thrown in prison."
"That's the point. If you serve your sentence in prison, you return to the starting point. But there's a way to avoid going back to the start."
Shirone realized. "Bribery."
That, too, was a crime.
"Right. Break me out. In this place where all crimes are treated as null, we'd become criminals again."
"What happens if you become a criminal?"
Curtis looked out the window and exhaled smoke. "The back door opens."