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I Got a New Skill Every Time I Was Exiled, and After 100 Different Worlds, I Was Unmatched (Web Novel) - Chapter 315: The Impact of the Gap Between First Impressions and Reality
Chapter 315: The Impact of the Gap Between First Impressions and Reality
This chapter is updated by NovelFree.ml
“Yo… Woaaahh!?”My feet suddenly slipped as I set foot in a new world. As I frantically regained my balance and looked around, it seemed that I was on top of a sand dune.
“Whoa, that was close. Tia, are you okay?”
“Oops… Thank you, Ed. This time it’s a desert world, isn’t it?”
I offered my hand to Tia, who had also stumbled, and we both looked around. What we saw was an endless desert… but surely.
“Hey, Tia, is this place normal?”
“Yes, it’s definitely a desert, but I can feel the desert-like spirit’s power, so I think it’s just a normal desert.”
“Is that so? Then that’s good… right?”
I couldn’t say whether the existence of the desert was good or bad, but at least it seemed that this wasn’t a result of something like the Winged destroying the world. If it was a desert born from a natural phenomenon, I could see the answer within me.
“So, is this the 040th world?”
“Oh, you have an idea this time, don’t you?”
“If some strange interference hasn’t changed the world, that is.”
The only world in my memory where I landed directly in a desert was the 040th world. However, having a desert in a world wasn’t particularly rare, and if I started considering that some reason had turned the world into a desert… the scope of possibilities would expand indefinitely.
“Well, anyway, if we go to where people are, we’ll find out. Ah…”
Of course, there were no roads in the desert. As I looked around, remembering where I had gone at the time, I gave up and activated the [Akashic Compass]. There was also the option of relying on the [Flag Maker] but I should use the more certain method since it was available.
“Alright, it’s this way. Let’s go!”
“Yes!”
Fortunately, the compass responded normally, and we started walking in that direction. The desert sun was strong, and the sand took our strength, but fortunately, we had plenty of food and water, and enough stamina.
Along the way, we were attacked by large scorpions twice, but we easily defeated them and continued to walk for two hours. We were able to reach a large oasis town surrounded by white stone walls.
“Welcome, travelers, to the town of Shumeru. Do you have any identification?”
“Ah, I’m sorry, actually, a huge scorpion took all our belongings…”
I told the gatekeeper, a man with white cloth wrapped around his head, with a wry smile. He scrutinized Tia and me with sharp eyes, but then he seemed satisfied and nodded.
“Mm… I see. That was unfortunate. In that case, the entrance tax will be a bit higher, is that okay?”
“It’s just our own carelessness, so of course.”
I agreed to the man’s inquiring words, and we paid the silver coins to enter the town. A little way from the gate, Tia began to speak in a slow voice.
“We got in quite easily, didn’t we?”
“I think he remembered our faces, but as long as we don’t cause trouble, it doesn’t matter. So, as expected, this must be the 040th world. I remember the town’s name.”
“I see. What shall we do now?”
“For today, we should find lodging. And tomorrow… we’ll go there.”
What I pointed to was a particularly large building in the town, with a straight road leading to it, and many people were being drawn in.
“What’s that? A castle… right?”
“No, it’s a casino. Or should I say gambling hall?”
“A gambling hall!? Such a huge building, and everyone’s gambling in it?”
“That’s right. The inside is amazing too. It’s like… a whirlpool of people’s desires.”
“Ugh… it sounds lively, but I might be a little uncomfortable with it.”
As I moved my fingers excitedly, Tia slightly frowned. It was an unexpected reaction.
“Really? I thought you’d be happy since it’s a place to play.”
“I like to have fun, but they’re betting money, right? I don’t mind betting drinks or meals among friends, but people who desperately bet large sums of money scare me.”
“Ah, well, I think the gambling hall you’re imagining might be a bit different. Well, you’ll see when you get there.”
“Hmm? If Ed says so, I’ll look forward to it.”
“Yeah!”
After replying to Tia’s mischievous smile, we went about securing lodging. The temperature difference in the desert was intense, so we took proper rest at a slightly more expensive inn, and the following day, we stepped into the casino.
“Wow! Amazing!”
The exterior was rather simple stone construction, but the interior was different. It was decorated all over with grand ornaments as if it were a venue for a noble’s party, and magical lights on the ceiling illuminated the spacious room with brightness comparable to the sun.
At dozens of tables, men dressed like butlers were dealing cards to guests, and women in dresses with deep slits at the thighs were walking around with trays of alcohol.
“Hey Ed, what’s this!? It’s like a castle party, isn’t it?”
“Hahaha, that’s why I told you it’s different.”
“It’s too different! Since you said it was a gambling house, I totally imagined a scary, bearded man glaring at us!”
“That’s a little too… no, not really a prejudice?”
There were certainly plenty of guys gambling in a corner of the bar, and the folks running a place like a gambling house were indeed like that. If that’s what she imagined, I could understand why Tia would be upset.
“That’s a card game, right? And that too… oh, but the rules are different? One against five? What kind of game is that? And over there is…”
“Hey, hey, don’t get too excited. We have time, so let’s look around later. First, we need to purchase chips.”
“Chips? Don’t you bet with money directly?”
“No, that’s not how it works. Well, you can exchange them, so it’s not entirely different, but it’s a currency that can only be used in this casino. And there are things you can’t get without chips.”
“There are such things! What’s available?”
I pulled the cheerfully bouncing Tia’s hand and exchanged a gold coin for chips at the reception. Ten copper coins equaled one chip, so a gold coin was 1,000 chips. I divided them into 100 chips of ten each and gave half to Tia.
“Yay, pocket money! So, it’s okay if I use them all?”
(T/N: She’s so adorable)
“That much should be fine. I have something to do, so Tia can go have fun.”
“Really? You don’t need my help?”
“No. I’ll be fine on my own for now. I really wanted to guide you around, but…”
“Fufu, save that for later! Then, I’ll be back in a bit!”
Considering the upcoming encounters, it would probably be more convenient for me alone. Tia waved cheerfully and wandered around. Normally, leaving a woman alone in a gambling house would be unthinkable, but here, there were security eyes… or perhaps anti-cheating eyes… everywhere, and above all, there were hardly any who could do something to Tia.
“Well, I guess I should do what I need to… huh?”
“Ah!?”
“I lost again… Clearly, the pattern slipped, but isn’t this cheating?”
“Um, Yuusha-sama? Maybe it’s time to give up…?”
At the destination I aimed for, a bright brown-haired young girl – actually a boy – was screaming in a shrill voice. By their side, a young woman in a black triangular hat was suspiciously looking at the slot machine, and behind the boy, a woman in a white robe with gold thread designs was voicing her concern.
“Once more! I’m sure I’ll win if I try again!”
“How many times have you lost thinking that? Enough already!”
“That’s right, Yuusha-sama! Maybe you should earn it steadily…”
“That’s not true! If I hit it big here, that’s the quickest way!”
The boy, who was being admonished by his companions, was making hopeless statements. This boy was indeed the hero I was supposed to meet in this world.
