Destiny

"For you to use drugs for a pointless test like that, I don't even know what to say."

Star Color sat in the back seat, tilting his head back with a tissue stuffed up his nose.

During the physical fitness test for the [Advanced Nurturing High School Entrance Exam], Star Color had used some kind of drug that boosted his [physical ability].

"Even with the drug's boost, your athletic scores were still pitiful. Is the difference in heart really that great?"

The woman in the suit merely glanced indifferently from the rearview mirror, propping her head up as she watched the scenery blur past outside. Star Color, however, was the one staring at that fleeting landscape.

Star Color noticed the gaze of the woman who had been by his side for two years. She'd said something easy to misunderstand—strictly speaking, that woman was his [bodyguard].

"I didn't expect you to take an interest in school. Enough to leave the [Gambling House] for it."

"I never had any interest in gambling or deception to begin with. That was just my means of survival."

"You sure talk big, [Human Scum]."

"That nickname really never sounds right no matter how I hear it."

Star Color waved a hand.

"How many years do you have left?"

Star Color remained silent.

"Even if I live, what meaning is there? I'm just a withered tree—commonplace, ordinary, devoid of any talent. My interests and my life have no value."

"A man like me steps into society, makes female friends. I spin around them like a top, wearing a self-abasing, groveling heart, and only then do women curl the corners of their lips."

"Ah, as always, dumping your garbage mentality."

The woman sighed.

"I'm stuck in a hellhole like this. Did you think my mindset could possibly be normal?"

"Fair point."

She recalled following this brat around. He had zero gambling luck, his technique was abysmal, yet he always won against his opponents with some strange trick... This kid was absolutely not a [normal] gambler in the head. Every time, she had to clean up his mess. She had no idea how he'd ever become a [Gambling Officer].

"Atsuomi Ayanokouji—that guy is my prey. I'm going to slowly dismantle his influence... Shigemori Sakayanagi is also his asset, so I need to find a way to stir things up."

"Speaking of which, according to the intel, his beloved daughter Sakayanagi Arisu will also be entering this school. As the young lady she is, she'll definitely be in the best class. So, I need to find a way into Class A. If Plan A fails, I'll just activate Plan B."

Star Color rambled on to himself, then suddenly asked.

"Can I have a puff?"

"My car is not a place for you to smoke."

"How stingy."

Star Color stuck out his tongue, his small face puffing up in a pout.

"Acting cute won't help. Plan B? Kidnap his daughter? As always, your style is full-on scumbag trash."

"Kidnap? You could say that. But the ultimate goal is mental destruction. Destroy Shigemori Sakayanagi from the ground up."

"Tch. Completely mismatched with that face. A disgusting guy with a vile personality."

The woman, who had already witnessed Star Color's methods, felt genuine disgust from the bottom of her heart.

"Do you know about the concept of parallel worlds? We exist on just one branch of an edge world line. Different branches have different beings. But there's one person—a being called [Destiny]. [It] maintains the operation of this entire intricate, massive web of world lines."

"Sounds like a third-rate sci-fi movie's fantasy theory."

"Mock me all you want."

Silence. The two enjoyed the quiet atmosphere.

Star Color had once observed another world line. He saw the [Rabbit Monster] that destroyed the world... Sakayanagi Usagi. The [kindred spirit] that annihilated [Advanced Nurturing High School]...

(The author's previous book that got banned)

Like two people in a mirror, their essence was the same. The obsessions they created were vastly different...

For a time, Star Color had studied [Mysticism], [Ancient Christianity], [Kabbalah], [Feng Shui], [Alchemy], [Demons and Angels], [Monsters], and the [Cthulhu Mythos].

All of those were power systems from other dimensions...

Later on, there will be stories about Star Color's gambling and schemes outside. They'll be more exciting than what happens on campus.

Right now, we're still in the foreshadowing phase. The plot's moving a bit slowly.

I wonder if everyone prefers daily life or a stormy, raging development?

Also, thanks for the love, everyone.