The Stand User Of The Daily World

Chapter 81: Invitation Again

"An exciting gamble."

Unfortunately, the unfolding scene was interrupted as Kirari descended gracefully from the second floor, clapping softly as she walked.

Amateurs watch for entertainment, but experts focus on the subtleties.

Most of the students in the audience, after watching the entire match, could only utter a few stunned exclamations.

They recognized it as impressive but were utterly clueless about what made it so.

Overall, their experience was lackluster, completely devoid of a sense of participation.

Were it not for one of the participants being a member of the student council, the match would never have been deemed 'exciting.

However, as a top-tier expert herself, Kirari could easily discern the layers of strategy in Runa's game. If nothing else, the dice cup-shaking technique alone placed her among the top 0.001% in the world.

Shunsuke, on the other hand, delivered an even greater surprise.

Gambling in a completely unfamiliar environment, using a highly secure dice cup, and facing an opponent who was actively cheating, he managed to win six rounds consecutively.

His skill surpassed even that of her old acquaintances.

Runa was someone Kirari recognized and valued.

She had sent Runa out with the intention of giving Shunsuke a "small" lesson, to make him more cautious.

However, the one who ended up being taught a lesson was Runa herself, which was simply unbelievable.

Kirari admired Shunsuke's daring gamble in the final round, but what truly intrigued her was how he managed to pull off his move in the fourth round.

Even she couldn't figure it out.

—Could it really have been a simple rookie mistake by Runa? Or is it possible that this world harbors secret powers and hidden techniques?

No matter how exceptional one's gambling skills, how noble their status, or how meticulous their mind, in this everyday reality, Kirari would never have considered that someone might use supernatural powers in a gamble.

Such a dimensional leap would be outright unfair.

Kirari's eyes sparkled as she gazed at Shunsuke, her excitement barely contained.

In contrast, Shunsuke looked back at her with clear displeasure. Right now, every moment of his time was worth its weight in gold.

Could she afford that?

"Your final chips amount to 6.4 billion. Thirty billion will be allocated for operations, and the remaining 3.4 billion will be transferred to your account within a day."

You're a rich woman; whatever you say goes.

Even in Hyakkaou Academy, only the student council—or more specifically, Kirari Momobami—could effortlessly produce such a vast sum of money.

Others, such as the student council treasurer Kaede Manyuda, might also be able to amass that amount, but it would involve embezzling public funds.

If he were to lose, his life would essentially be over.

As long as someone possesses a shred of sanity, they wouldn't gamble on such a scale.

So, despite the seemingly unlimited wealth circulating within Hyakkaou Academy, there was still a clear ceiling to how much could be earned.

To make even greater profits, one would have to wait for Kirari to dissolve the student council and bring in the other members of the Momobami clan.

They, too, hailed from prestigious families and could afford to say things like, "I have no interest in money."

Meanwhile, outside the academy, in the world of casinos, if Shunsuke dared to win this much money, the casinos would just as boldly send enforcers to his doorstep.

They wouldn't stop until they had turned the situation bloody and dismantled him piece by piece.

But Shunsuke wasn't the hot-blooded type to risk it all, so he had no interest in such scenarios.

So, in the end, becoming a capitalist is still the most lucrative route.

For a fleeting moment, Shunsuke considered not submitting Monogatari to Shulin Publishing anymore.

A mere 10% royalty rate, with no share in secondary developments or merchandise profits—did they think he was a beggar?

People in his home country might not fully grasp the significance of Monogatari as a novel series, but just looking at its animation projects was enough to understand how big of a deal it was.

Unlike typical light novels that received seasonal adaptations, Monogatari had its unique approach: every new book released was adapted into 4-5 standalone episodes to fully capture its story.

What other light novel had ever received such treatment?

Due to its overwhelming popularity, Nisio Isin (the author) even managed to slap his own face repeatedly.

He had once proclaimed that the series would conclude after Owarimonogatari, marking the end of high school and the series.

He emphasized this in interviews multiple times.

Yet, not only did Owarimonogatari span three volumes (upper, middle, and lower), but it was followed by Zoku Owarimonogatari.

And after Zoku Owarimonogatari, which represented the "Final Season," he started new arcs like Off Season and Monster Season.

Nisio Isin, do you even know what "final" means?

Of course, Shunsuke was quite pleased that Monogatari seemed never-ending, but even he had to admit that the way it was being milked was a little unseemly.

And for a renowned author to stoop so low, the stakes involved must be staggering—something only those in the know would understand.

Shunsuke fixed his gaze on Kirari.

Since he was already halfway through doing a good deed, why not go all the way?

If he gambled again and won, he could take over Shulin Publishing and become his own boss.

Publish his work under his terms, maybe?

"Bang!"

Shunsuke smacked his forehead against the wall.

Gambling truly was a curse, a bottomless abyss of desire.

He had nearly succumbed.

If he had let himself fall any further, Star Platinum would have been in tears.

Clearly, he needed to gamble less on mere money and focus more on life itself, on rights and privileges—things that truly brought joy to both body and mind.

Cradling the compliant Runa in his arms, Shunsuke successfully pulled himself back from the brink of obsession.

As for Runa, though she was visibly displeased, she didn't dare resist.

A firm rule at Hyakkaou Academy was "a gamble is a gamble; you must honor the outcome." Even as the student council's Chief Regulatory Officer, Runa had to abide by it gracefully.

And if she refused to play gracefully, Kirari would make sure she did. Those in high positions were acutely aware of Kirari's terrifying authority.

Like now, despite Shunsuke playfully scratching her chin as if she were a kitten, Runa didn't dare resist at all.

Walking ahead, Sayaka turned her head and gave Shunsuke a peculiar glance.

When they finally returned to the student council room, Shunsuke found that both sides of the long table were already filled with people.

Ignoring everyone else, Kirari walked directly to the head of the table and took her seat.

Sayaka stood to her left, while Vice President Ririka Momobami, wearing her mask, stood to her right.

"Shunsuke, take a seat," Kirari said.

At the long table, the only available seats were either next to Kirari—originally Runa's seat—or a few spots at the far end.

Under the watchful eyes of the other student council members, who had varied expressions on their faces, Shunsuke showed no trace of nervousness.

Without hesitation, he sat in Runa's former seat, still holding her in his arms.

If it had been his previous self, he might have felt uneasy facing these elite second-generation heirs.

This was, after all, one of the main reasons he had chosen to attend Sobu High instead of Hyakkaou Academy.

But ever since becoming a Stand user, his newfound confidence had erased any insecurity.

With that strength, he could even treat Kirari as an equal, let alone these minor characters.

As Shunsuke nonchalantly took his seat with Runa still in his arms, Kaede Manyuda's face darkened noticeably.

Kirari Momobami glanced at Runa and smiled. "It seems you're adjusting quickly, Shunsuke. So, what do you think? Any interest in transferring to Hyakkaou Academy? It's a wonderful place, isn't it?"

With 3.4 billion freshly transferred to his bank account, how could Shunsuke say otherwise? Of course, he had to agree!

However, when it came to Kirari's invitation, he politely declined.

"No," he replied with a smile.

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