Chapter 29 : “Pris, You’re Mine! (1)”

“My body isn’t listening to me…”

Elves are a rare and fascinating race. And among them, there was one particular trait.

“As expected… I like people I’m close to…”

“We’ve only met twice, you know.”

“A friend’s friend… is a friend.”

Their words constantly trigger fascination.

Normally, if an average person said something like that, it would barely register in someone’s ears.

But when an elf says it, it gains an oddly persuasive power.

The problem is, this isn’t magic.

It’s just one of the elves’ “traits.”

“Hah… Even Dispel doesn’t work.”

The difference is simple.

Magic can be blocked.

Traits cannot.

In the game’s system, the only thing that can resist this…

is the Demon King’s innate effect.

“Do you know that your words cause fascination?”

“Fascination…?”

Fris tilted her head in confusion.

If she doesn’t even know what fascination is…

then she probably has no idea how to turn it off, either.

Irene had tried countless times to shake off the effect.

But nothing worked.

It wasn’t an issue of willpower.

Since her mind had only recently crossed over from another world, the effect was far stronger on her than it would be on a native.

“…You look like you’re struggling. Want me to block it for you?”

“It’s fine. I just thought of a great move.”

“Are you sure you’re okay?”

“Yes. So just one game, okay?”

Luminil kept staring at Irene, looking completely unconvinced.

But there was no other choice.

At this point, she might as well enjoy it.

Besides…

As she said, this might actually be a golden opportunity.

With that mindset, she walked to the entrance of the casino on the second floor.

A burly man recognized Fris and spoke up.

“Oh? Thought you were done for the day, little elf.”

“Nah… Still got plenty of winnings left…”

“Haha, well, that’s great! And who’s the lady behind you? A new friend?”

Fris nodded up and down.

She didn’t seem excited, but there was a clear sense of delight in her eyes.

“Yeah.”

“Alright then, have fun. Just don’t overdo it.”

The man said no more and simply gestured toward the casino entrance.

A casual motion, seemingly guiding them inside.

Fris didn’t even look at it—she just walked straight in.

A truly bizarre sight.

At least, for Irene, who had played Laios Fantasy, it certainly was.

“They’re treating her so casually…”

Weren’t elves supposed to be the rarest race on the Laios continent?

Absolutely.

She was sure of it—she once spent ten full days struggling just to find a single elf for an achievement.

And yet, the people here treated Fris like she was just another neighbor.

Of course, that was probably because Fris practically lived in this casino.

But Irene, who knew nothing about Fris, had no way of realizing that.

As they walked, Fris finally stopped in front of a machine.

She turned around and explained,

“Fruit pull.”

And with that, she skipped any further explanation, simply stuffing a handful of gold into the machine and pulling the lever.

With a loud clatter, a long branch extended sideways, rapidly growing fruit.

Three different-colored fruits bloomed.

It didn’t take long for them to figure out the rule.

“Matching fruits give you more gold.”

In other words—Fris lost.

She let out a short, disappointed “Ah….” before turning to Irene.

“Wanna try?”

“Is there… something else?”

Irene barely managed to ask.

Resisting the fascination wasn’t easy, and her head throbbed constantly.

It felt like rejecting an instinct screaming at her from inside her own mind.

“Like what…?”

“Something that uses dynamic vision…”

“There is….”

Fris took off again, and Irene followed.

She swayed slightly, and Luminil caught her.

“Thanks.”

“Ask anytime. I’ve got your back now, too.”

Maybe it was because Irene always praised her smile—

But Luminil grinned at her, bright and confident.

“That’s reassuring.”

They finally reached another machine.

It was exactly what someone would picture when they thought of a casino.

“…A slot machine?!”

Irene was stunned.

She could accept the existence of fruit machines, sure—

but this?

This was way too modern.

The reason was obvious.

The developers must’ve been lazy and just shoved a slot machine into the game.

And now, it has been faithfully replicated here.

Honestly?

It was a relief.

Since it was identical, Irene didn’t even need an explanation.

She slowly stepped forward, standing before the slot machine.

“If it looks the same… then the mechanics and rules should be the same, too.”

Laios Fantasy slot machines had one unique trait.

There was no variance in where the slots stopped when pulling the lever.

In other words, the moment the lever was pulled, the reels came to a halt immediately.

Irene took a slow, deep breath.

Rejecting the constant fascination urging her to gamble had already left her vision blurry.

This was her first time meeting an elf—

but she was certain of one thing.

This elf’s fascination was beyond normal.

Regardless, she quickly transferred gold to the machine through the terminal.

Luminil, seeing the amount, nearly screamed.

“T-Two million gold?! Ire— No. Are you serious?!”

She was so shocked that she almost called Irene by name.

Irene simply nodded in response.

If fascination worked the same way as game mechanics—

then once affected, she had to follow through to a certain extent before she could break free.

That meant…

This much gold was necessary.

Irene lifted her gaze.

The spinning slots whirred so fast that nausea crept up her throat.

“Hah.”

With a short exhale, she yanked the lever.

The reels stopped.

Right on 7.

Luminil, unfamiliar with the game’s mechanics, didn’t think much of it.

But Fris?

Her eyes widened in shock.

“One down.”

As soon as the 7 landed, the reels spun even faster than before.

It wasn’t just her imagination.

They had actually sped up.

To prevent a win.

At this speed, an average person wouldn’t even be able to tell what was on the reels anymore.

But Irene wasn’t average.

She pulled the lever again.

“Another 7…! Irene… are you a magician…?”

Luminil swallowed hard.

Then came the final reel.

By now, even Fris wouldn’t dare predict the outcome.

It spun so fast it was nearly invisible.

This was it.

The final moment.

She needed three matching numbers for a win—

one wrong move, and everything was lost.

For Irene, it didn’t matter which way it went.

But if she had to choose, she’d rather reach heaven than hell.

With that thought, she pulled the lever one last time.

The machine erupted with magical fireworks.

A song and a message popped up.

[Unfortunately, you lost!]

Luminil turned pale.

Irene, on the other hand, smiled.

Because this—

was the heaven she had chosen.

[Current remaining gold: -3,000,000]

Her heart shattered.

She hadn’t been struck by a sword.

She hadn’t been torn apart by magic.

And yet—one look at her balance made her sigh.

Even if this was part of the plan…

“I lost.”

“Yeah…”

Oddly enough, now that she was free from the fascination, she felt clearer than ever.

Her dizziness was gone, and her mind was sharper than before.

With that, she immediately grabbed Fris and dragged her out of the casino, heading for a secluded alley.

Once she confirmed no one was around, she turned to Fris.

“I just lost two million gold.”

“Oh… sorry. I really thought you’d win, Irene…”

Fris looked genuinely downcast.

But that wouldn’t work on Irene.

Even if Fris wasn’t aware of it, her fascination was still subtly at play.

That said, she still needed to be punished.

Besides—

Irene’s body adapted quickly.

She wouldn’t fall for fascination so easily next time.

Just as Fris was about to comfort her, Irene’s expression twisted with even greater despair.

“That money… I earned it with Luminil to secure our success.”

Fris flailed her hands helplessly.

Like she wanted to do something—anything—but had no idea what.

Luminil glanced at Irene, reading the situation, and let out a heavy sigh.

Then, as if the weight of the world was on her shoulders, she muttered,

“Yeah… Our success is ruined now.”

She kicked a small pebble with feigned frustration.

Of course, Irene had never planned anything with Luminil.

But the elf had spent enough time with her to know when to play along.

It seemed that by now, she was starting to pick up on Irene’s schemes.

“I… I’m really sorry… truly…”

Fris repeated her apologies over and over.

But neither of them acknowledged it.

Fris wasn’t a bad elf.

…Except for the part where she bewitched people into gambling.

Come to think of it, wasn’t she friends with Elian?

If so, then Elian had definitely lost a hefty sum to this elf.

In that case—

Irene would get revenge on her behalf.

When their eyes met, Fris quickly looked away—like a criminal awaiting judgment.

“Fris, how much gold do you have left?”

Fris fumbled with her coin pouch before answering.

“Three pouches… About 300,000 gold…”

“That’s nowhere near enough to repay the fortune you made me waste on gambling.”

Fris lowered her head.

Then, perhaps feeling some unfairness in the situation, she hesitated before speaking.

“B-But you were the one who spent all that gold, Irene…”

“And yet, after dragging me into gambling, you’re blaming me? I had no idea you were that kind of elf, Fris.”

This was the perfect moment—Luminil jumped in to back me up.

Being the Demon King, she was immune to fascination, making her acting even more convincing than mine.

I had definitely built up resistance, but unlike Luminil, I wasn’t completely unaffected.

“Irene… what happens to us now…?”

Luminil asked, looking every bit like a tragic heroine.

In the end, Fris caved first.

“I-I’ll pay you back somehow! So please…”

“I need it now. Two million gold. How else will I buy kitchen equipment?”

“M-Maybe I can ask Elian—”

“As if she’d give you that much. So why don’t you pay me back another way?”

Fris hesitated.

Pay me back another way?

Was that even possible?

She must’ve really not wanted to lose a friend because she quickly asked what I meant.

Just as planned.

“Fris, you’ll pay with your body.”

“…Okay— Huh?”

“Great! From now on, you’re mine until you pay off two million gold.”

“…What?”

Fris’s face went blank.

I grinned and grabbed her hand.

A new executive—secured.

“Huhhh…?”

Fris was still dazed.

She had simply misunderstood what paying with her body meant.

But soon enough—

“Fris, put the oven over there.”

It wasn’t until we arrived at the Demon King’s Castle, arms full of kitchen appliances, that she finally realized—

She had been forcibly employed by Irene!

By the time she caught on, it was far too late.

Irene, now standing before a fully equipped kitchen, approached Fris with a bright, beaming smile.

That smile sent a shiver down Fris’s spine.

Because just a moment ago, Irene had looked as if she had lost everything.

And hadn’t she said she couldn’t afford kitchen supplies without two million gold?!

Of course, that was all a lie.

Irene had more than enough gold.

She had gotten every kitchen tool she wanted and gained an unexpected elf executive.

Things couldn’t have gone better.

“Phew… it’s over!”

“Yes, it’s over, Luminil.”

“So… can I rest now…?”

Fris collapsed face-down on the kitchen floor.

Irene crouched beside her, still smiling eerily.

“Nope. Now you’re going to learn all about your duties in the Demon King’s Castle.”

“Wha—?”

Her groan of despair was short-lived.

The moment she remembered the two million gold debt, she shot up like lightning.

Fast for such a laid-back elf.

Irene pulled out a piece of paper—one listing both of their names, alternating back and forth.

She spoke with a grin.

“Let’s start with night watch duty, shall we? There’s a lot you need to learn.”

“Uwaaah….”