Archmage's Restaurant - Chapter 90: A Week in Korea (9)

In any case, the conclusion was that Rurin wasn’t going to throw a fit about wanting to win a stuffed animal.

Of course, since I came inside, she followed along anyway.

“What are all these? They’re such tiny creatures. They don’t seem alive.”

“You’re right. They’re just stuffed toys. This is a machine that grabs them.”

“I once knew one of our kind who would capture rare monsters and starve them to death. Is it like that?”

“No, this is nothing like that twisted hobby.”

As expected, Rurin didn’t seem interested at all. But I had a suspicion. Knowing Rurin’s personality, she might not care about the stuffed animals themselves, but she would probably be interested in the act of grabbing them.

“Watch this. You’ll understand.”

I inserted a 1,000 won bill into the machine. *Ding, ding, ding*, the music played.

Let’s see.

I aimed the claw at a nearby plush toy and carefully maneuvered it to grab the body. It looked like I got it perfectly. But just as the claw started lifting, it pathetically dropped the plush back onto the pile and returned to its starting position, empty.

“Huh?”

I couldn’t help but curse under my breath.

It was obvious this machine had the claw strength set to the weakest level. My 1,000 won was gone. And as an added bonus, the dragon’s mocking laughter.

“Puhahahaha! What are you doing?”

“What, what! It happens sometimes.”

“No, it doesn’t. Isn’t this just a scam? Even I can see it’s a trap, and yet you fail! Puhahaha!”

“Stop laughing, you annoying dragon!”

Having been laughed at, my determination to succeed flared up even more. This time, I decided to use my brain. I had a strategy—an old trick from my childhood. The toys and machines had gotten bigger, but the principles of claw games should still be the same.

I put in another 1,000 won.

The music played again, and I moved the claw.

When the claw strength is weak, the best way to win is to create a pile of toys near the hole. Then, once the pile is big enough, you can push a toy off the edge. Even with weak claw strength, you can succeed that way.

Of course, it’s not easy in just one go. But fortunately, there was already a decent pile of toys near the hole in this machine. All I had to do was nudge the target toy onto that pile.

The funny thing about these claws is that when you try to grab something far away, the claw will lift it and move it close to the hole, almost like it’s programmed to do that.

But when you grab something near the hole, the claw barely lifts it and drops it immediately.

It’s clear the machine is rigged that way.

Ridiculous.

Anyway, I started dragging toys from further away, building a small mountain near the hole.

“Phew…”

By the time I had piled up enough toys, I had already spent 3,000 won.

Rurin pressed her face against the glass and looked back at me with a smirk.

“All you have to do is grab it and drop it into the hole. You’re too bad at this. You’re such a fool!”

“What? You think you can do better? How about a bet, then?”

“Hehehe, a challenge? Fine. I accept!”

Rurin nodded with a smug, confident expression. But I knew the ins and outs of these machines. There’s no way she could win.

This was going to be 100% my victory.

“Why don’t you step aside? I’ll go first. Let’s see who can get a toy using the least amount of money.”

“Fine. But if you lose, don’t even think about leaving my side tonight!”

Rurin taunted me with a gleeful look. Normally, I wouldn’t even entertain such a bet, but there was no way I could lose this one.

“Alright, deal. But if you lose, we’re going to the market together early tomorrow morning!”

I set a condition that Rurin would hate as much as I did.

But she remained cocky.

“Waking up early? That’s nothing.”

Was this the same dragon who had never once woken up early? The one who wouldn’t even stir when I tried to wake her, who wouldn’t get up no matter what? Well, if she was that confident, then bring it on. I nodded. The bet was on. I had every reason to be confident.

I had already done the groundwork, piling up toys near the hole. Now, I just needed to tip one in. But on Rurin’s side, the toys near the hole were sparse.

It might seem a bit underhanded, but Rurin was the one who provoked me. So, I fully intended to win this.

Staying cautious not to get overconfident, I approached the machine. I inserted another bill and took a deep breath.

The music played again, and the claw began to move. *Ding, ding, ding*, the claw swayed to the sound of the music.

I had already set things up so that a toy was teetering on the edge of the hole. All I had to do now was slightly lift the toy’s edge with the claw. The machine might be programmed to drop things, but it would still lift the toy a little before letting go.

The trick was to nudge the toy just enough for it to fall into the hole. It was right on the edge.

But on my first try, I failed.

I couldn’t get the right side of the toy. Rurin’s voice immediately rang out.

“That’s one fail for you!”

“Yeah, yeah.”

One miss wasn’t a big deal.

I inserted another bill. This time, I was certain. The claw grabbed the toy’s edge perfectly. It lifted it up. The toy spun in the air and dropped into the hole. Success!

Finally, I had done it in two tries. I conveniently forgot the previous failures and declared my victory.

“How about that, Rurin? Two tries.”

“Why did it even take you two? Watch this.”

Rurin, full of baseless confidence, stood before the machine. She grabbed the joystick. But the claw didn’t move.

Of course, she hadn’t inserted any money. She looked at me with confusion.

Even with that puzzled expression, it’s obvious you can’t move the claw without paying.

I walked over and inserted money into her machine. I gestured for her to go ahead. There was no way she could win on her first try. Heh.

“Watch closely!”

Rurin moved the joystick with an air of self-assurance. She must have figured out the controls just by watching me.

The claw moved toward a toy in the distance. It slipped under the toy and started lifting.

“Hmm?”

The claw began to rise. Well, since it was far from the hole, I expected it to drag the toy a little closer. That’s usually what happens.

But strangely, the claw kept lifting. And lifting. Why wasn’t it letting go?

Then, in a shocking moment, the claw carried the toy all the way to the hole and dropped it in.

No way.

I vaguely remembered hearing that these machines are sometimes programmed to have stronger grips after a certain number of attempts. Was this one of those rare moments when the claw’s grip got stronger? Why now?

I looked at Rurin in disbelief.

“Hehehe, I won! And I’m not trading this one for anything! Last time, I let you fool me with those earrings, but not this time!”

Rurin was dancing with joy.

This is all wrong. There’s no way I should have lost like this.

I put more money into her machine.

“Rurin, try it again.”

“What? No way!”

“No, no, it’s not a bet anymore. Just try it.”

“Alright. You just want to see my skill again! Watch closely!”

Rurin moved the joystick again.

And once again, the claw lifted the toy and dropped it perfectly into the hole. What the…?

“See? That’s how it’s done!”

“You’re not using mana, are you?”

“Why would I use mana here?”

“Yeah, I didn’t sense any mana being used…”

I walked over to the machine, frowning. Was there something special about this particular one? I inserted another bill.

And just like before, the claw grabbed a toy and immediately dropped it.

What is this?

I stared at Rurin in shock. This felt just like that time during the storm when I challenged her to a game of jacks and was utterly defeated.

Is this what they call a divine touch?

“Phew… I give up.”

I had no choice but to admit defeat. I guess she just had a hidden talent for claw games. Hidden talent… for claw games?

There was no avoiding it now—I would have to be her pillow all night.

I didn’t want to admit it, but I knew I wouldn’t get any sleep that way.

Sighing, I trudged out of the claw machine shop.

“Hey! Don’t walk off like that! It’s okay. You’re fine. Hehehe.”

Rurin followed behind, laughing merrily.

***

I was doomed.

There was no better word to describe my situation.

That blasted 24-hour rule—when will it ever stop being part of these bets? The whole way back, I was stuck thinking about how to escape this mess. Damn it. Oh, heavens above.

Though, the heavens have never been on my side before, so there’s no point in praying now.

My brain was spiraling out of control.

So was Rurin.

“Hurry up, let’s get back, quickly!”

She was dragging me along, bouncing with excitement. I had lost a similar bet before. The exact same one, actually. But last time, there were earrings involved. Pretty, shiny earrings.

It was those earrings that saved me back then.

Nope. There’s always a way out, even if the sky falls. I just need to find it. But before I could think of anything, this blasted dragon kept pulling me so hard, I was getting dizzy.

The world suddenly went black. And then, everything spun. That dizziness—it could only mean teleportation.

“Hey! I thought you didn’t have enough mana!”

“When did I say that?”

“Uh, earlier, remember?”

“I don’t recall! Hehehe.”

She’d been hiding her mana?

Before I could even blink, we were back in the hotel room.

The reason this happened was simple. She wanted to start the 24-hour cuddling session as soon as possible.

So, she teleported us back right away.

Total chaos.

“Now, we’ve got 24 whole hours. Plenty of time.”

“Yeah, maybe we should reduce that time a bit.”

“Not listening! You’re always saying weird things.”

“What do you mean, weird! You have to eat, shower, and do other things. How can you stick together for 24 hours straight?”

“I don’t care. You can feed me. You can wash me. It’s only natural.”

A bet is a bet.

I had no comeback. This is why you should never gamble. It’s a surefire path to ruin.

Now I was even going to have to feed her? This situation was starting to feel disturbingly familiar.

No. I can’t accept this.

I crawled onto the bed, trying to sleep.

I had deliberately booked a twin room. Just like at the restaurant. I’d force her to sleep in the other bed. But somehow, every morning, I’d wake up in the same bed as her. It was the same at the restaurant.

So, if I could just fall asleep before she did, everything would be fine. I’m pretty good at sleeping through anything once I nod off.

But as Rurin lay beside me, quietly breathing, I couldn’t sleep.

This dragon had a way of making my heart race whenever she stayed quiet with a neutral expression.

So, if I could just sleep before she got to that point, everything would be okay.