When he heard Gehrman Sparrow's words, Dakwill's first instinct was to tell him everything about the strange dice without holding anything back. He wanted the adventurer he had hired at great cost to grasp the root of the problem and effectively guarantee his personal safety.
But then he immediately thought of his teacher's advice, and that the dice was likely a very important sealed artefact within their School. If he told Gehrman Sparrow everything precisely, it might arouse the man's greed and make the situation take an even worse turn!
Tales of adventurers killing their employers for a bigger payout are a dime a dozen out at sea, and he didn't know Gehrman Sparrow at all, or what kind of man he was. He had to be cautious and careful! Besides, the dice had just rolled to a two—it wasn't the worst, most hopeless situation yet. There was still time to wait... Dakwill hesitated for a few seconds before finally making his decision. He would skirt the main issue for now and only talk about surface appearances.
He instinctively avoided Gehrman Sparrow's seemingly calm gaze and said:
"It's like this. My teacher and I belong to a secret organization. We fled because there were traitors within.
"They hold a Pathway related to fate, one that allows them to grant themselves luck and bring misfortune to their targets... I... I might have been cursed already. That's why I was so unlucky as to just get struck by lightning."
Having finished his explanation, he forcibly concealed his inner anxiety and waited for Gehrman Sparrow's response.
Will he not believe me? An experienced and powerful adventurer like him must be hard to fool... If he finds out I'm lying, he'll probably just throw me overboard... Dakwill stood there, restless and uneasy, like a student called up to the teacher's desk.
So it really is the School of Life... the Monster pathway... Klein nodded in understanding.
"I understand.
"Try to stay put as much as possible. I'll think about how to deal with the bad luck."
"Huh?" Dakwill was taken aback, unable to believe that Gehrman Sparrow had so easily accepted the excuse he'd hastily cobbled together.
He forced a smile, expressed his thanks repeatedly, then returned to his room, leaned against the door, and took out the ring box.
Snap! He opened the lid with a trembling hand and found that the milky-white dice had somehow eerily turned to reveal a six facing up.
Does this mean I was lucky enough just now to have successfully deceived Gehrman Sparrow? Dakwill thought with a dawning realization.
Mr. Harry the owl landed again, but didn't choose the fat pharmacist's shoulder, as if still shaken by nearly being struck by lightning.
It stood on the wooden table, staring dead ahead with its round eyes, and said:
"Dakwill, you're very tense."
"I don't need you to tell me that," Dakwill replied angrily.
The owl flapped its wings. "Alright, let me put it another way.
"I think I need to consider switching masters.
"Gehrman Sparrow seems like a good choice."
"...What about me then?" Dakwill asked, stunned, forgetting his anger for a moment.
Mr. Harry the owl clicked its beak twice. "Can't you feel the worry and fear inside you? You yourself doubt whether you'll see the sun tomorrow! That bizarre dice is just way, way too dangerous!
"If I were you, I'd throw it straight out the window, into the sea, and let your teacher's teacher fish it out himself."
"...How do you know about my teacher's teacher?" Dakwill blurted out in surprise.
Mr. Harry proudly lifted its head. "Never doubt the eyesight of an owl."
Dakwill was already lost in thought, paying no attention to its reply. "No, that won't work. Throwing the dice into the sea won't solve the problem.
"According to what the old man used to say, even if it's buried by the sea, after a few days, some big shot will manage to retrieve it. Then we'll really lose it, dumb bird. You don't have enough mystical knowledge. You don't understand that these important sealed artefacts are like the most popular prostitutes in the Red Theatre—they always manage to attract those desperate men."
"Including you," the owl Harry replied calmly. "As for the lack of mystical knowledge, I think there's a famous saying that explains it. Emperor Roselle once said, 'If children don't receive a good education, it's the father's fault.' That saying can also be used to describe the problem between a pet and its owner. Well, Dakwill, regardless, I think you have to talk to Gehrman Sparrow about the dice, or things will get even more dangerous."
"Let me think about it, think about it. Maybe it'll stick on a six..." Dakwill said hesitantly.
He sat down on the edge of the bed and lay back.
At that moment, the storm that had raged for a while gradually subsided. The sky began to clear, and the passenger ship blew its departure whistle.
In the first-class lounge, Klein looked out the window at the hazy rainbow that had appeared after the rain, his heart far less calm than he appeared on the surface.
He wasn't particularly afraid of simple-minded enemies. Out on the open sea, apart from the Four Kings and official demigods, and the pirate generals who appeared as entire fleets, very few things could threaten him, possessing as he did Creeping Hunger and several mystical items. Even if the ship were sunk, even if he fell into the sea, having so many talismans related to the Sea God's domain, he would still find a way to escape.
But luck was something truly difficult to grasp. It was beyond his capabilities. He couldn't even think of a way to deal with it.
Although my title is the Yellow-Black King who controls luck, that came from the luck-altering ritual, and the purpose of that ritual was clearly not to let someone shake off bad luck... Dakwill's situation is really troublesome. I can only work a little harder, keep a close eye on him, and the moment something happens that might kill him, step in to save him... I just hope he can make it through these few days until we reach Oravi Island. The fat pharmacist's elders should have a way to change his luck... Klein rubbed his forehead, showing no outward sign of concern.
Dakwill, who hadn't slept well the night before from all the tension, unknowingly drifted into a dream.