Magician in Type-Moon

Page 403

Looking at Luvia's back, Matou Ike touched his nose in confusion, wondering if he had acted that scary.

Medea chuckled to herself.

Unaware of the situation, Matou Ike didn't pay much attention.

He simply took Medea's hand and led her across the deck toward the central square.

There were many people gathered in all sorts of facilities.

The sky above was ablaze with the colors of sunset, and a twisting water slide connected to a pool. Behind the elegant archway lay a street market lined with several trendy brand stores and restaurants.

There are seven pools equipped with water slides and boat surfing facilities.

There are nine theaters and cinemas equipped with headphones that allow users to experience dubbing in different languages.

And, naturally, there are about thirty-five restaurants and bars that offer delicacies from all over the world.

Similar to the land-based areas of Monaco, no matter how huge the passenger ship is, it becomes even more dazzling after various facilities are compressed and packed into a limited space.

Matouchi and Medea walked around almost the entire area except for the casino.

When they found a place to rest, Matou Ike suddenly said.

"I see, what a dreamlike country."

"Is there a problem?" Medea asked softly. As a magician from the Age of Gods, she couldn't see anything wrong with it.

"This ship is modeled after a modern landscape."

Matou Ike explained.

"For modern luxury cruise ships, mobile towns are a major feature. To travel around the world means living in a town for months. On top of that, gambling ships keep people in a state of intoxication for even longer periods than ordinary luxury cruise ships."

The afterglow of dusk and the laughter of people perfectly complement the word "intoxicated".

"For a very short period of intoxication, alcohol and food can achieve that. Gambling itself can also produce a strong sense of intoxication. As long as you combine all kinds of entertainment, you can keep people perpetually drunk."

Even without such deliberate arrangements, most guests on these gambling ships travel with companions, allowing their companions to fully immerse themselves in luxury while the main guests gamble.

If partners or loved ones are satisfied, then even if guests lose money at the casino, they can be lured back with entertainment other than gambling.

This is a calculation hidden beneath the surface of a dreamlike world, a calculation in the real world.

However, even so, the beauty before us is undeniable.

Even if it's a fabricated dream of legally seizing other people's money, the uncompromising attitude in its creation is undeniable and admirable.

Chapter 443 A Strange Misunderstanding

Matouchi and Medea's steps finally stopped in the middle of the street.

It's a bit strange to use the word "street" to describe it, even though it's on a cruise ship.

But it is what it is.

A beautiful sign hangs in the middle of the street, bearing the words "L'Empire du Jeu".

This ship, named Joie de Vivre, naturally has several casinos, and the one in front of us is the largest one located in the center.

Stepping inside, a wonderful feeling arises spontaneously.

A luxurious red carpet greets you.

Stepping on it feels like your ankles are sinking in.

There were several rows of slot machines on both sides. They looked like some new species of creature with sharp cries and constantly flashing lights. The ones lined up near the entrance only cost 10 cents to play.

The further you go, the higher the barrier to entry for visiting the attractions becomes.

The innermost machine seems to be for VIP customers; you can only play with 100 euro banknotes exchanged at the casino.

Surprisingly, the differences between different customer segments were not significant.

In other words, it's not very noticeable.

The casino is directly connected to the outside area, but the inside is quite different.

That entrance marked the boundary.

Most likely, it was that boundary line that played a remarkable role.

The relaxed atmosphere, reminiscent of an amusement park, makes it perfectly natural to bring family along. Simultaneously, the same intense atmosphere, designed to entice gamblers and subtly draw them to the gambling tables, coexists seamlessly with the former.

I've seen this kind of device at the Izumi Pond many times.

Just like the Garan no Dormitory in Kanbushi City.

This is a kind of magic that affects the human psyche without using magic.

Clearly, this casino has also incorporated this sense of mystery.

Van Fem was a magician who, after exhausting his skills, embarked on the path of the Dead Apostle.

Matou Ike didn't find it strange that he possessed this technology.

But what kind of person was Van Fem?

Matouchi looked at the facilities inside the casino.

It is a courtyard scene with a southern theme, filled with foliage plants.

The trumpet-shaped flowers within them, just like real trumpets, produce musical sounds.

not only that.

Butterflies flutter among the flowers, shimmering with neon lights in the casino. The swarming butterflies and their interplay of iridescent light create a stage-like effect, reminiscent of fireworks.

The fireworks changed shape.

Sometimes, it's an adorable character, like a mascot.

Sometimes, it's an animation of that character performing a close-up scene.

entertainment.

This concept struck Matou Ike directly.

What exactly was the reason behind the owner of this luxury cruise ship installing such a magic trick?

These performances were all incredibly creative, almost like scenes from a fairy tale. The magic tricks I know, even those that violate the laws of physics, are always necessary for a specific form or ecological context.

The scene in the casino before us, however, seemed to have broken free from those restrictions.

Even the deafening sound, the sound, and the sound.

The sounds of banknotes, dice, and roulette mingled with luxurious background music. A dart-throwing game and a dazzling magic show played on the screen, the audience's mixed emotions of joy and sorrow mingling together.

Suddenly, someone called out to them.

It's Luvia.

"You've finally arrived. I thought you weren't really here for the banquet."

“I just came to take a look.” Matou Ike’s eyebrows twitched.

Luvia chuckled and nodded:

"Perfect timing, let me introduce you to two friends."

As she spoke, she caught a butterfly fluttering in the air and conveyed some words to it.

Soon, among the rows of slot machines and the trumpet flowers playing music, appeared the figure of the "friend" he had mentioned.

She was a beautiful woman with a Chinese style, tilting her head in thought.

She looked to be about 30 to 35 years old, and her ultramarine skirt was adorned with sparkling decorations.

Between the chest and collarbone, a watercolor-style tattoo in the shape of a spider lily sways, like a fragrant carnivorous flower.

Strangely, she was also holding a small Asian-style doll.

Beneath the small, carved wooden face was a crimson garment that looked quite old.

"It's Mr. Matou! I've heard so much about you. I'm Ye Sizhen from the Spiral Mansion's Hyoui Lou. Please take care of me from now on?"

The woman held the doll to her elbow and bowed with her hands clasped in greeting.

In addition, there was another person who came.

A unique figure in this setting divides the casino lights in two.

The person's entire body, from neck to face, was covered with elegant strips of cloth. It appeared to be an Arabic-style fabric, inlaid with intricate patterns. Furthermore, both hands were gloved, and a veil hung over their eyes, completely obscuring their skin.

"...Aizel"

He only briefly mentioned his name.

His voice was hoarse.

Their clothing makes it impossible to discern their body shape, gender, or ethnicity. The only possible conclusion is that they likely use English as their everyday language, based on their pronunciation.

After a period of conversation.

A sense of familiarity had developed among the group.

Matou Ike also learned of Luvia's purpose in approaching him.

The goal was to pool everyone's resources to break the ship owner's bet.

Matou Ike found it interesting and joined in on the spot.

After a conversation that was neither too short nor too long, the topic finally got on track.

“You’ve probably heard the rumor by now, haven’t you?” Luvia said.

"Rumors?" Matou Ike asked.

"It is said that Mr. Van Fem lost to the previous challenger."

As soon as she finished speaking, not only Luvia, but also the two people beside her—Ye Sizhen and Aizel—cast their gazes toward Matou Ike, trying to glean all information from the other's every move.

"The previous one, when was that?"

Matou Ike casually raised a question. Although he didn't know how skilled Van Fim was, he figured that someone who dared to offer such conditions must be top-notch, if not invincible.

"You really didn't know?" Luvia finally believed what Matou Ike had said earlier.