Night came, and Chris and I were in our room. Father was next door because only two people can occupy this room. Chris was already sleeping, but for some reason I can't sleep at all, so I tried going to my father's room and ask him for some money so I can buy snacks.
I entered my father's room but didn't see any signs of him being here. So I tried going downstairs to ask the innkeeper where my father might be. As soon as I asked the innkeeper, he said that my father had gone outside just a minute ago. I immediately went outside and started to find him. In just a second, I saw him turning into the alley. So I followed him while thinking where he was going.
I kept some distance so he wouldn't notice me, and finally he arrived at his destination. He entered an establishment that has a sign that says "Casino." Even though the sign says "Casino," this establishment cannot be compared to the casino in my old world. There is no guard, so I easily get in and follow Father. Why is my father going to the casino? I'm thinking that when suddenly someone yells.
"He's back again, the guy who won a lot in the afternoon," shouted the guy with a mohawk.
"You're right, he's here again," said another guy who was next to mohawk guy.
After that, everyone's attention goes to Father, and as if nothing happened, Father just sat in the free chair that has a dice game on the table.
"Wanna play?" asked an old man to my father.
"Yeah," my father answered.
"So where are you betting—even or odd?" asked the old man.
"Odd, one silver coin," answered my father.
"Okay, here it comes," said the old man before rolling the two dice in his hand.
By the way, what they're playing is an "even-odd dice game." It's a simple game where the only rule is that you need to decide if you're betting on even or odd before rolling two dice. If the outcome is an odd number, the one who bet on the odd won.
After the old man rolled the dice, the outcome was 5 and 6. That means Father won because if you add 5 and 6, you get 11, and 11 is an odd number. After that, the old man pays my father one silver coin.
"Then it's my turn now," Father said, taking the dice from the table.
The one who won the round will be the next to roll the dice.
"So where are you betting, even or odd?" asked my father.
"Odd, five silver coins," answered the old man.
"Okay, here I go," Father said, then rolled the dice.
The outcome is 3 and 3, meaning Father won because it is even. And just like he bet, the old man pays Father five silver coins.
The game continues until the old man runs out of money and resigns. My father loses in only three rounds, but the old man loses in so many rounds. After that, I head towards my father.
"Father, what are you doing here?" I asked.
"Will?" "That's what I'm supposed to ask you—why are you here?" He asked with a surprised face.
"I followed you because I was going to ask for money but ended up here." I answered.
"Father, you were amazing earlier." "You beat that old man," I added.
"So you've been here from the beginning?" He asked.
"Yeah," I answered.
"Why are you gambling, father?" I asked.
"My hobby is gambling." "I felt relaxed when I gambled; sorry for destroying your view of me as a good father," he answered.
"No, this thing won't change how I view you; you're still the father that I respected," I said.
"Will," my father said, as if touched by what I said.
"Let's go now." "You need some sleep because we're continuing our journey tomorrow," he said before trying to stand up from his seat when someone suddenly sat down across the table.
"Going home already?" "Won't you play with me?" Said by a man who has a burly build and a scratch from a monster's claw on his face.
"Sorry, but we really need to go home now," my father replied.
"I don't mind if you play more; this makes you feel relaxed, right?" "You need to relax too because we're continuing our journey tomorrow so you can play more; I'll just sit next to you and watch, so don't mind me," I said.
"Will, thank you; I'll accept it," he said before going back to his seat.
After that, he played with more people and won every game.