Chapter 3: The Moment of Regret

Upon arriving at the library. Venture took almost half an hour to find a table that has no one at and close to no people nearby. Even then, Venture decides to gamble by using pebble he grabs on the way to the library to be used as the medium for his [Unique Skill]. He rather not use his lifespan as a medium if he could help it.

So for this gamble, Venture will go by a time limit gamble. Where Venture will drop the pebble on the table, making a small sound. The condition is where if someone could hear the sound of the pebble drop on the table would come to check what caused the noise. So, there is a one-minute time limit. During the time limit, if someone come, then more people will appear at Venture's present location during the entire time staying in the library until he is leaving. While if no one appears after the time limit ends, then Venture will be left alone and no one will appear at Venture's present location during the entire time staying in the library until he is leaving.

Venture let out a sigh of relief, that no one shows up for a minute now, and the pebble has already disappeared; therefore, Venture's [Unique Skill] took in effect. Now, Venture won't have to worry about anyone showing up while doing his experiment with the book and pen he obtained for a single silver coin.

Now, to gamble if this pen is really special, to never run out of ink, and by that. Venture will test it if there even any ink, to begin with. So, the gamble is that if there a mark made with this pen, then it will never run out of ink. But, if there is no mark made with the pen, then it's out of ink and isn't a never-ending ink kind of pen like it was said by that middle-aged man.

And suddenly, Venture felt stupid, because the moment he used the pen to make a small mark on the table. Yes, it did leave an ink mark, but as the price for using the [Unique Skill]. The pen ends up fading from existence. Now, Venture has no pen at all, even if it didn't run out of ink.

Venture out a frustrated sigh, because he forgot that he technically used the pen as the medium for the gamble. Either win or lose the gamble of the pen, it will still disappear afterward.

"I wonder if anyone else with the [Unique Skill] has a price for using it?" Venture mumbles his thought out loud, because now that he thinks about it. He hasn't read any book, that says there is a price for using their [Skill], be it [Normal Skill] and/or [Unique Skill].

Maybe Venture needs to do more research into the [Unique Skill] category in case there something dangerous on using it other than maybe having a bad roll in getting a [Title] that would cripple the [Unique Skill] in some way.

But, that could be left alone for the time being. As Venture needs to think of a way to get another pen or even a pencil, for him to use the blank book. Of course, Venture could do another gamble, but he has to think of an object to be used for the price to activate the [Unique Skill]. Something that easily replaceable. Something that won't be missed by many.

Using a pebble would do the trick, Venture rather not waste the gamble to make sure no one disturbs him during his stay in the library. The moment he leaves is when the gamble's effects will disappear. Now, that Venture thinks about it. Using pebble or any small objects that could be found anywhere outside on the ground to pick up. It would be the best medium to be used as a medium to activate the [Everything Is A Gamble].

Venture let out a sigh, because he wasted time and effort, mostly losing the never-ending ink pen, that would help him greatly if his ideas work. So, deciding that this course of action was a waste.

So the moment Venture left the library. He begins searching all over the place while trying to his best to not act out of the ordinary to grab multiple decent size pebbles. Honestly, Venture should have grabbed more pebbles, then he wouldn't have lost his pen. Now, he has to gamble to get another one. And afterward, come with the words for the gamble since if he doesn't word it correctly, then anything unknown is possible.

-LIABG-

It has been a few hours now and Venture manages to find a dozen pebbles to use. Yet, the main problem was figuring out the right words to be used to make the gamble. Currently, Venture is at a local park, that has a few kids and adults around the place, and sitting in one of the wooden benches available for public use.

Also, Venture has been thinking about a way to improve himself in case he needs to fight for his life. There is no way, Venture will be able to hide away from the rest of the world and not expect any danger to appear before him. After all, this world is far more dangerous than back at Earth. So, Venture starts thinking of how to use his [Unique Skill] to solve this problem of his. Since as of now; Venture's body is out of shape, that doing something as simple as doing push-up above 10 is hard enough alone.

It wouldn't be a surprise for Venture to end up being killed due to a lack of fitness. But, that isn't his main priority at the moment. No. What Venture's main priority is to solve his problem of lacking a writing tool for the blank book he purchased. Because this is something he needs to do first before anything else.

After thinking about it for a while now. Venture decides to test his luck and hope for the best.

With the first pebble; Venture's gamble is that the moment the pebble is thrown onto the ground. If it breaks, then Venture will get a pen that will never run out of ink in the next minute. However, if it does not break, not even a small part, then Venture will not get his hands on a pen that never runs out of ink in the next minute.

And with that done; Venture throws the pebble onto the ground. Where the pebble broke on contact with the ground, which leads to the broken pebble to fade from existence. As proof that the gamble works. Much to Venture's relief upon seeing this and now he just has to wait for a minute to get his pen.

Therefore, Venture decides to just continue to sit where he is and wait for the pen to show up.

Venture took this chance to check his status.

Name: Venture

Title: [Gambler of Fate] - You are fate's gambler and making the impossible possible.

Health:100/100%

Physical Fatigue: 89/100%

Mental Fatigue: 40/100%

Unique Skill: [Everything Is A Gamble] - The user is able to use anything to gamble with fate. [Price]: The medium used will disappear afterward.

Venture let out a sigh of frustration just from looking at the physical fatigue and that was the moment his stomach growl, showing that he is hungry. Something that happens often once the physical fatigue reached 50%. But, as of right now, Venture is flat broke and has no money to his name. Which is why he putting a big gamble into the blank book and the pen that came with it before Venture accidentally destroys it.

Blinking a few times; Venture watched a person just walk past him and dropped a pen, which rolls over to Venture until it hit the corner of his right shoe.

Picking up the pen, then glance at the person, not too far away from him, then back at the pen. A pen that will never run out of ink at all due to the effects of Venture's [Unique Skill]. Also, the very same pen that formerly belongs to the person that just almost out of Venture's range of sight. Quickly, Venture put it away before standing up and casually walk away in the opposite direction of the person, that used to own the pen.

-LIABG-

It took a few couples of minutes before reaching the local library and Venture didn't dare gamble for a private area for his own usage like before, even though it was a waste of time. So, now Venture is back where he was before, the same table and everything. Sadly, Venture only got half an hour to stay before the library's closing time and he will have to leave. Furthermore, Venture will have to gamble even more to get food to eat before his physical fatigue reaches 100%.

Now, to gamble, but a bit more different.

Ripping a page out of the book; Venture begins writing down what he wanted as a gamble until it took him almost 15 minutes, taking up half the time of his stay in the library. After completing it, Venture rechecks what he wrote down until he is satisfied.

What Venture wrote in the past 15 minutes is that within the next 15 minutes when it's closing time. If someone comes to ask Venture to leave the library, then he will be able to get a place to stay for the night, with food included. But, if no one shows up in the next 15 minutes, then no one will bother Venture until he leaves the library on his own and will be able to find foods in the library to eat until his physical fatigue goes back to 0%.

Once Venture finished rereading the paper. Venture uses his [Unique Skill] on the paper, where it took in effect as the paper fades from existence. Then, not even a minute later, someone shows up, a member of the library staff.

"Excuse me, you need to leave. It's almost closing time and you should hurry back home before it gets dark." The library staff said to Venture before leaving after giving this small reminder.

So, Venture grabs his book and pen, then head out. Since it looks like he is going to have to search for the place to stay for the night, which also includes food in the whole deal. However, Venture just realizes that it may not be enough food to bring down his physical fatigue down to 0%, while the other side of the gamble does include enough food to make it 0% in physical fatigue.

Venture let out a sigh of frustration, wondering how could he miss such a small detail that would have made a big difference for him. Venture will just have to make a mental note and try his best to learn from this mistake.

-LIABG-

An hour in. Yet, Venture still hasn't found a shelter to stay in and it's already dark outside. Venture wonder how long it will take until he would end having to sleep somewhere like in the park's playground or big cardboard box somewhere lying around. And Venture just had a sudden thought before letting out a sigh, then begin walking towards the same park he obtained his pen.

It didn't take long before Venture returns to the same park he obtained his pen, but this time, there no one around. No kids nor adults are around, just Venture alone by himself in this park that's void of people.

With the cold winds blowing against Venture. He quickly heads to the playground, where there is a small plastic house, that's barely enough for Venture to crawl into and wide enough for him to completely lay down on his back, with his legs stretch out. But, not high enough for him to stand up completely and require Venture to crouch the entire time staying inside the plastic house if he isn't lying down.

Sure enough. Venture found a few bags of open bags of chips and a half plastic bottle filled with water. Sadly, these are not enough to bring down his physical fatigue down to 0% at all.

Nevertheless, better than nothing. So for the rest of the night. Venture will have to stay in this plastic house to sleep in and just deal with these small amounts of food that must have been left behind by kids.

Afterward, Venture grabs a pebble out of his pocket and gamble, where he will find a place to sleep, with a roof over his head and including foods that will bring his physical fatigue down to 0% tomorrow if Venture manages to catch the pebble upon throwing it in the air. However, if Venture can't, then he will have to sleep outside without enough food to bring his physical fatigue down to 0%.

Venture mumble out a curse due to failing to catch such a simple, small toss of the pebble, but failed to catch the pebble with his right hand and just hit the corner of his palm before landing somewhere else around him, then afterward fading away under the effect of [Everything Is A Gamble].

"Well, I guess I'm sleeping outside tomorrow and not be on a full stomach either." Venture thought out loud, wondering when will he be able to find a stable job that doesn't require any [Skill] at all. At this rate, Venture may have to sign up to become a courier for quick cash, but with a 90% chance of death rating to go along with this job.

Suddenly, Venture felt regret not helping that little boy, who may or may not have a big background, that could help Venture's problems. Then again, with all the politic and everything related to it. Made it a bit undesirable for Venture to truly want to help others out. No matter if they have a normal background or not. The possibilities are there and with his [Title]. Well, who knows, not even Venture could tell unless he gambles to find the result.

Turning to his side; Venture closes his eyes to sleep and just wait what tomorrow has stored for him. Sadly, for Venture, this plastic house wasn't enough to keep all the cold wind out, making it a bit harder for Venture to sleep.

-LIABG-

Throughout the entire night, Venture has gone between sleeping and suddenly waking up at random moment until it's finally morning.

Crawling out of the plastic house, Venture let out a tired yawn, where he barely had any sleep last night and wouldn't be surprised if Venture got sick by sleeping in the cold.

Bringing up the status, to check his physical fatigue.

Name: Venture

Title: [Gambler of Fate] - You are fate's gambler and making the impossible possible.

Health:100/100%

Physical Fatigue: 52/100%

Mental Fatigue: 61/100%

Unique Skill: [Everything Is A Gamble] - The user is able to use anything to gamble with fate. [Price]: The medium used will disappear afterward.

Venture feels like maybe he should have used the silver coin to buy warm clothes that it would make it a bit better even if he has to sleep outside in the cold night. And looking at both of the physical fatigue and mental fatigue. Venture can say for sure, that if he doesn't find a warm place to sleep and food. He may end up dead before even a month goes by.

"I better leave before someone finds out I slept here." Venture mumble to himself, trying his best not to make this into a habit to mumble to himself due to the fact that Venture hasn't made any connection, where Venture be able to speak with others often. Of course, there Cope, the landlord, but Venture won't count her, since she barely even talk to other residents.

Slowly, Venture walks towards the library after making sure nothing about his appearance would cause others to want to avoid him, nor kick him out of the place the moment he steps in. Luckily, there not much of a mess and just have to pat some dirt off.

Once arriving at the library. Venture carefully begins writing down on the piece of paper he tore from the book. As his present situation requires him to gamble again, making Venture more tired than he already is since his [Unique Skill] could fatally kill him in enough time if his luck is bad.

It took some time, but Venture finished writing down what his gamble will be and it should help him with his problem. The two options that Venture wrote down goes like this.

1. Venture will obtain a bag filled with money, that is enough, in theory, should be able to last him a month if he spends wisely and doesn't do too many physical activities.

2. Venture will obtain a job, that will give him a stable income to live off without having to worry about not having a warm place to sleep and food to keep the physical fatigue below 10%.

As to how to decide which of these two options would occur. Well, Venture made it that the first thing when Venture exits the library. A person will appear before him to ask him if he desires a job or Venture will find a bag of money inside, where the owner of this bag is long gone and no one else saw it up until Venture appears.

Either way, both options will help Venture's present problems and both have cons in them too. So, not too much of a game-breaker in this gamble.

Once the sight of the paper fading away. Venture grab the book and put the pen in his right pocket, then head out of the library. Eager to find the result of his gamble.

And the moment Venture walk out the doors of the library, what greeted Venture is a man in his 30s, who seems to be searching for something or someone as they glancing around the area. This alone allows Venture to know what the end result of his gamble. Honestly, Venture would have been happier with the first option. Since this will give him more freedom and time to come up with more plans, to make his stay in this world a little smoother. Look like his lucks decided otherwise.