episode_0023

From the 3rd win in a row where I bet an entire bag of gold coins to the 7th win in a row now.

Now, the number of gold coins on the table was almost 30, including mine and Frederick’s.

At this point, it was not an amount that anyone in their right mind could bet. But what kind of gambling addict is sane?

There.

There are still only 30.

“F, Frederick… … No more money… … … .”

“What… … ?”

“What, is it over already?”

Frederick’s gold coins had run out. In other words, it was as if all his assets were not enough.

My bet was for 16 bags of gold coins, but Frederick only had 14 bags even if he scraped together all of them.

Viscount Byron is from a wealthy family, but even though he is the second son, there is a limit to how much money he can spend for personal purposes. Just thinking about the gold coins I won was enough to build a mansion in the imperial capital.

‘… … No, can I really use this much privately?’

If you are the eldest son, it will be possible. Since he is the next head of the family and a genius in both the fields of auror and magic, he will be providing support in many ways.

But Frederick is the second son. To make matters worse, he got into trouble with gambling and was forced to go abroad to study.

And yet, would the family and father have given this much money to Frederick? The father?

‘But if I didn’t get it from my father, where did I get this much money…’ … … .’

… … … uh.

no way?

“Hey, Frederick.”

“Don’t worry about the betting amount! I somehow──”

“These gold coins… … Is it all debt?”

“… … … !!”

No shit. Really?

According to common sense, this is not money that can be earned by gambling for a few days. So, it must have been money he had before he returned to his family.

However, there is no way that a person who was forced to study abroad and has no real business could make this much money from scratch.

Then there is only one possibility left.

A possibility that I really don’t want to think about, and would rather be wrong.

It’s a debt.

“… … … … It’s none of your business, right?”

“What’s wrong, you crazy bastard! How could a guy with no collateral or anything borrow more than 30 bags of gold coins? Of course you must have sold something… … !!”

At best, it was a large amount of money that could never be borrowed using the precious metals or jewelry that Frederick carried.

Nevertheless, if you borrow money, it is obvious that Frederick can use it as collateral.

He is the second son of Viscount Byron.

Worthy of its name.

“Did you sell out your family name? … ?”

“I didn’t sell it, I just made a promise.”

“Promise? If you become the head of the family, you will pay me back? Or my rights in the fiefdom? Damn it’s oily water.”

“What!?”

Did this bastard read the contract carefully and sign it? If they said they would just lend me a large amount of money, I would have signed a contract without even reading it.

My head became more complicated than I could have imagined. I was just trying to physically stop him from gambling by using up his family fortune, but I never thought that even that family fortune was actually debt.

And that’s a debt I don’t even know what I was selling!

“You… … It really won’t work.”

I was really just going to quietly spend all my money and leave the rest to my father.

I couldn’t finish it like that.

“It’s none of your business for a spoiled third son to worry about! Anyway, isn’t it because of your family that you can’t even if you want to? An incompetent bastard with no real power!”

“I’m not interested in your bullshit, just walk.”

“What?”

What is it?

It’s your everything.

“The rights that Frederick Byron had as the second son of Viscount Byron. Investment rights and development rights within the territory, shares at the top, everything. ”

“What is that… … ?”

“Then I’ll combine them all and give you a bag of gold coins. Anyway, even if you collect precious metals, it’s not much more than a few gold coins, right?”

“… … … … … .”

and.

I am the one who said that I would stake all my rights as the second son, but it is also Frederick who is seriously considering it.

He seemed to come back to his senses for a moment when he was told to stake his rights.

“Can’t you? Then I’m leaving?”

“What! You can never go out!!”

“Why can’t I go out? How can you gamble when there is no stake to bet on? I’m definitely all in. If you don’t receive it, it’s over.”

“… … … Damn it!”

Far away.

Frederick gritted his teeth to the point where blood came out, grabbed a piece of paper nearby and wrote something with a pen.

A piece of paper written in red ink, as if written in blood, is roughly thrown at me.

“Is this enough?”

“… … I really bet.”

Although it was hastily prepared on the spot, the rights to be renounced and Frederick Byron’s signature were included, so this transfer of rights gained public trust.

When he got here, he got really excited and glared at me as if he was going to eat me up.

“This is two bags of gold coins… … !!”

“What are you talking about? This isn’t enough.”

“… … … !! I stake all my rights as Frederick Byron!! And yet this is only worth two gold coins!?”

“Value changes depending on the situation. Well, you just need a little more.”

“What on earth───”

“Right hand.”

“… … What?”

It just reminded me of something I saw in a movie.

After all, even if you lose all your money, you are the type of person who will sell your family for gambling.

It would be better to cut off the hands that will gamble.

“You don’t like it?”

“Ha, is that also a provocation? Walk, walk! So let’s get started!!”

“Good. There is no turning back?”

“You will have to hand over all the gold coins, every penny… … !!”

Only now did I realize why Frederick had taken the risk of silencing Victor rather poorly.

He was so desperate for money that he did that. With the intention of attracting as many people as possible and making as much money as possible.

That way, you will be able to repay your debt.

‘What a fucking bastard he was.’

I’m setting up Kyle Galli again. Regardless of the outcome, this will be my last gamble.

… … Should we actually call this gambling? At the point where Frederick was using Aurors and I was using tricks, it was difficult to even call it a gamble.

‘This is why I thought Kyle Gali would never be used for gambling.’

Frederick, you are doing such an amazing job.

He was such a pathetic guy, but I had to be quite careful from now on.

If you look at that guy’s eyes, he’s definitely looking for a chance to crush my hand.

‘Up until now, I’ve tried my best to protect myself… … .’

I gave what I had to give without hesitation, and I took what I wanted to take before the card was turned over, so surprisingly, there was no chance of our hands bumping into each other.

You should always keep this in mind. If there’s a power struggle, I’m the one who loses.

Considering that I had bruised my shoulder with even a little Aura, it was clear that I wouldn’t end up with an injury like Victor’s.

Wouldn’t he try to smash his hand?

Take a slow, deep breath and turn over the card.

Chop rock. Chop rock. Chop rock.

and.

Ding!

This time too, I was the one who rang the bell.

Frederick, who was staring at it, immediately burst into laughter.

“… … ha ha ha. ha ha ha! You bastard, that’s right! It was a fucking trick like this… … … !!”

“What bullshit?”

“It’s no use acting like a fool! I was wondering how he could press the card without even looking at it, but was it possible to predict based on a slightly visible picture of the card!?”

… … … Was this the reason why you kept gambling with Kyle Galli until the end even though you kept losing?

A situation where I had to earn as much money as possible to repay my debt, the humiliation and sense of entitlement of being defeated by someone I had ignored my whole life, and the sense of discomfort I gradually noticed as I was given number 7.

Those were the factors that kept Frederick from giving up his gamble with me.

“Of course… … Otherwise, there’s no way I, a genius who uses Aurors, would lose to an incompetent bastard like you… … … !!”

The reason why I was able to achieve 7 consecutive wins against Frederick, who uses Aurors.

Frederick laughed maniacally, as if he had finally discovered the trick.

“I was constantly looking for an opportunity. You were a foolish fish caught on a fishing line!”

“… … … … .”

“Go ahead and turn over the card, you incompetent bastard!!”

I suddenly became confident. Well, he must have thought that since he could see through the trick and his physical ability was overwhelming, he could definitely win.

Because I already hated seeing him smile.

Ding!

“… … Huh?”

I rang the bell without even turning over my card.

I only lifted the end slightly so that he couldn’t use the trick I did.

And if you turn the card over.

“Star… … Five?”

“You said you figured out the trick? Do your best.”

“You… … … You?”

The blind spot of the trick I used.

The point is that you can only predict your opponent’s cards by looking at them, but you cannot predict your own cards.

In fact, if I turn over the card and find five shapes, I will never be able to beat Frederick in terms of reaction speed. This was the case in most cases where I gave the guy a card.

But that’s just in the early days when you haven’t played the game for a long time.

The solution to this blind spot is simple.

‘You just have to memorize the cards.’

It’s not about memorizing the order of all cards. How do you do something like that?

What I memorize is a card with five shapes drawn on it.

Those cards, of which there is only one of each shape, are cheat keys that allow you to press the bell as soon as they appear in 1v1.

So even if you just memorize their locations, you’ll be wasting a few games for nothing.

‘I didn’t even notice the first shuffle.’

I didn’t shake him for no reason, telling him to put his rights on the line and risk his hand.

Thanks to this, I was able to check and distribute the cards I was looking for when setting up Kyle Gali.

It was a scam that I learned about often from other guys when I was playing Harley Galli in the world. Of course, I learned it, but I never did it.

Of course, Frederick was an exception.

‘Now then, what will happen now?’

Frederick was in high spirits after revealing my masterpiece, but he shattered his mentality again by showing a performance that surpassed that masterpiece.

So will he just give up? no way.

Oh, I guess I’ll give up. The idea of winning ‘normally’.

“… … … … … .”

That bastard is staring at me like he’s going to eat me.

It was like that in the beginning, but it seems like he will never be able to win on a normal basis, so he will persistently try to destroy my hand.

And what induces such behavior is… … … This was what I was aiming for.

Jang!!!

“Ah… … Are you sorry? I accidentally hit it a little too hard. I looked at the picture wrong. ”

“It’s okay. I didn’t expect much from a gorilla cub who couldn’t control his strength.”

“… … … … … .”

Crazy bastard, it fucking hurts. This is correct, right?

I tried to ring the bell with all my might, but even though I took my hand away, it missed the tip of my middle finger and left a bloody bruise.

The card has three diamonds and a star. Of course, you shouldn’t press the bell, but Frederick pulled the Auror up to a point where he wouldn’t be seen and struck him down just by the mere fact that I had extended my hand.

It turns red and feels a tingling pain. I can feel that that bastard is really trying to crush me.

But it’s still not enough.

You need to use more strength.

So that you really can’t get away with it.

The cards are gradually coming together in my favor. It was also natural from the moment that Frederick ignored the idea of victory and only focused on my hand.

In the end, Frederick can only aim for my hand until this Kyle Galli is over.

It will become increasingly urgent.

Chop rock. Chop rock. Chop rock.

“… … … … .”

“… … … … … .”

Turn the card over. He also turns over his cards.

Even though five shapes were in the middle, Frederick did not ring the bell. That bastard’s eyes were only focused on my hands.

… … This was an opportunity.

Chop rock. Chop rock. Chop rock. Chop rock.

Continue turning the cards over. The amount is gradually accumulating.

As I quietly turned over the cards over and over again, the guy seemed to have noticed that something was unusual and was not only looking at my hands but also at the cards.

“… … … … … .”

Chop rock.

Frederick turns over the card. Two circles.

Now it was my turn to turn the card over, and I knew what the next card was.

Rhombus five.

so that.

Phew!

“… … … !!”

Lift the card very slightly and go straight to the bell.

The five diamond cards flew up and showed the whole world what kind of card they were.

The distance to the bell was very short, but Frederick was moving at several times my speed.

‘Now, this is the best version.’

If Frederick presses here, he can take more than half of the total cards, and at the same time, he can crush my hand, which is already too late to withdraw.

How would you move in this perfect situation?

Should we just raise the aura to a level that will remain undetected until the end?

Are you the one who was continuously insulted and ridiculed by the incompetent third son whom you ignored so much?

At a golden opportunity when no one can say anything?

“────”

Perhaps the last chance to come to Frederick.

This guy didn’t disappoint me.

Wow.

‘───Auror.’

No way.

Even though they said it was banned for Aurors, they continued to use it secretly.

At the same time, it raises the aura that was never used to a visible degree.

It seems like there is no need to worry about being caught now. Even if you get caught, your right hand will soon be destroyed, so what can you do?

He puts his best effort into repaying the humiliation he received from Kyle Gali, and his mouth is filled with joy.

“────!!”

There were no words. It wasn’t a house rule for knights, and ringing the bell in an ordinary Kyle Gali was faster than the time you can blink your eyes.

That’s why, towards the end, Frederick openly used his aurors and tried to send me away.

chin.

“… … … Huh?”

“You have crossed the line, Master Frederick.”

Ding!

Grandpa Charles snatched his hand.

I just rang the bell.

It was a quite refreshing bell sound, as if it was the last.

“What is this… … … Tea, Deacon Charles… … ?”

“I told you, you didn’t come alone.”

Did he really think that I had appeared in front of this bastard without any insurance and provoked him? What could you and your gang do to me physically if I don’t suit up?

This was all possible because Grandpa Charles was watching over me.

‘Honestly, I was scared until the end because I couldn’t feel any presence at all.’

Grandpa Charles is someone who knows very well how bad our relationship with Frederick is. Even if I told my father I would do it without help, my grandfather would get involved in really dangerous situations due to his personality.

It was something that was done based on that belief… … … In the end, as an ordinary person, I couldn’t see through the secret of the old man who used an auror, so it was a bit difficult.

Well, even if my hand was smashed, it would have been resolved somehow because I could just call Sally who would be waiting outside. Instead, he would have had a hard time before receiving treatment.

Anyway, I succeeded.

They rang the bell and made Frederick use the Auror openly.

“This eats up most of the cards, but since Aurors were banned and Aurors were used like that… … … As promised, forfeit.”

“You, you… … … !!”

“Those bags of gold coins, this transfer of rights written by you, and… … .”

“… … … Huh?”

Sreung.

Since it was in front of Grandpa Charles, I called him brother instead of informally, but whatever.

I am now a person who will live without my right hand, so I can do that much.

“Is the damaged branch also mine?”

“What, what?”

“Grandpa Charles, hold on tight. Because my swordsmanship skills are poor, I may have to take multiple shots.”

“Now, wait!! Tea, Deacon Charles!! Are you just going to watch!? Stop that crazy bastard!!!”

“… … I heard everything from beginning to end, Master Frederick.”

“… … … What.”

“The fact that he started gambling again, that he sold his family to take on debt, that he wrote a deed to personally transfer his rights as the second son, and that he was crazy about gambling were all clearly recorded with these two eyes and ears. So please be quiet. To cure Master Frederick’s gambling addiction… … There really is no choice but to do this.”

“Oh, no. no… … … !!”

The sword is Frederick’s sword that he would normally carry.

Since it was made exclusively for Auror users, it was quite heavy and seemed like it could easily cut a person’s wrist.

Frederick’s face turned white as he realized that this was not a show or a threat, but was sincere.

Although he struggled somehow, he was an untrained Auror and there was no way he could escape the clutches of Grandpa Charles, who trained Aurors every day.

Grandpa Charles completely subdued Frederick with only his two hands and pinned him firmly to the table.

I smiled and whispered, barely raising my sword.

“If you don’t have hands… … Are you an incompetent idiot now?”

“… … … !!!”

Huh!

Right before the sword cuts into his wrist.

“Ma, I’ll tell you!!!”

Yes!!

Really one end.

Frederick whimpered as the blade missed the man’s wrist by a very small margin.

“My, I was involved in gambling, and I was in debt by selling my family name… … … Oh, I’ll tell my father everything. Oh, and you can take all the gold coins and the transfer certificate, so please!!! Just the wrist… … … .”

“… … … .”

“Only Aurors… … Don’t take it from me… … … That’s my… … … .”

That was his declaration of surrender.

It was the sound announcing the end of the last gambling game.