Ch.123Retirement Ceremony (5)

“Wow…”

Irina, who had come outside, looked around with a delighted expression.

When she first came out, she had been extremely sleepy, asking if she could sleep a bit more, but now she was enjoying the event with a completely joyful expression.

“It’s clear they’ve been working hard to prepare for this.”

I had been looking forward to this since preparations began, and it certainly lived up to expectations.

The Blood Tower’s external grounds were filled with numerous stalls, as well as many games that utilized Blood Magic for entertainment.

“Somehow these games seem to be getting more advanced…”

There were quite a few interesting things last time, but now it was incomparable to then.

How were they enjoying racing games with Blood Magic?

Even I, a master of Blood Claw Art whom no one could match, hadn’t thought of such ways to play.

Honestly, it’s touching.

Think about it.

If you became the originator of a specific technique, and then saw your successors inherit that technique and apply it in extraordinary ways, how would you feel as the creator?

As long as the application isn’t malicious, you’d naturally be pleased.

Well, I never thought of using Blood Claw Art for entertainment…

I’d never considered Blood Claw Art as a form of play, but it looked quite fun watching people compete to move blood-made marbles to their destination faster on a map visible at a glance.

Should I try it?

Giggling, I approached those who were enthusiastically enjoying the game.

“You need to speed up there…!”

“No, you try it, it’s difficult…! And stop talking, I can’t concentrate…”

“Hey, do you know how much money I bet on you…! We agreed to split it, so do better…!”

Two men who appeared to be participating in the game were whispering to each other.

It was a whispered conversation, and the surroundings were quite noisy, so normally it wouldn’t have been audible, but with my transcendent senses, I heard it perfectly.

‘What?’

Were they gambling on this?

‘This isn’t even horse racing…’

If it were horse racing, I’d understand since it’s legal, but I never authorized gambling on this.

I couldn’t just ignore this.

After all, if it’s illegal private gambling, it should be eradicated.

“Are you two gambling right now?”

At my voice, everyone’s attention turned toward me.

“Unnie?”

Even Irina, who had been watching, looked up at me wondering what was happening.

No wonder it seemed oddly noisy—were they cheering for someone to win?

“B-Blood Tower Master…?”

“Uh… um…”

I sighed.

“S-sorry, the game wasn’t originally designed for gambling…”

“Well… it’s not really my place to interfere with your gambling.”

They’re adults, they can gamble if they want.

Since the Magical Kingdom hasn’t specifically declared gambling illegal, they could do it as much as they wanted.

Interfering with such matters would be infringing on their freedom.

Of course, I could advise against it.

The problem with gambling is that so many people get addicted and end up selling their lives trying to make a big score.

Human psychology works that way.

When someone first starts gambling and wins money, they wonder if money can really be earned this easily, and begin to feel disillusioned about life.

Their brain is already flooded with dopamine from making money so easily, and their mind slowly starts to deteriorate.

Soon, making small amounts of money no longer satisfies them, and they move on to bigger stakes.

And before they know it, they lose all their money.

When they first lose money, they can’t believe their situation.

Losing money feels like a dream.

They start to ‘misunderstand’ that if they put in more money, if they try again, they’ll earn more than what they lost… that this would balance the universe.

And so their life falls to the bottom of the bottom, and they can never get up on their own again.

‘I saw many such people when I was with the Hero’s party…’

At that time, the Empire was flooded with gambling.

Many adventurers lost all their money and committed suicide.

Some adventurers sold their families to cover their debts, with wives and in worse cases, even daughters being sold to brothels.

Where there is light, there is always deeper darkness.

Knowing that darkness, I could only warn them with a subtle expression.

“Just don’t get into astronomical debt with this. If you ever find yourself with a debt you absolutely cannot handle, come to me. However…”

If such people appear, I will completely ban gambling.

I can’t stop gambling on a national level, but I can certainly prevent it within the Blood Tower.

“I-I understand. And right now we’re only gambling small amounts, so you don’t need to worry too much.”

“That’s fine then.”

More importantly…

“May I try it myself?”

“P-pardon? You want to participate?”

“Is that not allowed?”

“W-we’ll prepare right away!”

Oh.

If they’re preparing it right away, that’s fine with me.

“Unnie, are you going to try?”

“Do you want to try too, Irina?”

“Yes, yes I do!”

Irina nodded vigorously with a joyful expression.

Well, even I think it looks fun, so how much more for Irina.

It must look extremely fun to her.

“I’ll leave it to you.”

“Yes, yes…!”

When I smiled and spoke, the organizer disappeared from his seat saying to wait just a moment.

What’s going on?

.

.

.

‘No way…’

Why did the event get so big?

Before I knew it, they had set up viewing through magical recording devices and organized the biggest competition ever.

They even carved out and created a new field in just 30 minutes.

I don’t know what technology they used, but people could watch the Blood Magic-powered cars up close.

“I didn’t ask for all this.”

As soon as it became known that I would be participating in this competition, people instantly gathered, turning it into a massive event.

The developer who planned this game seemed so happy that I came to enjoy it, wearing an expression of transcendent bliss as if he had already ascended.

Don’t make such an expression over something like this…

“With the Blood Tower Master participating, it seems impossible to win…”

“This is a safe bet, nothing else is…”

“I-I’m your fan, Blood Tower Master!”

“Congratulations on your retirement!”

“Why are you congratulating retirement, you idiot!”

It’s something worth congratulating for me.

Everyone has different perspectives on things, so such reactions aren’t unreasonable.

As I chuckled watching people argue about whether retirement was something to celebrate or not, I felt a tug on my sleeve.

“What?”

Irina was looking up at me.

With an expression full of determination, unlike her usual self.

“Unnie, I won’t lose to you!”

She was declaring a challenge to me.

The Blood Mages watching around us looked surprised.

As Irina boldly declared she wouldn’t lose, some tried to dissuade her, but I immediately stopped them.

What’s there to say?

This confident declaration that she would win actually makes it more enjoyable for me.

I wasn’t tactless enough to participate in a game popular among my subordinates just to take first place, but if the situation has developed this way, that’s different.

Isn’t it?

There exists at least one person who wants to compete with me.

Unlike most who give up at the mere fact that I’m their opponent.

Given this situation, I had to give it my all.

“Alright, let’s see what you’ve got. I’ll use my full power too.”

I won’t go easy on her just because she’s my disciple.

They say a lion pushes its cubs off a cliff to raise them, don’t they?

In reality, they wouldn’t do that since the cubs would die, but still.

Besides, the original isn’t even about lions, and ironically, lions actually have strong maternal and paternal instincts.

Anyway, in a game like this, pushing Irina won’t hurt her.

It’s to improve her Blood Magic accuracy.

“I’ll win cleanly.”

“You should be careful too, Unnie! Irina will win!”

Irina responded to my provocation with a confident voice.

Is that really possible?

I chuckled.

“That little kid… not even nervous in front of the Blood Tower Master…”

“Maybe she just doesn’t know…?”

“But she looks familiar from somewhere…”

“That’s her, the Blood Tower Master’s direct disciple!”

“Gasp!”

While Irina’s identity was gradually being revealed…

“Then… let’s begin!”

Tweeeeet!

And so, in the tense silence between us, the whistle announcing the start of the game sounded.

It was the beginning of the legend of the Blood Rider.