episode_0020

──It won’t take long. Because it has to be that way.

With only those words left, Kyle Byron and his maid immediately left the Arche Tower.

“… … … … … .”

The only thing left is the tower’s wizards, who are busy building a giant Abracadabra, and Adella, who has lost her board game partner.

It was an extremely uneasy ending.

What on earth is going on?

It was a question that suddenly came to mind, but Adela shook her head vigorously to shake it off.

“… … Anyway, it doesn’t matter.”

Although they became closer after realizing his jealousy, he was the man who ultimately made Adela feel jealous.

Now that he was gone, I felt relieved. It had to be that way.

Adela looked closely at the little Abracadabra who had disappeared from the other side for a moment.

‘Do it later.’

I covered it with a cloth and stored it in the same state as it was during the game.

Abracadabra was done for revenge(?) anyway. Now that Kyle was gone, I had no intention of dating anyone.

… … Although it was doubtful that Kyle also felt a ‘turning point’ in the board game.

“Tap Lord… … I have to help.”

Only after scolding herself like that was Adela able to get up from her seat.

She couldn’t take her eyes off the board game covered with cloth, as if she still had some regrets.

For a moment, I questioned my own thoughts.

‘why… … ‘Do you still have regrets?’

Why can’t I leave the room as if nothing is wrong? I have to help the Orphin Mage Tower owner and other wizards whom I consider family, and Kyle, who was annoying me, has already left.

In her trembling eyes, Adela made up her mind and turned her head.

Yeah, this one.

‘It’s because the game isn’t over yet… … … .’

That’s because the man left in the middle of it. Because it was truly ambiguous timing.

It’s just like that. Adela tried so hard to understand.

The moment I forced myself to click my tongue and leave the room.

“… … But still.”

Just covering it with a cloth won’t be enough, right?

What if the wind blows or an unknown entity invades and scatters Abracadabra while it is playing?

What if Kyle, who will be back soon, sees this and says that the board game was a turning point in his life, and even teases that the turning point has collapsed?

‘no way.’

In the end, Adela left the room after taking two or three magical measures.

As she went to the hall on the first floor to help build the illusion, Adela looked out the window without thinking.

In the direction of Viscount Byron, where Kyle Byron is probably heading.

“… … … … ?”

And something flew at Adela as she was looking out the window.

[Whirl!]

“Spirit… … ?”

A sparrow spirit cried mournfully.

Adela didn’t know because she wasn’t close to the spirits and couldn’t understand them.

It was the cry of an employee who had to report to his boss that he had missed a target… … …

*

“… … … … … .”

“Do, Master… … ? Open it, what was written in the letter… … … .”

“You’re better off not knowing, Sally. I’m serious.”

“Yes… … … ?”

Okay, Sally doesn’t have to know. It was better not to get involved.

If you’re not careful, even Sally could get caught up in it.

‘Gambling, gambling.’

A side effect that I could not have imagined when I first built a yacht a few years ago.

A gamble that started with one knight who learned how to sail from me ended in a major incident in which 20% of the knights at the time participated and even the second brother got involved.

As a result, all dice and card games were banned in the family, and I was only allowed to play board games with Sally and Grandpa Charles, and I couldn’t even think about making a new board game for several years after that.

My second brother was forced to study abroad in another city, and it was only after a few more years had passed that I was finally able to bring up the topic of board games to my father.

As the condition of allowing board games was that the gambling would not be repeated, I asked Grandpa Charles to keep an eye out for any gambling when I headed to the Duke of Everts.

‘Why, that bastard is coming back.’

If they were just knights, they could be suppressed with the authority of their grandfather, the former knight commander, but the second brother… … No, that kid says something different.

After all, he is Viscount Byron’s second son, and unlike me, his third son, he can be directly involved in the family’s big and small affairs. After that gambling incident, his influence decreased considerably.

Anyway, if he had forced himself to do it, even Grandpa Charles wouldn’t have been able to do it. I guess I had no choice but to report it to my father.

On the carriage ride back to the family home, I thought and thought.

But there was only one conclusion.

‘First, you have to see the situation yourself.’

All his father’s letter said was that the bastard had returned and had gambled with Kyle Gali.

So, I calmed down and waited until I arrived at the family home.

How long has it been like that?

By the time the scenery outside the carriage changed to a familiar mansion.

“Do you, master? Arrived.”

“… … Sally, you’re back in the guesthouse.”

“Yes?”

“It might be a bit noisy for a while.”

It would be reassuring to have Sally, an apprentice wizard, by his side, but the second bastard’s reputation would be recognized even within the family.

I don’t know if it was Grandpa Charles, the former head of the knights and the current head of the house, but if he was just the third son’s exclusive maid, it was obvious that he would use his faction to harass her terribly.

Even if I protect them as best as I can, I won’t be able to do anything about the annex where the employees live or the various dark harassment.

It would be better to just drop Sally than see her go through something like that.

“Ha, but young master… … !!”

“Don’t worry, Sally. It won’t take long.”

Whether the problem is resolved or board games are banned again as promised, a conclusion will be reached soon.

I smiled at Sally, who was worried, and she, with sad eyes, quickly nodded.

Thank you for your understanding.

“Hee, cheer up… … Master.”

“Thank you.”

Sally, now sullen, heads straight to the annex where the employees live.

I was sending her off with a smile, but as soon as Sally disappeared from sight, my expression hardened.

After getting off the carriage, I approached the gardener with a polite attitude and spoke to him.

“Master Kyle, have you returned from the Duke’s house? There was a rumor that he had won the duke’s favor… … … .”

“Frederick.”

“Yes?”

“Frederick Byron, where is my brother?”

“Two, if you are the second master, you are not in the mansion right now. I heard that you went on patrol at the estate with your friends… … .”

“Friend? Patrol?”

My friends are probably people I brought with me from where I studied abroad.

What about patrolling? If you’re the guy who gambled with Kyle Gali as soon as you return to the family, it’s obvious where you’re going. He probably went to an illegal gambling hall within the estate.

‘If I attack there, I won’t be able to get rid of it.’

There is no information, so I can’t find it. After the yacht gambling incident, all of the legal gambling places in the territory would have dried up and only the shaded areas would remain, but it would be difficult to find such places in one day without help.

Yeah, it’s better if you’re not in the mansion right now.

“Thank you, thank you for your hard work.”

“Yes… … .”

I thank the confused gardener and head towards the entrance to the mansion.

The middle-aged maid with a familiar face greeted me as if she had been waiting, but then tilted her head.

“Welcome back, Master Kyle. But where is Sally… … ?”

“I randomly sent it to the annex. By the way, I heard that Frederick came back 4 days ago.”

“Yes, that’s right. First of all, the head of the family is waiting──”

“Tell them I’ll be leaving a little late.”

“… … … All right. I will say so.”

It’s nice that the maid doesn’t have to talk at length. Or maybe it was because he was in charge of my education when I was young.

Just go through the front door and head somewhere other than your father’s office.

Frederick Byron’s room.

That’s where you need to check first.

“Uh, master? That’s Master Frederick’s room!”

“Permission from the parties concerned has been obtained.”

“Yes? If that’s the case… … … .”

It’s okay because you’ll get permission later.

When I went straight into Frederick’s room, the room was still a mess, as if it hadn’t been long since he came back.

The luggage I brought with me when I studied abroad, various things that were organized in a messy manner, and.

Kyle Galli in the middle of the room.

“… … … … .”

Kyle Gali took care of it right away. Because I didn’t want to see board games being used for gambling again.

Other than that, I searched the room, but there was nothing that stood out.

‘Yes, if I have an idea, I will do it in secret.’

Since he was caught gambling last time and was forced to study abroad, the scene must have been completely hidden.

Even though I did that, it was just ridiculous that my father had already found out.

After taking the Kyle Gali that I had taken from Frederick’s room, I then walked to my father’s office.

When I opened the familiar door and entered, my father was sitting there with a troubled expression.

“You’re back, Kyle. Things are pretty… … … I’m in trouble.”

“… … As you wrote in your letter, do you plan to ban board games now?”

“Hmm?”

This was the condition I made when I was called to my father about the maids’ Caligaly issue and came out after negotiating.

I definitely said that I would give up all of the board games I would make if they were as harmful to the family as yachting. So, if a family insider gambles again with the board game I made, it’s the same thing.

At that time, I thought that if I or Grandpa Charles directly monitored it, we could at least prevent gambling within the family.

Frederick I never imagined that he would gamble with Kyle Galli again.

That’s why I asked first, just in case.

“That can’t be possible. I have already received letters from His Excellency Duke Nicholas and Lord Olpin Matap. Your board game has already spread beyond your family to various places.”

“… … … Then.”

“It would be ridiculous if they banned it now. I wrote the letter that way because I took a gamble with Kyle Galli and it is something you should know.”

“Ah… … .”

“But… … It is true that Frederick’s gamble should be dealt with. For now, I just waited until you came.”

Since they had already discovered that Frederick was gambling again, they could have attacked the scene right away.

My father seemed concerned that what happened twice could happen again.

I was worried too. I was worried about board games being used for gambling.

Meanwhile, my father was looking at me intently.

“… … I want to leave this job to you, Kyle.”

“… … … Yes?”

“Even if it is a meaningless condition now, didn’t you say you would stop gambling? So first I want to see what you do.”

“… … … … .”

“Frederick started gambling two days ago. Strictly speaking, it is still difficult to say that it has harmed the family. so… … How do you feel?”

Yes, if you give me this opportunity.

We can take revenge on Kyle Gali for being used for gambling.

‘I’ll make you feel lucky about your time on the yacht.’

The anger I felt at that time when I first learned that board games were being used for gambling, and the arguments I had over everything since I was young.

Now is the time to make it all worth it.

“Of course. If you give me just one day, I will drag you to this office.”

“… … Aren’t the days a little short?”

“If it takes longer than that, it could be seen as harming the family. I want to keep what I said then as much as possible.”

“Yes, that’s right.”

My father closed his eyes and thought for a moment.

I quietly opened my eyes and asked.

“Any help?”

“I’ll try it without.”

“It’s a good choice. Tomorrow… … I’m waiting.”

“Yes.”

Well, with my father’s help, it wouldn’t have taken more than a few hours a day, but there was really no need.

Because I already had a guess.

*

One day is a short deadline.

Still, I was confident. Because it was clear where to go.

‘gymnasium.’

The number of knights who participated in yacht gambling reached 20% of the Byron Knights. Is there really not a single knight among them who did not participate in this gamble?

No matter how much I thought about it, I was skeptical. Especially if the second son, Frederick, was flirting with her directly.

So, I decided to visit the training center and interrogate the knights who participated in the gambling.

just.

“Hey, it’s been a while? You poor little brother?”

“… … Frederick.”

“The look in your eyes is as if you could kill someone. You incompetent bastard.”

If only I hadn’t run into this bastard in the hallway.

It would have been a long time since we arrived.