Avangarde Royal Capital, Tavern: Million Gold Night
The Million Gold Night, located off the main street, has been bustling since morning. It’s filled with those who have already drowned themselves in drink at this early hour. What could possibly be so enjoyable? The adults, especially the rowdy old men, are making a ruckus. Just moments ago, there was a shocking speech from the Kingdom of Metallica, yet here they are, blissfully unaware.
“If we had just left it to Metallica from the start, we wouldn’t be in this mess! Right?”
“Seriously, it’s ridiculous to think adventurers are the best! They haven’t been of any help at all!”
“But what about that Flash Strike Girl?”
“Oh, right! She’s a hero now! With her around, we don’t need anyone else!”
Hey, if a guard hears this, they’ll be in for a world of trouble. But then again, this country seems too worn down to care. They might be putting on a brave face, but the truth is, they’re probably crumbling under the weight of repeated calamities. The security has been declining, and while Metallica’s arrival has provided some relief, the adventurers drinking here look like they might start a brawl at any moment. Still, it’s a fact that they’re pathetic, and they can’t afford to show it. With a kid like me in the mix, it’s no wonder I stand out. Some of them are starting to notice my presence.
“Hey, what’s that over there?”
“It’s fine, it’s fine! That’s my guest!”
“Oh, is that someone you know, Etica? If so, that’s alright…”
A strange old man with a flushed face and unkempt beard is lounging on a sofa in the back, surrounded by two beautiful women, beckoning them over with a crude laugh. It’s obvious at a glance that he’s been treating the people around him, including the men, to drinks, and they’re all fawning over him. Who would admire such a shady character otherwise? He’s the one who kidnapped Big Sis Truppo and Rutna. What a smug jerk.
“Return Big Sis Truppo and Rutna!”
“Now, now, if you start talking about such dangerous things, I might just lose my good mood! Let’s have a little fun first!”
“Hey, Etica! You’re not seriously thinking of teaching this kid about women, are you?”
“Of course not! There’s no way this kid understands the charm of women, right? Huh? Hehehe!”
“Yah!”
I can’t bear to watch; I’m probably as red as a tomato. Etica is pointing at me, laughing uproariously, and the others join in, which makes me seriously consider blowing up the tavern with magic out of sheer anger. But acting rashly is dangerous. I have no idea what kind of person he is or what skills he possesses. There’s no guarantee he doesn’t have the ability to kill both of them with a single thought. I need to assess the situation first; Big Sis Lua must have fought like this too. I wouldn’t know, though.
“Roll this dice. I’ll tell you the number beforehand. If you hit it, I win. If you miss, you win.”
“If I win, will you return the two of them?”
“Sure, I’ll return them.”
“Really? Huh? Are you serious?”
He says he’ll return them, yet no one reacts. Most of them are drunk, and I guess no one truly believes this old man has kidnapped anyone. The spectators here ensure that. Most of the patrons, especially the women, seem to have been treated by him.
“I’m dead serious! But if you lose, I’ll seal one of your skills. How about that?”
“Wha… what does that even mean? What kind of skill do you have?”
He won’t answer, only grinning as he enjoys my confusion. Well, I’ve figured out his class from that foolish statement. His class is Gambler. If he rolls the dice and hits, he gains benefits like healing, attack, or support, but if he misses, it can harm his allies. It’s an extreme class. Because of that, no party wants him, making him a so-called ‘loser class.’ He’s in for it; if I win, he’ll face some kind of penalty. A Gambler is just that kind of class. I don’t know why he kidnapped us or why we’re his targets, but I’ve got the upper hand. What kind of rule is that? I’m clearly at an advantage.
“Alright, I’ll do it.”
“Make sure to throw it high! No placing it down or rolling it weakly! I’ll say the number: ‘4’!”
“First, let me check the dice. I can’t let you cheat.”
“Go ahead, take your time! Hahaha!”
It wouldn’t be surprising if he had something up his sleeve. I’ve never gambled before, so I’m not confident I can see through any tricks, but it’s better to be safe.
“…Alright, I’m doing it.”
“Oh, come on. My number is ‘4’, you know? Hehehe!”
I rolled it in my palm, but nothing seemed off. Logically, he has a one in six chance of winning; there’s no need to feel pressured, but I’m oddly tense. Just how long will this skill sealing last? What if he attacks while I’m in that state?
“What’s wrong? Just do it. But think carefully.”
“W-What do you mean?”
“Who knows! Hahaha!”
What’s with that implication? I can feel my palms getting sweaty, and I’m starting to get a little scared. What is he plotting? Does he have some trick to ensure his victory? If not, what’s with all this confidence? I checked the dice again, but I still couldn’t figure it out.
“You don’t need to think so hard about it.”
“Hey! Just roll it already!”
“Tch!”
Pushed by the irresponsible voices of the onlookers, I tossed the dice high into the air. Of course, I wouldn’t just leave it at that; I added buoyancy to the dice. It’s said to be difficult even for those who have mastered wind magic. If perfected, one could even float their own body or move at incredible speeds using wind. It requires delicate control of magical power, and compared to the professionals, my attempts are mere child’s play.
Recently, I felt the gap in talent when I saw Elmera gracefully flying through the air. But that’s beside the point. I just need a little bit. While the dice land and roll, I’ll subtly add buoyancy to manipulate the outcome. I can’t let a ‘4’ show up; anything else means I win. No matter what tricks he has up his sleeve, I’m the one with the favorable conditions. I’m going all out to win; I won’t let my guard down for a second. He probably thinks I’m just a kid to be mocked, but he’ll regret it soon enough.
“Ah, I knew it.”
“This is impossible, Etica!”
The result was a ‘2’. Not a ‘4’; it’s clear to anyone that I’ve won. There’s no excitement in the air, and the old man who pats my shoulder, saying I won, is just annoying.
“I win.”
“Ahh! I lost! Hmm, I need some consolation!”
“Pervert!”
Etica collapses onto the woman next to him, burying his face in her lap. What a lewd old man. I can’t watch this any longer.
“Keep your promise.”
“Alright, alright! Now then, everyone! I have a promise with this kid, so I’m off! Hey, keep this bottle for me!”
Laughing heartily, Etica stands up, grabbing my shoulder as he walks away. He scatters a large amount of gold, leaving the others scrambling to pick it up as we exit the tavern.
Kizel Valley
In the heightened security of the Kingdom of Metallica, there’s no way I could just stroll through the gates. However, the guard at the castle gate let us pass without a second thought. I was puzzled until I saw Etica slip some money into the guard’s hand. It seems he’s done this before. Even though the soldiers from Avangarde and Metallica are supposed to be keeping watch together, this is pointless.
The financial struggles of the soldiers in both Avangarde and Metallica are the same. The fact that such things can happen so easily might be a reason why this country has been attacked repeatedly. I knew everyone wasn’t clean, but seeing it firsthand makes me feel sick.
“Are the two of them really here?”
“Yeah, I’m not lying.”
When we were led far off the path from Queemil to the bottom of a cliff, a bad feeling surged through me. Looking up, I could see the proper road in the distance, but it was hidden behind the rocks, making it impossible to see from this side.
I had won the bet, yet this guy showed no signs of bearing any penalties. I couldn’t be sure, but there was no way he would invite me to a place like this with such confidence if he was at a disadvantage. In a place riddled with cliffs, the discovery of a body would surely be delayed.
“Look over there.”
“Wha…?!”
Ahead, along the uneven path at the bottom of the cliff, ropes dangled from stakes driven into the rock. Bound and hanging there were Big Sis Truppo and Rutna. Both of them were unconscious, not moving a muscle. The stakes were poorly driven in; if they came loose, it would be a disaster.
“W-What have you done?!”
“I’m not going to kill them! Stop your whining!”
“Why are you targeting us?! Who the hell are you?!”
“I’m one of the Ten Destroyers of Noibranz, Etica! Let me tell you, I’m the strongest of the Ten Destroyers right now!”
“Noibranz… Ten Destroyers…”
For a moment, my mind went blank at the unexpected revelation. The Ten Destroyers were, of course, ranked S, just like my grandfather. I had foolishly thought he was just a gambler! So, this guy was definitely not just a gambler. An S-rank always came with a unique class. My grandfather was the only Sage in the world.
“Why is Noibranz… no offense, but didn’t it already fall?”
“That’s irrelevant! I was getting tired of all that baggage lately! In fact, I can say I was incredibly lucky to not be caught up in that disaster!”
“Damn it, he’s not just a gambler…”
【Etica Level: 111 Class: Master Gambler Rank: S HP: 777】
“Gambler?! No way, I’m a Master Gambler! Life is all about hitting it big, ha ha ha ha!”
Calm down, I told myself. I have Illusion Magic. I had confused Big Sis Lua and the others with it. If I wanted to, I could deceive Lesser Than too. If a Master Gambler was the highest class of gambler, then their power and speed should be significantly lower than other S-rank classes. That meant I had to exploit that weakness.
“Those two didn’t have much information! So, it’s better to extract it from you, who seems more manageable! Information about the Flash Strike Girl!”
“W-Wait, are you trying to take down Big Sis Lua? You’re insane…”
“That’s the shallow thinking of the average person! Living a steady life, building a family, working hard—those are the compromises of weaklings! A man should always aim high!”
“Huh? How does that lead to taking down Big Sis Lua…?”
“If I defeat the Flash Strike Girl and claim her, my status in this country… no, this world will skyrocket! A Master Gambler cannot allow even the slightest compromise in life! Especially when things are going well!”
This guy was utterly foolish. His mind was a field of flowers, blooming with delusions. Do humans lose their ability to think rationally when they keep winning? My grandfather always warned me never to get involved with gambling, and now I understood why. He denied being a gambler, but at his core, he was the same.
“Enough with the delusions! Free those two right now!”
“I wonder what would happen if they fell from that height? You know what you need to do—just spill everything you know about the Flash Strike Girl! Weaknesses, any trivial information! You must have some habits or something!”
“I don’t know! I’m not with them…”
“Hmm, it seems you really don’t know. So, the bet is mine.”
“Enough! I’ll end this now!”
【Rash cast Illusion Magic: Avatar! However, nothing happened!】
I unleashed my Illusion Magic without holding back, showing multiple versions of myself. But… something felt off. I didn’t have the usual sensation. Normally, I could see my illusions, but only I could tell if they were real or not. I could feel the flow of magic, which meant I was doing well until just before activation.
“Hehehe, what a curious phenomenon! It seems even your clever little head can’t comprehend it, huh?”
“N-No way!”
“That’s right! The bet at the tavern was my victory! If you used Illusion Magic to trick me, then your skill… is the sealing of Illusion Magic!”
No way, is that even possible? Did the previous bets and conditions mean nothing? In other words, I lost the bet he set in his mind, which led to my Illusion Magic being sealed. I couldn’t endure the creeping dread rising from my feet, feeling as if all the warmth had drained from my body. It wasn’t just the fact that my Illusion Magic was sealed; if he had such an ability, anything could happen.
“If you had fought me fairly, this wouldn’t have happened! Just a little trickery, and look at you now! You’re a fool! Hyah hah hah hah!”
“Don’t get cocky! My weapons aren’t just Illusion Magic!”
“You mocked the bet in your heart, didn’t you? There are always those kinds of people! But you know, reading your opponent’s psychology and the situation to make the best move… doesn’t that resemble a battle?!”
Suppressing the trembling sensation, I focused my magic into my palm. Alright, if it’s not Illusion Magic, I might be able to do something.
“Think carefully before you act, alright? Even if it’s magic other than Illusion Magic! If you lose the bet against me, that’ll be sealed too!”
With the words almost spilling from my lips, I pushed the concentrated magic into my hand. Every action I took was under his bet. Unless I could figure out what he was thinking, I would be rendered powerless every time I tried to act.
“Now then, we’ve come this far! You’ve bet too, haven’t you? On whether you can defeat me! Gah hah hah hah!”
This guy was dangerous. If my read was correct, he was invincible. If he got into a groove, even Big Sis Lua wouldn’t be able to win. Is this even allowed? I couldn’t count how many times I muttered that in my heart.
“Let’s see how much I can hurt you first!”
【Etica’s Gambling Dice!】
Should I run away to seek help? No, this was the result of my own actions. This was a fight I had chosen to take on. If I left him unchecked, not only would those two be in danger, but others would be too. If I managed to escape, he would just find another target and never show his face here again. That’s right, this was a fight I had initiated. I had to settle this myself.
“The ‘4’ I bet at the tavern means ‘death’ for you! Are you ready for that, little boy?! Guh! Guh hah hah hah hah hah!”
Against the backdrop of the two still unconscious, the Master Gambler laughed triumphantly, certain of his victory.
◆ Noibranz, Ruins Near the Border Village ◆
“That was… amazing.”
“Big Sis Lua is truly something else…”
When I realized we were caught in some intense explosion, I immediately protected Kurinka and Platiu. But it seemed Kurinka shielded me as well, so the damage wasn’t as severe as I feared. The burning pain almost brought tears to my eyes, and without Kurinka, I would have taken a significant hit. What on earth was that explosion?
“Platiu is… safe.”
Platiu nodded silently, almost unscathed. Without her Machine Maiden armor, she wouldn’t have been able to withstand that explosion. The result was thanks to our full effort to protect her. It was unfortunate that the clothes I had put on her were torn, leaving her half-naked, but that couldn’t be helped. We could always buy more.
“This is terrible… the village…”
“I wonder if there are any survivors…”
It was clear there weren’t any. Not a single person, and not even a building remained; everything had been completely flattened. The ground was gouged in the direction of the explosion, a gruesome sight.
“W-What should we do now? Avangarde… what is that?”
“Big Sis Lua, something is coming!”
I could sense it approaching at high speed, even from a distance. It tore through the air and landed violently, shaking the ground. Its body was quite damaged, with gray, super-muscular skin rotting in places. It had also taken damage from the recent explosion.
“You’re… Aboro.”
I recognized him as one of the Four Heavenly Kings of the Demon Race I had met at the Demon Lord Castle. To run into him here was unexpected. He was panting heavily, scanning the surroundings with a fierce glare, and then he fixed his eyes on us. Did he mistakenly think we were responsible for the explosion?
“With that attack, Noibranz has been destroyed.”
That was shocking news for me as well. It had been an incredible explosion, but to think it had led to that. It wasn’t just this village; it was an attack powerful enough to annihilate Noibranz. Who could have done such a thing? And what was Aboro here for? That explosion was definitely not our doing. Yet, I couldn’t shake the feeling of fighting spirit surging from within me. Was that just my imagination?
◆ Shin Report ◆
Hmm… it seems there was a fool far away, blabbering about something outrageous.
“Indeed, it’s quite commendable that you are protecting your precious life,” I mused.
I suppose I can overlook the fact that my slender body was nearly crushed. This steep cliff is quite the nuisance. But if it had been a direct attack, I would have been dead by now.
Ah, Aboro… I knew it was going to be troublesome, but I really don’t want to face it.
Even the slightest hint of silence feels like it could be snuffed out. Time, hurry up and pass already.