◆ Kizel Valley ◆
【Etica’s Gambling Dice! Rash dodged with a swift movement!】
“Hey, hey! For a scrawny little magic boy, you sure can run fast! Gwahahahaha!”
Thanks to the speed enhancement magic I secretly cast, I managed to evade. The attack was a bit anticlimactic, with dice appearing in mid-air and rolling towards me. The Gambler has some physical skills, but they’re rather pathetic, just like what I’m facing now. However, that doesn’t mean I’m in the clear. If my actions are read by him, I’ll face yet another penalty.
“Well, I knew you’d run! The bet is mine! Therefore, I’ll seal one of your fire spells!”
【Rash’s Blaze Shot has been sealed!】
“Damn it!”
With my illusion magic sealed, my options are painfully obvious. Wizards aren’t suited for one-on-one battles, and I knew that when I took him on. I have no choice but to fight with everything I’ve got. My goal is singular: to make him miss his bet. If he fails, he’ll definitely face some kind of penalty. Given his title as a Master Gambler, he’s likely to be even more extreme than a regular Gambler. If he hits, he can seal one of my skills. If I’m not careful, I might end up incapacitated in one blow.
“Whoa there! My Gambling Dice aren’t done yet! What will it show? What will it show?!”
【The result of the Gambling Dice is 5! Rash’s legs have stopped moving!】
“W-What?!”
My legs, which had been darting around thanks to the speed enhancement magic, suddenly froze. It felt as if they weren’t even mine, completely devoid of sensation. I messed up; it wasn’t just a simple physical attack. Etica, the Master Gambler, is truly dangerous.
“Alright! You can’t move from this spot while fighting! Got it?! Gwahahahaha!”
“I want to know what Big Sis Lua is like…”
“Wow, you’ve suddenly become quite clever! So, do you have any weaknesses?”
“Weakness…”
I could lie, but that might trigger another bet. If I lie, I might end up losing my head.
“Having someone you can’t beat is more frustrating than I thought… Was it like that for the others at the academy too?”
At the six-year compulsory education academy, I was praised as a genius by the teachers. By the end of my first year, I had learned most elemental spells, and by spring, I could handle mid-level magic. Normally, by the sixth year, most students are still struggling to master basic spells. They merely finish learning the fundamentals, and from there, it’s all about personal effort and talent.
Less than ten percent of graduates become members of the magic corps or court magicians. Most give up on their dreams to live safely or don’t even care about their grades. As for me, I was in the latter category; I didn’t have any dreams. I couldn’t understand why others struggled with what seemed so simple to me. I also couldn’t comprehend why they would scatter trash on my desk or set up childish magical traps.
—What fools they are.
I had no friends among such people, and I have no fond memories of the academy. Magic was boring; looking back, I might have shown that attitude. That only fueled the resentment from those around me. For those seriously pursuing their dreams, I must have been infuriating. I didn’t even realize that until I became an apprentice to old man Hast.
Right after graduating, I turned down offers from various organizations and apprenticeships when old man Hast appeared before me. It was much later that I learned my parents had consulted him out of concern for my lifeless state. The magic he showed me was nothing short of extraordinary.
Not the childish magical traps I had encountered before; when I tried to push against them, he could easily overpower me with a single finger. For the first time, I cried out of frustration. Then, old man Hast went on to tell me about the existence of specialists in status ailments and Flame Masters who had mastered fire magic. By the time I realized the fun in magic, I had already acquired illusion magic.
I was powerless against the Golem army of the Neo Demon Lord Army that attacked.
I met Big Sis Lua, who easily saw through my illusions.
I was toyed with by the captain of the Comet Wolf Brigade.
“Gwahaha! What’s wrong?! Are you scared you might wet yourself?! Guh! Gwahahaha!”
And now, I’m being overwhelmed by this filthy old man. Of course, I can use magic; I have no interest in it. Deep down, I was basking in a sense of superiority. I was the best, and everyone else was weak. But in the realm of magic, I was weak, and there were plenty of people like Etica who were stronger than me. There were countless opponents stronger than I.
I don’t even know when I became so heated. But here I am, challenging this reckless battle on my own, without the help of my grandfather.
“Now then, it’s about time you stop being silent, don’t you think?”
Even sages weren’t wise from the start. Observation, analysis, experimentation, hypothesis. My grandfather lived a life of repeating that process far more than I can imagine. The academy, where I graduated without a thought, was nothing like this. I can’t win against Golems or the Comet Wolf Brigade without careful consideration. Big Sis Lua can’t see a vision of victory, but this guy in front of me doesn’t inspire confidence. If I think calmly, he shouldn’t be that outrageous of an opponent. There must be a flaw somewhere.
Calm down. Bets are applied to things where the truth is clear. Even in the tavern, he might have seen through my magic manipulation of the dice. If that’s the case, then even if I lie, I might not face a penalty.
“…It’s Weakening Magic. Big Sis Lua, status ailments won’t work at all, but this might actually be effective. But if that were the case, I wouldn’t be doing Flash Strike, would I?”
“Oh! That’s new information! You’ve got some good intel there!”
The truth is, I don’t even know if it will work. It might, or it might not. Even I can’t discern the truth of my own words. So even if it’s a lie, I’m not aware that I’m lying.
“If you hadn’t said anything at all, it would have been a real problem! Ah, you understand if it’s a lie, right? Gwahaha!”
Just as I thought. Whether I used magic or not, whether I spoke or stayed silent, penalties only apply to things with clear outcomes—things Etica can confirm. He can’t discern the truth from a lie. According to my current words, the penalty would activate if he realized the information I provided was false. If that’s the case, I have a plan.
“Weakening magic, huh? I see! I’ve heard that most of his strength comes from that high Level, which grants him terrifying speed and power! If I take that away, it’ll be a quick fight!”
What a fool. If it were that easy, the Demon Lord Army and Vandalsia would have taken care of it long ago. He’s making me think it’s possible.
“Hey, come on. Isn’t it time to let us go?”
“…What are you hiding in that pocket of yours?”
“Huh? Nothing, really.”
“Show me!”
I thrust my hand into the pocket of my shorts, deliberately pretending to search for something. Of course, there’s nothing in there, but this should grab his attention. For me, who can’t move my legs, it’s crucial that he comes closer. After revealing a weakness and acting a bit timid, he’ll surely get cocky. His personality is easy to manipulate.
Just as I expected, Etica approached me with heavy footsteps. He grabbed my wrist and twisted it to pull something out of my pocket.
“Huh? There’s nothing here…”
“Ouch! I-I told you! This is all I have!”
【Rash cast Might Force! Rash’s attack power has increased!】
【Rash cast Guard Force! Rash’s defense power has increased!】
“Ha…”
By the time he confirmed that I had nothing in my hand, it was too late. I hadn’t actually been searching my pocket. I had merely concentrated my magic power in one hand to chant. He probably thought I would attack him with an offensive spell and face a penalty. He never expected I would cast enhancement magic on myself.
With my other hand, I formed a fist and slammed it hard into Etica’s stomach. If I hit him in the face, he might get knocked back and away from me. What I need to do now is beat him right here!
【You dealt 14 damage to Etica! HP 763/777】
“I’m just getting started!”
But even the path to victory was shrouded in mist. Even if I staggered a bit, it didn’t inflict much damage. No matter how much Enhancement Magic I cast, my feeble strength couldn’t possibly deal a significant blow to an S-rank opponent over level 100.
【Rash’s attack! He dealt 10 damage to Etica! HP 753/777】
“Ugh! You little brat, that hurt like hell!”
Etica’s furious punch struck me, sending me reeling. The impact was so intense that I nearly lost consciousness.
【Etica’s attack! He dealt 104 damage to Rash! HP 34/138】
“…!”
Not yet, I can’t give up. There’s someone precious to me over there. What would happen if I fell here? Just when the incantation I had completed at the last moment finally bore fruit, I refused to go down without a fight!
【Rash cast Splash! He dealt 241 damage to Etica! HP 512/777】
“Guh!”
The column of water I unleashed just before collapsing hit Etica with enough force to create a gaping hole in his abdomen. Not yet, my final blow isn’t over. I might get sealed with the next strike, but I realized something: I could still cast magic. Until now, I had been too afraid of being sealed to attack, but that realization had eluded me. So here, right now!
【Rash cast Thor Plasma!】
A high-tier lightning magic, it emitted a blinding light that I could barely look at, and by the time I realized it had hit, I had already collapsed. The explosive sound, light, and heat illuminated the surroundings. Before he could utter a sound, Etica was struck by the lightning bolt that accelerated at the speed of light.
【He dealt 510 damage to Etica! HP 2/777】
“Wha…!”
“Guh, gah…!”
Despite leaning backward, Etica managed to stand firm. His entire body was scorched, and his already tattered clothes were nearly burned away. He swayed, on the verge of collapsing, yet he stubbornly refused to fall.
“Ugh, ugh… Gah…!”
【Etica is paralyzed!】
“Gyaah!”
But the additional effect kicked in. Even as he endured, the sound and light of the static from his paralysis delivered the final blow. With a thud, Etica fell to the ground, twitching and struggling to move even a single finger.
I had pushed him to the brink, but I had nearly exhausted my magical power as well. As expected, I was sealed due to the gamble. So even if I had magical power left, I couldn’t use Splash or Thor Plasma. In this situation where we were both knocked down, whoever got back up first would win.
“Move, move… my body…”
With his skill preventing me from moving my legs, standing up was impossible. I had no choice but to crawl to those two. Just from that punch Etica threw, I was in this state. Even though he was over level 100, he wasn’t a particularly strong class, and he was unarmed. It just showed how weak I truly was.
I felt nostalgic for the days when I reveled in superiority at the academy; now, I was a pitiful sight. Using only my arms, I struggled to inch closer to the two of them. Even if I reached them, what could I do in this condition?
“Heh, heh… Let’s make a bet, brat…”
Etica, paralyzed and sprawled out, began to say something ominous. That’s right, his skill could activate even while he was immobilized. Nothing had been resolved yet.
“With that body, you won’t be able to help either of them, will you? So here’s the deal: you bet on which one you’ll save… If you win, I’ll die right here… Then maybe someone will come to rescue you…”
“Shut up! What do you mean which one to save? I’ll save both of them by my own strength!”
“But do you even have enough magical power left?”
What a despicable guy, right to the very end. I didn’t know if he had anticipated this outcome, but he certainly had a plan to shake me up. Damn it, if only my legs would move.
“Damn it…”
I crawled desperately toward the two of them. Even if I could walk, dealing with the stakes and the two of them bound up high would be tough. Right now, all I could do was use the remaining magical power to destroy the stake. Then, I would use wind magic to cushion their fall and bring them down safely.
But with my current magical power, I could only manage one of them at best. Even if I had the power, there was no way Etica would just sit back and watch after my paralysis wore off. He was betting on a comeback because he couldn’t move. What should I do? I had to play along with his gamble whether I liked it or not. I needed to deceive him.
“Alright, it’s 1/2… Scared?”
“Haah… haah… I finally made it…”
I crawled to just beneath the two of them, but the situation hadn’t changed: I could only save one of them. Which one did he bet on? And which one should I save? Big Sis Truppo wasn’t just my senior; she was kind and I had loved her for a long time. Rutna was a brat, acting all high and mighty even though she was the one learning magic. Plus, she had mocked me countless times, showing not a shred of grace.
“Come on, come on! What are you going to do?!”
“…Rash?”
A faint voice came from directly above me. I opened my eyes slightly and met Rutna’s gaze. No way, did she notice me?
“Rutna!”
“What’s going on…? What happened to me…?”
“Keep your eyes closed! I’m going to save you now!”
“You’re going to save me…? Ah, I got caught, didn’t I?”
“Guhahaha! Good! Go ahead and save her! With the remaining magical power, choose one!”
Crap, why did I let him know that? No, I hadn’t intended to save just one of them. No, that’s absolutely wrong. I’m going to save both of them. Think about what I can do with the remaining magical power. A single Fire Shot could destroy that stake; the problem was what came next. Lifting Rutna’s body, which was far heavier than a dice, would be a challenge. And what about Big Sis Truppo? My magical power was running low; what should I do?
“Damn it! What should I do…”
“…Are you an idiot?”
Her heavy words pierced me. While I was struggling to figure out how to save them, she was…
“Do you think I need you to crawl here and risk your life to save me? And what about Lord Hast?”
“Th-that’s…”
“See? You’re not even thinking. Stop pretending to be a knight; if you die, no one will sympathize with you!”
“Y-you…!”
“See? If you’re going to get angry for not being thanked, you shouldn’t have come at all.”
I couldn’t believe she was hurling insults at me like this, as if she had just woken up. I never thought I’d be mocked so thoroughly in this situation. I was truly shocked, my anger boiling over.
“D-do you even understand your situation…?”
“I’m caught, right? And you’re about to cry because you can’t save us. Honestly, you’re such an idiot.”
“Guhahaha! This is a masterpiece! You came to save them, but you’re being hated instead! Guhahahaha! Heeheeheehee!”
Even Etica’s filthy laughter, despite being paralyzed, didn’t bother me. I was in shock. I gripped the stone in front of me tightly, ready to smash it. This kind of banter never changes, does it?
“Fine… then I’m done!”
“Alright! Time for the answer to the bet!”
【Rash cast Fire Shot!】
I crawled one last time, taking my position. Then, with a weak Fire Shot, I aimed at a single point. It was a feeble amount of firepower, but it was enough to destroy the stake. If I were in perfect condition, I could have blown apart the rock face in that area, but not now.
“Guhahahahaha! Look at that, the bet is mine…”
The Fire Shot struck its target perfectly, destroying the stake. The stake flew away, the ropes burned away. At the same time, they began to fall toward the ground.
“Kyahhh!”
“Here it comes!”
I focused all my energy on catching Rutna as she fell. Lifting her body, which was far heavier than a dice, was a challenge.
“Wha?! What the hell?!”
My surprised shout echoed, unexpected. After all that mocking, I was trying to save Rutna. Yes, that’s how it appeared to him. But it was different.
The shockwave from the explosion caused the stake that had been poorly embedded to wobble. Along with the stake that had come loose from the rock face, Big Sis Truppo began to fall as well.
“Lift her up! Float, damn it!”
“Have you gone mad?! What’s happening?!”
As I raced against the speed of my fall, just before hitting the ground, Rutna’s body spun gracefully in the air. The way she twirled was proof that I hadn’t managed to control the situation well enough. But that was fine; as long as she was alive, even if she sustained some injuries. And as for Big Sis Truppo, I was right here to catch her.
“That last Guard Force… I’m counting on you!”
I braced myself to catch Big Sis Truppo as she fell. Even with the Guard Force still in effect, a wave of excruciating pain and shock coursed through my entire body. I gritted my teeth against the pain, desperate not to lose consciousness. There was no time to faint now. It was better for me to act as a cushion with the Guard Force than for her to crash onto the gravel floor. The pain was so intense I thought I might have damaged my insides. Perhaps it was fortunate that Rutna and Big Sis Truppo fell one after the other. Regardless of how it happened, I had successfully brought both of them down safely.
“Gah, cough… I’m… dying!”
【Rash HP 1/138】
I couldn’t use any healing magic; my magical energy was completely depleted. If the effect of that last Guard Force hadn’t held, I would have truly been dead. I was hanging on by a thread, and even now, I felt like I might slip away at any moment.
“W-why did you do that?! Why did you save her?!”
“I saved both of you…”
“No! You helped that brat over there, didn’t you?! After all the insults she threw at you! Damn it, I was betting on that mage over there!”
“Well, either way… I won… because I intended to save both of you… ugh, this hurts…”
“Gambling is a psychological battle… but you don’t understand a woman’s heart…”
Big Sis Truppo, now awake, delivered the final blow to Etica with her words. Dusting off the hem of her long skirt, she turned to face Rutna.
“Rutna… well done…”
“That guy kept saying, ‘The bet is mine to win!’ when he captured us. So I figured he’d use that kind of skill. Plus, I was sure he was enjoying deciding which of us to save. We were just pawns in his game.”
“Rutna… amazing… I didn’t notice at all…”
Yes, he was truly infuriating. Even in this dire situation, he maintained his usual banter and insults. Despite being on the brink of disaster, he remained stubbornly unyielding. Whether it was a strategy or not, his complete lack of sincerity only fueled my anger.
“What does he know about a woman’s heart?! Being mocked by a brat like that… damn it! I’m a Master Gambler! I’m one of the Ten Destroyers of Noibranz! A true Master Gambler hits it big with a single shot!”
From the way he was roughly scratching his head, it seemed the paralysis had worn off. He could still move, while I was completely immobilized. I had no choice but to let Big Sis Truppo handle him, but his gambling skills were still intact. He had likely grasped the situation from our exchange, but that didn’t mean I could let my guard down.
“Then let’s have another round! This time for sure! This time the bet is mine to win! I’ll hit it next! Come on! Gambling Barrier!”
【Etica’s Gambling Barrier!】
“This will nullify any damage, whether it’s magic or otherwise, if luck is on my side! This is the true essence of a Master Gambler!”
He had that kind of skill too? It looked like a transparent glass, but upon closer inspection, it resembled a roulette wheel. It had markings for damage nullification, 1/5 damage, and even 1/4, all meticulously detailed. But if luck was against him, the damage could multiply up to ten times—truly a gamble.
“Big Sis Truppo! Be careful! If you use magic carelessly, you’ll be sealed away!”
“Gwahahahaha! Now, what will you do?”
【Rutna cast Fire Shot! Dealt 220 damage to Etica!】
“Guh…?!”
It wasn’t me or Big Sis Truppo; it was Rutna’s Fire Shot that struck Etica perfectly.
【Etica has fallen! HP 0/777】
“No way…”
Etica crumpled to the ground, his body charred and lifeless, like a broken doll. The unexpected outcome left both me and Big Sis Truppo speechless.
“Don’t ignore me. Keep your gambling in moderation, Uncle.”
“R-right… you’ve learned to use magic now, haven’t you?”
“You taught me, remember?”
“Yeah…”
As the Gambling Barrier dissipated from the fallen Etica, I definitely saw it. Damage multiplied by ten. In the end, he hit the jackpot.
◆ Shin Report ◆
Rash, the exceptional adventurer, didn’t quite manage to take him down but was saved by deep-rooted elements. Even while trying to trap Rua with his tricks, he has grown beyond imagination. However, it seems remnants of the Ten Destroyers still linger. If only he had used the money earned from his bets to be generous, perhaps he wouldn’t have to dream of such extravagant victories. Victory isn’t just about hitting it big; choosing a safe path is also a form of victory. If you lose, there’s nothing left to gain.
Rash and Rutna are showing off. Well, they’re still young and endearing. The two of them have been growing increasingly capable lately. They seem poised to climb the staircase to adulthood.
Huh?! What on earth is Shin writing? What is this?! Uwaaaahhh!