Chapter 102
Chapter 102
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 102
Chapter Title: Night at the Casino
-----------------------------------------------------------------
“The air here feels totally different from the borderlands. It’s sweet, even.”
Rachel strode ahead excitedly, her long red ponytail swaying like a tail behind her.
[There seems to be more dust here, though.]
“I was thinking the same thing…”
She was calling the air sweet compared to the border town of Gabioren? What was that about? If anything, there were more people than trees here, so it felt noisier and the air seemed worse.
Luna shook her head as she watched Rachel march all the way to the end of the street on her own, then suddenly realize it and hurry back in surprise.
“Any place you wanna go?”
“First off, we’re in the capital, so duh? We gotta hit up some top-shelf booze!”
In the outskirts of the outskirts like Gabioren, good liquor was limited, but this place was different. Rachel wiped at the corner of her mouth with the back of her hand like her mouth was watering already. Leaf’s eyes narrowed slightly at the sight.
[I want to go back to the inn. Or maybe the library.]
Rachel slung an arm around Leaf’s shoulders as if to say what kind of nonsense was that, hooking her in close.
“We three came out to bond, right? And how do you bond? With booze.”
No matter how she thought about it, it was clear Luna and Leaf had just been tacked on as excuses for Rachel to drink.
‘It’ll be fine.’
Adelrian must have given her plenty of money, since he’d predicted this much.
Besides, they’d been in nonstop fights from ogres to cyclopes for a while now, so cutting loose was one way to unwind. Even when things got busy, he’d always said to take breaks when they could.
“So where we headed?”
She glanced sideways.
Luna forced her dipping head back up and asked, catching the gaze brushing her shoulder. It was like they were marveling at how she’d swapped her slave or employee collar for a cape.
“There are plenty of famous spots in the capital.”
Not as loaded as Adelrian, so maybe somewhere decently pricey? Rachel grinned.
“If it’s too cheap, we’ll just end up picking fights.”
[What if we use the Presence Dampener badge?]
“Gotta be kidding me. Anyone using that in a gambling den gets booted for trying something shady.”
Leaf nodded at the explanation—maybe they could lurk in the back and whisper tips during card games with their blurred presence.
So the place Rachel picked wasn’t the top-tier casino for full nobles or their equivalents, but the next tier down: an upper-class one.
No noble titles, but frequented by noble-born folk or filthy-rich commoners. It was flashy enough, noisy enough. Luna fiddled with her ears.
“Hold it. That beastkin needs to sign the registry. And beastkin aren’t allowed to play games.”
They were just about to step inside when a guard blocked Luna. Rachel and Leaf’s eyes narrowed.
“What’s that supposed to mean? Ears and tail make her ears and tail in gold too? We’re paying the entry fee same as everyone—why can’t she play?”
[Absurd.]
The man looked even more incredulous at Rachel’s words and shot back.
“Because she’s a beastkin. Never heard anything so ridiculous. So, you going in or not?”
Work the door long enough at a place like this, and you could spot nobles at a glance. Hell, a real noble wouldn’t even say something like that.
The man clicked his tongue openly at the two pretty-but-not-quite-noble-looking women and the one rabbit beastkin. Rachel bristled and opened her mouth, but Luna grabbed a pen and filled out the registry.
“Can we go in now?”
“…Cleared.”
The man spat it out with a disappointed tch, like he regretted it. Rachel took a big step forward, but Luna tugged her arm and pulled her inside.
“You guys just been monster-hunting this whole outing?”
“Yeah, but what’s the big deal? Why block her?”
Didn’t dragons usually know basic common sense when they went out to play? That’s what the storybooks said.
Luna smiled faintly at Rachel fuming and Leaf shaking her chalkboard with eyes sharpened to triangles: [Let’s punish that man right now.]
“There’s something you two need to know.”
Luna gave a quick rundown in the short hallway linking the entrance to the main floor.
Discrimination and hatred toward beastkin. Their treatment. And how it showed up strongest in the empire’s capital.
“So don’t worry about me.”
“Then let’s just bail. We can find somewhere crappier.”
“Even places that let beastkin in are probably run by criminals or gamblers.”
Rachel scratched her head irritably at Luna’s response.
“Let’s just go in anyway. I’m curious what it’s like inside.”
The young master wouldn’t come to a dump like this, so when would she and Leaf get to check one out? Rachel hesitated, then bared her teeth in a grin.
“Fine. Just sit back while big sis cleans house.”
Luna beamed and shoved Leaf and Rachel onward.
“Damn, this water’s smooth.”
It catered to noble brats without titles or on track for them, plus rich types, so the interior was lavishly decorated. Most patrons looked good too.
Rachel scanned the room once, then started explaining to Luna and Leaf.
“That’s a gambling artifact—press the button to match three of the same picture. Over there’s dice, and that side’s cards.”
Rachel swapped gold for chips like a pro, flagged down a passing waiter with a tray of drinks, and traded for three smallest chips and three drinks.
“When drinking, suppress your mana to get the real flavor. No mana circulation from now on.”
Gotta get buzzed for it to be fun! She handed over glasses wafting apple fragrance. Luna took one, stared, then nodded with a smile.
They weren’t saying anything about her not playing games, just drinking, so Luna sipped the apple-juice-like booze and looked around. Then Leaf spoke up.
A voice only Adelrian and Cain could hear.
To others, it looked like her lips were just moving, no sound at all, but Luna nodded like she somehow knew.
“Wanna try that one? Let’s go.”
“Picture matching? Yeah, that or dice for newbies.”
Rachel shoved Luna and Leaf toward the wall excitedly when Leaf showed interest.
Beginner’s luck—she nailed picture matches one after another. Rachel whispered in Leaf’s ear.
“No cheating with golem-level eyesight. Stick to human stats?”
[Why?]
“’Cause that’s what makes it fun!”
No wonder Rachel had racked up gambling debts on the border.
Luna followed them to the dice game, keeping her spare gold in mind just in case.
Unlike Leaf, who won some and lost some after the first picture-matching streak,
Rachel—pound your chest and trust your big sis!—was buzzed good now, eyes blazing as she glared at the cards.
“How many chips I got left? Another exchange?”
“The young master didn’t give you that money just for gambling.”
Luna murmured just loud enough for her as Rachel fumbled in her pouch with shaky hands. Rachel’s red eyes flashed.
“Win it back and pay it off. Just gotta win, right?”
[Gambling advice from...]
Adelrian?
Leaf was a little tipsy too—no mana circulation—and her cheeks were faintly flushed as she held up the board. Luna half-smiled, then let it drop.
That dwarf who’d seemed possessed by a gambling demon.
Luna eyed Rachel steadily, thinking of Valbus.
And now this card game, just like back then. Bad vibes.
“Let’s do that hand and bounce.”
“Nah, can’t. I’m in the zone now. Little more and I’ll sweep it all, promise?”
Luna shook her head firmly despite Rachel’s pleading eyes and smile. Then someone spoke up.
“Hey, check it out. Aren’t you that wastrel’s maid? Don’t tell me you got sold?”
“Nah, Dmitri. See the Krueger crest on her cape shoulder?”
A thick voice like oil mixed in, countered by a shrill, nasal one.
Luna turned and bowed her head at once.
“Greetings to Young Master Dmitri and Lady Dubona.”
Twins with curly brown hair and brown eyes.
Friends from when Adelrian had played the rowdy, spoiled role more aggressively.
As Luna bowed deeply, Leaf furrowed her brow and Rachel spoke in a displeased tone.
“Who’re they?”
“People the young master knows… nobles.”
“Suddenly all polite and shit.”
As if a beastkin could speak casually to humans in the capital.
Luna lightly stepped on Rachel’s foot. Dmitri’s gaze shifted to Rachel, who yelped in pain.
“Adelrian in the capital? He’s not even at the academy. Those bitches his entourage?”
“Gotta be, right? Can’t shake the wastrel habits… So Adelrian’s here in the casino now?”
Luna composed her face carefully at Dmitri wiping neck sweat with a handkerchief in his thick hand, and Dubona fanning herself with slender wrists.
“The young master stepped out briefly. He’ll be back soon.”
Luna desperately wanted to siren-message Adelrian right then, but telepathy with thoughts alone wasn’t smooth yet—she needed hand gestures.
But a mere beastkin maid shoving her hand in her pouch in front of humans? They’d call her cheeky, accuse her of some scheme.
Naming Adelrian should prevent major trouble for now. She stalled.
You shouldn’t throw your master’s name around like that, but Adelrian would forgive it—she just wanted to keep things from escalating.
But against Luna’s hopes, Dmitri leered at Luna, Leaf, and Rachel in turn, then plopped a hand on Leaf’s shoulder.
“So till Adelrian shows, be my playmate?”
“Starting already? Oh yeah, bunny girl—where’s that handsome black-haired male slave Adelrian bought back then?”
Leaf pondered the plump, sausage-like hand kneading her shoulder.
Not aggressive, so whatever. Just the oil from his skin smearing her shoulder bugged her.
Plus, snapping his fingers now might screw Luna over.
So she stayed still, but he took it as consent—his hand slid lower. Rachel flicked it off Dmitri’s thick wrist with her fingertips.
“Ow!”
“What the hell?”
Dubona shrieked as Dmitri clutched his wrist and flopped around like a pig squealing. Rachel scratched her ear.
“No, what the hell are you doing? We your servants? She your mistress?”
“Who the fuck is this bitch? Doesn’t know her place? What, some… noble blood maybe?”
“This is… the young master Adelrian’s guard. And this lady is someone he knows. So forgive the rudeness.”
While Dubona stepped back, eyeing Rachel suspiciously for her outburst, Dmitri—pain easing—stalked forward with fury blazing in his eyes.
“You dare!”
“Dare what, pig-boy?”
“What’d you say! I… I was gonna be nice ’cause you’re kinda cute!”
Luna glanced around hoping someone would intervene, but the commotion stayed at shouting—no one stepped in. Dubona just watched like it was entertainment.
[Can I hit him?]
“No…”
Luna shook her head at Leaf’s slyly raised board amid Rachel and Dmitri’s yapping.
Rachel was probably registered as a commoner—things blew up, they’d be at a disadvantage.
As eyes locked on Dmitri and Rachel, Luna slipped her hand in her pouch and gripped the siren.
[Young master Adelrian… help!]
“Ugly bitch!”
“You said cute just now?”
“What a shitty guard Adelrian’s got!”
“What’s it to you?”
Burned once, Dmitri kept his distance now, just spewing curses instead of grabbing her collar. Rachel snickered.
“Probably just bed-warmer. Gotta be some defective halfwit—obvious!”
Then—defective, halfwit. Rachel’s snicker froze.
She rose from her chair, towering over 180cm down at Dmitri, who flinched.
“What?”
“You said… defective halfwit.”
Halfwit.
Did that hit Rachel’s nerve? Her pupils subtly stretched vertical—too fine for most eyes.
Luna grabbed Rachel’s wrist, trembling.
Young master Adelrian, please hurry. Before Dmitri ends up dead!