Chapter 110
Chapter 110
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 110
Chapter Title: Dice and Duels
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“Everyone should know the rules, but I’ll explain once more. Roll two dice inside the cup, then bet.”
Eyes slowly scanning both sides.
The gazes landing on my ears sting.
“Lift the cup and reveal the dice. Victory goes to whoever bets closest to the sum shown. If the difference is the same, the one who bet higher wins.”
The dealer sister looks at me with cold eyes, but it’s fine. I graduated from the days when looks like that would make me tear up as a kid.
“Luna, you can do it, right? Honestly, even if you lose, it’s okay. We’ve got ways around it.”
“Yes, Young Master.”
Such a kind person.
I’ve practiced this game so many times. I’m confident.
Ever since I got the dice, over and over and over.
Even after telling the Young Master I’d stop and grow up, I kept going in secret.
Until night turned to dawn and the sun set again.
So don’t worry, Young Master.
“A breather game where luck’s all you need if it’s on your side… Tsk. Be grateful, wench.”
“Yes, how truly thankful I am.”
“Your tone’s gotten awfully cheeky. For a beastkin.”
I know what the Young Master wants. Being able to help with that makes me happy.
He didn’t need to feel sorry for sitting us all down and using us as gambling stakes.
Our Young Master is such a kind soul.
“Let’s begin.”
Ting—doruk, drrrk—
The sound of dice rolling inside the flashy cup mixed with silver and gold.
Dice scraping the cup, two dice clashing against each other.
A messy, ear-grating noise.
With my naturally sharp rabbit-kin hearing, plus my overall physical abilities boosted as an aura user.
Even so, I can’t read the sounds inside that cup 100 percent.
‘But Cain could.’
That kid’s a genius. The one who can live up to every expectation Young Master Adelian has.
‘Even assuming that, it won’t work.’
“Cup down.”
The dealer’s pale hand grips and shakes the cup before setting it dead center on the table.
The dice roll a few more turns inside from momentum.
It’s not perfect.
‘But I can hear it.’
“Now, place your bets.”
“Hmm, I’ll put 20 chips on 4.”
A glance sideways reveals a calm smile, as if telling me not to feel burdened.
‘Young Master. Am I helping more than when we started?’
“Dmitri Young Master bets 20 chips. Beastkin?”
Even those contemptuous eyes I can now laugh off.
“All in on 2.”
* * *
Luna smiles faintly. Back at the inn, when we last checked, her accuracy by sound alone was fifty-fifty.
‘Someone might scoff at that.’
But nailing the exact roll just from the sound is impossible for most people to begin with.
“Hmm, they say beastkin have animal blood and are dumb, and it looks like it’s true. Doesn’t she know the rules at all?”
“Pfft. Adelian. If you apologize for your maid’s stupidity on her behalf, I’ll let her pick a different number or cancel the all-in. How about it?”
And the number Luna picked is 2.
In dice games, if you think about it casually, sure. Sums from 2 to 12, so roughly 1/11 odds for each?
‘Not even close.’
Not all sums are equally likely. For a 2, it’s only 1+1—one way.
But starting from 4, it changes. 1+3 or 2+2—more combinations. So 2 and 12 have just one each, while 7 has six.
That’s why Dmitri and Duvona start snickering the moment Luna goes all-in on 2.
‘The issue is Dmitri picked 4, and Luna picked 2.’
I flash a big smile while my mind races through the math.
If the sum’s 3, Luna’s 2 is -1 off, Dmitri’s 4 is +1 off—same difference.
But by the rules, the higher bet of 4 wins for Dmitri. So Luna only wins one way.
‘Sum of 2.’
“What nonsense. Just open the cup.”
If she’d calculated some insurance, Luna would’ve bet 3.
But going all-or-nothing on 2? That’s her own provocation and defiance against Dmitri.
I trust Luna, so I demand the reveal without hesitation.
“Adelian, you’re dumping this on that wench knowing she’ll lose? Well, yeah, no fun if she’s dumb.”
“Shut it. You’d better pick your ‘date’ stake properly this time.”
The time Leaf won for us.
And.
“…The dice sum to 2.”
“Call a mage right now! These dice are artifacts—call a mage! No way the Kruger family bought this casino, right? You’re all in on it, what the hell!”
Duvona’s eyes widen briefly in shock, but since she’s not losing anything, she yawns. Dmitri, on the other hand, shoots to his feet, veins bulging in his neck as he yells.
“Good job, Luna. Step back now.”
“Yes, Young Master!”
I stand from my chair, pat Luna’s head once, then approach the raging Dmitri. I grab his flabby shoulder, force him back into his seat like crushing him down, and lean in close.
“What’s with the ugly tantrum, Dmitri?”
I sneer in a mocking tone, then grab his greasy chin, shake it, and chuckle low.
“To buy this casino just to beat you? That’s enough cash to slip pocket money to most royals already. Not using your head right, Dmitri?”
I’m going easy on you right now, like friends having fun.
“Your stake’s just one measly royal introduction, so quit the embarrassing yelling and keep going. You think I’m playing with you because I can’t pull strings myself?”
“T-That’s…….”
He’s right, actually. Lobbying other nobles and building ties takes time, and I don’t want my name floating around high society needlessly, so I’m using Dmitri as a stepping stone.
I shrug once, wipe my hand on his clothes, and head back to my seat.
“Date?”
“…Six days from now.”
“What’s next?”
“Location.”
Dmitri’s cheeks puff out like he’s humiliated.
Duvona, who’d been yawning, smirks and speaks up.
“Piggy. Hurry up and lose already. So I can have my fun.”
“Duvona, mind your own business!”
“I handle mine better than you.”
Pang!
Clapping with your palm compressing the air doesn’t make a smack—it pops like bang.
I watch Rachel clap once and grin.
“Ah, so much talk. My turn now, right?”
Lose and it’s two green juices, lose and it’s two green juices.
Rachel shrugs off her robe, her red hair swaying.
Eyes like jewels trapping light, and rugged beauty.
Her rough speech contrasts her goddess-like looks.
Whether it’s thanks to Zero dolling her up as a beauty salon madam or not, Dmitri’s jaw drops as Rachel mutters and drags her chair—screeech—next to me.
“Let’s get started!”
Dmitri coughs awkwardly, cowed by Rachel’s fang-baring grin, and calls the dealer.
‘A real breather round.’
There’s food made for times like this.
I order sandwiches, hand some to Rachel so she can eat one-handed while holding cards, and watch the game unfold.
“Hmm! What if I go Black Baron combo for 22?”
Rachel tosses out bait casually.
“What kind of rule-breaker is that? Why even ask!”
Dmitri bites.
“Heart sounds like she’s confident…….”
Not sure if Rachel’s distinguishing by heartbeat or truth-seeing eyes, but she folds or calls repeatedly.
“Oops?”
“Kehehe, so dumb.”
She throws games when needed.
“Oops!”
“Kehe… Dumb move.”
Wins big too.
‘They’re playing nice.’
Whether Rachel’s half-assing it or it’s smooth progress, and with Dmitri down two rounds so he’s betting one or two chips conservatively for the long game, it’s dragging without big swings.
“Yawn…….”
I glance at Duvona, now nearly asleep.
“Duvona.”
“Hmm?”
Chin propped, I smile sweetly and let my voice drip lazily.
“Bored?”
“What? You too? Me three.”
Duvona starts an eye smile at my question, then winks.
Her gaze locks on us now.
I tap the floor twice with my toe, and Zero awkwardly speaks up.
“W-Wearing that robe all this time… Isn’t it hot?”
Like reading from a textbook.
“Yeah? Then take it off.”
I say casually, followed by rustling from behind.
And.
“Whoa… What’s with her. You buy her too?”
Duvona’s boredom-filled eyes go wide and round.
Tallest in the group, with a physique to match. Rare gray hair and emerald eyes.
That gentle giant-dog look might appeal more to women a bit older than Duvona.
But good looks transcend age.
“Phew, ha. She betting too? That why you brought her, right? Piggy’s game’ll take a while. What do you think, Adelian?”
“Eh, I don’t care. What’s the price?”
My stakes so far: time and date.
Rachel wins: location.
Cain wins: formal invite.
So Zero?
Duvona giggles as she answers my question.
“I’ll tell you about a party with other royals attending.”
“Call.”
The moment Duvona and I deal, Rachel yells.
“Gotcha! Chips!”
“Urk, here’s five. Down to 132 now.”
Let the casuals have their game.
At my gesture, Zero tosses his robe; Cain still wears his as they follow.
“The bet with me? Duel.”
“Knew it.”
“Aura use is an instant loss. Everything goes except killing, got it?”
“Got it.”
A massive barred cage in the casino basement.
Word was dirty bets like this happened under gambling dens sometimes.
“Save time—both come at me? Get a look at your faces too.”
“Sounds good. Cain, gear up.”
As Duvona bites a hair tie and ties her brown hair back, I tug Cain’s robe.
Tic—
Her hair tie drops to the floor.
“Ah…….”
Even the referee casino staff stares blankly at Cain.
“Y-You’re fu-fu-fu-fu-fucking insane!”
“Damn.”
Duvona shrieks, and Cain mutters a quiet curse.
“You two know no aura, right?”
“Yes, Master Adelian.”
“Yeah.”
Pure physical showdown.
I watch Duvona tie her trembling hair back, then slowly strip.
Skin-tight leather armor and a mace head as big as a grown man’s torso.
That’s the skintight leather from Valbus’s legacy I sold. Wonder who bought it……
“Haa. Ha. Can’t wait to crush you.”
Zero and Cain follow Duvona into the huge iron cage.
Two on this side, one on that—Duvona with weapon, Cain and Zero barehanded.
“H-Huhu. Potions allowed, right? Keep going till one admits defeat from their own mouth, yeah?”
Duvona grins, face flushed.
[Duvona von Chester—Trampling Toe]
Key Traits: [Superhuman Strength (A)] [Bloodlust (B+)] [Sadism (B)]
Hidden Traits: [Viciousness (C)] [Deception (C)]
Depending on the route, but in academy parts, you tangle with the Chester family sometimes.
Running a non-main party? One unit gets kidnapped events now and then.
Condition: Male unit called handsome in NPC dialogue.
That unit dies or gets ruined—dump gold at temple for heals or mercy-kill. Infamous among players.
So I know Duvona’s quirks.
A Duvona addicted to breaking pretty boys.
‘She won’t hold back against Cain and Zero.’
“Say you lost quick before she breaks you beyond potions or priests, please.”
Duvona drools as she laughs.
“So we can play longer!”
Duvona screams like a banshee, grips her massive mace one-handed, and lunges at Zero.