Weekend Date Ambush
The auction wrapped up more smoothly than expected. I'd half-worried they'd all draw knives in a frenzy over the heart, but thankfully, no such disaster unfolded. Well, if they'd tried it openly in Verde, the black market enforcers would've stepped in anyway.
"How was it? Today."
I asked Belloa as we strolled along after the auction.
"It was fun. Everything was a first for me."
"Good to hear."
A proper noble lady like her wouldn't get experiences like these under normal circumstances.
"Thanks for bringing me out."
Belloa flashed me a bright smile. Hard to imagine from her usual image, but she could smile like that too.
"Oh, right. That thing I bid on earlier."
"The Ring of the Ruler?"
"Yeah, that."
I fished the ring out of my right pants pocket. Plain gold with no decoration—unimpressive-looking for the price, but it didn't matter. This wasn't for show anyway.
"Huh? There're two?"
"Picked up a nice one on the street earlier."
"...While I was wandering around?"
"Yep. And this one's for you."
I smiled back at her earlier grin and placed the ring in her palm.
She froze at the sudden gesture for a moment, then blinked in flustered surprise.
"F-For me...?"
"Who else would I give it to?"
"B-But I didn't prepare anything..."
"Just a thank-you. You came all this way."
Truth be told, it was more like an investment in Belloa. She had the vessel to become an archmage nearing Star Manifestation. Buying low on her now. The item might seem pricey at over 7,000 ar, but...
In the end, stuff like this becomes obsolete the stronger you get.
So I was gearing her up early. The more I invested, the faster she'd grow.
"Master. You planned this, didn't you?"
"Huh? Planned what?"
"Well... now we're both wearing matching rings. Isn't that a couple's ring?"
"Ah."
Sharp observation. Activation support rings like these came in pairs, after all—hers and mine.
"Didn't plan it, but can't be helped."
I'd considered giving both to her, but the performance was too good to pass up. Plus, the insight requirement was already maxed for me.
"Th-Thank you, Dante."
Her moist eyes reflected my image. Was it that touching? Well, good things were good.
"If you get stronger faster, it's good for our club too."
"Yeah... I'll do my best."
"The ring has support abilities... I'll explain on the way."
Time to head back to the academy. Couldn't afford to lose points on my top-seat spot over this.
Brought Belloa too—if we're late, it'll be a disaster.
A bit worrisome, but no issue. A touch of mana to boost speed, and we'd arrive on time. Smoothly.
"...Hah. Variables always pop up at times like this."
Just as we were exiting Verde, a group blocked our path.
Near the exit of Verde, in a back alley shortcut to the entrance. Dante and Belloa had taken this route, but now it was sealed off.
Over ten people surrounded them from front and back. Leading them was a hulking one-eyed man.
"We meet again, don't we?"
"Yeah. Looks like you remember me too."
"I've got a good memory for faces."
As Dante said, he clearly remembered the one-eyed man before him.
The Gambling King, who ran Verde's biggest casino. The guy who'd gotten squeezed for protection money by Dante and Lilia before.
"Didn't we agree to let it slide last time? Or was that my imagination?"
"Bullshit! You think you're some saint or something?"
The one-eyed man sneered unpleasantly and raised his right hand. His men around the alley raised their weapons in unison. One signal was all it would take. One word from him, and over ten would swarm Dante and Belloa.
"I was the one who let you off easy last time."
"Ha! You think mages are invincible or what?"
Unlike the first rabble, these were the Gambling King's handpicked elites—mercenaries, ex-knights, adventurers, selected purely for skill regardless of background. No more street thugs helpless against Dante's magic.
What a pain. Showing up now to block the way.
Of course, elites or not, they were just annoyances to Dante.
"In this world, money buys everything, kid. This time, I'll kill you proper."
No sooner had the man spoken than his crew charged at Dante and Belloa.
Lethal strikes aimed precisely at vitals. Normally, even Dante would've felt the pressure from numbers, but...
Idiots. Starting a fight in an alley?
Like in movies or dramas, narrow alleys favored the few against the many. Force 1v1s or 1v2s by controlling space, and done.
"Belloa, cover the rear?"
"Got it. I'll handle behind."
Perfect role split between Belloa and Dante. Shared experience syncing them, plus both mages? They handled the foes smoothly, one by one, without a hitch.
"Y-You fucking bastards!!! How much did I pay you!!?!"
"Ah, boss!! These guys are 5th Circle mages!!"
"Hey! We have mages too!!"
A rear mage scowled at the man's shout.
"Then everyone in the alley's at risk!!"
"Then how the hell are they fighting!!"
The man's question was natural. Narrow alleys were poor for mages—spells in tight spaces risked friendly fire.
But for these two, no issue.
Overwhelming talent, blood-and-sweat effort. Plus mutual trust let them shrink spell ranges.
Dante even favored physical moves over magic.
Not good... At this rate, again...
This time, they'd strike first—probably even harder. Maybe straight for his throat.
"...Whatever, just blast 'em with magic."
"P-Pardon???"
"Use magic!! Max output!!"
Fear of death? No reason left in the man.
"But our guys'll die too..."
"I'll pay you for their shares—deal with it!!"
Was there a saying about money not working meaning not enough money? The mage bit his lip at the promise of more gold and drew a magic circle in the air.
A 5th Circle fire spell: Flame Prison. Devastating in enclosed spaces.
Whiiiirrr!!!
As the man grimaced and the mage tried to cast—
"Wh-What?"
The spell that should've activated fizzled.
Instead—
BOOOOM!!!!!
"GAAAAAHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
Flame Prison detonated right in front of the mage, incinerating him.
"Wh-What the...?"
Incomprehensible. His own spell killed the mage. The high-paid mercs and adventurers were getting one-sidedly crushed by just two.
Just two. In black markets, they warned to watch small groups. Made sense—moving in few meant they were secure enough.
"H-Haha..."
Watching his crew dwindle, the Gambling King let out hollow laughter. Like they were his crumbling future. He just stared blankly, accepting the unbelievable reality.
As Dante and Belloa closed in after mopping up—
"...Haa. This is fucking insane."
New people entered the recently battle-scarred alley. One panting with face obscured. Chased by seven in varied outfits.
"You."
".........P-Pardon?"
The Gambling King held his breath as Dante approached.
"You're lucky. Real gambler's luck."
"What do you...?"
"We won't chase. Just pay up and run."
No time to waste on trash like him right now.