The Capital's Grand Gambling Hall
Betting-3- The Capital's Massive Gambling Hall. ▶ Predict the academy's number one with your choice.
[Owner of the Holy Sword Mikhail] Odds: 1.2x
[Dark Horse of the Healing Department, Yuria] Odds: 3x
[Youngest Aura Awakener, Hanna Histania] Odds: 1.5x
[Noble Blood, Shyartia] Odds: 2x
⋯
[Lewd Stalker Shuen] Odds: 100x.
"Oho..."
Before the round of sixteen began, a woman with her robe pulled low stared at the high odds and fiddled with a pouch full of gold coins.
"A hundred times the payout..."
High odds meant a zero percent chance of taking first place, but the robed woman's thoughts were different.
"I believe in myself, yot."
After all, the star of the ten-thousand-percent odds was none other than herself.
"This Shuen can definitely take first place, yot."
Shuen clutched the heavy money pouch, lost in thought, then put on a serious expression as she imagined a happy future. What should she do with that money? Buy a house. Purchase gifts for commoners. Quit the academy and open a shop.
Thus, round of sixteen—
"Hehe... I've investigated everything about you, yot. You have a girl you like, don't you, yot? You confessed recently and got rejected."
"Y-you... you you!!!"
"Hehe...! There's an opening, yot!"
[Cursed Mouth Tetra Shuen] Odds: 50x.
Round of eight.
"You... actually like the senior director, don't you, yot? I saw everything, yot. Sneaking a letter into the senior director's office...!"
"What are you saying...! Why would I like that person! That's just... to look good!"
"Hehe... Your tastes are quite unique, yot! Everyone, special news, yot!"
"Shut up!"
"Heh...! Now's the time, yot!"
[Black History Excavator Tetra Shuen] Odds: 30x.
Tetra Shuen, who had reached the quarterfinals, kept a fist in her mouth and wore a trembling expression.
"This is a miracle, yot...!"
Luck had let her dodge all the strong opponents. It was as if the goddess of fortune was on her side—every powerhouse had been placed in Group A, leaving only the power monster Shyartia and the crown prince in Group B.
If she could just reach the semifinals, Tetra Shuen, who had poured every last coin of her salary into betting, would receive an enormous sum. And if, by some chance, she actually won the tournament, she could earn enough to buy a decent castle on the frontier.
"Hehehehehe."
Tetra Shuen wore a chilling smile as she looked at the attendant.
"Heh..."
The attendant returned an awkward smile, as if staring at someone deeply unhinged.
"Um... have you come to collect your winnings?"
"...How much if I cash out now?"
"Did you place your bet during the round of sixteen?"
"Yes...!"
"What is the alias of the person who placed the bet?"
"Shuenzel, yot."
"Pardon? Ah... one moment, please."
"Huuuut."
"...Yes, Shuenzel-nim has been confirmed. Shuenzel-nim placed one hundred gold on 'Black History Excavator Tetra Shuen,' who advanced to the quarterfinals... one moment, please."
The attendant's hand, busy with the abacus, suddenly stopped. Tetra Shuen's eyes trembled violently.
"If you give up on predicting the winner and cash out midway, you won't receive fifty percent of the payout. Are you aware?"
"I know, yot."
"In that case, you should receive approximately this amount."
"O...o... how many zeros is that, yot?"
Seeing Tetra Shuen's ecstatic expression, the attendant forced an awkward smile and offered congratulations.
"Congratulations. You seem to have a talent for gambling."
"...I'm not addicted, yot. I only did it for fun, yot...!"
"Ahaha! Of course. Shall we process the withdrawal now..."
"Wait a moment, yot!"
Tetra Shuen grabbed the attendant's hand as she turned to leave, deep in thought. Cashing out now would earn her enough to buy a house in the capital where she could live alone with a commoner... but if... truly if she took first place, she could afford a fine castle on the frontier.
"Ohoho...! This is my castle, yot! Are you surprised, yot? Commoner!"
"A...amazing! How did you acquire such a magnificent castle...! I see you in a new light, Shuen... no! My lady!"
"Heehee..."
"Um... customer?"
Tetra Shuen wiped the drool from her lips and shook her head. It wasn't time yet, she told herself.
"I'll watch a little longer, yot."
"Pardon? No matter how you look at it, this student doesn't seem likely to reach the semifinals..."
"What did you say, yot?!"
"Ah... nothing."
Wearing a humming smile, Tetra Shuen slowly left the gambling hall. Since the capital's gambling hall was run by the imperial family, there was no need to worry about being cheated. What she had to do now was withdraw at the right moment—and reach the championship. That was what needed to be done.
"The strongest thing in the world isn't philosophy or magic—it's money, yot...!"
Tetra Shuen's steps had never felt lighter.
"Wait for me, yot! Crown prince? Or princess! This Shuen will splendidly commit lèse-majesté, yot!"
"The match has ended..."
I let out a bitter sigh as I looked at the ruined arena. I was surprised by how fiercely the two had fought.
"The winner of this duel is...!"
"I didn't think she'd last this long."
"Third-year of the Swordsmanship Department, Mikhail!!!"
The arena floor was scarred with deep gouges from sword auras. The two warriors who had poured everything into the fight stood panting heavily, as if to prove they had given their all.
"Haa... haa..."
"Ha... seriously... annoying."
It was the match between Hanna and Mikhail. The victor was not Hanna, but Mikhail. I spoke quietly while watching Mikhail standing alone in the arena.
"I didn't expect it to go this far."
"...I thought the same."
Honestly...
"She's become a monster now, hasn't she, Hanna-ssi."
I had assumed Hanna wouldn't be able to hold out this long against Mikhail. Mikhail, who had only recently awakened the Holy Sword, was by no means weak. In fact, she was stronger than I had imagined, which surprised me. I thought Hanna would lose without even putting up a fight against Mikhail. My prediction had been completely overturned.
"It's been a while, senior."
"It has."
"You obtained a fine sword."
"Haha... I was able to get it thanks to an excellent assistant."
"That's fine. I received a separate 'sword' as a gift from the butler..."
"Ha."
"Why?"
The moment their auras clashed, I should have known something was off.
"I won't lose."
"Neither will I. I'll show you the dignity of a senior."
"Says the person who's already lost to me twice. Ah... come to think of it, if we count unofficial sparring, I've won countless times."
"...I won't go easy on you."
"Your tongue is too long, senior."
Malik and I could only watch in breathless awe as the two exploded into combat.
"When did she become so strong?"
"I was thinking the same."
"So this is the power of the Histania swordsmanship family."
"That doesn't seem right. If you look at me standing right here, the answer is obvious."
"Ehh... but you're strong too, boss."
"Not as much as my sister."
Tap. Tap.
Mikhail extended a hand toward Hanna, who was kneeling on one knee.
"You're a monster."
"So are you, senior."
"..."
"..."
Mikhail knew it too. If they had fought with ordinary swords instead of the Holy Sword, Hanna would have won overwhelmingly.
"You know the Holy Sword saved you, right?"
"Of course."
Both wore smiles. Neither looked like someone who had just dueled; both had preserved their pride.
The most surprising thing about this match was Hanna's growth.
"..."
I let out a dry laugh as I stared at the massive sword scar carved into the arena. The technique Hanna had used earlier was clearly one of the Histania sword arts. Amazed by how quickly Hanna had mastered the Histania style, I turned to head down to the arena floor.
"Where are you going?"
"To the restroom."
"Going to console her?"
I shrugged at Malik's words and countered.
Comfort was unnecessary for someone who had fought a splendid battle.
"I'm going to praise her."
"You're better than me."
I let out a dry laugh and shrugged again.
"Of course. I'm the expert when it comes to women's hearts."
"You're a lecher."
"Can't be helped."
Malik gave a hollow smile and spoke quietly.
"Come back up before the next match starts. It's the princess and crown prince's match."
*
In the infirmary, only the tips of Hanna's toes were visible as she lay on the bed.
Sniffle...
Sniff...
Haa... sniff...
I carefully entered the infirmary, where the sound of sniffling could be heard—whether from frustration at losing or something else—and walked slowly toward Hanna before placing a chair beside the curtain and sitting down.
...!
Hanna, who had stopped crying at the sound of footsteps, was fidgeting and making sniffing noises. Imagining her state, I spoke quietly.
"I saw your match. It was impressive."
"Butler...?"
"You were incredibly cool, you know?"
"...You were watching?"
"Of course. I watched every single one of Hanna-ssi's matches."
"Haha..."
Hanna let out a gloomy voice.
"It wasn't cool at all."
"..."
"I just shouted and couldn't fight properly before losing."
I shook my head at the sight of Hanna's crumpled silhouette beyond the curtain. Her figure, overcoming trials, was always cool no matter how many times I saw it.
"Not at all. You looked incredibly cool."
"Lies..."
"If it were a lie, would I have come find you?"
"..."
"When did you become so strong... I was genuinely surprised when you broke through Mikhail's protection."
"...Really?"
"Of course. I don't know who your teacher is, but they taught you very well."
"That's right. They're an incredibly amazing person."
Seeing Hanna's silhouette as she turned toward me while lying on her back, I smiled faintly.
"You'll catch up to me soon at this rate."
"It'll take a long time to catch up to you, butler."
"Still, compared to when we first met, you've improved tremendously, haven't you?"
"..Please don't bring up when we first met...! It's embarrassing."
"Why?"
I spoke to Hanna with a full smile.
"You were cute."
"...That's cheating..."
"Pardon?"
"It's cheating... If you say that, I'll..."
"Haha..."
I pulled aside the curtain hiding Hanna and looked at her face. Beyond the curtain was Hanna, covered in bandages and band-aids, hugging her knees. Seeing my smiling face, Hanna's eyes trembled as she looked at me, then she blushed and lowered her head.
"Really...!"
Hanna nodded as if she had made some decision and looked at me.
Thump...
Thump...
Thump...
"Do you have something you want to say?"
Hanna bit her trembling lips once, took a deep breath, and opened her mouth.
"I... butler...!"
"Yes?"
"...Th-that is."
"Yes."
"Th... that... the promise from last time..."
That was the moment.
Bang!!!
"Histania Hanna!!!"
A new daughter-obsessed fool had entered.
I greeted Rowen, who had rushed in with urgent eyes, then gently stroked Hanna's hair.
"Well then... I'll be going now."
Hanna blushed and lowered her head.
"Haa..."
Honestly. Really... my heart feels like it's going to burst.
*
Same time.
"Eeeeeeeek!!!!!"
Olivia was being carried through the sky in Darbab's arms.