Chapter 7
Chapter 7
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 7
Chapter Title: Gambling Chess Champion
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The rules of this gambling chess were simple.
It was a best-of-three series, and the bettors had to predict the winner of each of the three games.
Get all three right, and you could win a massive payout.
And I could participate in the betting too—as long as I didn't bet on the champion winning.
I threw all 1.6 million silan on my victory in games one and two, and no game three, then took a seat at the table.
A crowd had formed around us, like a golf gallery.
Over a hundred people.
"Everyone, pay attention! Our Gransel champion is entering!"
The champion was a middle-aged man in his forties. His attire suggested he was a noble.
He raised an eyebrow at my appearance.
"It's been a while since we had a challenger. Nice to meet you. I'm Patrick Haimes."
"I'm Wade, a mercenary."
"No plans to take off that helmet? It's making me feel stifled just looking at it."
"I'll remove it if I lose the match."
"Hah, that's interesting. Let's begin, then. Want white?"
"No, you take white first."
A stir went through the crowd at my words.
—Giving white to the champion? That's too arrogant!
—What a fool.
Chess had its advantages for the first player, if not quite as pronounced as in go.
Yielding that to the champion was sheer recklessness.
'I could handle black just fine, but...'
Deep down, part of me hoped to lose. I wanted someone in this world who could beat me.
I'd set aside the 100,000 silan investment fund, so even if the 1.6 million went up in smoke, it wouldn't sting too much.
"I'm not one to refuse a handicap. I'll go first, then."
Patrick moved his pawn, opening the game. Unlike my usual half-hearted play, I decided to go all out this time.
How well could this so-called champion hold up?
The result was disappointing.
"Check."
"...!"
Patrick's eyes widened.
The board had already tilted heavily in my favor.
"Shall we continue?"
"...No, I don't see any way to turn this around. Any move I make is a blunder. I concede."
"I can go over the game with you if you'd like."
The gallery erupted in chaos.
Offering to review the game as the winner was like offering lessons to an inferior player.
—That arrogant bastard! Daring to taunt Patrick!
—He just got lucky! Pure chance!
But the gallery was in for a shock soon after.
"In that case, please do."
Patrick bowed his head, clearly sensing the insurmountable gap between us.
'At least he has no pointless pride.'
I didn't dislike people like that.
I reviewed the game in detail.
"In that position, you should've advanced the rook even at the cost of the queen. My bishop would've been tied down, unable to move, and your knight would've gained momentum as it infiltrated."
"I see...."
"Shall we start game two?"
It was past 4 a.m., so I figured it was time to wrap things up.
"I'll take the lesson. White for me this time."
Patrick's attitude had shifted.
He played with full focus, methodically placing his pieces, but he had his limits.
I steadily seized control, cornering his king.
'At this rate, it'll end in under twenty moves.'
That's when it happened.
"...?"
My master, standing behind me, suddenly started scanning the surroundings intently.
Then he placed a hand on my shoulder and whispered.
"Als, something's wrong. I'm sensing hostile presences closing in."
"No way they'd try something stupid...."
Were they planning to use force to avoid paying out?
The payout I'd win would be at least ten million silan—enough to hurt. But I hadn't expected them to resort to something so childish.
I'd anticipated the possibility, though—that's why I'd come with my master.
'I'd rather not see blood.'
No matter how many thugs they gathered, they weren't a match for me and my master.
I glared at the salon manager, a warning not to do anything foolish, but his expression was one of utter innocence. If anything, he seemed expectant of a new champion's rise.
'What? Then what was that presence my master sensed?'
It wasn't long before.
"Fire—!"
Sudden fierce flames and thick smoke erupted from all sides.
In an instant, the chess match was forgotten amid the pandemonium.
The people inside rushed chaotically for the exits, while a few greed-blinded fools lunged for the piled money bags.
"Als, let's get out!"
"But the payout..."
"No time!"
My master grabbed my arm and dragged me out the shortest path.
It was the right call. This was organized arson—the flames spread at an unbelievable speed.
Those who'd gone for the money bags ended up asphyxiated, unable to escape.
The building was engulfed in fire in moments.
The guards who arrived could do no more than prevent the blaze from spreading to other buildings.
"Ha...."
A hollow laugh escaped me. Of all the timings, why now?
It didn't feel like pure coincidence.
"Now that I think about it, Master—what was that commission that brought you to Gransel?"
"...Hm."
"Is it connected to this?"
"Probably. I heard there are suspicious elements targeting the Salleon ducal house. The request was to help root them out and eliminate them. I didn't expect them to act so boldly, though."
"Well, in terms of inflicting damage, it was pretty effective."
This salon was likely the highest-grossing establishment in the territory.
Burning it to the ground would be a serious blow to the Salleon house.
"Als, head back to the annex and stay put. Consider this a good lesson."
"What about you, Master?"
"Time to get to work."
"...?"
In a flash, Master shot forward like lightning, tackling someone and slamming them to the ground.
"Urk! Who the hell are you?!"
"Did you think you could slip my watch? Guards! Arrest this man! He's one of the arsonists!"
The guards verified Master's identity and restrained the man. They began questioning others from the salon.
I, with my face covered, was also questioned, but thanks to Master's arrangements, I was out quickly.
By 6 a.m., back at the ducal annex, I was greeted by Chief Steward Joan's sigh.
"Ilrain, where on earth have you been? It's almost morning."
"Any issues? I had permission for an overnight stay."
"It's not that. You don't look like you just slept quietly somewhere. I told you to broaden your horizons, not cause trouble."
She approached and brushed the soot off my clothes. Pat. Pat.
"You weren't at that fire site, were you?"
"Haha... No way. Must've blown in on the wind."
"Fine, whatever. But keep this in mind: your butler training isn't over. Until it is, you're part of the Salleon household. Please refrain from anything that brings shame to the family."
"I'll be careful... but you don't need to worry so much about someone like me."
"I'd love to, but you draw attention in all sorts of ways."
Joan glanced around wearily.
The maids were holding their breath, peeking at us.
I couldn't help but sigh.
"Haa... Yes, I'll be careful."
"And from today, you have permission to enter the main residence. If you're interested, check it out. The library there is also open to you—you can read whatever books you like."
"How did you know I like books...?"
"How many maids do you think are watching you closely? Some things you learn whether you want to or not."
At Joan's pointed words, the peeking maids scattered in a panic.
"Good grief, those girls."
"Sorry for the trouble."
"Not your fault. Anyway, I'll be going."
Joan bowed her head and left with light steps. I headed back to my room for a quick nap.
*
*
*
By the end of the initial butler training phase, the hundred-plus candidates had dwindled to around thirty.
I could've gone home anytime, but the academy commute made staying worthwhile.
Still, it was starting to feel inconvenient.
"Um... Lord Ilrain? If it's not too much trouble, could we talk for a moment?"
A woman who looked like a maid approached me while I was reading in the annex library.
In the distance, other maids watched with keen interest.
"No, it's not. I don't want my rare quiet reading time interrupted."
"Ah, uh... Yes, sorry!"
She flushed red and scurried away. Laughter like "serves her right" came from afar.
'Jeez. It's like a zoo in here.'
With fewer butler candidates in the annex, the maids' workloads had lightened, making this trend worse.
'I get it, but this is too much.'
Apparently, I was prime merchandise to them.
A fourth son of a baron house—noble in name, but barely. Unlike heirs from houses with clear status gaps, I was someone they could realistically consider for the long term, not just a fling.
Add Als's striking looks, and here we were.
No way to read in peace.
"What are you all doing? Back to your posts at once!"
Only after Chief Steward Joan scolded them did the crowd disperse.
Joan, now in the library, looked at me and let out a deep sigh.
I felt unjustified again.
"For the umpteenth time, it's not my fault."
"I know. I know, but..."
She rubbed her temples, looking pained.
"I never thought maids from the main residence would come gawking too...."
Resigned, she told me.
"Ilrain, if you want to read, sorry, but go to the second-floor library in the main residence. No maids can enter freely there—you can read in peace."
"Whew... Guess I will."
It wasn't my fault, but causing more of a fuss would trouble Joan.
The maids' stares were burdensome too, and until Master's job was done, I'd hole up in the main residence library.
After that, outside academy classes, I spent all my time there. As expected of a ducal house, rare books lined the shelves casually.
What caught my eye were tales of remote nations, rarely covered elsewhere.
'The Kurabel Holy Kingdom was tied to elves? Might be in a later update.'
I gleaned story hints from books like that, so I focused on history tomes, building my knowledge.
It was one such day.
"Hey."
A girl addressed me while I read.
Thinking it the usual, I ignored her.
"..."
"Hey. Didn't you hear me?"
"Pretend I didn't. I don't want to chat with someone so ill-mannered they interrupt reading without a care."
"Ah...!?"
"So, could you be quiet?"
She looked dumbfounded, then furrowed her brow.
"Okay, sorry about that. But don't you have a problem too? That book's one I set aside to read. Reading it without a word to me is rude, don't you think?"
"...?"
Only then did I look up at her face.
I didn't know who she was, but she looked vaguely familiar.
"Sorry, who are you again?"
"What...!?"
Her eyes went wide like a rabbit's. She soon spoke warily.
"A new ploy to butter me up? It won't work!"
"I don't know what you mean, but can it wait? I've had my reading interrupted a lot lately—I'm a bit annoyed."
"You... really don't know me? We formally greeted each other on the first day!"
"..."
Wait. The only girl I recalled formally greeting on day one...
Sweat trickled down my temple.
I couldn't remember her name.
We'd met for maybe ten minutes then, and hadn't crossed paths in over two months. No wonder.
I had no plans to become a butler or build a career here, so I'd tuned her out completely.
'The others kept calling her Lady Something-or-other.'
I dredged my memory like a salmon swimming upstream.
"Of course I haven't forgotten. You're Lady Jaina, right?"
"Only one character right! I can't believe you actually forgot!"
"Tch. What a pain...."
"D-Did you just say I'm a pain?"
"Of course not. So, what's your name?"
"Hmph... I'm not telling."
"Can't be helped, then."
Frankly, I didn't care. Unlike the others, I had no agenda with her. Impressing her or not meant nothing.
Joan had shown me the library anyway. If anyone had complaints, take it up with her.
I slid the book toward her and picked another.
She bit her lip, sat across from me, and glared.
Thirty minutes passed like that.
She hadn't expected me to actually just read, and now looked fed up.
"You really are just reading.... Why are you even here training to be a butler in our house?"
"Lame reason. Got a burdensome marriage proposal. This training was the perfect excuse to dodge it."
"As if something that ridiculous...."
"Low nobles have their own woes. Like how you can interrupt my reading, but I can't treat you roughly."
"I think you're treating me plenty roughly."
"So, your name again?"
"Not telling."
"Hm, from that look, you remember mine, huh?"
"...!"
Hit the mark.
"Remembering a name after one meeting. Good memory."
She looked even more shocked.
"O-One meeting? We had classes together at the academy sometimes. Remember? When we talked about crude combat?"
"That happened too? Sorry. I don't recall minor details like that."
She remembered specific lesson snippets that precisely? A bit creepy.
"Minor details...! Ugh!"
For some reason, she seemed deeply offended, pride wounded.
That's when it happened.
New footsteps in the library.
"Erina, there you are. I've been looking for you."
Altiore Salleon had burst into the library.
I shot to my feet.
"Lady! What was the title of the book you were looking for?"
I couldn't let superiors see this side of me.
I flashed a manufactured smile, but she glared like I was loathsome. Then she turned to Duke Salleon.
"Grandfather! I want to bring this guy on the bear hunt too!"