I Want You Under Me
Raon stated the wish he had earned through the Three Pledges in a calm, even voice.
Gulp.
Perhaps because no one had imagined a wish like that, the only sound in a room of more than ten people was the dry swallow of throats.
"Uh..."
"Huh!"
Dorian caught his jaw with both hands as it tried to follow gravity to the floor, and even Rimer was so startled he dropped the gold coins he'd been hiding.
"Guh!"
"Haaah!"
The Gambling Monster's subordinates stared at their master with terrified eyes, chewing their nails.
The Gambling Monster froze with his hand still extended. His face went pale, as if he too had never imagined a wish like this. He looked ready to topple over at a single tap.
"W-what did you just say?"
"I said I want you to come under me."
"You're telling me. This Gambling Monster. To become your servant?"
"That's not it."
Raon slowly shook his head. Everyone else was in a panic, but the one who had spoken the words remained perfectly at ease.
"Not a servant. A subordinate."
"Hah..."
The Gambling Monster let out a hot breath and rolled his neck. A murderous light flared in his eyes, as if he were ready to start a second round then and there.
"You think I'm going to grant a wish like that?"
"You said it yourself. 'As the first victor of the Three Pledges, name whatever you desire. I will grant it, no matter what it is.'"
Raon recited the Gambling Monster's own words back to him, the smile never leaving his face.
"You haven't forgotten already, have you? It's only been a moment."
"Th-that's..."
The Gambling Monster wrinkled the bridge of his nose and forced down the aura that had been boiling like magma.
"And surely the Gambling Monster, whose name resounds across the continent, wouldn't take back words once spoken."
"Urgh."
Once again he could find nothing to say, and only bit down on his lip. Like a rat in a trap, he was pinned in place by his own reputation and the promise he had made.
"But that is..."
"Then again, you are far my senior in years, and your fame spans the continent. Having you as my subordinate would look rather poor from any number of angles."
Raon raised his tone half a notch and scratched his chin.
"R-right. I may not look it, but I'm nearly the same age as the head of the house! Serving as your subordinate would be a disgrace!"
"Then I'll name a different wish. You can grant this one, I trust?"
"Of course! Just say it!"
The Gambling Monster clenched his fists as if he would do anything at all, so long as it got him out of becoming a subordinate.
"The Light Wind Squad is a newly formed unit, so we're short on a great many things. First, we need an instructor who can train the members systematically and efficiently in my place and the squad leader's."
"Mm. An instructor!"
An instructor sounded manageable enough. The Gambling Monster nodded vigorously. But Raon was not finished.
"An instructor, yes — but we're also short on someone to actually run the squad. I've been handling it myself until now, but going forward we need someone who can take care of the accounting, the supply, and the personnel management in a proper, organized way."
"Ahem. An administrative manager for the squad..."
"And as a new unit, we're short on money as well. We'll need an independent finance officer who can procure funds on his own."
"A f-finance officer..."
"And since I'm often away on missions, it would also be good to have someone who can move on my orders at the Annex and the 5th Training Ground."
Raon continued in a calm, measured voice, watching the cold sweat bead on the Gambling Monster's face.
"I'd like you to handle all of that."
"A-all of it? Everything you just said?"
"Yes."
Raon nodded without the slightest hesitation.
"W-wait. So that's instructor, plus accounting, supply, personnel..."
"Don't forget the finances and the personal errands."
Dorian and Rimer counted off everything Raon had just listed on their fingers, then their mouths fell open. If he does all that, isn't he just a servant?There's no difference at all! Both men swallowed the words and stared blankly at Raon, their pupils trembling.
"Well? This much you can do, surely? And since you'll be managing all of this and that, we'll call the position Chief Manager, and your affiliation will be with our Annex."
Raon did not even wait for an answer. He invented the title on the spot and drove the nail in so there would be no room to refuse.
"H-how is that any different from the first proposal..."
The Gambling Monster asked, clutching his own wrist. His voice cracked as if he had caught a cold.
"It's a splendid title, isn't it? Chief Manager. And you wouldn't be under me — you'd belong to the Annex. Ah, and a measure of freedom will be included as well."
Raon nodded as if that were more than generous.
"I've already conceded a great deal. You wouldn't refuse the second offer too, would you?"
"Khh..."
The Gambling Monster bowed his head, his lip caught between his teeth. His jaw was trembling; his emotions looked ready to boil over.
"Ah. And one more thing."
Raon raised a hand.
"The Chief Manager only needs to listen to me. You don't have to follow the squad leader's orders."
"Hey! What is that supposed to mean? If he's the Chief Manager, of course he has to listen to me too!"
Rimer, who had been grinning to himself, went wide-eyed.
"He's the Chief Manager of our Annex, not of the Light Wind Squad. Helping with the squad's affairs is just a side duty. He only takes orders from me. If he started taking the squad leader's commands as well, he'd spend the entire day gambling, wouldn't he?"
"Khuh..."
The remark had struck home. Rimer could only groan with his mouth hanging open.
"Haaah. That's the only part of this I actually like."
The Gambling Monster let out a sigh as thick and deep as a swamp, then lifted his head and glared at Raon.
"Damn it all."
Even granting that they were connected somehow, he had never imagined this lunatic would tell a family elder to come work under him. Honestly, he had wondered if the boy was simply insane.
But he isn't insane. He planned every bit of this.
From the very beginning, Raon had thrown out "subordinate" as the extreme option in order to make him Chief Manager. To escape becoming a subordinate, the only remaining choice was the hell of the Chief Manager's post — a perfect dilemma. And at the end, he had sweetened it with a sliver of freedom: not having to take Rimer's orders, just enough to soothe the sting.
Watching him scheme from the first word to the last, the Gambling Monster thought the boy should have taken a filthy epithet like Gambling Fiend or Scheming Fiend instead of the elegant Frost-Flower Sword Hero.
"Damn it!"
He had been the one to say he would grant anything. There was no hole left to crawl through.
"Thank you so much for becoming our Chief Manager of your own free will."
Raon bowed his head toward the Gambling Monster, who was still spitting curses.
"Of— of my own free will? Free will?"
"You chose one of two options yourself, did you not? That makes it voluntary."
"You don't even know what the word voluntary means—"
"I look forward to working with you."
Raon cut him off before the outrage could fully erupt, and bowed his head again.
"Damn it!"
The Gambling Monster ground his teeth hard enough to crack them, then spun on his heel as if to leave then and there.
"Ah, one moment."
Raon stepped up behind him and smiled brightly.
"Regular training starts tomorrow, so please come to the 5th Training Ground before sunrise."
"GRAAAAAAAH!"
The Gambling Monster answered with a roar that shook the ground, and stormed out.
"What a booming answer."
Tsk, tsk.
Wrath wriggled up onto the bracelet and clicked his tongue.
He paid out gold, threw away his pride, and now he's even become a slave. A sucker among suckers.
Is that so.
Raon let out a quiet laugh. It was amusing to be called a judge of suckers by the biggest sucker of them all.
"We should head back as well."
He turned, gestured to Rimer and Dorian — who were still standing there in a daze — and walked back into the gambling hall.
"Wooooooo!"
"Raon! Raon! Raon!"
"Frost-Flower Sword Hero! Frost-Flower Sword Hero!"
"The Gambling Monster lost for the first time! He completed the Three Pledges!"
"That means he was recognized in gambling, drinking, and martial arts. A new legend!"
The people still in the hall roared Raon's name, cheering themselves hoarse. They seemed drunk on the story of a newcomer toppling a man at the peak.
"I thought you were just some uptight training addict — I take it all back!"
"I'll be rooting for you from now on, so next time have a round with me! Drinking or gambling, I don't care!"
"When you become the head of the house, please build a huge casino in House Zieghart!"
"And tell us what wish you asked of the Gambling Monster!"
The affair seemed to have won him their goodwill. Everyone was smiling.
"Thank you for the support."
Raon waved to the cheering crowd and left the gambling hall.
"Ah, I've got something to take care of. You two go on ahead!"
Rimer had been following them, then peeled off toward the hall's counter. His feet were so light and fast they barely seemed to touch the ground. A moment later, a voice rang out from inside: "I'm rich again!"
"Hmph."
Raon's eyes sank as deep as they had when he had been staring down the Gambling Monster.
"I wonder if he'll actually stay rich."
The next day.
It was a regular training period, so the 5th Training Ground was packed with Light Wind Squad swordsmen from before dawn.
Once everyone had taken their places in front of the platform, the training ground doors opened smoothly, and Raon entered wearing a black-crimson ceremonial uniform and coat.
"Huh?"
"Why the formal dress...?"
"Isn't today regular training?"
The swordsmen tilted their heads at the sight of Raon in ceremonial attire instead of training clothes.
"There's someone I need to introduce before we begin. Be silent."
Raon waved a hand and stepped up onto the platform.
"As you all know, the Light Wind Squad is a newly formed martial unit, and we are lacking in a great many respects."
He went on, meeting a sea of curious stares.
"We have no instructor. Training materials and equipment are scarce. We have too few people to manage things, and too little funding."
They already knew as much. Every swordsman nodded.
"We cannot leave those shortages as they are forever. This time, I have brought a benefactor who will fill what the Light Wind Squad lacks."
"A benefactor?"
"We definitely needed more people."
"Right. Compared to other units, we're short on both hands and money."
"What we need most is a skilled instructor."
The swordsmen all nodded in agreement.
"Welcome him with applause."
Raon raised a hand and pointed to the doors. Dorian pulled both of them open, and a black-haired giant in a Light Wind Squad uniform stomped in, his face twisted in a scowl.
"Who is that?"
"I've never seen him before..."
"H-he's enormous."
"He doesn't look like an instructor. He looks like a thug..."
The swordsmen offered a round of slightly childish applause.
"Wait— hold on!"
Crain shot to his feet in horror.
"I-I saw him coming out of the gambling hall before! That's the Gambling Monster!"
"Huh?"
"What?"
"Hah!"
At the name Gambling Monster, every jaw in the squad dropped open.
Grit.
The Gambling Monster paid no mind to the swordsmen's chatter. He ground his teeth and climbed onto the platform.
"This is the Gambling Monster, Harrian Zieghart, who will oversee our training, manage the training ground, handle our accounting, take charge of personnel, and even manage our finances. Another round of applause!"
"Uh..."
Raon started clapping first. The swordsmen followed with a dull, soulless patter of palms, looking as if their spirits had left their bodies.
"Khh..."
A new wrinkle formed on the Gambling Monster's forehead with every clap. A full day had passed, and he still had not accepted it.
"His name is Harrian Zieghart. He has taken office as the Chief Manager of the Annex, and he has agreed — voluntarily — to assist with the Light Wind Squad's affairs."
Raon stepped forward and smiled.
"Khp!"
At the word voluntarily, the Gambling Monster gave a small twitch.
"If you run into difficulties in your martial studies, or there's something you wish to learn, ask him freely. He will explain it all very kindly. Isn't that right, Chief Manager?"
"That. Is. Correct."
The Gambling Monster ground the words out through his teeth, looking anything but kind.
"If you need tools or equipment for training, go to him as well. The Chief Manager will win the money — that is, he will procure the funds — to cover the Light Wind Squad's shortfalls on his own. Don't be shy. Tell him whatever you need. Isn't that right, Chief Manager?"
Raon struck a pose as if presenting him with the highest honors, then smiled sweetly.
"That. Is. Correct."
The Gambling Monster's bowed head left his ears burning red.
"The Chief Manager has come here voluntarily to lend the Light Wind Squad his strength. He takes no pay — he said he would win it himself. That is, earn it himself! Another round of loud applause and cheers, everyone!"
Raon pointed at the Gambling Monster, spread his hands wide, and clapped with gusto.
"Waaaaah!"
The swordsmen followed Raon's lead, striking their palms together in a proper, diagonal clap. Their faces, however, were frozen in bewilderment as they looked at the Gambling Monster biting his lip. Is this right?I-I mean, we're grateful, but...This is weird, isn't it? They swallowed dryly, glancing from Raon's smirk to the murderous aura rolling off the Gambling Monster. What the hell did that guy pull this time?!
BAM!
Raon had just finished introducing the Light Wind Squad members to the Gambling Monster one by one when the training ground doors slammed open as if they might shatter, and Rimer strode in.
Gone was yesterday's beggar look. He wore clothes of unmistakable quality, gleaming shoes, and a gold ring on his finger.
"Ah, everyone's here."
"You're late! There was something important today!"
Burren approached Rimer with a frown.
"Sorry. I was a bit busy yesterday."
Rimer clapped Burren on the shoulder with a look of supreme leisure and headed for the platform.
"Well, well. The uniform looks good on you, old man."
He snickered at the Gambling Monster in the Light Wind Squad uniform.
"Khh..."
The Gambling Monster's fist trembled as if it might explode. He was barely holding back a fit.
"Ah, Squad Leader. A word, if I may."
Raon stepped down from the platform and came to stand in front of Rimer.
"A word?"
"You need to return the money you borrowed yesterday."
"B-borrowed money? What are you talking about..."
"When Dorian was gathering the gold coins from the table..."
"Ah! Ah, ah!"
Rimer cut him off in a hurry, shaking his head hard.
"R-right! I did borrow a bit of money. Yes. Yes!"
He snapped up the bait at once, apparently unwilling to look ugly in front of everyone.
"Hmph."
Raon smiled faintly. Just as I thought. Rimer had taken the word borrowed as a way out. Unfortunately for him, it was a trap. It was the one word he should never have accepted.
"Then you'll return it?"
"Ah, of course I will. How much was it again? A hundred?"
"Three hundred and seventy-two."
"Huh?"
"Exactly three hundred and seventy-two gold coins."
At Raon's firm words, Rimer froze with his hand already in his pocket.
"Th-three hundred..."
"That's correct. Dorian?"
"Yes, sir! I checked the pouch yesterday. There were five thousand six hundred and twenty-eight gold coins, which means, as you said, he took three hundred and seventy-two."
Dorian came forward and nodded. In that brief span of time, Rimer had stuffed nearly four hundred gold coins into his pants. What a remarkable man.
"Mm. Fine. I understand."
Rimer swallowed dryly and went into the squad leader's office. After a good deal of rummaging, he came back out with a hefty pouch of gold.
"Here. Three hundred and seventy-two gold coins!"
He tossed the pouch as if to say, take it and get lost.
Raon caught it — and did not move. He only smiled.
"Wh-what's with that look? I gave you all of it."
"You still owe the interest."
"Interest? What interest?"
"If you borrow money, of course there's interest. That's only natural."
"Urgh..."
Rimer's mouth fell open.
"I-I borrowed it for a single day! What interest is there to collect?!"
"I collect it."
Raon straightened his back without a hint of shame.
"Ugh! Fine. How much is the interest, then."
Rimer flicked his fingers as if to say, just spit it out.
"Three hundred and seventy-two gold coins."
"Huh? Huuuh?"
Rimer's jaw shook as if it might drop off entirely.
"Who the hell charges a day's interest equal to the principal?!"
"I do."
"You devil! Even a loan shark wouldn't go that far!"
"I wouldn't know. The interest, if you please."
"I'm not paying! Over my dead body!"
Rimer flung himself spread-eagled on the ground as if that settled the matter.
"Hmph."
Raon turned his head and looked back at the Gambling Monster.
"Chief Manager. I'd like to make my first request."
"Y-your first request?"
The Gambling Monster's eyes rolled with a sudden, sinking dread.
"I'd like you to collect the Light Wind Squad's operating funds from our squad leader."
"O-operating funds?"
"Operating funds, you said?"
Rimer and the Gambling Monster raised their voices at the same time.
"That's right."
Raon offered a mild smile. Leave money with Rimer and it would all vanish into useless places. Using it to buy the kids even a single practice sword would be far better.
"I had intended to put the interest from the squad leader toward the Light Wind Squad's facilities and operating funds. I couldn't very well burden the Chief Manager from the very first day, after all."
Having arranged a situation in which Rimer and the Gambling Monster would have no choice but to collide, Raon stepped back. They'll take the bait. They have to.
The Gambling Monster had just been drained of six thousand gold and would not want to see money wasted. Rimer was a man obsessed with gold to begin with, and would never let go of money already in his hands.
The two of them had no choice but to clash, right here.
"Ah, and the money is buried under the right-hand pillar in the squad leader's office."
He helpfully pointed out the location of Rimer's vault, which he had seen through the Demonic Eye of Wrath.
"Gack! How do you know that?!"
Raon only shrugged at Rimer's look of horror.
"I'll leave it to you, then."
Raon smiled brightly and withdrew to the side of the Light Wind Squad.
"You've raised one hell of a filthy disciple."
The Gambling Monster pressed his lips tight and set his hand on his sword hilt.
"Tell me about it. I had no idea I'd ended up with such a brilliantly damned brat."
Rimer glared and tapped his scabbard.
"Hand over the money."
"You heard him too, old man! Since when does a day's interest come to a hundred percent?!"
"That's for the owner to decide!"
"I didn't even borrow it! That devil of a kid tricked me!"
"He's a demon who even fooled me. A fool like you was in the palm of his hand from the start! Hand it over!"
The Gambling Monster slowly drew his sword and leveled it at Rimer.
"I won't! This is my last hope!"
Rimer likewise raised his blade and set it at mid-guard.
They glared at each other for a long moment — then kicked off the ground at the same time.
A thunderous boom erupted as the enormous force pouring from both swords collided, a roar that seemed to crush the sky itself.
"Watch closely."
Raon gestured to the Light Wind Squad members and pointed at the two men fighting.
"Warriors of that caliber going all out is a stroke of fortune you couldn't buy with money."
He had taken Rimer's gold, would use that gold to run the Light Wind Squad in comfort, and was even broadening the squad members' horizons by showing them the Gambling Monster's martial power. Three birds with one stone. A smile came of its own accord.
"That's our Chief Manager! Show him how it's done!"
Raon pumped a fist and cheered the Gambling Monster on.
"Khh."
"Ugh..."
Rimer, the Gambling Monster, and every swordsman who had just heard Raon's voice all arrived at the same thought.
That devil of a bastard...
And as for the actual devil—
He was out working a sales pitch.