Chapter 292: Gamblers Never...
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 292: Gamblers Never...
"Hmm? Are we still not ready to head out?"
At the Academy’s main gate, the designated gathering point, Ariel Bugard looked up at the sun, which was now nearly directly overhead. She frowned.
"Didn't we agree to meet in the morning? It’s almost noon."
"I don't know."
Liya Angel shook her head as well. Her eyes swept discreetly over their surroundings as she whispered, "I think some people haven't arrived yet. It looks like the professors and teachers aren't here either."
Because it was the day students were leaving campus, the area around the main gate was incredibly boisterous. Students lugged their luggage as they poured out of the gates, and the street outside was already choked with carriages sent by various families to pick them up.
Yet, amidst this chaos, there was one area that seemed as if it had been specially cordoned off. It was remarkably empty, occupied by only a few individuals. Some stood with their arms crossed, some rested with their eyes closed, and others, like Ariel and Liya, talked in low voices.
Every passing student who glanced toward this spot did so with eyes full of envy and respect.
"Would someone like Professor Prang really be late?"
Ariel's brow furrowed. Thinking of Professor Prang’s stiff, stern face, the idea seemed almost impossible.
"The one accompanying us might not be Professor Prang," Liya guessed. "After all, while he’s technically just the Head of the Magic Department, I’ve heard he’s handling most of the Academy's affairs now. Especially during this transition period between Acting Dean Pink Bear and Dean Kathewei, he probably can't spare the time to leave."
"True," Ariel nodded. "Usually, it’s a regular teacher who handles chaperone duties."
"I just wonder which teacher it’ll be," Liya added. "It would be nice if they were a bit more... lenient."
"Oh?"
Ariel’s eyes sharpened instantly. With a mischievous grin, she lunged forward to poke at Liya’s sides. "Well, well, you little minx! Wanting a lenient teacher... are you planning on getting up to some mischief?"
"I—I am not!"
Blushing slightly, Liya pushed Ariel away and huffed, "I just think the journey is going to be tedious enough as it is. If we get a strict teacher on top of that, it’ll be a nightmare."
"I suppose you're right..."
Is it just me, or have this girl's reflexes gotten faster lately? I can barely even sneak a touch anymore.
Ariel pulled her hand back with a look of regret and rubbed her chin.
Come to think of it, the journey from Belland to the Holy City usually took at least ten days under normal circumstances. If they ended up with a teacher who micromanaged everything, Ariel—who had always been a free spirit—really wouldn't be able to stand it.
Besides, if the supervision was too tight, she wouldn't be able to pull off her side projects. She was planning to use other means to gather certain necessary materials once they left Belland.
Well, never mind that for now.
Ariel snapped out of her thoughts and rubbed her hands together with a hint of nervous excitement. She craned her neck, surreptitiously scouting the people around them.
That sweet-looking senior over there must be the Third-Year Chief, Fanny Sawyer. I remember her because she’s so pretty.
The girl next to her, dressed like a wealthy young lady, should be Vicky Morse—rumored to be the only daughter of a major trade guild president.
The guy resting with his eyes closed under the tree, looking like he’d bite anyone who approached, and the fellow beside him basking in the respectful gazes of the crowd... those must be Marshall Eddie and Aaron Mack.
Plus me and Liya...
Although Professor Prang had announced that the spots could be challenged, the roster hadn't changed at all. This proved from another angle that the Academy’s selection process was incredibly rigorous and their judgment was spot-on.
However...
"Muen Campbell isn't here!"
Ariel scanned the area once more. This time, she didn't even miss the passing students, the carriages clogging the street, the gradually emptying campus, or the figures disappearing into the distance.
Not there.
Not there.
Still not there.
As a noble, Muen Campbell might have been lacking in other areas, but having been raised with an elite education, he wasn't the type to make a clumsy mistake like being late.
Which meant...
This time, I win!
Recalling the bet she had summoned the courage to place earlier, Ariel felt a surge of restless excitement.
Even though she realized after calming down that she wouldn't actually make that much money...
In the end, a win was a win!
"Huh? What’s happening over there?" Liya suddenly cried out.
Ariel turned her gaze and saw a group of students standing on the rooftop of a building near the edge of the Academy, looking as if they were ready to jump at any moment.
Although teachers had already set up cushioning magic below, the sight of those students—faces covered in tears, looking utterly miserable—was enough to make any onlooker weep in sympathy or, in some cases, shout "Good riddance!"
"Hmph. Those guys must be the so-called 'gambling dogs,'" Ariel thought with a disdainful smirk.
They had surely been lured in by the exaggerated betting odds and decided to take a gamble on Muen Campbell. Now that Muen hadn't shown up, they had lost everything. All they could do now was vent their grief on the rooftop.
Unfortunately, such theatrics were useless now.
They should have been prudent like me. If I’m not a hundred percent sure, I never place a bet!
"Is that so?" Liya tilted her head, sighing. "There sure are a lot of gambling dogs in the Academy this time. How pitiful."
"Wait, a lot?" Ariel blinked.
A lot?
The odds were twenty-to-one. Did Liya mean that a huge number of people had placed bets?
Ariel had been so immersed in her training lately that she hadn't had time to keep up with the news.
But as she thought about it, her heart grew even warmer. If the total pool was large enough, even with the lopsided odds, she might still walk away with a significant windfall.
*
"Phew, talk about a close shave. That could have been me up there."
Watching the commotion within the Academy, Fanny Sawyer couldn't help but wipe a bead of cold sweat from her forehead.
"Oh?" Vicky Morse, standing beside her, asked curiously. "You dabble in that too?"
As both a rival and a friend, Vicky knew that the Third-Year Chief was usually the type to never touch such things. Though, lately, Fanny had supposedly quit the Magic Painting Club to join some strange new club, becoming somewhat mysterious and eccentric in the process.
"Well..." Fanny thought of the three troublesome but lovable "Little Ones" back at her club and gave a wry smile. "Let's just say I was forced to participate."
"And the result?"
"The result..." Fanny suddenly turned to Vicky. "I heard your family started selling a new type of magic crystal?"
"Yes. We discovered a new mana crystal mine in the North. We’ve unearthed some high-grade stock—very high purity, excellent mana adaptability and conductivity. They’re perfect for making wands or reinforcing weapons."
The moment her merchandise was mentioned, Vicky became quite talkative. "I recall your cultivation requires those. Want to buy some?"
"I do!"
"Hmm... the best quality top-tier ones go for a hundred thousand Emiels each. I can give you a friend price of eighty thousand. With your finances, you should be able to afford one..."
"Who said anything about one?"
Fanny puffed out her chest, her beautiful eyes wide with newfound confidence and bravado.
"I want ten!"