Chapter: 625
Duke Kurten, who welcomed the guests inside, struggled to suppress the rising anger as he continued to explain the wager.
“I seek a wager not for personal gain, but to confirm the resolve of my opponent. It’s a sheer drag dealing with someone who comes here with half-hearted determination. If there’s a way to verify their resolve otherwise, then the stakes are irrelevant.”
The wager was nothing more than a hobby for the Duke.
He had no intention of taking anything from it. Otherwise, wouldn’t it tarnish the name of Kurten?
Aim to be someone who respects the strong while also earning respect yourself? Good luck trying to pull off something like that without embarrassment to your ancestors.
“The Second Prince even put forth his beloved weapon at the start. I accepted his wager knowing the significance of a warrior revealing their weapon. The subsequent acquisition of his attire was solely to honor the Second Prince’s wishes.”
While he was somewhat excited by the prospect of competing against a worthy young challenger after a long time, the source of his misconduct lay squarely with the Second Prince. If reprimanded, the Duke would only feel unjustly wronged.
“Benedict. How many years have you and I spent on the frontline together that you would make such a misunderstanding? Do I appear to you as a piece of trash that enjoys such things!?”
“I’m sorry! I have nothing to say!”
As the Duke raised his voice and chastised him, Benedict lowered his head, and others soon followed suit with their apologies.
In a space where everyone was glancing at the Duke, there stood one nonchalant person—the wager’s participant, Lucy Allen.
“Sigh How long are you planning to act foolishly? If you keep this up, I might just take a nap.”
The Duke’s lips curled slightly in response to her boldness. This girl really had the audacity to treat her opponent as an equal, regardless of their status.
“Don’t worry. While we’re chatting, my attendants are likely finishing the preparations for the wager.”
“Then let’s hurry up. You don’t have much time left to live, so make good use of it.”
Stopping the gasps of those shocked by her impudent words, the Duke clasped his hands together and glared with his crimson eyes.
“Before we proceed, we must discuss your conditions for the wager.”
“You look quite sinister. Shall I give you a kiss on the cheek?”
“What?”
“Isn’t that it? I thought you were staring at my lips like that.”
Lucy giggled playfully, but the Duke couldn’t find it in him to laugh.
The moment she mentioned a kiss, a tense energy surged throughout the room.
“Hah Just a bunch of beasts here, huh? Did everyone want my lips that badly?”
The Duke concealed his complex feelings behind a facade of laughter as he observed the subdued hostility created by her mocking gaze.
He had heard of beauties who could turn a nation upside down, but he never imagined the party involved would be such a little girl.
It’s a good thing this girl doesn’t seem to have eyes for anyone. If she were to hold someone’s hand, it could spark a civil war.
“No more jokes. What I brought as stake for this wager is this mace.”
The moment the weapon was placed on the table, everyone in the reception room held their breath.
It was the mace used by the hero Ruel, who saved the world during the mythological era.
A relic the church would go to great lengths to obtain, possessing immense historical value and remarkable practical performance, which the Duke knew all too well.
After all, Lucy Allen’s weapon was famous.
Thus, the Duke thought that Lucy Allen was merely teasing the grown-ups again.
Such a object could not be put forth lightly.
Only someone at the end of their life would ever part with it.
There would be no reason to stake something so precious when one had plenty in their possession.
“Are you scared?”
“What?”
“You look frightened. Right?”
Scared? Me?
“Don’t worry, Duke Sugar. I don’t expect anything grand from someone like you. Anything received from a decrepit old man would rather be disgusting, wouldn’t it?”
“Are you really confident?”
“Of course. I have no intention of losing to an old relic waiting for their expiration date.”
“…Alright. I’ll accept that proposal.”
Logically, this proposal should be declined. If Duke Kurten lost, he would have to pay a price equivalent to that mace.
No matter how great a Duke he was, paying a price that matched that mace would be burdensome.
Yet, Duke Kurten willingly accepted Lucy’s proposal. The moment he took a step back, he felt everything crash down, and he couldn’t bring himself to refuse.
“Let’s get started.”
I need to see if this bold little brat’s confidence is just bravado or if there’s some truth behind it.
*
[Think before you speak! What kind of fool places their weapon on the gambling table before a critical matter!]
The old man grumbled on as if it displeased him to be the subject of the wager.
Though I understand his feelings, I have my reasons too.
Wagering against Duke Kurten means that the bigger the stake, the higher the chances of winning.
Better to approach boldly than to be timid with small probabilities.
‘Who said I was gonna wager myself?’
Initially, I did plan to wager myself. It had high value, plus would make it easier to haggle in case of emergency.
But upon bringing the mace up, everyone around—including the old man—got scared, leaving me no choice but to pivot towards weapons.
[Isn’t that just crazy talk!]
‘Grandpa, think of it this way. It shows how desperate I am.’
Truthfully, I don’t care about desperation at all. Right now, my only concern is how deliciously I can tear into these candy-shaped snacks.
But if I say that, I know I won’t get any understanding, so I’ll make up a suitable excuse.
‘I’m not doing this because I want to. I have to.’
<...Tsk.>
The title of Apostle of God really has its perks at times like this. Even the most thoughtless chatter ends up carrying weight.
[Do you have confidence in your victory?]
‘Maybe?’
[What’s with that useless response!]
Well, I don’t know what’ll happen either.
With a high luck stat and the bonus from the hero skill, my chances of winning seemed good, yet here it’s reality, and I have no clue how it’ll end.
‘Let’s just do it for now. If things go sideways, I’ll just flip the table.’
[The unease never ceases…]
The game is blackjack.
A simple game where the person with cards closest to 21 wins.
The dealer, sworn to honesty, deals the cards.
It’s like I’m in a game.
As I observed the familiar scenery with a grin, I turned my attention to the cards in my hand.
An Ace and a 10.
Oh.
The face cards and Ace count as 11 points.
That makes it 21.
*
Duke Kurten’s hand trembles.
21.
Another 21.
Lucy Allen’s hand was yet again… another 21!
Is this even realistically possible? How can I start a wager and not have a single round without hitting 21?
“Duke Sugar, you don’t need to show me any more mercy. I’ve already won enough?”
“…Next.”
“Huh? Are you seriously not kidding?”
“Next hand!”
“Oh, come on! There’s no way a Duke like you, who can deal with someone like me, could ever draw a 21, right?”
“Next hand! Hurry up!”
Lady Allen’s manner of holding the cards was sloppy. It was clear to anyone that she was a novice, especially as she seemed to be begging her opponent for mercy with her shoddy hand movements.
In fact, when the wager first started, I felt reassured by those same movements and thought her luck was just beginner’s luck.
However, it was no longer the case. Lucy Allen was clearly up to something.
“Another win! I wanted to pity you, Duke Sugar, so I thought I would let you win, but what do I do now, feeling sorry?”
Laugh as much as you want. Many tried to win me over with pathetic tricks, yet they all ended up caught and crumbled.
“How strange? Is drawing a 21 that difficult for you?”
Lucy Allen, your ending will not be different from their’s!
Determined to expose her tricks, Duke Kurten, out of habit, called for the next round, but the dealer shook his head with a strange expression.
“What is it?”
“Your grace. It’s over.”
“No way. It’s only just started.”
“Duke Kurten, look at your hand.”
Listening to the First Prince’s words, the Duke slowly looked down at his own hand and confirmed it was empty, causing his lips to tremble.
“Eh? Is it over already? I was just starting to understand what was happening.”
Lucy Allen sneered at him.
“Have fun on your way out, Duke Fool. If I may give a piece of advice, I think you should stop gambling. You’re such a waste.”
“…Wait a minute.”
That was an obvious provocation that even a fool could see, yet Duke Kurten, cornered to the wall, had no space to think about that.
“Let’s have one more round.”
“What? Again? I don’t want to play because you’re so dull, Duke Sugar.”
“You may stake nothing. If I win, just share your methods with me. That’s all I need.”
“And if I lose?”
“If you lose?”
“Well, the class between you and me is different, right? Playing with someone as pathetic as you should not come free.”
Though I disliked her mocking tone, I had no way to refute the Duke. Reality was as it was.
“…What do you want?”
“I don’t know. I’ll think about it slowly.”
“Sign a blank contract?”
“You don’t have to if you don’t want to. I wouldn’t mind either. It’s a pain enduring the stench of an old man.”
Hearing her giggles, Duke Kurten lost his rationality and nodded even though he knew it was the devil’s whisper. Even as those around him tried to stop him.
“Let’s start!”
Having faced numerous possibilities through battles, with just one more round to go!
This one match would be enough!
Then I’ll be able to expose this brat’s tricks!
“Oh? Didn’t you say you were definitely going to win? How strange? Did I mishear something?”
Naturally enough, Duke Kurten ended up losing pathetically again after struggling in vain.
“*Hahaha! You’re truly pathetic~”
Now he was in a position where he had to worry about what the devil before him would demand.
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