Episode 19

The laws of the Mage Empire were both free-spirited and strict.

They dealt harshly with those who crossed the line, but allowed considerable freedom in other matters.

This was to efficiently control the rough and wild types that populated the empire. In that sense, gambling was not illegal in the Mage Empire.

In fact, it was encouraged.

Rather than letting hot-headed individuals settle disputes with bloodshed, they preferred that such tensions be released through “healthy” pastimes like gambling.

Besides, card games had historically been a popular form of entertainment enjoyed by people of all ages and genders.

Every major city had several legal gambling halls, and gambling was a pastime enjoyed regardless of social status or age.

“This… this is a gambling hall? I can’t believe a place like this exists.”

“Oh ho ho ho… what an astonishing place.”

Tern and Banshee, who had come with Chris, stared wide-eyed at the dazzling scene inside the gambling hall, like country bumpkins seeing the city for the first time.

The people inside the hall chuckled quietly at Tern’s wide-eyed wonder. (Banshee was invisible, so no one noticed him.)

The rule here was that everyone wore masks to conceal their identities, so they could enjoy the games without regard to social rank. But despite the masks, everyone could tell that Tern was a complete novice at the gambling hall.

“Well, it’s a good place to have some light fun. Since you’re here, how about a little wager, Tern?”

Chris smiled broadly.

“We’ll bet on who wins more money.”

“Between you and me?”

“Exactly. You said you wanted to beat me, right? The rules for gambling and card games are basically the same, so even if you’re new, you won’t be at a disadvantage.”

Putting money on card games—that was gambling.

“…”

Still, Tern hesitated, reluctant to actually gamble.

Chris dangled a tempting bait.

“If you win, I’ll serve as your older brother for a whole month.”

“…Really?”

“Absolutely. I swear on the name of your late mother.”

Since it wasn’t actually his mother, Chris had no qualms swearing on it.

“But if you lose, for the same period, you have to call me ‘Your Honorable King Emperor Majesty, Older Brother’ whenever you address me.”

“…”

“Well, if you chicken out, that’s fine too.”

When Tern faltered, Chris provoked him, and the flustered Tern bit the bait.

“…You must keep that promise.”

Chris grinned.

The game began, and a crowd quickly gathered.

Mostly around Tern.

They had spotted the newbie and were ready to fleece him.

‘There are quite a few professional con artists here.’

Chris casually won and lost small amounts, watching how Tern played.

As expected, Tern won some money at first.

Nervous at first, but gaining confidence with repeated wins, he started betting boldly.

Then he lost big.

“Ah, no way?!”

Tern’s face fell as if he’d lost a kingdom.

During a short break, Chris approached and whispered in his ear.

“You said you’d show me, but this isn’t much.”

“!!”

“Maybe you should just stick to card games at home?”

Tern’s face flushed.

“You’re losing money too, aren’t you?!”

“Still, I’m doing better than you. I’ve only lost 500 rupees.”

“I’ve only lost 1,000 rupees!”

“So, you want to keep going?”

“Yes! Give me more money!”

The cycle repeated.

Chris subtly provoked Tern, making sure he couldn’t give up.

The professional con artists gleefully picked Tern’s pockets.

They were so excited that they even resorted to tricks no self-respecting professional would use.

Their cheating was obvious.

They looked down on both Tern and Chris as easy marks.

‘Bingo.’

Chris smiled faintly as he watched their cheating.

Just then, Banshee quietly approached and whispered to him.

[Young master… I found the ones you mentioned.]

“Well done.”

[Is this the Watta?]

“Yes, the Watta.”

Banshee smiled slyly.

Chris quietly stood up.

And then, leaving Tern—who was dazed after losing a staggering 10,000 rupees—behind, he slipped out of the gambling hall.

‘He’s not a child. He can handle himself. Let him learn the hard way.’

Chris had deliberately not given Tern money to pay off his gambling debts.

Why?

Because the place Chris was heading to was somewhere Tern had to go alone.

Tern would only get in the way, so Chris had intentionally abandoned him.

‘He owes 10,000 rupees now, so he won’t be able to get out anytime soon. Knowing Tern, he’ll be too embarrassed about the debt to reveal his identity easily.’

Tern was only thirteen and mostly stayed inside the mansion, so few people knew what he really looked like.

Even if he took off his mask, unless he revealed his identity himself, no one would recognize him.

Chris could already picture Tern’s pale, helpless face as he struggled.

He chuckled quietly.

[Here we are, young master.]

The two arrived at a mansion in a bustling district.

“Yes, open the door.”

[As you command.]

Click.

Banshee used his ability to unlock the door.

The soldiers inside were startled and went on alert.

“Who’s there?!”

Chris removed his mask.

“No one here doesn’t know who I am, right?”

“!!”

The faces of the mansion’s occupants turned pale when they saw him.

“W-we’re honored to see you, young master!!”

Unlike Tern, who rarely left the mansion and was unknown to most, Chris’s face was well known throughout the castle.

“W-what brings you here?”

“Bring your master to me.”

“Y-yes! Right away!”

The soldiers hurriedly fetched a man.

He was a middle-aged man with a chubby, pig-like face.

“W-what business do you have with our guild leader, young master?”

“Guild leader Grantel.”

Chris folded his arms and named the man.

A man who had amassed wealth through various illegal means.

“Can we talk somewhere private?”

“Why?”

“If you refuse, that’s fine here. But your position will become very difficult.”

Grantel’s greedy expression hardened.

He led Chris to a quiet place.

“May I ask what this is about?”

“Do you want to die?”

“…What?”

Grantel’s eyes widened.

“W-what are you saying all of a sudden?”

“You don’t know why?”

“I have no idea.”

Chris smiled quietly.

“How dare you cheat my beloved younger brother, Tern, the heir of the Kazaar Count family… and then claim ignorance?”

“!!”

Grantel’s eyes widened further.

“T-that… that means the masked sucker at the gambling hall was…?!”

“Yes. Tern, the heir of the Kazaar Count family.”

Indeed.

The fat guild leader before him was the owner of the gambling hall they had just visited.

The con artists who fleeced Tern were his subordinates.

“Do I have to explain every trick they used?”

“B-but… I only run the gambling hall. What they did is none of my business…!”

Grantel tried to deny it, but his words fell on deaf ears.

[Oh ho ho… I saw everything, the scheming and the lies. They’re lying, they’re lying.]

The ghostly voice whispered in his ear, and Grantel’s face turned pale.

Banshee’s eyes flashed fiercely as he pressed his face close to Grantel’s.

[Do you want to die?]

“Ahhhhh!!”

Grantel dropped to the floor, begging desperately.

“I’m sorry! I’m sorry! If I had known it was Tern and Christian, I would never have allowed it! Please have mercy!”

Chris crossed his arms.

“Compensation?”

“You’re not planning to get off empty-handed, are you?”

Grantel flinched.

He understood Chris’s intention.

They had come to shake him down.

‘So they hid their identities at the gambling hall to bait the con artists and extort money?’

Chris briefly entertained the suspicion but shook his head. No matter how much of a rogue he was, he didn’t think Chris was that evil.

“Absolutely not! I will compensate you! H-how much do you want?”

“Let’s be merciful and say one million rupees.”

“…What?”

“One million rupees. Didn’t you hear me?”

Grantel’s eyes hardened.

“T-that’s too much…”

Paying that amount would ruin his guild.

It was an enormous sum.

“If you commit a crime, you must be punished. You know the laws on cheating at gambling, right?”

The Mage Empire didn’t forbid gambling.

But cheating was illegal—and the penalties were severe.

“They cut off your wrists. No healing magic allowed to reattach them. I’ve checked, and this is at least the fifth offense… cutting off both wrists and both legs wouldn’t be enough. Maybe I should cut off your middle leg too?”

Grantel trembled like a leaf.

“B-but… I really don’t have the money. Even if I give you everything, it won’t be enough.”

“Then how about this: 200,000 rupees.”

“!!”

“You’re not going to say you don’t have that, are you?”

Grantel swallowed hard.

It was as if Chris had come prepared, demanding exactly the maximum amount Grantel could pay.

“One more thing.”

“W-what is it?”

Chris revealed the real reason for his visit.

“Give me the Grunade.”

“!!”

Chris said,

“That treasure is far too precious for someone like you to possess.”

Grunade.

A broken holy sword once wielded by a fallen hero in a distant past.

---

“T-this is the Grunade.”

The Grunade was a faded, rusted sword.

More than half of the blade was broken off.

It was completely useless as a weapon.

“Pardon me, sir, but may I ask why you’re looking for such an antique?”

Chris didn’t answer. Instead, he stared silently at the shopkeeper.

The shopkeeper, feeling he’d overstepped, flinched and bowed his head apologetically.

“I-I’m sorry for asking such a bold question, truly. H-here… this is 200,000 rupees. It’s cash and a check that can be cashed immediately at the bank.”

Grantel, the shopkeeper, swallowed hard, fighting back tears.

Two hundred thousand rupees was the absolute maximum cash his shop could muster. And now, it was all gone in an instant.

But he had no right to complain.

After all, he was the one who’d made the first mistake with that fraudulent bet. He should consider himself lucky to have come out of it alive and unscathed.

Chris went straight to the bank and withdrew the money.

“Two hundred thousand rupees. This should be more than enough.”

Instead of heading back to the count’s mansion, he wandered through the bustling streets.

He stopped at several shops, buying various items—things he’d need for his duel with Melin.

While he was at it, he picked up a gift for Banshee.

It wasn’t anything special. Just a trinket, since Banshee had been staring so intently at the decorations.

“I’ve always wanted to try this—being a rich young master, casually splurging on my subordinates.”

Well, it was a cheap trinket to call a generous gift, but Banshee looked genuinely touched.

[…Young master.]

“This is a gift to help you let go of your obsession with decorations. Consider it a little blessing to set you free.”