Anoseka Volume 3 Chapter 10

This is MTL. So, I cannot guarantee that the translation 100% contextually accurate or appropriate.

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Chapter 10 "Casino"

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Part 1

After finishing dinner, Luxion and I were looking at the scenery from the deck of the luxury cruise ship.

"It's really cold at night."

It's summer at our destination, but the strong wind on the deck makes the temperature feel cold.

As I shivered, Luxion appeared astonished at my actions.

[Please dress warmly. You'll catch a cold.]

"I want to lower the heat a little, so it's just right."

[Heat? Currently Master is maintaining a normal body heat, though?]

"That's not what I meant."

The interior of the luxury cruise ship is heated, so it is warm wherever you are.

Apart from that, I can't help but feel the buoyant atmosphere of the students —— that kind of heat.

Rukul-senpai and the others are desperate to get closer to the girls while their rivals are away.

Enthusiasm in the name of heat? I was hit by their intense heat, so I wanted to go outside and cool down.

"More importantly, how are the preparations going?"

When I started the conversation vaguely, Luxion was unusually quick to understand.

[Preparations are complete. the rest is up to Master.]

"Haa~, I'm getting nervous now."

[All I can do is encourage you to do your best.]

"Right. There's nothing we can do about this."

Giving up and letting out a big sigh, I changed my mood and tried to talk about something else.

"The other thing that concerns me is that I haven't seen Olivia-san for so long. I hear she's not feeling well and has been staying indoors, so I'm a little worried."

[Even though you have Marie, you still care about a woman with big breasts.]

"You idiot, that's not what I'm talking about."

Is it Marie's take on everything that ties in with romance?

It was an unnecessary lesson to Luxion.

"I feel sorry for her, being isolated and helpless on a school trip."

[Sympathy? So, will Master help her?]

"That's the problem. I think it's better not to get involved as much as possible, so I can't help even if I want to."

I'm the one who destroyed that otome game scenario, but I still don't think I'd want to get close to the main characters.

I don't want to do anything unnecessary and make the scenario even more weird.

"I don't think it's a good idea for us mobs to get involved. A~ah, I wonder why none of the capture targets are on board?"

Normally, it should not be strange if there is at least one person on board.

I'm wondering, and Luxion answers nonchalantly.

[Masters are primarily thinking about the game, but if you ask me, that's a natural conclusion.]

"Why?"

[Master and the Roseblade family have essentially defeated two of the country's feudal lords. The nobles of the kingdom are likely busy discussing the future. I have gathered information from within the kingdom, and it appears that Julius and his group are taking part in discussions with the adults.]

"Eh, it's our fault?"

[——Yes.]

I never thought our actions would have such an impact.

"I guess I've done something bad to His Highness Julius and the others, huh?"

[Julius is the crown prince, and in the future will shoulder the responsibility of the country. There is no need for you to apologize, Master. Rather, it is Julius' duty.]

Luxion didn't even try to sympathize with His Highness Julius and the others who couldn't participate in the school trip because of us, saying that it was their duty.

"Aren't you cold to His Highness Julius?"

[I was just stating the obvious. In the first place, I am not interested in Julius and his group. Rather, my greatest interest is in the future of Master and Marie. Master, why did you keep failing in your confession? I thought you were not very good at love, but do you have a mental problem? Shall I do counseling?]

"Don't be so nice to me all of a sudden! When you're nice to me, I get all creepy!?"

Luxion, who usually only speaks in sarcasm and cynicism, has shown signs of genuine concern regarding the confession.

Is this a new kind of harassment?

"Haa, I've cooled off a lot already, so I'm going back to my room."

Me and Luxion go back inside the ship.

Then, Luxon's red lenses flashed several times.

[——Marie is searching for Master. It seems there is an emergency.]

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Part 2

"Hurry up!"

"Why do so many irregular things happen?"

I met up with Marie and ran into a casino that had been prepared on a luxury cruise ship.

It would not be a very desirable facility for students on a school trip.

But in this world, it's legal.

In fact, many students were using it to have fun, and some of them were idiots who ended up spending all their money there.

We found a group of people and our cheeks twitched as we saw what was going on there.

"——You're kidding."

There, gambling using cards is taking place, and to my surprise, Olivia-san is participating.

Marie tells me the names of the other two at the same table.

"Apparently Dally and Donna forced Olivia into it."

The two of them were gambling against Olivia-san, but they had grins on their faces.

Looking at the chips on the table, it is obvious that they are both winning.

However, I felt a strange atmosphere that dominated the place.

I felt disgust towards both of them.

"Cheating, huh?"

Luxion, who is invisible, picked up on my mutter and replied.

[Yes. Olivia's opponent is cheating.]

Olivia-san continued to lose one-sidedly.

Dally laughs and loudly celebrates her victory.

"It's annoying, but I've won again. ——You're really weak."

Donna snickered, showing her jagged teeth.

"A~Ah, you are out of chips. How much do you have in debt now? Donna is not counting, so tell me~?"

When I heard Donna's words, I immediately had an idea of how the chips were prepared.

Marie says with a bitter expression.

"They put Olivia in debt to get her to chip in."

"——They'd go that far?"

For Dally and Donna and their friends, it's probably not much of a gamble.

But it's different for Olivia-san.

From Olivia-san's perspective as a commoner, this was like being forced into an enormous debt.

Olivia-san's complexion is pale.

She is pale, her breathing is erratic, and her eyes are unfocused.

Not only was she feeling ill, but her spirit was being pushed to the limit by this situation.

It's painful to watch.

Marie grabbed my sleeve with her fingertips and tugged on it several times.

"What should we do?"

Should we just leave it like this? Marie asked, but I couldn't answer right away.

I just had a conversation with Luxion and restated that I would not get involved with Olivia-san and the others as much as possible.

And yet, what about this situation?

The boys who would normally come to her rescue, the capture targets, are either placed in a different group or are not participating in the school trip itself.

There is no one here to help Olivia-san.

Like me, Marie was impatient.

"If this continues, Olivia will go bankrupt."

I don't know how much they made her bet, but it's probably an amount that would be difficult for Olivia-san to pay.

Olivia-san, with tears streaming down her face, begs for forgiveness from the other parties.

"Please forgive me. Such a large sum of money —— I can't pay it back."

Hearing the tearful plea, both Dally and Donna's smiles from earlier disappeared.

Donna grabbed Olivia-san by her hair and pushed her head against the table.

"Don't say, "I can't pay you back". You're gonna pay me! You gambled with chips you borrowed, right? Did Donna say something wrong?"

They cheated and then forced her to borrow even more money to pay off the debt, then this is what she says.

Without thinking, my true feelings spilled out of my mouth.

"That's the worst."

Looking around, many of the students were laughing as if they agreed with Dally and Donna's actions.

"It's a good feeling."

"It's wrong to get carried away and use His Highness's name."

"Because commoners think it's cool."

There was no one to help.

Some students are uncomfortable with Dally and Donna's misbehavior, but no one is willing to help Olivia-san.

That's only natural.

The people here have nothing to gain from helping Olivia-san.

Even though they know that she is a favorite of His Highness Julius and the others, they probably perceive her as "a distraction for His Highness and the others" or "just a playmate".

To help such a person, they would not want to make enemies of Dally and Donna, who have fathers who are leading figures in the Redgrave faction.

If I hadn't known about that otome game, I wouldn't have helped.

I would have been nothing more than a mob character looking on from a distance and muttering "Poor girl"."

I don't have the kindness to help at my own detriment.

Perhaps he heard this commotion somewhere, and a boy arrived.

"What are you doing?"

The boy who raised his voice attracted attention from all around.

It was Kyle who showed up.

He was imposing even when surrounded by noble students.

He approached Olivia and grabbed her arm, trying to forcefully take her away from the scene.

"Let's go, goshujin-sama."

When he tried to take Olivia-san, who did not answer, nevertheless —— perhaps displeased with Kyle's behavior, Dally angrily slammed her fist on the table.

"Oi? Who told her she could leave her seat? Don't cause any trouble."

Kyle was slightly intimidated by the intimidating Dally, but he put on a strong front.

And then——Kyle makes things worse.

He carelessly uses a name that should not be used.

"Do you understand? You didn't forget whose favorite my master is, did you? His Highness Julius won't keep quiet if he hears about this."

The mention of His Highness Julius' name caused a brief uproar around us.

Marie was standing beside me, patting her chest.

"Looks like it's going to end."

But I saw the looks on Dally and Donna's faces, and I was certain it wasn't going to end.

"It just added fuel to the fire."

I had expected Kyle to be a more clever character, but I was disappointed.

Donna smiles, her mouth widening into a crescent moon.

"——That woman just gambled and lost, didn't she?"

What are you talking about? Kyle had that look on his face.

Kyle should have realized.

The fact that Julius and the others who are backing him are not here.

"Hah? Who's going to believe what you say?"

"They will believe. Because —— Donna believes that everyone here will be a witness."

"Eh?"

Kyle turned his eyes and looked around and seemed to notice that the students were giving him a cold stare.

The majority of students were not amused that the name of their country's prince was being treated so lightly.

Even if they didn't respect the prince, few people would be impressed by someone who used his backing to act arrogantly.

Dally speaks softly to a surprised Kyle.

"I don't care if you cry because you lost at gambling. But will it be good for a scholarship student?"

"Don't make me say it twice, it's too much trouble. –I'm asking whether a person who gets into debt through gambling is fit to be a scholarship student at the school?"

I am sure that His Highness Julius and the others would understand the situation and pay the debt.

However, it's a different story if you ask whether Olivia-san, who gets into debt through gambling, is suitable to be a scholarship student at the school.

Marie was shocked by the trap set by Dally and Donna.

"What a bad personality!"

I agree with you on that.

Kyle must have realized by now that they had fallen into a trap.

Dally snapped her fingers and two exclusive servants pulled Kyle away from Olivia.

Dally made a suggestion to Olivia-san, who was sitting weakly in the chair.

"I'm tired of it, so let's have a contest and bet your expulsion."

"Eh?"

When Olivia-san looked up, Donna was smiling happily.

"That's a good idea! If you disappear, Donna and the others will be happy! You're not even a noble, so you shouldn't be coming to our school"

Olivia-san looked down and sadly shed tears.

Dally was laughing at the sight of her.

"Don't think your debt will disappear just because you get expelled. I'll make sure to collect all the money."

Donna moves her face closer to Olivia-san and begins to threaten her further.

"If you run away, Donna and her family won't forgive you. Donna and her family will come after you. —— I'm going to chase you all the way to your hometown and make your family take responsibility."

Olivia-san burst into tears.

"Please forgive me. Please, don't do anything to my family —— to my hometown. I beg of you."

As Olivia-san bowed her head and asked for a favor, Dally and Donna looked at each other and then gave a cold stare.

"Now that's a problem. ——Did you really think you could get away with making fun of us?"

"When you mock us, you are mocking Donna and her family. Don't think you can make a mockery of the Viscount's house and walk away for free!"

Donna's emotions are so unstable, it's scary.

Dally snatches the cards from the dealer and hands them out directly to Olivia-san.

"Your exclusive servant mocked us. This is your fault. You should take full responsibility."

I can understand what they're saying.

Kyle's employer is Olivia-san.

If Kyle causes trouble, Olivia-san will be held responsible.

The excuse that the secretary did it on her own is not acceptable.

Dally coldly told the crying Olivia.

"Let's continue. Don't think you can escape. There's no one here who will help you."

Looking around, some students were sympathetic to Olivia-san.

Yet, they make no attempt to help.

That's correct.

If you don't know about that otome game, it would probably be the right decision.

Even if they know, there are cases where, like us, they are afraid to get involved.

I don't want to get involved poorly and ruin the scenario.

There is even a possibility that the protagonist will awaken from this and overcome this problem.

This incident may be the catalyst for future growth.

The possibilities are endless.

——But still, my patience was reaching its limit.

"I don't like it."

Before I knew it, my mouth was moving.

I turned my grumpy face to Dally and Donna, who was hateful to me.

Ah, I really am such an idiot.

Silence fell all around me, and all eyes were on me, the idiot.

Dally was glaring at me for suddenly interrupting the conversation.

"It's troublesome, but I'll ask you once. ——What did you say?"

"I said I didn't like it. And don't make up people's opinions without their permission. No one is going to help her? Hah! I'll take over Olivia-san's game."

Olivia-san raised her head at my suggestion and her eyes widened.

"W-Why?"

She looks like she can't believe I came forward to help her.

Marie grabs my arm.

"Wait a minute. Don't gamble."

You won't stop me from helping Olivia-san, but you stop me from gambling?

Well, considering this girl's previous life, it's not surprising that she hated gambling.

I hate gambling too.

Yes, I do hate gambling.

"Rest assured. I'm a man who doesn't gamble."

"Eh? But you're replacing Olivia."

What is this guy talking about? I tell Marie, who has that look on her face, what I really think.

"I don't gamble. But I do love a winning game."

Luxion, who had remained invisible, was taken aback by my behavior.

It seemed he had guessed what I wanted.

[It's worse than cheating.]

I sent a hand signal to Luxion and went directly to where I was going.

As I pushed past the onlookers and approached the table, Dally, Donna, and the two exclusive servants who had taken Kyle somewhere and returned were staring at me.

The people around me were also giving me a stern stare, saying, "Read the air."

Standing next to Olivia-san, I picked up the playing cards on the table.

"Still, it's not fair to cheat."

When I pointed out that they were cheating, Dally and Donna's gazes wandered slightly.

The two are clearly trying to hide their agitation.

Donna shows her jagged teeth and threatens me.

"Haa? Donna and the others don't approve of substitutes. In the first place, are you really a nobleman that you chose to side with this guy?"

Dally, feeling a bit anxious that their cheating might been discovered, began rambling on about refusing to let me participate.

"If you want to show off, stay out of it. Boys like you are a real pain in the ass. Do you really think that girls will be attracted to you if you do that? That's why you're not popular with girls."

Words that pierce the heart, but they only have a slight effect on me, as I'm already engaged to Marie!

Now, even if girls dislike me, the damage will only be enough to have me bedridden for a few days.

I turned my gaze to Olivia-san, who was beside me, looking down.

"Because I've seen such a terrible game, I couldn't keep quiet. ——Or are you afraid to play with me?"

The boy stirs up the girls.

The act alone caused an uproar in the surrounding area.

Especially the boys.

"Saying that to girls!?"

"What a bullish attitude."

"Brave man. There is a brave man."

Looking at both Dally and Donna, they were clearly furious.

It's a rare experience to be provoked by boys.

The girls at the school in particular have a low boiling point, so the effect is very strong.

"Don't get carried away, you troublesome upstart. Do you honestly think we'll take you seriously?"

Dally is right, I am indeed an upstart.

That's why I'm going to get on with it.

Now that I'm free from the hassle of marriage hunting, I'm invincible —— I'm only a little scared of girls anymore! No, to be honest, I'm scared, but I'm going to attack this place with a bullish attitude!

Because I have Luxion!

"Who's the coward who runs away from that upstart?"

Donna begins to gnash her teeth.

"Don't act bossy with Donna and the others, you are just a one-hit baron. Donna's dad could easily get rid of you."

Like Donna, Dally tries to use her family's influence to silence me.

"Do you really think that a rural baron can compete with the central court nobility? You really have a troublesome mind. ——I'm going to crush you, you know?"

Aristocratic society is not all about anything but force.

Although the court nobles do not have the military power that the feudal lords do, they still use every trick in the book to crush their opponents.

They are a very troublesome bunch.

Now, just as I was thinking I was in trouble —— I heard the sound of heels clacking.

When I turned my gaze towards the strangely echoing footsteps, it was the gorgeous and magnificent Deirdre-senpai who was approaching.

She makes an elegant and dignified entrance.

"You're telling an interesting story, aren't you?"

With Deirdre-senpai's arrival, both Dally and Donna's previous attitudes dropped.

Their eyes wander and they are frightened.

There is no doubt that Deirdre-senpai is ranked above the two of them in the female student rankings.

I think they both understand that.

"Huh?"

Also -- Deirdre-senpai's family, the Roseblade family, does not belong to the Redgrave faction.

It is an opponent who cannot be suppressed by the power of her parents.

For both of them, it seemed that she was not someone they could easily pick a fight with.

"Deirdre-senpai, what brings you to this troublesome place?"

Ignoring Dally, who was smiling at her, Deirdre-senpai walked past her and came up next to me.

Deirdre-senpai leaned closer to me and put her hand on my shoulder.

"I'm here to see my little brother do something interesting. Well, if it's true that you are cheating and using your family name, then it's a shameful thing to do."

Perhaps feeling insulted, Dally glared at Deirdre-senpai.

I've been thinking for a while now, is it my imagination or that otome game academy has too much of the delinquent manga element to it?

"I heard about it on the way here. It seems her exclusive servant made an inappropriate remark. But don't you think this is going too far?"

When Deirdre-senpai looked around, most of the students turned their faces away.

I think of the students who are blamed by the higher-ups and pushed into silence.

——Deirdre-senpai is amazing!

Donna shakily protests to Deirdre-senpai.

"Could you please not interfere in Donna and the others' game? In the first place, it was that boy over there who started saying such selfish things."

Are you saying I'm to blame? Well, I was the one who interrupted their game.

But what about Olivia-san?

"Olivia-san, why don’t you appoint me as your replacement? I'll not only get you expelled from school, but I'll also clear your debts."

I gave up trying to convince both Dally and Donna, and asked Olivia-san.

Olivia-san asked me while trembling.

"Why——Why are you helping me? There's no benefit in helping someone like me."

It would be easy if I could explain it as "It's because you're the protagonist of that otome game!", but I thought that saying that here would cause confusion, so I'll give a reasonable reason.

"They call it bullying? I hate this kind of thing."

I glared at both Dally and Donna, and they both turned away.

Olivia-san looked down and asked for help in a tearful voice.

"Please —— I beg of you. Please —— help me."

"You can leave the rest to me."

With that, Olivia-san stood up from her seat, and Dally yelled at her.

"We don't approve!"

To shut up Dally, I looked at Marie.

Marie was carrying a large, heavy-looking bag in her hands.

She approaches the table with a stunned look on her face, and I thank her while accepting the bag.

"Thank you."

"Leon, you really do have a bad personality."

What I received was a platinum coin——a gold coin that shines white due to the magic power unique to this world.

It was worth more than an ordinary gold coin, and I dumped it all over the table.

Faced with a pile of platinum coins, Dally and Donna —— and those around us turned to look at the piles of white gold coins.

"Don't worry about the stakes. I'm a successful adventurer and a one-hit wonder, but I have a fortune of my own."

Dally and Donna got greedy when they saw the pile of platinum coins.

They probably thought that even if they had discovered that they were cheating, no one would know how they were doing it.

Or maybe they are confident in their ability to cheat.

Donna was laughing.

"You're going to have to carry Olivia's loss as well."

"No problem."

Dally also proceeds on the assumption that she will win.

"I won't allow you to stop even if you are completely naked. The game will continue only if both parties agree to it. Are you ready for that?"

They've probably come up with their own rules to corner Olivia —— but from my point of view, it suits me.

"That's great. Those are the rules I like."

"I won't let you go even if you cry."

"——The game is set. Let's get serious from here."

When I took my seat, the two of them looked at each other with triumphant looks on their faces.

Deirdre-senpai whispers something to me.

"Can you see through the cheating? I don't think you'd do something so lowly as finding fault with someone else?"

Cheating is meaningless unless you spot it right when it happens.

No matter how suspicious the opponent may be, an undetectable cheat is still possible.

As I watch Dally and Donna take their seats, I advise them both to answer Deirdre-senpai's questions.

"By the way, I don't think you need the cards your exclusive servants have. Did you think I didn't know you had it up your sleeve?"

When I pointed this out, Dally and Donna's exclusive servants reacted slightly.

The exclusive servants were extremely skillful as they quickly tried to hide it.

Someone grabbed their arm.

The playing cards fluttered down from the sleeve on the right of the exclusive servant.

"That's not right. If you cheat, you will be punished."

The one who grabbed his arm was Rukul-senpai.

He opens his eyes wider than usual and grabs the exclusive servant's fingers as it is.

The other person, realizing what is going to happen, begs for forgiveness, but——.

"S-Sto!"

"If you're cheating, you have to be prepared for this."

Rukul-senpai calmly broke the finger of the exclusive servant.

When the unpleasant sound of breaking bones is heard, each of the surrounding people reacts by turning their heads away.

I'm glad he caught the exclusive servant, but I didn't expect him to go that far, I was so nervous in my mind.

We boys don't like exclusive servants.

They don't touch us boys, but they obviously look down on us.

When the time came for him to get revenge on those guys, did Rukul-senpai get so excited that he broke his finger?

Someone, please tell me it is so.

However, Marie remained calm even after seeing that scene.

"Don't overreact over a finger. I've broken them many times myself."

That's what I heard, but I don't really want to hear why it broke.

Did she get injured while hunting? It sounds like a worse experience than breaking a finger.

I let out a small sigh to calm my mind.

If you are found to be cheating in gambling, you will be punished —— that is the rule in this country.

The one who did it is worse than the one who was found out.

If I were to waver now, it would be less intimidating to Dally and Donna in front of me.

In order to avoid that, I tried desperately to remain calm.

However, the boys in the group interject their opinions on Rukul-senpai's actions.

"Rukul-senpai, what are you doing?"

"Eh? We have a rule that if you cheat, we break your fingers, right?"

"No, it's the arm, isn't it?!"

"Lies!? I was taught it's the finger."

A boy in the same group pointed out the punishment if cheating was found out.

There were subtle differences, perhaps due to local rules.

As they argued over whether they should break a finger or an arm, Deirdre-senpai brought an axe out of somewhere and brought it down on the table.

Dang! and all eyes were on the table where the axe was deeply stuck, and the noise of the boys disappeared.

"Stop making such a fuss! In this contest where nobles challenge each other by their family names, the price for cheating is an arm!"

"——Eh?!"

I was so surprised at the cost that I was so shocked so my voice leaked out.

Even with Luxion on my side, I felt that the price of one arm was too heavy.

Both Dally and Donna were shaking.

"No, Donna thinks that's going too far"

Deirdre-senpai was furious at Donna's argument, which had dampened her momentum.

"Why is that? You understand the gravity of the situation, don't you?"

Dally tries to refuse, her lips quivering.

"B-But I don't think there's any need to go to all that trouble."

"Nobility, when you give out your family name —— it's a serious game. You wouldn't tell me that you were just casually mentioning your family name with such a level of determination, would you? I —— hate people like that more than anything else!"

Deirdre-senpai glared at the two expressionlessly.

The two of them were trembling.

I'm a little —— no, I'm plainly scared too.

Deirdre-senpai says to the surroundings.

"Even Stephanie of the Offley family accepted her punishment with dignity when she lost. You're not going to tell me that if Stephanie can do it, but you can't, are you?"

It seems that both Dally and Donna are willing to play the game because they don't want to be told they are inferior to Stephanie.

They nodded, still looking pale, perhaps they still had the means to cheat.

"Hah! Let's do it."

Seeing Dally make up her mind, I had a slightly different opinion of her.

Just a little, really——but still, I can't bring myself to sympathize.

More importantly, the problem is——.

"Luxion, I'm not in trouble, right? Dierdre-senpai won't see through my cheating, right?"

——I made sure so in a whisper so no one would hear, and Luxion was dumbfounded.

[You mean you confidently volunteered to take her place, but you decided to cheat by using my powers? And now you're afraid that you'll be found out this time.]

"I don't want to hear your gibberish, just answer me if it's okay or not."

As I was getting impatient, Luxion said yare yare.

[You underestimate me too much, Master. Something this level —— is not even a game to me.]

Praying that my cheating using Luxion won't be discovered, I gamble to save Olivia.

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Part 3

The casino on the luxury cruise ship was filled with a different kind of excitement than before.

Olivia was speechless at the scene unfolding before her eyes.

Dally and Donna, both of whom had tormented her earlier, were shaking with pale faces.

The hands holding the playing cards are trembling from fear.

As Dally was about to discard a card, Leon gave her a sharp look.

"——Oi, are you ready to sacrifice one of your arms? If you replace it with the hidden card, there's no going back."

Leon's gaze was directed towards the axe stuck in the table.

"!?"

It seems to be designed to break down walls and doors in an emergency, and it is obviously sharp enough.

Dally looked at the axe and seemed to be discouraged from cheating, and her breathing was very erratic.

No wonder.

I had already made up for Olivia's loss.

Right now, the two of them are in debt to prepare the chips, and Leon is taking advantage of it.

Leon had a pile of chips in his hands, and Dally and Donna, who had stopped cheating, went in for a challenge and placed their cards on the table.

It was a decent enough pair of cards with a good set —— but Leon put down his cards with a blank look on his face.

Since he had a higher hand than the two, Leon was the winner.

"I win. Give me your chips."

After being defeated and handing over their chips, the two had nothing left.

The chips, prepared with repeated borrowing, are piling up in Leon's hands.

Leon looks to the dealer to deal the cards, then looks at two of them.

"It's the next game. You guys get your chips ready."

He told them to prepare their chips, even if they had to go into debt.

In this situation, the two are in debt to Leon.

The rate was higher than it was with Olivia, and it had already ballooned into a huge amount of money.

Donna can't take it anymore and she bursts into tears.

Dally weeps with her, and they both apologize to Leon repeatedly.

"Please forgive me. I'm sorry for all the trouble I caused!"

"Please forgive us."

Even Olivia found it painful to watch the two of them crying and begging for forgiveness.

At first, the two were playing normally.

However, after losing to Leon and losing their chips, they decided to cheat.

Olivia could not see what kind of cheating it was.

But Leon saw through it all.

He saw through it —— and missed it a few times.

And yet Leon still won.

They never win by playing normally, and they never win even if they resort to cheating.

Not only that, after a game in which they cheated, Leon always said, "It's too bad you didn't win, even though you cheated."

At first, the two of them acted tough, but gradually their spirits gave out and they began to look at Leon with frightened expressions.

Initially, they were wary of Deirdre, but now they are afraid of Leon.

Arrogant and selfish.

The pride of these noble ladies was broken by Leon.

Now they are crying and begging for forgiveness, but Leon is bluntly refusing to forgive them.

The positions had been reversed.

Furthermore, the rules they had set up to trap Olivia were now tormenting them.

"The game can only end when both sides agree, right? Besides, you guys said it. You said you'd always pay for what you lose. That's the rule you guys set, right?"

Leon has been winning, but his expression is scarce.

He does not look happy about his victories, but rather as if he is working at his job.

He had a look on his face that said it was troublesome.

The two of them cry as they sign the IOU, hand it over, and prepare the chip.

To prevent people from betting small amounts, a minimum bet amount was set.

That's also the rule that Dally and Donna set up to trap Olivia.

All in all, they are making them suffer.

When the chips are added and the game resumes——.

"Yes, my win."

Once again, Leon won.

One male student protests Leon, perhaps in defense of Dally and Donna.

"That's just too strange, no matter you look at it! He hasn't lost even once so far, Bartfalt must be cheating! Right, guys!"

He asked those around him to agree, to which nearly half of the students agreed.

Deirdre let out a small sigh.

"Then let's do a body search on Leon-kun."

Leon shrugged and stood up.

"This is the third time. I wish you'd just give up."

The male student, feeling confident, began to check Leon's body.

Not only did he strip him of his jacket, but he also stripped off his shirt and trousers —— leaving him in just his trunks.

But nothing came out.

No evidence was ever found.

"Y-You're kidding."

When the male student who had pointed out the cheating looked flustered, Deirdre snapped her fingers.

"You interfered in a serious game, so you're ready for it, right?"

The male student begins to act up, but Deirdre doesn't care.

In the meantime, Rukul and the others surrounded the male student.

"Well~, sorry. But that's the rule."

With that, the male student was led out of the room and into another room.

"It's absolutely ridiculous! S-Stop. You guys —— gyaaaaaaa?!"

A boy's screams could be heard from another room.

He defended Dally and Donna and pursued Leon's wrongdoing in order to appeal to the girls.

He thought that if he did that, the other girls would like him.

As a result, he just failed to find any evidence.

While Olivia looked down, covering her ears so she wouldn't hear the screams, Leon got dressed and took a seat.

"Let's continue the game."

It's obviously strange that Leon keeps winning.

But no matter how much checking they do, if they can't find any evidence, they can't rule it out as cheating.

Dally sat up and threw a tantrum at Leon, who would not forgive her even though she cried.

"I will never accept this kind of game! I'm going to tell my dad. My dad is going to crush you!"

Dally, who refused to accept defeat and said she would use her family's power, was pulled by Donna's trembling arm and told her.

"No. Dally no!"

The person at the end of her frightened gaze was Deirdre.

She had a look of utter contempt on her face.

"I gave you all that advice, and now you're tarnishing the game. Fair enough. Then the Roseblade family will be your opponents. ——Let's go all out, shall we."

Targeted by one of the girls in the school who should not be an enemy —— by the time Dally realized this, it was too late.

Leon says to Dally in a low voice.

"Is your parents' house my opponent this time?"

The words of Leon, who destroyed the Offley and Lafan families, felt real and carried an unusual weight.

Perhaps unable to stand, Dally sat down on the floor and began to cry.

"Please forgive me. I will not cause you any more trouble. I will do anything. So please forgive me!"

Donna also apologizes to Leon many times.

"I can't pay this debt! Not even Donna's family can do it. Dad will definitely get mad at me. So please forgive me."

While exposing their pitiful state, the two of them apologized to Leon.

They probably feel no shame or disgrace anymore.

Despite being aware of the cold stares pouring in from those around them, they were still showing their disgraceful state.

But Leon was completely merciless.

"Let’s continue. The game will continue until you realize to whom you owe an apology. ——Don't tell me you haven't noticed?"

Until they apologize to Olivia. He will not forgive them until they bow down to the commoner.

In a way, this is the greatest humiliation for the noble ladies.

But when the frightened Dally and Donna saw Olivia, they ran to her.

They slumped down in front of Olivia and clung to her legs to apologize for their behavior.

"I'm sorry. I won't bother you anymore! So forgive me!"

"Donna was bad! I'm sorry, so forgive me."

Olivia was unable to comprehend the drastic change in the two who had been so arrogant.

"Etto......Y-Yes."

Olivia accepted their apologies.

Leon saw this and let out a small sigh.

It was probably not just imagination that he seemed relieved.

It seemed that Leon himself was getting tired of this kind of game.

"That's it. I'll put the losses you two have on hold. If you do anything to a scholarship student again, I'll seriously come after you to collect the money, so be prepared."

Dally and Donna were released and their debts were put on hold.

The two begin to cry while hugging each other.

"Donnaaa"

"Dallyyy"

Deirdre was stunned when Leon got up from his seat.

However, this one is smiling.

"That's so kind of you. You didn't intend to rip them off in the first place, did you?"

"I'm a rich man, so I'm not short on pocket money."

As Leon was about to leave, Olivia ran up to him.

"T-Thank you very much! But more importantly, why did you help me?"

(There's no point in helping me. And yet——I've never seen such a nobleman.)

She couldn't help but wonder about the nobleman who had saved her in a desperate situation.

Leon scratched his head, perhaps out of embarrassment.

"Because you looked like you were in trouble? And —— I'm sorry I didn't help you sooner. See you then."

As Leon left as if to run away, Olivia reached out her hand to his back.

"A-Ano! Your name......"

As she gazed sadly at Leon's back as he left, Deirdre let out a small sigh as she crossed her arms under her chest.

And tell Olivia.

"What is he embarrassed about? If he had kept up his cool until the end, he would have gotten 100 points. Anyway, he's Leon Fou Bartfalt."

"Leon Fou Bartfalt......sama."

(Baltfalt? Come to think of it, His Highness Julius told me about that.)

Olivia recalled that Julius, who was with her when they had previously passed him at the school, had said that he was one of the most promising students of his generation.

(He was a kind person.)

Deirdre happily explained about Leon.

"After graduation, he will be a baron, but for now he is an apprentice knight. He is like my cute little brother."

Deirdre, covering her mouth with a fan, says, "Well then, excuse me," and leaves.

Olivia put her hand on her chest.

Her heart beats faster than usual.

Also, it seems like her fever has returned.

Her face was getting hot.

"Leon Fou Bartfalt-sama."

Olivia murmured his name and folded her arms in front of her chest.

(An apprentice knight is a knight, right? I see —— he's Knight-sama.)

It makes her think of a strong yet kind knight, like the ones sung by bards.

(There is a noble like that.)

Olivia was strangely attracted to Leon, a male student who was different from Julius and the others.