Chapter 97: Scam

Sylene Vaelor strolled through the forest, her gaze wandering with quiet curiosity.

A faint rustle whispered from a nearby thicket. She turned her violet eyes toward the sound just as a massive serpent lunged at her, its venomous jaws open wide.

She leaped backward, smoothly evading its path. The snake shot past, bristling with rage, and whipped back around to fix its glinting eyes upon her before lunging once more.

The serpent was certain its speed would claim her this time. As it closed the distance and snapped its jaws shut, it felt nothing between its fangs.

Confused, it rolled its gaze upward to find Sylene poised above it in mid-air. She descended gracefully onto its crown, dropped to one knee, and pressed a palm flat against its scales.

— Tier 2 Magic: Freezing Edge —

A sharp spike of ice materialized beneath her hand, driving deep into the creature's skull before bursting through the underside to pin it to the earth.

[+450 Points]

[Points: 1330]

She stepped off the serpent and resumed her quiet trek.

Suddenly, a fleeing lion crossed her path, bringing her footsteps to a halt. A split second later, a crimson-haired elf bolted past in hot pursuit, moving as nothing more than a blur.

“Come here, my points! All the points will be mine!” he barked with a wicked grin as he streaked past, completely oblivious to Sylene.

Sylene watched as both the beast and its hunter vanished into the wilderness.

“How unsightly,” she muttered, continuing her stroll.

Perched high on the branch of a towering tree behind her, unnoticed by Sylene, a cat-girl observed her with slit amber eyes.

…

“P-please let me go!”

After a few minutes of walking, a distant shout caught Sylene's attention. She glided toward the sound and found three figures—a boy and a girl looming above a terrified student.

Do all of them need these points so much? she questioned.

Then, her pointed ears caught a rustle a short distance away, and she quickly slipped behind a tree.

From the shadows, she saw a dark-haired boy observe the scene briefly before turning away. But he suddenly paused, unstopping an Aether recovery potion and drinking it down.

Is he thinking of fighting them? I'm afraid he won't last long… What is he doing?

She watched him retrieve a device from his pouch and attach it to a low branch. Infusing it with Aether, he triggered it, and the device shot a fine thread of Aether toward where the other three stood.

I've never seen something like that. Did this human make it himself? Sylene wondered.

As she observed further, the boy began casting an explosive spell while creeping behind a boulder.

The explosion erupted, and the two parties clashed. Sylene saw the device he had placed unleash ice magic the moment the girl's body triggered the string of Aether.

He doesn't seem to have any talent worth noting… Sylene tilted her head in subtle confusion. ...but he certainly has skills?

Then the boy brought up three parchments, tearing all three apart simultaneously—and the resulting display widened Sylene's eyes.

He combined three Tier-1 spells of different elements and made a Tier-2 spell?

She finally turned away, walking off in the opposite direction.

Was such a thing possible? It seems my judgment is not always correct.

***

“One!”

“Two!”

“One!”

“Two!”

Two butlers hauled a heavy wooden table step by step through the archway connecting the colosseum to the merchant grounds—a place for observers to idle away time when the event grew dull.

Behind them, a third butler carried a coin pouch, two bowls—a wooden one full of small wooden balls, and an empty glass that hid nothing inside.

Leading the procession were Lina and Elina, humming softly as if victory were already theirs.

Only four representatives were allowed under a single kingdom's name, but no one was restricted from attending as ordinary spectators. Thus, the butlers had been ordered to follow them here, completely unbeknownst to Noa or Vionette.

A broad-shouldered, middle-aged vendor selling skewers in the market watched in confusion as Lina ordered the butlers to set the table down beside his stall.

Lina walked behind the table and pointed at the third butler. “Okay, you, place that bowl here and put the glass one next to it.”

“Yes, My Lady.”

The butlers did as instructed—placing the wooden bowl down before setting the glass one beside it.

“Mmm—good job.” Lina nodded and waved her hand dismissively. “You’re dismissed for now. Just go watch the event or something.”

The butlers clasped their hands together, bliss washing over their eyes. “Such a compliment is too much, My Lady!”

After they bowed and departed, Elina looked toward the entrance. “Why this spot specifically?”

“Well, most people can't sit still for six hours straight without getting bored, so they wander out here.” She picked up the coin pouch. “That’s when we hit them with our generous offer.”

While the vendor was distracted, Elina’s tail surreptitiously snatched a skewer. “So what are we going to do?”

“If they are bored enough to come here for a snack, of course they're lacking thrill. So we give them that.” Lina smiled confidently, gesturing toward the wooden bowl. “Inside here, we have balls with papers containing the names of some students. We let people draw a random ball, and in return, we charge 5 silver coins.”

She gestured at the banner draped over the desk, which read:

‘Give 5, Get 1000.’

“Just like it says, we ask for 5, but if they win, we give them 1000 coins.” She raised a finger. “And the winner is whoever holds the name of the student who gets eliminated first among the given names.”

Elina’s eyes widened as something clicked in her mind. “Wait, Lina! But doesn't that mean we'll lose everything if someone wins?!”

“Well…” Her eyes darted toward the wooden balls, her smile turning mischievous. “Notice how I said ‘some students’? We only put names of the 400 with the highest chance of winning out of the 2000.” She spread her hands wide. “And who cares if we lose? It's 5 coins per ball across 400 balls. We get more than what we give either way.”

“Yes… a good plan indeed,” a deeper voice said. “You win either way.”

Lina placed both hands on her hips proudly. “Yes! It’s a win—wait!”

She turned toward the new voice, finding the neighboring vendor nodding with a dead serious expression.

She pointed a finger at him and yelled, “Hey! Stop eavesdropping on our conversation!”

The vendor looked between the two of them. I've seen the rulers sit in front of my stall, eating skewers while flirting twice now. And now their princesses are running a scam. What a kingdom I live in.

He grinned at them. “Little girl, I also know how these things work. How about this: I grill more delicious skewers and draw a massive crowd straight to your table, and in return, you give me 20% of the earnings.”

Lina’s proud smile vanished, her face turning flat. “Well, that depends on how good your food—”

“Don’t! You! Worry! They're delicious AS HELL!” Elina shouted around a mouthful of the stolen skewer.

The vendor stepped forward and extended his hand. “So then, deal?”

Lina smirked and took his hand. “Deal!”

“Though even if so many people gather here, no one's going to bet blindly, are they?” the vendor added.

“Well, two things: first,” Lina grabbed the coin pouch and dumped all 1000 silver coins into the glass bowl with a clatter. “We have proof to draw their eyes. Second—” she looked at Elina “—we put on a show.”

…

Once the initial hype at the start of the event had died down, the crowd slowly drifted toward the areas where they could enjoy snacks and entertainment. Hovering screens blanketed the walkways, displaying the event to all passersby.

Suddenly, a fierce shout captured the crowd's attention.

“Are you out of your mind, Lina?!” Elina yelled at Lina, fury in her eyes. “Your brother gave us those coins to save for important matters! Why are you giving them away for five silvers?!”

Lina hugged the glass basin stubbornly to her chest, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. “It’s fine! The event is unpredictable anyway; nobody can guess who will get eliminated first! I'm going to double our money!”

“Unpredictable my foot! Look at that screen over there! That guy is about to get killed by that noble boy. If anyone draws his name, we're done!”

A woman listening nearby paused.

Aren't those the two girls who arrived with Crimvane’s rulers? A greedy smile touched her lips. Giving away 1000 silver for 5? She must think street gambling is purely a game of luck.

The woman stepped forward and placed five silver coins on the desk. “I will take one.”

If I win, all of this foolish girl's money will be mine!

A man who overheard the exchange watched her purchase a draw. I can’t let her claim the prize first!

“I’ll take a chance too!” he barked, slamming his coins onto the table.

“Me too!” another joined.

One after another, hands thrust coins toward Lina.

Lina stepped back with a faux-flustered expression. “P-please wait… one at a time, please!”

Internally, she cackled with dark delight. Yes, hook, line, and sinker!

***

Lucion's uniform was torn, his arm bleeding as he gasped for air. Behind him, Emmy was in an equally battered state.

Standing before them was a boy with pure-black hair and piercing amber eyes. Yet, in contrast to his beautiful face, his expression was fierce and cold.

Lucion straightened himself, his mind reeling. How… how is he here?