Episode 14. Declaration of war (10)
“Excuse me.”
The guide who guided us here opens the door and enters. He leaned deeply toward us, and set the parchment down on the table.
“This?”
“I came to ask if you would like to place a bet on this duel. If you bet, just write down how much you will bet.”
Is it a bet?
It was one of the betting systems that bet money by predicting the winner of a formal duel. The system structure was similar to horse racing or casino gambling in the world I was in.
However, the process of placing bets and keeping records was somewhat analog.
Anyway, because of this gambling system, many people suffering from poverty visit the arena, and in a special case such as today’s S-class duel, the admission fee should have risen two or three times.
I think the entrance fee is probably around 1 silver.
Considering that it was a month’s worth of living expenses for a commoner, the money was burdensome.
The odds for Urca in the contract were 22.5%, But it was written that the bet on Thoreau was three times the amount. And there was a clear probability indicator that Thoreau had a 96% chance of winning.
This is the worst reversal. 4% Chance of winning?
Looking at the contract written on the parchment, I burst into laughter.
“I will bet that Urca wins. The amount is five hundred gold.”
I left a mark under Urca’s name, and wrote down the name and amount.
I originally didn’t want to do it, but I wrote it with the hope that Urca would win.
“Will no one else do it?”
The warriors showed interest in the guide’s words, but I told them not to. The spirit kings were not interested in human money, so they only looked at the arena.
Tori and Seri also bet 10 gold each on Soro, as if they were worried that the emperor was watching them. As for the tax collector, I acted as an agent.
“Prause, I’m fine… ….”
“I alone is enough to attract the emperor’s eyes.”
Shouldn’t you at least save face?
The person we have to fight is the crown prince, not the emperor. Of course, as long as the emperor sided with the crown prince, the fact that he was already out of sight would not change.
“Then I understand that only three people bet, and I will take one contract for each.”
If the bet fails, this contract instantly becomes a bond contract. It also owes a debt to the emperor.
If the loan is not repaid, the man becomes a slave and the woman becomes a prostitute. That is, to become a slave.
In spite of being a human being, it was when he became a debtor in this way.
“Then have a good time—”
“Wait.”
“…… Yes. Please speak.”
The guide who was about to leave stopped and looked at me. I asked, pointing beyond the barrier.
“Just one question. Why is the referee Terr?”
Above the arena I pointed to, Terga stood between Urca and Thoreau. Seeing his late appearance, I couldn’t help but burn a child inside.
“…… It’s to ensure the lives of two people. Since this duel is to be fought by those who have received an S rank, who are said to be the strongest in the empire, Terre-sama stands as a judge because of His Majesty’s supreme thought, concerned that there would be casualties in any case.”
To guarantee the lives of the two of you?
That’s not even funny. Planting a human directly under the emperor would be fair or fair.
It is clear that Terrer was set up so that he could make a partial judgment or intervene in case of emergency. If that’s the case, I’ll have to make a move on this side as well…….
“You think too much, Prause.”
Tori, who was looking at the stadium, hinted. When Tori opened her mouth, the guide slipped out before she had time to catch her.
“…… What do you mean? I think I already explained the meaning of this confrontation?”
“If you did your best, you can trust Urca. After all, it’s not something we can do now. No matter what you do on the other side, believe Urca will win.”
It’s because they’re not so easygoing.
The Thoreau and Ter siblings are among the strongest in the world. Even if Urca was trained and given artifacts, if Ter intervened in the duel, it would be very difficult to win this fight.
But like he said, there was nothing more I could do for you, so I decided to trust Urca ‘for now’.
* * *
“…… Hey, I didn’t expect to see you like this.”
Soro, who has been stretched, continues to stretch. Urka, who had been watching it, sighed and brushed her hair.
“Sure. I should have beaten it before it got to this point.”
Urka gently closes her eyes and opens them. Her eyes had changed to those of a beast before she knew it. Seeing that, Thoreau stopped her stretching and smiled lightly.
“Do you really think you can beat me?”
“…… I am stronger than before.”
“Puha! How? No matter how talented a person is, there are limits. And Urka, you’ve already reached your limits. It doesn’t make sense to grow in days. If you’re going to lie, hit it right.”
Seeing Thoreau speak decisively, Urka burst into laughter.
“Do you think I am you? Are there limits?”
“What?”
“Since you don’t know anything, don’t talk loudly, just do the stretching you used to do. I’ll wait for you.”
Quick.
Thorro’s face is distorted by Urca’s provocation before the duel. The bloody killings that could be seen even from the spectator seats filled the arena.
“Enough of the war of nerves.”
One more person comes up to the arena. Ther, a man with the same gray hair as Thoreau, approached the two.
Despite Terre’s appearance, Thoreau’s murderous spirit showed no signs of abating. With that momentum, those watching from the bleachers began to write Thoreau’s name on paper.
Some were paying money for contracts from the ushers who manage the bleachers. Everyone was betting that Thoreau would win.
It was the same with the aristocrats in their personal space. Most bet that Thoreau wins.
Even though the emperor gave silent pressure, there was no hesitation because any noble would know how strong Baek Gwangjo’s Soro was.
However, there were two people who hesitated.
It was the Grand Duke of Rexton, who was sensitive to money, and the Grand Duke Todia, who had a personal relationship with Prause.
Rexton, who watched the contents of the contract, asked the guide.
“The dividend rate is 22.5 Percent? Is this correct?”
“That’s right. Also, as a result of measuring the probability of winning or losing this duel, it is estimated that Soro wins with a 96% probability.”
“…… Okay?”
Rexton stared at the contract with disdain, recalling the two previous meetings of nobles.
‘The corruption was all true, and it became clear that freeing the slaves was a better way to build the infrastructure of the market than maintaining slavery. Besides, considering that during the second aristocratic meeting, princess tax collector accused a lot of nobles, she might be telling the truth. Because it was Prause who gave me that information.’
Remembering Prause’s face, who always has a calm expression on anything, he inadvertently burst into laughter.
‘Trust is so overflowing that it’s about to explode.’
“…… May I ask you something?”
He picked up ten gold coins he had piled on the table and gently held them out towards the receptionist. The guide swallowed his saliva as he watched it. Ten gold coins was far beyond the limit of tips a receptionist could receive. The guide took care of it and bowed deeply.
“Yes. Please tell me anything.”
“I want you to tell me who Prause bet on. If you don’t know, find out right away.”
“Okay.”
The guide bowed deeply again and immediately moved on. Hearing the door open and close, Rexton murmured.
“If Praus bet on the side Urca would win, Urca would win this duel with a high probability. If he’s aiming for something in this duel, he’s definitely not one to sit still.”
The eyes, which had been glancing at the odds in the contract, turned to the wine glass on the table. Inside the glass was a wine aged 70 years.
He picked it up and looked down at the stadium. Even though the murderous spirit of her sword spurted out, Urca calmly looked at her.
‘If Urca wins this duel, then I’ll just pay a reasonable amount of money for the succession to the throne, just like Prauss said, and I won’t intervene.’
His inclination to never want to suffer a loss was moved according to Prause’s will.
Rexton tilted his wine glass and put the wine in his mouth.
Meanwhile, a fierce argument was unfolding on Todia’s side.
“What the hell did that bastard do to you, is he doing this?!”
Aker, who had been stripped of his hair in the previous battle of the warriors, yelled at Ella.
“So I am not speaking with personal feelings, brother. If Prause intervened even a little in this duel, Urca would win with a high probability.”
“Don’t be crazy! That means the same thing as saying that Thoreau, whom His Majesty trusts, will lose! Aren’t you crazy?! Did you go out with him and go out of your mind?!”
“Your brother knows the skills of Prause’s disciples, having experienced them firsthand. It was none other than Prause who trained and raised them. He must have given Urca special training.”
“Ella, if you have eyes, look straight at the contract! Thoreau has a 96% chance of winning. 96 Percent!”
“Still, at least one variable… ….”
“Ha, that must be crazy. Hey, I know you’re interested in Prause. Aside from money, this is an implicit question as to whether His Majesty is loyal to the imperial family. But now, with your personal feelings, you’re saying you’re only going to get the Emperor’s eyes out? Are you crazy? Really?!”
Knocked up.
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The door to Todia’s personal space opened, and a large man in golden armor entered. Light blue hair much darker than Elana Acher’s.
“Are you still fighting, guys?”
“Brother Venos.”
Venos Todia.
The eldest son of the Todia family, he was recognized for his swordsmanship and was on the verge of becoming the vice-captain of the current Imperial Knights.
It was not the Todia family who came to this place, but a temporary dispatch to control the audience.
“You can hear everything outside. Stop.”
At Benos’s words, Acher pointed to Ella and tried to say something, but she let out a long breath. He puts his hand on his waist and nods his head in response.
“Dad, have you decided on your bets?”
“…… Venos.”
“Yes?”
“Who do you think the next emperor will be?”
It was a question that had nothing to do with betting. Venos wondered at Glair at the sudden question, then answered as if he were chanting.
“That’s it…… Wouldn’t that be Chris? I have the first right of succession, and other children of the imperial family have never shown their abilities. I think I will be the only one who has been acknowledged by His Majesty the Emperor Rufen.”
‘Is it really so? Prause single-handedly killed the Black Dragon, who had not been able to defeat even after leading an S-class and an army. In the name of a hero, he has the power to defeat even the demon king. Besides, behind him is the best information guild in the empire… The secret garden is backed up by tremendous information power to the point of giving up. I can do anything about f*cking the imperial family.’
“Your father doesn’t think you will become His Highness Chris, do you?”
Glare flinched as she got into an accident and forgot to respond to Venos’s words.
“…… Well. I don’t know either.”
“Then where would you like to live?”
“I… ….”
Prause’s actions so far began to shake the two grand dukes’ blind faith in the emperor.
While the two grand dukes ponder and make a decision, the bets on the bleachers are finalized and the duel declaration begins in earnest.
[Now, let’s start in earnest! Let’s start an official duel between S-class Urka and S-class Soro!]
“First of all, I am the referee. No matter what happens, please do as I say. You may not like Urca-san, but I’m the only one in the empire who can stop this damn sister.”
Urca glanced at Ter and sniffed him.
“Don’t disturb me.”
“…… Let’s try to do that.”
“Ther, start quickly! Because I’m itching to cut off this b*tch’s ears.”
At Thoreau’s words, Ter said, “Do it in moderation, really.” He muttered, raising his hand high.
“Start!”
The hand going down with his horse.
The corners of Thoreau’s mouth went up as if tearing.
“I’ve been waiting!! 「Iceberg」!”
The ice that rises from her feet forms a gigantic shape. The magnificent ice, much taller than the height of the arena, quickly headed for Urca.
Seeing that, Urca put her hand on the plam Prause gave her.
‘As expected, Prause said.’
A grinning Urka pulled out her sword just before it touched her ice and shouted her skill.
“Fire magic, [Explosion]!”
Koo-kwa-kwa-kwaa!!
Ice scatters in the air along with a cloud of dust. Small pieces of ice fell helplessly to the ground and shattered.
“Take it slow. This is one of the few opportunities to beat you up for insulting me and the Beasts.”
Thoreau gritted his teeth as he saw Urca moving forward, gathering dust from her.