Volume 9 Chapter 3 The Season Of Schemes – Part III
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
”So, you’re really the Sir Kent everyone talks about?”
”Yup, I’m Kent Blackdagger. And I must say, you have quite an eye for beauty! Those girls behind you are a stunning bunch, and you yourself are a delightful flower, just as Aldo mentioned. Looks like I’m going to have to make a serious play for you.”
When the stand-in, Kent, dispelled the magic, he transformed into a young succubus woman, even younger than Miriallia.
It seemed he had altered her appearance using Stealth Magic.
When the real Kent took the seat where the decoy had been, his gaze locked onto me with intense focus.
I felt a shiver run down my spine under the weight of that slick, penetrating stare.
What an unsettling feeling… This is definitely the kind of creepy vibe I want nothing to do with~…
Even as I tried to shake off the discomfort of being scrutinized by the genuine Kent, I went on to explain the terms of our wager.
”Now, let me clarify the current situation. I have 30 thousand large gold coins on the table. The next wager will also be 30 thousand large gold coins. Sir Kent, can you match that?”
”You think Milly and my mother won’t be enough?”
”Yes, I don’t believe those 2 will suffice. But if you would add the one who was acting as the decoy, I’m willing to accept the challenge.”
I pressed for an additional collateral.
”Sure, sounds good. Miriel, take it off.”
”Alright. Elder Brother Kent.”
Kent casually instructed Miriel, the succubus who had been the decoy, to strip completely.
Despite her youth, her body was well-proportioned, and her nipples stood proudly.
”With this, will you accept the wager?”
”Yes, I will accept.”
Thus began the final showdown, where I would aim to strip Kent of everything he had.
* * *
*Kent’s Perspective
The woman before me, Lucy Blackberry, introduced by Aldo, was the kind of woman who knew her worth and wielded it like a weapon.
In fact, it was impressive how, just months after taking over her family estate, she had risen to become one of the wealthiest landowners in Capital City, even if her methods skirted the edge of legality.
”You’re so young and beautiful, yet you handle these seasoned nobles like a pro. How about it? Wanna work for me as my right-hand woman? I’ll pay you handsomely.”
As always, I couldn’t help but try to coax her over.
”Please save such proposals until after you’ve defeated me. As it stands, Sir Kent owes me a considerable debt.”
”Ah, right. I forgot. I always get this urge to pull in any woman with a brilliant scent. It’s just a habit of mine, so don’t let it throw you. Focus on the game.”
Lucy appeared calm, but the tension on her face was clear.
I was nervous too, with a bet of 30 thousand large gold coins on the line.
I never dabbled in high-stakes gambling back in Atchi’s world, so I had 0 confidence in these kinds of contests.
”Shall we then? Let’s deal the cards.”
A n*ked Minotaur woman dealt us each 5 cards.
”Hey, Lucy. What’s her name?”
I asked Lucy for the name of the woman working at Dee Lair.
”She’s Ophelia. She was the widow of a Lord Noble from the east, but now she’s my slave after a series of events.”
Lucy named her as if boasting about her collection.
The woman working at Dee Lair was supposedly Ophelia, a noble’s wife.
The Minotaur woman’s most prominent feature, her ample bust, was the largest I’d ever seen, commanding an overwhelming presence.
Her areolae and nipples were large too, but no less exquisite than Ines’s or Clarette’s… I bet it’d feel amazing sandwiched between her and Clarette… I’d like to have this alongside Lucy…
”Ophelia, huh. Got it. How about you work for me too? I’m just about to complete my Minotaur herd. I’ve been looking for some Minotaur help. What do you say? The pay is generous.”
”Mmmph! Sir Kent! I’ll say this one more time, but such matters can only be discussed after you’ve won.”
Lucy’s tone was rather stern as she called me out.
Watching this, Ophelia leaned in to whisper something to me.
”Sir Kent… please, at least save my daughter, Lumis… I’ll be fine.”
”Ophelia!! I don’t like secrets!”
Ophelia whispered into Kent’s ear, and Lucy twisted Ophelia’s nipple.
As she did so, sweet-smelling breast milk spurted out onto the table.
”Nnhii!”
”It’s delicious. You shouldn’t do such a cruel thing. She’s your slave, right? You might get in trouble with the Kingdom’s laws if you treat her too harshly.”
”I understand. That’s why I’m disciplining her. This is discipline for my slave~.”
Lucy skillfully deflected the comment, which could have gotten her in trouble with the law.
In the Kingdom, there were protective regulations for slaves who were being mistreated while repaying their debts. If their masters treated them too harshly, they could be sued once they repaid their debts and returned to civilian life. So, the humiliation Lucy was inflicting on Ophelia and the others was right on the edge of the gray zone.
In me mind, I believed that Ophelia and the others couldn’t repay their debts, so she was treating them boldly.
”Discipline… Let’s just call it that… Well, I did the same to Carly when she became my money slave.”
”Forget about that, let’s start the game.”
Lucy’s irritation seemed to have reached its peak.
If I kept teasing her any further, she might actually explode in anger, so I decided to focus on the game instead.
I looked at the five cards Ophelia had dealt me.
My hand was a complete bust—not a single decent combination.
However, I did have two clubs, so I decided to exchange three cards and aim for a flush.
…Oh. Well, this isn’t good.
Of the three new cards I received, only one was a club.
I shifted my focus to Lucy’s expression.
She had masked her earlier frustration and now appeared completely concentrated on the game.
It seemed she didn’t have a strong hand either, as she hadn’t tried to push forward with the bet.
”I’ll exchange just two.”
She discarded two cards and drew from the deck.
As for me, I finally got the club I needed to complete my flush.
Without hesitation, I made my move.
”Stop! Let’s settle this now.”
Surprised by my sudden challenge, Lucy’s face tensed.
On her turn, she exchanged two cards.
But as she looked at the ones she had drawn, her face stiffened.
I’ve won.
With this, Lucy is mine.
”Now, please reveal your hands. Let’s start with Sir Kent, who called the stop.”
Ophelia prompted me to show my hand.
I revealed my completed flush with a flourish, displaying my cards.
”I’ve got a flush! Now, what about you, Lucy?”
At my words, Lucy flinched.
I could even see her hands shaking slightly.
Pair of 2s or maybe 3 of a kind, at best.
Lucy laid her cards face-up, one by one.
The first was a 4 of clubs, the second a 4 of hearts, and the third an ace of 4s.
Just as I expected, she had 3 of a kind!
She has lost.
I was overjoyed to see the hand I anticipated unfold.
However, she revealed 2 more cards.
No way!
An 8 of hearts and an 8 of clubs?!
”Sir Kent, I’m afraid I win~! My hand is a full house~. Ha ha ha! I win~!”
”No way! That’s impossible!”
At that moment, my system message lit up.
──Job acquired: [Cheatster].
──Skill point: 1 point acquired.
──Job bonus: Intelligence increased.
──[Swindle] skill unlocked.
[Cheatster] unlocked… but why?
Before I could contemplate the unexpected skill, Lucy’s voice broke through.
”Are you really going to let this serious game be tarnished by someone like you, the Savior of the Nation, Sir Kent?”
At Lucy’s words, Milly nodded in defeat.
”Kent… unfortunately, Lucy is right… it’s clear to everyone that you’ve lost.”
”Mr. Kent. I’m afraid it only looks like you’ve lost to me as well.”
Even my mother-in-law gazed down at the cards on the table, seemingly resigned.
Losing the fight means the only option left is to turn Lucy into a Carrier, but I couldn’t shake the feeling about that [Cheatster] job that randomly unlocked.
I decided to use my remaining Skill Points to activate the [Swindle] Skill.
──[Swindle] Skill Activated.
──[Swindle] Skill Detected.
──[Expose] Skill Unlocked.
The instant I got [Swindle], a new Skill called [Expose] popped up.
I immediately checked out its details.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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