Volume 6 Chapter 24 Unexpectedly Easy To Understand
Rouza had earned more than the reward I got from yesterday's request before finishing the game. It was an enormous amount of money, far beyond what I could earn in just one night.
"Wahahaha! Yeah, I won big time! Today was a rare day where I won a huge amount!"
Rouza, sitting at the counter seat in the tavern, was laughing loudly while drinking his booze.
"That's amazing, isn't it?"
As for me, I sat down next to Rouza, directly invited by him, and was drinking the same booze, sip by sip. This was a high-end alcohol that I rarely got to see at this tavern, but since Rouza was treating, I was happy to join in. To be honest, it was incredibly delicious.
"Come on, Black Blade. ou're not drinking enough. Let's raise our glasses a bit more. As a bodyguard, it's your job to make the client happy, right?"
"That's not part of my job, absolutely not. But I'll drink anyway."
Rouza, already in high spirits, patted me on the back and I tilted my glass. This atmosphere somehow reminded me of Nikyou from the Jingin Family. Since I was still on the job, I had to pace myself and not get too drunk. If I got too drunk here, Rouza might be okay, but Getsuya would be scary.
At this point, I brought up something that had been bothering me.
"Is it okay? A prince of a country being a gambler..."
"Don't worry about it. Enjoying it is within the range of my hobby. I'm only using the money I earned myself, and I'm aware of my limits. That's something I'm proud of. The money I earned is also from gambling, after all."
"How strong are you, anyway?"
I had also seen Rouza play games. Although I only had a little experience with card games, even I could tell that Rouza was incredibly strong.
When other players created strong roles, he would often win with a high probability, and sometimes, even with a weak role, he would bluff and make his opponents surrender. What I thought was particularly impressive was his skill in "psychological manipulation".
"This is my theory, but the key to gambling is how to win big and lose elegantly. Don't miss your chances, and don't make mistakes at the crucial moment, and you won't suffer a huge loss."
"I think only a true skilled one can say those words."
But, the words I'm saying now are somehow really hitting the mark. Instead of struggling when things are going badly, it's better to cut your losses and aim for the next opportunity. That's just common sense.
Rouza ordered a new drink and took a sip before continuing.
"I may look like this, but I'm actually a lazy person who hates to work hard. I'm not suited for jobs that require sweating and toiling. That's something I leave to others."
"That's a pretty irresponsible thing to say, considering you're next in line for the throne."
"It's not just about being at the top. You need to be able to do the job. If you can do it, then it's okay to leave it to others. That's also part of being a king. The one who gives the orders is responsible for the results."
I think that's how it is. It's like a scale has fallen from my eyes, and I feel a little relieved.
"If I'm being honest, I'd rather give up the throne. I'd pay someone to take my place. If possible, I'd like to live life on my own terms, eating and drinking as I please."
"Don't ruin a good phrase like that. Return my enthusiasm. That's the thinking of a useless person, after all."
"That's true. If I weren't born into the shogun family, I'd probably have died a miserable death in some back alley a long time ago."
He said it with a laugh, but it wasn't a laughing matter.
"I'm a lazy person, so I like gambling. It's all about winning or losing, and it's over quickly. I've already gotten back what I paid you guys tonight."
"...Did you plan it that way from the start?"
"It's half curiosity and half genuine interest."
It's like he won't get back up if he fall, or he won't get out of a tight spot. When I let my guard down, his sharp words cut deeper.
"I was interested in the royal capital's casino, and it's great that there's someone who knows the place well. I didn't expect to be brought to a high-quality place like this, though."
While we were getting excited at the bar, Kyunei said "I'll go play a bit too" and went to another table. She must have been trying to be considerate of us.
"Even if it's just for show, she's got the skills to deal with the underground crowd. And with her beauty and talent, she's probably a skilled doctor too."
"If I didn't have Kyunei, I'd be dead 2 or 3 times over."
His main bodyguard, Getsuya, was waiting at a slightly distant location. It wasn't that he was reading the air, but rather, he didn't want to get tangled up with Rouza, who was drunk.
The slightly problematic thing was that Mikage was with Getsuya. She was also supposed to be keeping an eye on us from a distance as a bodyguard, but it was weird that she was so close to Getsuya. If something happened, it would be better to have a clear line of communication, but...
"Are you worried about Getsuya and Mikage?"
"...Well, yeah. I think I know Mikage pretty well, but as for Getsuya, I only know what Mikage has told me."
"No wonder. Those two are ridiculously serious and clumsy with words. And on top of that, they're in the middle of their job as my bodyguards. It's not like they can have a casual chat."
Even as Rouza denied it, he seemed to be enjoying himself somehow. He had been like this since we visited the casino, and now that he was drunk, he was even more lively.
"There might be some stories to tell, and I want to set up a chance to talk while I'm in the royal capital."
"You're surprisingly considerate of your subordinates."
"Those in power have a duty to appreciate and respect those below them. And besides, those two are not only my bodyguards but also my closest friends. But Mikage, that guy... She's still pretty harsh towards me, but I'm surprised by how much she cares about you. People can really change, huh?"
Rouza's unexpected comment made my eyebrows rise slightly. Seeing my reaction, Rouza said with a swaying glass,
"The thing is, people like us beastmen tend to show our emotions more easily. Mikage is especially easy to read."
And Rouza pointed to his wolf ears. As he said, Mikage's emotions were easy to see through her fox ears and tail. When she was with someone she trusted, that tendency was even more pronounced.
"She's not very good at socializing, so it's great that Mikage has found someone she can open up to, even in a far-off land."
Rouza muttered, wearing a gentle smile I had never seen before.
Please bookmark this series and rate ☆☆☆☆☆ on here!
Donate me
Support Me with USDC
(ERC20)
Support Me with XLM
(Stellar Lumens)