Chapter 33
What am I going to do with this brilliant mind? Ugh, is it so brilliant that I’ll die young?
Selena marveled at her own resourcefulness.
At the same time, she became convinced of her plan to earn money as quickly as possible and flee abroad.
‘If I let my guard down even a little, I keep getting entangled with the male lead, ugh.’
Even without that, every time she crossed paths with Asil while coming and going, it was uncomfortable to see her press her back against the wall, wary as she passed by.
And now with Elcai acting like this, it seemed she really needed to get out of the country as soon as possible.
‘But how am I supposed to make money?’
The medical fees she received from the ducal family were a bit insufficient.
Should she try something like a chicken skewer business, like other transmigrators?
Just then, a friendly match between the Starafit Ducal Family broke out.
Since she already knew the outcome, this was like a pumpkin rolling in on its vine, a lottery with all the winning numbers known.
‘I’ll use the money I make here to finish my treatment and bolt.’
With that thought, Selena shouted at the top of her lungs.
“Come on, come on! Place your bets! If Monlepe wins, 10 times the payout! If Starafit wins, 2.3 times!”
“Why’s there such a huge gap when they’re both ducal families?”
“That’s because a lot of people are betting on Starafit. Would you like to bet on Monlepe for higher returns?”
“No way. I’m not an idiot, and I don’t need to throw away good money—”
“300 million gold on Monlepe winning.”
A clear voice cut through the air. 300 million gold was enough to cover the annual operating costs of a decent noble family.
To bet that amount on Monlepe, my goodness.
‘Could there be another transmigrator besides me?’
Startled, Selena turned her head in that direction.
The person who placed the bet was a girl with her face hidden under a hood.
Recognizing the distinctive unapproachable aura and dark navy hair, Selena knew at a glance who she was.
‘It’s Princess Eokaste.’
What the heck? Why is someone as important as a princess betting money here?
‘Does this mean she’s that interested in Monlepe?’
She must have spies planted in the ducal family and figured out that Monlepe would win.
Ugh, in the original story, she was a huge obstacle to the female lead, and it looks like she’s going to be a real headache here too. Selena shook her head inwardly.
“Yes, 300 million gold. Bet accepted.”
Even so, she quickly pocketed the 300 million gold.
Meanwhile, the noble who had been talking to Selena just moments ago looked flabbergasted.
“There are all sorts of ways to waste money. It’d be better to give it to a beggar.”
“Talking big when you don’t even have money. Oh, wait, were you talking about giving to a beggar because you meant yourself?”
“What? A beggar? Hey! I’ll bet 350 million gold on Starafit!”
“I’ll bet 400 million gold. Gotta bet more than a beggar, right?”
“What?! Then I’ll bet 500 million gold!”
In an instant, the betting pool skyrocketed.
Jackpot, what a windfall! Your Highness Princess Eokaste, you’re the best!
In the original story, you blocked the female lead’s path, but here you’re paving the way for mine!
Her favorability toward Iokaste shot up in an instant.
With a wide grin, Selena hurriedly closed her eyes and made the sign of the cross.
‘Your magnificent Highness, may you live long and prosper. Even though the female lead is Asil, please live long and prosper anyway. And please let me become filthy rich.’
Meanwhile, the match began.
Soon, an unexpected upset unfolded in the arena that no one could have predicted.
* * *
This friendly match was a best-of-five series.
Monlepe ’s first contender was Dylan.
Feeling the pressure of standing before a large crowd, he hardened his expression. Seeing this, his fellow knights offered words of encouragement.
“Hey, do well.”
“You absolutely cannot lose, for the sake of lady Asil’s honor. If you lose, you’re dead by my hand.”
“Got it.”
Letting out a deep sigh, Dylan headed to the arena.
The Starafit knight he had to face was, unfortunately, someone with whom he had bad blood.
“So this is where you ran off to, Monlepe, huh?”
The opponent sneered at Dylan the moment he saw him, one corner of his mouth slanted upward.
“If someone like you is their first contender, I can guess the level of Mo
onlepe.”
Unfazed by the provocation, Dylan drew his sword.
“Speak properly, Daymond. Wasn’t it you who ran away, not me? I heard you were kicked out of the Imperial Knights for assaulting a colleague—”
“Where’d you hear that nonsense!”
Daymond’s face turned bright red as a shameful secret known only to the Imperial Knights was brought up.
But that lasted only a moment. He quickly regained his composure and mocked Dylan.
“Is your reptile phobia still a thing? Well, that’s why you’re stuck in a loser’s den like that, isn’t it?”
Daymond was one of the few who knew about Dylan’s phobia.
During their time in the Imperial Knights, while on a monster subjugation mission, Daymond had caught Dylan trembling and pale with fear.
From then on, Daymond started treating Dylan like a servant.
In fact, one of the reasons Dylan left the Imperial Knights was Daymond’s harassment.
At that moment, the referee raised the starting pistol.
“Both of you, prepare yourselves.”
Bang—!
A deafening shot tore through the sky.
“Haa!”
Daymond moved first. With his hefty build, he attacked with force.
Dylan easily dodged the attack.
“Not bad for a slippery eel!”
Snorting, Daymond chanted a short spell. Soon, a faint blue light enveloped his sword.
The crowd buzzed at the sight.
“A magic swordsman?!”
“There was such a talent in the Starafit Ducal Family?”
Magic swordsmen, who required talent in both swordsmanship and magic, were extremely rare. And they were treated exceptionally well because of it.
The appearance of a talent typically seen only in the Imperial Knights caused a stir in the stands.
“This match is Starafit’s for the taking.”
“How did they recruit such a talent?”
“Connections or money, probably. Either way, impressive…”
Needless to say, the Duke of Starafit’s shoulders puffed up with pride at those words.
“Die!”
With a booming shout, Daymond swung his sword.
The blade transformed into the shape of a snake, shooting toward Dylan like a whip.
“Here’s the snake you’re so terrified of!”
Clang!
The swords clashed. The snake Daymond created slithered up Dylan’s blade.
Triumphant, Daymond openly smirked.
‘This first match is over!’
Surely Dylan would be trembling too much to counter properly at the sight of the snake.
But he soon had to harden his expression.
Though Dylan was pale, he was glaring at the snake far more steadily than he used to.
“Tch, this can’t be…?”
Clang!
Before Daymond could finish speaking, Dylan pushed the sword back and closed in. Moving at a speed honed from sparring with the agile Asil, he was incredibly fast.
“Ugh!”
Caught off guard, Daymond had no choice but to block Dylan’s sudden advance in an awkward stance.
The crowd, astonished by the unexpected prowess of Monlepe ’s knight, erupted in cheers and jeers.
“Woooo!”
“Finish that magic swordsman off! I bet 20 gold on Monlepe!”
“Magic swordsman, what are you doing?! Hurry up and show the power of a magic swordsman!”
“Boooo!”
Daymond, sitting on the ground and looking up at Dylan, flushed with humiliation.
“You, you bastard—!”
Gritting his teeth, he dispelled the magic on his sword.
Instead, he cast strength and speed enhancement magic on himself, then charged with a roar.
“Hraaaah!”
But Dylan dodged effortlessly again.
Thanks to Asil’s training, which always targeted vital points, Dylan had become adept at evasion.
No matter how strong an attack was, it was useless if it couldn’t hit the opponent.
“You! Why do you keep slipping away like an eel?!”
Furious, Daymond swung his sword wildly, almost in a frenzy.
His movements were fierce, but Dylan was lost in his own thoughts.
‘To think I can dodge a sword this easily.’
Back in the Imperial Knights, their skills had been comparable, but now comparing them felt embarrassing.
‘Is Starafit just that bad, or has lady Asil trained me that well?’
Probably both.
With that realization, his loyalty to Asil surged.
‘I’ll serve lady Asil for life.)’
With that resolve, Dylan swung his sword cleanly.
Clang!
Daymond’s sword flew through the air in an arc.
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By Anna 💓
