CHAPTER 65…………………….
Infiltration (5)
A shiver suddenly ran down her spine.
The word lycanthrope — commonly used to describe a “werewolf.”
In Rostia, the use of magic directly on humans was forbidden. Naturally, any magic that transformed a person into something else was also prohibited.
So, the appearance of someone who called themselves a lycanthrope and visited Calis Land every full moon was… unsettling, to say the least.
Even Lowell, who had been quietly listening by her side, furrowed his brow, clearly bothered this time.
“Obviously a fake name. Though I guess no one would use their real name in a place like this. Still, it’s funny how blatantly fake that sounds.”
“That’s something we’ll have to see. Things might be more complicated than you think — which is why I called you here.”
When Lowell scoffed, Leo didn’t match his tone. Instead, he replied gravely and then turned his gaze to Temia.
“Since we’re here, is there any game you’re curious about? If it’s you, assistant, I wouldn’t mind giving you a personal lesson.”
“H-here? Wouldn’t that be a bit… dangerous? What if I end up getting sucked into it?”
“Well, if that happens, I could take responsibility for your entertainment for life. Not a bad deal, right?”
He smiled softly as he looked at her. The intensity of his gaze made Temia’s mouth go dry.
Do I have to answer? How am I supposed to turn this down?!
Temia had never faced this kind of situation before. Her head was spinning.
“That’s a bit too much to call just ‘recruitment.’ Temia belongs to me.”
Thankfully, someone answered in her stead. Lowell suddenly pulled her by the shoulder and shot back.
Excuse me?! Who talks about their employee like that! And this isn’t the first time he’s done something that could be totally misunderstood…!
Temia glared at him, but Lowell didn’t seem to care.
Leo, unfazed as if used to such reactions, just shrugged and continued speaking — ignoring Lowell completely.
“But this seems like a field too tricky for Lowell to teach, don’t you think? A businessman never misses a good opportunity.”
He showed no sign of backing down. His easy confidence was enough to exhaust Temia. She knew that letting the argument continue would only waste time. The best thing to do was to steer the conversation back to business.
Gently lowering the hand Lowell had wrapped around her, she muttered,
“Just knowing the rules should be enough. Honestly, I’m not very confident with this sort of thing.”
“The more skillful, the better. Though beginners can be amusing too — as long as they don’t attract too much attention.”
Leo began explaining the visible games quickly. To Temia’s relief, many were simpler than they looked, and she was able to pick up the rules without much trouble.
Then, after walking for a while, Leo suddenly stopped and turned to whisper to the two of them.
“We’re here. This is where your group will be hunting the wolf tonight.”
Clatter—
Clatter—
Click!
“……”
“……”
A crowd had already gathered in front of a large contraption. The only sounds were the clattering of metal and the tense breathing that filled the air. The charged silence revealed the heat of the atmosphere — players placing their bets, eyes locked on the spinning wheel.
As Temia looked around, she accidentally missed her step.
“Ah!”
“…Ah.”
She had stepped on a stranger’s foot. As she turned to apologize, her breath caught.
His eyes, glinting unnaturally, were locked on a single point — completely unaware that someone had even stepped on him.
“I’m so sorry!”
Whispering the apology that would go unheard, Temia hurried away from him and moved closer to her group, whispering,
“…Roulette?”
“As you can see. It’s the game the Lycanthrope Viscount plays most often. He does cards too, but—”
“It’s the one where you guess which number the dealer’s ball will land on, right? Can you even cheat in something like that?”
“The fact that the results prove it means he can. How could all the money end up on one side otherwise? Don’t you think that’s strange?”
“…It is strange.”
“Exactly. Which is why we’re investigating. According to the Duke’s code, fortune should favor everyone equally. If it doesn’t, we have to find out why.”
Leo looked around the table with a serious expression. The roulette wheel, painted in black and red, was covered in numbered slots. A steel ball clattered and rolled across it, and Temia’s eyes followed it nervously.
“No way… How could it always stop there?! That’s impossible! One more round!”
“No, that won’t do. I bet on this fellow to win. The Viscount’s done it again!”
“Lies! That’s impossible! What kind of trick is he pulling every single time?! There’s no way this happens without magic!”
“Hah. Careful — that accusation just insulted everyone here.”
As the game ended, the crowd erupted into cheers and groans. Some had apparently been betting on who would win rather than the wheel itself.
All that noise — over a single rolling ball.
In the middle of it all, Leo’s gaze suddenly fixed in one direction.
“…Hmm.”
Temia noticed his silence and glanced over. Leo, catching her look, murmured,
“Looks like the Viscount won again. Perfect timing.”
“The Lycanthrope Viscount? He’s here?”
“Yes. The red-haired man over there with the long mustache. See him?”
As expected of someone called “Lycanthrope,” his eyes were fierce and his hair thick like an animal’s fur. His mustache, long and bushy, seemed barely tamed into shape.
The hair under his top hat was no better — wild strands escaped like they were trying to flee.
But when Temia saw his wide grin and the way he laughed heartily, raising his drink to celebrate his win, she muttered,
“He looks pretty ordinary. You wouldn’t think he’s cheating just from his appearance. Usually, someone hiding something would be sweating or nervous.”
“He’s been coming here a long time — known for his bold personality. But he wasn’t always lucky. Rumor says he once lost so badly he almost went bankrupt.”
Leo jangled the gold coins in his hand as he looked away, careful not to make his interest too obvious. Temia turned her gaze too, thinking through what she’d learned.
A man who once lost everything suddenly starts winning nonstop… in a game of chance, no less? The odds of that happening are practically zero.
“It’s definitely suspicious. But… how did he do it?”
“That’s what you’re here to find out. I already know him, so I’ll introduce you. Once we’ve exchanged a few words, it might be worth challenging him to a game.”
“Got it! Lowell, you heard that, right? Let’s go!”
Temia spoke confidently, forcing a smile. She was nervous, but she’d handled people before — she could manage this.
I’ve gotten used to dealing with people by now. I can do this!
But the spot where Lowell should’ve been standing next to Leo was empty.
“Huh…? Lowell? Where did he—”
Her eyes widened. Leo, too, looked around in confusion — the man who should have been quietly watching was gone.
What the—? Where did he disappear to?
They both craned their necks, searching the crowd. No sign of him.
“How dull.”
They didn’t have to wait long to find him.
“You’re not all idiots, are you?”
“What the… Who are you to say something like—”
“I already know. The reason you’ve been so suspiciously lucky.”
That familiar green-haired figure was standing right at the front. Somehow, he’d pushed through the crowd and was now face-to-face with the Viscount himself.
The crowd erupted in murmurs. The Viscount, clearly furious that someone had interrupted his fun, shouted angrily.
Leo’s face froze — this wasn’t the plan. He’d wanted to introduce them slowly, to lower the Viscount’s guard first.
But with Lowell’s outburst—
Lowell?! You insane mage—!!!
Temia screamed silently.
Unfortunately, her desperate cry never reached its target.
