Next Recess.

Here.

　It's dusk, and Amu brings me to a bar in the city.

　As Amu opens the door, I and Yifa follow, feeling uncomfortable.
　When we entered, we saw several customers who were drinking after work.
　The seats are strangely small compared to the size of the restaurant from the outside.

　Amu says to the bearded owner who turns his attention to him.

''I'll take a seat in the back, if you'll let me.''

　The proprietor of the store silently lowered his eyes.

　As it was, Amu walked through the seating area and opened the unadorned door that was installed at the back.

　Immediately, a clamor flashed in my ears.
　The sound of dice being rolled.
　The sound of money being thrown out.
　The sound of liquor cups being slammed on the table.
　The shouts and laughter of customers.

　This room, which seemed to be hidden, was much larger than the seats in the auditorium, and there were many people in it.

　Amu turns to me and Yifa and says, "I'm here.

'Here,'

　I yell, "No, this is just a gambling den!

"No, this is just a gambling den, for Christ's sake!

　I have a bad feeling about this.
　I've got a hunch.

　Amu says without taking offense.

'Yes,'
'It's not that. You know that private gambling is illegal in the Empire.
"So that's what you naive little bastards do. That's just a truism. The penalties are lax and nobody cares about them. If you want to know what's going on, even the authorities are doing it. There it is.

　The man Amu pointed at, when he noticed us, raised his drink cup and shouted.

Oh, you're a bad-ass college girl!　Are you here to bribe me again?
It's not too late to be talking like that. I'm gonna rip your ass hair off and stick it up your ass today.

　The official man bursts out laughing.
　How do they fit in?

　When I look around, I see that there are many guys not much older than me. In fact, they are all students of the school.
　In Japan, Song Dynasty and Western countries, there were delinquent students, and this world is the same.

"Hey Amu. Don't think you can get more money in a gambling den.''
Amu-chan, I don't gamble...
Phew!

　Amu's face falls slightly and he says with a chuckle.

'Well, you'll see.'


****


　A few moments later.

'We lost!

　Amu was screaming while scratching his head.
　Apparently, he had run out of money.

'Hey, what was that meaningful line you had earlier? I thought you had a plan.
No one would have a hard time with that!

　Don't get mad at me.

I mean, you didn't lose it here in the parking lot the other day, did you?
Hey whatever the hell you want. What about you guys?
What?
Balance. Balance. Listen, what do you think I've brought you guys here for today?　I was hoping that if you guys were always getting perfect scores on the written test, you'd figure out a way to win the game.
What's that?

　I sigh in disgust.

I lost a little. There's no surefire way to win a simple game like this.

　As a matter of fact, I could easily do something as simple as peeking at my opponent's hand with a shikigami.
　But it's not fair, and I don't like to do that.

I'm not a novice. I'm not an amateur.
So why don't you just pick a game to play against him?
'It's worse that way. The more you do it, the more you lose.

　I take Amu with me and head to the table where Yifa is sitting.
　There, a gambling game using cards is being conducted.

　A total of thirty-six cards with the numbers from one to nine and the symbols of the four attributes on each of them are used.
　They are often used in games and gambling among the nobility.

Have you ever played this?
'Man or dragon,' right?　There is, of course. The one that doubles your stake in half.
'No, not one-half, seventy-two-thirty-five. Okay?　In this game, two sets of thirty-six cards are used, and one card from the top of each deck is turned over to see which card wins. But since you are using two sets of the same kind of cards, it is possible to get the exact same card and the game can result in a tie. Then you lose no matter which card you are betting on, and you forfeit your bet.
That's a bit of a margin of error, isn't it?
'It's not an error!　One out of every thirty-six times you're sure to lose. The odds of winning are less than one-half, yet the stakes are only twice as high. It's a game where the more you play, the more you lose!
But you can bet on a tie. You can bet ten times as much.
'You'd have to be an idiot to bet that you'd only win once every thirty-six times, and you'd only win ten times as much.
"...?　I don't know, I don't know, isn't it all hit or miss in two?
Wha...?

"Oh, all right, sweetheart, you're right!
Hey, honor student!　Don't you dare say something so faint!

　The gambling hall is filled with the sounds of wild and endless laughter.
　I'm getting a headache.

You can go now. How about Eyfa?　Are we winning?
'What?　Um, I'm still losing.

　The deck of cards was just the last one left.
　Yifa was a little lost and bet about 30% of the chips she held on the side of the 'dragon'.

　Then the card is turned over.
　The "man" is the three of fire, and the "dragon" is the eight of earth. The dragon is the eight of earth.
　The higher number wins (by the way, if they have different attributes, it's based on affinity), so you get double the amount of chips you bet on Yifa.

I guess that's about it.
How's that?　Have you come up with a winning strategy?
"Well, uh...

　Yifa glanced around while pulling slightly at Amu, who was leaning forward.
　Then he shook his head with a bitter smile.

''Nope. It's a game of luck, isn't it? I think Seika-kun is right.''
Nah...

　Amu slumped his shoulders.
　On the tabletop, the dealer was collecting the spent bills.

Yifa. Amu, I heard you lost all your money.
What, already?　...Well, let's go home, Amu-chan.
'Yeah...'


****


　As we left the store, Amu was feeling a little better.

'Today's was just a prelude,'
"...what does that mean?　You were, by all accounts, losing at all costs today.
The real thing is the school festival. I'm going to give it my all.
A school festival?
Seika, you're forgetting.　We're going to start the school festival in a few minutes.

　I remember when you told me. Come to think of it, there was something like that.

　As I recall, they held a large market in the school grounds, and the executive committee and volunteer students planned a variety of large-scale events.
　It's a historical festival that lasts for seven days and is supported by a large trade association and even the city council of Rodnea.

I've heard that every year there is always a gambling den. Of course, it's unofficially held in secret. Do you think this is an opportunity?
What?
'You mean a bunch of noblemen who aren't used to gambling in general will be there?　You've got the money, and this is the perfect opportunity to duck...!
Huh, Amu.

　I sigh and say to Amu, who has a lust-obsessed smile on his face.

'You're not allowed to gamble,'
Why?
'You can't win at gambling if you're a hit or miss or two. You're a sucker for all intents and purposes. Don't say anything bad, so don't do it.
'Well....'

　Amu looks unhappy.

'A school festival would be a lot of money, so what better opportunity could there be for you than a school festival?
Huh, that's about the only thing I can think of that would be the prize money for a swordfighting tournament.
That's all right. It's not so much an event for you anymore as it is for me. Why do you look a little unhappy?
Obviously, I didn't feel comfortable with an amateur project, but now that I'm just a student, I guess it's okay.
I don't mind.

　It's much more than making a bet.

'Oh, by the way, how do you know about this fencing competition-like project?
It's been posted on the campus bulletin board. It's been up on the campus bulletin board since the day before yesterday.
Well, I'll have a look around, too. I might have a better idea for the money. Yifa, I'll see you tomorrow Yifa?
Um... uh, yeah.

　Yifa, who seemed to be in a daze, replied as she came to herself.

'Yeah. I'd like to see it too.'
They say everything is written in cryptic language about gambling establishments.
I'm still saying...
"...Hey, Amu. Do school festival gambling establishments have dealers standing?
"?　Right. It looks like some betting house is going to come up, so maybe.
'So there's a game like 'Man or Dragon?'
I think it's possible. That's the most popular card game in all of gaming. What's that?　Maybe you like it?　Do you want to go with me?
"Uh....
"Hey, don't let Yifa lead you down a path of destruction.
What?
Amu-chan, I'm sorry. I don't know about this...
So....

　Amu's shoulders slumped in disappointment.

''Well, you can look forward to the swordsmanship competition. I'll buy you a drink if you win.''
Yeah. I'm looking forward to it, Amu.
Well, you're going to win this thing.

　After all, I'm a brave man.

　But still, a school festival, eh?
　It's probably because this is a city where rich people gather in a rich country.

　It would be great if I could earn some money as well.