"Lucas, wait...!"
Leo grabbed my arm.
"What are you doing! Are you really going?"
"Yeah."
"I get that you're angry, but just hold on a bit. Nothing good comes from starting trouble with third-years."
"What's there to hold back for! Go beat them up, Luca!"
Elias glared, staring at the other table.
Trouble wasn't quite the right word...
When provoked once or twice, it's fine to play along for fun.
"I'm just going to play. Don't worry."
Leo seemed to think I'd cause a scene like Elias, but I wasn't angry.
Being openly ignored was certainly unpleasant, but my curiosity about the skill level of those who looked down on people so blatantly was greater.
'If anything, the problem isn't the third-years, it's my brother.'
But my brother wouldn't come running just because I sat at someone else's table. And considering I need to shift Luca's image in a different direction going forward, stepping up like this isn't a big issue.
'Luca knew the basic poker rules to begin with.'
Since his only opponent was his brother, there's no way his brother wouldn't know this fact.
'Still, I should check this part properly before going.'
I opened the Change Probability window. If it dropped even 0.1% here, I'd just stay quiet.
Dawn 777 — 694 days, 1 hour, 43 minutes, 47 seconds until final outcome 'Chapter X. Death' — Change Probability: 18.4%
'Hmm.'
It hadn't changed.
After resolving to improve Luca's impression score, it rose by 1%p, and since then it had neither risen nor fallen.
The festival and the poker game didn't seem to be events that greatly impacted the future.
'Or maybe I lose...'
A snort of laughter escaped.
Either I lose, or I win but the news doesn't reach my brother, or it does but it's not significant enough.
One of the three, I guess.
And even if it's one of those, I don't plan on losing.
I headed straight for their table.
"Let's do it."
"Oh~"
"He really came!"
A few third-years clapped as they looked me over.
Their scrutinizing gazes, their teasing tones, their attitudes—none were particularly polite. Having called me out as a blatant means to get their names on the board, what courtesy could I expect?
"Let's move seats first."
"Ah, seats?"
"Is it because of the people? Let's just do it here~"
"Hey, he came, so let's just do as he says."
One student laughed and got up from his seat.
Looking at the badge on his clothes, he was the only magic major among the three. The other two were administration majors.
"Let's go to the second floor. It's crowded there too, but everyone's focused on their own games and doesn't pay attention to other tables."
I signaled to Elias and Leo and went up to the second floor. I heard Elias getting the warp coordinates from an employee.
"How about over there?"
One of the third-years pointed to a table far from the center. It was a corner where only half the lighting reached.
I nodded and took a seat. Once everyone was seated, the student acting as dealer also came over and sat at the table.
Elias, who had arrived at some point, sat at the table next to us, pretending to play while resting his chin on his hand and staring holes through us.
'I said I was just playing...'
The competitive spirit had latched onto Elias.
I gave a wry smile.
Without any particular order, everyone pushed one of the chips in front of them onto the table.
'40 chips each.'
What a hopeless number.
From what I saw on the way in, to get your name on the board you need at least 4 people, each starting with 40 chips, and you can decide whether to continue or end the game after one person takes 120 chips.
'There was even a betting limit.'
The first round bet is a maximum of 2 chips, the raise limit is 10 chips. Going all-in at that point is allowed.
In the end, to keep the game from dragging and becoming boring, they found someone to fill the player count who would also lose simply.
'Not sure it'll end that simply, though.'
Anyway, thanks to that, the goal became clear.
Make them as exhausted and drained as possible.
"I'll deal the cards."
The dealer student clumsily flicked the cards.
Two arrived face down, the last one face up.
My face-up card was the 7 of diamonds.
The third-year across from me, who had a 2 as his face-up card, fidgeted.
"You got the lowest up card? I'll bet first~"
"Talking is a waste of time. Just do it!"
"No, we have a guest here."
'...Hmm.'
They see me as someone who doesn't know the rules.
In the first round, the person with the lowest public card starts the betting.
The game I played in reality had the highest person start the betting, but here it was different.
If I'd been dragged here from another booth, maybe, but to think I don't know the rules even though I was playing poker in the same game hall is surprising.
I didn't react and opened my hidden hand.
My current hand is K, 2, 7.
From Ace down to K, Q, J, 10—2 in descending order.
In this game, you receive 7 cards total—3 hidden, 4 public—and make your final hand with 5 of them.
To make a hand, you need cards of the same rank—for example, the 5 of hearts and 5 of diamonds, or the Ace of spades and Ace of diamonds—or cards in sequential order like 8, 9, 10, J, Q.
Or all cards of the same suit, like having 5 hearts.
There are more, but that's the gist.
By that measure, my hand hasn't taken shape yet.
Still, I have no intention of folding. Every round is an opportunity.
When my turn came, I opened my mouth.
"Call."
I matched the bet already on the table.
When the round ended, another public card flew over.
The 7 of spades. That made two 7s.
'Now I have a pair.'
In the next round, I received an Ace.
That doesn't make anything special. Of course, even that is welcome.
Then, the magic major student whose turn it was opened his mouth.
"Raise."
He had the 7 of hearts, 8 of hearts, and 8 of spades showing. He added three chips, raising the pot.
Since he has the 7 of hearts, the best hand I can make with 7s now is three of a kind. Because there are only four cards of each rank in a deck.
'The other student...'
"Ah, this hand is completely trash. Fold~"
One student declared fold and slumped back against his chair. Since another student folded in the second round, only two of us remain now.
'No need to look further.'
The reason the remaining guy raised the pot even after seeing my visible pair is because he has a better hand. A pair of 8s is higher than a pair of 7s.
Did he not consider what might be in my hidden hand?
'Well, expecting that level of thought for just playing around is asking a bit much.'
If he had considered it, he might have a card in his hidden hand that assures victory, or maybe he has the club 7, which I would need for three of a kind.
Or he might believe he can draw something even better soon.
In 7-card stud poker—though it looks quite different—a pair is quite common, so if everyone has decent hands, it's worth raising the pot.
Of course, my hand isn't good. But...
I need to think long-term. This isn't a normal game.
When my turn came again, I opened my mouth.
"Raise."
* * *
'Wow.'
One of the third-year students stared intently at Lucas.
'What is this? I feel like he's forcing it...'
I'd need to play a few more rounds to know for sure, but raising continuously in this situation?
Right now, me and the other friend have already declared fold and dropped out.
His current opponent has a pair of 8s. Compared to a pair of 7s, the opponent obviously wins.
In the meantime, it's already the final turn, and in the third round, the club 7 came into my hand.
That means the Ascanian guy doesn't have three of a kind. He's been repeating calls and raises with a hand that's basically worthless except for the pair.
'This confidence means he has another card in his hidden hand that pairs with something.'
Anyway, he definitely has something.
Perhaps sensing that, my friend is just watching for now, not aggressively betting chips.
'No, come to think of it, why am I watching so seriously?'
We just brought that guy here to have a comfortable competition among ourselves, so why are we observing him?
Maybe because that Ascanian guy is taking it more seriously than expected, creating an atmosphere that can't be ignored.
While trying to figure out his intentions for a while, the Ascanian guy opened his mouth.
"Fold."
"...?!"
He folds now?
There's no rule against it, but compared to the tense atmosphere throughout, the ending feels hollow.
Don't tell me... he held on with nothing special just to see what the last card would be? And he raised, not just called?
As if everyone had the same thought, one friend asked.
"...What hand did you have?"
In response to the question, Ascanian silently showed his hidden hand.
The friend squinted as he read the hand.
"K, 2, 7, 5, 7, A, 3... all different suits too."
"..."
Completely hopeless?
Did he fold now because he saw the last card and it was bad?
"Aigoo, our rookie is like this~"
A sarcastic voice came from the next table. At those words, Ascanian gave a faint, awkward smile.
'...Huh...'
Did I really misjudge him?
'Let's go over it again.'
He just lost a total of 10 chips.
Two of the four dropped out midway, leaving only my friend and Ascanian.
My friend raised the pot little by little, and Ascanian did the same...
But he declared fold only in the final round.
'Looking at this, he's the type who can't distinguish hands and just holds out hope.'
As if my friends thought the same, even as they received new cards from the beginning, their eyes met.
It didn't last long, but an expression of suppressed laughter passed over everyone's faces.
* * *
"Ah, if I get just 30 more, I win?"
The third-year magic major student laughed, rubbing his hands together.
The winning momentum shifted to another student once, then returned to him.
In contrast, my chips went up and down, and now I have 27 left.
I created situations to capitalize when luck came, but made sure not to hit rock bottom just in case.
Compared to the administration majors, it's not too little, but it seems the comment Elias casually made midway helped ease their guard. Even though I'm hitting moderate wins, the initial condescending atmosphere remains unchanged.
"I'll deal the cards."
The two hidden cards are the Queen of hearts, 2 of hearts.
The public card is the Jack of clubs.
'It'll depend on what comes next.'
Fortunately, because the magic major guy monopolized 90 chips, the administration majors lost steam and checked. That means they passed their turn without betting. The magic major guy, perhaps confident because he already had many chips, also laughed under his friends' glares and passed.
With that, this round ended, and a new card arrived.
'Hmm.'
Queen of diamonds.
The cards so far are Q, 2, J, Q, making a pair of Queens.
A pair ranked just below Aces and Kings.
Then, the magic major guy sighed looking at his hand.
"Ah..."
His face-up cards were the Jack of diamonds and 8 of hearts.
Wait, if this guy folds, it'll drag on longer. The 90-chip pot would instantly disappear until the next game.
Having already repeated rounds over thirty times, the administration majors also seemed tired, muttering with unfocused eyes.
"Thinking of folding?"
"Huh? I didn't say anything?! Haha, then let's just finish quickly. So, how much is the bet this round?"
"3."
"Hmm, raise."
The guy pushed in 10 chips.
'Look at this.'
I suppressed a laugh and kept a straight face.
Now, let's see.
Each person's chips: Magic major 90, Administration majors 30 and 13 each.
And me, 27.
If I call here, I'll have 14 left.
'Should I fold around here and aim for the next round?'
I briefly looked at the other students' hands and organized my thoughts.
No, let's end it here.
* * *
'Hmm.'
I rested my chin on my hand and looked around the table.
My friends were already tired, and though not obvious, Lucas Ascanian also seemed slightly fatigued.
'It's about time to finish.'
We've been here for over 40 minutes already; seems like I've extracted everything I can from here.
This round has already entered its fourth round.
Two friends already folded upon hearing my raise. Their expressions looked very dissatisfied, but if I sweep it all and win, they can leave quickly, so they should be somewhat satisfied.
'By the way, this guy really won't leave.'
I spoke to Ascanian.
"You're holding out for a long time~"
"Is that so."
Hmm, no matter how I look at it, he seems unaware of what he's doing.
First, holding onto that weak hand without folding and pushing through. And raising, not just calling? It's just laughable.
I thought he was just stubborn because of that, but after that, Ascanian folded four times in a row.
Then at some point, a raise finally came from his mouth, but if you keep folding and suddenly call a raise, the opponent can't help but know you have a good hand.
'But...'
I folded first and checked, and it was a high pair.
Even though my face-up cards showed two pair, he pushed through? I was surprised.
I wondered if he was deliberately bluffing, but looking at his face, it didn't seem like it.
'Of course he must have had some thought, but it doesn't seem like much expectation...'
His moves are unpredictable, but you can immediately tell it stems from inexperience, not proper calculation. Maintaining 27 chips until now must be luck.
Then, the dealer flicked the cards.
I lined up my cards.
Hidden J, K.
Face-up J, 8, J, 3.
I already have a pair showing.
And Ascanian's hand is J, Q, 2, 4.
At least on the surface, it's hopeless. Should I give him a chance?
I smiled appropriately and checked without betting.
Ascanian, perhaps because his hand wasn't great either, passed without betting, moving to the next round.
'First, the total chips in the pot so far is 31.'
If I bet the maximum of 2 in the final round and he calls, the total pot becomes 35.
'It's ambiguous.'
Even if I win, my chips become 110.
10 short, so I can't end the game.
'Should I not have checked in the 4th round?'
No, even if I hadn't checked, the total pot would be 39, so whether I checked or not, I can't end the game this round.
I'm quite tired now, and since I have a good hand this round, I'd like to finish here if possible. Is there no way?
'...No, there is.'
There's a way to take all of Ascanian's chips too.
Ascanian's remaining chips are 12.
Using this method, my chips become 122, the final victory.
Worth a try.
* * *
After that, I received the 2 of diamonds and 4 of spades.
I received the final round's hidden card and tilted my head.
Another Queen.
I already have a pair of Queens just in the hidden cards.
First, the remaining third-year magic major is definitely in a good situation.
From the first round, sighing as if he had a bad hand and then raising by 10, you could immediately tell not to take that sigh at face value.
Of course, since he holds a dominant position alone, you could think he raised that much just for fun, but it's more reasonable to believe there's a genuine reason rather than considering that possibility.
He actually has a pair of Jacks showing. Still, that's ranked lower than a pair of Queens. And I don't even have a pair to begin with.
So...
'Now I just need to wait for him to come.'
Since he responded to the check in the 4th round, it's about time he comes.
The third-year magic major student stroked his chin for a while, then pushed his chips and opened his mouth.
"All in."
—-----------
T/N:
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