Episode 88

I never expected Ludwig to have such an unexpected hobby.

I’d heard that even high-ranking nobles frequented the gambling dens on Deveris Street, but encountering Ludwig here was entirely unexpected.

The thought of him smoking a cigar and engaging in a card game was both absurd and decadently intriguing.

“It’s not what you’re thinking,” he said firmly, his expression suggesting he could guess my thoughts.

“I’m here because I received reports that a dark magician might be present.”

“A dark magician? You’re looking for them too?” I asked, surprised.

“Yes. Deveris Street falls under Karsian jurisdiction, and the presence of a dark magician here would create quite the scandal.”

I knew Deveris Street was part of Karsian territory, being situated at the border of the duchy. The fact that Ludwig had received similar reports strengthened the possibility that the dark magician was indeed here.

“Sierra, and you…?”

It was my turn to explain. After all, Ludwig might have misunderstood me, just as I had initially misinterpreted his presence. I couldn’t help but recall how he’d looked earlier, regarding a man screaming in greed-fueled ecstasy as if he were nothing more than an insignificant insect.

I wasn’t usually the type to care about others’ perceptions, but with Ludwig, I wanted to avoid any misunderstandings.

“To clarify, I’m not here to gamble,” I said, waving my hands to dispel the notion.

Ludwig stepped closer, his presence commanding yet oddly different from usual. Perhaps it was because I hadn’t seen him in a while, or maybe it was the slightly unfamiliar atmosphere surrounding him.

The dark hair framing his face made his blue eyes appear sharper than ever, and their intensity rendered his thoughts unreadable.

“I already know why you’re here,” he said, his voice steady. “Eve told me everything.”

“Ah.”

Behind me, Eve murmured, “I’m sorry, my lady.”

“It’s fine,” I replied.

Eve was one of Ludwig’s trusted subordinates. Although she was helping me out of a sense of duty, it was natural for her to report back to her master.

Ludwig leaned in slightly, smoothing my hair as he spoke. “I understand your urgency, but you’re being reckless.”

His hand briefly brushed my cheek, its warmth lingering. Perhaps I’d missed this—his quiet, understated kindness.

He wasn’t wrong. I had been reckless, driven by the overwhelming need to find a solution as quickly as possible. With danger lurking around every corner, I’d come here with only Eve by my side.

But before I could defend myself, Ludwig placed his hand gently on top of my head.

“…?”

He ruffled my hair affectionately and said, “It seems we share the same goal. Let’s work together. I’m counting on you.”

I looked up to see him smiling softly. His clumsy yet sincere attempt to comfort me almost brought tears to my eyes, a single drop threatening to slip down my cheek.

Ludwig then pulled a pair of black gloves from his pocket and slipped them onto his hands. His expression shifted, becoming sharp and predatory.

“Let’s move quickly. Time is of the essence,” he said, his eyes gleaming like those of a hunter fixated on its prey.

* * *

The gambling den was a cacophony of chaos.

The sheer scale of the venue was overwhelming.

*“Even in broad daylight, it’s packed with this many people?”*

Shouts of triumph and despair echoed from every corner, while the pervasive haze of cigarette smoke made my head spin.

The real problem lay in finding the dark magician amidst this sea of people.

Bringing Diego along had been considered, but the hassle of keeping an eye on someone so likely to flee wasn’t worth it. Instead, I had him sketch a rough composite of the magician’s appearance.

*[Dark magicians are known for the tattoos that cover half their faces.]* Diego explained as he drew the composite. He added a split-sun symbol to the center of the man’s forehead. *[Though they can magically conceal these markings, the split-sun symbol in the center of the forehead—unique to members of ‘Twilight’—is resistant to concealment magic.]*

That split-sun tattoo was our most crucial clue.

Another lead, gleaned from Ludwig’s intelligence, was the magician’s penchant for blackjack.

We headed to the section hosting blackjack games and discreetly began our search.

At one table, the murmurs of a crowd grew into gasps of astonishment.

“Can you believe this? Roil won again!”

The man called Roil was surrounded by a growing audience, all watching with a mix of disbelief and begrudging admiration. The dealer’s frustrated gaze lingered on Roil as he raked in his winnings with a self-satisfied grin.

“Is he using magic? How else could he play as if he knew every card?”

“That’s impossible. If magic were used, the detection crystal would’ve reacted.”

“Still…”

“Truly a man of luck. No one can beat him.”

In the midst of the commotion, I caught my first glimpse of Roil’s face—and my eyes widened.

He was a near-perfect match to Diego’s sketch. The clincher was the split-sun tattoo prominently etched on his forehead.

Roil looked around with an air of arrogance, his voice loud and taunting.

“No one else wants to challenge me? Have you all lost your nerve?”

Given his undefeated streak, it was no surprise that no one was eager to risk their money. He pouted theatrically before pushing forward a mountain of gold coins.

“Fine! I’ll wager it all on this next game! Who knows? Maybe someone will turn their life around today.”

The crowd murmured, captivated by the sight of the glittering gold pile. Just then, a tall figure stepped forward through the throng.

‘Another victim to Roil’s tricks…’

I thought, only to freeze when I saw the challenger’s face.

Ludwig.

He stood casually before Roil, unbothered by the attention.

“A brave soul,” Roil sneered, shuffling the cards with theatrical flair.

As Ludwig sat, a few hesitant players joined the table. With the seats filled, the game began again, fraught with deceit and tension.

One by one, players folded and left the table, their losses piling up. Soon, only Ludwig and Roil remained.

“Ludwig… are you really a beginner?”

Despite his earlier claim of knowing only the basics, Ludwig was holding his own against Roil, whose expression had grown increasingly grim.

Roil’s tricks were failing.

The sight of Ludwig in black gloves, calmly handling his cards, was eerily similar to the image I’d imagined at the entrance.

“Who is that guy?”

“And look at him—handsome even with the hat pulled low.”

Even amidst the chaos, Ludwig was winning hearts and steadily turning the game in his favor.

Meanwhile, Roil’s face was a mask of despair as he watched his pile of gold shrink. The tricks that had won him countless games were utterly useless against Ludwig.

As Roil’s defeat became inevitable, his temper snapped. He overturned the table with a roar.

“This is impossible! He’s cheating!”

The room erupted in outrage.

“What are you doing? You took everyone else’s money, and now you flip the table when you’re losing?”

“The detection crystal didn’t react. How can you claim he cheated?”

Roil clutched his coin pouch like a lifeline, his wild eyes betraying his panic. He looked ready to unleash his dark magic at any moment.

Ludwig remained unshaken. Rising from his seat, he approached Roil calmly.

“What… what do you want? You wanna fight?” Roil stammered.

The dealer intervened, his voice firm. “Take this outside. If you cause any more trouble, the security detail will be summoned.”

The mention of security gave Roil pause. He couldn’t afford to be exposed.

“Fine! Let’s settle this outside!” Roil snarled, storming toward the exit. Ludwig shrugged and followed, his movements unhurried.

The crowd parted as the two men left the gambling den. It was clear Roil intended to silence Ludwig with dark magic once they were out of sight.

But he had made a fatal error.

He had chosen the wrong opponent.

 

 

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