There has to be hundreds of bronze coins in here. There’s also a considerable amount of silver ones here, and…….yep, there’s even a few gold ones.
I watched as everyone crowded around the table where Adam had dumped the pot. Coins glinted under the light, stacked and scattered like a small dragon’s hoard.
“I could buy so much food with this.” Cedric murmured, eyes glazed, already mentally chewing.
“Is food genuinely all you think about?” Merilda said, rolling her eyes. “Besides, it’s not even yours.”
“Then why is your hand drifting toward the pot?” Jain asked, pointing directly at her fingers, which were, in fact, inching forward.
“It is not,” Merilda snapped, yanking her hand back like she’d been burned.
“There’s so much here!” Volk exclaimed, plunging both hands into the pile like a child discovering sand for the first time. He laughed, then looked at me. “I didn’t think you’d actually pull it off! You keep surprising me, you know that?”
“Does this mean my tab’s finally paid off?” Elder Liora asked hopefully, peering over his shoulder.
“Uh—no,” Volk said. “You didn’t even win.”
Elder Liora turned away. “Cheapskate.”
“Cheapskate?” Volk scoffed. “When you give up multiple Artifacts, then you can—”
“Did you see that?” Elder Alric said, nudging Hume with his elbow.
“Yes,” Hume replied flatly. “I also saw the twenty other times you told me to focus when I blinked.”
“Not only did Beric beat Malo,” Elder Alric continued proudly, “but he outplayed Tao. Strategically.”
“I saw.” Hume said.
Zachary picked up a few silver coins, turning them over in his palm. “What could you even buy with all this?”
“A cool sword,” Mayern said immediately.
“Good armor,” Nyra added.
“Backup weapons,” Corven said. “A lot of them.”
“Durable gloves,” Malo muttered.
“A strong summon! Like a direwolf!” Kaelyn said, eyes sparkling.
Zachary stared at them. “That’s it? Wow. You people have zero imagination.” He held up a silver coin. “With just a few of these, I could buy an enchanted sword.”
“You don't even use a sword. And isn't that exactly what I just said?” Mayern asked.
“No,” Zachary replied. “You said cool sword.”
Before Mayern could argue the distinction, Adam wandered back over, rubbing his eyes.
“Well,” he yawned, “that was unexpected. Someone actually beat Tao at his own game.” He paused, thinking. “That’s never happened before, right?”
The table went quiet.
“……..You’re sober?” Jain asked cautiously.
“Yep.” Adam nodded. “A couple cups of water fixed it.” He frowned. “I didn’t do anything weird, did I? I don’t remember much beyond the game.”
We all exchanged glances.
Silently, unanimously, we decided to let him find out later.
Adam picked up a bronze coin, squinting at it like it might confess something. Then he looked at me. “You know, I’m expecting a tip.”
“You paused the game three times because you were drunk-crying and flailing,” Zachary said. “You are not getting tipped.”
And just like that, the unspoken agreement shattered.
“That’s what I did?” Adam scratched his head. “Wow. Rough.” He glanced at Zachary. “Listen, when you reach my age, you’ll also expect compensation for hard work.”
“So when are you getting one?” Zachary asked.
“A tip?”
“No. A job.”
Adam flicked his forehead. “Don’t say that word around me.” Then he turned back to me. “Still, nice work. I really didn’t think you’d win.” He tilted his head. “But, how did you?”
Zachary clapped a hand on my shoulder. “That’s what I want to know too. Seriously, Beric, what are you?” He pulled his hand back when he saw my face. “…....Oh. Sorry. I should’ve asked before touching you. Did I—”
“You keep surprising me!” Mayern interrupted, slinging an arm around me instead. “Maybe I should be more cautious around you.” He stroked his chin thoughtfully. “I suppose this excuses Malo losing to you.”
“Ugh,” Malo groaned.
Mayern perked up. “But now that everything’s done, tell us. What actually happened?” He raked a hand through his hair. “I was breaking my brain trying to follow that game.”
“At the end,” Nyra added, leaning forward, “what changed? Why did it suddenly turn in your favor?”
“You were losing at one point,” Jain said carefully. “And, well, Tao cheats.”
“Was he really cheating if Beric won?” Cedric asked, licking the last of his bowl clean. “How would that even work?”
“He’d lose if Beric figured it out,” Merilda said. She turned to me. “Did you?”
All eyes then turned to me.
Mine looked behind.
Tao was still sitting down, motionless.
No one, not even the curious spectators, had the gall to question him about the game.
And as for Sarah, I saw her fragile and worried smile still shine weakly as she continued her bartending duties.
It’s going to be a lot of unpacking, eh?
Sys looked happy.
You’ll have to explain the math, the mindgames, you finding out the reflection trick, the-
He paused as he looked at me.
Hey, are you okay?
You look sad.
“I didn’t.”
What? What are you-
“What do you mean, you didn’t?” Kaelyn demanded, stepping closer, and in the process stomping hard on Malo’s foot.
“Damned bit—” Malo cut himself off as Hume cleared his throat.
“I just saw through him,” I said. “When I asked those questions. It was the same thing when I bluffed about my coins.”
“No way!” Zachary shot back. “I did the exact same thing, and he read me every single time.”
“Do we really need an answer for that?” Kaelyn muttered.
“No,” Noll said suddenly, seemingly from nowhere.
“Is that really it?” Elder Liora asked.
I nodded.
She nodded back and didn’t press further.
Everyone else exchanged glances, clearly unsatisfied.
“But why can’t you just—” Mayern started.
“It’s like a magician,” Elder Alric interrupted solemnly.
“……..A magician?” Merilda repeated, blinking.
“Just as magicians don’t reveal how they perform their tricks,” Alric said, nodding to himself, “Beric will not reveal his.”
He looked extremely proud of that explanation.
Hume stared at him. “Alric, what are you even—”
“What I believe Elder Alric is attempting to say,” Elder Walden cut in smoothly, “is that Beric does not wish to share. And that we should respect that.”
“But why?” Mayern persisted. “Why can’t he? We’ve been trying to figure Tao out for years!”
“Hey, relax,” Zachary said, trying to de-escalate.
Mayern turned to me instead. “Beric, think about it this way. If you tell us how it works, Tao’s finished. No more victims. The people he’s already tricked would finally get some closure.”
I looked at him.
“If you knew he was cheating and still played him, thinking you’d figure it out,” I said evenly, “then you’re just an egotistical idiot.”
Mayern stiffened.
“I…...uh-” He was shocked by that. "What-"
"Do you truly believe that I somehow figured him out? That I'm some genius who wants to hide it?"
Mayern swallowed.
"Then prove it."
He froze.
No one spoke.
The air went thick, awkward and heavy.
“Okay!” Zachary said quickly, clapping his hands. “How about we all eat?” He gestured around. “I don’t know about you guys, but because of that game, I didn’t eat my fill yet. And you know, after such an entertaining one, I’m feeling quite famished.”
Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions.
Relief spread immediately as heads nodded.
“You’re eating with us, right?” Zachary asked me.
It was another open door.
I didn’t have to force myself this time.
“Sorry,” I said. “I have to train.”
But not for me.
“To train?” Zachary echoed.
I turned away. “Volk, will the coins cover any weapons I want for the rest of the tournament?”
“Uh—yes! Absolutely!” Volk replied.
I started walking, then stopped.
“Beric?”
Malo.
I turned back.
“Is something wrong?”
No. Not really.
Not with you guys at least.
“I just need to work on some new ideas,” I said.
I walked away.
This time, I didn’t stop.
I left the tavern.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
As I walked down the street, with lanterns glowing to life as the sun began to set, Sys floated quietly beside me.
Where are we going?
“To the arena. I need an open space for this.”
Okay, I got you.
I continued walking.
So, do you want to talk about it?
“Talk about what?”
You know, that. Blowing them off.
“I just need to train.”
You sure it’s just that?
“It is.”
Okay.
I side stepped the tail of a sleeping cat person.
That’s interesting.
“What is?”
You used to go crazy over the other races. Remember how you couldn’t stop staring at that dwarf and gnome?
“I do.”
Now you don’t even give a second look to cat people.
I didn’t answer.
I continued walking.
I can tell something’s wrong. Though, it’s not like you need to be a psychologist to see that.
We arrived at the arena.
But, I won’t press any further.
I picked up a sword as I glanced at Sys.
I’ll always be here, so whenever you’re ready, just tell me.
“..........What if I never do?”
That’s fine. I’ll still always be here.
I swung the sword around a bit.
“Thank you.”
Sys smiled.
No need to thank your loyal system.
He then looked around.
Though, what are we doing here?
“Like I said, to train.”
“On standby!” Pickle exclaimed while saluting me.
So you’re going to go ahead with this.
I threw Pickle a training sword.
“Pickle.”
“Yes, General?”
“I’m going to see just how well you fare with a sword.”
“I’ll do my best!”
You probably should have at least talked to Elder Walden about this first.
“It wasn’t the time.”
I guess, but you could have at least checked the rest of their stats.
“I don’t need any distractions.”
But, don’t worry, since your loyal system went ahead and screenshotted them all!
“No, I really don’t need any-”
A bright blue screen then appeared right before me.
Name: Mayern Calo
Age: 17
Class: Magical Swordsman
Strength: 1,421
Speed: 1,673
Stamina: 1,381
Endurance: 1,328
Durability: 1,411
Mana: 1,581
Soul Rank: Ethereal
Soul Color: Blue
As to be expected. Though, that mana stat is unreal.
Name: Kaelyn Drinda
Age: 16
Class: Berserker
Strength: 1,535
Speed: 1,412
Stamina: 1,434
Endurance: 1,341
Durability: 1,372
Mana: 812
Soul Rank: Tarnished
Soul Color: Blue
A slightly weaker version of Malo but much more aggressive. Nightmare fuel basically.
Name: Nyra Yun
Age: 15
Class: Raider
Strength: 1,154
Speed: 1,625
Stamina: 1,661
Endurance: 1,193
Durability: 1,231
Mana: 1,332
Soul Rank: Stable
Soul Color: Blue
So she can speedblitz me. Great.
Name: Corven Drowl
Age: 16
Class: Pyromancer
Strength: 973
Speed: 1,114
Stamina: 1,134
Endurance: 1,143
Durability: 1,071
Mana: 2,011
Soul Rank: Ethereal
Soul Color: Blue
Dude’s got double my mana.
Name: Noll Graves
Age: 17
Class: Assassin
Strength: 1,346
Speed: 1,362
Stamina: 1,373
Endurance: 1,325
Durability: 1,344
Mana: 1,213
Soul Rank: Stable
Soul Color: Blue
Somewhat of an all rounder. Stats wise, Noll doesn’t really have any weak spots.
Now, for Zin and Rune-
“No need. What are the chances I’ll even be going up against them anyway?”
It’s the same chances as going up against anyone else.
“Whatever. I need to focus on training anyway…………Thanks for that by the way.”
No problem!
Though, stats aren’t really that accurate. From what I’ve seen and experienced, at best, the stats form a rough estimation that help me prepare to fight them. They’re helpful, but I shouldn’t rely on them fully.
Now, for Pickle-
“Hello!”
The sudden appearance of a hologram-like screen of Count Roland appeared before me.
The first thing I noticed was how happy and healthy he looked.
Before I could even question it, Roland continued.
“Thanks to the efforts of many wonderful mages, I am able to talk to every single person within the perimeter of Haldrith via this spell.”
So he basically pinged everyone.
“Shut up, you chronically online fool.”
“Today went amazing, and I’d like to thank our gifted participants of the Winged Fangs Tournament for doing so well and providing such prime entertainment! I’d also like to thank our loyal spectators for cheering them on and making the tournament even better!”
Get on with it already-
“Now, I know you all are either resting or feasting within the many great taverns and bars in this city, so I will be quick with my announcement. Right now, I will announce the next matchups for tomorrow!”
Here we go.
Please don't be Mayern, please don’t be Mayern, please don’t be-
“The first pair will be Mayern Calo……..and-”
Please, please, please-
“Noll Graves!”
YES!
Sys flew around in a joyous circle.
I had to be honest, I was somewhat glad too.
“The next pair is Kaelyn Drinda and Corven Drowl!”
Looks like they can finally finish it now.
“Up next, we have Zin Caedan and Nyra Yun!”
That’ll be interesting. One’s a piece of shit while the other’s a respectful fighter who doesn’t-
It hit me.
“Finally, we have Beric Bome and-”
There’s only two people left including me.
“Rune Goher!”
Of all people to be matched up against, Rune?
Was this some twisted coincidence?
Rune, huh? At least it’s not Mayern.
Sys looked at me.
You okay?
“I am. I just……..didn’t think I would have to go up against Rune.”
You’ll be fine. Rune’s strong, but so are you. You got this.
“And with that, I’ll be ending this transmission. Have a good rest of the day! Enjoy the festival!”
Roland’s transmission was then cut.
“It’s not that, it’s just that we-”
I paused.
Bad history, I know. But you can’t let that mess you up. He does look like he’s matured, and as much as I want to believe that, there’s still a chance he’s just faking it. Still, you can’t think about all of that. You just have to focus and go into the fight, ready to win.
Sys then wore a thinking face.
Though, if you stayed behind, you could have listened to what happened in the past from Zachary.
“I’m not going back.”
I know. I’m just saying, it might clear some things up if you found out what happened.
“I’m not going. I have to train.”
I hear that. It’s just that, it’d also help out your family. Who knows? Maybe you could even mend the broken relationship Arthur and Rune once shared. It’s not like you’re nosey or anything. You’d just be doing it to look out for your brother.
“I know what you’re doing. It’s not going to work.”
Okay.
I glanced up at the sun. It was mid afternoon, reaching evening.
“...........Since Zachary owes me that, I suppose I can go back to hear it. But only after I train with Pickle.”
Fine by me.
“I’m only going there to clear things up. It’s not like I actually care or anything.”
I know.
“Then stop smiling like that.”
Smiling like what?
“That fugly ass smile.”
I don’t know what you’re talking about.
I smacked Sys away.
It better be worth it.
