By Zephyria “Betting?”
Almost as soon as he asked, the two men’s gazes turned to the two Tokens in Leonardo’s hand. From the beginning, he thought it was suspicious that it looked like a chip. It seemed that the reason for collecting and consuming Tokens and passing through the previous parts was for this moment.
“The current number of Tokens is the number tallied at the moment the participants last threw the Mana Orb. Tokens can be used to open the doors placed here, and each time you bet, the number of Tokens is reduced by the number indicated on the door.”
Gold Eyes looked back at the numbers engraved in front of the door again.
“After betting, if the selected door is opened, there are two situations that the participant can face. Escape or bust.”
“Bust?”
“Yes, you don’t have to be disappointed if you bust. We only express it as ‘bust’ for convenience if it’s not an exit, but various effects are applied to the Token with a 33.3% probability. The best effect is, of course, the square of the remaining Token number after betting.”
At those words, Ero’s eyes widened. If it’s a square, since the current number is 62… for example, if you multiply 62 twice….
“You’re saying it’s over 3,600 right away?”
“Yes, you can increase the number of Tokens in that way. As the number increases, the chances of betting will gradually increase. The effects are diverse, such as adding a certain number or doubling the existing number. But there are not always benefits.”
It sounded like a certain number could be deducted or the existing number could be halved. Moreover, if there is a square, there must be the opposite situation. However, the guide did not mention specific details, as if he would leave it to the imagination beyond this.
“The higher the number indicated on the door, the higher the probability of leading to an exit. The task of the third part is to successfully bet before the number of Tokens becomes 0 and finally escape this space.”
The rules were simple. However, Leonardo’s mouth was distorted as if he was not satisfied.
It sounded simple, but it was the most difficult of the games he had played so far, and the possibility of elimination was also high. When he first heard the concept of betting, he thought that it would be advantageous if the number was unconditionally high, so he regretted his actions of deliberately dropping it on the floor several times to lower the weight of the Mana Orb. But as he listened, he realized that even if the number was high, there would only be many opportunities to try betting, but there was no guarantee of successfully escaping.
In other words, whether or not you escape is a matter of luck. But, is this right?
A game method where luck plays a strong role, it wasn’t like the Council.
Just as he was having doubts, the guide continued to speak.
“And this part, like the previous parts, allows for mid-term withdrawal. As this is the last game held before the participants put their names on the preliminaries, one more special rule has been added.”
“They’re giving us a chance to withdraw? Why?”
Leonardo picked at the statement that preceded the addition of rules. There were no fearsome demon beasts that could pose a threat here, nor suffocating deserts that could melt your lungs.
“If you run out of chances while betting, you’re immediately eliminated, so why bother giving the option to forfeit?”
The guide, hearing the sharp question, raised the corners of his lips for the first time.
“Yes, there is a reason. If you are eliminated after using up all your Tokens, you will not be able to participate in leagues hosted by this organization for the next five years.”
“Huh?”
It was Ero who reacted with disbelief.
“No, why can’t we participate for five years? It’s not like we committed a crime!”
“This is the ‘rule’ to control the game. The ability to find an exit is proof that you are qualified to advance to the preliminaries in this league. Furthermore, objectively judging your own abilities and planning for the future is also proof that you are qualified to participate in the next league.”
It was a speechless answer. On the other hand, it was also an easy answer to understand. The 1st and 2nd matches that had been held so far were, after all, a ‘test’ of whether the participants could advance to the preliminaries and show interesting performance in front of the audience.
“If you don’t want to take the risk of being restricted from participating in the league for five years, you can forfeit before using up all your Tokens and participate again in the league to be held next year. Now, what will you do? Will you bet?”
It was a generous tone, but in reality, it meant that if you didn’t have the guts to gamble, this was it. Or bet on your fate, no matter what happens in the future.
Around that time, Leonardo looked down at the Token in his hand.
If the value of about 500 were squared continuously, it would be a considerably large number, but unfortunately, his life hadn’t been very lucky except for having powerful Magic Power.
Rather, the only luck he thought he had often became poison in his life.
So, instead of waiting for luck to come, he would seize the opportunity. That was much faster and more accurate, and it suited his past life and values.
“Hyung… what are you going to do?”
Ero, showing his embarrassment, asked in a tearful voice. It seemed that the penalty he would face when the situation didn’t go as he wished weighed heavily on him. But Leonardo turned his gaze forward without answering.
In the oasis, there were various numbers, from small numbers such as 4, 16, and 29 to 381, 752, four digits, six digits, and even more. There were so many numbers that even if you collected quite a few Tokens, you wouldn’t even be able to try.
Among them, Leonardo’s eyes caught the betting amount ‘1’ door located in the center of the oasis.
His lowered gaze naturally went up. Because it was a reflection on the water surface, the real door existed above.
A round semi-circular ceiling, with a door worth 1 attached to the very center.
Gold Eyes narrowed. If the number of Tokens you had left was low, it would be a door that anyone would covet, but it might be a foolish door to open on the first try. Logically, 1 implies too low a probability to be connected to an exit.
But probability sometimes contains legitimate contradictions. Whether the probability is 1 or 99. Unless that number is 100%, the result is always either true or false. In other words, it’s the same as a 50/50 chance.
‘Besides, this situation is closer to a planned device to evaluate the participants. That guy’s statement that he was ‘waiting for us’ as soon as we arrived here, and the unprecedented elimination penalty that feels harsh.’
Thinking that way, the choices in front of him all seemed like opportunities. Not just an opportunity to test his luck, but a path to victory that he had honed while playing the game.
There was no way the Council guys would let him be eliminated so easily. And if there was one thing they overlooked, it was that there was no next league for him.
If he didn’t win this league with Exacore on the line, he had no reason to put up with such troublesome events.
“Hey.”
Leonardo, turning his head to the guide, asked.
“Here, can you take other people’s Tokens or lose Tokens?”
At that moment, Leonardo felt two conflicting gazes. One was puzzled, and the other was clearly nervous.
“Of course. Like the first part, you can take other people’s Tokens and combine them with your own.”
“So the opposite is also possible?”
“…That’s right.”
The guide’s languid eyelids lifted slightly. It was because he didn’t understand the participant’s question. However, Ero next to him muttered in an anxious tone.
“Hyung… that….”
He looked terrified that he might lose his Tokens since the opponent had his Tokens in his hands. That was because Joker was too weak to face Lion, and he was just one of the cards he had, rather than a companion.
“Hey, what are you going to do?”
Leonardo asked as if giving him a choice. Ero glanced up at Gold Eyes and awkwardly rolled his eyes. Then he answered incoherently.
“Uh… well, if Hyung wants it… take it! I can do it again next year! Haha, I was worried about being eliminated after using up all my Tokens anyway… If Hyung uses them to pass this game, wouldn’t that be worth coming together? Then I’ll be happy too!”
He tried to speak as if nothing was wrong, but Ero couldn’t make eye contact at all. Soon his gaze fell to his feet. Leonardo tilted his head and stared intently at his eyes.
After taking a moment to compose himself, Ero cleared his throat and raised his head with a cheerful smile.
“Hyung, I may be here, but I promise to win! By adding my share, aack!”
“You idiot. When did I ask for yours?”
Leonardo sighed and flicked Ero’s forehead. He hit him softly, but it seemed to be a huge shock to the other person.
A clear striking sound echoed inside the cave, and Ero, with his face contorted, grabbed his forehead and twisted his body.
“Ugh, Hyeong-nim…! It hurts!”
“Take it.”
Ting, a clear sound was heard. Ero, who was groaning, widened his eyes and reflexively stretched out his arms and slapped his palms together. Something barely caught in the flat gap. Perhaps because Ero had been thinking of the worst, he couldn’t adapt to the completely different situation, and he moved his lips.
Soon, he carefully checked what was in his hand.
A few seconds later, he tentatively asked Leonardo with a dubious expression.
“Hyung, I think you gave me the wrong one… right?”
It wasn’t the 62 Token he originally had. It wasn’t even the 517 that Leonardo had. The Token Ero received had the number 578 engraved on it.
Leonardo held his Token and shook it lightly.
“That’s right. This is enough for me.”
The number 1 flickered on the Token, reflecting the waves of the oasis. Before he could even figure out what was going on, Leonardo put his hand on Ero’s shoulder, bent down to meet his eyes, and whispered.
“You said you’d be loyal to me during the league.”
“…….”
“Don’t give up. I’m going first.”
With those words, Leonardo ruffled Ero’s hair roughly once and winked at the guide.
“How do you bet?”
“You can touch the Token to the door, or you can open the door directly with the Token. It doesn’t matter which method you use.”
“Is that so?”
Leonardo flicked the Token with his thumb.
“Then it’s easy to talk.”
Soon, his arm, which had risen diagonally, pointed to a door attached to the ceiling of the oasis.
Peeing, a sharp noise that stimulated the ears rang out once, and a Red ray stretched out in a straight line from the slightly bent fingertips. At almost the same time, the Token, which was spinning around, flew in the same direction, pierced by a diagonal line. As a result, the refraction of light reflected on the obsidian intensified, and the field of vision turned completely white.
The guide and Ero bowed their heads and closed their eyes due to the extreme glare. Around that time, Leonardo, fluttering his cloak, leaped into the air.
Kwaaaang―!
A thunderous burst filled the inside of the cave. The ray pierced through the Boulder, and the door that was there for formality disappeared without a trace. In its place, a hole large enough for two people to pass through was created, and rays of light and destroyed fragments poured down and fell onto the oasis.
The area around the exit, which drew an accurate circle, was clean without a single crack. Only the splashing friction sounds echoed continuously inside the cave. Then it stopped completely when a refreshing wind blew from somewhere.
Ero, who had suddenly become a water-soaked mouse, slowly lowered his arm, which he had instinctively raised. He also slightly opened his tightly closed eyes. It was a blurry vision, but he could tell that the surroundings were brighter than before. As the silence after the storm settled, the guide with a languid impression looked up at the exit and muttered in a languid tone.
“Ah, I was going to try to stall for time… it was all in vain.”
Ero squinted his eyes and stared at the guide. The guide looked back at Ero with a bitter smile.
“If the participants pass too quickly, I’ll get an earful from the higher-ups.”
“…Yes?”
At that moment, a Token floated on the overflowing waves and washed up to the feet of the two.
The guide put his hands behind his back, bent down, and picked up the Token. Then he held it up towards the only ray of light coming down from the ceiling.
The number written on the Token was 0. There was a thin crack in the middle, like a thread, caused by the ray passing through.
It was an accurate calculation without any error.
The guide, admiring with his tongue out, handed the Token to Ero.
“It’s a souvenir. Please pass it on later.”
“A souvenir…?”
The guide smiled again at him, who was receiving the Token with a dazed face, and asked.
“Now, what will the participant do? Will you bet?”