Roen, standing on the hillside of Bukmangsan Mountain, looked at Raon leaving the annex and let out a sigh of relief.
‘You finally got the hang of it.’
In less than a month, Raon mastered Hyangeumgong and incorporated his own martial arts skills into it.
‘No, that’s not all.’
He not only developed Hyangeumgong using existing martial arts training, but also achieved swordsmanship through Hyangeumgong. It’s clear that it’s lacking, but I couldn’t shut up about achieving that level in just one month.
“What did you think, matriarch?”
Roen turned around and called out to Glenn, who was behind him.
“It seems like the secret of Chunggeom was picked up from Hyangeumgong.”
Glenn’s voice was calm, as if he didn’t feel anything, but his mouth was soaring high into the sky.
“This is not just a child following a well-paved road. “He is a greedy guy who uses the tools he is given to create a better path than the existing one.”
“I think so too.”
Roen smiled slightly and nodded. As Glenn said, Raon was a monster who developed the status of a martial arts scholar through endless effort and outstanding talent.
“It is novel to create sounds with the sound of the sword and the name of the sword. Since there are two types of sounds, it is not easy for the enemy to understand, and it has good applicability. I think it will produce good swordsmanship.”
“Well, that’s true… .”
As he praised Raon, Glenn’s smile became brighter and his movements became larger.
‘anyway.’
Roen let out a light laugh as he watched Glenn’s reaction.
‘You’re not being honest.’
If you look at the way he was so happy without knowing what to say to his grandson’s praise, he was a very generous grandfather.
‘I wish you could be a little more honest.’
I know why Glenn stays away from Raon and Sylvia, but I agree with Rimmer this time. I hope that she reveals her honest feelings and that their relationship can be restored before it is too late.
“Looking at the current pace of development, it seems like if he trains consistently for about half a year, he will be able to create his own martial arts style.”
Glenn’s eyes sparkled as if he was looking forward to seeing his grandson grow.
“It’s not like you can learn a new martial arts skill in just half a year, so it’s scary to think you can do it.”
Roen laughed as he looked at the calm lake.
“But even Raon can’t do anything about Harryan.”
Dogoe’s real name is Harian Sieghardt. Although he was a long time ago, he was recognized by Glenn as a talented player, so it was impossible for Raon to win against him.
“There will be no need to go to martial arts degree.”
Glenn clicked his tongue briefly.
“Because you can’t get over gambling, let alone drinking.”
Dogoe’s gambling skills, as his nickname suggests, are enough to make the entire continent cry. It was absurd for Raon, who learned poorly from Rimmer, to win against him.
“and… .”
Glenn turned his back when he saw Raon disappear.
“When it comes to alcohol, you have to learn it from adults. “Keuhum!”
He cleared his throat briefly and disappeared like smoke on the spot.
“Hehe.”
Roen smiled slightly as he looked at the spot where Glenn had disappeared.
“sure. “It would be best to learn from your grandfather.”
* * *
Raon stood in front of the gambling house that Rimmer had told him about with Dorian, who was shaking with anxiety.
“Are you really going?”
Dorian trembled as he looked at the entrance to the gambling house.
“Destruction! This is the thief who has become famous throughout the continent for his gambling! “It’s different from the bullies I’ve dealt with so far!”
He shook his head, saying this was really not possible.
“They weren’t pushy either.”
Raon grinned. Gamblers who have shattered things before are experts among experts. He won thanks to Ras, but if he had been alone, he wouldn’t have won so overwhelmingly.
“Feel free to follow me.”
Raon slapped Dorian on the shoulder and entered the gambling house. Even though it was broad daylight, the inside of the gambling hall was crowded with people and filled with a dark and damp atmosphere.
‘I said it was the center.’
According to the information Judiel brought, it was said that Dogoe always opens the game in the center of the gambling hall. When I looked in the middle, there was a large table with people gathered around.
“ah!”
Raon looked at the table and his eyes widened. It’s not because she saw the collapse. This was because the red-haired elf sitting outside the table was all too familiar.
“Kwaaaaaak! shit!”
Red haired elf. Rimmer grabbed his head and screamed. He didn’t know where he got the money from, but it seemed like he made another bet and lost.
“It’s another one! “Holy shit!”
“They come here without getting tired like zombies.”
I looked across from Rimmer at a sneer that sounded like a screech. The black-haired giant with wide shoulders was grinning with a card between his fingers.
‘Is the author a thief…? .’
Black hair and red eyes. The huge body as big as that of a monster and the hideous tattoos covering its skin were similar to the facial expressions Judiel had told me about. That man with an animal-like grin was none other than the thief, Harryan Sieghardt.
‘It’s stronger than I expected.’
Raon frowned. He said he likes gambling and drinking, so I expected his skills to have declined, but that wasn’t the case at all. Even though he was just sitting there smiling, he was emitting energy waves that were hard to believe.
“If you run out of money, take it all off and get out.”
Do-gae lightly waved his hand and collected the gold coins on the table.
There was a mountain of gold coins piled up in front of him, as if he had taken money from other people besides Rimer. That too is a unique feature of Dogoe. He gambled only with gold coins, not chips.
“Jeenjang! Will come again! “I will definitely come back again!”
Rimmer said something a third-rate villain would say and stood up.
“It looks like Danju has been robbed again? Are you really going? “I don’t want to see all the minor and minor liquor being taken away!”
“I am different from Danju.”
After taking a quick bite of Raon, I walked forward. She sat across from the empty seat.
“Why don’t you play with me too?”
Raon smiled and looked into Dogoe’s red eyes.
“What kind of guy doesn’t even have dried blood on his head? “This is no place for a kid like you.”
“uh! “It’s the Seolhwa Sword Association!”
“Raon Sieghardt?”
“Why is the youngest master on the continent here?”
“Could it be that you came here to seek revenge on Danju?”
Without needing to introduce themselves, others revealed their names first.
“La, Raon?”
Rimmer, who threw away his clothes and even took off his shoes, opened his eyes wide.
“Are you really here?”
“Then would you like to come fake?”
“no! “Yumma!”
Rimmer ran up and grabbed his shoulder.
“That person is truly a poisonous species! If there’s a place to save money, you’ll never miss it! “Get up quickly!”
“it’s okay. “I am similar.”
“uh? Well, that’s right… .”
He muttered that the two were really similar.
“Do not worry. “Gambling is just the starting point.”
“Then you really… .”
“yes. I have to do it. “Samyak.”
Raon smiled and nodded.
‘Because it’s a very good opportunity.’
Of course, the money that Rimmer had lost was to be recovered, and the real purpose was to fulfill the three oaths and make a wish to Dogae.
“Are you Raon Sieghardt, the youngest Master in the history of the continent?”
As expected of someone who left Sieghardt, Dogoe didn’t even know his face and seemed to have only heard rumors.
“That’s right.”
Raon leaned back in his chair and nodded.
“The name is worth it. But in gambling, you need money, not fame… .”
“Dorian.”
I cut off Do-gae’s conversation and took my wallet. No, I called Dorian.
“Ugh.”
Dorian sighed and put his hands in his stomach pockets. Five heavy wrapping cloths were held in the hand that came out again.
Crrrrr!
Raon opened the wrapping cloth and poured it out on the table.
“First of all, 500 gold coins. “This should be enough, right?”
“This was a friend I could understand.”
Do-goe looked at the pile of gold coins on the table and took a long sip. However, the emotions reflected in his eyes seemed far from his desires.
“You said you were applying for Samyak, right?”
“yes.”
“Then do you know that if you lose, you will be kicked out without everything you own?”
“of course.”
Raon nodded. Because Rimmer loses everything and is kicked out, he becomes a beggar every time.
“good. “I accept your three medicines.”
He nodded and placed his hands on the table. The card fluttered between his fingers.
“Oh oh!”
“Aren’t you the youngest challenger?”
“Right! “Someone challenges Samyak at the age of 18!”
“You’re crazy! “The Sulwha Sword Association’s great destruction!”
“Shall we open the plate too?”
“But this isn’t sparring, it starts with gambling. I don’t think I’ll be able to go drinking and end up gambling… .”
“Well, how much gambling did you have to do when you were 18?”
“Ah, I want to see you two fight… .”
People who enjoyed the unimaginable confrontation decided that Raon would not be able to overcome gambling and drinking, and they lost their appetite in disappointment.
“What kind of gambling do you like? card? dice? roulette?”
“Anything is okay.”
Raon smiled and shrugged his shoulders.
“You have good confidence. “Then let’s start with poker.”
Do-gae let out a similar laugh and grabbed the card.
“This is your first time, so let me give you some advice. The rules here are different than outside. It doesn’t matter if you cheat. The one who didn’t discover it is bad and stupid. Do you understand?”
He held the card between his fingers again and waved it. It seemed to be a habit he had when gambling, and it was very annoying.
“In other words, in this world, as long as you don’t get caught, cheating and fraud are justice.”
“What happens when you find the trick?”
“There is no need to talk about impossible things.”
“Then, if I find out your trick, will you try using pure skill alone?”
“Ha, I heard you have such frustrating friends.”
The doge sneered and shook his head.
“good. Give it a try.”
He raised the corners of his mouth as if telling him to do as he pleased.
‘Las.’
Raon called Ras while watching Dogoe shuffle the cards. Blue light emanated from the bracelet.
‘It’s your turn. ‘Find all the elements in Dogae’s body that could be used for trickery.’
-hate.
‘uh?’
-It would be a loss to the king to find everything.
Lars tilted his head as if he was going to refuse.
‘Why all of a sudden?”
I was embarrassed when he acted like he would listen well and then suddenly did that. She controlled her facial expressions so as not to be caught by the thieves and called Lars again.
‘I’ll help you. ‘I told you to go quickly.’
-It’s too late!
‘I had no choice because I needed to prepare.’
-Making me wait for a month and searching for all that secret energy. No matter how you think about it, it is a loss to the king. therefore… .
Lars lowered his voice as if he wanted something else. Dry saliva flowed down his throat at the thought of asking for his body.
‘Not now.’
Since it was an impossible request, I wondered what to do, but what came out of Lars’s mouth were completely different from what I had expected.
-I will add one more beaded ice cream. The King wants three boxes of beaded ice cream!
Lars shouted “ice cream” in a serious tone that seemed to be targeting the world.
‘ah… .’
Raon quickly closed his eyes and opened them.
‘Oh, ice cream?’
-Yes! Everything will be chosen according to the taste you want!
It was absurd, but I could have listened to that as much as I wanted.
‘Get one more box!’
-I will do my best!
Lars jumped up and rushed at the thieves. Its senses far surpass that of a human. Even if you fooled Rimmer, you can’t escape Ras’ gaze.
-First of all, this ring. It seems to have the effect of muting the sound. And this necklace has the ability to disrupt gaze.
‘I can see how to use it.’
The sound-killing effect will be used when removing the hem, and the necklace will be used to divert attention at the moment of using the trick.
It was clear that it was a top-class artifact custom-made for gambling, as the flow of mana was so faint that it could not even be felt.
-The tattoo on the back of this guy’s hand is also strange. It seems to be connected to this card. Mana is very faint and can only be perceived by smell.
‘okay.’
Raon nodded and lifted his chin.
“Mr. Dogae. “Let’s take off the ring and necklace first.”
“uh?”
Do-gae’s hand, which was about to throw a card, suddenly stopped.
“What did you just say?”
“I told you to take off your ring and necklace.”
Raon pinpointed the ring and necklace that had the ability.
“I’m wearing this for style…” .”
“The ring worn on the index finger of the right hand has the effect of reducing the sound when desired, and the necklace has the effect of diverting attention. “Please stop making flimsy excuses.”
“… How did know?”
For the first time, Dokai’s laughter stopped. He shook his chin and rolled his eyes as if it was absurd.
“I just have a good sense of it.”
Raon smiled slightly and shrugged his shoulders.
-Persimmons are frozen to death! Isn’t this the power of the original king?
Lars waved his hand as if to stop the nonsense.
“Is it true?”
“You figured out Dokae’s trick right away?”
“crazy… .”
“Oh, is it possible to find a cheat when the game hasn’t even started yet?
The onlookers gaped as they saw Raon, who immediately figured out the secret of the robbery.
“Ha, good. “I said I would quit if I got caught, so I guess I’ll keep my promise.”
Do-gae took off his necklace and ring and placed them on the end of the table.
“If you want to stop cheating, you have to stop it too.”
Raon pointed to the tattoo on the back of Dogae’s hand.
“You can check our cards with that, right?”
“Really… .”
The doge grinned and rubbed the back of his hand with his fingers. The tattoo that seemed to have been there her entire life was completely gone.
“I guess that’s enough now, right?”
Even though the deception was discovered, there is no sign of shame. Judging by the way he waved a new card in a slightly annoyed tone, he didn’t make his name known to the entire continent for nothing.
“Then let’s get started properly.”
Do-gae chuckled and handed over the card.
Raon narrowed his eyes as he looked at the card stuck in Dogoe’s fingers.
‘As long as you don’t get caught, deception is justice… .’
Then I guess I will be the judge today.
* * *
“Hmm.”
Dogoe looked directly into Raon’s eyes as he held the card and rubbed his fingers.
‘Did you think you would beat me if you didn’t cheat?’
Sometimes there are idiots who mistakenly believe that they got to this position through trickery alone.
However, cheating is just used to conveniently suck money from wealthy people, and in gambling between real experts, the one who understands the other person’s psychology first wins.
That young guy’s intuition is definitely amazing, but he can’t beat himself. It won’t be long before you are kicked out, with your facial expressions and actions all figured out.
“Shall we start simply with 100 gold coins?”
Without even looking at the cards, Do-goe pushed 100 gold coins onto the table. It was an exploration game to see how the opponent came out and how he reacted.
“great.”
Raon checked his hand with a calm expression and poured 100 gold coins into the center of the table.
“Then let’s take a look.”
Dogoe opened the card. It was a triple with the same number appearing in succession.
“Back straight. “I won.”
Raon’s cards are backstraight numbers from 1 to 5. He smiled slightly and took 200 gold coins.
Do-goe remained calm even though 100 gold coins flew away.
‘I don’t mind losing as much as I want.’
Because in the end, I am the one who wins.
It’s not for nothing that he got the nickname “gambling monster.” Whether it was uneducated or gambling, he was more confident than anyone else in understanding the other person’s psychology.
“I’ll take care of it this time.”
Raon shuffled the cards and took turns.
This time, Do-goe observed Ra-on’s expression without looking at the card.
‘The face is an expression without language.’
People show more with their facial expressions than with their words, and the best way to express that expression is in this gambling game where all the joys and sorrows of life are contained. Understanding the psychology of such a young guy was like a piece of cake.
“200 gold coins.”
Do-goe pushed in twice as much money as the first one.
“great.”
Raon didn’t refuse either and poured all the money he had won into the center of the table.
Dogoe turned his hand over. This time it was a one pair, and looking ahead, Raon had a two pair.
“I won this time too.”
Raon smiled a little and held the card again.
“Good. “Let’s continue.”
The doge grinned. Money is the most dangerous weapon of all. The more gold coins pile up on the table, the more ruin will appear on that guy’s face.
but.
After ten rounds had passed, Dogoe’s confidence had faded like fog.
‘hmm… .’
The thief sighed internally.
‘What is that guy?’
Raon’s expression did not change whether the hand was good or bad. It was as if he had a mask on and his mind could not be read at all.
‘This is the expression of an 18-year-old?’
My emotions were so weak that I felt like I was dealing with a gambler, spy, or assassin who had experienced many hardships, rather than an 18-year-old.
‘And the one who is losing it is me.’
Over the course of ten rounds, the odds of winning and losing were 5:5, but in the end, he was the one who lost the money. When Raon’s hand was strong, Raon did not call like a ghost or only bet low amounts, so he never suffered a loss.
Dogoe checked his hand without showing any embarrassment.
‘One pair.’
A pair of two cards of the same number is a low hand. Because it was shaped like a heart, its ranking was also poor. But I wanted to break down that simple face once.
“1500 gold coins.”
Do-goe bet the same amount of gold coins that Ra-on had and poured it out on the table. I looked down at Raon’s eyes, which were filled with brilliant gold.
‘uh?’
No anxiety?
Raon’s red eyes did not waver even as he looked at the mountain of gold coins. Just like before, it was full of peace.
“It’s a call.”
Raon poured out all the gold coins he had with a calm look in his eyes, as if he were drinking tea.
‘What on earth do you have? Steeple?’
If you were to spend more than 1,500 gold coins, it was clear that there would be four of a kind or a straight flush no matter how bad you were.
I chewed the inside of my cheek and waited for Raon to crack the card. But his cards were far from that.
“Whoa, one pair?”
Raon’s hand is the same as his own, a pair. However, it was a spade that was higher than a heart.
“I won.”
Raon threw two spades on the table and smiled.
“W-what!”
“Burn 3,000 gold coins for one pair?”
“Oh, you’re crazy! “You’re both crazy!”
“But isn’t the Sulwha Sword Association still picking?”
“therefore. “Dogoe is being pushed unilaterally!”
The onlookers swallowed their dry saliva as they looked at the gold coins flying over Raon.
“Well, it’s beginner’s luck. “It will be over soon.”
“okay. The situation will soon turn around. wait!”
“Collapse is a slow starter! “It’s time to start!”
People who believed in the collapse were talking about how much time was left, but after five more rounds, everyone kept quiet.
“What… .”
The dogae could not stand it anymore and opened its mouth. He won 3 out of 5 games and lost 2 games, but this time it was Raon who won the money. Now there weren’t even 50 gold coins left on the table.
‘How could this happen…’ .’
This is my first time like this. No matter how lucky a beginner may be, it is impossible to avoid a good hand by only picking it.
‘wait for a sec… no way!’
Dogoe swallowed dry saliva.
‘I was figured out?’
If the odds of winning and losing are almost 5:5 and only one side loses money and the other side wins big, there is only one reason. This means that your facial expressions and reactions have been exposed.
“Ugh.”
I forced myself to control my expression and raised my head. Raon’s sunken eyes look directly in this direction. The bright red eyes sent a chill down my spine.
‘Are you sure.’
That guy knows what kind of card I played.
Other than that, there was no way I could lose money and lose like this.
“What did you do?”
“What are you doing?”
Raon smiled calmly, just like when he received the card.
“I didn’t do anything.”
“Don’t lie. Even if we win or lose, I’m just losing! “I’ve been to countless gambling tables, but I’ve never experienced anything like this!”
“no. “It’s true that I didn’t do anything.”
“what!”
“Didn’t Master Dogae tell you? “If you don’t get caught, it’s not fraud, it’s justice.”
Raon grinned, sweeping away the gold coins piled up next to him.
“The person who cheats is stupid.”
“you… .”
Do-gae crumpled the stack of cards in his hand without realizing it.