Thud.
After the final gamble, Frederick was dragged to the office, kneeling with a dazed expression, tied up with ropes.
It wasn’t me. It was Grandpa Charles who tied him up, fearing he might flee after realizing the severity of the situation.
And the same went for Frederick’s “friends.”
“…………….”
“Ah……”
“It’s all because of Frederick……”
With Frederick bowing his head deeply at the front, his friends, who had returned from studying abroad with him, were also tightly bound and kneeling.
They were all Aura users, but they couldn’t break the ropes and escape. One of his friends who had tried was already knocked out cold by Grandpa Charles’s hand, slumped over.
Besides, these guys were scoundrels too. Friends in a similar situation as Frederick, drowning in massive debt. Rumor had it they planned to swindle our family and then move on to another.
“Birds of a feather flock together.”
Along with them, some knights and servants who had been gambling were also kneeling.
Despite the late hour, they were all waiting for my father’s judgment, as per Grandpa Charles’s instructions.
“Debt… it’s debt.”
“………….”
“And the collateral you put up was… the ‘Byron Family’?”
You crazy bastard.
You didn’t even use your own name or rights—you sold off the entire family name?
Well, it was vaguely written as the “Byron Family,” and since it was drafted by the second son, even if Frederick couldn’t repay the debt, the territory wouldn’t change hands.
But still.
Since it was collateral put up by the second son, who had inheritance rights, the creditors must’ve waved that contract around, demanding all sorts of things from the family. And with Frederick’s signature on it, there was no way to deny it.
“Did you draft the transfer document so easily because you’d already sold off those rights once?”
Should I say I was scammed? I couldn’t help but let out a hollow laugh.
The rights transfer document Frederick had drafted, the bags of gold coins, his friends’ testimonies, and the debt contract Frederick had hidden away—all of it.
My father, who had been quietly reading through everything, looked down at the roughly 30 bags of gold coins.
“The number of gold coin bags written here should be around 100. Where are the rest?”
“…………Um.”
“Answer me!!!!”
“Sob! Th-the, on the way back… at a, a gambling den in a territory……”
“Huh.”
So, originally, the money he got from selling off the family was 100 bags of gold coins, but he lost over 70 of them on the way back?
No wonder Frederick was so fixated on my one bag of gold coins.
From the moment he lost that one bag of gold to me in the first gamble, he must’ve been desperate to get it back.
“And you said you kept the money you won from two days of gambling separately, huh.”
“…………….”
“I had a few knights escort you when you returned, but there was no word about the 100 bags of gold coins. Keeping the gambling winnings separate… there must’ve been accomplices.”
The situation kept snowballing.
Common sense would dictate that you wouldn’t leave the second son, who was sent away for forced studies, unsupervised. Knights were sent to escort him back.
Yet, the news about the gold coin bags never reached my father’s ears.
“Frederick’s faction.”
A small group, but they must’ve been in cahoots with him.
“I trusted you, but this is the result of your return.”
“F-father……….”
“………Charles, have someone repay the debts he owes immediately.”
“Father………!!”
……Why does he look happy?
Does he really think Father is repaying the debt to forgive him?
I get that the situation is hopeless, but there’s a limit to delusions.
Father’s sudden hopeful, yet “I knew this would happen” expression…
Frederick makes a face and glares.
“And attach all that debt to Frederick’s name.”
“Father…?”
“From this moment onward.”
William Byron, the cold-eyed head of the Byron family, pronounced the verdict.
“All of Frederick Byron’s rights are hereby revoked.”
“…Huh?”
“All benefits, tax exemptions, immunities, and… even the right to succession as a member of the Byron family.”
“F-Father!!”
“From now on, you are no longer Frederick Byron. Just a commoner named Frederick.”
There was not a hint of hesitation or reluctance from his father.
At this moment, he was nothing but a ruthless head of the family, devoid of any familial affection.
“Frederick, you will soon find out just how much debt you’ve racked up yourself. Head Butler Charles!”
“Yes, Head of the Family.”
“Inform the silver mine supervisor. Tell them a sturdy Aura laborer will be arriving soon, one who can handle rough treatment.”
“Understood.”
“T-The silver mine…!!”
The silver mine. Within the Byron family, the silver mine wasn’t a place where silver was mined.
It was where his father, originally the second son, had exiled his older brother, who had nearly ruined the family.
A place worse than prison, essentially a death sentence.
“Work there until you’ve paid off your debt. Who knows how long that will take.”
“Father! Father!!!”
A place where you wouldn’t even get half a gold coin a month, let alone a full one.
How long would it take to pay off a debt of 100 gold coins in such extreme conditions?
It seemed unlikely that Frederick would ever be seen again in this lifetime.
“Ah… that’s right. I almost forgot.”
“F-Father! Please reconsider…!!”
“Kyle. You still haven’t received what you’re owed, have you?”
“Father…?”
“What I’m owed?”
“Here, the insufficient betting amount is covered by this rights transfer document… and it says I’ll take it from that guy’s right hand.”
“…!!!”
“Do as you please.”
*Clang.*
Grandpa Butler Charles hands over Frederick’s sword. The sword that had failed to cut his wrist once due to his surrender declaration.
Frederick was looking up at me with trembling pupils, trying his best to appear pitiful.
“K-Kyle. I was wrong. I was wrong about everything. I-I told you everything, didn’t I? Everything!”
“……”
I grip the sword.
“I-I even got on my knees! I-I was going to let you go even if you won! I-I was going to accept it and let you go! Really!!”
“……”
I raise the sword.
“Y-You’re going this far! You bastard! N-No. Lord Kyle! You damn bastard! I’m begging you, please…!!”
“……”
I aim the sword in the right direction.
“Y-You damn! Just smash it! Or crush it!! A completely severed limb can’t even be reattached with holy magic! It can’t be undone!! You damn incompetent bastard, you don’t even know that───”
“Don’t worry too much.”
“───What.”
“Plenty of people live just fine with one hand.”
“…You incompetent──”
*Crunch.*
*
After a brief moment, only my father and I remained in the office.
Though a faint metallic scent still lingered, the floor had been thoroughly cleaned.
The family’s exclusive magician had come in the middle of the night to clean up the blood and debris, and with such a commotion, rumors would surely spread before the day was over.
Father seemed to have deliberately summoned the exclusive magician to clean up with magic, likely to encourage the spread of those rumors.
In any case, the two of us were left facing each other.
“…You cut it off in one strike.”
“Anyway, it was a wrist that was going to be cut off, so wouldn’t it be better to end it cleanly?”
Selling out the family could be seen as an act of betrayal. Given that, it’s no surprise that they would hold resentment towards me or my father over this incident. There’s no way they would choose to let go of a superhuman with Aura unscathed.
Frankly speaking, if I hadn’t cut it off, it would have been an ‘accident’ in the silver mines or something. My father would have handled it.
It was the first time I had ever cut something with a sword or had blood splatter on me, but surprisingly, it wasn’t as shocking as I thought.
It wasn’t just revenge… to some extent, it was also for Frederick.
──Just one more game, just one more.
──Whoa, Director?
──Don’t worry. Don’t worry. I’ll definitely win and pay it back…!!
‘If only I had really cut off his wrist back then, there would be nothing to regret.’
Originally 28 years in the other world, and 20 years in this world.
Even though it was almost 40 years ago, the memory is still vivid and painful, making me sigh.
That’s why, sincerely.
‘I hope he can at least escape from gambling addiction.’
I hoped that Frederick, with his wrist cut off, could break free from gambling addiction.
Regardless of my resentment towards him… it’s utterly unpleasant to see something similar to what happened before his adoption happening again.
As I was reflecting on this, my father spoke first.
“This incident… I’m really grateful. I didn’t know you could handle it so well.”
“I didn’t expect it to turn out like this either.”
“Even though the family wouldn’t collapse just because that idiot Frederick acted recklessly, it would have been a really troublesome and annoying situation. No amount of thanks would be enough.”
“It’s only natural. So, what about the others…?”
“Those so-called friends of his will be thoroughly investigated and handed over to the debtors, and the knights and servants who gambled again will be dismissed and exiled. Since we know that salary cuts won’t stop them, we have no choice but to take strong measures. And as for those who helped Frederick… we’ll send them to the silver mines so they can help him to the end.”
…Well, anyway, my father will handle the aftermath. Since I’ve already taken everything from Frederick, it’s not my concern anymore.
Still, the reason I stayed in the office until the end wasn’t to receive thanks.
“And, we need to talk about what you’ll be taking.”
“…Yes.”
“Of course, the bag of gold coins and the deed of transfer are all yours. Since we need to clean up Frederick’s room and belongings anyway, you can take everything. And most importantly…”
After a brief pause, my father, who had already made up his mind, continued firmly.
“Frederick’s succession rights will pass to you. If something happens to the eldest son… you will be the next Baron Byron.”
“………….”
“Kyle?”
“No, it’s just… I’m happy, but… it doesn’t feel as impactful as I thought.”
“…I see.”
Being the spare to the eldest son, the qualification to potentially become the family head in the worst-case scenario.
It was a significant right, but as the third son who originally had no real power, it didn’t resonate much with me.
‘If I become the family head, I’ll have less time to play board games.’
It would help spread board games, but what’s the point if I can’t enjoy them myself?
It’s still better for the eldest brother to be the family head. But still.
“However, now that you have the succession rights, many things will be given to you.”
“…For example.”
“The financial support for spreading Kyle Galli that you mentioned. That should be no problem.”
“Wow.”
At this point, shouldn’t I be thanking Frederick? He solved one of my biggest headaches.
Originally, the plan was to get help from Arkhé Magic Tower and receive funding, but for that to happen, the Abracadabra trend in the Magic Tower had to succeed first, which would take a long time and was uncertain.
But now, with the succession rights and various rights from Frederick…
The funding issue got resolved in a snap.
Of course, it’s not like I can use it infinitely, but I should be able to get enough for the initial capital.
Unlike before when I couldn’t even attempt mass production, now that it’s possible, it feels refreshing.
“Still drawn to that? You can also get involved in various family matters now, so it’s much more than before───”
“Ah, I don’t think that really matters. I have to go back now.”
“………If you’re going back.”
“Of course, it’s Arkhé Magic Tower. It’s only been two days since I left, but this is a crucial moment.”
Abracadabra isn’t perfect yet. I need to refine the rules, think about the balance of hidden magic, and participate in the illusion work that’s still being built.
If it weren’t for the unprecedented situation of Frederick’s Kyle Galli gambling, I wouldn’t have had to return to the family at this timing.
‘Now that’s pretty much resolved too.’
I’ll go back and tinker with the board game.
At my obvious words, my father looked at me for a moment.
“……Right, that makes sense. I got a bit carried away.”
“You woke up from sleep. You must be tired.”
“That……must be it.”
“Then I’ll head out right away.”
“………Right now, you mean?”
“Yes.”
Dawn is breaking, and I’ve already slept enough today anyway.
Maybe I’ll play Spirit Poker with Sally on the way.
Thinking that, I bowed my head to my father.
“See you later, Father.”
“…………….”
“Father?”
“……Right, let’s do that. Take care……on your way.”
“Yes.”
Maybe it’s because it’s dawn, and emotions are running high.
I greeted my strangely acting father and left the office.
‘It was an unexpected situation, but I also gained more than I thought.’
Now, again.
It’s time to return to my main job.
*
A month after Kyle Byron returned to Arkhé Magic Tower with his maid.
The Byron family, which had been in turmoil due to Frederick’s gambling, the stripping of his title, and the silver mine incident, regained its peace, and those involved were severely punished.
A former noble and now a miner, who was once a member of the Byron family, despairs at reality while swinging a pickaxe with only one hand.
In a certain duke’s turret, the Spirit Master’s hysteria reaches its peak.
Around the time the board game named Kyle Galli was slowly becoming known within the Byron territory through word of mouth.
Arkhé Magic Tower sent out an invitation to the empire’s nobles and other magic towers.
[To all esteemed guests within the empire who have received this invitation.]
[Arkhé Magic Tower invites you to a magician’s illusion.]
Arkhé Magic Tower, one of the empire’s six great magic towers, was also believed to be gradually declining due to deficits.
Perhaps the last invitation it could make, the entire empire paid attention.
Thus, many began heading to Arkhé Magic Tower.
Though it was still premature.
“All preparations are done, now……all that’s left is to set it off.”
That, surely.
Was the precursor to a slowly boiling── great trend.
