Might
(That's right, even if we're here we can't start until we go into the village.)
Although the light of day barely showed through the window, he had already
awaken because of habit he had from training school. The fatigue from yesterday
still remained although he recovered as he moved. When he slipped out of
bed, he dressed quickly and went outside.
Voice
Oh, Might. Going out?
Might was called to a stop as Leica came out of the inn.
Might
Yeah. You too, Leica?
Leica
Yeah, I'm going to a place to increase the reward for the monster extermination
I received by ten times or a hundred times.
Leica carried the leather pouch that was packed with the reward money with
a smile of satisfaction.
Leica
-That's right, Might. And then why don't you come with me to get some money
along the outskirts of the town.
Might
Eh... But, after we leave town I think we'll need to get various information.
..
Leica
Whaat, shouldn't it be ok for at least a little while? You need to take
a breather.
Might
(It looks like Leica often says he wants to relax all year round...)
Leica
Besides, you can search for information very efficiently because the places
we go many people will gather. Naa, naa, let's go Might!
He couldn't know whether it was more efficient to ask for information at
a place where people gathered or to look through the vast town for information.
However, Leica's story of being able to increase his reward by ten-fold
was very suspicious. Where in the world could he be planning on going...
Might hesitated.
But Leica didn't care about Might's business and such.
Leica
All right, then it's settled! Let's go, Might!
And he pulled Might's arm forcibly and took him out.
Might
Ah, wait Leica! Don't pull my arm like that!
Before long Leica and Might came to a large plaza in the town.
The local horse races were there.
Seating was provided around the circumference of the course, and showed
ma bustling crowd around mid-afternoon.
Leica
Hou, I asked about the race track but this isn't a typical track by any
means.
The men cheered and roared, raising their voices as the horses galloped
down the track, and it encompassed the place in a strange excitement.
Might
This is a horse racing place...
Leica
Indeed. Now if you're aiming at getting rich quick isn't this the place
to lay it out?
Might
I, at the training school we saw horses run on occasion, but this it my
first time seeing such typical horse racing.
Leica
Oh, I see. Might, you're lucky.
Might
Eh?
Leica
So you can witness the wonder of the genius gambler, Leica, and maybe you
could become one, too.
Might
Genius gambler? Leica?
Leica
Yeah. You might say I'm a miracle guy when it comes to showing profit, so
enjoy!
They established themselves at the front stand in the horse place to watch.
Leica lectured the horse racing beginner, Might, on one thing or another.
Leica
In a word the horse that's best at racing is the betting horse. Naturally
a fast horse is popular and the odds will bring down the bill, and vice
versa if a horse that isn't popular wins it's a huge purse.
Might
I see...
Leica
However. Commonly I aim at a random dark horse and invest my money even
if the dark horse doesn't come out of the gate quickly.
Leica
Is that good, Might? The wave is tightly ascertained at each match, you
can't miss betting on a one shot deal! This is a man's romance.
Might
A man's romance...
It was Leica who stressed that it was a man's romance, but to Might it looked
like nothing but shady men.
Leica
The first race starts soon. Here there is still no showdown, but why don't
we start testing our luck with money after?
Leica judged the running horses and evaluated them during the first race.
Leica
...Good, I've decided. I'm going to bet on the number 3 horse. Might, which
horse would you bet on?
Might
Eh, let's see...
Might
That #1 white horse seems fast. I'll bet on that horse.
Leica didn't say anything as he grinned.
Leica
Well, it is running slowly. Look closely.
Might
Y, yeah.
The signal gun shot and the first race began. The #1 white horse that Might
bet on cut the edge. The #3 horse that Leica bet on started in last.
Might
Look, mine is in lead! -Ah, besides that, yours compared to mine isn't doing
good at all.
Leica
Huhuhu. You're so naive, Might. The #3 horse I bet on is different, and
saves its strength for the middle of the race, so in the end it's the type
of horse that can accelerate all at once. So keep watching-
The first white horse stalled on the way in its row, while as Leica has
said he kept an eye on the #3 horse, and at the end it began running fast
in a straight line until it reached the goal.
Might
Wow... Just like you said...!
Leica
Hehe, it's such a piece of cake you might say I'm the "Profit in Profitable".
It was Might that had a better opinion of Leica.
Leica picked the winning horse one by one afterwards, increasing his funds.
The broadminded Leica decided on the dark horse and slowly increased his
funds as he went and bet, it was a strategy that if he suffered an unexpected
defeat he would surely collect a little more than his investment.
On the other hand, the bizarre atmosphere bewildered Might at first, but
as he gradually understood the nature while watching it he lost interest.
Might himself wasn't interested in gambling, but as the spectators nodded
with wild enthusiasm he could only nod too.
And at last the Main Race of the day finally came. Leica faced Might to
inform him.
Leica
Good, Might. It's finally today's Main Race. This last one will be--ar my
last great victory! This race I'm going to mobilize all of my luck on victory
or defeat, and I'll show you getting rich quick!
So saying, Leica bought a ticket for the #4 horse that wasn't popular at
all. If this horse was victorious his credit would be increased several
hundred times.
Might
You'll win, Leica?
Leica
Naturally! A fighting scene from the year of the dragon passed through my
intuition, this horse's victory is perfectly derived. Ma, enjoy.
The race started in the meantime. The #4 horse that Leica had bet on had
a favourable start, and sneaked to the top early out of the horse group.
Might
Awesome, Leica! The #4 horse is in lead!!
Leica
Ah, so he was the first to escape the bounds of the other horses to start
with, as I expected to happen! Might, watch as I profit, Leica-sama's miracle!
!
The #4 horse kept accelerating still, quickly pulling ahead. Finally it
seemed like the #4 horse was traveling alone. On the grounds shouts of resignation
and anger arose all over.
Leica
Go!! Don't stop running!!
They turned the last corner, and at last they approached the straight line
at the end when-.
Might
-Ah.
Leica
W, w-w-w-whaaaaa---t?!
Until then the #4 horse had the lead with overwhelming speed, but that was
quickly being reversed.
Might
That is... You bet on the #4 horse... right?
He fell senseless as one by one the following horses ran passed the #4 horse
from behind. Leica appeared dumbfounded with his mouth open as he stared
at the horse's place.
It was a iron plate race where the horse that was popular and high ranking
won regularly at the finish.
Sighs and shouts of joy wrapped the stands.
Might
Ah-ah, it doesn't look like the dark horse left the gate quickly, Leica.
Leica
...(Dumbfounded)...
Might
By the way, about how much did you bet?
Leica
...Ah, of the money I had, all of it...
Might
I see, that's awful... Wha, eeeh?!
Leica imagined that he could easily bet on a one shot victory or defeat.
But did he also bet all the profits he had made all day...
Might
Why didn't you set some aside if by any chance he didn't win!
Leica
Ke, you might have said that. But this was the biggest race match of today.
At a time like that I collected everything together to make a bet. If you're
a man, you go out with a bang! Hahaha...
Might
That is a "man's romance"?
It wasn't possible for Might to prohibit himself from feeling pity since
he was amazed at Leica's bluffing show.
Leica
Yo, you might say it's such easy money anyhow, people suddenly want to try
their luck on a good feeling! Besides that, you'll see I'm profitable when
I get my reward...
As he declared that he gave a show of hearty laughter-but, in some respects
his emptiness drifted in his laughter.
Might
Leica... I say this for myself, it seems quite fruitless...?
Leica
Don't say that, Might...
After that, Leica rushed together with Might to the bar. He said, "I was
getting rich quick until I met with bad luck" and gulped down the sake in
rapid succession. Of course, Leica was penniless to pay for the sake that
he had, so Might had to bear the entire bill.
Might
After all, Leica, because I was with you I wasn't able to get any information,
so today it didn't rain but it poured...
Leica
...Don't say such things, Might.
Might
I can't go out with you again... I'll, go listen a little more for information.
Well then, Leica.
And then Might went to look for information as he had originally intended.
Might
(Though if I begin questioning people I can get some information...)
Might strolled around in town asking for information. The marketplace and
plaza, the theatre and bar and places like that, he walked from one end
of the town but didn't find someone with any prominent information.
Might
(After all that I have nothing... I'm going back to the inn)
And so Might returned to the inn alone.
Lorence
You're back, Might.
Lorence looked back as the door of the room opened.
Everyone else seemed to have already returned. Leica and Pam were relaxing
in their room, too.
Pam
Welcome back, Might!
Leica
Yo, you're late.
Lorence
And, were you able to obtain any information? For us, it was a fool's errand.
..
Might
Yeah, I was feeling refreshed. It looks like the story of what happened to the village
has reached around here, but as for the "silver chaos" thing...
Lorence
I see... As I thought, we weren't able to gather any prominent information
here.
Leica
Naa, so why don't we abandon this town, and go to a different town?
The man said that in an unusually frustrated way for him. Leica seemed eager
to search for clues... Of course, his goal was probably the reward money.
Lorence
Hmm, that's true... Tomorrow morning, we'll leave this town.
It was rare for him to agree with Leica's opinion.
Might
That's... right. I think that's better, too. We might be able to find some
clues in a different town...
So, with their views settles, all members went to bed early that night.
The next day, Might and the others left eastward in the early morning and
arrived in a different town. It was a large, populous town.
Though they hurried as much as possible that arrived well into the evening.
Lorence
It's already late today. We'll try to get information tomorrow.
The group headed toward's the inn according to Lorence's directions the
same as yesterday.
But, rooms this day were assigned to each. Might, getting wise to Lorence's
intentions, leaked a wry smile.
Everyone finished their meals and each group withdrew to their rooms.
Might
(But, it's still early to sleep, what should I do...)
Does he go out to town?
Go to the other rooms.
Go to the baths.
Rest a little because he's gotten tired.