V5. Prologue part 1

Translator: Soafp

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“Just in time…….”

I exhaled in relief as I left the auditorium of Midgar Swordsman Academy. The white breath disappears into the morning sky.

Just now, the opening ceremony of the third semester has just ended.

“Good grief, where have you been all winter break, Sid?”

“That’s right, didn’t we all promise to pick up girls affiliated with the Mitsugoshi Business Association?”

The mob faces of Hyoro and Jaga were also somewhat nostalgic.

“Sorry, sorry, I had some urgent business to attend to.”

Oriana’s succession to the throne and my unexpected return to Japan meant that my winter vacation was filled with many fun events.

“While you were gone, I had been going through a lot of hardship……”

“That’s right, Sid’s sister locked us up. ……”

Hyoro and Jaga said resentfully.

“By sister, you mean Claire?”

“She was looking for Sid’s whereabouts. I told her I didn’t know, but she poked me in the neck with her sword…..”

“When I said, “You’re so cute, let me go out with you,” she almost put a sword up my butt……”

“Aah, is that so? Sorry, sorry”

I guess I should stay away from my sister for a while.

“Oh yeah, speaking of trouble, the missing former president Rose became the ruler of the kingdom of Oriana, and the whole country is in an uproar.”

“I know about that.”

Fufufu, no one would ever think that I led her to become the ruler of Oriana.

Behind the birth of the new ruler, there was an unknown intervention of “Eminence in Shadow” who was an ordinary student from anywhere.

This is the best part of being the “Eminence in Shadow”

“But that’s not all. There was a mass outbreak of demons in the Kingdom of Oriana, and the country was taken over.”

Of course I know that.

After all, it was the “Eminence in Shadow” who led the way and solved the whole thing. You never know that the mastermind is right in front of you.

“It looks like the alliance with the Kingdom of Oriana will be terminated.”

Hmm?

“The alliance is terminated?”

“Yes. I never thought that former President Rose would fall into the path of evil……. public opinion will never allow it.”

“Path of Evil? Eh? What do you mean?”

“Like I said, former President Rose summoned demons to slaughter the heir to the throne and take over the kingdom of Oriana. She is truly a diabolical, evil woman who will go down in history.”

“She was such a good person at the school, but I never thought she would do such a thing, right? She killed her own father at the Bhushin Festival as well, so it goes to show that appearances can be deceiving. Well, if she insists on it, I’ll marry her.”

“I-If you ask me, she’s certainly an evil woman……”

The story about the birth of the historical High King had unexpectedly gone the villainous route.

Well, I guess this is the way to go.

The evil King who shook the world and the influential person who manipulated it from the shadows… I was able to flexibly change direction, it’s wonderful.

“There are rumors about former President Rose.”

“Yes, yes, there are rumors that she is connected to the Shadow Gardens organization—“

“Oi, Jaga, you can’t say any more about that.”

Hyoro interrupted Jaga.

“Oops, that’s right. If I tell this story, I’ll be erased.”

“Hmm? What do you mean you’ll be erased?”

“Four of our students went missing during the winter break. The rumor is that this is the work of the organization that took over the school in the past.”

Hyoro, making a serious face, and Jaga also says in a frightened voice.

“They’ve been keeping students in the dark who’ve tried to find out about the organization. ……”

“Well, would they do that?”

“Well, I don’t think they would.”

Jaga turned around and looked at me with a relaxed expression.

“Because of the sudden disappearance of the students, everyone is playing around with conspiracy theories. The Knights investigated just in case, but there were no traces of intruders anywhere.”

“It’s time for those who failed their courses to run away from reality. They didn’t disappear, they must have run away. Jaga, do you think you’ll be okay with your courses?”

“Ugh, well, just barely. What about you, Hyoro-kun?”

“I-I’m doing just fine. What about you, Sid?”

“I can somehow manage it….I guess?”

“I-I see. I’m glad we’re all going to advance.”

“R-R-R-right”

“Yeah.”

“So, what are you going to do now?”

“We don’t have classes today, just the opening ceremony. Shall we go to the dormitory and play cards?”

“Eh, playing cards?”

“This, this, a new product from Mitsugoshi Company!”

The one that Hyoro, with a smug look on his face, pulled out of his pocket was the very playing cards that I had seen so often in my previous life.

“Nina-senpai gave it to me. Let’s play President or poker!”

“Sid is playing cards for the first time today. Let’s show him how tough the game can be.”

“Fufufu ……,Then let’s play poker. I’ll take all his money.”

Poker.

Probably Texas Hold’em. It’s the same poker rule I taught the Seven Shadows a long time ago.

It was a good memory that I made them cry half-heartedly after I took all their money.

Since I taught them the harshness of society, it was only natural that I should be paid handsomely for my tuition fee. …… They got stronger right away, so I ran away with the win.

I’ll take the opportunity to get my fee from Hyoro and Jaga as well.

I snapped my fingers and said

“I accept your challenge. Let’s see how tough the game is.”

“The rate is ten times higher than usual. I’m going to make an extra buck.”

“The duck is carrying green onions on its back.” [TL: along comes a sucker just begging to be parted from his money]

“Pfft……”

Oops, dangerous. I covered my mouth with my hand.

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