“Lucas, hold on a minute…!”

Leo grabbed my arm.

“What are you doing? Are you really going to go?”

“Yeah.”

“I get that you’re mad, but just hold back a little. It’s no good getting into trouble with the third years.”

“Hold back? Go kick their asses, Luca!”

Elias glared at the other table with wide eyes.

This wasn’t really trouble.

Responding to a provocation for fun once or twice can’t hurt.

“I’m just going to hang out, don’t worry.”

Leo seemed to think that I was going to go on a rampage like Elias, but I wasn’t angry.

Sure, it was annoying to be openly ignored, but I was more curious to see the skills of these guys who look down on others like that.

‘Rather, if there’s a problem, it’s not the third years, it’s my brother.’

But he’s not going to rush over just because I’m sitting at another table. Also, considering that I plan to change Luca’s image in the future, it’s no big deal for me to step forward like this.

‘In the first place, Luca knew the basic poker rules.’

Since the opponent was my brother, there’s no way he wouldn’t know that.

‘Still, I should check this properly before I go.’

I opened the Probability of Change window. If it drops even 0.1%p here, I’ll just stay put.

—

**Dawn 777**

– 694 days, 1 hour, 43 minutes, and 47 seconds remaining until the final outcome, “Chapter X. Death.”

– Probability of Change: 18.4%

—

‘Hmm.’

Nothing has changed.

My determination to raise Luca’s impression score increased it by 1%p, but it hasn’t risen or fallen since.

The festival and poker game didn’t seem to be events that significantly affected the future.

‘Or maybe I’m going to lose….’

I chuckled.

Either I lost, I won but my brother didn’t hear about it, or he did hear about it, but it wasn’t significant.

It’s one of those three, anyway.

And even if it’s one of those, I have no intention of losing.

I headed to the table where they were.

“Let’s do this.”

“Oh~”

“You really came!”

Some of the third years clapped as they watched me.

Their gaze was rude, their tone was rude, and their attitude was far from polite. I mean, why would I expect them to be polite when they’re openly using me as a means to put their name in the hall of fame?

“Let’s move to another table.”

“Oh, move?”

“Is it because of the people? Let’s just do it here~”

“Hey, since he came, let’s just do as he wants.”

One student stood up with a smile.

Looking at the badge on his clothes, he was the only student among the three from the Department of Magic. The other two were from the Department of Administration.

“Let’s go to the second floor. There are a lot of people there too, but they’re all focused on their own games, so they don’t pay attention to other tables.”

I gestured to Elias and Leo, and we went up to the second floor. I heard Elias getting warp coordinates from a staff member.

“Will there be good?”

One of the third-year students pointed to a table far from the center. It was in a dimly lit corner with only half the lights on.

I nodded and sat down. Once everyone was seated, the student acting as the dealer approached and sat in front of the table.

Elias, who arrived sometime, was at the table next to us, playing half-heartedly while resting his chin on his hand, staring at us.

‘It’s just for fun….’

His competitive spirit seems to have attached itself to Elias.

I chuckled helplessly.

Without anyone prompting, everyone pushed one chip in front of them onto the table.

‘40 chips each.’

Such a thoughtless number.

From what I saw on the way in, at least four people are needed to start a game, each with 40 chips, and the game can continue or end after someone accumulates 120 chips.

‘There was even a betting limit.’

The maximum bet in the first round is 2 chips, with a raise limit of 10 chips. However, going all-in is allowed at this point.

In the end, the game seemed to drag on and lose its fun, so they found someone who would fill the number of participants and intentionally lose.

‘It may not end that easily.’

Anyway, thanks to them, my goal is clear.

I’ll just have to exhaust them as much as possible.

“I’ll deal the cards.”

The student dealer dealt the cards clumsily.

Two cards were dealt face down, and the last one was dealt face up.

My face-up card was the 7 of diamonds.

A third-year across from me, with a 2 as his face-up card, smirked.

“Am I the one with the lowest upcard? I’ll start the betting~”

“It’s a waste of time talking. Just do it!”

“I mean, we have a guest here.”

‘…Hmm.’

They seem to think I’m someone who doesn’t know the rules.

In the first round, the person with the lowest face-up card starts the betting.

In games I played in reality, the person with the highest face-up card started the betting, but it’s different here.

They must think I don’t know the rules even though I’ve been playing poker in the same casino, which is surprising.

I didn’t react and revealed my hidden cards.

My current hand is K, 2, 7.

The order of cards decreases from A to K, Q, J, 10―2.

In this game, players receive a total of seven cards: three hidden and four face-up, and the final hand is made using five of them.

To score well, you need cards of the same rank, for example, hearts 5, diamonds 5, or spades A, diamonds A, or a sequence of cards, like 8, 9, 10, J, Q.

Alternatively, you can have a flush, like having five hearts.

There are more, but to summarize, that’s it.

Given that, my hand doesn’t make any combinations yet.

Still, I’m not thinking of folding. Every round is an opportunity.

It was my turn, so I spoke.

“Call.”

I matched the current bet.

The next face-up card arrived at the end of the round.

It was the 7 of spades. This gave me two 7s.

‘Now I have one pair.’

In the next round, I received an A.

I can’t really make anything with this. But it’s still welcome.

At that moment, the student from the Department of Magic, whose turn it was, spoke.

“Raise.”

His face-up cards were the 7 of hearts, the 8 of hearts, and the 8 of spades. He raised the bet by adding three more chips.

Since he had the 7 of hearts, the highest combination I could achieve with 7s is a triple. There are only four cards of the same rank in one deck of cards.

‘The other students….’

“Ah, I’ve got a terrible hand. Fold~”

One student declared defeat and slumped back in his chair. Since another student folded in the second round, only the two of us remained.

‘There’s no need to look further.’

The fact that he raised the bet despite my revealed one pair meant he had a better hand. An 8-card one pair is higher than a 7-card one pair.

Did he not consider what I might have hidden?

‘Well, considering the level of play, expecting that is too much.’

If he considered it, he might have been holding a card in his hidden hand that would assure victory, or he might have the 7 of clubs, the card I need for a triple.

Or he might believe he can draw something better.

In the first place, one pair is quite common in 7-card stud poker―although it looks quite different―so if everyone got a decent hand, it’s worth raising the stakes.

Of course, my hand isn’t great. But….

I need to think long-term. This isn’t just a normal game.

When my turn came again, I spoke.

“Raise.”

***

“Wow.”

One of the third-year students stared intently at Lucas.

‘What is this? It feels odd, but….’

We need to play a few more hands to know for sure, but why keep raising in this situation?

My friend and I have already declared fold and backed out.

My opponent has an 8-card one pair. Compared to my 7-card one pair, he is obviously winning.

We’re already on the last turn, and in the third round, I received the 7 of clubs.

This means that the Askanian guy didn’t have a triple. He’s been calling and raising with an unimpressive hand.

‘This confidence means he has another pair in his hidden cards.’

Either way, he definitely has something.

My friend seems to sense it too, so he’s just checking the situation without betting aggressively.

‘No, come to think of it, why am I being so serious?’

We just wanted to compete with each other for fun, and that’s why we brought this guy in. Why are we now analyzing him?

Perhaps because the Askanian guy was approaching the game with a serious expression, the atmosphere became unignorable.

While I was trying to figure out his intentions, the Askanian guy spoke.

“Fold.”

“…?!”

He’s folding now?

It’s not impossible, but compared to the serious atmosphere earlier, the conclusion is quite anticlimactic.

Could it be… he didn’t have much, but he stuck around to see the last card? And he raised instead of just calling?

It seemed everyone was thinking the same thing because one of my friends asked.

“…Do you mind showing your hand?”

In response, the Askanian showed his hidden cards without a word.

My friend squinted as he read the cards.

“K, 2, 7, 5, 7, A, 3… The suits are all different too.”

“…….”

Totally hopeless, huh?

Did he fold because his hand was bad when he saw the final card?

“Oh dear, our newbie is such a~”

A mocking voice came from the table next to us. The Askanian gave an awkward, faint smile in response.

‘…Huh….’

We seem to have found a real person here.

‘Let’s go over it again.’

He lost a total of 10 chips.

Out of the four, two folded midway, leaving just my friend and the Askanian.

My friend raised the stakes bit by bit, and the Askanian did the same.

Only at the last round did he declare a fold.

‘From this, I can see he’s a guy who can’t tell the difference between hands and just gambles on hope.’

My friends seemed to think the same, and even while dealing cards for the next hand, we exchanged knowing glances.

Although it didn’t last long, everyone briefly tried to stifle their laughter.

***

“Ah, I just need 30 more to win?”

The third-year student from the Department of Magic smiled as he rubbed his hands together.

The momentum had shifted to the other student and then returned to him.

Meanwhile, my chips went up and down, and now I have 27 left.

I made sure to create a situation where I could capitalize when luck was on my side while ensuring I didn’t hit rock bottom just in case.

While not as low as the Department of Administration guys, Elias’ nonchalant comment earlier seems to have helped ease their vigilance. Despite me having a fair amount, the initial mood hasn’t changed.

“I will deal the cards.”

The two hidden cards are Q of hearts and 2 of hearts.

The face-up card is J of clubs.

‘This could go either way depending on what comes next.’

Fortunately, because the Department of Magic guy had 90 chips all to himself, the Department of Administration guys didn’t have the energy to bet and checked. Laughing under the glaring stares of his friends, the Department of Magic guy also checked. He seemed confident because he had so many chips.

With that, the round ended, and a new card arrived.

‘Hmm.’

Q of diamonds.

Up to this point, the cards are Q, 2, J, Q, forming a pair of Qs.

It’s the highest one pair after Aces and Kings.

At that moment, the Department of Magic guy sighed as he looked at his hand.

“Ah….”

His face-up cards showed J of diamonds and 8 of hearts.

Wait, if he folds, it’s going to drag on longer. The 90-chip pot will vanish in an instant to the next game.

Having repeated the rounds over thirty times, even the Department of Administration guys were exhausted, muttering with unfocused eyes.

“Do you want to die?”

“What? I didn’t say anything! Haha, then let’s just finish quickly. So, how much is the bet this round?”

“3.”

“Hmm, raise.”

He pushed forward 10 chips.

‘Interesting.’

I held back a smile and maintained a poker face.

Let’s break it down.

The number of chips each has: 90 for the Department of Magic guy, 30 and 13 for the Department of Administration guys.

And I have 27.

If I call, I’ll have 14 left.

‘Maybe I should fold here and aim for the next hand.’

I glanced at the hands of the other students, collecting my thoughts.

No, let’s end it here.

***

‘Hmm.’

I rested my chin on my hand and looked around the table.

My friends were already exhausted, and although it didn’t show much, Lucas Askanian seemed a little tired too.

‘It’s about time to wrap it up.’

I’ve been here for over 40 minutes now, and I think I’ve gotten everything I can from this place.

This round is already the fourth.

My two friends have folded after hearing my raise. They looked very dissatisfied, but if I win and take everything, they’ll be able to leave quickly, so they should be moderately satisfied.

‘Still, that guy doesn’t give up.’

I spoke to the Askanian.

“Come to think of it, you’ve been holding out for a while~”

“Have I?”

Hmm, no matter how I see it, he doesn’t seem to know what he’s doing.

He didn’t fold initially with such a weak hand and kept pushing. And it wasn’t just calling, but raising? It’s laughable.

Because of that, I thought he was stubborn, but since then, Askanian has folded four times in a row.

Then one day, a raise came out of his mouth again, but if you’ve been folding repeatedly and suddenly raise, your opponent can’t help but know you have a good hand.

‘However….’

When I checked after folding, he had a high one pair.

Even though I already had a visible two pair, he still pushed, which was surprising.

I wondered if he was intentionally bluffing, but looking at his face, it didn’t seem that way.

‘Of course, he must have had his own thoughts, but it doesn’t seem very promising….’

His actions are hard to pin down, but you can tell they’re not from calculation but from inexperience. The fact that he’s maintained 27 chips so far is probably luck.

Then, the dealer dealt the cards.

I laid out my cards.

Hidden: J, K.

Face-up: J, 8, J, 3.

I already have a one pair from my face-up cards.

And Askanian’s hand is J, Q, 2, 4.

There’s no hope, based on the face-up cards. Should I give him a pass?

I smiled appropriately and checked without betting.

Askanian seemed to have a poor hand as well, so he didn’t bet, and we moved to the next round.

‘The total pot from the bets so far is 31 chips.’

If I place the maximum bet of 2 in the last round and he calls, the total pot will be 35 chips.

‘That’s not enough.’

If I win, I’ll have 110 chips.

I’m 10 chips short of ending the game.

‘Should I not have checked in the fourth round?’

No, even if I hadn’t checked, the total pot would be 39 chips, so I can’t finish this round anyway.

I’m already quite tired, and I’d like to finish with a good hand if possible, but is there no way?

‘…No, there is.’

There is a way to take all of Askanian’s chips.

He has 12 chips left.

Using this method, I’ll have 122 chips, achieving ultimate victory.

It’s worth a try.

Later, I received the 2 of diamonds and 4 of spades.

I tilted my head after getting the last hidden card in the final round.

Another Q.

I already have a pair of Qs just from the hidden cards.

The remaining third-year student from the Department of Magic is definitely in a good situation.

In the first round, I immediately realized that I shouldn’t take his sigh seriously when he raised by 10 after sighing as if his hand was bad.

Of course, since he alone has a large stack, one might think he made that kind of raise for fun, but it’s more rational to believe he’s genuinely confident.

In reality, he has a face-up one pair of J. Still, it’s lower than the Q pair. In the first place, I don’t even have a pair.

So….

‘I just have to wait now.’

Since he responded to the check in the fourth round, it’s about time.

The third-year student from the Department of Magic stroked his chin for a while, then pushed his chips and spoke.

“All-in.”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep