32. Recruitment Period and Strange Group [5] – part 1

The president, who was silent after having her gimmick pointed out,

「…Y-Y-Y-You accuse me of such a thing? Do I look like someone who would cheat using a g-gimmick card…?」

She seemed unable to hide her trembling, and retorted about three breaths late.

(Still trying to cheat her way through even after being found out…)

In contrast to her appearance, she was quite a coercive person.

「Even if you say that… There’s solid evidence here.」

I turned my gaze to the deck on the desk.

On the back of this card, a small x is closely marked from the top left to the bottom right.

If you look carefully at them – there is an『error mark』with one line missing from one of the x’s.

The error mark is made to be able to understand the number written on the surface of the card at a glance by『what position its in』from the top left to the right.

「For example, if it is the card at the top of the deck… the error mark is at the『seventh position』counting from the top left to the right. The x on this position is printed with one line missing, right? In other words, this card is-」

And as I flipped the face down card,

「So it’s a card of『7』after all.」

The result appeared as expected.

「Uwaa. You really saw through it, amazing!」

「It’s an unpleasant level of insight…」

「…Kuh」

The president, who could no longer talk her way out of it, bit her lower lip regretfully.

It seems that she finally admitted her cheating.

「…W-When did you realise it?」

「Of course, from the very beginning.」

「F-From the beginning…!?」

「Yes. In a match『Don’t trust the tools that the other party brings out』- an acquaintance of mine,『The Master of Play』Bamboo Geezer taught me. So as I cautiously examined the card, sure enough… they were gimmick cards.」

I was taught a lot by bamboo geezer, such as a typical gimmick card and common methods of cheating.

「B-But! Even if you unraveled the secret behind the card, how did you set up such a hand!? The cards were handed out and even shuffled by me. You didn’t touch the deck even once!?」

She pointed at the deck placed on the middle of the table.

(…This is troublesome. What should I do?)

Bamboo geezer didn’t particularly forbid me from speaking, but…

I don’t really feel proud going around announcing the tricks behind cheating.

「E-Err you see… It’s kind of a『secret』ー」

「T-That’s too cruel! P-Please Allen-kun, tell me! I won’t be able to sleep tonight…」she said, clinging onto me.

「S-So close… You’re too close, president…」

Taking in her slight sweet scent, my heartbeat started beating a little faster.

And then,

「Now now, Allen-kun. Don’t be stingy and tell meー」

「I am also super interested…」

Lilim-senpai and Ferris-senpai circled behind me and lightly poked at my sides.

It seems that both of them are also interested about the trick behind the cheat.

「Haa… Understood. But, please don’t tell anyone else?」

「Thank you, Allen-kun!」

「My lips are sealed tight, so rest assuredー」

「I super reassure you…」

Then I taught the trick behind this cheat.

However, this is not such a big deal.

First of all, I ran『card collection』as soon as this betting game started.

The method is very simple.

When both parties reveal their hand and returns their cards to the deck – just hide the cards you’re looking for under the sleeves of your uniform.

I repeated this several times and made a royal straight flush『under the sleeve』.

After that, discard all your hand at any time you like, and at the same time place the five hidden cards on the deck. That way, the card I’m pulling will definitely be a royal straight flush, and certain victory is guaranteed.

「-Right? You can cheat however you like without ever touching the deck, right?」

The party that begins the cheat first, does not think that they are being『set up』for a cheat.

In fact, the president deliberately shifted her gaze all over the place so that I wouldn’t discern the gimmick card, thus she didn’t get suspicious of my own cheat. As a result, it was very easy to collect cards.

And the president who was quietly listening to me,

「C-Cruel! Allen-kun is cruel! Onee-san never imagined that you were this kind of a child!」

Her face burning red with anger. She turned rather serious, and shook my shoulders.

「Ahaha. I thought『If it’s for the sake of victory, the president will surely cheat』」

At that time – it was the same during the club budget war.

She constantly glared at me due to the frustration of losing.

The typical action of a sore loser.

「…Mo-Mou! Listen Lilim, Ferris! Allen-kun is so not cute unlike his appearance!」

「That’s what I thought too. He has a gentle face, yet surprisingly strong.」

「I was surprised that he saw through it at first glance…. Different from the vice-president who hasn’t noticed even after two years…」

Apparently, the vice-president who is currently out of the country due to a punishment game seems to have been duped by this.

…How pitiful.

「Well then… president. This match is my win, isn’t it?」

「U-Uu…」

She bit her lip and nodded.

In addition to having her own cheat being seen through, she was even entrapped by the opponent’s cheat – even the president will have to admit defeat.

「The right to order the president to do any one thing, how shall I use it…」

The student council president has a variety of rights, such as allocating the site for club activities and holding events such as Tanabata and the New Year’s Countdown, Rose said.

But I’m not particularly dissatisfied with the current Thousand Blade Academy.

Everyone in Class A is a good person and I am very happy with the classes and facilities.

(…Honestly, I have nothing to ask of the president.)

As I was worried about what to do with this useless right,

「A-Ahー! That look on your face, you’re thinking of something perverted aren’t you!? You’re going to do something perverted to me!」

The president said mean things to embarrass me.

……If you’re going to do that, then I have an idea of my own too.

「You’re right… Certainly, I can ask for such a thing.」

「…Eh?」

The unexpected response made the president stare in wonder.

「No matter what the order is, the loser must absolutely abide… right?」

「Ah, no, u-umm… that is…」

While blushing, she cast her gaze down and shrank back.

She seems to be unexpectedly weak to pushes.

(O-Oo… Allen-kun is surprisingly aggressive…!)

(That Sie is being completely toyed with… He’s quite capable…)

It’s about time I stopped the counterattack against the president.

If I overdo it, it will become troublesome later on.

「Ahaha, I’m just kidding. Of course, I won’t use it for such a thing.」

「……! M-Mou…! Don’t tease onee-san!」

「Sorry. But, it was the president who teased me first, so let’s settle it by calling it a『tie』」

For the time being, let’s put this right aside.

Maybe it can be used on a different occasion.

「Well then, president. I will take my leave here.」

When I tried to leave the student council room after the game,

「W-Wait, Allen-kun!」

The president grasped my hand flusteredly.

「What is it?」

「Will you listen to a request of mine?」

「A request?」

When I asked, she nodded.

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