How to Live as a Half-Dragon

084. golden slip.

“You seem curious, so let me tell you.”

Grid, who opened his mouth like that, told me why he bet on Yorba that day.

In fact, Grid was also checking the injury status of the players the day before, which was possible because of his limbs hired by the top team.

“Ah, don’t get me wrong. When I entered the arena, I only competed with the money and my convictions.”

“So?”

“Then I heard. Sensei’s surprise attack on Yorba.”

When I first heard the news, I had been arbitrarily manipulating the match in the arena, and I doubted that he did it to make a big deal out of it.

“But it’s kind of weird for something like that.”

“What was strange?”

“Isn’t that obvious?”

If he had been manipulating the game so far, he would do it again this time. There was no reason to surprise Yorba, and there was even less reason to directly attack Yorba.

“Also, as you can see now, it’s strange that someone with enough personal connections to borrow the royal guards from Queen Ophelia would do something that would have been done by such small men.”

“So?”

It was a rather interesting story, so when Xian asked, Grid’s story continued.

“Anyway, before the game started, people waited for you to appear. It was the same for me.”

While others were curious about who Cyan would bet on, the grid focused on how much Cian bet.

It was a win anyway, since he knew that Basto would win.

“But right before the reception, the teacher who appeared at that critical moment bet on Yorba. That’s only 1 gold.”

It is said that Grid’s mind became complicated in an instant.

All you have to do is design all the boards and gulp, but the money you bet is only 1 gold.

It was 20 times the usual amount, but it was still a modest amount for a wide open game.

Of course, I was considering having someone else do the proxy reception, but on the other hand, there was a possibility that I didn’t.

It was also because he knew that Xian was someone who hadn’t been involved in match-fixing.

In other words, the point where the grid touches tail to tail is the origin.

“My heart beat for the second time. It’s been a really long time.”

The first was when he was taken to the arena and ate a large meal.

After that, Grid’s heart, which had gradually become insensitive to the gambling tables in the arena, began to throb again with Yorba’s match that day.

The reason Grid spends time in the arena when there is nothing special is for fun rather than profit.

“The head is Vasto. However, the teacher’s betting that made the best choice every time.”

Grid, who hesitated, eventually bet on Yorba.

Grid evaluated that choice that day.

“It is inspired. This target, the grid, is to the teacher.”

This is something a merchant should never do.

Chasing anything other than the information that the head and the numbers say.

However, Grid was finally swung by him at the urgent moment when the reception was over, so he couldn’t make an accurate decision.

No matter what choice Xian has made in the meantime, apart from that, he should have looked at the truth as it was, but he failed to do so.

“That’s how I judged you as a nobleman.”

* * *

Hearing the story, Xian thought.

‘You’re just being scammed… .’

Well, Grid, he was putting himself in a good mood, but that was exactly what Xian thought.

Even though I knew all the facts, I didn’t want to admit that I was deceived, so I avoided it…

But Xian didn’t dare to say that out of his mouth.

“Why are you looking at me like that, sir?”

Oh, I must have said it with my eyes.

But if you didn’t say it out of your mouth, you wouldn’t have said it.

“Something got into my eyes… .”

Xian, who looked around moderately, said.

“So what do you want to sponsor me for?”

At first, I didn’t know what it was, but Xian seemed to know one thing for sure.

At least, it was that he had nothing to lose by receiving sponsorship.

‘But just in case, I should make sure.’

Sian spoke before Grid could speak.

“Oh, and just in case, I can’t listen to you even if you ask for too much later.”

“The merchant answers with money. Sir, what did you ask for support?”

At Xian’s words, Grid laughed and said.

“There is nothing to worry about in the first place. I will give you everything of mine, no, this crite, but please return only the amount you received.”

It was a very grand and weighty statement.

I’ll give you whatever you have, so what you get is different.

It was such a businesslike word, so I believed it rather than just talking about it.

“Well, I don’t think you can do something for me right now, so I don’t have to worry about that either.”

“That means… ?”

“Until I get to a position where I can give something to myself, I’m just saying I’ll help you without paying anything in return.”

Grid said so.

“Do you need anything? teacher?”

“Are you not there now?”

When Xian said that, Grid smiled.

“It seemed so. Take it.”

“What is this?”

It was yellow paper the size of a palm.

A piece of paper with a seal in the middle.

“If there is something you need my help with, you can take it anywhere on the continent, so go to the branch of the Crete Merchants. I will help you generously.”

In a word, it was a golden slip.

“That’s all I have to say today, thank you for your time, sir. Will you go back?”

“yes.”

After the meeting with Grid, Xian headed to the inn.

After walking for a while, when we arrived at the place where we had a confrontation with the Crete Merchant, Camilla said.

“We will go now.”

“Ah, thank you.”

“No, it’s me. I’m satisfied because I had an interesting viewing.”

After saying that, Camilla smiled and said.

“Rather than that, our youngest boyfriend has better skills, right?”

Xian thought for a moment and said.

“Cecile, the youngest?”

“okay. Bye bye anyway.”

As the two guardsmen and Camilla went back like that, Cyan also moved along with Stain.

As I was walking home, I remembered something I had forgotten.

‘Oh, I see… .’

He said that he would go to the palace quickly and have dinner, but the night was late because of this and that.

Even though it is an inn on the royal road, the types of food that can be ordered at night are limited.

I was worried because Stein is sincere when it comes to eating.

“that… I am sorry.”

Stain, who was thinking hard about something, woke up and said.

“What do you mean?”

“That rice.”

“ah… okay.”

Have you lost your head because you couldn’t eat?

The guy, who would normally have grumbled a word, thought about it again without saying anything.

‘It’s over… ?’

I was somewhat puzzled by the bland reaction, but Xian didn’t bother provoking him by asking deeply.

If Stain doesn’t react sensitively, it’s because he’s always good.

“A golden slip, by the way… .”

Xian smiled when he checked the yellow paper he received from the top.

Could it have been a windfall?

* * *

Xian, who returned late the day before, returned to his daily routine.

I woke up early in the morning and headed to the vacant lot where I always practiced.

It would be perfect to have a private gymnasium, but it was a good feeling because there was no place like this place now.

secluded and quiet

There are really few places like this in the bustling capital.

‘But apart from that… .’

Training was still hard.

When he received the leggings he had left with Stein and put them on again, the extreme weight weighed on Xian.

‘When will I adapt?’

There was no sign of adapting at all.

Of course, if you have a lot of time, you can afford it, but…

Xian heard the truth this morning when he and Drake ate.

‘No, I never thought there would be a separate training… .’

Well, adapt to the weight of the gaiters and conquer the arena.

This time, instead of watching, I ran directly.

It even gave me a restriction that I must defeat the opponent with the same technique, but the front was hopeless.

Because it was never that simple.

‘What’s more, they told me to win 10 times… .’

I was really out of breath.

10 wins was quite a symbolic number.

This was the reason why fighters predict success or failure based on whether or not they win 10 games in a year.

10 wins is at least a multiplier worth judging whether or not it is a lumber to survive in the arena, so I understand the purpose of the request.

‘But at this rate, let alone 10 wins… .’

Even after a year, it was a board to whimper with the leggings.

It’s not like I can’t move properly, so it’s not strange that it takes years to reach 10 wins with various restrictions.

It was a very embarrassing situation as the first time given was 3 years, half a year, and now only 2 and a half years left.

“… … .”

Sian, who had been deep in thought, looked at Stain from the corner, who was engrossed in training today.

“hey.”

“yes.”

Yesterday he answered casually, but today, for some reason, he answers sincerely.

“This is it.”

“You mean leggings?”

“Yes, is there any way to easily adapt? Any hints are good, so let me know.”

Stain, who had been quietly looking at Xian, stood up and said.

“Well, good.”

“Oh! really? You say help?”

There are really special things.

Normally, he would have said one word, saying that he was an escort and not a teacher.

In any case, it would be a good thing if the experienced assistant Stein could help, so he asked immediately.

“I heard yesterday that you don’t normally train in gaiters.”

Ophelia had clearly said so yesterday.

Apparently, Stain also said that he trains in other ways besides this.

“Yes. We usually train differently.”

I wondered what the alternative principle was.

It was clear that if there was any other training than this method, there would be hints there.

“What?”

“What do you think is the purpose of Gaiters training?”

“It’s about building the perfect body.”

Drake said so.

“… I didn’t ask them to recite what they heard.”

I thought he was kind for some reason, but hey…

“so? Why?”

I don’t know, so when I asked for information, Stain said.

“Gaiter training is a principle that applies heavy loads to the body to grow degenerated muscles as well.”

“Hoo. It was like that.”

“But that’s not the only way to train those degenerated muscles.”

“Oh, how else?”

“It’s about training while reducing mana.”

Reducing mana…

It seemed like it needed an explanation.