How to Survive as the Second Son of a Mage Family - Chapter 59

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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How to Survive as the Second Son of a Magic Family (59)

“Lucas, wait a minute…!”

Leo grabbed my arm.

“What are you trying to do! Are you really going?”

“Yeah.”

“I understand you’re angry, but let’s just hold back a little. Nothing good will come from getting into trouble with 3rd year students.”

“What do you mean hold back! Go crush them, Luca!”

Elias glared with wide eyes at the other table.

Rather than trouble…

I can respond to provocations once or twice for fun.

“I’m just going to have some fun. Don’t worry.”

Leo seems to think I’ll cause a scene like Elias, but I’m not angry.

Being blatantly ignored is certainly unpleasant, but I’m more curious about the skills of those guys who look down on people like that.

‘Actually, if I had to pick what bothers me, it’s not the 3rd year students but Hyung that’s the problem.’

But Hyung won’t come running just because I’m sitting at someone else’s table. Also, considering I plan to change Luca’s image in a different direction going forward, stepping up this much isn’t a big problem.

‘Besides, Luca knew basic poker rules to begin with.’

Since his only opponent was Hyung, there’s no way Hyung wouldn’t know this fact.

‘Still, I should properly check this part before going.’

I opened the change possibility window. If it drops even 0.1%p here, I’ll just stay quiet.

Dawn777

― Until final ending ‘Chapter X. Death’: 694 days 1 hour 43 minutes 47 seconds

― Change Possibility: 18.4%

‘Hmm.’

Nothing changed.

After I resolved to raise Luca’s reputation score, it went up 1%p, but there’s been no rise or fall since then.

The festival and poker game don’t seem to be events that greatly affect the future.

‘Or maybe I’m going to lose…’

I let out a chuckle.

Either I lost, or I won but the news didn’t reach Hyung, or even if it did, this much isn’t very important.

One of the three, whatever.

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

I headed straight to their table.

“Let’s do it.”

“Oh~”

“You really came!”

Several 3rd year students clapped while looking me over.

Certainly, their appraising looks, cocky way of speaking, and attitude aren’t very polite. But what courtesy could I expect when they openly called me out as a means to get their names on the hall board?

“Let’s move tables first.”

“Ah, tables?”

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

“Hey, he came, so let’s do whatever he wants.”

One student got up from his seat with a laugh.

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

“Let’s go to the 2nd floor. There are lots of people on the 2nd floor too, but everyone’s focused on their own games so they don’t pay attention to other tables.”

I signaled to Elias and Leo and went up to the 2nd floor. I heard Elias getting warp coordinates from an employee.

“How about over there?”

One 3rd year student pointed to a table far from the center. It was a corner where only half the lighting reached.

I nodded and sat down. Once everyone was seated, the dealer student also came over and sat in front of the table.

Elias had somehow come to the table next to us and was half-playing, half-not-playing a game while resting his chin on his hand and staring intently at us.

‘I told you it’s just for fun…’

The competitive spirit has attached itself to Elias.

I let out a dry laugh.

Without anyone going first, we all pushed one chip from in front of us onto the table.

’40 chips each.’

What a hopeless number.

From what I saw on the way in, to get your name on the board, you need at least 4 people to start with 40 chips each, and after one person gets 120 chips, you can decide whether to continue or end the game.

‘There were even betting limits.’

First bet of a round is maximum 2 chips, raise limit is 10 chips. Going all-in is allowed though.

In the end, since the game would drag on and become boring, they were looking for someone to fill the numbers while losing easily.

‘We’ll see if it ends that simply though.’

Anyway, thanks to that, my goal became clear.

Make them as exhausted as possible until they collapse.

“I’ll deal the cards.”

The dealer student threw cards with clumsy technique.

Two cards arrived face down, the last one face up.

My face-up card is a diamond 7.

The 3rd year student across from me with a 2 in front of him started showing off.

“I have the lowest up card, right? I bet first~”

“Talking is a waste of time. Just do it!”

“No, we have a guest here.”

‘…Hmm.’

They’re looking at me like someone who doesn’t know the rules.

In the first round, the person with the lowest revealed card starts betting.

In the games I played in reality, the person with the highest card started betting, but here it was different.

It would be one thing if I was dragged here from a different booth, but to think I don’t know the rules when I was playing poker in the same gaming hall – surprising.

I didn’t react and opened my hidden cards.

The hand I have now is K, 2, 7.

They get smaller in order: A, then K, Q, J, 10―2.

In this game, you receive 3 hidden cards and 4 revealed cards for a total of 7 cards until the end, and make your final hand with 5 of them.

To achieve results, you need cards with the same number – for example, heart 5 and diamond 5, or spade A and diamond A – or your hand needs to connect in sequence like 8, 9, 10, J, Q.

Or all suits must be the same, like having 5 hearts.

There’s more, but that’s the summary.

By that standard, my hand doesn’t show any pattern yet.

Still, I have no intention of folding. Every round is an opportunity.

When my turn came, I opened my mouth.

“Call.”

I matched the pot that was bet earlier.

When the round ended, another revealed card flew over.

It’s a spade 7. This makes two 7s.

‘Now I have a pair.’

In the next round, I received an A.

There’s nothing particular I can make with this. Of course, even that is welcome.

Then, when his turn came, the Department of Magic student spoke up.

“Raise.”

On the surface he has heart 7, heart 8, and spade 8. He added three chips to raise the pot.

Since he has the heart 7, the maximum consecutive hand I can make with 7s now is a triple. Because only 4 cards of the same number exist in one deck.

‘The other student is…’

“Ah, this is complete trash. Fold~”

One student declared surrender and slumped back against his chair. Since another student folded in the second round, now only two of us remain, including me.

‘No need to look anymore.’

The remaining guy raised the bet even after seeing my revealed pair because he has a better hand. An 8-card pair is higher than a 7-card pair.

Didn’t he consider what might be in my hidden cards?

‘Well, thinking that far ahead while just playing around would be going too far.’

If he had considered it, he might have a card among his hidden cards that makes him confident of victory, or he might have the Club 7 that I need to complete a triple.

Or maybe he thought he could draw something even better soon.

In the first place, in 7-card stud poker—though it looks quite different—pairs are fairly common, so if everyone’s hands turned out decent, it’s worth raising the bet.

Of course, my hand isn’t good. But…

I need to think long-term. Since this isn’t an ordinary game.

When my turn came around again, I opened my mouth.

“Raise.”

* * *

‘Wow.’

One 3rd Year Student stared intently at Lucas.

‘What’s this? It seems unnecessary… but.’

I’ll need to play a few more rounds to know for sure, but he keeps raising in this situation?

Right now, my Friend and I have already declared fold and dropped out.

His current opponent has an 8-card pair. Compared to a 7-card pair, the opponent would naturally win.

Meanwhile, it’s already become the final turn, and in the third round, Club 7 came into my hand.

That means Ascanien didn’t get a triple. Right now he’s repeating calls and raises with a hand that has nothing noteworthy except for a pair.

‘This confidence means he has another card in his hidden cards that pairs up.’

Anyway, he definitely has something.

Perhaps sensing this, my Friend is just watching carefully, unable to boldly bet chips.

‘No, wait, why am I watching this so seriously?’

We deliberately brought that Antagonist along to compete comfortably among ourselves, so why are we observing him?

Maybe because that Ascanien is approaching this with a more serious expression than expected, it’s become an atmosphere that can’t be ignored.

While trying to figure out his intentions for a while, Ascanien opened his mouth.

“Fold.”

“…?!”

He’s giving up now?

There’s nothing wrong with that, but compared to the serious atmosphere throughout, the ending is anticlimactic.

Don’t tell me… he held on with nothing special just to see how the last card would turn out? And he raised instead of just calling?

Perhaps everyone was thinking the same thing, as one Friend asked.

“…What hand did you have?”

At that question, Ascanien silently showed his hidden cards.

My Friend squinted as he read the hand.

“K, 2, 7, 5, 7, A, 3… All different suits too.”

“…”

Completely hopeless?

Don’t tell me he only gave up after receiving the last card and seeing it was terrible?

“Oh my, our beginner is like this~”

Mocking sounds came from the next table. At those words, Ascanien smiled faintly as if embarrassed.

‘…Hah…’

I really seem to have read him correctly.

‘Let me go over this once more.’

He just lost a total of 10 chips.

Two of the four dropped out midway, leaving only my Friend and Ascanien.

My Friend gradually raised the bet, and Ascanien did the same…

Only in the final round did he declare surrender.

‘Looking at this, he’s someone who can’t distinguish hands and clings to false hope.’

My Friends must be thinking the same thing, as even while receiving cards from the beginning again, our eyes met.

Though it didn’t last long, expressions of suppressed laughter crossed everyone’s faces.

* * *

“Ah, if I gather just 30 more, I’ll win?”

The 3rd Year Student from the Department of Magic smiled as he rubbed his hands together.

The winning streak had passed to another Student once, then returned to him again.

In contrast, my chips have been gained and lost repeatedly, leaving me with 27 now.

I created situations to capitalize when luck comes, while being careful not to hit rock bottom just in case.

Though it’s not too little compared to the Department of Public Administration guys, Elias’s casually delivered words midway seem to have helped ease their wariness. Even though I’m hitting moderate success, the initial atmosphere remains unchanged.

“I’ll deal the cards.”

Two hidden cards: Heart Q, Heart 2.

Revealed: Club J.

‘It’ll depend on how things turn out from here.’

Fortunately, thanks to the Department of Magic guy monopolizing 90 chips, the Department of Public Administration guy lost momentum and checked. That means he passed his turn without betting. The Department of Magic guy also passed with a smile under his friends’ glares. He seemed confident, probably because he already had many chips.

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

‘Hmm.’

Diamond Q.

My cards so far are Q, 2, J, Q, making a pair of Queens.

It’s a pair ranked second highest after Aces and Kings.

Then, the Department of Magic guy looked at his hand and sighed.

“Ah…”

Diamond J and Heart 8 were showing on his face cards.

Wait, if this guy folds, it’ll drag out the time even more. The 90-chip pot would instantly disappear until the next game.

Having already repeated rounds over thirty times, the Department of Public Administration guys also seemed tired, muttering with unfocused eyes.

“Want to quit?”

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

“3.”

“Hmm, raise.”

He pushed forward 10 chips.

‘Look at this.’

I suppressed my laughter and maintained a poker face.

Now, let me assess.

Each person’s chips: Department of Magic 90, Department of Public Administration 30 each and 13.

And me, 27.

If I call here, I’ll have 14 left.

‘Should I fold around here and aim for the next round?’

I briefly looked at the other Students’ hands, then organized my thoughts.

No, let’s end it here.

* * *

‘Hmm.’

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

My Friends are already tired, and though it doesn’t show much, Lucas Ascanien seems slightly tired too.

‘It’s about time to wrap this up.’

We’ve been at this table for over 40 minutes already, and I think I’ve extracted everything I can from here.

This round has already entered its fourth turn.

Two Friends have already folded after hearing my raise. They look quite dissatisfied from their expressions, but if I sweep everything and win, we can leave quickly, so they should be moderately satisfied.

‘But this guy really won’t leave.’

I spoke to Ascanien.

“Come to think of it, you’re lasting quite long~”

“Is that so?”

Hmm, no matter how I look at it, he seems unaware of what he’s doing.

Even from the beginning, not folding despite having such a weak hand and pushing forward. And not just calling, but raising? It’s laughable.

Because of that, I thought he was a stubborn guy, but Ascanien folded four times in a row after that.

Then at some point, a raise finally came from his mouth again, but when someone who’s been folding continuously suddenly raises, the opponent can’t help but know he has a good hand.

‘But…’

When I folded and checked, it was just a high pair.

Even though my face cards already showed two pair, he pushed with that. It was surprising.

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

‘Of course he must have had some thought behind it, but it’s not very promising…’

He’s moving unpredictably, but I can immediately tell it’s not coming from proper calculation but from inexperience. Even maintaining 27 chips so far must be luck.

Then, the dealer threw the cards.

I lined up my cards in a row.

Hidden J, K.

Face cards J, 8, J, 3.

Already a pair showing on the face cards.

And Ascanien’s hand was J, Q, 2, 4.

At least on the surface, there’s no answer. Should I give him a break just once?

I smiled appropriately and checked without placing a bet.

Ascanien also didn’t make any separate bet, perhaps because his hand wasn’t very good either, and we moved to the next round.

‘For now, the total chips in the pot so far are 31.’

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

‘It’s ambiguous.’

Even if I win, my chips will only be 110.

I’m 10 short of being able to end the game.

‘Should I not have checked in the 4th round?’

No, even if I hadn’t checked, the total pot would be 39 chips, so whether I check or not, I can’t finish it in this round either way.

I’m getting quite tired now, and I’d like to end it in this round where the cards came out well, but is there no way?

‘…No wait, there is.’

There’s a way to take all of Ascanien’s chips too.

Ascanien’s remaining chips are 12.

If I use this method, my chips will be 122, which means final victory.

It’s worth trying.

* * *

After that, I received the 2 of diamonds and 4 of spades.

I received the hidden card for the final round and tilted my head.

Another Q.

Just from the hidden cards alone, I already have a pair of Qs.

For now, the remaining 3rd Year Magic Student is definitely in a good situation.

From the first round, when he sighed as if his hand was bad and then raised 10, I could immediately tell that sigh shouldn’t be taken at face value.

Of course, since he’s the only one with an outstanding hand, one might think he made that raise just for fun, but rather than considering that possibility, it’s more rational to believe he really has something to rely on.

Actually, he does have a pair of Js showing on his face cards. Though that’s still lower than a pair of Qs. Besides, I don’t just have a pair.

So then…

‘Now I just need to wait for him to come.’

Since he responded to the check in the 4th round, it’s about time for him to make his move.

The 3rd Year Magic Student stroked his chin for a while, then pushed his chips forward and spoke.

“All in.”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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