In a battle between Constellations, even one second is immensely ✪ Nоvеlіgһt ✪ (Official version) important. If you're a second late in responding to your opponent’s attack, the odds of defeat increase dramatically.

So when Constellations face each other, they must stare at one another constantly. Incredibly inefficiently.

Even now, it was the same. Two pairs of eyes were locked in mutual focus, with hundreds of meters of empty space between them.

High up in the clouds, one man gazed down at the world like a god, watching his target.

And somewhere deep in the shadows, a woman—like a goddess of the underworld—sat with her legs crossed, looking up toward the sky.

Thus, in a place no one in the world could see, the two strongest beings in the world were keeping each other in check.

“Heliope?”

“...You called for me, Matriarch.”

Summoned by Matriarch Nibelung, a female sniper appeared and bowed her head.

Hair tied up. Black eyes.

Her name was Heliope Nibelung. Daughter of Matriarch Nibelung, her personal [Grandmaster]. An assassin recognized as the heir to the Nibelung Family.

Her face was youthful, but her expression was that of a sniper.

“Take two of the guard and go down to assist the Council.”

“...Understood. But wouldn’t it be better if I remained here?”

Despite being the designated successor and her daughter, the Matriarch offered no explanation or reply.

She simply gave an order.

“Go.”

Heliope nodded and turned away.

At that moment, far off in the distance, the hand of the Radiant Constellation⁺₊⋆ moved. With a crisp snap, a subtle light spread across the world.

『Sanctuary of Light』

A domain-type ability that imbues the entire space with the property of radiance. It drastically suppresses darkness, curses, and related effects. It was a preparatory move.

In response, the Matriarch also acted.

『Sinking Ground』

A domain ability that casts the 『Curse of Submersion』 within her territory. The scattered light converged into a single stream and shot up into the sky. It repelled the Sanctuary.

“.......”

“.......”

Having exchanged one move, both of their gazes narrowed slightly.

Close-quarters battle was approaching.

***

“We’ll escort you to the room.”

Upon returning to the casino, the staff’s attention remained lavish. When we indicated that we still intended to continue gambling, they led us somewhere else.

“Would you mind waiting just a moment? I need to retrieve the security key.”

“Go ahead.”

As we waited in front of the elevator, a hooded figure appeared and handed me a crumpled slip of paper.

“What are you?”

“......”

Despite Rebecca’s question, he simply bowed and walked away without replying.

Rebecca whispered beside me.

“What is that?”

“A VIP room ticket.”

“But that’s where we’re already heading, isn’t it?”

“That one’s fake. Casinos have legal betting limits. That’s boring for both the casino and the players.”

Which is why the casino runs a hidden, illegal, “totally unrelated to them” true VIP room.

The funny thing is, the final manager of this underground VIP is actually the real manager of the casino.

“This is where we’re really going.”

I finished speaking and took Rebecca with me outside the casino, walking down a secluded alley into the underground.

It was the VIP room.

It was cleaner and more glamorous than expected. Just as I thought, it was filled with major imperial business figures and guild masters I recognized by name. Most of them were paired up. People who could afford to lose millions or tens of millions of Hika without it impacting their finances. People who just considered it a pleasant evening.

“Welcome.”

At the dealer’s guidance, we naturally took a seat at the table. The game was poker.

It felt like we were getting closer to the target.

From here, it was Rebecca’s time to cause a scene. We had already discussed it in advance.

“......This is absurd. Do you know something? No one in the world is allowed to make such a request of me. Have you forgotten that I’m a princess of a sovereign state?”

Earlier, Rebecca had grumbled like this.

But I already knew.

That when Rebecca starts making a scene, she can do it with artistic flair.

No matter whether she’s facing imperial citizens, nobles, or businessmen—she has the ability to wreck everyone and take control of the VIP room.

That would alarm the manager, who would then appear, and I planned to identify him.

......Or so I thought.

“Straight flush.”

Rebecca started acting strangely.

“Whoa. You landed that hand in one go?”

“No way? How the hell did she get a straight flush here...?”

Suddenly, a pile of orange chips rolled toward us.

Dozens of chips, each worth a hundred thousand Hika. She had won several million in an instant.

Startled, I leaned in and whispered.

‘What are you doing?’

‘What do you mean. You said to bring out the manager, didn’t you?’

‘You’re supposed to cause a commotion.’

‘Well, if I win a ton of money, won’t he show up anyway? May as well earn something while I’m at it.’

This girl... She’s already figured out the tool she’s been given and started enjoying how to use it?

‘Rebecca. Don’t tell me—you’re actually enjoying this?’

‘...I’m not.’

That’s when I realized—just a bit too late—that she turned her head ever so slightly.

No.

Is she seriously enjoying this?

The gambling? Or the fact that she’s been given a talent?

Whatever it was, once Rebecca started enjoying herself, the VIP room began to descend into chaos.

“Full house...”

“No, wait. Another high hand?”

“Two pair...”

“Argh! I lost by a single card again.”

“One pair.”

“What? You were bluffing with just one pair?”

“Damn, I should’ve just kept playing...”

If Rebecca wanted to win, it was a winning game.

Was it still ‘gambling’ if you already knew the outcome? I wasn’t so sure anymore.

“...Ugh, I’m done. Tonight’s hopeless.”

“...Yeah.”

The expressions of the other players began to sour. Understandable. They’d just lost four or five games in a row.

At that moment, Rebecca smiled with confidence.

“Sorry. I guess I’m just lucky tonight.”

And then—

That’s when things started to get really absurd.

“Two pair... Oh no, I lost.”

At the end of the next game, Rebecca blew it big.

The other players' faces lit up.

“Hahaha! Beginner’s luck doesn’t last forever, huh?”

“...You’re pretty good, miss. I didn’t think you’d push with that triple.”

“I’m just average. Me and the rest of the old hands here? We’re not the kind you mess with, got it? So ease up on the betting, young lady. Got it?”

“...Yes.”

Rebecca lowered her head like she was discouraged—but the corners of her lips, hidden behind her palm, were slightly curled.

She was working them.

I was a bit stunned, but the flow was good, so I decided to let it be.

“Sorry, but I think I actually won this one. I’ve got a full house.”

At the end of the next hand, Rebecca flashed a proud expression.

But then the opposing player laughed loudly.

“Oh ho! What a shame. I’ve got four of a kind!”

“Four of a kind...?”

The opponent’s cards were flipped over with a flourish.

[6♣] [6♥] [6♠] [6◆].

Exactly four cards of the same number.

“Ahahahahaha!”

“Ohoho! Missy lost even with a full house!”

“Our little lady was a bit too confident!”

A massive loss. “No...” And then Rebecca bit her lower lip and started trembling.

The dealer neatly gathered the chips and passed them to the opposing player. Rebecca’s red eyes followed the motion.

Even to me, she looked like someone truly desperate.

“M-My chips...”

And so, a few more rounds followed.

“Two pair! Ah, I won again.”

“Three of a kind. Looks like I won this one too.”

“Mount. Missy, you came in with two pair all smug? Haha.”

Rebecca kept losing, one hand after another.

Then, clenching her fist with a confident expression—

“Full house! Ha, I won this time, right?”

“Unfortunate. I’ve got four of a kind again.”

“Whaaat??”

A repeat of the earlier loss. Rebecca suddenly grabbed the dealer’s wrist like a statue coming to life, her face fierce.

“Excuse me!”

“Yes?”

“Four of a kind? Isn’t this a scam? How can a full house and four of a kind show up together in one game—twice? That’s just, that’s just unreasonable!”

I was honestly surprised inside. Rebecca’s voice of protest sounded incredibly convincing.

“This underground room is run with full honesty under the Mark of Fortune and Misfortune...”

“No, but still! This just doesn’t make—!”

Then the other players raised their voices too.

“Hey, lady. You didn’t say a word when you were winning, and now you’re yelling after losing?”

“Yeah, she’s looking real shaky now. If you’re scared, you can just leave!”

“Shut it! I’m not leaving until I win back every last coin I lost!”

As she lost a couple more times, Rebecca’s expression darkened further.

“Hahaha! Come on, just get up and leave already.”

“Yeah. Seems like you don’t really get how this works, missy. The most important thing in gambling isn’t winning. It’s knowing when to walk away.”

Rebecca shot to her feet, fuming, and peeled off her coat—an elegant piece suited to the dress code. Then she clung to my arm.

“...What should I do, darling? I lost again...”

Oh.

My god.

My brain shut down for a second.

Then Rebecca began looking up at me with pitiful eyes—right in front of over a dozen people at the table.

Up until now, I hadn’t participated in the game. I’d just been watching quietly, so all eyes suddenly turned to me. Not surprising, given everyone had been silently wondering about my relationship with Rebecca.

“Oh dear~ Poker really isn’t easy, is it?”

I smiled broadly and said something random.

Then whispered to Rebecca.

‘Are you seriously insane?’

Rebecca made a tearful face in front of everyone.

“N-Nooo~ Darling, I’m so upset...”

I was flustered but replied.

“What are you upset about?”

“Mmm...”

Then she whispered in my ear.

‘What are you doing? You’re supposed to play along better.’

‘Are you nuts? Play along with what?’

‘Act like a clueless sugar daddy, duh.’

‘Why should I?’

‘Ugh, don’t you get it? That’s what makes it feel real.’

I was going insane.

So here’s what I understood: Rebecca was scamming the crowd. She was playing the role of a clueless girl trying to sweet-talk her sugar daddy into giving her more money after a loss. And I was the sugar daddy.

And sure enough, looking at the 【Script】, her act was totally working.

【 Businessman A: ‘Hah, those two are total pushovers. This is gonna be easy money.’ 】

【 Defense Minister Lukes: ‘So that guy’s the money man, huh? No wonder he was just sitting there watching. Nothing beats gambling with someone else’s cash, I guess.’ 】

【 Guildmaster Kidrane: ‘A sucker and his wallet—classic combo. Almost suspiciously perfect.’ 】

Ah!

They took the bait. Hard.

There was no turning back now.

Luckily, I had acting chops of my own. I mean, wasn’t I just a regular grad student who’d been pretending to be a professor for half a year?

I lowered my voice, dropped my gaze, and spoke.

“My baby. Wanna keep playing a bit more?”

I stroked the back of a former serial killer’s head.

At the same time, I had to suppress the overwhelming disgust rising in my chest.

Gag.

“Yes, darling...”

“Then I guess this big brother will have to back you up a little more tonight, hmm?”

“Oh my, really? Do you have money to spare, darling...?”

Ah!

I just want to die...

“Of course I do. Who do you think I am?”

At the same time, the players were watching this “sugar daddy and sugar baby” act with twisted amusement. Their 【Thoughts】 said they were grossed out, but they also hoped I’d open my wallet wider.

‘Don’t pull out.’

Rebecca whispered in my ear, then backed away.

“But you know, darling... Everyone here is so good, I don’t even know if I can win anymore...”

She was laying it on thick, trying to pull out more money.

At the same time, I fully grasped the scene Rebecca was building.

I wasn’t supposed to pull out. I was supposed to flex, as the sugar daddy.

“Trust me, babe. You know how much I adore you, right? And I’ve got plenty to spare—I just sold one of my dad’s companies. No way I’m just gonna sit here while my baby’s upset.”

I laid it on thick, like some pitiful clown soaked in cheap butter.

God, I hated myself for this performance.

“Darling, you’re the best...!”

At the same time, the former serial killer cupped my cheek lovingly.

Then she wrapped her arms around my neck and hugged me.

Oh fuck.

Under the amused stares of the players, I thought about the pistol tucked at my waist.

If I blew my brains out right now, would that end this nightmare?

Then, still hugging me, Rebecca whispered.

‘But seriously, Professor.’

‘What.’

‘Why are you so good at this? You’re pissing me off.’

‘You back off too. I’m gonna puke.’