Chapter 60

"Ah, I'll play the red imp, with the staff 1. This ends this row, doesn't it?"

"Then I'll play the sword 11."

We had returned to the carriage and were playing a game of sevens with the Maren clan's oracle cards.

Although, these oracle cards were something I had remade to resemble playing cards.

Since the oracle cards originally had no suits, I added the symbols of swords, staves, chalices, and coins.

These symbols represent knights, mages, clerics, and merchants in this world, and they often appear as a set of four.

They could be considered the four major powers below the nobility.

I adapted these symbols to fit the oracle cards.

The reason I created these symbols was simply because they were familiar and easy to understand.

They don't have any deeper meaning.

However, even though I had made them, the Maren clan frowned upon playing with the oracle cards, so I couldn't easily show them to others.

I had also made a similar set before, but my father immediately burned them due to my past transgressions.

Sibyl also didn't look too pleased with using the oracle cards for card games.

So, in the village, Giselle and I often played together, but playing with four people was definitely different from playing with just two.

It somehow reminded me of my previous life.

By the way, I can use clairvoyance with the oracle cards, but of course, I'm not doing that.

"Pass... Hey, why is the chalice row completely blocked? Does this happen frequently? Hey, Abel?"

"Ah, I'll pass too."

She is Area, the carriage driver we hired.

She's probably around twenty years old.

She's cool and quiet, but over the past two days, her participation in conversations has slightly increased.

I invited her to play cards, thinking she probably wouldn't join, but after a moment's hesitation, she agreed to play.

Maysen passed four times in a row, and then Area steadily filled in the chalice row.

Meara came in first, I came in second, and Area came in third. Area's three passes in the middle affected her ranking, causing her to fall behind Meara and me.

"Hey, Area, wait a moment. You had a chalice card, didn't you? Why did you pass?"

Maysen asked, his voice trembling, and Area turned her face away.

She looked a bit pleased.

...Is she actually enjoying this the most?

When a row is blocked in sevens, it's indeed satisfying.

Honestly, getting a clean hit feels better than winning.

However, playing to sabotage and giving up victory is disliked, so I hope Area, who doesn't seem to have many friends, is careful.

"Hey! Because... my hand was like this at that moment... Look, it's not right! It's definitely not right! If I had played this, I could have come in second! Abel, is this allowed by the rules? Hey, hey!"

...Especially when dealing with someone who hates losing.

The more Maysen complained, the more Area hid her face, looking pleased.

...Well, as long as she's enjoying herself.

Next time, I'll add a joker-like jester to counter blocking.

"Again! Just one more time! If you have a move like that, I have a strategy too! Abel, shuffle the oracle cards!"

By the way, so far, only I can shuffle the oracle cards.

Everyone doesn't seem particularly clumsy, but they lack the experience of shuffling a deck of cards.

It's all about getting used to it.

I glanced at the entrance of the Zeshum ruins.

The number of adventurers had significantly decreased, as if they had all given up.

Gaston, who had been so lively earlier, was nowhere to be seen.

There were only about three other carriages left, besides ours.

"Shouldn't we head back soon? This isn't going to work, is it?"

"One more time! Just one more time!"

"No, it's already been half a day... Why not on the way back?"

"Then Area will be left out! Besides, it's almost evening, and we won't be able to move soon anyway. We should rest here today and return slowly tomorrow!"

"But that will add another day. That means more travel expenses..."

"I'll take care of it!"

How badly does he want to win...

"Ah, someone is coming out of the ruins."

Hearing Meara's words, I turned my gaze to the ruins.

A tall old man was coming out of the ruins, followed by several people who looked like members of the investigation team.

"Please wait, Lord Eberhard!"

Then a chubby man came out.

"You're no good! I heard you were the most knowledgeable about barrier magic in Romane, but you just held us back! You're a joke! This is why I hate Nox! Your incompetence has tarnished the name of the lord, Weygand! You'll pay dearly for making me waste my time!"

"Me, me, Weygand, a hindrance...!?"

The tall, haughty old man... apparently his name is Eberhard.

He has high ears and pale skin. And that distinctive, sharp face.

No doubt, Eberhard is an elf.

Elves have long lifespans.

Given his age, he must be over four hundred years old.

"Let's retract that! Your contempt for the renowned scholar Weygand! Indeed, I haven't produced results yet! My hypotheses were incorrect! But, the results are unavoidable given the magic array in those ruins! You're not a layman, so you should understand that it's a highly advanced magic array..."

"Don't measure me! A fool like you is useless! This time, it's impossible. I was a fool to have any hope in the scholars of Nox. In the end, you're just a short-lived race. I'll advise the lord to start over with personnel. You're fired."

"N-no! Let me tell you! I've served the lord longer than you! Just because you were picked up, don't act so high and mighty!"

"Lord Eberhard, Mr. Weygand, please calm down!"

It seems there's a conflict.

The team responsible for unsealing the ruins is having a falling out, and the old elf is requesting a temporary halt in the investigation.