The Gambling Monster furrowed his brow while watching Raon gobble down the White Dragon as if it was water.
âThereâs no way this is right.â
Even a large monster would throw up the undiluted White Dragon because it was such a strong alcohol.
No matter how outstanding a Masterâs stamina and regeneration were, it wasnât a liquor that a human being could tolerateâand yet, the young man was casually pouring the White Dragon into his throat as if he were drinking tea.
âWhat the hell is that bastardâŠ?â
He could understand his gambling skills, since he couldâve learned them from some expert living in seclusion on the continent. It was rather unbelievable, but he could compromise somehow.
However, the pure White Dragon wasnât something he could handle with luck or skills. He couldnât believe that the youngster who didnât look like he had ever had a drink before was drinking even better than himself.
âAre you not drinking?â
Raon grinned at him after easily clearing his bucket.
âItâs your turn now, Sir Gambling Monster.â
âI know.â
The Gambling Monster ground his teeth and picked up the bucket. He poured the liquor into his mouth, suppressing his boiling emotions.
âKuhâŠâ
It was so strong. The liquor was supposed to be taken slowly after diluting it, yet he was drinking it pureâand quickly. It wasnât an enjoyable experience at all. It was simply painful.
He wanted to give up, but his pride wouldnât let him back down. He forced himself to stiffen his trembling hand, then kept draining his bucket.
âKuah! I-Itâs your turn!â
The Gambling Monster put down the bucket with a strange smile on his face.
âYou donât need to tell me. I was going to drink anyway.â
Raon emptied his bucket with a composed smile on his face, just like when he was gambling. His soft smile made it look like he wasnât experiencing any pain at all.
âHeâs not using aura to erase it, either.â
Raonâs aura wasnât moving at all, just like when he was gambling. It was staying still inside his energy center as if it were sleeping, yet he didnât even look tipsy. He looked like he was just drinking water.
âHiee! How does liquor smell so strong?!â
âThe scent alone is giving me pain. How are they even drinking it?â
âAugh, I donât even want to get close.â
âThey are both so tough!â
The spectators couldnât even endure the two peopleâs breath after drinking and had to step back.
âYou are pretty good at drinking, too. What kind of liquor do you usually enjoy?â
The Gambling Monster asked Raon in order to catch his breath.
âI donât drink.â
âWhat?â
âThis is my first time drinking.â
Raon smiled cheerfully while filling his bucket with liquor.
âThe way it warms up my throat doesnât feel too bad. I can understand why people like to drink.â
He easily emptied his bucket once again, as if he was trying to prove what he said.
âHuh? Huuh?â
The Gambling Monsterâs feigned composure was ruthlessly shattered.
âFirst time?â
Did he just say it was his first time?
He couldnât believe that he was drinking White Dragon so easily when it was his first time.
âNo, heâs telling the truthâŠâ
He could tell since heâd been gambling with that monstrous guy until a moment ago. He mustâve been telling the truth when he said it was his first time.
âWhat the hell is this monster?â
Monster wasnât even enough to describe him. He was more like an unknown being.
âEven so, I canât lose here! Iâll never lose!â
The Gambling Monsterâs pride spoke up, since he didnât lose to anyone when it came to gambling and drinking. He couldnât allow himself to be defeated by someone who was drinking for the first time.
âBring one more pot of liquor!â
âYes!â
The Gambling Monster suppressed the pain from his stomach, which felt like an internal injury, and glared at the second pot that immediately came out. Since his pride was at stake, he needed to endure with sheer willpower.
âHmm.â
Raon frowned slightly upon seeing the second pot.
âDonât tell me you are scared now.â
âNo way, butâŠâ
âBut?â
âI donât think this is going to be enough, so letâs prepare an extra pot.â
âYouâŠâ
The Gambling Monsterâs chin was trembling violently. The bastard mustâve been insane beyond imagination. He could feel the intense trembling of his hands, but he couldnât show weakness.
âY-Youâre right about that. Alright! Bring one more!â
âTh-Thatâs all the White Dragon we have.â
âBring something else then! Bring the strongest liquor you have!â
âYes!â
The subordinates were way too obedient for some reason. They couldâve brought some moderate alcohol, but the even larger pot they brought contained a liquor with a similar percentage of alcohol as the White Dragon.
âLetâs resume the match.â
âAlright.â
It was almost irritating how easily Raon was emptying his cup.
âKuh!â
The Gambling Monster barely managed to empty his cup, clenching his teeth while looking at Raon.
âIâm never going to lose! I wonât be defeated, even if I have to die!â
* * *
Raon suppressed his laughter while looking at the Gambling Monster.
âHe looks like heâs going to die.â
The Gambling Monster was completely wasted, and the focus was almost gone from his eyes. He was barely fighting off the intoxication with his willpower, but he didnât look like he would last for much longer.
âItâs your turn now. Drink.â
He couldnât even articulate properly. It looked like heâd reached his limit.
âThatâs pretty amazing.â
The White Dragon and the liquor brought out after that both had high enough alcohol percentages to make people drunk from the scent alone. It was amazing that he could maintain his consciousness after drinking them like water.
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âD-Drink it, dude.â
Considering he was calling him dude, his consciousness mustâve been hanging off a cliff.
âSure.â
Raon smiled pleasantly, then easily emptied his bucket.
Cring!
The Ring of Fire was still rotating and dissipating the strong intoxication that entered his body.
âIâm killing two birds with one stone.â
He could only smile because of the strangeness of the situation. The proficiency of the Ring of Fire was increasing during the drinking contest against the Gambling Monster.
âWh-Whatâs happening right now?â
âThe Frostfire Sword of Valor doesnât look like heâs drunk at all. Heâs even smiling now!â
âIs this really his first time drinking?â
âB-But the Gambling Monster looks like heâs dyingâŠâ
âHow is this even happening?â
âI didnât even expect that this drinking session would last until morning.â
The spectatorsâ chins were trembling as they looked back and forth between the faltering Gambling Monsterâwho resembled a broken marionetteâand the completely unaffected Raon.
âD-Did you just smile?â
The Gambling Monster barely managed to bring the liquor to his mouth with his trembling hand. He could only drink half of it since he was dropping the other half, but Raon didnât really bother interrupting him. It didnât even matter at that point.
However, there was someone else who was suffering as much as the Gambling Monster.
Kueeeh!
Wrath screamed like a dying pig and stuck his tongue out.
Please stop! Please stop already! You demonic bastard!
Wrathâs face had turned completely pale from the drinking contest, which lasted from evening to morning.
When is this torture going to end? I wonât eat any ice cream anymore! I wonât eat any food, either, so please stop drinking already!
He also went insane because of the strong liquor. Raon ended up unintentionally torturing Wrath.
âJust endure a little longerâŠâ
How long is that little? Iâm really going to die! You really are a devil!
Wrath grasped his head and rolled on the table, saying that it was the worst torture heâd experienced so far.
âKuh, i-is it my turn?â
The Gambling Monster scooped up the liquor with trembling shoulders.
âIâll do it with you.â
Raon filled his bucket at the same time as the Gambling Monster, raising it.
âShall we toast? Since we haven't done that yet.â
âF-Fine. Bring it on!â
Raon brought his bucket forward, and the Gambling Monster clinked the glasses with a trembling hand.
Raon easily drank the liquor, and the Gambling Monsterâs hand violently trembled as he drank.
Smash!
Along with the pleasant sound of shattering glass, the Gambling Monster collapsed onto his back. At the same time, Wrath, who was supporting his chin on the table, also fell to the ground.
âYou devilâŠâ
You devilâŠ
The man and demon king murmured the same thing before closing their eyes. They both seemed to have fainted, since rough breathing was all that could be heard from them.
[Ring of Fireâs proficiency has increased.]
Raon put down the cup while reading the message. He nodded while smiling nonchalantly.
âThe second trial has been cleared!â
* * *
[Translator â Kyangi]
[Proofreader â Harley]
* * *
âH-He also won the drinking matchâŠâ
Dorianâs eyes widened as he looked at the collapsed Gambling Monster.
âSquad leader! Sir Raon has also won the second trial!â
Rimmer was just standing blankly next to him. Dorian grabbed him by his collar and started screaming.
âWhy is he so good at everything?â
Heâd just won against the Gambling Monster, who was famous throughout the continent for his gambling and drinking skills, by an overwhelming difference. Even though he was aware of how special Raon was, heâd never expected that to happen. He felt like he was dreaming.
âWoaah!â
Although he felt like heâd turned into Raonâs wallet somehow, he cheered for him because he got excited for some reason.
âUuuh!â
Rimmerâs clenched fist was trembling.
âItâs coming. Itâs coming!â
âWhat? Whatâs coming?â
âMy golden age is coming back!â
He slowly caught his breath while suppressing his excitement.
âHe just needs to win one more time.â
Heâd wagered all of his hidden and borrowed money on Raonâs success at the Promise of Three. Since he was the only person who bet on it, the gain was bound to be tremendous if he won.
âPleaseâŠâ
Rimmer gathered his hands while looking at Raon, who was just staring at the collapsed Gambling Monster.
âOh, my god of wealth! Please bestow on me the golden rain!â
* * *
While Raon finished removing the small amount of intoxication left in his body using aura, white steam was endlessly coming from the Gambling Monsterâs body, which was lying on the ground.
Tssh!
An extremely powerful scent of alcohol covered the entire gambling house once that smoke spread out, and the poor drinkers among people collapsed at once. That was because the Gambling Monster was removing all of the intoxication in his body with aura.
âHaaâŠâ
The Gambling Monster sighed after just raising his upper body. He sighed a second time after slowly raising his head to look at Raon.
âI lost.â
He conceded his defeat with a scowl that suggested that he didnât want to accept it.
âI even lost the drinking match after the gambling one. I honestly feel like I was possessed by a devil.â
The Gambling Monster looked up at the hole in the ceiling that heâd created himself. The sunlight was pouring in, as if it were stretching after the night.
âLet me ask you one question.â
âIâm listening.â
âWas that really your first time drinking?â
The Gambling Monsterâs face was serious. He mustâve been really curious about that part.
âYes.â
It was my first time in my current life.
Raon honestly nodded.
F-Finally.
Wrath raised his head while faltering.
Itâs finally over! Uaaah!
He knelt on the ground and raised his open hands, just like a prisoner who managed to break out of prison.
âI never thought I would suffer an overwhelming defeat in gambling and drinking by an eighteen-year-old boy. Iâll admit everything.â
The Gambling Monster slowly raised himself. He gestured with his chin.
âLetâs start the third trial. Follow me.â
* * *
Raon was standing at the open area behind the gambling house alongside Rimmer and Dorian.
âI know that you are a Master, but thatâs not enough for me.â
The Gambling Monster slowly turned his wrists and ankles to warm himself up before the match.
âI want to ask you to win against me to pass this trial because of the humiliation I received in the drinking and gambling contests, but I shouldnât ask you to do the impossible.â
He raised his thick finger.
âIâm going to first confirm if you have enough skills to compete against me in martial arts. Come at me. Iâll give you proper conditions if you manage to land an attack on me, or if I like your strike.â
âAre you really going to be okay when youâve just regained consciousness?â
Raon tapped his scabbard with a faint smile on his face.
âUgh, I didnât fall unconscious. I was just resting for a moment.â
The Gambling Monster frowned and shook his head. Raon could perfectly read his expression after having been with him since the afternoon of the day before. The Gambling Monster was really embarrassed about it.
âAlright, letâs say that was the case.â
âIâm not just saying it. Itâs true!â
âOkay.â
While the Gambling Monster complained, Raon placed his hand on the hilt and lowered his posture. It was the sword draw position.
âYou are rather conservative, even though you are young.â
The Gambling Monster chuckled, pointing his sword forward. Despite his size, the sword wasnât much bigger than Heavenly Drive.
âHe thinks that Iâm going for a sword draw.â
He was just preparing to block a swift strike. He mustâve thought that Raon was obviously planning for a sword draw.
âHaa.â
Raon briefly exhaled.
âThis is a good opportunity.â
He was planning to use the martial arts of sound instead of the sword draw. It was his new technique that could tear apart his ear with the principles of extreme swiftness.
Raon lightly grabbed the hilt. He kicked the ground while enjoying the pleasant cold sensation filling his hand.
The aura that had become sturdier after passing through the middle energy center dashed through the mana circuits all around his body. The silver blade became a tempest and soared, all while grazing the end of his scabbard to create an intense sword resonance.
Whir!
The real part was only getting started. Raon added the Ten Thousand Flames Cultivationâs energy to the sound spreading through the atmosphere. Even though the sound was bending like lightning, he delicately controlled its direction to strike the Gambling Monsterâs earâmore specifically, the vestibular organ inside of it.
Pssh!
The sword wind exploded inside the Gambling Monsterâs ear, but he only faltered instead of collapsing. However, his widened eyes almost looked like they would pop out in astonishment.
Thud!
Raon noticed his opening, then used Supreme Harmonyâs second step. The moment he soared like a flower petal carried by the wind, the Gambling Monster quickly collected his mind and thrust his sword towards Raon. His energy, undulating in the air, looked like it would crush the sky.
Rumble!
The sword strike was so powerful that a storming sound could be heard from the aura. Raon twisted Heavenly Drive to deflect his sword, then slashed with Sword of Insanity.
âKhmm!â
The Gambling Monster retrieved his sword in an instant and pummeled down right after. The pressure felt like a mountain was falling down on him, and the Gambling Monster apparently had no intention of going easy on him.
Cring!
Raonâs sword swayed in the shape of the moon and created an arc in the air. The wave of astral energy spread to push back the Gambling Monsterâs sword, creating a small cut on his sleeve.
Slam!
Raon and the Gambling Monster were pushed back at the same time by the following collision between the swords.
âI-Itâs not an aura blade, but sound? Is this a martial art of sound?â
The Gambling Monster widened his eyes, not caring about the cut on his sleeve.
âThatâs correct.â
Raon nodded. He didnât need to hide it, since it had already been discovered.
âHmm, I never imagined you would use the martial art of sound.â
The Gambling Monster frowned while grasping his left ear, where the sound had exploded. Heâd managed to defend himself at the last moment, but he still mustâve taken a decent amount of damage.
âI guess he would, since I hit his vestibular organ.â
The vestibular organ was an organ that dealt with oneâs sense of balance. Since it was too close to the nervous system and could cause dizziness, it was impossible for the Gambling Monster to show his normal performance after getting hit there. If Raon hadnât used the martial art of sound as his first strike, he wouldâve been defeated from the second clash.
âTsk.â
The Gambling Monster clicked his tongue while looking at his severed sleeve.
âIt looks like I underestimated you once again.â
He closed his hand and opened it before he nodded.
âI apologize. Gambling, drinking, and martial arts. You are qualified to clear the Promise of Three.â
âThat was a very fast acknowledgement.â
âThatâs because I never thought someone like you would exist in the world.â
The Gambling Monster chuckled, then raised both of his hands.
âLetâs start the last exam now.â
He extended his sword in a reverse grip.
âThe last exam is an escape.â
âEscape? Where am I escaping from?â
Raon looked around. He couldnât understand what kind of escape he was talking about when they were in an open area.
âFrom here.â
The Gambling Monster pointed at the ground with his sword in a reverse grip and pointed at the sky with his fingers joined together.
âThat postureâŠâ
Raonâs jaw dropped, because there was no way he wouldnât recognize the posture.
âSword Field Creation.â
The Gambling Monsterâs voice resounded from all directions.
âThe Black Blade.â
The Gambling Voiceâs shrill voice could be heard as the world was covered in darkness, not giving him any time to escape.