「Kii」
「Ehh…」
The giant rat Momo-chan slowly pushed all his chips forward. ――Apparently, it was an all-in.
Are you really that confident…? I wonder…
Even looking at Momo-chan’s face, I can’t read his expression at all. Normally, I can tell what he’s thinking just by looking at him, but during poker I have no idea…
Still, I don’t really have a choice but to call here…
「C-call.」
「Oh ho. It’s getting heated now.」
「It sure is…」
I somehow managed to respond to Yggdrasil-san, who had already folded.
It really is an intense situation.
My hand is a flush. It should be fine. It has to be fine. I should probably win this…!
Now then, the fateful showdown――!
「Very well, Alec has a flush! Momo has――a straight flush!」
「You’ve got to be kidding me.」
While I stood there in shock, Momo-chan expressionlessly swept away all of my chips…
「That eliminates Alec.」
「Yes…」
「Now then, Momo. It is you and I in the final battle.」
「Kii」
And so, the three of us, Yggdrasil-san, Momo-chan, and I, were enjoying a game of poker.
…Well, since I’ve been eliminated, I can only sit back and absentmindedly watch the two of them play.
Still, they’re both strong. My chips were smoothly harvested by the two of them.
Before we started, I told Momo-chan that if we were going to play, he should play seriously, no 『hospitality poker』. But I never expected to get crushed this badly…
Even that last hand, well, if someone pulls a straight flush, there’s not much you can do… that’s what I could say.
But really, it was the flow leading up to it.
I feel like I was skillfully manipulated. He made me push out chips until I couldn’t turn back, and then took everything in the end. Momo-chan… what a terrifying child.
And now that very Momo-chan is facing Yggdrasil-san in the final showdown.
Even just watching from the sidelines, the tension is incredible. An extremely high-level psychological battle is unfolding.
Compared to this, the earlier games might as well have been child’s play.
…Yeah. As for me, I feel a bit conflicted about all this.
◇
After various twists and turns, Yggdrasil-san ended up winning in the end. Congratulations, Yggdrasil-san.
Momo-chan unfortunately lost, but now he is happily building a card tower. He looks completely calm, like a different person from when he was playing poker.
「Still, these playing cards are very well made.」
「Thank you very much.」
The cards used in the poker game earlier, and now for building the tower, are something I made. They are Woodworking Series No.64: 『Playing Cards』.
They were made using the shavnish method. I applied 『Varnish Coating』 to thin wood shavings. By carefully adjusting the varnish, I was able to give them a texture similar to plastic playing cards.
On top of that, I used a real-type varnish, and the design of the illustrations turned out perfectly.
I first thought of making varnish-based playing cards when I was talking about cards with Mikoto-san before, and I am quite proud of how well they turned out.
「This card in particular is quite good.」
「Ah, well, yes…」
The card Yggdrasil-san is holding is the Joker.
And on that Joker card――I used Yggdrasil-san as the model.
In other words, Yggdrasil-san is holding a card with her own image on it and praising it by saying 『This card is quite good』.
That’s bold. That’s quite the statement, Yggdrasil-san.
「Though I must say, being depicted in the form of a child is a little concerning.」
「I see…」
Unfortunately, I only know Yggdrasil-san in her child form…
「Even so, it is a fine card. Well made indeed.」
「Thank you. I’m just glad that Yggdrasil-san likes it. …As for me, it’s a bit embarrassing.」
「Hm? Your card? I think it is quite well done.」
As she said that, Yggdrasil-san looked at the Jack card.
The Jack’s illustration is――me.
I made the King and Queen represent Father and Mother, and following that logic, I ended up as the Jack. …It’s a little embarrassing.
Making a card based on myself, by myself, feels vaguely awkward in the first place…
「By the way, do you not plan to sell these?」
「The playing cards? Hmm, well, if I made normal ones out of paper, I suppose I could produce and sell them.」
「I see. Paper, you say.」
「Yes. If I draw the pictures and numbers on paper, and include a note explaining how to play…」
They should sell. They absolutely should sell. They would probably become an explosive hit.
「Paper would be fine, but will you not sell the varnished ones instead?」
「Huh? The playing cards I made with my varnish?」
「Indeed.」
「No way… I absolutely refuse. I’m the only one who can make these…」
They can only be made by someone who uses the same real 『Varnish Coating』 as I do. At the very least, you would need the 『Varnish Coating』 skill. …And yet, the demand would surely be terrifyingly high.
Selling something like that to the world would be madness. I would not survive.
「Hmm. I see. So you will not sell them…」
Hm? That reaction… could it be that Yggdrasil-san wants them?
「Ah, well, I could make one more set. If you would like, I can give it to you as a present.」
「Oh? Is that truly fine?」
「Yes. You have always taken care of me, Yggdrasil-san.」
…Though to be honest, it is quite a bit of work. The real 『Varnish Coating』 has terrible efficiency.
I could probably make them with just 『Varnish Coating』 alone, but it seems what Yggdrasil-san wants is specifically the real-type varnished cards…
「I see. My apologies, Alec. Thank you.」
「Not at all.」
「If it is troublesome, just my card alone will suffice, you know?」
「Huh?」
So, she does not actually want the whole deck. She only wants her own card…
Well, that certainly makes things easier for me.
In that case, maybe I should put more effort into the design?
Perhaps I could finish it like a cool trading card and then present it to her.
「Ah, speaking of presents――」
「Hm?」
「It seems that both Momo-chan and I have received a present from you, Yggdrasil-san.」
「Hm? From me? What are you talking about?」
「That one, the gift――『Divine Tree-sama’s Gift』.」
That thing where Yggdrasil-san supposedly grants ability values to children when they are born.
I have been curious about that story regarding Yggdrasil-san, so I decided to take this opportunity to ask her directly.
「Divine Tree-sama’s Gift?」
「Yes.」
「What is that supposed to be noja?」
「…Huh?」
next chapter: The Darkness of the Church
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