The current game was over as I was letting the random pick-up lines flow through my mind.
''Oh, the good times will soon be over, the game is already over.
''Haha, well...''
I respond to Lohelio''s words with a dry smile.
It felt more painful and long for me than anything else.
I look across at Nina and see that she is dealing with her wife with the same tired smile as I am.
It''s depressing to think that this time is going to continue.
Plus, the next game, if I don''t win the bet, the hell I''m going to have to spend the night with her.
I must win at all costs...!
''Come to think of it, when you were betting, you didn''t decide which one of your favorite fighters you wanted to bet on first.
When Rojerio tells me, I reply, "You''re right.
We are supposed to look at the fighters before deciding which one to bet on, so it would definitely be more advantageous to decide which one to bet on first.
Of course, Rojerio would think so too, so he wouldn''t give up the first move.
Now, how shall we decide?
''''Then how about we decide on a coin toss?
Fermo, who was next to me, told me so.
''I see, that''s fair then. Can I have Shuna-dono too?''
Yes, sir.
Then it would be presumptuous of me to do so.
Fermo pulls a coin out of his pocket and shows us the front and back, then flips it upwards.
If it''s a coin toss, the odds are one in two.
It doesn''t matter if you choose first or later.
But that is, if you don''t know whether it''s the front or the back.
I give Nina a look and she nods as if to say she understands.
Coin tosses are sometimes done as a training exercise.
I have to guess the front and back of a coin to exercise my kinetic vision.
An ordinary person would have a 50-50 chance of guessing, but I have a better than 80 percent chance of answering correctly.
Eric and his deputy commander, Liberto-san, rarely miss.
Nina would also be able to feel it in the flow of magic and know if it''s front or back.
The two of us will see and feel the coin toss as best we can, and we will definitely win here.
I''m serious because if we don''t, there''s hell to pay for us.
It falls on the back of Fermo''s back and he covers it with his hand.
I almost laugh a little, but I hold back.
Fermo''s coin toss was too poorly done.
Between the time it fell on the instep and the time it was covered, it looked perfect in my eyes.
I look over to Nina to make sure she''s okay, for once.
She seems to agree with me, as she points her finger upwards.
''On the front,''
I said it first.
If it was a normal coin toss, no one would be particularly unhappy if I said it first.
''Then I''ll be in the back,''
Roherio said, without a doubt.
Alright, now we''ll be the first to decide on the combatants.
I''d be grateful if this would give us those who are far apart in terms of ability, because I would be able to spot them.
With that thought in mind, I looked at the coin that fell on Fermo''s instep.
''''--?
Oh, looks like it''s back there.
''I''ve won, that''s lucky.
Why is it out back...?
Nina''s eyes are wide open, as if to say she doesn''t understand.
Me and Nina match, the fact that it''s a table.
And I''m sure of it, I''m looking at it.
Because Fermo''s coin toss was so bad--! No....!
He''s cheating.
He looked at Fermo and laughed as he said, "Brilliant, Lord Rojerio.
What was definitely the front, was now the back.
As long as Fermo wasn''t cheating, it couldn''t be.
Don''t tell me those two were in cahoots?
But it looks like the two of them hadn''t seen each other in a while earlier, and there''s no such vibe.
Perhaps it was Fermo, who just harassed us.
The person who thought he had a weakness, on the contrary, grabbed it back.
So, he''s taking it out on us.
d*mn it, we''re screwed!
Then I''ll choose first.
Yes, yes, I understand.
I''m sure Fermo cheated, but there is no proof.
There was nothing to be done, just giving Rojerio the lead.
Then the contestants for the next match come out into the arena.
The voice of the one who has been doing the play-by-play from earlier is magically made louder, so it echoes throughout the hall.
''''Now on to the next one! This is my first and only female combatant to attend this event!
It''s been a male fighter all this time, but it looks like there will be a woman in this fight.
A man with a girthy figure from the east gate.
He wears the same armor as the fighters who have come out before, and he has both hand axes.
His strength is not much different from the others.
And then came out of the western gate, a female combatant.
She doesn''t wear any part of armor, she''s just wearing normal clothes and a dagger at her waist.
''''Huh........!
As soon as I saw her, I knew.
The woman is strong.
I know that she will win.
It doesn''t matter the difference in armor, I can''t see that woman losing to the other man in any way.
In other words, the one who bets on that female combatant will definitely win.
''''Hmmm, I''m sorry about this, Lord Shuna.
'' W-what is that?
Rojerio has a scowl on his face.
You didn''t think he noticed? That she is strong.
''There''s a difference in strength between a man and a woman, yet there''s such a difference in size and equipment. I''d bet my bottom dollar on the male combatant.
Well then, I''m going to bet on the lady.
Oh, I''m sorry. But, well, I''m going to make our time together very enjoyable.
Huh ... I was incredibly nervous.
I''m glad Rojerio is completely clueless about combat.
Normally he wouldn''t be able to see through it, so I guess I''m betting on the guy.
But now, me and Nina are safe.
...It''s okay, right?
That female fighter can''t lose, can she?
No matter how you look at it, I think the woman is stronger than I am but the thought of my chastity at stake scares me.