Language Cheat Reincarnation – Young Girl VTuber Saves the World
Chapter 357-15

SS 32. [‘Bet’ Game – Final Round 5]

The names 'Private Chat' and 'General Chat' had become blind spots in our awareness.

Behind "we can talk without anyone knowing" was hidden "we can talk without just two people knowing."

That’s why Her Highness and the audience knew.

And then, only I—or rather, only we—didn’t know.

"To think you’d have a secret discussion so openly in the public channel..."

"That said, at the time, we never thought Iroha-san was deceiving us one bit."

In other words, it wasn’t initially to keep it from me.

It was a 'group secret discussion' to keep it from Angu Ogu.

"Sure, the audience could figure out our bet numbers, but as long as Ogu couldn’t, it wouldn’t ruin the suspense."

I see. I’d assumed discussing bet numbers in general chat was tricky because of spoilers.

But the emergency seemed to push them past that hurdle.

"Iroha-san got careless. You should’ve stayed in the private voice channel to monitor Anego-san until her bet was finalized."

"Ugh!?"

Not just Ah-nee; everyone only conveyed their numbers but left the actual betting up to each person.

However, since it was the final round, they all likely hesitated until the very last moment.

Because of that, their numbers were altered, breaking our strategy.

...Had I rushed toward victory?

"No, there weren’t any other options, were there?"

Because the round was only 10 minutes long.

Adjusting everyone’s bet numbers and convincing Ogu alone was a stretch.

There wasn’t enough time to oversee the actual betting.

"Time is critical."

"Ten minutes is too short to accomplish anything meaningful."

Such words now come back to haunt me.

More importantly...

This situation is bad. Really bad.

"And so, we shared our bet numbers to pool information. Then, surprise! Guess what happened, Iroha-san?"

"Uh, umm..."

"For some reason, everyone's bet numbers were the same! Iroha-san, the numbers you told us… Iroha, what’s going on here~?"

"Eek!?"

The act of laughing is inherently aggressive, its origins in beasts baring their fangs...

At least, that’s the kind of theory I’d believe looking at Orthros’ sadistic grin.

"Why would that be, Iroha-san? Did you misspeak or something~?"

"Ahaha... maybe?"

"No way. Four people all making the same mistake?"

"Exactly!"

"And as for what your goal was... well, you already confessed everything yourself, didn’t you?"

"Ugh!?"

Oh no, I’m such an idiot!

I got overconfident and spilled everything earlier, didn’t I!?

"But if you all saw through my plan, why did everyone bet '5 chips'?

That way, everyone ends up taking the penalty game!?"

"Well, yeah, but..."

The smartest move would’ve been for the four of them to divide their bets between 1 to 4 chips.

That way, only one person would face the penalty game... but.

"If we did that, Iroha-san would get off scot-free, wouldn’t you? And that just doesn’t sit right."

"…So you caught on."

Exactly. Even if they did that, we’d just return to the 'deathmatch' rules I’d proposed.

This strategy held no real disadvantage for me, even if it got exposed.

At least, within the framework of the game.

"Honestly, the way you come up with these things... by the time we realized, there was nothing we could do."

The moment we shifted to the deathmatch, the strategy was already a success.

Unlike with Ogu, there was no counter-strategy this time.

"—At least, not with legitimate means."

Indeed. There was one counterplay, but it required rejecting optimal moves:

Throwing away an 80% chance of victory for a 100% chance of defeat.

"The one who suggested it was Iliena-san."

"Iliena-chan?"

"I wanted to see Iroha-sama’s penalty game... so I bet '5 chips' to go down together!"

"Wh-what a stupid thing to do!"

"Oi!?"

Angu Ogu cuts in.

Wait, you’re saying I also suggested we ‘go down together’?

I mean, I didn’t really mean it! It was just part of the strategy!

"Then Anego-san followed up."

"Of course, I bet '5 chips' too! Just bet your favorite number, right,nee~?"

"Anego-san!?"

"Ah-nee!?"

Wait! Does Ah-nee not get it!?

She was so sharp just a moment ago!

"Well, putting Anego-san aside... after hearing all that..."

"I thought, 'if everyone’s riding this big wave, I can’t not join in!' So I bet '5 chips,' too."

"If everyone else was in, I just had to join as well."

"That explains it..."

Her Highness vehemently opposed the 'everyone gets a penalty' suggestion.

Hearing this story, it now seems entirely plausible.

Or rather, inevitable.

After all, the only one left is Angu Ogu.

But why didn’t she follow the '4-chip bet' she was told?

"Ogu, didn’t you trust me? I even said, 'let’s share a grave together.'"

"Cough hack! I-Iroha!?"

"Ogu-san!? What does she mean by that!?"

"Oh~ Angou~ I wanna know too~!"

While the usual crowd was buzzing, I ignored them and kept thinking.

And then, it hit me...

"Ah! I see! She wavered at my words and felt it harder to 'bet 4 chips.'

So she randomly picked, and it just happened to be '5 chips'!? Ugh, my acting skills backfired!"

"Iroha, that’s not it. I saw through your lies completely!"

"No way!?"

"Yes, because..."

"—The Iroha I know wouldn’t say something like that!"

Oh no~~~~!

My usual behavior came back to haunt me~~~~!?