Super Righteous Player
Chapter 826 - 365: Crossroads

Chapter 826: Chapter 365: Crossroads

Kafney took a deep breath, striving to suppress the pressure that surfaced in her heart.

—There’s nothing to be afraid of.

She admonished herself.

This was merely a gamble with the Rotting Husband, and even then, it was within a nightmare—there wasn’t even a need to win.

Kafney believed that Annan could choose to lose or to win whenever he wished. However, since the Rotting Husband had the right to concede, Kafney losing could potentially yield a much better outcome for Annan’s side.

But in the end, it was still a nightmare where either outcome was inconsequential.

If she didn’t have the courage to confront the Rotting Husband in such a battle...

Kafney simply wouldn’t believe in herself, that she could continue to be by Annan’s side.

Sooner or later, Annan would have to face enemies of this caliber again.

She didn’t want to be a pet, nor a burden. She couldn’t accept that her shortcomings might ruin Annan’s chances of achieving victory—a future without victory was unnecessary to her.

If she couldn’t be the key to Annan’s victory or defeat.

At least she could offer some help while ensuring her own safety—even if it was just as a sword or a shield...

Annan even managed to face the Rotting Husband head-on. Salvatore had also directly participated in that battle... and yet she could only deal with the Summons.

Kafney had thought about it before.

If it was her by Annan’s side instead of Salvatore... could she have done better?

—The answer is no.

Her overly sensitive perception made it impossible for her to directly gaze upon the body of a god. It was like trying to look at the brilliance of the sun with naked eyes... The sharper the sight, the more severe the damage.

Moreover, when Annan had challenged the Rotting Husband, it wasn’t the folly of a madman.

As a Bronze-rank Transcendent, to confront a god—and not even fail.

Instead, he had viciously bitten off a chunk of flesh from the Rotting Husband and had driven the Rotting Husband’s church entirely out of Noah Kingdom. He had indirectly saved his own life.

Such a thing...

"—Of course, I can do it too."

Playing the role of Dmitry, Kafney’s gaze suddenly sharpened.

"Dmitry" flung away the Ceremonial Knife that was left with only the handle.

His left hand remained in his pocket, while the index finger, middle finger, and thumb of his right hand were placed on the cards.

The man with long black hair closed his eyes, doing his best to ignore the negative emotions welling up inside him.

His brain began to work at lightning speed—

—The rules are simple.

Among the fifteen cards, three were marked. Draw five times in a row, one draw to win, and all others mean loss.

The rules are indeed very simple.

The game itself seems fair, and there doesn’t appear to be a guaranteed way to win.

It looks like it’s just a matter of taking chances, right?

"...No, that’s not right."

Kafney narrowed her eyes slightly.

She suddenly realized a problem.

This game, if she wanted to win. Indeed, it was quite a fair game... but if she wanted to lose, it would actually become more difficult.

Her goal was precisely to lose this round—to hand over the decision of victory or defeat to Annan.

The three marked numbers were handpicked by Annan, not completely random. Because of this, they were traceable... Kafney’s understanding of Annan meant that it was possible for her to guess these numbers.

Thus, she had two strategies to consider.

That was to completely avoid these three numbers, choose numbers that Annan "definitely wouldn’t choose" to achieve a "zero sum clear"; or guess the numbers that Annan chose, selecting several "possible" numbers to achieve a "multiple clear."

If she switched strategies midway, it would actually be like increasing the difficulty.

...Which path should I choose?

"Dmitry" furrowed his brows, exhaling a frosty white breath.

"Are you thinking, ’Which path should I take?’" the Rotting Husband suddenly spoke, revealing a clown-like brilliant smile, and said in a whisper, "Do you want to avoid the three numbers chosen by Annan, or do you want to try to guess the numbers Annan selected?

"If you choose to avoid them, can you really avoid them? And the numbers chosen by Annan seem easier to guess... But what if in the end, you only guess one, or even none at all?

"—Doesn’t that mean that you don’t really understand Annan at all?"

"Shut up."

"Dmitry" said coldly, seriously pondering.

If it were Annan... what number would he choose?

Annan wouldn’t pick three cards at random to gamble with.

That was not his style. In other words, the numbers he chose must have some meaning.

And if Annan predicted that these three numbers were meant for guessing... No, he definitely could predict it. Then he would surely choose numbers that could be guessed.

...The first number.

"—Twelve."

"Dmitry" replied gravely, pressing his hand on the card depicting "Queen holding a Holy Grail," marked with Ⅻ.

This was a number symbolizing the Grandmother, and also the most sacred number for Winter people.

Their current identities were Dmitry and Annan, and they were in Winter Principality, coincidentally in the month of December. That number should not be hard to guess.

"So, the first secret."

The Rotting Husband said leisurely, "[Annan has harbored the intent to kill you before]."

...Is that a truth, or a lie?

"Dmitry’s" hand paused slightly, looking up at the Rotting Husband.

The Rotting Husband merely raised both hands, saying with an innocent face, "Of course, I won’t tell you if it’s true or false, that’s for you to judge. Otherwise, it would make things too easy.

"But I’m not going to play that sort of word game. Saying something like ’the number of lies is consistent with the marked cards,’ and then scrambling the order of truth and lies. If the card you draw is true, it’s definitely a lie; if it’s false, it’s definitely the truth."

The Rotting Husband’s corners of his mouth lifted slightly, "How about that, isn’t it particularly friendly?"

"...Can you shut up?"

"No can do."

The Rotting Husband said with a light laugh, "I promised to tell you secrets about Annan, I will definitely tell you; but since I didn’t say when, I choose to settle it now—If you really know Annan well enough, wouldn’t this make it easier for you to lose?"

...So annoying.

Definitely a lie.

Kafney thought.

Annan wouldn’t harbor malicious intent towards others for no reason, let alone against his own elder brother. This pure benevolence was precisely what made Annan different from others.

So at least one more card needed to be chosen...

"Dmitry" furrowed his eyebrows, stretching his hand without hesitation to press on the number seven.

Kafney knew that Annan was the Seventh Daylight.

The number seven had meaning for him... He might choose this number.

"The second secret," the Rotting Husband said leisurely, "[Annan’s soul comes from another world]."