How to Live as a Tyrant’s Bastard Brother

“Are you going to the casino ‘again’?”

The coachman employed by the imperial court spoke to me.

His voice sounded reproachful.

Normally, it would be seen as rude for someone of his status to tread on my shadow, but a royal without the emperor’s protection was nothing more than a stray kite.

“Yeah. I’m going to the casino ‘again.’”

However, I responded calmly without blushing or getting angry.

To anyone listening, it might have sounded like I was a hero ready to face monsters, prepared for death.

The coachman wore an expression that seemed to say, “What kind of person is this?”

Instead of chastising him for his rudeness, I reached into my pocket and pulled out a silver coin.

“If I arrive before the dawn air dissipates, I’ll give you this.”

“!”

The coachman exclaimed and urged the horses on.

“Thank you! Duke Your Highness.”

Quick to change his tone, as was the virtue of employees.

I added with a smile as if it were just a casual remark.

“It’s money I won from the casino.”

“!?”

The coachman made a face as if he had bitten his tongue.

I rolled the silver coin in my hand and repeated the tossing motion, speaking coolly.

“It’s none of your business whether I go to the casino, the slums, or the Ivory Tower. Do you dare to judge the actions of royalty by your own standards?”

“No, Your Highness.”

The coachman quickly changed his words.

“Speak recklessly, and a silver coin will end up on your tongue.”

There was a custom in the empire of placing silver coins in the mouths of the dead as a toll for their way to the underworld.

The coachman clamped his mouth shut, and with a pale face, he urged the horses on.

I didn’t want to hear such words to my face, nor did I want to resort to violence like the other royals.

A warning given through words seemed a sufficient response.

“We have arrived. When should I come back?”

“Don’t go far. Come back around lunchtime and wait a couple of hours. If you don’t come, don’t wait any longer. I’ll return on my own.”

You’d either be dead or fighting.

Of course, there was no way I would willingly die.

Having sent the coachman off with a silver coin, I gazed at the streets of the red-light district that hadn’t fully shaken off the dawn.

“Let go, let go!”

“My money! The money I’ve saved for ten years!”

“It’s for my mother’s medicine! Please!”

Men and women who had become beggars overnight were dragged out of the casino, while high-class male entertainers and courtesans with thick make-up left for home with sleepy eyes.

I observed the entire scene indifferently as I walked down the steps of the Hope Casino.

Crossing paths with those crying and laughing, I received a paper mask from a big man.

“Red Mask.”

In the empty hall, she was directing the cleaning.

It seemed a fight had erupted as three roulette machines were damaged.

“It’s been a while, Your Highness.”

After a brief pause, she greeted me cheerfully.

“Wasn’t it said that revealing one’s identity in here was prohibited?”

“There are always exceptions to rules. Thanks to that, I’ve saved my life.”

She naturally guided me into a room.

Working with a perceptive person was always enjoyable.

“I want to find someone.”

“We’re also connected to an information organization, but we’re not professionals. If you want an introduction, we can provide it.”

“No. You know someone better than any organization.”

The Red Mask flinched.

I could feel her face contorting even through the mask as she was taken aback.

“I think I know who you’re looking for.”

“What are they called nowadays? Electric Nightmare? Money Demon? Devil? Gold Demon?”

“Nowadays, they are referred to as Gold Nightmare or Gold Demon. They’re gradually being leashed.”

I was purely amazed.

To control the person I was seeking now was no ordinary feat, regardless of success or failure.

I couldn’t help but admire the skill of the woman before me.

“They must have that much power to manage such a huge establishment.”

“Money has a powerful force. You must be stronger than money to hold onto it.”

“Then what about the Gold Nightmare?”

“The friend of money and our nemesis.”

The Red Mask let out a deep sigh.

“Are you finally taking action from the imperial court?”

Partly. No, about ninety percent of it is my unilateral decision.

“If I’m lucky, I might never have to see the Gold Nightmare again.”

“!”

The Red Mask brightened.

“Is it really possible?”

Her voice held both hope and considerable skepticism.

“We won’t know until we try, like a gamble. But I am confident in the hand I’ve brought.”

I answered with confidence, and the Red Mask nodded.

“The Gold Nightmare is said to be staying at the ‘Future’ Casino today. I will introduce you, and they will cooperate sufficiently.”

“What if some property damage is anticipated?”

The Red Mask hesitated again.

Most casino machines were complex devices that could be manipulated, thus their prices were quite high.

And offering my introduction meant she would take responsibility for any accidents I caused.

I shook my head slightly and let out a low laugh.

“I’ll provide information. Sell it for what you want and make up for it.”

“Pardon?”

“If you happen to have any drugs being dealt by local dealers and sold in the slums, clean it up and cut the tails. The black iron knights will be storming in soon. Sir Barbatos is moving directly, so any bribes you’ve distributed will be useless.”

“!”

The Red Mask’s mouth fell agape.

If exchanged for money, it was information that could yield several bags of gold.

With that much, I expected they would cover for whatever I did at the ‘Future’ Casino.

“You’re not making a statement to be ignored. Thank you.”

She bowed to me with a trembling voice.

I chuckled as I stood up.

“Let’s go. There are several things that need to be organized quickly.”

No sooner had I spoken than the Red Mask dashed off towards the staff area.

I giggled and left ‘Hope,’ heading to ‘Future.’

While ‘Hope’ was a casino where rich people played and had fun in various rooms, ‘Future’ was a vast casino that welcomed many guests in its wide hall.

The time was around eight in the morning.

The sun had long risen, and the nocturnal red-light district had fallen into slumber.

However, ‘Future’ was no different; there were only a few people left in the bustling hall.

“I heard you wanted to meet the ‘Gold Nightmare.’ There they are. Please do something about it.”

As soon as I entered, the staff of ‘Future’ pleaded with a sorrowful expression.

He was clearly aware that I had come armed with a sword, yet did not offer any objections.

At a wide table in the hall, ‘Gold Nightmare’ was playing a game with a dealer from ‘Future,’ wearing a large blue pointed hat and a cloak.

From my position, I could only see the back of ‘Gold Nightmare.’

The dealer’s attire was neat, but their face was pale.

Similarly, the dealers gathering behind the table shared the same ashen hue.

“Your total is 35. What’s my total? Declare it!”

‘Gold Nightmare’s’ indifferent voice issued a chilling verdict.

The dealer, trembling, began to flip over her cards one by one.

“A total of 36… Player’s victory.”

The dealer declared in a voice resembling self-harm.

It felt as if she would burst into tears any moment.

‘Gold Nightmare’ swept the chips piled on the table into her hands.

There was no visible joy in her indifferent actions.

The moment she spotted me, a well-dressed man rushed over.

“Are you the person who said they were coming from ‘Hope’? It’s nice to meet you. I’m the manager of the ‘Future’ Casino.”

I glanced at ‘Nightmare’s’ back and spoke.

“How much gold coins do you currently have in the casino?”

The manager quickly grasped what I was asking.

“If we combine all the chips that ‘Nightmare’ has gathered, they account for more than seventy percent of our casino’s cash. If such an amount has to be paid out entirely in gold coins… it would be the end. If you can resolve it, I will give you gold equal to my body weight.”

“Is that okay?”

I scrutinized the manager.

He was a middle-aged man with quite a hefty build.

He would weigh rather substantial as well.

“Right now, one chip that ‘Nightmare’ has is worth three silver coins.”

Such chips were being accumulated by the bagful.

“Understood.”

I strode over, removed the paper mask, and sat beside ‘Gold Nightmare.’

With a thud, she slowly turned to look at me.

‘Gold Nightmare’ was a young woman with long blue hair.

One of her irises was the same blue as her hair, while the other was a golden hue identical to mine.

Both eyes, differing in color, shared a commonality: they appeared lifeless and devoid of spirit.

At first glance, one might mistake her for a corpse.

Even with that lackluster gaze that seemed ready to dim, she was dressed elegantly.

Her black dress adorned with golden trims was complemented by a cloak, blue on the outside and a luxurious burgundy on the inside.

Aside from the lack of a staff, she was in typical mage attire.

In reality, she was also a genius mage.

“Valenciaunos, was it?”

She initiated the conversation.

“That’s right. Lady Sorelazie.”

She flinched slightly, her body tinged with a shiver.

Ripples formed in her deep-set eyes as I called her real name for the first time after years of being nicknamed ‘Nightmare’ or ‘Devil’ by the lowly.

And it probably reminded her of her once-glorious past.

“Shall we talk separately for a moment?”

Lady Sorelazie didn’t even respond.

But I continued undeterred with my next sentence.

“It’s about a happiness spell cast by a mage without a staff.”

* * *

The Future Casino also had rooms for VIPs.

The manager willingly offered one of those rooms, but I politely declined.

“I’ll go up and talk privately.”

The Future Casino consisted of the first floor and the basement for gambling, while the upper floors served as luxury accommodations.

Although the soundproofing wasn’t excellent, one could still call it high-class with beds free of bugs and thick cotton-filled mattresses.

The room on the top floor was more than spacious enough for one person, and she had already been staying there for a month.

“Sit.”

Lady Sorelazie spoke dryly.

I carefully pushed aside some wine and whiskey bottles that were rolling around and sat on the couch facing the low table in between.

“Would you like a drink?”

She poured herself a new drink as she spoke. It was a strong liquor, elevated by the dew from distillation.

“At this time in the morning?”

“I thought you’d come to ‘this side’ too. Were you not? Fine, then I’ll drink alone.”

Lady Sorelazie filled her glass with the clear reddish-brown liquid to the brim.

The scent of honey and oak wafted up. I chuckled and extended my glass.

“You’ll pour me another, won’t you?”

“Why didn’t you act like that before?”

She half-smirked, as if to say, ‘I knew you’d say that.’

“You’ve thought well. Whether studying, mastering swordsmanship, or learning magic, it’s all pointless in this world.”

She spoke while drinking fluidly.

“It’s not just us. Just us.”

I feigned discontent.

“That’s right. Just us. Born as royalty, inheriting talent through blood, yet now we may die without ever soaring to our fullest.”

She muttered bitterly.

“How long will the emperor keep watching over us?”

“Do you think I would know?”

“You’re the mage, aren’t you? You must have learned all seven liberal arts?”

The seven liberal arts refer to grammar, logic, rhetoric, arithmetic, geometry, music, and astrology.

“I was a special student admitted to the Lightning School of the Ivory Tower. I skipped all that liberal arts nonsense and jumped straight into alchemy and magic.”

“Still, you didn’t learn astrology?”

“Of course, I did. The movements of the sun, moon, and stars significantly affect mana.”

I looked at her with eyes that said, ‘Is that really all?’

After a moment of silence, Lady Sorelazie clicked her tongue.

“You’re persistent. Yes, I did double major in astrology. I quit in the middle, though. How did you know?”

“You’ve been reigning as the Nightmare of the red-light district for the past ten months. How could I not notice that?”

I pointed to the bags of chips piled here and there.

She shrugged her shoulders.

“The emperor leaves me alone because I haven’t overstepped.”

“The emperor will leave you alone as long as you don’t cross their line and do whatever you want. For example… treason?”

“Yeah, they probably will. The sun doesn’t need to concern itself with the moon.”

“But, Lady.”

“What is it? The drink will spoil. Aren’t you going to drink?”

She glanced at the glass in front of me.

I stared at the glass for a moment and downed its contents.

Feeling the warmth of the liquor and the scent of honey and oak spread in my throat, I said:

“Still, drugs have crossed the line.”

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