The next morning, sunlight filtered gently through the dormitory window, softly illuminating the messy room.
Scattered on the floor were chips of various colors, a few cards inscribed with complex patterns, and a set of… Mahjong tiles?
Yes, Mahjong.
This was a card game produced by the Cain Chamber of Commerce a few years ago. It was once all the rage in the Empire, beloved by enthusiasts everywhere. On the entire Tarola Continent, it had earned quite a reputation.
The Cain Chamber of Commerce had many similar products, such as Duel Monsters, Chicomon, Dementia Cards, and so on—all widely praised, with impressive sales.
Each of these tabletop games had its own distinct features, but they all shared a common author.
Around the small round table at the center of the room, four figures sat together, the atmosphere slightly bizarre.
Camilla sported faint dark circles under her eyes, but she seemed in good spirits, smiling as she pulled the towering pile of chips in front of her to her side.
To her left, Rimuru extended a small blue “tentacle” to pick up a chip, shaking it triumphantly.
On Camilla’s right sat Ophelia, who, though expressionless, had a hint of… joy? in her ice-blue eyes. She, too, had quite a stack of chips in front of her.
Sitting opposite Camilla was Shalina Lyles, who was now staring fixedly at her empty pile of chips, her long silver hair in disarray, crimson eyes burning with fury and humiliation, her fair cheeks flushed red with anger.
“Not—fair—at—all—!”
Shalina squeezed out the words through gritted teeth, her voice quivering on the verge of collapse.
“How is this possible! I clearly calculated my tiles! Why is it you who wins again! And that slime! Why can it even play Mahjong?! It doesn’t even have hands!”
She pointed at Rimuru, who was clumsily stacking Mahjong tiles with its “tentacle,” shaking all over with rage.
After signing that One-Task Contract last night, Shalina, due to the commotion in the back hills and the academy’s increased patrols, found it inconvenient to return home, so she accepted Camilla’s invitation to stay over.
However, with the three people and one beast each harboring their own thoughts, none of them felt like sleeping. So Camilla pulled out the Mahjong set and started a game with the other three.
The result was that Shalina didn’t win a single round the entire night, falling into an endless cycle of “I’m not playing anymore!”, “I’m not convinced, let’s go again!”, and then back to “I’m not playing anymore!”.
Though Ophelia spoke little, her skills were surprisingly sharp, while Camilla and the slime seemed practically omniscient, drawing whatever tiles they needed.
“It’s just luck, pure luck.”
Camilla laughed as she briskly shuffled the tiles.
“Besides, Rimuru is very smart—learns anything in no time. Right, Rimuru?”
“Puchi!”
Rimuru raised its head, looking immensely proud. With its resonance with the summoner, it could easily communicate with Camilla right under the others’ noses.
Watching this master and servant duo echoing each other’s words, and thinking of the contract she’d just signed, which might demand who-knows-what in the future, Shalina was overwhelmed by a surge of grief and indignation.
“I’m not playing anymore! The two of you are ganging up on me!”
She shot to her feet, the chair legs screeching against the floor, and stormed toward the door, flinging it open and rushing out without even a parting retort—her retreat a picture of battered pride.
“Ah, she’s gone already? Her mental fortitude could use some work.”
Camilla shook her head regretfully and began tidying up the Mahjong set.
Ophelia quietly helped, glancing at the door and saying in a calm voice.
“She’ll be back.”
“I know, but for now she’ll probably quiet down a bit. Sister, it’s getting late—don’t you have class this morning?”
“Yes, Swordsmanship Practical Class.”
Ophelia nodded, putting the last tile back in the box before standing up to straighten her uniform.
“Oh, right, Sister.”
Camilla suddenly seemed to recall something, bringing it up casually.
“Recently… in the Mage Knight Department, have you run into that student, Lyudmila? The one you mentioned last time—the… well, the special one.”
Ophelia paused in her movements, thinking for a moment.
“Lyudmila? Oh, she’s been challenging me a lot these past few days, but she hasn’t managed to win even once. Still, to be fair, she’s improving really quickly—each time she’s noticeably tougher than before… Do you need something from her?”
“No, just curious.”
Camilla waved her hand with a rather odd expression.
“Sister, you’d better hurry to class. Don’t be late.”
Ophelia walked to the door, giving Camilla a deep, searching look.
“You shouldn’t be late either. Also, try not to go out at night—the academy might not be safe these days.”
“Got it, got it, I’m the most well-behaved!”
Camilla beamed, flashing her an adorably cheeky wink.
Only after her sister left did Camilla’s smile fade.
“Did she notice something? Well, it doesn’t really matter…”
She stretched with a yawn, her joints crackling.
“Rimuru, let’s go—time for class. Hope Lady Victoria is in a better mood today…”
Tucking her satchel under her arm, Camilla sauntered out of the dormitory building, heading toward the Summoning Arts Tower.
The morning air on campus was fresh and bright, with many students hurrying to their classrooms.
Camilla, however, strolled at a leisurely pace. She even took the time to pull out some Rimuru’s food from her storage ring, feeding a few fluffy Snow-white Rabbits nibbling on grass beside a flower bed.
These rabbits looked harmless enough, but Camilla knew they were some of Headmistress Kolova’s eyes and ears around the academy—a kind of low-level but sensitive Contract Beast, used to assist with patrols and security.
“Eat up, little ones. The fatter you get, the better you can report to the headmistress.”
The rabbits nibbled at the food Camilla handed them, happily rubbing against her feet—their soft fur unexpectedly pleasant to the touch.
After feeding the rabbits, Camilla had just reached the steps before the Summoning Arts Tower when a fiery figure suddenly leapt out from behind a pillar like a predator lying in wait, blocking her path.
“Camilla Veyrlit!”
Shana stood with hands on her hips, her companion, the Flame Wolf “Blood Wolf,” looking even more energetic than yesterday, vibrant fire elements flickering all around it.
“Today you have to accept my challenge! Right before class! In front of everyone! I will prove to you that Blood Wolf and I are the strongest Summoner team in the first-year!”
Her voice rang out loud and clear, instantly drawing the attention of many students about to enter the tower. People stopped to watch, obviously intrigued by the prospect of a rematch between the “Slime User” and the “Flame Wolf User.”
Camilla looked into Shana’s eyes, burning with fighting spirit, then at the growing crowd around them, and sighed helplessly.
She knew there was no dodging this today. Shana’s persistence far exceeded her expectations—if she didn’t agree, the other girl would never let it go.
“Alright, alright… let’s fight. But one round only, quick and decisive. If we make Lady Victoria late for class, she won’t be happy.”
“No problem!”
Shana’s eyes lit up, and she immediately assumed a fighting stance, Blood Wolf crouching low with a threatening growl.
“The match will be in the Actual Combat Training Area over there!”