QBSLB 34

Chapter 34

BANG—!

With a deafening starting signal, the chimeras stamped the ground and burst into a sprint.

A thick cloud of dust billowed into the air.

“Woooow…”

As I returned to the stands and watched the chimeras charging forward all at once, an exclamation escaped me before I realized it.

Their speed was incomparable—far beyond that of horses.

The sight of so many chimeras, each with a different form, racing like bullets in unison was truly spectacular.

Now I understood why people waited all year for this event.

Among the twenty chimeras, Number 7 was clearly in the lead.

Right behind it, Number 3 chased closely.

And trailing far behind, wobbling like a crumpled ostrich…

…was Number 10.

Not dead last—but second from last.

“…What’s going on?”

Anxiety gnawed at me as I chewed on my nails, staring at the looming possibility of becoming a beggar again.

It’ll make a final sprint, I tried to reassure myself, but the finish line was already close.

At this rate, there would be no twist—Number 7 would win without incident.

My… my entire fortune is about to vanish just like that?!

Just as I was screaming internally—

Crash! Bang!

Number 7’s legs tangled.

Unable to control its body at that tremendous speed, the chimera tumbled headlong to the ground.

“Aaaaaaah—!”

A collective cry of despair erupted from the stands.

Number 3, running right behind, slammed into the fallen Number 7.

Then another.

And another.

Right before the finish line, the chimeras collapsed in a chain reaction—like dominoes toppling over.

A catastrophic accident no one had predicted.

They were simply moving too fast to stop in time.

And then—astonishingly—

Screeeeeech—

Only Number 10 managed to halt just short of the chaotic pileup.

Dodging the mess, it immediately began running forward again.

There were no competitors left.

Number 10 ran alone down the empty track and crossed the finish line with regal ease.

Piiiiii—!

The signal announcing the end of the race echoed across the arena.

The stands, which should have erupted in cheers, fell silent.

The murmuring crowd muttered in disbelief.

“W-What… was that?”

I felt just as hollow as everyone else at the absurd conclusion.

According to the novel, this race was supposed to be the turning point—where a grand archmage noticed Giovanni’s talent and hired him as an assistant.

But after seeing his weak mental state before the race…

What kind of talent could anyone possibly discover from this?

Well… luck is a skill too, I guess?

They did say the archmage was a genius of the century—maybe geniuses really do see things beyond normal comprehension.

While I stood there, baffled, the race came to an end.

* * *

The payout ceremony was another major highlight of the chimera race.

I walked toward the center of the arena to collect my winnings.

Surprisingly, only ten people had bet on Number 10.

Eight of them had placed small, joking wagers.

Even so, at 2,000 to 1, they still made a decent profit.

“Ahhh! I only bet ten silver! I’m only getting twenty gold!”

“Hey, that’s still something! I bet everything I saved over a year on Number 7 and lost it all!”

“Two thousand to one… Isn’t that the highest payout in chimera racing history?”

People whispered in shock and envy.

And besides me, the only other person who had placed a large bet on Number 10 was—

“You are…”

The man wearing the black cat mask.

The same one who had told me where Giovanni was.

He had wagered a full 100 gold on Number 10.

That meant a payout of 200,000 gold.

An amount on par with a national budget.

Yet even with that mountain of gold before him, the eyes behind the mask were fixed squarely on me.

His gaze was disturbingly persistent.

Why is he staring at me like that?

“Alright! Time for the payout ceremony! John Doe, Jane Doe—please come forward!”

The announcer called my alias.

“….”

I stepped closer to the podium to collect my winnings.

The man in the cat mask stood beside me, his red lips curving into a smile.

“Ms. Jane Doe’s odds were 2,000 to 1! Her prize is… an astonishing 68,000 gold!”

The announcer’s voice boomed across the stadium through a magical amplifier.

Gasps of envy echoed all around.

“Since carrying that much gold would be difficult, we’ll be issuing a checkbook! You may exchange it for gold at the Central Bank!”

With trembling hands, I accepted the thin slip of magically certified paper.

* * *

The moment the ceremony ended, I headed straight for the women’s restroom.

Not because I urgently needed it—though I was shaking.

“Wasn’t that woman wearing a maid’s uniform?”

“Yeah. If she were a noble, she would’ve brought guards. She’s definitely not one.”

“Sixty-eight thousand gold… If you get rich by sheer luck, you should share some of it.”

I quietly listened through the restroom door.

Nothing unexpected.

One reason people wore masks at this arena was precisely this.

If others knew you’d won a huge payout, there would always be someone looking to take it.

That was why I had borrowed a maid’s uniform from Benny to come here.

If I wore new clothes, it would look like an obvious disguise.

Wearing a shabby maid outfit made everyone assume I really was one.

And if word spread that Eileen of House Morgans had won, my in-laws would never leave me alone.

I just need to make it to the bank safely.

Eileen didn’t even have a bank account—but I had opened one in advance while visiting the Earl of Arrington’s estate.

Roderick Central Bank.

As long as I got there, the money would be safe.

“Of course… that’s if I can even get there safely.”

I pulled out a brown wig, tinted glasses, worn clothes, and a disguise ring that altered the shape of my lower face.

After putting them on, I tossed the maid uniform into the trash.

I bought it with money—it wasn’t borrowed.

“Damn it. Where did that maid go?”

“Her name was ‘Jane Doe’? What a lazy alias!”

After taking a deep breath, I exited the restroom with a calm expression.

Letting my rough brown hair flutter deliberately.

“Silver hair! Find a woman with smooth silver hair!”

“Even with a mask, you could tell from her jaw and lips—she was stunning.”

“Where did she go? The exits are blocked!”

Just as I confidently clicked my way toward the entrance—

Grab—

“Hey.”

“…!”

A rough-looking man suddenly seized my wrist and grinned.

“Did you see a silver-haired woman in the restroom?”

“Hm? Now that you mention it, I think I did.”

I forced my racing heart to calm down and answered casually.

“Maybe she was constipated? She stayed in the first stall forever.”

I deliberately spoke in a slightly dull tone.

The man narrowed his eyes.

“…Yeah?”

Did I avoid suspicion?

Just as I began to relax—

“That’s strange. Because the woman who entered that restroom… was the only one.”

Damn it.

I tried to wrench my wrist free, but his grip was too strong.

Without hesitation, I crushed the self-defense device hidden in my fist.

BOOM—!

It was a disposable self-defense item I’d bought just in case when I went looking for Rosario.

“Ahhh! My eyes!”

The man collapsed, clutching his face after taking the blast head-on.

I didn’t miss the opening and sprinted for the exit.

“Get her! That’s her!”

Those damned magic tower merchants!

If you’re hosting an event like this, shouldn’t you provide guards for payout winners?!

Cursing the unseen master of the Magic Tower, I ran with all my strength.

But just as the exit came into view—

Grab—

Someone else seized my wrist.

I was really getting my wrist grabbed a lot today.

As I turned my head, hurling curses internally—

“Wait. Don’t set off another explosive.”

“…You.”

I whispered in shock.

It was him again.

The man wearing the black cat mask.