★ chapter one
★ chapter two
★ chapter three
★ episode
★ home line

chapter one

[Wizards’ Manor—Dining Room]

Bradley: Damn, that’s the shit! Birthday meat’s always a banger.

The Manor’s dining room had been transformed into a fully-fledged banquet hall, its plates piled high with a gargantuan feast and alcohol lined up along the table. Bradley, at the heart of the festivities, was devouring a stack of fried chicken.

Akira: I expected no less of a feast to match today’s main character… Oh, and I see you’ve received all sorts of gifts as well, Bradley.

Bradley: Yup, ‘n speakin’ of, what’s that ya got there?

Akira: Ahaha, here you go, from yours truly.

It’s an invitation to the “Flower Haze Amusement Park.” I even added my own personal touch to the card with you in mind! (1)

Bradley: Touch...? Didn't really get all that, but I gotta say: that’s one hell of a design. Ya really pinpointed the Great Bradley’s essence there.

Bradley: …But the whole Flower Haze Amusement Park thing ain’t ringin’ any bells for me.

Akira: Um, how do I put this… I'd say it's a sort of space for one to enjoy themselves, which opens its doors to all kinds of attraction areas.

Shylock got this card from an old friend of his. Supposedly we can use this door to go have some fun there.

I pointed to the miniature iron gate on the card: the flowers and vines adorning the door only enhanced its refined structure.

Akira: Shylock’s brought me there before, and I had so much fun that I had to borrow it for this particular day.

So, would you allow me to escort you to the Flower Haze Amusement Park for your birthday, Bradley?

Bradley: Hm, you? Escortin’ me? Well well, looks like you’ve grown a spine, ay?

Fine by me. Show me whatcha can do then, if you can commit to it.

NOTES

(1)　Akira used the term デコ (deco), an abbreviation for デコレーション (decoration), which is most commonly used by fans who decorate clear card holder with pearls, ribbons and other stickers to match their favourite artist or character. (illustrated example) Since the verb “to decorate” is quite common in English, I preferred to substitute the focus to Akira embellishing the card.　↑

chapter two

[Wizards’ Manor—Bradley’s Bedroom]

After the party, I visited Bradley’s room, bringing the gate to the Flower Haze Amusement Park with me.

Akira: You can’t get in without an invitation, so if you could just write down your name here…

Bradley: ’N with my name on it, all I gotta do is cast a spell, ay?

《 Adnopotensum 》

Heeding the call of his spell, a faint light emanated from the invitation: from within, the iron gate glowed in return, slowly creaking open.

Bradley: …Wow, fog’s actually comin’ outta that—’n it smells pretty sweet.

The fog hung in the air, quickly wrapping the room in a hazy, white blanket. But once the fog began to lift…

A completely different scene, far removed from the familiar bedroom, spread out before my eyes.

The venue itself was magical: fresh, beautiful flowers hung from the ceiling, cards were perfectly lined up on a table, whereas another was home to a roulette.

—this was the casino area of the Flower Haze Amusement Park.

Bradley: …The hell? This some kinda joke? That thing even changed my clothes.

Akira: Ah… Sorry, I should have warned you beforehand. Anyone that is invited has their clothes changed upon entering the park, it’s just part of the deal.

But I can assure you Bradley, those suit you perfectly! You’ve got that whole mature yet intimidating look, it's a really cool combination!

Bradley: Well yeah, ‘cause I’m the one wearin’ the fit, duh.

Thereto, a tin doll approached us, bearing chips—the currency commonly used in casinos—in its hands.

Akira: Oh, right! This doll stands in for the dealer, so if you ask it to… Huh? Bradley?

I barely blinked, and Bradley had already left my side. I turned around, only to find him roaming the venue with great interest.

Bradley: Hey, Sage, let’s give that one a shot.

Akira: You mean, the roulette?

Bradley nodded and threw a small marble into the roulette. The white ball rolled around a frame, circling red and black boxes with what looked like numbers printed on it.

Bradley: So, where yer gonna place your bet?

Akira: Wait, you already started it, really!? But I know next to nothing about the rules…

Bradley: You’ll figure it out, ya just gotta trust yer instinct. Just try to guess where the ball’s gonna land, ‘n bet yer chips, simple as that.

Ya better hurry though, or it’s ‘no more bets’ fer ya.

Akira: Ah, ummm… Then, I’ll go for 1…!

Bradley: Damn, alright ya big-shot gambler—placin’ half yer chips down, I see.

At the same moment, the white marble clanked in place, landing on…

Bradley: A 13 black.

Akira: Ahー!

Bradley: Welp, ya lost. Gotta admit, you’ve got some balls bettin’ all or nothin’, I like the spirit.

Thing is, if you had placed yer bet on red or black, ya had fifty-fifty chances of winnin’ that one.

At his own words, Bradley sweeped away the small pile I had placed on the table.

Akira: (Either I’m an easy target, or Bradley is some kind of swindling genius!?)

chapter three

[Amusement Park—Casino]

The roulette was only the first of the various games that ripped me off my chips; soon enough, my pockets were completely empty.

Bradley: Oh, c’mon, how are ya s’posed to escort me now?

Akira: Ahaha… Well, I didn’t really prepare for all the previous games so...

However, Murr properly taught me the rules of that one game over there, so I’m far more ready for it!

I tapped my own chest and led Bradley over a card game-based table.

Taking a seat in front of me, I slid Bradley two cards facing down; on the other hand, I kept two cards for myself, turning over one of them on my end.

Akira: This game is simple: the total of your cards must be 21, or at least close to it.

However, you must be careful with the amount of cards you draw, or you may risk exceeding a total of 21, thus losing the game.

Bradley: Heh, now we’re talkin’. So yer the dealer now and I’m the player, huh.

Bradley slammed down the chips in his hand on the table.

Bradley: All I got.

Akira: Woah… the real gambler is on…!

Bradley: You were the one who bet half yer chips not knowin’ jack shit about the rules earlier.

I checked the number of my facing up card: my hand was at 10.

Akira: (At least I don’t need to know how to read to understand the cards, so that’s a plus…)

Bradley: My hand’s got a 3 and 5. Guess I’ll hit.

Bradley tapped the table twice with the tip of his fingers, a sign that he was requesting a hit… That is to say, to give him an extra card.

Bradley: Hit… ‘N double that up!

Akira: Three in a row...!? Aren’t you afraid of the outcome, Bradley?

Bradley: Dumbass, where’s the fun in playin’ it safe? It’s either go big or go home with that kinda thing.

So, whadda we got… 2, 4, 6… 20 in total.

Akira: (The only victorious outcome would be if he drew a 1. So he can’t draw any more...)

Against all odds, Bradley tapped the table twice.

Akira: …! You… You’re really pushing your luck.

Bradley: Damn, you get cold feet just from that? C’mon, draw the card already.

Heart pounding in my chest, I revealed the card he was dealt…

Akira: 1…! Which means your hand is at exactly 21!?

Bradley: Hey focus, it’s your turn, dealer.

I turned over the second card I drew for myself earlier, revealing a 10—my hand’s total was at 20. However, the dealer cannot draw any extra cards once their total exceeds 17, unlike the player.

A grin spread over Bradley’s features.

Bradley: Looks like I won. If ya can’t pay up, I’ll steal all ya got, clothes ‘n all.

Akira: Eek… I’ll make sure to give you something in replacement for the chips, so just… Just let me off the hook for now..!

Instead, I hastily reached into my bag and reverently presented Bradley with something. The rosé hue of his eyes widened for a second at the ribbon wrapped around the object.

Akira: …Hrm-hrm! Happy birthday, Bradley! Consider this bottle a gift from me personally.

Um, well, since you’re a bandit, I thought that, maybe, it’d be fun for you to rob the gift from me and...

Bradley: …Haha! Well that’s one interestin’ way of offerin’ a gift. I like it.

Bradley’s shoulders shook with laughter. Then, large purple petals swirled down from somewhere unseen.

A sweet scent wafted through the air, just like when we crossed through the gate.

Bradley: What is…

Akira: (Right, Shylock also told me about this: once the guest’s heart is fulfilled, the door to the Amusement Park shall close…)

Our surroundings gradually became hazy…

Once the fog cleared, we found ourselves back in Bradley’s bedroom—without me realising, the invitation we returned with had brought along purple flowers in full bloom.

Akira: So, Bradley, how did you find it? Did you have fun?

Bradley: So what, ya really think we’re done fer the night?

Akira: Huh, come again?

Bradley: We still got plenty of time ahead of us, ay? Let's have one more game. We dun’ got chips, so instead...

Bradley suddenly got close to me, a daring smile plastered on his lips.

Bradley: We’ll establish a rule: whoever loses has ta’ do whatever the winner says.

episode story

“Keep Your Eyes Open”

[Wizard’s Manor—Lounge]

Akira: So, how did you find your birthday party with everyone before we left for the Flower Haze Amusement Park?

Bradley: Wasn’t half bad, ‘n I ain’t sayin’ no to ‘em livin’ up the party. ‘Course there’s a catch to it…

Akira: A catch?

Bradley: Yeah, damn worst case scenario lemme tell ya, ‘cause the whole North gang crashed the party. The geezers were on my back full-time, ‘n Mithra ‘n Owen were tryna gobble down all the grub for ‘emselves.

Just you wait ‘til I catch whoever invited those guys, ‘cause I think I’ll drill a bullet or two in ‘em.

Akira: U-um, well that’s a bit... Listen, I’m really sorry, please forgive me, don’t shoot...

Bradley: Hah! So it was you, ya li’l bastard!

Akira: Ahaha…

Bradley: Well you did impress me with the whole amusement park thing, so I’ll letcha off the hook this time. Special occasion ‘n all.

Akira: (Phew...)

U-uh, oh yeah, right! Speaking of the party, you received a very generous amount of fried chicken this time!

I’ve never seen Nero cook that much Cosmos Chicken before, I was honestly baffled.

Bradley: I didn’t get just fried chicken though, ya boy had all his favourite dishes served to ‘im that day.

Akira: Seriously? I didn’t know that! I mean, I always associate you with chicken, so...

Maybe I should have paid more attention to the actual banquet.

Bradley: Heh, ya just weren’t focused is all.

Next time, keep yer eyes open ‘n all on me, so ya never miss what really makes a hit with the Great Bradley.

home line

“Hey Sage, let's make another bet. Usual terms: whoever loses has ta’ do whatever the winner says. Oh, ‘n don’tcha hold back just ‘cause it’s my birthday ‘n shit. You best worry about yerself first, ‘cause the win’s definitely gonna be mine.”