Zaydas didn't know — and, to be honest, didn't even care — how much he had frightened poor Hyoudou Issei. In fact, he felt like laughing out loud at that moment.
[-1,000 CP]
[Success!]
[You have obtained the Sacred Gear: Boosted Gear!]
[+100,000 CP]
Nineteen attempts. Fifteen failures. One lucky win.
Each attempt brought a tightness to Zaydas's chest, a growing anxiety with every try.
It was like a game of chance — spending the first few coins, losing, trying to recover, spending more and more until there was nothing left.
To better understand, we need to go back a little in time...
During the break, Zaydas had a thought: 'Great Sage, is it possible to use CP to steal someone's Sacred Gear?'
[Affirmative! There are several methods. But at the moment, the only one available to you would be spending 1,000 CP per invisible magic card, which gives you a chance to steal the target's Sacred Gear. The chances range from 0.01% to 10%. Due to this probability fluctuation, I do not recommend pursuing this route!]
Despite the warning, Zaydas decided to try. The main reason was the cost of replicating Issei's Boosted Gear: 100,000 CP, with a 38% chance of success.
If it was a game of probabilities, it made more sense to bet on the cheaper method, even with unfavorable odds.
[Warning! Since you've chosen this path, I recommend using the invisible card while directly touching the person you want to steal from, as this increases the chances of success.]
'Oh? There's something like that? How interesting,' Zaydas thought cheerfully.
The truth is, he tried to hypnotize Issei, but it didn't work.
What happened afterward was a mix of improvisation and discomfort. He had to come up with excuses to keep touching Issei with the invisible card without him noticing. In the end, he used his own hand as a disguise... An embarrassing effort, but one that paid off.
'By the way, why is the CP I gained from stealing Issei's "golden finger" exactly the same as it would cost to create a replica of the Boosted Gear?'
[Answer: I have no idea. But I can speculate if you wish.]
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'Never mind.'
If it was just speculation, Zaydas could make some guesses. For instance: without the Boosted Gear, Issei had no value at that point worth recording. Perhaps his record value had dropped to the point of being irrelevant.
A bit harsh? Maybe. But it would make sense to interpret it that way, wouldn't it?
When a kind of red gauntlet simply appeared before him, Zaydas opened his personal dimensional space and stored the gauntlet inside.
Despite being useful, he had no desire to bind himself to it. It would be ideal to give it to someone who would be part of his Peerage in the near future.
As for who, he already had someone in mind...
***
***
The moment he entered the classroom, Zaydas, who was walking toward his seat, was teased by Akeno.
"Ara, you're finally back." Akeno gave him a teasing look as if she understood something: "You took your time~"
What she was implying was easy to imagine.
Sigh, "It can't be helped. The truth is, I was helping an elderly lady cross the—"
"Zay-kun, stop. We're at school; how could that be the case?" Rias interjected.
"Ah, yes, that was earlier this morning." Zaydas smacked his forehead.
"But didn't you come on your motorcycle?" Akeno asked, looking intrigued.
"Well, I parked the motorcycle and got off the motorcycle." Zaydas changed the subject: "Anyway, do you still want to know why I was late?"
"We're listening; take advantage of the fact that sensei hasn't returned yet~" Akeno said with an elegant smile.
"The truth is a bit embarrassing." Zaydas scratched his face as several students perked up their ears: "I went to buy a soda from the vending machine, but it ate my money. I had to argue with it for five minutes until a soda was finally released. Sigh, it was exhausting~"
"Ufufu. Interesting, but I don't accept that excuse." Akeno made an "X" with her arms.
"Not that either?" Zaydas sighed exaggeratedly and said: "Alright, then I have no choice but to tell the truth."
He got serious, making several karate-style hand gestures: "Actually, there was a giant bee in the hallway. Nobody noticed, but I fought bravely to avoid chaos. The school should thank me for this. Well, since I didn't want to show off, I didn't say anything."
"Ara ara, so brave, I'm melting~" Akeno laughed softly, tilting her head slightly as her eyes sparkled with amusement.
"But, Zay-kun, why don't I see any injuries or signs that you came out of this epic battle?" Rias asked with a teasing smile.
"You noticed that too? As expected of my Rias-nee." Zaydas gave a brilliant smile and sighed again, gazing out the window in a distant manner: "You know, there are moments when a man simply has to act..."
"Ara, so mysterious, I like that~"
Still gazing distantly at the sky, Zaydas spoke in a deep narrator's tone: "I saw a student mysteriously disappear. So, obviously, I went to investigate. And then, BAM! A portal simply appeared, and..."
"Enough, enough, sensei is here and looking at you, Zay-kun," Rias interrupted, warning him.
Turning robotically, Zaydas said, "Oh, sensei, you were there..."
"Don't mind me; please continue. I'm interested to know what happens next." Sensei crossed her arms with a threatening smile on her face.
Zaydas straightened up, trying to look more serious. "Well, what was I saying again? Oh, right, the portal!"
"Enough, enough!" Seeing that Zaydas was tougher to handle than she expected, sensei interrupted, placing her hand on her forehead, unsure what to do with him.
"Really? Just when it was about to get interesting..." Zaydas seemed disappointed.
"Hahaha!"
Nearly the entire class laughed, some even fanning themselves with their hands from laughing so hard.
Sensei knew, the moment she challenged Zaydas and saw how he was utterly shameless and even wanted to keep talking nonsense, she had lost.
Making a "V" sign toward Akeno and Rias, Zaydas returned to his seat.
***
***
When classes ended, Zaydas, who was in the "going-home club," got on his motorcycle with Ravel. Halfway through their route, they saw an elderly woman trying to cross the street but moving very slowly.
Zaydas got off the motorcycle and helped her.
"I didn't expect you to do that now..." Ravel said as he returned.
"Huh?" Zaydas gave a distant look and said, "Sometimes, you have to be the one to take the step when no one else does."
"So profound..."
Seeing her love-struck expression, even Zaydas felt a bit embarrassed.
He had said it as a joke, but if it worked, it lost its meaning...
"Haha." Letting out an awkward chuckle, Zaydas said: "Anyway, let's go."
Ravel nodded.
*****
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