Chapter 247: Victory Through Strength, or the Weak Overcoming the Strong
Hikigaya Hachiman's heart surged with rare excitement.
Usually bearing lifeless, fish-like eyes that seemed perpetually disinterested, his gaze now burned with the fire of determination.
To ensure he would be in peak condition for the upcoming gamble, his fighting spirit had been fully awakened.
A man must have a map in his heart—one that leads him out of the wilderness.
Now, Hikigaya was already nearing the end of that map.
With a gleam in his eyes, he stared intently at the blackboard, greedily absorbing any nutrients his brain could devour.
On the podium, the female teacher's hand trembled slightly as she held her chalk.
Just catching a glimpse of Hikigaya Hachiman's burning eyes from the corner of her eye made her feel a jolt of fear—even though she knew rationally that his gaze wasn't directed at her.
'S-Such a fierce look... He's not going to lash out at me, is he...?'
As the bell signaling the end of class rang—
The teacher immediately dropped her chalk, didn't even wipe her hands, grabbed her small handbag, and dashed out the front door of the classroom like a streak of light.
Hikigaya Hachiman was a bit confused.
The teacher's behavior today had definitely been off.
Some questions she got wrong and didn't even notice.
Supporting himself with both hands on the desk, he slowly stood up, strapped the disciplinary committee armband onto his arm, and prepared to carry out his routine patrol duties.
But as soon as he stepped out of the back door of the classroom, two unfamiliar faces blocked his path.
"You're Hikigaya-kun, right?"
"Yeah. And you are...?"
"We're from the student council accounting department. Our minister would like to meet with you in the office."
It's finally happening.
Hikigaya Hachiman had never felt such a strong urge to engage in a gamble. Winning this final match would let him challenge Kirari Momobami directly.
"Lead the way."
Suppressing the excitement in his heart, he followed behind the two students.
Before long, the three of them arrived at the Student Council Accounting Office.
Knock knock.
"Come in."
Pushing open the door, they saw Manyuda Kaede resting his chin on his hands. The thick lenses of his glasses reflected a ghostly white light, exuding an oppressive aura.
The two guides swallowed nervously and quickly exited the room.
The spacious office now held only Hikigaya and Manyuda Kaede.
"Long time no see, Hikigaya Hachiman."
Pointing to the chair across the desk, Manyuda gestured for Hikigaya to sit.
His tone carried a sense of nostalgia.
"The last time we met one-on-one... was during the debt conversion conference, wasn't it?"
"Truly impressive—going from just a regular student who had to exploit loopholes in the student council to make money, to someone capable of challenging every student council executive..."
"You know, I'm the final student council member you'll have to gamble against."
Hikigaya sat across from him, quietly waiting for him to continue.
"So, Manyuda-senpai, is there something you want to say?"
Hikigaya didn't harbor any ill will toward this purely business-like student council accountant, who never got involved in disputes—a truly neutral party.
"Something I want to say?"
Manyuda rhythmically tapped his fingers on the table. Through his lenses, his cold eyes examined Hikigaya up and down.
"You're going to lose to me. So, even though I don't know your full intentions or what your end goal is in challenging all the student council executives—because you'll lose to me, your entire plan is bound to fail."
"So before the gamble begins, let me give you a warning: don't invest too much into your plan, or when you fail, you'll fall into the abyss."
"That's my final warning to you."
Huh?
Hikigaya was slightly stunned. After a moment of silence, he slowly spoke:
"Manyuda-senpai… you're actually kind of a nice guy."
"But I'm curious—knowing my track record, why do you believe I'll lose to you in this gamble?"
Manyuda pushed up his glasses. The white light reflecting off his lenses became even more dazzling.
"Because… of the path of kings!"
"The path of kings?"
"My way of gambling—is the path of kings."
"Defeating the opponent head-on with dignity and honor—that is the path of kings. Never having lost a single gamble at Hyakkaou Academy—that is the path of kings. Even giving you this final warning before the match—that too is the path of kings."
"And I believe I've amassed enough power. After defeating you, I will challenge Momobami Kirari, and in my second year, I will take over the student council presidency, fulfilling my kingly destiny!"
Hikigaya Hachiman's toes clenched against the floor, resisting the urge to let his awkward emotions show in front of the other party.
After all, the other party had specially invited him over just to offer a well-intentioned warning.
But still… "The path of kings"?
Is that really something that should be coming out of a high school student's mouth?
If Manyuda hadn't said his goal was just the position of student council president, Hikigaya almost would've thought he was aiming to become the head of the Momobami family too.
"Manyuda-senpai, I appreciate your concern," Hikigaya said, "but I also have a reason I must win this gamble."
"I see. Since you've already staked everything on this mistaken path, then there's nothing more I can say."
"Let's settle this with a gamble and prove our resolve."
Manyuda Kaede raised his right hand and snapped his fingers with his thumb and middle finger.
From who-knows-when, Yomozuki Runa, who had been hiding by the side door, suddenly jumped out.
"Ta-da~! It's me, Runa again~!"
"Hikigaya-kun, long time no see.
Since it's a request from Manyuda-kun, this match won't be broadcast to the public — I hope that's okay with you?"
"No problem."
Hikigaya Hachiman glanced at Manyuda Kaede in slight surprise.
He had assumed that someone so devoted to the "path of kings" would want to gamble in front of a large audience.
But surprisingly, the match was going to be conducted in a nearly private setting.
Quite unexpected.
"Don't look at me like that," Manyuda said, pushing up his glasses. "Even if the chances of me losing this gamble are so low they can be ignored, if I do lose — it means that all student council executives have lost their gambles."
"If the students found out, it would damage the prestige of the entire student council, and our control over the student body would weaken."
"That's something that must not happen — no matter who wins or loses."
"So—"
"Hikigaya Hachiman, in addition to money, there's another condition for this gamble," Manyuda's tone suddenly rose.
"No matter who wins or loses, the ultimate goal must be to improve the student council. You are not allowed to do anything that goes against the interests of the student council."
"I've asked Yomozuki Runa to supervise this. If anything suspicious is found, she will immediately intervene. Hikigaya Hachiman — can you accept this?"
Hikigaya Hachiman shrugged.
Since his goal was to become the head of the Momobami clan, there was naturally no reason for him to harm his own interests.
"More than happy to."
And so, under Runa Yomozuki's guidance, Hikigaya and Manyuda sat across from each other.
Manyuda Kaede pushed up his glasses again.
Hikigaya Hachiman was a madman obsessed with winning.
That meant he cared deeply about victory and defeat.
Unlike gambling maniacs like Jabami Yumeko or Momobami Kirari who neither rejoiced in victory nor despaired in defeat — he wouldn't get addicted to gambling itself.
'In that case… he's quite similar to me, walking the path of kings.'
'He'll be tricky to deal with, but as long as I factor his obsession with winning into my calculations, I'll be fine.'
The two of them sat at opposite ends of the round table, and an invisible confrontation had already begun.
Both were waiting for Yomozuki Runa to announce what came next.
"Hehehe~ Since this gamble is extremely important to both of you, I propose one rule: no cheating!"
Yomozuki Runa pulled out a remote control and pressed it lightly.
All the surveillance cameras in the room began to flash with ominous red lights.
"This room is fitted with full-coverage, high-speed HD cameras — and with me personally present, cheating should be almost impossible."
"Now then, I will announce the rules of the gamble!"
[Swap Poker]
The basic rules are the same as standard poker. Each player holds five cards and may exchange once. After that, hands are compared for value. A 53-card deck is used, including one Joker. However, folding and calling are not allowed in this game. The only actions available are bet and raise.
Although hands must be revealed and compared each round, the player who bets more is granted a unique privilege:
[stronger ←→ weaker] Victory through Strength or Weak Overcoming the Strong
Yomozuki Runa had already pulled out a fresh deck of cards and was shuffling them with dazzling technique.
Normally, the outcome is determined by hand strength: high cards, pairs, etc. But in this game, the one who wins the right to choose can decide whether high cards or low cards determine the victor. Choosing "Victory through Strength" means traditional poker rules apply — high cards win, weakest is a high card with no combination, pairs are stronger, etc.
Choosing "Weak Overcoming the Strong" reverses everything — the weakest hand becomes the strongest. Trash hands suddenly become prized.
"In other words," Runa continued, "as long as you have money and bet enough to win the power of choice, even a worthless hand can become the strongest!"
"Isn't that perfectly aligned with the spirit of Hyakkaou Private Academy?"
"That's all for the rules. There's no limit on betting amounts. Now, the two of you, please go all out and fight to the bitter end~!"
Yomozuki Runa grew increasingly excited as she spoke, tilting her head up to admire the warm yellow light of the ceiling lamp.
In truth, this gamble had not been her own design.
Kirari Momobami had seen through the essence of these two, and deliberately created a gamble that required enormous financial wagers — to bait them into a life-and-death struggle.
She had personally phoned Runa the night before to inform her of this new game, "Swap Poker."
"Such wickedness~"
In high-level gambling, if cheating is off the table, then everything comes down to the rules.
But in this game, the one who bets more gains control of the rules, forcing the other into a crushing disadvantage...
That means if either of them wants to win, they must first seize the right to choose the rules.
Hikigaya and Manyuda would both have to stake everything they had.
The loser would completely lose all authority within Hyakkaou Academy.
Subarashii~ (Splendid~)
248 — I, Manyuda Kaede, am the Emperor
She clearly wanted to make Hikigaya her plaything, yet before obtaining him, she first wanted to crush his will...
As expected of you, Momobami Kirari!!
Yomozuki Runa was practically ecstatic.
Under these rules, she might get to witness the second-largest gambling record in the history of Hyakkaou Academy.
"I see… So even with a weak hand, as long as the bet is higher and you gain the power to choose sides, you still have a chance to win."
Hikigaya Hachiman's eyes gleamed.
He immediately spotted a loophole in the "Swap Poker" rules.
If one bets everything just to obtain the right to choose the rule, it exposes the weakness of their hand — forcing the opponent to follow with a raise, turning the match into a pure financial showdown.
"Looks like neither of you have objections. Then let's start by distributing your chips. Each chip represents 10 million yen. How many would you like?"
"Just a reminder—"
Yomozuki Runa's eyes flashed coldly, and she let out a wild, exaggerated laugh:
"The conditions for ending this gamble are either one party admitting defeat, or one party running out of chips.
You can replenish your chips after losing them — it just depends how much money you've got in your pockets to keep gambling!"
"Until one party admits defeat?" Hikigaya was slightly startled.
This familiar setup — where the loser loses everything — didn't seem like something a fun-loving type like Runa would come up with.
No, it reeked of one of Momobami Kirari's vicious rule sets.
"So I'm just a pawn in someone's game, huh... But whatever. I'll win," Manyuda Kaede said, pushing up his glasses.
"For now... I'll take 100 chips. Give me 1 billion yen worth."
"Then I'll take 100 chips too," said Hikigaya.
What a pain.
Hikigaya Hachiman had never faced such a troublesome gamble.
Kirari Momobami had thoroughly calculated the personalities of both him and Manyuda Kaede.
With the condition being "until one side gives up," no matter who they were, both would fight until the bitter end.
Just from Manyuda's earlier speech about the "path of kings," Hikigaya could already foresee a bloody battle.
This match — neither side can afford to lose!
"Now, both sides place one chip."
Soon, ten cards were distributed between the two. After receiving his hand, Hikigaya only glanced casually at his cards before asking:
"By the way, how is the size of a high card hand determined? I've never played a game where smaller wins."
"The single highest card determines it."
"For example, if one person has a high card with a King, and the other has a high card with a 10, the King is stronger. If you choose to win by weakness, it's the opposite."
"Got it, thanks."
Hikigaya retracted his gaze.
Unbeknownst to him, all of his actions had been completely caught in Manyuda Kaede's cold gaze.
'Pretending to aim for a weak hand — what a clever act. In reality, he must have a strong hand.'
Based on analysis of Hikigaya's past gambles, Manyuda had concluded that Hikigaya wasn't someone who liked playing psychological games.
Which meant — even if he knew that Manyuda would be thinking this, Hikigaya wouldn't reverse it.
'He definitely has a strong hand, no doubt about it.'
"Then I'll go first. I'll swap two cards," Hikigaya said, placing the King of Diamonds and a Heart card onto the table, receiving two new cards from Yomozuki Runa.
"Heh, setting up a smokescreen," Manyuda muttered, pushing up his glasses.
He hadn't expected Hikigaya to discard a King — the highest card in a high-card hand — which meant Hikigaya's luck must be decent, probably holding a pair now.
But Manyuda believed he had seen right through Hikigaya — sticking with his initial assumption: Hikigaya must be holding a strong hand.
Still, to guarantee victory, he decided to probe a bit more.
"I'll swap one card."
He barely glanced at his hand before discarding the least useful card.
"Both sides have completed their swaps. Proceed to betting stage."
"Ten chips," Manyuda said coldly, pushing his chips into the center.
"Hikigaya-kun, will you raise?"
"Then I'll add ten more chips," Hikigaya nodded.
'Heh. The intel is all gathered. Hikigaya Hachiman, as expected… you're holding a strong hand.'
Manyuda declared:
"I won't raise any further."
"Hikigaya Hachiman now holds the right to choose. Please declare your decision."
"Then I choose Victory through Strength."
—
Hikigaya: High Card – Ace Manyuda: High Card – 10
"Winner of this round: Hikigaya Hachiman. A total of 22 chips on the table go to Hikigaya Hachiman."
The defeated Manyuda Kaede didn't seem particularly surprised.
He simply crossed his arms and stared coldly at the table.
Although he had predicted that Hikigaya Hachiman would choose Victory through Strength, this round, his own hand had no decisive card to win with.
'If I had gone all in during the first round to forcibly get the right to choose sides, that would've been too hasty.'
'It's just a loss of 100 million yen. Nothing significant. Now, I've fully seen through Hikigaya—and I've thoroughly grasped the rules.'
To gain the choice of victory method, you only need to bet one chip more than your opponent.
So this game is meant to be played by gradually raising the bet, one chip at a time.
Massive bets only serve to intimidate, and against someone with deep pockets, such a threat falls apart with a single extra chip from the opponent.
In the end, massive betting becomes high-risk and low-reward.
Hikigaya dared to do it because of youthful pride.
Precisely because he had to win, he wanted to overwhelm Manyuda with momentum.
'Now, factoring in Hikigaya's previous behavior against student council members, I can even calculate the state of his mental game.'
'Truly… thank you. Nishinotouin, Miharutaki, Mibuomi, Yumemite — thank you all for paving the way to my royal road."
He waved his hand.
"Yomozuki, give me 100 more chips."
At those words, Hikigaya slightly raised his eyes.
'As expected, Manyuda Kaede is troublesome.'
Unlike any opponent he had faced before.
Even after losing the gamble, he didn't show the slightest impatience or rage — instead, he increased his principal stake.
'So he's trying to crush me with sheer pressure now…'
Hikigaya faintly guessed: 'I've probably already been calculated into Manyuda Kaede's plan.'
This guy — as Juraku once said — was a master of calculation.
Just like Hikigaya himself, he doesn't enjoy gambling.
To Manyuda, gambling is more like a battle of strategic computation.
And, also like Hikigaya, he prefers to factor the opponent's psychology into the equation.
'You think you've completely seen through me, Manyuda Kaede. But what you don't know is — I've already calculated the fact that you'd calculate me.'
Yomozuki quickly handed the new chips to Manyuda. He now held an exaggerated total of 190 chips.
Hikigaya laid out his hand.
"Swap — going for 10."
Hm?
Manyuda's eyes narrowed, his calm gaze now as still and cold as stagnant water.
'There are two possible interpretations.'
'First — he's genuinely aiming for a weak hand, trying to win with 'Victory through Weakness.' But with my chip count far exceeding his, the final right to choose will come to me. If he openly shows that he's targeting a weak hand, then he's basically digging his own grave.'
'Second — from the very beginning, he drew a strong hand like Two Pair or even a Full House, and he's faking it as a weak play to lure me into choosing 'Victory through Strength.' Then he'd win using his hidden pair or triple.'
But pulling a Two Pair from a five-card draw has only a 4.31% chance, and a Full House is only 0.23%.
Would someone really throw away such a rare hand so easily?
'It's pointless to hope your opponent picks Victory through Strength. The odds are too low. That behavior makes no sense.'
'So, Hikigaya's actions — both from the improbability of his draw and the illogical nature of faking weakness — are impossible.'
'That would be true for an ordinary opponent.'
'But Hikigaya Hachiman — someone from a regular family, sitting here gambling with me — that alone makes him extraordinary.'
'I know he's won previous games against the student council through unexpected psychological plays.'
'Because of that — this man…'
"Manyuda-kun, what will you do?"
Slam—!
Without emotion, Manyuda threw his cards onto the table: [2-9-10-Q-Q]
"Eh? Manyuda-kun, are you switching out five cards?"
"No. I'm not swapping any. I choose to reveal my hand and win through Victory by Strength. I have more chips than Hikigaya. So... Hikigaya Hachiman, do you choose to call?"
"No call," Hikigaya replied with resignation, spreading his cards.
Unfortunately, they were a random high-card hand, but only one card short of completing a straight — which would have beaten Manyuda's pair of Queens.
'This guy... is he issuing me a challenge? Is he trying to show he's read me completely?'
'So this is what he calls the royal road?'
"Then, winner of this round: Manyuda Kaede. Two chips on the table go to Manyuda!"
Manyuda looked down at the table and paused slightly when he saw Hikigaya's cards.
'Interesting… he aimed for a straight with just a pair of 10s? That's insane.'
'Did he realize I'd read his mental game and decide to switch tactics at the last second?'
'A clever idea, Hikigaya Hachiman. But it's too late. When two armies clash, changing formations at the last second means you've already lost the qualification to fight.'
'Unlike you, I will walk only the path of kings!!'
'In this world where money is king — where wealth determines war — the one with more money always wins. No need for tricks. Just following the royal road means never losing!'
'Hikigaya Hachiman, in the grand scheme of my royal path, you're just a slightly troublesome pawn.'
'I, Manyuda Kaede, am the Emperor!!'