Game Master in Another World

We managed to secure a meeting with Lady Evelyn quickly, soon finding ourselves back inside her grand office.

“So, I take it you have information about who is trying to assassinate you?” Lady Evelyn asked, clasping her hands over her desk.

“Yes, I received a tip from a delightful gentleman,” Juliana said sweetly. “It is an organisation called The Black Hand.”

Lady Evelyn sighed, pulling a thick folder from a drawer and flicking through the parchment inside. “I suspected as much. They have been operating in our nation since before the war began, assassinating key figures in the government and military apparatus.”

She pulled a single sheet from the folder and scanned it. “I have not found a distinct pattern regarding their methods or targets, other than this: if someone appears to help our nation, they are removed. They rarely fail, and when they do, they try again within a day or so.”

Lady Evelyn picked up her quill and began adding notes to the sheet. “For now, I would strongly advise you to remain in your room. I cannot have you risking your life unnecessarily. We need you alive for when Forlinth makes their proper attack on the city.”

I can’t have you risking your life? I scoffed internally. Juliana could turn into a literal dragon and brush off 9th-tier magic; she wasn't exactly in danger of tripping and breaking her neck. But I kept quiet, letting her handle it.

“That is not something I can do,” Juliana replied, her serene smile never wavering. “I must ensure your end of our bargain is being properly attended to. From what I have seen, the quality of the food distribution is severely lacking, and I wish to inspect it again tomorrow.”

Lady Evelyn sighed deeply, pinching the bridge of her nose. “It is unfortunate that my orders aren’t being followed correctly. But given the threat... would it be possible for you to inspect the lines in disguise?”

“Yes, I believe I can accommodate that,” Juliana said brightly. “But please know, if my request to feed the poor isn’t fulfilled to standard, I will be deeply disappointed with the city officials.”

Evelyn looked up, meeting Juliana's unblinking, unsettling gaze. “I understand. I will do my best to improve things from my end, and I look forward to your inspection results tomorrow.”

After leaving Lady Evelyn’s office, we headed directly back to our room, flanked by our guards.

As we approached the reception desk, a memory surfaced. I had popularized playing cards in this world some fifty years ago during my previous life. Surely a high-end place like this kept a deck on hand. I seamlessly took control of Juliana's body, stepping up to the counter.

“Hello, do you happen to have any playing cards?” I asked.

The receptionist smiled warmly. “Yes, in fact, I do. Would you like to borrow a deck?”

I nodded. She turned to a shelf, pulled out a small wooden box, and handed a crisp deck of cards over to me.

“I take it you know how to play a few games, then?” she asked.

I nodded again. “A few.”

“Great. Please let me know if you need anything else.”

As we headed up the stairs, I released control back to Juliana. She immediately turned the pack of cards over in her hands, inspecting the strange, painted parchment with quiet curiosity.

Once we were safely inside the room, I took the reins again. I turned to our escort. “Archibald, care to join us for a game?”

Archibald paused, considering it. Sedrick gave him an encouraging nod. “I’ll be fine out here for the moment. Go on, have some fun.”

We moved to the small table in the room. I sorted through the deck, removing the low cards so we could play a three-handed game of 500, then dealt hands to Toby, Archibald, and myself.

After explaining the rules and the bidding process clearly, we played a few rounds together so they could get the hang of it. Once I was sure they understood, I relinquished control back to Juliana and let her take over her own hand.

The sudden shift in skill level was glaringly obvious.

We spent the rest of the afternoon playing. Surprisingly, Toby proved to be the most skilled. The street-smart orphan had a natural talent for counting cards and bluffing, and he ended up winning the majority of the games. Juliana, on the other hand, was hopelessly outmatched. For all her divine power and wisdom, she possessed absolutely zero strategic deception, and her honest nature bled through every play she made.

As night began to fall, there was a heavy knock at the door. Archibald got up to answer it.

“Ah, it is you, Charles,” Archibald said, opening the door wider. “I’m pleased to see they chose you for the night watch. And is that Callum?”

The older man at the door answered in a deep, husky voice. “Yes. Good to see you again, Archibald. I take it there were no major issues today?”

Archibald stepped back, motioning the new arrivals inside. “We can talk about it in here. Please, come in.”

Two armored men stepped into the room: Charles, an older, grizzled veteran, and Callum, a younger man who looked visibly anxious.

“No need to be nervous, Callum. Juliana is quite sweet when you get to know her,” Archibald said, clapping a heavy hand onto the younger guard's shoulder.

Callum smiled nervously, shooting a quick, intimidated glance at Juliana.

“Don’t mind him. He’s still young,” Charles chuckled. “Unlike us old folks, he hasn’t had enough time to chill out. How was the day, then? Anything happen?”

“Only that we went for a walk to the slums, and Juliana is starting a religion,” Archibald replied dryly.

Charles barked a laugh. “Lucky for us Juliana will be sleeping tonight, then.”

“Well, with that over, I leave Juliana and Toby in your capable hands,” Archibald said. He turned to us. “Thanks for showing me a new card game tonight, Juliana. I shall see you tomorrow.”

“See you later, Archibald. Please pass on my regards to Sedrick out there,” Juliana replied as he headed for the door.

“Callum and I will be right outside your door. Do let us know if you need anything,” Charles said with a polite smile before exiting.

“Thank you. We’ll see you in the morning.”

Once the guards had left the room, Juliana and Toby prepared for bed, changing into their nightclothes. When they finally curled up in the large bed to sleep, Toby remained huddled close to her side as usual. With assassins lurking in the shadows of the city, he clearly found it safest to sleep as close to the demigod as possible.

Deep in the night, a prickling sensation woke my consciousness. Even while Juliana slept, I felt a distinct, menacing presence in the room. I slipped out of her physical form, floating up as a spectral observer, only to find Callum standing over our bed.

His sword was raised high, the steel dripping with fresh blood that pattered softly onto the floorboards. Tears were streaming down his face, his eyes wide and panicked.

I instantly snapped back into Juliana’s body, forcing her awake.

She rolled violently to the side just as Callum brought the heavy blade down, burying it into the mattress. In a fluid motion, Juliana reached out, her eyes glowing with verdant magic. Thick, thorny branches erupted from the wooden ceiling beams above. They lashed downward like serpents, wrapping tightly around Callum’s arms and torso, ripping him into the air and binding him fast.

His sword clattered to the floor. Suspended in the vines, Callum began to sob frantically. “They have my wife and newborn! I have to kill you, or they’ll kill them!”

Juliana looked up at him, her usual serene smile replaced by deep pity. “Where is Charles?”

“I had to kill him! I’d do anything for my family!” Callum choked out. “Please, let me go! I have to find them!”

Juliana glanced toward the doorway. A dark pool of blood was slowly seeping under the doorframe.

Toby was wide awake now, clutching the bedsheets, staring at the suspended guard in sheer terror.

“Toby,” Juliana said, keeping her voice incredibly gentle. “Could you please run and fetch Archibald or Sedrick?”

Toby gave a frantic nod, scrambling out of bed and darting through the door, carefully avoiding the spreading pool of blood.

“Can you tell me some details about your wife and child? I may be able to help you,” Juliana asked, turning her attention back to the weeping man.

Callum’s eyes darted wildly. “They told me if I spoke a word of this, they would kill them!”

Realizing we needed hard facts, I took control of the body. My voice dropped the gentle cadence, turning cold and practical. “And what do you think they will do now that you’ve failed?”

Callum thrashed against the magical vines, his panic peaking. “They’ll kill them anyway! I have to get to them!”

“What can you tell me about their captors?” I demanded.

“They are The Black Hand! A man named Hubert is my contact, that is all I know, I swear!”

“Do you have a designated place to meet him afterward?”

“Yes! A pub called Hubert’s Inn in the slums!” Callum gasped, calming down just a fraction at the prospect of a plan.

“Great. I shall go there in your stead,” I told him. “But before I leave, I will need to ensure you are secured and tried for the murder of your comrade.”

“You would have done the exact same if your family was in danger! Please, show mercy!” Callum shouted, his voice cracking.

“That is something I cannot do,” I replied evenly. “I might have considered it, had you not murdered an innocent man in pursuit of your goal.”

I relinquished control back to Juliana to wait. It didn’t take long before Toby returned, followed closely by Archibald and a squad of eight bewildered guardsmen.

Juliana released her spell. The vines withered into dust, dropping Callum roughly to the floor.

“I am going to look for his family,” Juliana told the stunned guards. “Please arrest this man for the murder of Charles.”

Before anyone could ask questions, Juliana's form shifted. In a blur of druidic magic, she shrank down, taking the Wild Shape of a small black bat. She took flight, darting out the open window into the cold night air.

We flew rapidly over the city, crossing into the dilapidated slums until we spotted the weathered sign for Hubert's Inn. The tavern was dark, the streets around it abandoned. We glided silently through an open grate leading down into the basement.

Hanging from the ceiling beams were chains, but my attention was immediately drawn to the floor. There lay two burlap bundles, one adult-sized, the other heartbreakingly tiny.

Juliana reverted to her Nhalyri form, her bare feet touching the cold stone. With trembling hands, she pulled back the coarse fabric.

We were met with the lifeless, glassy gazes of a woman and her newborn infant. The syndicate had never intended to return the family alive; they were just loose ends, meant to be disposed of the moment the assassination was complete.

The sweet, unending smile that Juliana always wore finally vanished. In its place, I felt a tidal wave of pure, unadulterated disgust well up from her very soul.

“Taking the life of an innocent is unforgivable,” Juliana whispered, the air around her dropping in temperature as her druidic aura flared. “I shall ensure justice is met tonight.”

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