Inside the White Tower, their card game went on for some time.
The Treefolk won the most, though, honestly, that was not exactly a good thing. Seriously, it really wasn't. After all, you had to choose your opponents when you played cards. Playing against someone who knew the game was naturally enjoyable for both sides, but if you picked an opponent who was not quite so suitable, well.
Ha.
Just as the black cat-head had said before the game began, the Trans-dimensional Mage named Xiya had absolutely terrible sportsmanship. Toward the end, she even started threatening the Treefolk, saying that if he didn't lose a few rounds, she would burn all his goods.
The Treefolk could do nothing about it—he was only a merchant now, so he really had no way to resist people who held positions in the White Tower Council. To put it in plain, easy-to-understand terms, he relied on them to make a living.
"Why are you the one who won the most again, Ka Valere?" the black cat-head asked.
The two of them were walking side by side now, treading a phantasmal road. Clearly, this was no longer inside the White Tower. Every road in the White Tower Council was an extension of a towering tree. As for this road, to be honest, no normal person would probably want to walk on it.
The illusory light made it look extremely unreliable, yet those lights were the only material that made it up.
"Because I'm luckier, I suppose, Cat," the Treefolk answered calmly. "But are you really not considering changing your name? You've had everyone else call you Cat for several centuries now, haven't you?"
"I refuse to answer that question," the black cat-head said.
Although they were walking together, this huge black cat that stood and