The Christmas That Will Never Come

The woman holding Daniel's hand introduced herself as Lev.

She told him nothing except her name, but Daniel was not particularly curious either, so he did not press her.

After exchanging names, the two headed to a nearby general-goods store because Daniel had heard that the gambling game Lev had played was a type of poker and suggested buying a deck of playing cards.

Caught up in the moment, Lev followed Daniel, paid for two decks of playing cards, and returned with him to the front of the tavern.

“……Hey.”

Unable to figure out what he was doing, Lev looked up at Daniel.

“Why did you buy playing cards? Two decks, no less.”

“If what you said is true, that man is cheating, correct? Then beating him by ordinary means will be impossible.”

Daniel opened a box of playing cards, took out the cards, and selected several.

He put the remaining cards back in the box and handed it to Lev...