Episode 104 – Human Chess (3)

Human Chess (3)

The third round began after lunch.

This time, it was a little different.

Not dramatically different, but…

“……Finally.”

In the middle of the chess game, a figure appeared right in front of my square. I was so glad to see another person that I rushed towards him.

“Hey. What are you?”

There was a man on the other side of the semi-transparent magical barrier. He was a pawn, like me.

─What do you mean, what am I? I’m a pawn.

“Come here. Come on. Let’s fight.”

I banged on the magical barrier with my club. Thump-! Thump-!

The other guy looked at me as if I was crazy.

─We can’t. The rules say we can’t attack each other.

“……That’s true.”

That’s how pawns are. They can’t capture the opponent in front of them, only the ones diagonally across.

I guess pawns only ambush.

“Ah…… my body aches.”

I should have just sparred yesterday.

Of course, even if I win like this, I get the basic points. I just can’t earn battle points.

Even so, there must be a lot of guys who want my spot right now, right? Because it looks like I’m just sitting and earning points.

[Game over. Team Endex 1 wins.]

In the meantime, Team Endex 1 won again.

I didn’t do anything.

─Damn, I’m so jealous.

“What are you jealous of?”

The other pawn grimaced and spoke.

─You’re just sitting there, not doing anything, and earning points. This is unfair.

From his perspective, I can see why he’d think that, but my expected and actual value isn’t that of a pawn. I can compete with most knights.

This is a side effect of not disclosing grades.

“Try being in my situation. It’s not all good.”

─I want to be in your situation, you idiot.

“What, what? An idiot?”

─Yeah, you’re an idiot. A lucky bastard.

“You crazy, crazy bastard, have you lost your mind? Hey. Suddenly cursing, you idiot.”

─Fuck off, idiot.

“What the fuck, you bastard, you’re crazy. If I see you later, you’re done.”

Anyway, the other pawn disappeared like that, and I came back to the waiting room.

“Isn’t that Lunatic bastard……”

I was momentarily lost for words at the sight of the waiting room.

There were quite a few greenhorns.

No, most of them were greenhorns.

“……Ah. I’m tired after three rounds. My arm won’t move.”

“Me too. I think I’ve slightly fractured my shin.”

Considering we’re playing four rounds a day, it feels more like a test of stamina and durability than combat ability.

“There’s a 20-minute break, right? I’m going to quickly get some mana treatment.”

“Let’s go together.”

Hearing the groans of injuries here and there, it seemed fortunate to be sitting still like me.

“Ugh.”

I quietly sat on the sofa, waiting for the last round.

______________________________________________________________________

……Elise understood the basics of human chess.

First, pawns usually can’t defend themselves and die when they confront higher-ranking Artifacts. In addition to the fundamental skill gap, the types of weapons they can use are also different.

Next, in battles between higher-ranking Artifacts, the one who attacks first has a significant advantage.

Elise would first relay information about the opponent through her smartwatch, familiarize herself with it, and then enter the battle.

Therefore, the King must know exactly who the opponent’s Artifact is. That information is contained in a tablet PC called the ‘Player’s Exclusive Scouting Book’.

Having thoroughly understood the information, Elise led the battle as much as possible according to the compatibility.

As a result, in the battles between superior Artifacts, 80~90% of the time, the Artifact that attacked first won.

Lastly, there were no variables in the fights between Pawns.

If the skill level is low, the first attack plays too big a role.

In other words, the crappier you are, the more likely you are to win if you strike first. Just prepare a bunch of magic formulas and charge in.

However, the one to be wary of was, of course, the ‘Golem’.

The White Golem was sufficient at the Pawn level, but the Black Golem was a problem, just as Kain had said.

The Black Golem was undoubtedly the top Pawn. It had the power to defeat superior Artifacts depending on the terrain of the chess squares.

Moreover, due to the self-healing nature of the Golem, it becomes even more exhausting in the latter part of the game as it doesn’t have ‘health’ and ‘durability’.

Therefore, it was important to identify the location of the Black Golem as soon as possible and dispatch a Knight optimized for hunting to hunt it first.

Thanks to that understanding, Elise was able to win three games in a row.

However, as she continued to win, the level of her opponents increased, so it was reasonably predictable who the last one would be.

Tick-tock, tick-tock.

Elise waited, looking at the clock in the waiting room.

Soon, the break time will end.

[Break time over.]

[Team Endex 1’s opponent is Team Endex 2.]

“Ah. The expected ones have arrived.”

Upon hearing that, Kain, who had been cooling down, took a deep breath.

Team Endex 2.

It’s Gerkhen Kal Doon’s team.

Elise, of course, had calculated in advance.

Unlike before, she couldn’t be sure that she would definitely win from the Queen vs Queen battle. Kain is rated as a 6-star in terms of combat power, but his style leads to high energy consumption in each fight. Moreover, he had fought more than 10 times in 3 games.

On the other hand, James is a Fencer-style swordsman, and according to what she heard, he finished most of the fights in 3-4 moves and had fewer battles. Gerkhen Kal Doon didn’t push him too hard.

Moreover, the opponents have a solid upper Artifact line, including Kielli and Getel.

It’s impossible to know who will win.

“Do as I told you.”

“Okay. Hey! Everyone, get ready!”

At Kain’s shout, all 14 of them stood at the door.

[Game start]

Immediately, Elise entered the chessboard.

The King’s square is the office. There is a large desk with a chessboard on it, and through the glass on the other side, you can overlook the whole situation. If the King moves to another square, that square also turns into this office.

The first move is by the white, Gerkhen Kal Doon.

[Gerkhen Kal Doon’s team: White Pawn advances two squares.]

A familiar opening. Elise moved the Knight first.

[Elise’s team: Black Knight advances to F6.]

……

In the middle game of chess, both white and black finish their development and the battle begins.

The battlefield is in the center. The superior Artifacts of both white and black all take their positions in the center, crazily consuming their Pawns in order to gather strength.

“D5 Pawn. Attack the Pawn at C4. The terrain is a swamp. Be careful not to get stuck in the swamp, and since the opponent is a swordsman, you should have the advantage.”

She issued the command and waited for three minutes.

[Elise’s team: Black Pawn’s attack successful]

[Gerkhen Kal Doon’s team: White Pawn destroyed]

She captured the enemy’s Pawn. However, the advanced Pawn was immediately eaten by the incoming white Bishop, and at that moment, Elise’s forehead wrinkled.

“……The path is open.”

By advancing the Bishop, Gerkhen Kal Doon had opened a path.

There were no Artifacts between the Queen and the Queen.

In other words, the Queens were facing each other.

Is it a trap?

Or is it a calculation?

There’s no time for long deliberation. The time given to the player is only 2 minutes.

“Kain. Advance from D8 to D1. The opponent is the White Queen. It’s James.”

Elise ordered the advance. She had a good reason.

Kain had a lot of combat accumulation, and James was full of energy. With her Queen, who couldn’t fight much, if she could just beat Gerkhen Kal Doon’s fresh Queen, it would be okay even if she was destroyed after winning.

“……”

The moment Elise was fidgeting and waiting.

[Elise’s team: Black Queen’s attack successful]

[Gerkhen Kal Doon’s team: White Queen destroyed]

She clenched her fist. Kain was defeated immediately after by a combined attack from the Bishop and Knight, but it was already a gain.

“Next. C6 Knight advance……”

……

After Kain and James were eliminated, the battle continued fiercely on the chessboard without a Queen.

Artifacts were falling one by one, and Elise, the King, had already moved her position four times.

“It’s tricky as expected.”

It’s already the endgame.

Elise gritted her teeth.

The pressure of facing Gerkhen Kal Doon was partly due to the ‘King’ Artifact. Although the King has no chance of defense, if Gerkhen Kal Doon is the King, the King itself will have overwhelming power.

In fact──

“……Ah.”

[Gerkhen Kal Doon’s team: White King’s attack attempt]

[Elise’s team: Black Bishop, combat against White King]

Gerkhen Kal Doon personally challenged the Bishop to a fight.

If he loses this battle, the King will be destroyed, but that’s unlikely.

[Gerkhen Kal Doon’s team: White King’s attack successful]

[Elise’s team: Black Bishop destroyed]

Now, the remaining number of Artifacts is six for Elise’s team.

Five for Gerkhen Kal Doon’s team.

In terms of numbers, it’s advantageous, but all of Elise’s Artifacts are only Pawns.

On the other hand, not only the ‘Black Golem’ but also the ‘Rook’, Kielli, is alive on the other side.

It’s not just disadvantageous, it’s practically a confirmed defeat.

“……Tsk.”

Elise touched her forehead. Various thoughts cluttered her mind.

Should she not have used the Queen—Kain?

Or should she blame that stupid Knight who drew with a Pawn? How on earth does one draw with a Pawn? His name was probably Getel.

“……”

Annoyed, Elise looked at the chessboard again.

There was only one Pawn that could move.

“I didn’t want to move it.”

The piece that hadn’t moved at all throughout the game.

In the left corner, the A7 Pawn, Shion Ascal, which had been stuck in place since the start of the game.

“……A7. Move two spaces forward.”

She moved it.

By throwing this Pawn, the enemy Pawn will attack. Because in the endgame, you can’t leave a Pawn’s advance alone.

[Gerkhen Kal Doon’s team: Attempting to attack with a white Pawn]

[Elise’s team: Black Pawn, combat against White Pawn]

But of all things, the enemy’s Pawn is the ‘Black Golem’.

If the Black Golem succeeds in its attack and eats it, it’s an immediate surrender.

If the attack fails, it’s just buying time.

“Haah……”

Elise sighed, resting her chin in her hand.

______________________________________________________________________

“The sun is shining brightly……”

I’m sitting dumbfounded, enjoying the sauna. I’m not even watching with the SZX-9500 because it hurts my eyes.

It’s good to sweat.

“……I’m stretching out.”

Thinking about it, I need this rest time. I’ve been running hard all this time. Because my score was even higher than Elise’s by 0.3 points.

I’ll rest today, and from tomorrow-

──Wee-ing.

Just as I’m about to fall into a light sleep, my smartwatch vibrates suddenly.

I lift my wrist and am taken aback.

“!”

It’s a command.

“Wow. Move two spaces forward?”

It’s the world’s first two-space advance. Some people think that Pawns can only move one space at a time, but no.

You can move two spaces forward when you first move.

The magical barrier in front of me has opened.

“So this does open.”

I moved beyond it.

From the sweltering dense jungle to an empty plain.

Again, from the empty plain to a rather chilly highland.

My weapons are a club and a slingshot.

“……I’m here.”

I stood still.

Do I wait here again?

Just as I was about to sit down on the ground again.

Grrrr??

With a burnt cry, the Black Golem invaded from the diagonal direction.

At the same time, several notification windows popped up over the magical barrier.

[03 : 00]

[Gerkhen Kal Doon’s team: Attempting to attack with a white Pawn]

[Elise’s team: Black Pawn, combat against White Pawn]

The battle has begun.