Episode 172
chess.
From ‘King’ to ‘Pawn’.
It is a game where you compete in strategy with a total of 16 pieces, and you win by capturing the opponent’s king.
“… … “You’re not really saying let’s play chess with me.”
However, the chess that the crown prince suggested to me is a little different.
Instinctive discomfort bloomed first
all.
“If you mean to play a game using my people as chess pieces. “I refuse.”
The crown prince laughed as if he was amused by my words.
“You’re quick to notice. why? what is the problem?”
“To the crown prince, those knights may be mere chess pieces, but to me, they are family that I must protect.”
“It’s family, it’s a trivial relationship.”
“It’s the greatest relationship.”
“I am not asking for your consent.”
“… … This is why I cannot be by the Crown Prince’s side. “In the end, I am just one chess piece among many.”
The crown prince smiled bitterly and snapped his fingers as if he couldn’t deny it.
Then the Knight of the Apocalypse lowered his head.
“We will add unscheduled games to the Sword Grand Prix.”
An unscheduled match hosted by the crown prince.
Mini chess.
“A team of five people including King. A total of 10 people go to the stadium and play the game. Of course, the ‘King’ is me and Ruin Ardel. If everyone dies or the king dies, the game ends immediately. Do not wear protective equipment. “Once all the games scheduled for today are over, we can start right away.”
“My name.”
As the Crown Prince and the Knights of the Apocalypse tried to turn their backs, I opened my mouth.
“I never agreed.”
Then the crown prince rolled his eyes and muttered
I cried.
“I would have said that I never asked for consent.”
“but… …
“It’s unlikely, but if you win, I will help your sister finish the Sword Grand Prix safely. “I’m not the only one targeting you.”
Is the crown prince not the only one targeting him?
There is a high probability that this means Flame King Theron.
“I can’t have my toys taken away by someone else.”
Does that mean they are not on the same side right now?
The crown prince continued.
“Pawns can’t run back. Once he gets on the chessboard, move forward. If you try to run away or avoid this fight. You and your sister. Everyone in the ‘family’ you care so much about dies. “You certainly don’t think you can escape my grasp within the empire, do you?”
That was the end.
The crown prince did not listen to my answer and disappeared somewhere, taking the knights of the apocalypse with him.
“Master, are you okay?”
“sorry. “Am I too late?”
“The lady got angry and left. “I wonder if she died by falling into the bathroom.”
Sorry, Ruina.
It’s too late.
“But you came at just the right time. “It’s Louisa’s turn next.”
Irene pointed to the stadium.
Just as she said, Ruina was climbing onto the stadium.
“The opponent is from the Imperial Training Center of the Empire. It won’t be an easy opponent for Ruina, but… …
“We will win. Miss.”
We who watch the game all have the same belief in Ruina’s game.
I watched.
This belief remained the same.
Although Ruina did not dominate the game, she was calmly leading the fight at her own pace.
Judging by the occasional smile he shows, he seems to be quite a worthy opponent.
I wanted to protect that smile.
I wanted to help you show that courage throughout the Sword Grand Prix.
To have my dreams threatened and interrupted just because she’s my sister… … .
I’m so sorry.
“How did it go?”
In response to Lord Bolvar’s questions, I told him everything that had happened with the crown prince.
The game suggested by the crown prince, mini chess.
Irene, who confirmed the detailed story, widened her eyes as if she was quite surprised.
Lord Bolvar was silent.
Strang muttered, ‘You unlucky bastard,’ and Mr. Narmer spoke.
“It doesn’t feel very good, but should I fight or not? either/or option
There is no. “It is inevitable that we will collide in some way.”
While I sympathized with Mr. Narmer’s words, I opened my mouth.
“I intend to fight, but I cannot ask you to risk your life for me. “It’s such a dangerous fight.”
Literally.
I need their help too, but I cannot force obedience and loyalty.
Especially Irene Prius.
To her, the crown prince of her country
This may be a somewhat rude request to confront.
In some cases, you may have to fight at a disadvantage, 4 vs. 5, without her help.
However, surprisingly, the first person to speak was Irene.
“What are you talking about? “What do you think of me?”
“••••••yes?”
“This is also Ruina’s problem. “Did you cowardly think that I would fall alone?”
“It’s not cowardice, it’s wise
“It may be possible.”
“If I had made that ‘wise choice,’ I wouldn’t have come down to Ardel in the first place. Are you pretending not to know, or are you really not aware?”
“Miss Irene, what you said is correct. Did you really think that you would push me to fight alone?”
“Now is the moment when I can be of help to you, Master, and I feel sorry for you if you think that way. You can trust us. “I’m not that weak.”
“that’s right. Because these guys are so strong,
Trust and fight together. Of course, those five people include me, right? fun
“I guess.”
Irene, Lord Bolvar, and Mr. Narmer.
And even Strang.
No one turned away from my request, and I raised my gaze, trying to calm my whirling heart.
“Thank you everyone. Instead, I promise you at least one of these.”
My gaze turned to the crown prince, who was staring at Ruina with an unpleasant gaze.
“I won’t hurt anyone.”
“Waaaaaa!”
Just then, Ruina defeated the opposing knight-in-training and achieved victory.
♦ ♦ ♦
“His Royal Highness is in Altain’?”
“yes. Not only that, I confirmed that Ruin Ardel also came to Altain.”
“••••••Geeko•… ”
Flame King Theron.
He was receiving news through a crystal ball while sitting at the ‘Theron’s Seat’ on the top floor of the Magic Tower.
He was angry.
Not only did he secretly leave to meet Ruin Ardel without consulting him at all.
“… … An extra game?”
This is because they were trying to play a ridiculous ‘off-duty game’.
Sword Grand Prix.
This is one of the most prestigious competitions among knights, along with the Wizard’s Great Festival.
Making this prestigious competition venue his personal ‘playground’.
That is a rash act for which he deserves to be held accountable, even if he is an omnipotent crown prince who descends from the royal family.
The intention of the tournament, the Sword Grand Prix, to select promising knights, has been ‘corrupted’.
Plus, if… … .
Very if.
What happens if the crown prince is defeated and Ruin Ardel wins?
At the same time as praising the greatness of Ruin Ardel in front of countless people of the empire.
It’s like acknowledging the royal family’s incompetence.
With this incident, the opportunity to kill Ruin Ardel may disappear forever.
Because it is impossible to openly kill a person who is attracting everyone’s attention within the imperial territory.
“Why, why on earth!”
The King of Flame’s anger filled the entire Magic Tower.
This is the crown prince’s arrogance that he can have everything in the world and destroy it.
This is because of the carelessness of thinking of it only as a toy without any sense of crisis.
He is doing everything wrong simply to satisfy his own pleasure.
quietly.
A guy who should have been killed more quietly than anyone else, you blatantly dragged him into the ring.
What should I do in times like this?
Flame King Theron’s eyes lit up.
“Go back. “I have to go see His Majesty.”
The only person who can control the unbridled prince.
An absolute entity that goes beyond the empire and rules over the entire continent of Frelia.
Emperor, Titan Reinach.
Although he is old and sick now, he is the only man who can stop the crown prince.
“A barbarian becomes a barbarian, and a member of the royal family becomes an emperor.”
King Yeom’s steps became faster.
♦ * *
The first day of the Sword Grand Prix competition schedule has ended.
“Yes, all the scheduled games have ended, but… … There is one more hastily scheduled extra game. By name… … “Mini chess.”
However, for some reason, the emcees broadcasting the competition did not leave their seats and made announcements about the next off-duty game.
it started.
“huh? “What’s going on?”
“… … An extra game? “Has this ever happened?”
An off-hours match played 5-on-5.
It was something that was planned for me, but it is an unfamiliar story to the general audience.
This is because this case has never existed in the Sword Grand Prix, which boasts a long history.
An extra-curricular match that would have been absolutely impossible if not for the orders of Crown Prince Sjomertan Reinach.
A man who made the impossible a reality.
As the crown prince entered the stadium, the entire audience began to stir.
“Woe to you, the crown prince!”
” majesty!”
Everyone began to lie down on their seats, and we were the only ones with their backs straight in the seats full of Altane Stadium.
The crown prince stood in the middle of the stadium and snapped his fingers.
The two ‘8-star’ knights of the apocalypse
and summoned two more wizards.
The wizards were all 7th class wizards.
At the prince’s command, the wizards began drawing lines on the floor, and soon the floor of the stadium was transformed into a giant chessboard with black and white coexisting.
The crown prince’s family was all wearing black clothes, and mine was wearing a pure white clothes.
“The rules are simple. “It’s a simple game that ends when you catch the king first.”
At the crown prince’s short explanation, the audience members who had been lying face down raised their heads.
It was
Everyone’s faces were filled with doubts, but no one dared open their mouth or leave the stadium.
The arrogant crown prince’s gaze fell on me.
“Come down. Ruin Ardel.”
Then, Ruina, who was next to me, tugged on the collar of my clothes and asked.
“brother. what’s the matter?”
Seeing Ruina’s worried expression, I
He smiled brightly.
“Yeah, it’s no big deal.”
“… … This isn’t a big deal? “I’m not that stupid either.”
“I’ll finish right away and come back and explain.”
The crown prince probably knows this too.
Rather, under the pretext of a ‘game’, a not-so-bad situation was created for me.
A public competition that attracts a lot of attention.
I plan to use all my cards here.
“Then, I’ll come back.”
“brother!”
“Miss, don’t worry too much.”
“Ruina. “I’ll be back soon.”
I stroked the head of Ruina, who was about to cry, and started to go down the stairs to the auditorium.
In front of the stadium.
As we stood in front of the huge chessboard, the Crown Prince, who was sitting in the King’s seat with an arrogant look on his face, spoke.
“Then, let’s start the game.”
Smatch starts with an excuse called chess.
There is no sure way to win in chess.
To protect the rook, you will lose a knight.
Someone might get hurt.
However, for me, there is a method that is close to a guaranteed victory.
“Here, there is a guy who never dies.”
Strang lunged forward, puffing out smoke.
