NOVGO.NET Chapter 151: Unexpected Wager (3)
Chapter 151: Unexpected Wager (3)
“Meow—!”
A faint meow slipped out from the folds of Kreto’s robes as a tiny cat poked its head through.
Kreto gave a quiet chuckle, carefully tucking the cat back into his robe before saying, “Her Majesty placed this cat in my care. It tends to wander, but always returns on its own. Quite clever, and rather charming, wouldn’t you agree?”
“… I see,” I said, nodding as I leaned back into the seat, my eyes drifting over the passing landscape of Haileich outside the window. Thankfully, we had already left the palace far behind.
Kreto glanced at me and spoke quietly.
“And regarding what was discussed earlier, let us keep that matter between us. It appears Her Majesty misunderstood your loyalty as a deeper, more personal affection,” Kreto remarked, glancing at me as he cleared his throat with some awkwardness.
“Yes, Your Highness. I understand,” I answered. It felt strange, yet oddly refreshing. Perhaps it was proof that even Sophien could experience a flicker of human emotion.
“In addition, Professor Deculein, I have thoroughly reviewed your recent theory. I understand you have also extended an invitation to the Round Table?”
“Yes. It has been somewhat burdensome.”
The Round Table was one of the five pillars of the Magical Realm, along with Berhert, the Mage Tower, the Volcano, and the Floating Island. However, the Volcano—often called the Ashes—had long been stripped of its rank. And now, the Round Table had reached out to me with an invitation.
Kreto let out a restrained chuckle. “Haha… Well, if I may, Professor, could I trouble you with a question?”
I gave a slight nod and said, “As you wish, Your Highness.”
“Ah~ If that is the case,” Kreto said, drawing the theory tome from the folds of his robes with practiced grace. He gestured carefully to a passage. “This section—I find it somewhat difficult to fully understand. The magical output remains unsatisfactory, and I suspect there may be a flaw in how I’ve configured the amplification circuit.”
“Might I trouble you to illustrate the spell?” I asked.
“Ah, of course. Allow me,” Kreto replied.
As I went over the finer points of the spell, the red-furred Munchkin slipped its head out from Kreto’s robe, its eyes glinting as it stared intently at me.
***
“What an idiot.”
Bang—!
Sophien pounded her fist against the Go board. It had been ages since she’d felt this unsettled—no, this was something entirely new. A fire she had never known flared inside her, simmering with a heat she couldn’t shake.
“That dumbass, just blurting it out without a shred of tact, like an absolute idiot,” Sophien muttered, pressing her fingers to her temples.
Sophien let out a heated breath, replaying the voices she’d heard while possessing the cat.
“… Um, Her Majesty has directed me to inquire directly, because, if you hold deep affection of this kind, it could lead to… delicate consequences.“
“Her Majesty must be mistaken. I hold no such feelings, not in the slightest.“
“… Hmph,” Sophien muttered.
I must have mistaken it, he said? And he told no such feelings—not even the slightest?
“What a blessing,” Sophien muttered, her hand closing around a few black Go stones. She crushed them tightly until they crumbled into black powder, the fine dust spilling through her fingers.
“… Hey!”
Sophien called for the servant stationed just beyond the door.
“At your command, Your Majesty,” the servant replied.
“I will handle my duties now.”
In that moment, A rush of humiliation flared up, igniting the lethargy she had carried for so long. She couldn’t tell how long the fire would rage, but for now, she knew exactly what needed to be done.
“Call the ministers and officials to me, immediately.”
Bringing those damned officials and ministers to their knees.
Bang—!
Sophien threw the door wide and swept out of her chamber, her servants and knights following in her wake.
“I hold no such feelings, not in the slightest.“
The words echoed relentlessly in her mind.
It’s a relief that man doesn’t dare feel any deep affection for me… yet something’s still off. It’s like there’s a tension under my skin, something I can’t put into words. Fucking hell.
“Your Majesty, we remain deeply honored by your favor.”
By the time she reached the grand imperial hall, the ministers and officials had already gathered, having been summoned from their various tasks around the Imperial Palace.
Standing over them, Sophien said, “We will begin the royal discussion. I trust you’re all ready.”
The sudden announcement of the royal discussion left the ministers and officials unsettled, none of them prepared for it.
Sophien dismissed their concern and declared, “The topic is ‘The Nations of the World’! You will each discuss and present examples from past saints and heroes to shape the future of the Empire!”
***
Whoooooosh…
A fierce blizzard swirled around the sunken prison basin, cloaking it like a shroud. Even at midday, the darkness clung heavily to the unforgiving landscape. Yulie sat, her attention on the black and white Go stones scattered across the wooden board. Even in the dead of northern winter, the Empire’s trends found their way here.
“Seems this game of Go is quite the trend these days, especially among the nobles,” Reylie said with a pout, setting a black stone on the board.
Yulie gave a gentle smile and said, “… They say it’s a game that mirrors war, and in many ways, it really does. It’s a perfect way for a knight to sharpen their strategic mind.”
In the end, the aim of Go was to claim territory. Victory didn’t come from recklessly capturing the opponent’s stones or desperately defending your own. War and strategy intertwined within the game’s subtleties, and Yulie found that fascinating. In fact, she showed a natural talent for the game.
“Hmph. How can anyone call this boring thing a game?” Reylie muttered.
“The more you play, the more engaging it becomes. Just give it time,” Yulie replied.
“Yeah, perhaps… we’ll see,” Reylie muttered with a yawn.
Knock, knock—
At that moment, a knock sounded at the door to Yulie’s office.
“Knight Yulie, your newspaper has arrived.”
“Ah, the newspaper is here,” Reylie said as she rose to open the door.
A guard in a thick fur coat handed her the newspaper. The harsh cold of the Northern Region had forced both Yulie and Reylie to craft their own fur coats as well.
“Thanks~” Reylie said as she returned to her seat, casually skimming the paper. Suddenly, her expression stiffened. She turned to Yulie, her face serious. “Knight Yulie.”
“Yes?”
“Perhaps you should see this,” Reylie said, passing the newspaper to Yulie.
Yulie set the Go stone aside and focused on the part Reylie had pointed out.
Knight Rockfell of Iliade, Found Dead While on Mission.
Reylie clenched her teeth, but couldn’t say a word. Yulie’s expression was far colder than hers—no, colder than she had ever seen before.
***
… It had been so long since I last dreamed. But this one wasn’t mine—it belonged to Deculein.
“What brings you here?“
The memory was from over ten years ago. Back then, Cielia was still alive—the woman Deculein would later kill.
“My child isn’t well… she’s very sick.“
At the time, Cielia told Deculein that Sylvia had fallen seriously ill, suffering from the same hereditary disease she had passed on to her.
“I wish I could carry this burden alone. But even though my child is ill, there has to be a way. I believe that. But…”
Cielia struggled to hold back her tears, while Deculein remained distant, his expression cold and indifferent.
“Glitheon and this letter…“
The Letter of Fortune—a curse that promised death. But death alone wasn’t enough to make it the work of a devil. Beneath its surface, the letter concealed a devious twist, like a serpent coiled within its words.
If it was shared with more than five, the following day would bring great fortune.
Deculein raised an eyebrow and, with calm precision, posed his question.
“So, you’re telling me Glitheon is the one who set this letter in motion?”
Cielia bit her lip as the rain whispered against the night. She had gone to Deculein in secret, slipping away from Glitheon—her husband, the one responsible for the cursed letter that had already taken hundreds of lives and threatened to take hundreds more.
“Maybe he didn’t think it would come to this… or perhaps he knew all along…”
Cielia admitted that Glitheon had spread the letter in a desperate attempt to save Sylvia from the illness. At the same time, she blamed herself for passing the disease on to her daughter.
“He must have known. It’s Glitheon we’re talking about, after all.”
Cielia lowered her head, her frail body trembling with quiet sobs. Deculein saw no reason to blame her. She had endured a life strewn with thorns, deserving of pity for having married Glitheon, the Lunatic. Now, the last of her days were fading away.
“Leave,” Deculein commanded. “Yukline will handle the demon. There’s no place here for a woman on death’s door…”
… The dream was brief, and I opened my eyes. A faint smile tugged at my lips as I recalled the memory—Deculein, in the days when his fiancée still lived, had shown a rare hint of mercy.
“Ah, Professor! You’re awake?!” Allen remarked, his voice coming from somewhere nearby. He was seated in my office chair, reading a book.
Introduction to Go: A Beginner’s Guide.
“You’re reading a book on Go?” I inquired.
“Oh, yes, Professor. I’ve heard it’s something everyone should learn these days… Perhaps you should give it a try!”
I stood up without a word. A nap—of all things, and in my chair no less. Maybe it was the exhaustion from working so hard to master Duct Tape recently. My mana reserves were nearly drained.
“Goodbye, Professor! Oh, and just a reminder—your business trip today, you haven’t forgotten, have you?!”
“I’m aware.”
“Okay, Professor!”
After Allen’s parting words, I left. I took the elevator up and soon reached the special floor of the Mage Tower—the Hall. As usual, the Hall was packed, bustling with people.
“So basically, this stone has an encrypted code inside.”
“A code? So, do we need to crack it?”
“Yeah, you could either decrypt it or just break it.”
They were huddled together, deep in discussion. It looked like they had at least gotten the hang of Encryption.
“Man, this is hard. Deculein made this, right? He’s really something.”
“Have you ever heard people ask what’s harder—coming up with the toughest problem in the world, or solving it?”
“Epherene.”
The room suddenly fell silent. Epherene, Drent, Relin, Kreto, Louina… all the students turned their eyes toward me.
“… Yes?” Epherene replied, her head tilted in confusion.
I spoke sharply, “Prepare yourself. We’re leaving for a business trip.”
***
Vrrrmmm—
The airship hummed as it rose into the sky. Epherene and Allen sat on the plush VVIP sofa, eyes glued to the window, quietly taking in the view.
“Wow! We’re really in the air! Look at us go!” Epherene exclaimed.
“Yes, we are!” Allen replied.
It wasn’t their first time on an airship, but it felt like the first time they could relax and take in the view.
“Look at the clouds! So many of them! Wow, just look at all the clouds!”
“Yes, there really are so many!”
I watched them kneeling on the sofa, leaning close toward the window. They reminded me of excited siblings.
“But, Miss Epherene… are you sure it’s alright to join us on this business trip? Aren’t you in the middle of your exams?” Allen asked.
“Oh… that?”
As their conversation continued, I quietly took out my Go board as skipping practice wasn’t an option. Even with my Comprehension attribute accelerating my progress, Sophien was still a formidable opponent. Worse, she might even study my games to sharpen her own skills. I couldn’t afford to relax.
“By the way, Professor,” Epherene said, suddenly turning to face me. “Where exactly are we going on today’s business trip?”
“To the Round Table,” I replied.
Epherene’s eyes widened in surprise. The Round Table—one of the magical places, yet distinct from places like Berhert or the Floating Island.
“The Round Table?!”
Most mages, like Epherene, had romanticized the Round Table, but it was far from what they envisioned. In truth, it was a place stained by madness and obsession.
If the Floating Island was a haven for the pure pursuit of knowledge and Berhert symbolized truths beyond the Mortal Realm, then the Round Table represented the distorted place of a mage’s twisted ambitions. One had to tread carefully there, as it was impossible to predict what might happen.
“The Round Table! Assistant Professor, we’re going to the Round Table!” Epherene exclaimed, her face lit up with excitement as she turned to Allen.
Allen nodded, his smile just as bright, and said, “Yes, I’ve never been there before either!”
The two clapped their hands in excitement. I checked my watch—it was 3 p.m. With our arrival set for 5 p.m., I decided to pass the time refining my Go strategy. Recalling AlphaGo matches from memory, I began reviewing them in my mind.
“Oh, Professor!” Epherene called out suddenly, flashing a goofy grin as she pulled out a small stone—the magic-resistant stone she’d been working with. “Take a look at this.”
Epherene then closed her eyes and took a deep breath, focusing her mana and the stone began to float.
Whirr—!
“I did it! It worked!” Epherene declared with pride.
I glanced at her and gave a slight nod, a faint, almost imperceptible smile touching my lips as I said, “Yes, you’ve done well.”
Then I saw Epherene’s face go slightly blank, momentarily stunned by my response.
***
The Imperial Palace, radiant in its splendor year-round, had recently become a battleground as tensions between the crown and the church escalated.
Amidst this, Sophien sat calmly playing Go. Her opponent, an elderly man brought from the distant Eastern Archipelago, appeared every bit a seasoned master—his white hair and flowing robes exuding an aura of quiet wisdom.
“… I concede defeat, Your Majesty,” the old man finally acknowledged.
However, Sophien claimed an easy, effortless victory, defeating the master long before a hundred moves had been played. With a wave of her hand, a hint of irritation on her face, knights swiftly appeared to escort the old man away.
“… Damn, Deculein’s talent really is something,” Sophien muttered.
Once again, Deculein crossed her mind. Their past matches played out in her thoughts as she replayed every move on the board. One by one, she reviewed each step of their match, and with every move, his voice lingered faintly in her memory.
“Her Majesty must be mistaken. I hold no such feelings, not in the slightest.“
“… Hah,” Sophien muttered, clenching her fist as a strange sensation crept through her, making her feel as though her entire body was collapsing inward. In all her centuries of life, she had never felt anything like it.
“Maybe I should just commit suicide.”
It was something she was seriously considering.
“Her Majesty must be mistaken.”
“I must be mistaken?”
Sophien could still see the disbelief on Deculein’s face when he spoke. He looked as if he had heard something completely ridiculous, like a raccoon with a beak or an elephant without a trunk.
“I hold no such feelings, not in the slightest.“
Deculein’s voice carried not a trace of deceit, steady and resolute, dispelling any doubt with absolute conviction.
“… That idiot, Kreto.”
He could have just claimed it was his own question, but no—he had to drag my name into it because he was embarrassed. How dare he have the audacity to give such humiliation to the Empress, the one who stands above all…
“Life really is a hassle!” Sophien grumbled, pushing the Go board aside before letting herself slump to the floor.
Tick, tock— Tick, tock—
Tick, tock— Tick, tock—
The ticking of the clock echoed softly through the quiet room.
Staring at the ceiling, Sophien murmured to herself, “… So, he has no deep affection for me.”
Sophien was awkward with relationships—perhaps even foolish. She had allowed herself to slip into a strange illusion. Maybe, without realizing it, she had been hoping for something all along. Perhaps she had unknowingly longed for something from the man who had stood by her side for so many years.
Sophien didn’t understand her own feelings. Unable to make sense of her emotions, she couldn’t comprehend those of others, which led to this foolish mistake. Her greatest weakness was emotion itself.
“That I have mistaken,” Sophien muttered, rising to her feet.
Slowly and deliberately, she changed into the bear-fur robe gifted by the Drozen of the Northern Region. The robe was bulky, almost comical in appearance at first glance, but the artifact carried a special effect that bestowed Meditation and Calm.
“Hmph…”
Wrapped in the bear-like garment, Sophien composed herself, quieting her mind. She reflected on her emotions while refining her Go skills, all the while resembling a calm, peaceful bear.