Chapter 15

Chapter 15: Mago of the Chess

Kinzo had no memory of our conversation from the night before.

He wasn't even sure if it had been a dream or reality.

"Mago's going to rely on his Lake ability and ignore the King's penalty," Kinzo said, gesturing toward Mago, who stood at a distance.

"But like I said, twice is the limit. We make him burn through both uses."

"What if Mago eliminates us within ten minutes?" Bell asked.

"He won't. Not if we refuse to fight."

"Refuse to fight?"

Kinzo laid out the next phase of the plan.

I watched the match between Groups 3 and 4, who were up before us.

After about five minutes of observation, I could sum up the whole thing in one word: chaos.

Complete and utter disorder.

It was hardly surprising, given that their commander was fighting blind.

"Turn thirteen," the Head Instructor announced in a low voice.

"L-left two squares!" Group 3's King shouted.

"Did we actually move two squares to the left? Tell me! I can't see anything!"

"We're there now! My, my position is... A! A4!"

"Don't fall for it! That wasn't my voice just now! The other side is lying!"

"Damn it, I have no idea what's going on..."

"Turn fourteen."

"Instructor! I'm opening my eyes this turn!"

"Understood. Group 3 has used both of your chances, so from next turn onward, you'll have to keep your eyes closed. And Group 4, you don't get to use a turn this time."

Group 3's King cautiously opened his eyes.

His face immediately fell.

"What the hell, you said we moved to A4!"

"I told you, that wasn't me! How can you confuse my voice like that?"

"Just—just give me a second. Let me think. Now that I can see, the formation is nothing like I imagined. Even the other group's position is... I can't figure out the next move like this..."

"Hurry up and decide something!"

"Turn fifteen. Close your eyes again."

Before Group 3's King could make his decision, the next turn started mercilessly.

"Group 3 can't stop us now! Both of you, push forward to the end!" Group 4's King seized the opportunity and advanced his pieces in earnest.

In the end, Group 4 won the match.

Group 3 scored zero points.

Group 4 scored fifty.

The rankings shifted dramatically from that one match.

A moment later, after the chessboard had been reset.

"Groups 5 and 6. Step forward," the Instructor called out.

My turn.

"Kings, raise your hands."

Kinzo and I raised our hands high.

"Prepare."

Both groups stepped back.

On the parade ground, six of us stood in two rows of three at opposite ends of the chessboard.

The distance between us was about thirty meters.

Well within Lake's range.

"Kings, close your eyes."

The moment I shut my eyes, I activated Lake.

The wave passed through, and black and white unfolded before me.

"Begin."

Oscar and Louise drew their wooden swords.

On the other side, Amon and Bell did the same.

The two of them stood ready, wooden swords in hand.

"First turn."

"Oscar, Louise, advance one square."

I moved them forward cautiously.

"I'll pass my turn."

Kinzo did nothing.

The rules of the third exam existed, but they weren't fair.

The pieces played differently.

Oscar and Louise were pawns.

Amon and Bell were bishops or rooks.

And Bell, at least once, could become a queen.

I tried to predict what Kinzo was planning.

One.

Exploit the difference in skill.

Oscar and Louise had no way to break through against superior opponents.

If I opened my eyes, I could stop Amon and Bell for a single turn.

But that would mean ending Lake myself.

No matter how much time remained, the moment I opened my eyes, I'd burn through one of my uses.

"Hmm..."

Two.

Drag things out. Waste my duration.

Just like the first option, he was probably aiming to make me use Lake for nothing.

Without Lake, it'd be a two-versus-three fight.

The reason Kinzo wasn't using his turn was probably...

"Second turn."

"Oscar, Louise, advance one square again."

"I'll pass my turn."

...to buy time.

Seeing Kinzo pass again confirmed my suspicion.

"Troublesome bastard."

That guy always transformed during exams.

Having Kinzo as my enemy already put me at a disadvantage in the mental game.

No matter what I came up with, I'd started with a weakness.

If this kept up, I'd just be on the defensive.

The only card I held was that Kinzo didn't remember last night.

He didn't know I could use Lake three times instead of two.

"I have to find a way to use that."

Then I heard whispers from the other cadets.

"Why are they so quiet? They're not saying a word, but they act like they know everything..."

"Something's off... the atmosphere is different."

"Third turn."

The Instructor's voice cut through their murmurs.

"Oscar, Louise, advance one square again."

"I'll pass my turn."

And then.

Flames burst to life from Oscar and Louise's wooden swords.

Kinzo hadn't moved his pieces, but he'd used magic in the meantime.

The Instructor just watched—which meant Kinzo's action was outside the rules.

Not a foul.

"Huh?"

"What the hell is this..."

Oscar and Louise flinched.

"Oscar, Louise. It's just fire. Don't panic."

Kinzo answered me with a remark of his own.

"Mago. I've tried this before with wooden swords. They burn faster than you'd think."

Kinzo's third move.

Disarm us. Destroy our weapons.

Group 6 had already decided to stall for time. Now they planned to burn our swords in the process.

"Can Group 5 actually win this...? They're completely outmatched."

"Kinzo's using magic, and Amon and Bell haven't even moved yet."

"What is Mago thinking?"

The whispers from the other cadets kept drilling into my ears.

Kinzo was relentless.

And he kept making me think.

The more I pondered, the more I'd fall into his trap.

I had to keep it simple.

I stared at the flames licking my wooden sword.

That familiar fire. The one I'd once called an ally.

But now, with Kinzo as my enemy, the fire was my enemy too.

I had to make it my ally again.

"Oscar, Louise. Throw your swords."

"Where?"

"At Kinzo. Directly."

His Reinforcement Magic.

Without me there to counter it, it would only make my enemies stronger.

"Fourth turn."

"I'll pass my turn."

Kinzo passed again, but that was a mistake.

If he didn't want to get hit by burning swords, he should have moved Amon and Bell to intercept.

"Throw!"

The two flaming swords hurtled toward Kinzo's head.

He extinguished the flames midair.

Then, without dodging, he let the swords smack into his skull.

A heavy thud echoed across the parade ground.

"Ki-Kinzo!"

"Kinzo?"

Bell and Amon reacted at the same time.

"Fifth turn."

"Louise, left one square. Oscar, right one square."

I started forming my formation properly.

"I'll pass my turn. Amon, Bell, stay put. I'm fine."

"You're not fine!"

Bell's voice cracked.

Blood trickled down Kinzo's forehead.

To me, it looked like a dark streak.

The blood dripped over his eye and down his cheek.

Kinzo wiped his face with his sleeve. The careless gesture smeared blood across half his face.

"According to the rules, the King shouldn't be able to get injured. But somehow, whenever that bastard Mago's involved, all my predictions fall apart."

The Instructor muttered under his breath. "Kinzo. Don't push yourself too hard, will you? The way you take hits like that, it's no wonder people call us the Majo team."

"Seems like you're the one pushing it, Mago," Kinzo shot back smoothly. "You should be thinking about your duration. No time for jokes, right?"

That bastard.

He was dead set on winning, no matter what.

"Mago, from the capital all the way here, I've relied on you too much. Way too much. I've never once stood ahead on my own."

"What are you getting at?"

"I'm useful even without you. And right now, I have the chance to prove it. I can't afford to lose."

His voice dropped lower, darker.

The exam pressed on.

"Sixth turn."

"Louise, one more square left. Oscar, one more square right. Keep spreading."

"Bell, Amon. They don't have weapons. It's basically over. So—"

Kinzo paused.

"—stay exactly where you are."

Just as I expected.

Lake's duration had passed the halfway mark. About two minutes left.

"Is this even the same thing the other groups did? Feels like a completely different event."

"What are the later groups supposed to do..."

"No wonder there are rumors those two tore through the capital's thieves."

The cadets' chatter kept coming.

Kinzo couldn't ignore Oscar and Louise, now split to both sides.

One of them—Bell or Amon—would have to follow.

"Kinzo, what's your move this time?"

Who would he send?

"Seventh turn."

"Louise, advance one square. Oscar, one more to the right."

"Bell."

Kinzo finally gave an order.

"Amon."

Of the two.

"Both of you. Behind me."

The moment he finished, cadets shot up from their seats.

"Behind...?"

"There are no squares behind him! What's he planning?!"

"The King is taking the lead? He's not even trying to protect the King...?"

"But the Instructor isn't saying anything, so..."

The crowd's voices swelled.

Kinzo's fourth move.

Putting Bell and Amon outside Lake's range—behind him.

If he gave them orders beyond my sight, I'd have no way to know.

I could see everything beyond fifty meters if I opened my eyes.

But that would cost me one use of Lake.

Bell and Amon watched me as they backed away.

"Eighth turn."

"Louise, get ready to strike Kinzo. Oscar, move forward."

"Both of you, keep moving back."

Amon and Bell vanished beyond Lake's reach. I could no longer see them.

But Kinzo's fourth move came at a cost.

He had no one left to protect him.

"Ninth turn."

"Keep advancing."

"Keep retreating."

Now was the time to strike.

And the next turn would be the tenth—the turn I'd instructed Oscar to advance forward no matter what, regardless of my commands.

"Tenth turn."

"Bell!"

Kinzo raised his voice first.

Just as I'd predicted. Bell.

The piece that could close any distance in an instant.

A rook that moved freely in straight lines.

Or a queen.

"Bell Red! Full speed forward!"

Kinzo was betting on Bell's explosive speed.

She'd be here in a heartbeat.

From beyond my sight, straight to my doorstep.

I had no choice left.

"I'll open my eyes. Louise, advance forward. Oscar, one square left."

"Mago, you have one remaining use. Kinzo's command is negated."

I opened my eyes, and Bell froze in place.

I slowly scanned Amon and Bell.

They were just barely outside Lake's range.

If I closed my eyes again, I'd lose sight of them.

But an opportunity was staring me in the face.

Louise had reached Kinzo's front.

One more square, and she could take down the King.

"Eleventh turn."

"Louise, forward..."

"I'll open my eyes. Bell, Amon. Move forward and stop Louise."

"Mago's turn is forfeited. Kinzo, you have one use left."

"I just needed one more square...!"

Louise stood frozen, shouting her frustration.

Bell and Amon rushed back to shield Kinzo.

"Twelfth turn."

"Louise...!"

"I'll open my eyes."

Kinzo stole my turn twice in a row.

Then.

"Bell, Amon. Push Louise back."

"Push her back? How?"

"Throw her, shove her. Whatever it takes. Force her back."

"Hey, Kinzo..."

Amon's face twisted in shock.