Chapter 147: Academy Battle (6)

Chapter 147: Academy Battle (6)

Baek Yu-Seol and Jeliel changed their location to a rare and quiet private space, where they could concentrate.

Between them was a table crafted from high-quality wood, and on top of it was an expensive Soul Chessboard made of finely cut crystals.

As Soul Chess was a premier intellectual sport in the magical realm, it often appeared as a gimmick in many dungeons and served as a means for individuals to compete with each other's skills in various situations.

Sure, betting on Soul Chess wasn't much of an issue...

*‘Soul Chess against me?’*

Jeliel fiddled with her chess pieces with a slightly relaxed expression compared to before.

Of course, even though she seemed more relaxed, she maintained her poker face.

*‘Does he really know nothing about me?’*

The daughter of the Starcloud President’s chairman was a genius girl, who received the qualifications of a high elf during her teenage years, and entered the Astral Flower Magic Academy as the top student.

And...

A Grandmaster of Soul Chess.

Truly, her rating was at a level which could be considered the pinnacle of Soul Chess achievement among Grandmasters.

Of course, even among Grandmasters, ratings were divided based on win rates and experience, and due to her young age, Jeliel might be considered lower-tier, but she was far from being a pushover with only a student's skill.

If you think about it normally, she should win.

*‘I must win.’*

*‘I am a Grandmaster.’*Th.ê most uptodate novels are published on n(0)velbj)n(.)co/m

However, she wasn't confident.

She kept a 0.1% chance of failure in mind.

*‘Why did he challenge me to a bet in Soul Chess?’*

No matter how much she thought about it, it didn't make sense that Baek Yu-Seol didn't know about her own chess skills.

By chance, Baek Yu-Seol hadn't heard of the reputation of 'Grandmaster Jeliel,' and then coincidentally challenged her to a bet in Soul Chess?

And not just any bet but one involving such a large stake?

*‘No, absolutely not.’*

There was something fishy going on.

Nevertheless, she accepted this bet because... she believed she could win.

The magical pact was absolute.

And in this pact, there were no rules other than Soul Chess.

No trickery was allowed.

Since Soul Chess could only be played purely with skill, no other tricks could be used.

So, there remained only one possibility.

*‘Baek Yu-Seol is better at chess than me.’*

She had some knowledge about his chess skills.

She had heard news before that he defeated the stella’s top Soul Chess player.

*‘Edmon Atalek.’*

Being the honored Stella Academy’s top student, Edmon Atalek's skill was at least semi-professional level.

If he overwhelmingly defeated someone like him... Baek Yu-Seol's skill was undoubtedly at a professional level or even beyond.

*‘At least on par, or perhaps superior.’*

After taking a deep breath, she exhaled.

*‘I must never let her guard down.’*

*‘No matter how confident the opponent was in their chess skills, I, with an overwhelmingly powerful skill in the world of true professionals, have crushed all competitors and earned the title of Grandmaster.’*

With the skills she honed all these years to play Soul Chess with the soul in the ancient Carmenset, if she played as usual... she would surely win.

"You seem to have a lot in your mind. Are you scared?"

Baek Yu-Seol playfully said, rolling the Soul Orb with his fingers.

The Soul Orb contained within her pendant was the proof of the enchantment she had made.

"No, I'm fine."

It was a single-game match.

In just one game, her fate will be decided.

"Shall we start then?"

————

Whew.

As Baek Yu-Seol and Jeliel began Soul Chess, Anella came out and leaned against the wall.

The sweat covered her whole body due to the exertion brought about by her quick movements.

*'Ugh, is it not too much to ask me to prepare for Soul Chess...’*

Since Anella's identity was revealed by Baek Yu-Seol, she had been listening to his commands as much as possible.

It wasn't because he destroyed her abilities and even had the power to kill.

*'The ability... still hasn't been activated. Ever since I failed to cast [Rebirth of Nightmare] on Baek Yu-Seol, for some reason, my ability completely disappeared.’*

*‘It felt quite strange.’*

*‘It was as if the existence of 'me' had been partly erased.’*

*‘Why was this ability so important to me...?’*

*‘Well.’*

*‘If I didn't have this ability in most of the missions I've undertaken so far, it would have been quite painful.’*

Thanks to the extraordinary skill which allowed her to invade anyone’s mind, she managed to survive somehow with a lacking ability.

*'Ugh, what on earth happened...?'*

Now that her ability had completely disappeared, there was no point in trying to go back.

No, she was always on shaky ground, but now she might be expelled altogether...?

Knowing well what becomes of expelled dark mages wandering the streets, she hastily dismissed the horrifying thought.

The acts committed by other dark mages from different affiliations were nothing more than distant stories.

But Stella Academy might have something significant involving dark mages.

'Terrorism.'

What kind of terrorism was it?

Dark mages' acts of terror were no longer like the old days.

They were more intelligent, and capable of causing chaos in the magic world all at once.

It was that kind of terrorism.

*'... Baek Yu-Seol probably doesn't know about this.'*

This was an opportunity, a chance to gain Baek Yu-Seol’s trust.

To uncover what this dark mage was planning and inform him.

The life of a dark mage, which revolved around repeating vile deeds and spreading suffering to survive, had become tiresome.

She firmly resolved to look straight into Ka Baren’s eyes.

She twisted her lips mischievously.

"Lead the way. I'm really looking forward to this interesting event, aren't you?”

"Good, good! I've been wanting to show this to someone! Hehe, let's go! Let's go!"

Following Ka Baren with his bizarre strides, Anella made a promise to herself.

*'I must go back.'*

Back to the time when she found joy in small, simple things.

———

"Ah..."

Jeliel stared at the chessboard with blank eyes.

Unbelievable results unfolded before her.

*'The king has fallen.'*

Due to Baek Yu-Seol’s move, her king collapsed.

*'How...?'*

It was difficult to accept the result.

She had undoubtedly done her best, employing all the experiences and strategies she had accumulated to thoroughly strategize against the opponent.

But... she couldn't do anything.

It felt like being stripped bare and exposed, as if every move, weakness, and secret of hers was meticulously unraveled by the opponent.

It was more embarrassing than being undressed.

With intellectual concepts nearly overwhelmed by sexual notions, the intellectually inclined Jeliel felt an overwhelming sense of shame as if every thought of hers was laid bare.

She had to admit that he had better moves and strategies than her.

However... for Jeliel, who believed herself to be the smartest in manipulating the human chess pieces, this was an unbearable fact.

*'It's just a game of chess. Really, Jeliel.'*

She tried to regain composure by assuming a calm demeanor; but she couldn't prevent her pupils from trembling.

"I won."

Baek Yu-Seol said with a calm and composed expression.

It was almost unbelievable.

As if it was just any other game of Soul Chess for him.

"Well, you'll keep your promise, right? Well... I'll keep the secret too. As long as you keep that promise, I can overlook your little trick. Oh, and I'll have this as a gift."

He put the Soul Orb back into the pendant, and stood up.

It was an item which could be used anytime.

At least, he could use it as an entrance ticket to meet the Elf King later.

"I'll be going now. The Magic Survival is about to begin. Were you a participant too? Don't worry, I won't touch you there. Oh, and this is a gift."

Baek Yu-Seol left a strange shaped fragment which appeared like a tombstone on the table.

"It might become something precious to you, so keep it in mind."

As Baek Yu-Seol finally left, Jeliel felt empty inside, and leaned back slowly in her chair.

She had lost.

She must abide by the terms written in the Magical Parchment as the price.

It was somewhat absurd, yet for Jeliel, it was the most significant wound.

[First, do not love your father.]

[Second, if the first condition is impossible, do not face your father for three years.]

[Third, if the second condition is also impossible... love someone else.]

Human emotions were not easily changeable, especially love.

In other words, since the first condition was impossible, she must fulfill the second condition...

*'Not face my father for three years?'*

Jeliel gently caressed the Magic Parchment with trembling hands.

Both the first and second conditions were impossible.

Even the third condition...

Seemed utterly impossible.

A life lived solely for her father, and now, filling that void with someone else was inconceivable.

*'How can I...'*

She bit her lip, holding back tears that seemed ready to fall.

She was originally emotionless, but she felt unusually complicated today, and her heart pounded.

Baek Yu-Seol.

He imposed the harshest punishment on her and left.",