After Lana had fixed her makeup, Monica returned to the match when she found a strange scene unfolding in the audience.
All the spectators sat on chairs prepared by the academy to watch the match, but with an exception of one person sitting on the floor.
It was Roberto Vinkel, the man who proposed engagement to Monica based on the chess premise and was promptly rejected. On his back was a piece of paper that said, "I am reflecting."
Sandwiching Roberto's left and right sides were Felix with his smiling face and Cyril with his frowning face. In addition, sitting behind him, Redding, "Temple"‘s advisor, folded his arms while glaring at Roberto.
As Monica was taken aback by the unapproachable atmosphere, Roberto noticed her and raised his voice as he sat upright.
"Miss Monica, once this tournament is over, I'd like to continue discussing the previous matter——"
Prof. Redding dropped a fist into his head at Roberto's stubborn attempt, then Felix and Cyril on either side added a cold remark to Roberto who was rubbing his beaten head.
"Vinkel, I believe I have not yet given you permission to speak."
"Any action that disturbs the participants before the match is strictly prohibited."
The atmosphere in Roberto's area was unusually chilly. Scary.
Looking at the flustered Monica, Elliot and Benjamin beckoned her over. So she took advantage of this and quickly ran over to them.
"W-What happened to seat over there…"
"Just pretend you don't see anything. And don't ask me what happened during your absence. Cause I didn't see anything. Okay, I will say it again. I didn't see anything."
"I had no idea the student council president who is famous for his gentle demeanor could be so ruthless… I certainly heard Georg Altmaier's Requiem, "God's Wrath Shall Pour Down Here" played in my mind that time!"
Monica didn't know what was going on, but what she did know for sure was something terrifying had happened. Deciding that it would be better for her not to know, Monica nodded her head in agreement with Elliot's advice.
None of the players from Minerva's side seemed to have arrived yet. Since neither the players nor their advisor teachers were in sight. But when the three people from the Serendia Academy side took their seats, the three people from the Minerva side showed up just in time.
Leading the group was Barney Jones. She thought he would take the captain's seat… but contrary to her expectation, he walked right past Elliot and took the seat across from Monica. That action caused Elliot to raise one eyebrow and turned at Barney.
"Hey, aren't you sitting in the wrong seat? You're the captain, aren't you?"
"We have just submitted a notice to change our role. So I'm pretty sure this should be my seat."
Actually, Barney had been the captain of the team but changed his role to be the front player because he considered Monica to be a formidable opponent——which was considered as an insult to Elliot.
Elliot retracted his usual frivolous smile and directed his cold eyes at Barney.
"I think that was not a very smart move."
"I know it's disrespectful. However, there are some circumstances that I just can't give up."
Other than Barney, the two people from Minerva's side looked somewhat confused as well. Perhaps the change of role was Barney's own decision.
Monica was surprised, but not perturbed. Strangely, her mind was calm. Barney, who had been so scary to face, was now not scary at all.
Barney took his gaze off Elliot and turned to look at Monica. His eyes were telling him this.
——"Look at me, be more conscious of me…"
However, Barney's obsession no longer reached Monica's heart.
Once Monica cast her eyes down to the board, nothing else occupied her mind anymore but chess. There's no room for Barney to get in.
"Let's have a good game."
"Let's have a good game."
The first move was made by Barney. Soon after, Monica made the next move.
Barney played chess in a very aggressive manner. His style was filled with a strong will to win, regardless of how many pieces he had to sacrifice. Unfortunately, it was shattered head-on by Monica.
Barney was supposed to be the captain so he would prove to be very strong. But, his playstyle was vulnerable. He will use anything to win, no matter how many sacrifices he had to.
As if all those sacrifices, moves, and strategies were in vain, Monica crushed Barney's moves one by one with precision. With the same ruthlessness with which she had once shot a wyvern between the eyes.
Meanwhile, Claudia, in the spectator's seat, looked at the developments on the board and blurted out.
"She sure pretty ruthless…"
How many people can make Claudia, who has a reputation for her ruthless with her words, say that person was ruthless?
Glenn, who was not familiar with chess, asked Neil while looking at the live board.
"Uh, will Monica be able to win?"
"It's not she won't able…"
Neil shook his head with a stern face.
"She's already won."
"Eh?"
Glenn widened his eyes and let out a silly voice. It was understandable that he was surprised. It had only been twenty minutes or so since the match had started.
"If Monica's already won, why is the match still going on?"
"At this point, Miss Norton's victory is almost certain. However, her opponent is not willing to admit his defeat and keeps struggling…"
"…He's desperate to bring the match to a stalemate. Since he would lose all his face if he lost in 20 minutes after had gone out of his way to lower himself to be the front player from the captain, so he's trying his best to buy time…"
"Poor him…"
Glenn cast a pitying look at Barney. Next to him, Lana, who had been silent until now, folded her arms and snorted with pride.
"Yep, Monica's different today."
"… then how come you're the one who's so excited about it?"
"Of course I will be excited since my friend was the one who wins the match. If it was me, I would be happy and proud if someone complimented me on something I like."
Lana lifted her slender chin as she said so, followed by a quiet declare of checkmate made by Monica.
＊ ＊ ＊
"Checkmate."
So Monica declared, and at the same time, Barney was shaking violently and ruffling his bangs.
Monica was looking at the board blankly. All she saw were the black and white pieces, completely oblivious to Barney.
She had always been like that. Always engrossed with magic, never paid any attention to Barney.
Actually, he had realized it. Monica was a real genius, and he was just an ordinary guy who was a little bit better than everybody else. And he knew that there was a solid wall he would never be able to overcome.
"Shit…"
When Barney stood up yanking on his chair and ran out of the venue, Monica did not chase him, nor did she call out to him. Even up until the last moment when Barney off out of the venue, her eyes were still fixed on the pieces on the board. That's what reality was.
Shit, shit, shit!
Back in the waiting room, Barney slammed his fist against the wall. He knew what he did was not clever at all. Even so, he couldn't help looking for something to blame.
"…Umm, Jones…"
Knocking discreetly on the door, Pittman approached Barney. Apparently, he had followed him all the way from the venue.
"Look, I know it's frustrating to lose, but you can't keep staying here, you know. I mean, you need to greet other participants at the end of the match."
"…I'm sorry. I'll be back in a little while."
"Alright… But don't be too late, or that scary-looking teacher will stare at you…"
He was probably referring to Boyd, the chess teacher at Serendia Academy, who had a scary face. Indeed, he had a feeling that that terrifying mercenary gaze would make him begging for life when it cast at him.
…wait.
Barney suddenly felt an odd discomfort.
No, he had been feeling it before, and it was not the first time—he hadn't noticed it because he was too busy worrying about his match, but this had happened before when he was in the staff room.
Once Barney suppressed his anger toward Monica, he turned to face Pittman.
"… Professor Pittman, may I ask you to teach me chess again when we return to Minerva?"
"Well, sure, if it's okay with you."
At those words, Barney was convinced.
"…who are you?"
Pittman rounded his eyes in disbelief at Barney's question.
"Eh? What do you mean by who? I am Eugene Pittman. The teacher of Minerva."
"Professor Pittman I know is an advisor for the Chess Club who's terrible at chess. He himself always said that there was nothing he could teach us because of how terrible he is."
"Well, there are times when I'd like to show off my skills in front of my students, you see."
"Then can you tell me what subjects do you teach? What is your specialty in magic?
Pittman fell silent as the questions came at him in a barrage.
Now he was thinking about this, it felt strange.
As a former student of Minerva, there was no way Pittman didn't know McGreggan, who had been teaching practical spells at Minerva for years when they arrived at the staff room.
And yet, that time he said this.
—"Do you know this old man?"
The same was true regarding Professor Boyd. It was odd that Pittman, who has participated in the chess tournament as an advisor, forgot about his name.
"…I will ask you again, who are you?"
When Barney asked in a critical tone, Pittman's unreliable smile peeled away and his lips lifted in an arc.
