Chapter 341
Chapter 341
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 341
Chapter Title: The Witch of Sloth (6)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
1.
Diana stepped out of the host bar and immediately bought a Wizboard from a nearby shop.
She then ordered ice cream at the café she'd eyed yesterday and began reviewing the game.
Recalling every move they'd made and replaying them one by one in alternation.
"Phew..."
Siu had blocked all of Diana's attacks as if they were laughable.
Chaotic plays that had rattled her from the very start.
After meticulously and calmly retracing everything, one thought suddenly welled up in her chest.
"It feels like I'd win if I just played by the book..."
Replaying their matches, the patterns were always similar.
Siu would make an unexpected move, and Diana would try to counter it.
Whenever she grew impatient and tried something, a brilliant counter would sink her.
And the most infuriating part was...
"Why a Dispel Pin, of all things...?"
Dispel Pins were notoriously low-value tactics in Wizboard.
They were hard to pull off successfully, and even when they worked, the payoff wasn't great.
It left the successful player smug and the victim seething—a high-risk, low-reward ploy.
Essentially, a taunting troll move.
Yet in all her years of Wizboard, Diana had suffered more Dispels from Siu today than ever before.
No wonder her formation had crumbled.
"Still..."
Thinking coldly, it wasn't something to fume over and call it a day.
Whatever the process, he'd read her intentions and seized victory through strategic groundwork.
However...
"Grrr...!"
No matter how she looked at it, she was pissed.
"How dare he..."
A total amateur who couldn't even grasp the fundamentals!
"Using weird tricks and cheap tactics..."
But when victory felt stolen like this, cold analysis was impossible.
Her pride wouldn't allow it, no matter what.
"You're dead tomorrow...!"
Strategies as distinctive as Siu's couldn't be reused endlessly.
They were true wild cards.
Effective once or twice at best.
She firmly believed she'd just gotten unlucky today, caught off guard.
With that, Diana prepared for tomorrow.
2.
"Welcome, Diana."
"Set up the Wizboard. I'll order drinks."
The next morning at 6 a.m.
Skipping even breakfast, Diana arrived at the host bar, repeating to herself that this time, she was confident.
Her analysis and countermeasures were perfect.
To repay yesterday's humiliation, she entered with unyielding resolve and immediately prepared the board.
"In quite a rush today. Got an appointment?"
Seeing Siu smile innocently as if oblivious, Diana felt her heart pounding.
When you're angry, your heart races—that's just how people are.
His perpetual clueless grin, his nonchalant attitude, his obnoxious playstyle, even being a male witch—none of it sat right with her.
"Phew..."
Wearing emotions on your sleeve was unladylike.
Even with complaints, a refined lady hinted subtly, letting the other realize it themselves.
But this had to be said outright.
"I don't like you."
"Really? You've been coming every morning lately."
Diana unwittingly pursed her lips and shot back in a petulant tone.
Siu responded coolly in host mode.
"That's the slimy part I hate most."
"I'll watch it from now on."
"Hmph...!"
Refusing to yield even a word until the end (or so it seemed to Diana), she snorted and plopped roughly onto the sofa.
The current score was 2-2.
If Diana lost this one, it'd mean getting reverse-swept by a Wizboard newbie.
Before the serious game began, Diana spoke first.
"Dispel Pins your specialty?"
Siu paused briefly before answering earnestly.
"I don't know much about magic, but I have experience interpreting and dismantling formulas."
"Won't work this time."
"Looking forward to it."
Diana arched her brows sharply, glaring intently.
The mana source placements were the usual.
Orthodox upright Diana.
Off-the-book demonic Siu.
But today felt different.
Diana, who normally built a solid foundation step by step before attacking, started with aggressive moves from the opening.
Siu's Dispel style was like 'laying landmines.'
Unexpected ambushes from scattered meaningless plays.
Until now, Diana had focused on her own buildup, ignoring the minefield.
Resulting in surprise stabs right when she thought victory was hers.
"Heh heh..."
So then.
Change strategy.
If she forced constant small skirmishes, pressuring densely without openings for other moves?
No room for cheap tricks like Dispels.
Diana's habit.
When things went to plan, her lips curled slyly.
Right now, they were lifted high.
She could clearly see Siu floundering, scrambling to respond to her overnight-transformed momentum.
"Hmm..."
As proof, Siu pondered longer.
Makes sense—his one trick, Dispel, was sealed.
This was the gap between a witch relying on hacks and an apprentice who'd built fundamentals through orthodox play.
Tricksters could never beat the embodiment of fundamentals.
"Hmm, you're sharp today. Bad morning? You're awfully aggressive."
See that?
How cornered was he to say that?
Normally, you avoided game talk during matches, but Diana felt smug and lifted her chin.
"You're the one looking frustrated. No talent beyond Dispel Pins?"
"Yeah, Dispels are tough now. So I'll do this instead."
"Thrash around. I'll show you real magic."
With those bold words, fierce battle erupted.
Siu, who'd been purely defensive, shifted gears.
Matching Diana's skirmishes with his own small fights.
"Counter-fire. Good choice. Confident?"
Up to then, Diana wasn't worried.
Forcing skirmishes was orthodox too.
She figured she'd hold.
An endless back-and-forth unfolded.
Stealing runes, only for them to be stolen back, again and again—a chaotic frenzy.
"......"
A bit later, Diana felt heat rising to her head.
Skirmishes were brain-fryingly exhausting.
Small scale meant less calculation, but one move flipped everything.
A single waver meant defeat in that clash.
"Th-this..."
That's why Wizboard skirmishes usually stayed in 5-6 zones.
But this guy escalated blatantly to 10, 15, 20 zones, spreading the flames.
To Diana's aggression.
He countered with even wilder, uncontrollable mudslinging.
"What the hell is he thinking...?"
Utter nonsense again.
Like dogs grabbing fur and shaking wildly.
Diana inwardly screamed 'This guy's play is filthy!' but countered anyway.
Board already open—backing off first meant loss.
"Ah..."
Caught up in the relentless battles everywhere, Diana lost her bearings.
Only when Siu eased off and wrapped up did she catch her breath.
Finally escaping narrow vision to survey the board, she vaguely sensed it.
"Huh?"
Thought she misread at first.
But no—crystal clear.
The game was lost.
She'd thought it was even blows.
Hit for hit, take for take.
Even in this brawl beyond any manual, she'd inwardly respected Siu's matching skill, thinking they'd fought well.
But reviewing now, momentum had tilted.
Rune counts similar, but key ones had slipped to Siu unnoticed.
Her battered lines versus his poised for reconfiguration and leap.
The formula assembly order would differ hugely.
While she bandaged up to return, he'd be in full plate with warhammer.
No clue how to turn it from here.
Lost.
Despite all mana sources alive, Diana sensed defeat.
Siu must've been as frantic.
Yet he'd prepared seamlessly post-skirmish?
Possible?
If intentional...
Beyond human.
A monster.
As Diana reeled from the unimaginable...
-Clack!
Suddenly, an opening appeared.
If Siu had consolidated, she'd have been crushed without resistance.
But recklessly, he pushed the skirmish.
Into her advantageous zone, no less.
This blunder was her chance.
Diana swiftly countered while regaining momentum.
It happens.
Narrow vision blinds overall flow—like her yesterday.
Missing advantages or disadvantages.
Siu's moves proved it now.
Not priming Dispels, wasting turns obsessing irrelevant areas.
Diana fought desperately.
Closed the gap during his flubs.
Conviction it was 'luck,' not skill, eased her mind.
"I win. Me."
Snatched victory from disadvantage.
Last-minute comeback fruit, sweet as can be.
Diana clenched a fist discreetly, trembling with winner's thrill.
"Impressive. Can't beat you."
"That's 'cause you scattered skirmishes everywhere. Couldn't clean up your own mess, huh?"
"Score's 3-2 now. I lose."
Diana was thrilled.
No show, but twitching lips and flaring nostrils screamed excitement.
So, humbly acknowledge.
Oddball with sleazy strategies, but has skill.
"But you're impressive too. Any other apprentice would've folded. Reaching that level as a man? Gotta praise it."
"Really?"
"But if you'd done this here, I'd have won? See?"
Generous in victory, Diana even gave pointers and praise.
"Anyway, you tried hard. Nearly lost to overconfidence."
"Too kind. I learned a lot from you too."
Diana stood.
"Well, if there's a chance, I'll come again."
"Eh? Not tomorrow?"
"Why would I? I already won."
No best-of-five mentioned, but Diana declared it.
Seeing Siu's flustered look, she grinned.
Couldn't hide it this time—flashing neat white teeth.
"Sadly, I don't enjoy bullying inferiors... So, bye. Was fun."
With that parting zinger, Diana breezed out.
A fine sunny day.
2.
Siu stared blankly at the Wizboard.
Then at the door Diana had dashed through, refusing an escort.
"Things got twisted."
Situation derailed.
Goal: befriend Diana for mana field research help.
Meant seeing her often.
"Should've just crushed her without throwing..."
But Diana hated losing visibly.
Worried total demolition would bruise pride too much, kept it close and threw subtly.
Didn't expect satisfaction to send her packing.
Plus, her first win was against clueless early Siu, right?
Odil or Odet would've cried 'Unfair win!' and demanded rematch.
Apprentices are unpredictable as balls.
Full witches too, but apprentices? Rugby balls.
To Siu, skill gap was vast.
Post-first win, confident against any stunt.
Game boiled to formula interpretation and building—his forte.
Without eyepatch, gap insurmountable.
Still...
"Was fun enough."
Felt like savoring a favorite game.
Siu stretched, heading to changing room for business.
And maybe.
She'd return on her own soon.
Siu thought quietly.