Chapter 56
Chapter 56
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 56
Chapter Title: The Party Ends
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The party was over.
Excluding the first day of the party and the day it reopened after the palace raid, King Edgar IV had never lingered in the banquet hall for long.
Instead, Prince Erader or Princess Vanessa had stood in for him.
But today, the final day of the party—and especially the day the Nudian envoys arrived—was different.
King Edgar IV personally toured the hall, introducing the Nudian envoys to his nobles. He even tossed in some jokes now and then, sharing laughs with the envoy to create a warm, congenial atmosphere.
‘The envoy has to know this party celebrates our victory over Nudia.’
What political intent lay behind it?
Sion had a rough guess at King Edgar IV’s intentions but couldn’t be certain.
Was it extending an olive branch as the magnanimous victor? Or a gesture acknowledging that they’d been a formidable foe?
“And this young man here is none other than Young Lord Sion Klauzen.”
“Ah!
So this is the genius strategist from Margrave Klauzen’s territory who forced our army to retreat without even fighting.”
At King Edgar IV’s introduction, the middle-aged man who’d come as Nudia’s envoy bowed his head.
“Pleased to meet you, Young Lord Sion Klauzen.
I am Adolf Peral of Nudia.”
“Happy to meet you, Adolf.
Sion Klauzen.”
“You’re... remarkably young.
To think someone like you possesses such brilliant strategy.”
He was just barely twenty, so yes, young.
Ah, I used to be twenty once too... pity... No, absolutely no re-enlistment.
“It seems you have more to discuss with Young Lord Sion than even I do.”
“Your Majesty, the King of Hispania—how can you say such a thing!”
“Ahaha!
Just a joke, my friend, just a joke.
But shouldn’t we introduce the lady behind you as well?”
“Ah, right.
Shall I do it?
Or...”
“I’ll do it myself.”
The woman stepped slightly forward. She looked frail, but her eyes sparkled with sharp intelligence.
She gave a slight bow and spoke.
“I am Ive.
It’s an honor to meet you, Young Lord Sion Klauzen.”
“...Ive?”
The reaction to her introduction didn’t come from Sion but from Marquis Joaquin standing beside him.
King Edgar IV burst into laughter, as if he’d expected it.
“As expected of Marquis Joaquin.
Quick on the uptake, eh?”
“Your Highness.
Is this woman truly the one they call Nudia’s Chess King?”
“Indeed.
I assumed the King was a man, but it turns out to be such a young lady.”
“No way...”
What? What’s this about?
What’s a Chess King?
He knew chess was one of the nobles’ wholesome pastimes in this world.
But “Chess King”? First time hearing it.
“Ahaha!
The marquis is already itching for a game, I see.”
“Ahem.
I’m quite the chess enthusiast, you see.
Miss Ive?
If you’d grace me with a game sometime...”
“If you’d like a match, I’m always happy to oblige.”
The envoy introduction turned into a chess match on the spot.
The king, prince, and princess quickly rearranged their seats. A table followed, then chairs for the players.
Marquis Joaquin laughed heartily, barely containing his glee.
“What an honor.
To face Nudia’s famed Chess King!”
“You flatter me.”
Sion glanced around.
Nearly all the nobles were watching the man and woman with keen curiosity.
Even Marquis Volco was peeking slyly while pretending not to—quite the sight.
‘...I knew chess was part of noble life settings, but not to this extent.
And Nudia’s Chess King? Never mentioned in the main story.’
Of course, Sion had chess experience.
He’d play shogi or chess occasionally when bored, that was all.
From his perspective, both Marquis Joaquin and this Ive were absolute masters.
But apparently, Marquis Joaquin wasn’t quite on her level.
“Urgh...”
Exactly ten minutes into the game.
Marquis Joaquin groaned, unable to move.
Few pieces were lost, but chess turned deadly with just one or two.
He’d tried breaking her castling, but her counterplay sapped his momentum.
Despite being a near-unbeatable player himself.
And with his own nation’s nobles watching—king, prince, princess included—this humiliation was the worst of the worst.
Once trapped, escape was impossible.
Soon after Ive’s attack began, Marquis Joaquin conceded defeat.
Hispania’s master had fallen to Nudia.
“Hmm.”
King Edgar IV stroked his chin and hummed. Some nobles stepped forward.
Beating Ive here wouldn’t just topple Nudia’s Chess King—it’d save face before their own king. Prime opportunity.
‘...To me, they look like they’re about to get utterly crushed.’
If Marquis Joaquin lost that badly, the rest were doomed.
Moments later, King Edgar IV watched Hispania’s nobles get soul-crushed one by one.
“...”
The jovial mood turned awkwardly chilly.
‘Damn, did Nudia plan this?’
Why include a “Chess King” in their envoy?
Defeated in war, twisted insides—maybe petty revenge by sending her.
Not negotiations or protests, just a game against Hispania.
Smashing every challenger with a casual “You put up a good fight.”
Outrage made them seem petty over a game; laughing it off scratched pride.
Safest, surest way for the war-losers to sour Hispania’s mood.
“Whew.”
After demolishing the challengers, Ive glanced around.
A silent taunt: Anyone else?
“...”
Thwack, thwack.
Someone slapped their chest in frustration.
Sion turned to see Vanessa’s expression screaming, ‘This isn’t the scene I wanted.’
She looked ready to keel over from exasperation without a soda infusion.
The perceptive now realized staying out was wiser.
More losses here could half-jokingly brand them traitors.
Knowing this, Sion tried slipping back.
“Young Lord Sion Klauzen.”
Ive called his name, and he reflexively answered.
“Yes?”
“I’d love to witness that brilliant strategy you showed Nudia on this humble board.
Care for a game?”
No.
No way, shit!
I don’t want to!
That wasn’t strategy—it was an obvious trap, and I barely know the ‘ch’ in chess!
Even chess-loving veteran Marquis Joaquin got crushed—Sion’s win odds were like passing the civil service exam.
He planned to refuse to the death, but no one seemed inclined to help.
“Oh, right—we have a hero among us, don’t we?”
“Young Lord Sion!
Accept Nudia’s challenge!”
“Don’t be shy, go on.”
You damn team-killers!
What’s a hero got to do with chess?!
I’m not accepting—no thanks!
Marquis Volco, why keep pushing me?!
Huh?
Before he knew it, Sion sat opposite Ive.
A quick scan: Nobles buzzing like he’d already won. King Edgar IV smiled contentedly, shedding unease. Vanessa stared, eyes sparkling.
Like a verified closer entering a 4-4 tie, bases loaded, one out in the ninth.
‘...We’re screwed.’
No answer.
Hopeless, no matter how you sliced it.
Worse, he couldn’t quit or flee.
Cursing inwardly, Sion moved a piece with an ‘eh, whatever’ shrug.
Imagining a miracle upset against Ive!
‘...In your dreams. No chance.
Fuck!’
Defeat!
Red letters spelling it out.
The mangled board drew sighs from every noble.
Sion Klauzen—crushed more thoroughly than any.
“...”
King Edgar IV closed his eyes.
As if he couldn’t bear the pathetic sight.
‘Image ruined.’
How to salvage this? As he pondered rising—
Ive across from him spoke.
“Young Lord Sion.”
“Yes.”
“One more game?”
“...The match is decided, Miss Ive.”
“You concede without even trying properly?
I may only move pieces, lacking true grasp of vital stratagems, but this is too much.”
“Pardon?”
What’s she saying?
Beat me senseless, now ‘Why didn’t you try?
One more go.’
Some new provocation? Sion stared silently.
She reset pieces and continued.
“I couldn’t believe it at first.
Even with victory, facing a freshly rebuilt army.
Daring to fling wide the gates.
Yet hidden within that boldness: terrifying precision, a razor-sharp edge that chills.
I could never play such a move.”
“...”
“And that’s not all.
There, you replaced dozens of siege weapons with a single lute.
One performance shattered the attackers’ will entirely.”
No, I really know nothing.
Take it up with Zhuge Liang!
“After such spectacle, you dismiss this as meaningless jest?
Please, teach me.”
“...”
He wanted to clutch his face and sigh.
How had rumors warped so badly?
Sion hesitated, scanned around.
Faces downcast from his loss now brightened instantly.
‘We believed in you, Young Lord Sion!
We did, damn it!’—practically audible.
‘...But chess? Seriously no.’
Not acting or face—this demanded pure skill.
How...?
‘Ah.’
Lightning insight struck.
Dark tunnel lit up.
“...No regrets, Miss Ive?”
The young man’s aura shifted.
Soft eyes turned fierce, glinting murderously, sharp as a blade poised to strike.
Ive swallowed hard involuntarily.
“Yes, Young Lord Sion.”
“Very well.”
Sion Klauzen transformed utterly.
Nobles thrilled; Ive tensed.
Vanessa and Lucia’s hearts clenched—fearing another loss.
Silence fell; chess resumed.
Soon, Ive faced the unbelievable.
‘What the—?’
His queen took her pawn.
Sacrificing chess’s core piece for a mere pawn—and parking it right by her king!
‘...Breaking castling?
But tossing the queen is reckless.’
No strategy justified losing the queen—power plummeted.
In chess, queen was paramount; capturing it a straight path to victory.
‘Whatever you’re planning, it won’t be easy.’
Ive moved king to snag the queen.
Sion’s knight slid, bishop checking via opened path, then knight double-checked.
Best to evade; Ive advanced king.
Clack.
Sion’s knight checked again.
Only forward left; Ive nudged king ahead.
Castling broken, but survive this assault—victory hers.
“Check.”
Sion’s pawn menaced her king.
After deliberation, as she moved king—
‘...Huh?’
Chill raced her spine.
No path back.
Only forward—into enemy lines.
Her king—and self—sucked inexorably in.
“Check.
Check.”
Bishop check, move; rook check, move.
‘What... is this?’
It began with seizing the mightiest weapon: queen.
Grab it to win; lose it to fall. Utmost prize.
Seize it, end the war, claim victory—they stepped forth.
But Ive met her king trapped in enemy turf, doomed to惨 death—and herself too.
“Checkmate.”
Sion slid king, rook delivering the final thrust.
“...”
Ive stared blankly at the board.
Speechless spectators.
This from the man slaughtered by Nudia’s Chess King moments ago?
Unbelievable.
Even rewatched—still no.
“...It’s over.”
“...It is.”
Sion and Ive spoke in unison.
“Miss Ive.
Next...”
“My utter defeat.
Witnessing such terrifying plays firsthand, I’ve lost even the courage.
Thank you for broadening my poor insight, Young Lord Sion Klauzen.
I forfeit the rest.”
Rising, Ive bowed deeply.
Feigning calm, but trembling body demanded all her focus.
Perfect plays, perfect defeat.
Chills erupted head to toe.
He’d casually shattered her arrogant “Chess King” title.
As if she were light-years from worthy.
“We’re still 1-1, Miss Ive.”
“...True.”
“Save the decider for when you feel ready.
Sound good?”
Eyes soft again, gentle smile blooming.
A painting of a youth making even foes smile.
Yet harboring stratagems sharper than any blade.
Death sentence for any he targeted.
Lamenting such a man in Hispania, not Nudia—Nudia’s rising star, kingdom’s future chancellor Etelmo Ki Restion’s only daughter, ‘Ive Ki Restion,’ spoke.
“I’ll make sure of it.”
Applause erupted.
All entranced by Sion Klauzen’s masterful display.
Chess fanatic Marquis Joaquin beamed like a child; King Edgar IV chuckled, well pleased.
‘As expected of that man.’
‘As expected of him.’
Vanessa and Lucia smiled, clapped, sharing the thought.
Sion, giver of magic victory, smiled back.
‘YouTube forever!
Hooray!’
Silently praising the ‘red play button’ for that timely chess masterclass recommendation.
――――――――Author’s Note――――――――
Heading back to the hospital for a bit.