The Grandmaster of Go

The strongest of humanity versus "We know how full of holes your intelligence department is." "You probably know how we got our hands on that weapon too, right?" "Is it really okay to drag things out like this?" It was a short meeting. Light conversation continued to flow back and forth after that. The moment both she and I confirmed the balance of power, there was no longer any need to prolong the talks. We both instinctively knew. Neither of us was an opponent to be trifled with.

'It's best not to fight right now.' 'At least, not yet.' This was war, not a street brawl. War wasn't just about crushing your opponent. There was always a price to pay. A single soldier, a single grain of food—every moment incurred a loss. One had to weigh the gains ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠against the losses they were willing to endure. That was the absolute basic of warfare. If it could be avoided, it should be.

I was in a position where morale was high, but actually engaging in battle was out of the question. She, harboring suspicions that this entire situation might be a trap, was trying to make a cautious retreat. As the meeting concluded and she rose from her seat to leave the tent, I quietly spoke up.

"Lady Sarne."

Her footsteps halted. Then, slowly, she turned her head.

"What is it?"

I quietly set down the teacup I was holding. Clack. The soft sound echoed inside the tent. On the outside, my movements were relaxed and deliberate. But the reality was entirely different. If the meeting ended like this, we would inevitably spend at least a month locked in a war of nerves on the Krang Plains. And the Elium Kingdom's army was currently in a position where we had to avoid even that kind of psychological warfare.

Tens of thousands of soldiers. The amount of provisions poured out daily to feed them was beyond imagination. We simply did not have the resources to sustain this. This war had to be concluded as quickly as possible. The one with the luxury of time was the Franz Kingdom. Given enough time, she would eventually realize this fact. So, before that happened. At this very moment, when we both perceived each other as equals, I had to bring this meeting to a decisive conclusion.

Maintaining a calm expression to keep my true thoughts hidden, I spoke. "Would you care to play a game with me?"

The moment those words left my mouth, the air inside the tent shifted. A brief silence ensued. Then, Sarne's eyes slowly narrowed.

"...A game?" She let out a cute chuckle. It was a light, airy laugh, like someone who had just heard something utterly absurd. "Pfft, that was a good joke." She shook her head slightly. "I'll pretend I didn't hear that, just this once. Let us return."

With leisurely steps, she slowly walked toward the exit. Just as the tent flap was pushed halfway open, I spoke again. I really didn't want to resort to this, but...

"By any chance—" I paused briefly, then smoothly continued. "Are you getting cold feet?"

Her footsteps ground to a sudden halt. The half-opened tent flap fell shut. When Sarne turned back around, her eyes were glowing red, piercing right through me.

"...Ho. 'Cold feet,' is it? They use quite interesting expressions in the Elium Kingdom." "It certainly gets the point across. Though, of course, it doesn't bother me in the slightest." She smiled slowly. It was an awkward expression, a mix of feigned composure, anger, and nonchalance. "Provoking an Elder Dwarf... It really has been a while. I don't hate it. It's refreshing." She narrowed her eyes and said, "Though I cannot tell if it stems from arrogance or genuine confidence."

I shrugged, brushing it off. A provocation of this level was nothing. Perhaps slightly irked by my reaction, her gaze sharpened. In a tone that carried a hint of rising irritation, she spoke first.

"Seeing as you brought up a game, you must have something you want... So? What is it that you actually want?"

I maintained my calm, calculated tone. "Remaining stationed on these plains is a losing proposition for both of us." "Withdrawing offers no face, yet waging an all-out war would incur massive losses." "That is why... I would like to make a proposal."

Sarne quietly stared straight at me. She didn't move. The fact that she hadn't left the tent was proof enough that my words had piqued her interest. I did not miss the opportunity.

"Let's make a wager. If you win the game, the Elium Kingdom's army will withdraw from the Krang Plains immediately." The moment those words fell, the air in the tent froze. A quiet murmur rippled through the officers.

"...What did you say?" Sarne's voice was low and quiet, but it carried an undeniable tremor of shock. Unperturbed, I continued. "Conversely, if I win, the Franz Kingdom's army will halt its offensive and withdraw back to its homeland."

Sarne stared at me intently, trying to read my intentions. But it was futile. She wouldn't find a single clue on my face.

After all, I had kept the skill active from the very moment I stepped into the tent.

A long silence. Then, a beat late, her reply came. "...You're risking the fate of nations on a mere game?"

I offered a gentle smile and nodded. "To call it a mere game... isn't this wager quite disadvantageous to us?" "Besides, we weren't the ones who started this war in the first place."

The corner of her mouth twitched. "...You're insane."

"I hear that often."

Sarne stared at me in silence for a long while before shaking her head as if giving up. "I don't get you. At all. It's like looking at the clan elders." Sarne quietly pulled up a chair and sat down across from me. "Fine. Let's do it. A game."

"But you don't mind if I choose the game, do you?" Tilting her head slightly, she smirked and threw my own words back at me. "By any chance, are you getting cold feet?" It was a teasing tone, clearly meant as payback.

I replied cheerfully and naturally. "Of course not." In this wager, I had nothing to lose whether I won or lost. Even if we just withdrew without shedding a single drop of blood, it would be a success. Ultimately, the moment she accepted this proposal, I had already won.

Sarne emptied her teacup. "Prepare to meet your maker, human." "It's been a while since... I've gone all out." She smiled faintly and said, "The game will be Baduk. Let's play Go."

"And with stakes like this, it's no fun. Let's raise the bet ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠a little." Setting down her teacup, she continued. "If I lose, I will give you ten thousand spare sets of Franz-made weapons and armor." Her gaze locked onto me. "Are you getting cold feet?" ...It seemed she was really obsessed with that phrase.

So, I shot right back. "Deal. In return, we will wager provisions of equivalent value." The moment those words left my mouth, the faces of the Franz Kingdom's officers lit up, while the Elium Kingdom's side fell into a dark, heavy silence. I remained unshaken by the atmosphere.

Sarne Kroi. Commander of the Franz Kingdom's legion. And a dwarf who had reached the rank of 'Grandmaster' in Go. Elder Dwarves alone could overwhelm humans with their sheer gaming prowess. Yet even among them, she was the unrivaled strongest when it came to Go. Normally, unless one was a complete fool, they would never accept this game. Therefore—

"Let's add ten thousand gold coins on top of that." I slowly looked at her and threw down my final card. "By any chance, are you getting cold feet?" Her expression faltered in bewilderment, but she quickly growled in a low voice, "Deal. Ten thousand gold coins."

Her response carried more than just simple pride. It was a mixture of displeasure toward a strange challenger entering her domain, racial pride, and an innate competitive drive for the game. Unlike moments ago, she put immense weight into her gaze and every single word. "I have never lost a single game of Go in my entire life. Do not regret this." Hearing that, I slowly, almost imperceptibly, let the corner of my mouth curl upward.

There was one thing she didn't know. "Regret? We shall see." I took a quiet breath. Then, I activated all the latent skills I had been holding back. The concept was from the movie The Divine Move.

In that instant, my posture shifted. Slowly, but with absolute precision. Like an actor stepping onto a grand stage, every fingertip and every breath moved ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠with refined grace. My shoulders squared silently, and my eyes grew as cold as a blade reflecting the night sky. Within them, there was no anxiety, no hesitation. Only one thing remained: an overwhelming certainty of victory. I transformed into the very image of a grandmaster who had dedicated his entire life to the single pursuit of Go.

Sarne faltered, taken aback by the aura radiating from me. Looking directly into her eyes, I spoke. "I happen to have some confidence in Go myself. It seems I will be the one to break that undefeated streak of yours today." Sarne's pupils trembled slightly. Though she quickly regained her composure.

Of course, I didn't actually know how to play Go. I barely knew a few basic openings. The acting skill only allowed me to portray the character; it didn't magically grant me the actual skills. It merely made me look like a 'Go Grandmaster' on the outside. But that didn't really matter. I simply trusted the power I possessed.

'You've got this, right?' From within, a familiar voice answered.

This was also my ability. Anyway.

'Just win. Don't give me unnecessary explanations.'

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

I let out a small chuckle. "Then, let us play, Sarne Kroi."

'Jiri. Crush her.'

I heard that in some other universe, a thousand-year-old Go ghost possessed some kid—damn it. How frustrating. All I have is a lousy AI.