The Checkmate of the Heart
Erasion Academy did not have a concept of being late. Or rather, it didn't allow for the possibility.
“Get out here.”
The voice, dripping with murderous intent, accompanied a series of knocks so powerful it felt like the dormitory door might shatter. It was a special service provided by the dorm inspector for students who failed to emerge despite three rounds of alarms.
Thud. Thud.
“I said get out here, now.”
To anyone listening, it sounded like he’d come to commit a murder.
“…Yes.”
I’d stayed up until dawn obsessing over chess, so I’d expected this, but I’d overslept nonetheless. As a result, a very kind inspector was currently knocking on my door as if he intended to demolish it.
I stretched my stiff body and stood up. “…I’m exhausted.”
Thud, thud, thud.
The brutal knocking continued.
“Are you up?”
Please, don’t say it in that voice. It gives me the creeps.
I forced myself to get dressed and opened the door. Sure enough, a man with a sturdy build was standing there with his arms crossed, looking down at me.
“Lutes, it’s been a while since I’ve had to give you a wake-up call. You were a frequent visitor back in your first year.”
The dorm inspector, Yulian. As a former knight who had served in the northern regions, he possessed a rugged, muscular physique even years after his retirement. He was kind and good-natured, but… his face and build were always terrifying to behold.
Perhaps it was because he’d spent his time in the north crushing the skulls of invaders with those very hands and fists, but I always felt like there was blood staining them.
“I’m sorry.”
“Haha, don’t be sorry. You’re up now, so that’s all that matters.”
As I mentioned earlier, our academy didn’t have a concept of being late. You either arrived on time, or you were marked absent.
If you were marked absent, you ended up having a very "sincere" conversation with the dorm inspector, so people naturally stopped trying to be late.
“Get going quickly. We don’t have all day.”
“Yes.”
His heavy hand struck my back, and I felt myself being shoved forward.
As I walked down the stairs, I looked out the window.
‘Lunch.’
That was the time I’d promised to play chess with Eline. Among the Alpha Class students, Valrod was the only one I had any rapport with, and even he was a formidable player who had given me quite a hard time. And now, Eline.
Just how good would she be? I really didn't want to embarrass myself.
“Get out within five minutes! There’s no time!”
The booming voice of Yulian echoed from behind, and my pace quickened on its own.
***
When I arrived at the lecture hall, I felt even more gazes on me than yesterday. Perhaps the rumors had truly begun to spread, as it was now common for students to glance at me as they passed.
If it had only been one or two people, I might have felt self-conscious and looked away, but since the majority were staring, some even met my eyes quite brazenly.
“You’re quite the popular star, aren't you? It’s a bit burdensome to sit next to you.”
Edgar, who had just dropped his bag onto the seat next to mine, said with a sly grin.
“Then go sit somewhere else.”
“I’m joking, I’m joking.”
With a playful look, Edgar sat down and whistled. “Look at those stares. Isn't it a bit too blatant?”
As he began to scan the room with his signature sharp eyes, several students quietly began to avert their gazes.
“They can’t even meet your eyes properly.”
“Look at your own eyes, man. Who wouldn’t look away?”
His intense red hair and the scar across his cheek gave him the appearance of a typical thug. Because of that sharp, intimidating look, he was often misunderstood. Once you got close to him, though, he was a total comedian…
“Look at those glares. People can date, you know. Why are they so curious?”
“…I don’t think that’s something to say, considering you tortured me by twisting my arm the other day.”
“Is that so?”
Edgar, who had nonchalantly pulled his hands from his pockets, toyed with his red hair.
“I was surprised, though. I thought for sure you’d get rejected.”
So did I.
“Well, you succeeded, so what can you do? I’ve gotta support you.”
He looked like a total delinquent, but he had such a soft, sentimental heart—that was his charm. When he said something so heartwarming, it was impossible not to feel touched.
“Ross’s expression has been quite a sight lately. Come see him at lunch.”
“At lunch?”
“Why, do you have another appointment?”
“Yeah.”
As I nodded, Edgar let out a light sigh.
“You’re very proactive.”
Edgar patted my shoulder as if he were proud. “Hey, don’t go abandoning us completely, alright? That’d be sad.”
He chuckled and opened his book. His tone was teasing, but I didn't sense any malice, so I didn't say anything else.
Creak.
As soon as the front door of the lecture hall opened, the noisy chatter and the gazes directed at me vanished. Since the door opening at this time meant the professor had arrived.
“Now, good morning, everyone.”
Professor Luteon, who always handled the morning classes, began the lecture with a light piece of advice.
“You’re all third-years now, and it’s wonderful to see such enthusiasm. It gives me energy as well.”
Of course, Edgar, sitting right next to me, was already lying down and falling asleep.
“This is a time that won’t last forever, so I hope you think deeply so you have no regrets.”
The easygoing professor finished his greeting and began writing the lecture content on the blackboard. Regrets, huh… Well, at this age, it was the time to be agonizing over one’s career and future. And it had always been a story unrelated to me.
‘…’
For some reason, an uncomfortable feeling stirred in the corner of my heart. But I didn't want to dwell on it.
***
Walking down the hallway after the lecture ended, Edgar asked with interest.
“So, that chess match with Eline…”
“Are you coming to watch?”
“Forget it. I’m not that oblivious.”
He headed down the hall to meet Ross, and I made my way to the library.
How many minutes had I walked? As I entered the Central Library, the largest and most magnificent of the academy’s libraries, a massive ancient tree stood in the center.
‘It’s always impressive to look at.’
The branches stretching out from the massive tree were each designed like a separate floor, adding to its elegance. As it was a library, there were plenty of archives for reading, but given its scale, it was also filled with various other facilities.
The place I was looking for was the Haneulnari Branch on the second floor. It was a comfortably prepared resting area where one could talk without feeling pressured, and many people gathered there to enjoy their leisure time.
‘Eline isn’t here yet.’
Thinking that, I sat in my usual spot, took out the chessboard, and set up the pieces.
Hoo.
No sooner had I loosened my hands and finished setting up the pieces than a figure walked toward me. I looked up, and sure enough, it was her. Eline.
The sight of her bathed in the sunlight filtering through the leaves on the ceiling felt like something entirely new.
“Have you been waiting long?”
“No, I just got here too.”
I shook my head and pointed to the seat, and Eline sat down. She began to slowly scan the pieces neatly arranged in front of her.
The look in her eyes, as if she were calculating something, made me nervous.
‘Is she already formulating a strategy?’
Then, she looked up at me.
“Lutes.”
“Yeah?”
“Are you tired, by any chance?”
“…No?”
“You look tired under your eyes.”
Ah.
Was it that obvious that I’d overslept?
“I’m fine. I just didn’t sleep well last night.”
I didn’t want to say why I hadn’t slept well. Eline looked at me for a moment and then nodded. Was she saying she understood?
‘Or maybe she knows and is just choosing not to say anything.’
Either way, I felt grateful for her consideration.
“Then, shall we begin?”
“Yes.”
Eline nodded and chose her side. I took the black pieces, she took the white, and the game finally began.
“I look forward to it, Eline.”
No sooner had I finished speaking than Eline grabbed a piece with her hand, moved it forward quietly, and the match started.
…I see.
‘Just how good is she?’
I held my trembling heart and decided to watch her development. The first move was standard, and I responded accordingly.
Tap.
Tap.
As the moves progressed, I realized something. She was incredibly well-versed in opening theory and played by the book. I was impressed, thinking as expected, as she moved her pieces in a way that mimicked the most standard theories found in textbooks.
‘She’s good.’
Even though the moves were overly theoretical and basic, they proved just how knowledgeable she was. I began to play with even more tension.
“…”
Tap.
Tap.
And then.
‘Huh?’
Something was strange. Eline had played by the book up until the early development, but as soon as we entered the mid-game where the real battle began, things started to falter.
‘She’s moving like that from here?’
At first, I wondered if there was something I didn’t know because her move was so confident, but when I couldn't see any reason for it, I simply captured her piece. And there was truly nothing there.
“…”
Even when I focused again, thinking it must have been a mistake.
Tap.
‘…?’
Another mistake.
And then, the mistakes just kept coming. How should I put it? It felt like Eline was self-destructing without me having to use any complex strategies at all. At first, I thought it was a fairly tight game, but as the match went on, one thought began to form.
‘No, that can’t be right.’
However, the thought I’d dismissed as groundless became clearer the further the game progressed. The knight she’d placed confidently after much deliberation was captured immediately, and her advancing pawns vanished as her formation crumbled.
About 10 minutes after the match had started. Only Eline’s king and two pawns remained pitifully on the board, while the rest were occupied and proudly stood by my black pieces.
Yes, now I was certain.
‘Eline…’
That Eline was… bad.
At chess… she was really bad.
“…”
“…”
I moved my piece slowly, and eventually, her king was completely surrounded.
“Checkmate.”
As the game ended with my calm declaration, only silence hung between us. It was a game I’d played with such tension, but because it had ended so one-sidedly, I didn’t even know what to say.
“…Good game.”
In the end, I said it as casually as I could and quickly cleared the chessboard. To erase this miserable war as quickly as possible.
Yeah, well, she probably just made mistakes because she hadn’t played in a while. I thought that if it were Eline, she wouldn’t pay it much mind, just saying, “You’re good,” or “I made a mistake.”
‘Should I play one more?’
Thinking that, as I slowly cleared the pieces.
“…Ugh.”
“?”
I looked up instinctively at the sound I’d heard for the first time in my life. And I saw a sight I hadn’t expected at all. Eline was bowing her head, avoiding my gaze. As if she were embarrassed.
‘Huh?’
I was flustered because it was the first time I’d seen her reveal such intense emotion.
“Eline?”
When I called her name, she flinched and slowly raised her head. Her cheeks were flushed, her lips bitten as if in shame, and her faintly trembling blue eyes were looking at me.
“Are you… okay?”
Was my question the catalyst? She nodded faintly, but slowly opened her mouth.
“…Again.”
“What?”
She said in a voice barely above a whisper.
“Let’s play again…”