Chapter 74
Chapter 74
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 74
Chapter Title: Deliberate Defeat
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It was sloppy.
It was an aggressive move that properly countered Helen's hand, just like before.
A move that defended against her hand while laying the groundwork for the next turn's attack—a cunning ploy full of elaborate schemes.
It was similar to the move Max had made when he first faced her.
A move perfect in both offense and defense.
Yet, strangely, it lacked that initial overwhelming pressure.
'Something feels light.'
Up until now, Max's moves had anticipated not just the immediate next move, but ten exchanges ahead.
To Helen, who understood one to imply ten, it was clear how deep the enlightenment behind Max's moves had been.
Moves that blocked all possibilities—utterly unreasonable.
That's why she had felt like she was hitting a wall.
A defense so perfect it seemed impossible to breach in that short time.
But the move Max made now...
'It's just checking the immediate next move—nothing more.'
If the person in front of her weren't Max, anyone else would have been astonished at what a brilliant defense it was.
It was sharp enough to earn admiration from most chess masters, but it was a completely different kind of attack from the Max she knew.
'What is he thinking?'
Had her concentration slipped?
No.
That couldn't be.
There was no way a genius illusion mage like him would lose focus in a game of this level.
She was playing chess naked, with lewd devices attached all over her body, but Max wasn't.
There was no way a man who could design and operate illusion magic for so long without strain would lose focus here.
'Is he underestimating me?'
He must think that because he'd won so far, he could take her lightly now.
Helen gritted her teeth.
Max's actions, which wounded her pride, filled her with humiliation.
Bzzz.
Her concentration wavered from the nonstop vibrations of the rotor and vibrator.
"Hnng...."
As the vibrations hit again, Helen let out a faint moan.
A subtle wave of pleasure rose through her central nervous system, making her head fuzzy as it ebbed and flowed.
Her body swayed like it had been struck by crashing waves.
It felt as if the rotor and vibrator were urging her not to think complicated thoughts anymore.
"Where'd the chess player go?"
Max asked with a smile.
"...Teacher, you...."
"What's wrong?"
"You're... going easy on me on purpose, right?"
"No way. We've only just made the first move. I'm always serious when I play."
She couldn't waste more time on this kind of small talk.
Fine.
'Since it's come to this, I'll win as fast as possible and end this humiliation.'
She just needed to win and get his apology.
That's why she'd come here in the first place.
Ever since seeing Max's illusion, her surging lust had kept her from focusing on classes or exam prep.
She'd come to hold him accountable for that.
To vent her stress by chewing him out and feel some relief.
"Haa, haa."
To feel relief.
'I have to win.'
The various machines teasing her pleasure like an itch distracted her thoughts.
Her mind felt foggy, like a mist had settled over it.
'Hurry, next move....'
The moment she made her next move.
Tap!
Max placed his piece immediately.
Another sloppy defense.
Gaps everywhere.
Helen made her next move without hesitation.
Tap!
"Hngh!"
Each time she placed a piece, her breasts jiggled, the rotor stimulating a new spot.
Her body trembled from the subtle sensations creeping in.
As she endured the stimulation and kept placing pieces, Helen's momentum began to build bit by bit.
After a few favorable trades, Helen had several more pieces than Max.
The tide had turned in her favor.
Just two more moves, and it would end in Helen's victory.
All that remained of Max's pieces was one pawn.
But Helen still had five pawns, a knight, a bishop each, two mages, and even her queen.
An overwhelmingly dominant board.
Her mind was too foggy to even question why Max had suddenly grown so weak.
That was...
"Hngh! So goood...."
Because of the various devices still stimulating her body everywhere.
Helen stared at the board, twitching and shuddering, feeling a pang of regret.
Why?
Why regret?
Victory was so close now.
There was no reason to feel regret.
She should be happy.
Max would soon kneel before her.
With victory right there, feeling regret?
'Regret that it's ending like this?'
Why?
What was the reason?
'Because it can't feel any better than this.'
Helen desperately denied the conclusion her brilliant mind had reached.
No way.
There's no way I'd enjoy this humiliating situation.
Tap.
She made her next move.
One move to victory.
Max would make his next move now.
As she watched to see what he would do.
Max opened his mouth without picking up a chess piece.
"It's almost over now. Helen really is a genius, isn't she?"
"...What?"
"You've kept growing with every game, haven't you?"
"I've grown?"
"Yes. You've gotten closer to victory with each challenge."
"Don't... make me laugh. I know that's not true."
"It's not?"
"You're just playing sloppy."
"No way. I was completely serious. It's just that your desire to win reached through this game."
Max smiled, picked up his pawn, and tapped it.
Even knowing it was a lie, she couldn't deny his words.
No, she didn't want to deny them.
He was her teacher.
Teachers don't lie to their students.
"If I place this pawn, it'll pretty much be over. Congratulations. This will be the first time Helen beats me."
I win?
I beat Teacher Max?
Her head heated up at those words.
"What should the dialogue be? Have you thought of something?"
"......"
Helen couldn't answer.
Nothing came to mind.
She'd come for an apology, but now she couldn't properly recall why he should apologize.
"Hnngh!"
The trembling pleasure from her body took priority over thinking of apology lines.
"Right. If I lose this time, I was supposed to praise the greatness of the Silvesta family."
Was that it?
Ah, yes.
That's right.
She had wanted to feel good receiving an apology from Max for daring to insult her family.
Then she'd be relieved and could focus more on her exams.
"But if I win, Helen becomes the tester for the improved illusion magic circle. Too bad. The new circle is so fantastic even elves would be enchanted."
"......"
"You could test it after exams, of course. Though it might be hard to use the test version by then. I'll have other customers instead."
Max's voice echoed in her head.
Can't?
If she wins here, she won't get to see Max's illusion video?
"Congratulations. Let's finish it."
Tap.
Max moved his pawn.
One bishop to capture the king, and it was all over.
Just one simple move left.
She could end it all.
Receive his apology and end it.
Just one move.
Flick one finger, and it's done.
But curiosity kept tripping her up.
That "improved illusion magic" even elves were enchanted by—the words kept tangling in her mind.
What kind of video was it to enchant an elf?
What's in it?
No test version later?
Helen picked up her bishop.
Place it where it can capture the helpless king, and it's over.
Say "checkmate" after placing it in the perfect spot, and she'd get Max's apology.
An apology for harming the Silvesta prestige.
But...
'What good is an apology?'
Even if he praised her family's greatness, it didn't mean she was great.
Max wasn't losing to her real skill.
She was just playing into his deliberate concession.
A blindfolded victory—nothing more than feeling good about that.
It was hesitation someone like Helen, who thought her family was everything she had, would never have considered.
'But if I lose...'
She could see the video.
Max would show it to her.
Even knowing that, declaring defeat was hard.
It was the last shred of her pride.
As Helen agonized without finding resolve, Max's voice reached her ears.
"Too bad. I actually wanted to force you to watch the video, even if I had to make you."
Those words stabbed straight to her heart.
He wanted to make her watch it, even by force.
Just once wouldn't hurt, right?
It wasn't her asking.
Max was forcing her.
He'd begged her to do it if she lost.
It wasn't her request.
It wouldn't ruin a noble's pride.
It was unavoidable.
It was unavoidable.
Helen moved the bishop in her hand.
Not to the spot that could strike the king's neck.
"......"
Max's pawn was now within range to kill it immediately.
She'd practically offered the bishop's neck herself.
Max, seeing the bishop placed as if begging to be eaten, asked,
"Helen, right now..."
"I. Made. A. Mis. Take."
Awkward acting tone.
Anyone could see it was deliberate.
"......"
"No takebacks."
"Got it."
Max's pawn captured the bishop.
"Oops."
Then it captured the knight.
"Another mistake...."
It captured the mage, then the queen, and the pawn that reached the end became a new queen.
"Hnngh! The pleasure made it hard to focus...."
And the moment her king bared its neck before that queen.
"I lost."
Helen put the last remaining leash from the tools beside the board around her own neck and said,
"Punish this foolish student who couldn't beat her teacher."
The defeated lady's eyes were hazily unfocused.