Chapter 17
Chapter 17
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 17
Chapter Title: Checkmate Against Jurass
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Clack! Clack!
Chess pieces moved through a silence so tense it made one's skin crawl.
Jurass kept chattering away, either savoring the tension or simply immune to it.
"I personally don't like chess. Bad memories, you see."
"...."
"Heh, not curious why?"
Jurass moved a piece without a care and continued.
"It was when I was eight, I think. My master, who taught me military strategy, introduced me to chess. Naturally, I lost. It was an unwinnable fight."
He'd beaten that master in just a month.
"After that, the way my master looked at me changed. Soon enough, envy crept in. Chess was the trigger, I suppose. He'd realized he was inferior to his disciple in every way. Three years later, he took his own life. And so, I lost my master. Quite the tragic tale, don't you think?"
"Melodramatic nonsense. Feeling outmatched by a child and killing himself."
"Hahaha! I get it. It does sound ridiculous. I thought my master was just lacking. But no."
"?"
"Because I've never lost a chess match since. Among everyone I've faced, he was the strongest."
Some nobles listening shuddered, goosebumps rising.
I sneered and replied.
"That's not the melodramatic part. It's laughable that he saw this level of skill as a wall. Jurass Pamillion. Ever heard of a frog in a well?"
"Hmm, from context, you're saying that's me?"
"You catch on quick."
I declared.
"In exactly 44 moves from now, you'll face your first check."
"...."
"Then eight moves later, another check. And sixteen after that? Checkmate."
"Easy to say."
Jurass smirked, dismissing it as bluff, his relaxed smile intact.
But twenty moves later.
"......"
He fell silent.
Now I had the leisure.
"Well, my predicted check might miss if you're even dumber than I thought."
The banquet hall buzzed. Nobles versed in chess watched in awe.
Finally, the foretold 44th move.
Clack! I brought my knight to the king's throat.
"Check."
Whoaaa!! Cheers erupted in the hall.
The Crossing delegation looked flustered.
"No way. The Prime Minister's on the ropes?"
"No one but Strategist Kaien could even match Jurass..."
I started to curl my lip in mockery, but with the helmet on, no one could see, so I laughed aloud instead.
"Hahaha! You didn't make the stupid mistake of a bad move to dodge my predicted check. Yes, good job. Well done."
"...."
The match was already over. Jurass had no way out.
This was why chess fell to AI so quickly.
Compared to go, chess has fewer possibilities.
With go now conquered by AI, chess is far from endless—its outcome often seals at the start.
Thus, the opening and ensuing middlegame pawn trades are crucial.
I'd played hundreds of games against AI, mastering constants beyond human talent. No matter Jurass's genius, he couldn't compete.
I'd honed my skills against AI that transcended human limits.
Jurass made many errors, lacking grandmaster experience.
Even without that, my superior skill would have secured victory easily.
"Now, let's see your vessel. Will you blunder more to evade my predicted checkmate? Or accept the result? The choice of Ten Heroes' Jurass Pamillion. Intriguing."
"You...!"
Jurass showed anger for the first time.
Because it was a forced dilemma.
Dodging my predicted checkmate with a blunder made him the fool choosing worse over bad; accepting it made him the fool who wouldn't even try to break free.
Either way, a fool's vessel.
Jurass chose the former.
"Checkmate."
"...I lose."
He conceded, accepting my calculation outright.
*
*
*
The chess match ended in my victory.
The crowd's reaction to mercenary Wade's win was pure disbelief.
"Jurass Pamillion—one of the Ten Heroes' leaders—defeated...?"
"Amazing. Truly amazing!"
"A whole other level of chess. Astonishing!"
Jurass's fame for accepting any challenge—and never losing—was legendary.
That reputation shattered.
To a mere mercenary, no less.
"Rematch?"
Jurass demanded with blazing eyes.
I replied slyly.
"What's the stake?"
"Stake...?"
"I've already taken your offered slave, haven't I? Time for something new. Like that left arm you bragged about...!"
"...!"
Jurass flinched at my threat.
He knew a rematch held slim odds for him.
Too risky to bet his arm.
"Insolent! How dare a mercenary spout such nonsense at Lord Jurass!"
"Quiet, Kiam."
"But Lord Jurass...!"
"I said quiet. Don't make me repeat it."
"M-My apologies."
Jurass's demeanor shifted.
He pointed at Eonia.
"What you and Illya Anpei want is Eonia Mirabel anyway. If you win again, I'll throw in this Pensilon lackey too. How's that?"
Handing over the protagonist?
Honestly, that gave me pause.
Eonia was fine—no main story ties—but the protagonist?
Als, meant to be the protagonist's retainer, enslaving him instead?
The story wouldn't just derail; it'd plunge into chaos and horror.
All the plot I knew would vanish.
'I should decline this match.'
Duke Helian intervened right on cue.
"That's enough. Both of you—don't ruin the party further."
He declared the slave auction over.
"Jurass Pamillion, no more rudeness. Take your slaves and leave."
"...Fine. I don't enjoy souring the mood on purpose."
"You've already ruined it, is what I'm saying."
"Heh, my apologies then. I'll withdraw. Take the slaves as promised—no charge. Consider it apology and goodwill."
"Hmph, take potential spies so eagerly?"
"Decide for yourselves..."
Jurass took only the protagonist and left the hall.
Eonia Mirabel was released as agreed.
"Eonia!"
Illya-sensei grabbed her hand, overjoyed at her safety.
Eonia stood dumbfounded, never dreaming Jurass would lose.
Now what?
I'd had no choice to save my master, but things had escalated.
*
*
*
After the match with Jurass, I hurried from the hall.
Staying meant getting unmasked.
With mercenary guild contacts and sensei's help, I escaped and sighed deeply.
"Master, promise me one thing. If anything like this happens again, consult me first before deciding. I know a warrior's pride matters, but so does pragmatism. Let me steer it best I can—trust and talk to me."
"Heh, alright. Sounds good. I'll do that next time."
"Master?"
"I knew you were good at chess, but beating Jurass? I prided myself on accurately seeing you as a clever kid, but I was wrong. You're something even more special."
Sensei patted my shoulder proudly.
*Why the shoulder, not the head?* Then I remembered the helmet.
Confirming no eyes around, I removed it and dropped the altered voice.
"Whew! Thought I'd suffocate. Fine for battlefield blood spray, but indoors? Torture."
"What...!"
Eonia's eyes widened at my revealed face.
"Why is a child...?"
"I'm of age this year—adult recognized, though no ceremony yet. Anyway, introductions? Als Chasing Ilrain."
"E-Eonia Mirabel. No... just Mirabel."
*Why the sudden formality?*
Anyway. Time to decide Eonia's fate.
Too famous to place carelessly. Jurass might have her tailed.
Sensei offered a clean solution.
"Whether fortunate or not, Eonia's burn-scarred face is unrecognizable now."
"True..."
"So treat gradually, altering her looks bit by bit."
"Possible?"
"Should be. Knew a similar case. Can't become someone else entirely, but changing features? Doable."
Of course, she'd hide her name for now.
She accepted readily.
"I'm as good as dead from a year ago. Hiding my name's nothing. Besides... I'd do anything to repay your grace."
"Grace? Don't sweat it. I dueled Jurass to save Master—your fate was irrelevant. Live the life you want now."
"Yes, I will. ...My lance, once broken, shall follow your will and aim at foes' throats again. Please allow me to serve at your side."
"Good grief."
Eonia's gaze met mine—straight, fierce.
My head throbbed.
*This mirrors the oath to the protagonist.*
Felt even stronger. In-game, it was comradeship; this was lord-vassal fealty.
Me—not the protagonist—receiving an SSR character's loyalty oath.
I'd joked about my aides as seven vassals, but now it was real.
Still, no main story ties, so I'd rationalize it.