Vol 1 Chapter 3 (1/2)

Chapter 3

Expert/Expert

Part 1

Evening— King City, Elchea The hall

At the time when the majority of the crowd had already believed that the selection of the king

was co to a conclusion

In front of the throne, a s opposite sides around it were placed

The spectators that packed the hall focused their attention on one of the seated people

—Leaning against the table, expressionlessly crossing her ar a black veil draped over

her head, rese an aura as if she were dead, was a tall black

haired girl—

Yesthe one who cheated to eliirl

An oldofficial said

”—Then, this person— Kurami Zell remains victorious in the electionare there any other

challengers?” Although there was lots of noise and clattering in the hall, evidently there was no

one with the look of a challenger That was norames so far—

Kurami

By now, those who believed that someone could still defeat her didn't exist anymore

Kurami closed her eyes to this fact, and added a non-einal deadpan

expression Since it was like this, the old man added

”—Then, co's last words, Kura of

Elchea If you have any objections, please stand up Otherwise, remain silent—”

”Ah, yes, yes Objection! Objection, we have an objection~!”

The phrase resounded throughout the hall, interrupting the old irl—

Kurami, opened her eyes

All eyes in the noisy hall converged at the direction from which the sound came from

A butler, along with a white-haired girl— Sora and shi+ro, stood up and raised their hands ”Yes,

yes I have an objection, we both have an objection”

”Un”

”Who's that?”

With her blank expression, Kuraht fell behind the two people ”—Stephanie

Dora'sservants?”

Standing behind those tas Stephanie, whose shoulders were shaking Still devoid of

expression, yet with a slightlytone, she said

”—Since you lost to ible for the election, you sent your servants? What a

shameful act, isn't it”

However, towards Kurauised look of contempt Sora only smiled and

replied while walking to her

”Ahahaha, that sentence, you're not in any position to say that” ”—What do you mean, eh”

”Well, to tell you the truth, I don't really give a da's

throne, it's not really my cup of tea, you know”

Sora scratched his head, saying the sa Kurami

narrowed her eyes

”In that case, can you please disappear? This is not a place where you can play around

with children”

Sora started laughing— with a ”But”, he narrowed his eyes

”It's neither a position you can give to soth from other

countries' right?” The city interior started stirring up due to this sentence

— Strength fro were filtered out

With sound audible only to shi+ro, Sora whispered

”—Is it there?”

What was in shi+ro's hand was the phone Sora used to shoot yesterday at the bar

Identifying the photo displayed on the screen, there were people ere recognizable in this

hall ”Four people”

shi+ro answered

”Aside frouy who hid his ears?” ”One person”

”Bingo Then point her out with this current opportunity” ”Un”

Steph leaned forward and asked the siblings ere currently discussing ”Heythis,

what is going on? What thing about another country's strength?” Steph quietly whispered in

Sora's ear, and Sora replied to her clueless expression, ”You still don't get it? Well, for example?

For example—”

It turned loud

”Conspiring with elves, using , and

finishi+ng this country once and for all!”

Fear started to le with the commotion in the hall

Gazing at this scene, Sora confirmed that no one had really noticed this truth

”But then, if such a major problem wasn't even noticed, perhaps the defeat of the

human race is a natural outcome”

”—Hey, you”

Kura that and walked towards Sora

The expressionless face that was concealed by the veil exuded out a unique sense of coercion

”Are you trying to say that I used ic to cheat?”

”Don't be like that; didn't I say 'For example'? Or did I really hit the mark?” However, that sense

of coercion wasn't even acknowledged in the slightest

Sora carefreely ignored that kind of pressure, and still carried a very blatant provocation This

should be based on what he has absolute confidence in

”—Fine Since you have an objection, I'll take it as you want to play a game now?” ”Fineeee~

It's a great help for you to do that~♪ But—”

Then, Sora interrupted Kura the poker cards

”Since it is a poker game— wouldn't it be better if you first dismissed your partner over there?”

Afterwards, as if responding to Sora's sers

The commotion suddenly calmed down, and the attention of the crowd became concentrated on

the direction of that finger

Kura in their faces

That se— was easily seen as a sufficient lethal point ”— What are you

talking about, eh?”

”Ah, really? Then, could souy's hat?”

Even though the accusedaudience eventually removed his

hat Two ears were exposed

—Often seen in fantasy stories— yes, the long ears of elves Is, Isn't that guy from the elf race?

Chatter chatter

Hey heythen, it really was exactly what that guy said— Chatter chatter

That bitch, used ic to cheat!?

”Aye aye, this glao and assist your friend?”

Ridiculed by Sora, Kurami's expression remained undaunted

”—Don't ain, I don't understand what you are trying to say”

”Ah~really Then throwing hiht?”

Grinning, Sora waved his hands with a 'Hush hush' as if trying to drive out that elf-like man

After that, he turned to face Kuraain, and retrieved out another one— shi+ro's phone ”Okay,

then we should start playing the poker ht?”

While holding the cellphone to use, Sora laughed and said

—A few seconds of silence

Kurami with her usual deadpan, shut her eyes and said

”I see So you conspired with that Elf to make me look as an Enemy of humanity that cheated

with ht?”

”Ah, a splendid excuse Or, did you prepare it beforehand?” Kura the further

provocation fronity”

Reht from beneath her veil, as if to

penetrate through Sora

”If you wish, you may chase off that Elf to wherever you like Then— on't let any cheats

intervene, and deames”

But that proposal was exactly what Sora had envisioned, so he smiled frivolously and said

”Well~ Article 5 of 'Ten Oaths' , the challenged party has the right to decide the contents of the

gaive up on poker this tientle for

not getting to the botto that, he ai a

picture with a 'Kacha'

”Henic, huh? It would be lovelier if you could smile a little”

Finishi+ng, Sora showed the display screen to Kurami

What he got back was a glare filled with killing intent, but Sora merely made eye contact with

her without faltering

—An observant eye that could see through anything

Kura in her body—

Part 2

Kuraht from her house that could demonstrate

one's true strength She si city

On the other hand, Sora and the others were in the castle's atriu bathed in

sunset Sitting on a bench, both Sora and shi+ro fiddled with their phones while awaiting

Glancing around from time to time

Confir that there was no one in the vicinity, Steph excitedly inquired Sora ”—The, then, I, I

was being cheated with ht!?”

”Your, voice, too loud”

Steph was carrying an ”I did not understand” kind of expression

—But, she finally understood the truth behind the cheat that defeated her

Moreover, the cheat had soic, so towards this point, it was

co so else, replied absently

”Yeah, yeahbut to be ic of her Elf partner” ”Wha- what kind

of ic was it?”

In the end, what kind of ic was used,

In addition, the only huh that facade was Sora

Moreover, the tere constantly concerned about the tools they wereTools

froic?

Waiting for the ansith expectant eyes, the reply Sora gave to Steph was ”Who knows? I

have absolutely no clue”

—This answer that co the dismayed and

silent Steph, Sora dismissively replied

”This was indeed a clever cheat Back in the pub, I noticed that during the battle with that guy,

the hand that she collected was just too obvious shi+ro and I immediately spotted that out”

”Was shi+ro, who noticed that”

”What a fussy little sister ehbut it doesn't matter”

—Yesterday, on the first floor of the hotel/tavern

Outside the tavern, in the ame between Steph and Kurami

Coincidentally playing poker too, si cheats, Sora was convinced of his assertions

towards the game inside

However—

”If you want to ask me how that happened, I certainly have no reason to know After all, I know

nothing about things related to ic”

””

Listening to the casual remark from Sora, Steph's half-opened mouth was frozen

”Ahh, ' or 'Rewriting the fold' can't be proven,

then winning is iic, then they can only be aware of it

when it co”

”—Wait”

Resurrecting from the petrochemical state, Steph shook her head and asked ”Wait a moment,

then how are we going to win!”

”Huh? It's impossible to win”

Facing Sora ould rather assert, Steph becaain

”It will be weird if you could hen dueling with those kinds of opponents The words are

merely 'Doomed to failure' — won't even have a chance to win in one in a million”

But, Steph recovered again and started shouting, with Sora adding more words in ”So that's why

we have to avoid it”

”—Eh?”

Steering his body to face Steph, Sora continued

”Listen carefully, I a to describe it as simply as possible” ”Guuu, okay”

”Firstly, regarding this take turns in fighting one opponent to tire hi election,

the winner will be the representative of the human race”

”Yeah”

”But this kind of proposal is flawed Because there will be lots of leeway for other countries”

”—Guu Indeed that's the case ”

Being pointed soly set her gaze away

—Yes Using an unconditionalone opponent to tire him out' to

determine the electoral law

If other countries help huovernment would be

completed Humans would completely lose and eventually perish

Full of loopholes, a folly solution

”—Which also means this is not an individual battle But a national, diplomatic war OK?” ”Ah,

so it's like thatI get it”

”So, it is the Elfright? Although those group of guys want a human puppet to be elected as

king— but to be able to think so coree, you don't think that the Elves are

the only race involved right?”

”—Th-that”

”The other countries are considering the sa, whether the first implementation has been

taken in account, on't know, but it is a very high probability”

Then—

”We will fro them think that we are

'Also the same as humans'”

Playing with his cellphone, Sora let out a mischievous smile

”Owning equip as if the device was used to detect

the ic, naturally the person will be instantly disqualified if ic was debunked

Furthermore, the key performer has already been suspected and driven out—”

”The, then— suggesting a battle without the influence of cheats, right!”

A s on Steph, but Sora only furrowed his brows, before drooping

his shoulders and saying

”—You ah, to what degree is your naivety” ”Wh, why am I suddenly lectured!?'

”Did you hear what I said? Involvee

Which is to say, they would naturally take into account the sudden eence of people like me

right?”

”Ah”

Then, with his thoughts back to the place where he originally premeditated, Sora said

”—It's safe to assu that even in this case, can

also implement the smooth use of cheats”

Suddenly, because of Steph's words, Sora acted as if he thought of so and quickly added

”Steph, do you reic, but can play with 'Magic-driven

gaht?” ”Ah, yeah”

As if pondering on the answer, Sora exposed a candid expression

”You also said that the 'Elf are the ht never have

guessed that in response to other countries coies able to detect

ic, they will embedded an even ic into a

gaet 'That' ”

However, that sentence dulled down Steph's expression

”Then, if that happens Wouldn't it s much more difficult for you?” ”—Huh?

Why?”

”Eh? Because if it was a coic—”

This question has been repeated a couple of tiain

”I said— towards us hu' and 'Visual reading' those

kinds of pure reatest threat, after all, there is no way to detect it But if you

are going to use a ga for the country, that kind of ic won't be

used”

Which also ame that appears on the 'Surface'

But the fact is that it is included with an overwhele for the user

And being unable to perceive it— interference won't be made from the outside party Most

likely, an absolutely beneficial cheat will be set up

But, the constant 'Victory' like when challenging Steph will cease to exist In order to allow them

to come up with that plan

For that purpose, the phone was used

Now, everything was going according to their ways ”Bu, but”

Suddenly, as if understanding, Steph uttered the right opinion

”Even so—you can't change the 'Overwhele', can you?” ”Ah, of course not Is

there a problem with that?”

Sora answered without a care, sitting on the bench while hugging shi+ro, he replied ”As long as it

is a ga is impossible”

”Un”

Just when shi+ro had won against the chess application installed in her phone set in the highest

difficulty, she endorsed by nodding

—At this time

As if noticing so, shi+ro turned her head

Fro silhouette— It was Kurami who had spent a considerable amount of time

ood, did she overhear our conversation just now?”

Sora murmured to shi+ro in a voice audible to her only, in which she responded by nodding her

head 'Don't worry', hat it was implied to be

As if affir her answer, the first word that Kurahtforward

and ask You spies, where are you from?”

Sora felt relief in his heart, but prevented it fro as he

replied her

”Ah, yes, in fact, we are from another country— Hey, do you really think I would say that? Are

you an idiot?” ”—I will not hand over this country”

”I already know Because you want to give it to the Elves right~~” ”Wrong”

Sora laughed while throwing out provocations, but Kura

denial ”I won't hand it to anyone Is to Imanity alone”

”—Oh?”

For an 'Oh, what an unexpected answer', Sora urged her to continue speaking, to which Kurami

co

”Using the Elf's strength is to ensure the survival circle of Mankind—although you can't possibly

ie to achieve this motiveand to when it is

necessary to hand over the territory— I will sever all ties with the Elves”

—Whoa

Even if it's Sora, he can't help it but have ahis head

With a wry smile, she said words that came from her heart

”Exposing your plan to someone you suspect as a spy, are you an idiot? Do you want to die?”

But, the confidence conveyed through Kura at

Sora ”No matter which country's spy you are froainst me, you

know?” ”Oh you really are overconfident”

”I'est country Elvengard —an impenetrable fortress that

not a single race can win against Precisely because of this, it is known as the Largest country,

having a head-on fight with them is an irrefutable defeat”

Hmm

”Since you are a human—”

Relaxing her serious gaze, Kura at Sora's eyes

”I'll advise you, if you still have sos for this country, for the sake of Imanity, I hope

you will give up on your spy task and surrender I swear that I am definitely not the puppet of the

Elves”

””

Facing the words which sounded like a plea, Sora did not utter a word

”—Unable to useit is impossible— for us humans”

Her face covered by the black veil, Kuraness

”If you want to survive in this world—it can be achieved by living under the shelter of a country

and obtaining

Rights to live , then refusing any ht?”

Oh

Coht to decide the contents of the game

Indeed, borrowing strength froet a territory

Rejecting all gay Able to obtain nothing

else, but at the sa else It's just like chess, where the strongest

line up is on hold

However, towards these words—

”Hmm, so that's how it really isit's definitely not a bad plan I have known this

already” ”Then, you will surrender?”

As if in gratitude, Kurami closed her eyes— ”However,

”I refuse!”

Blurting out these words caused her eyes to widen in response ”Could you tell me your

reason?”

”Hehe, that's because”

Sora hugged his little sister atching with an expression that could not be discerned

”One of our s for 『 』 is—”

””Standing in a position where the opponent has an advantage and denying it with a 'NO' !””

Like a chorus, both Sora and shi+ro coether

Originally unclear of the plot, Steph and Kura properly Only

looking at the excited siblings while feeling stunned

”Wahaha! 'I alanted to try and say the number four lines[19] ' —and I really said it out!”

”Nii, nice, good job”

Seeing the siblings raising a thumbs up, Kurami's shoulders started to tremble Was it a

provocation, or siotiation

”—Looks like I have wasted my time I will beat you doith the power you so desire to

fightI'll be waiting in the hall”

”Yes~~yes~~ Go and prepare 'the borrowed power that people fawn over ' ” While watching her

leave, Sora deliberately threw out soht? What she said, I

think there is some truth in it” ”—About that, I think it's time for you to 'suspect others'

right?”

Sora said while putting up his finger

”One, where is the basis for the verified clai” ”Ah”

Feeling slightly embarrassed as she understands it, Steph shyly lowered her ear Ignoring her

actions, Sora put up his second finger and continued

”Two, if she really has thehere to persuade us

into abandoning our match?”

”Ah!”

Probably noticing the key points, Steph raised her head

”To lessen the chance of losing In other words, she can't guarantee her victory!?” That is

to say— the expected result Sora had thought

Getting a rare answer that was correct fro up his third and

fourth fingers

”Three, even if what she said was true, we can't trust someone who discloses that sort of

information to people who are suspected to be spies from another country And lastly, we are

finished if they figured out our playing cards, ok?” Widely opening her mouth, Steph could not

help but nod excessively

”So, so careful consideration was put in before saying those words eh”

Of course Steph wouldn't know about the plot

Gazing at Sora with candor, she realized her cheeks were flushed and shook her head, panicking

However, Sora was staring at the direction where Kuraht to

the hall of King City

”Still, that's not all That girl, is like you” shi+fting his gaze to shi+ro

With a nod, shi+ro took steps to move forward ”She underestimates us, the human race”

Part 3

Returning to the hall

What greeted their eyes was a large audience filling the hall, who had probably been waiting the

whole time And then in front of the throne there stood a small table, and a pair of chairs

On top of the table was— ”A chessboard?”

This tiaic He had

considered ination After all—how exactly

do you cheat in chess? Sora was concerned about this being slightly out of his expectation

However Kurami sat in one of the chairs, and in a monotonous voice explained

”Yes, chess But this is not just normal chess”

Saying this she took out a small box, and scattered the pieces on the board

—Then

The 32 pieces, 16 each of black and white, each

on the board It was as if—

”That's right, this is chess where 'the pieces have their oills'” As if reading Sora's thoughts,

Kurami answered

”The pieces ive a co to the

command” ”I see That's how it'll be, huh”

—She brought a troublesoame

Sora thought through the possible ways she could cheat in his ue

”What do we do, shi+ro”

If it were regular chess, then shi+ro would definitely win But that was only if it were regular

chess

Not to ic, intending to cheat ”Don't

worry, if it's chess I can't lose”

Saying this, shi+ro boldly walked forward

—But, before that, Sora confirmed

”Hey, it's fine if itch in the ht?” ””—?””

The ones surprised were Kurami, as well as shi+ro

”Unfortunately, the two of us here are one player Also, that seeame that only one

side is familiar with

It's to even the playing field, right?”

While playing with his cellphone Sora said As if trying to read his intentions, Kurami stared into

Sora's eyes However, it didn't see from Sora's eyes

—Someone like that won't ever be equal to even one of 『 』 's wings ”—Do as you please”

Concerned about the cellphone in Sora's hands, or is it that she was alert since she couldn't read

anything fro out the words—but

”Nii, do you think, shi+ro will?”

Unexpectedly protesting—as supposed to be the other wing, his sister

”shi+ro, you're being too hotheaded If it were regular chess then there's not even a 10000 to 1

chance that you'd lose” ”Nn”

shi+ro nodded as if that was obvious

Sora, too, was as serious as could be There was no way she would lose

—However

”This is not just normal chess—it's as she says” ””

”Don't forget The two of us are one, the two of us are 『 』Okay?” ”Sorry I'll be

careful”

”All right! Then let's do this!”

He said, then patted shi+ro's head—and then whispered beside her ear ”—Until I see through

their cheating and co in confirmation, shi+ro slowly

approached the table

”Are you done talking?—Then let's start, you can have the first move” ”—”

Towards this obvious challenge, shi+ro frowned for a moment Chess was 'no different from tictac-

toe', hat shi+ro had said What she said was no less than giving up the win

Because chess is a game where if both players played optimally, then theoretically 'the first

player wins'

For so second, it would require the opponent to make at least one mistake to even

start thinking about a 'tie'

”b2 pawn, b4”

With a slightly spoiled mood, shi+ro said, and the match started

Not byvoice commands, the chessboard where the

pieces automatically move

Following the rules, limited to the first move, the pawn moved forward 2 squares

—But, Kurami had said

'The pieces have their oills'

There was no way that was referring to justautomatically— While Sora was immersed

in thought, Kurami quietly muttered ”pawn number 7, 'forward'”

Instantly—the commanded pawn

——Moved forward 3 squares ”””—Huh!?”””

The people who raised their voice were Sora as well as the audience ”These are 'pieces with

their oills'—didn't I say so?”

A light s on her face, Kurami spoke