Myoil stroked his cat whiskers, and the rock in front of him split like tofu.
“Woaaaah….” Wendy marveled at the sight. Her reaction was unbearably cute.
Thinking this, Myoil delicately manipulated his magic, shaping the split rock into a Shogi board.
“Little lady.”
“Ye-Yes?!”
“Do you know what Shogi is?”
Wendy shook her head.
“No, I’m sorry….”
“Hahaha, no need to apologize. It’s something you can be unaware of.”
Near the shrine, a stone seat was built. Myoil and Wendy sat facing each other with the newly made Shogi board between them.
“Simply put, it’s a game where two people compete in skill.”
“Skill…?”
“Yes.”
Myoil took out white Shogi pieces from his apron.
“Take these. These pieces are yours.”
“Ye….”
“Move them to topple all my soldiers to win.”
“These are soldiers…?”
“Yes.”
Myoil placed his pieces on the board. As he touched the board, his pieces transformed.
“Wow….”
The white stones morphed into armored soldiers, some becoming cavalry with horses and others turning into archers, all shining in gold.
“How did you do that, Myoil?”
“In Shogi, we use magic stones called ‘Mahoiseok’ as pieces. When you channel your mana into them, they transform into soldiers corresponding to their traits. In short, you create your own legion with these stones.”
“My own legion….”
Watching Wendy deep in thought, Myoil smiled. She seemed as cute as a great-granddaughter to him. He was looking forward to what this adorable lady would show.
“Good. Now, little lady, try placing your pieces on the board.”
“Ye-Yes!”
“And imagine. A strong legion to protect you.”
“Ye-Yes.”
“Good. Slowly release your mana.”
As Wendy infused her mana, the pieces transformed. The Shogi pieces became heavily armored cavalry. Knights wielding lances roared. They were all draped in black armor. A Black Knight Order.
Myoil’s eyebrows raised.
“Ho… This is….”
“I did it! Myoil’s are golden, but mine are black.”
“Yes… unmistakably black….”
Unaware of Myoil’s low murmur, Wendy looked at her Black Knight Order and laughed brightly. Mana reflects the user’s unique traits, unique like a fingerprint. However, ‘color’ is different. It’s an attribute of mana, a privilege only special ones possess. Myoil had expected white pieces…
‘This isn’t just talent but a dangerous one at that.’
It must be guarded against. The lineage of Ruelberta, who saw through his ‘identity’. His servant was no ordinary being either. Pondering this, Myoil composed himself and spoke to Wendy in his usual playful tone.
“Well done. How about we play a round now?”
“Ye-Yes? But I don’t really know the rules, Myoil….”
“No worries. This game virtually has no rules.”
Myoil’s legion formed a formation.
“The way to win is simple. Either topple all the enemy’s legion or…”
At the front of the golden legion was a commander in luxurious armor.
“Or topple the opponent’s commander first to win.”
“I see….”
“But…”
Myoil tilted his head, pointing out something that had been bothering him.
“Why is your commander so chubby?”
“Ye-Yes?”
Wendy looked at her army, and indeed, a stout Black Knight stood proudly in the lead.
*
It was quite a while before I emerged from the storage. Using Greed and Patience repeatedly had drained me. Wendy and Myoil were playing Shogi when I appeared, and they promptly stood up.
“Did you find the book you were looking for?”
I nodded.
“The archive was well-organized. Thanks to your management, Myoil.”
“Haha, no. The ancient magic storage is barely visited, so it’s mostly left alone.”
“Hmm.”
I pulled out a watch and checked the time. It was almost time for the exam Mondri had mentioned.
“Time to go.”
“Time, you say…?”
Instead of Myoil, Wendy responded.
“Ye-Yes… I have an entrance exam later, and I don’t know what to do….”
“An entrance exam for Meikahel University?”
“Ye-Yes… Not just any exam, but a special talent exam…. Uhhhh.”
Wendy looked distressed, but Myoil seemed contemplative.
“So that’s what it is….”
“Myoil?”
“Haha… Nothing. I’m just worried since you’re taking the exam.”
“You’re so kind, Myoil….”
Wendy hugged Myoil, who patted her head like a grandfather comforting his granddaughter. Or perhaps it was more like a girl hugging a cat. Anyway, they seemed to have grown quite close.
“Um… Count….”
Then, Wendy asked me, “What?”
“Did you lose weight…?”
Perhaps it was the repeated use of my characteristics.
“Just a bit tired.”
“Haha. You seem tired, Count. How about we don’t walk this time and just go there directly?”
“That’s fine.”
“Okay. Whoosh.”
Myoil somersaulted in the air, but unlike before, he spun twice. The scenery flipped twice, and suddenly, we were in a different place.
“Myoil, where are we?”
“Haha. If the little lady is taking an entrance exam, there’s no place but here.”
A coliseum-like stadium reminiscent of Rome’s Colosseum, just as described in the original work. We were probably in the underground coliseum of Meikahel University, standing right in the center.
“Huh?”
Someone appeared in the distance. Recognizing us, he strode towards us. It was Mondri.
“Count? How did you know to come here?”
“I brought him.”
“…Elder?!”
Mondri was visibly flustered to see Myoil. Understandable.
“Aren’t you always in the Forest of Truth? How did you get here….”
“Haha, reading books all the time made me stiff. The library owner came, so I thought I’d see your face too.”
“I wish you’d at least told me you were coming out….”
Truly befitting the characteristic of a hermit master.
Myoil is not one to make public appearances. He dislikes worldly affairs and finds them bothersome. Even Mondri, the university president, has to speak respectfully to him, a being beyond casual approach. Of course, I knew the reason, but I just observed silently.
“So, you’re preparing for the exam now?”
“Yes.”
“Hmm… Did you prepare various things like this for the exam? Is this how you select students these days?”
Myoil gestured to the magical tools used for the exam, each worth at least 100 million Kael.
“Yes. Since we’re selecting special talents, we need something to convincingly demonstrate their abilities-”
“Futile.”
“Pardon? Futile, you say…?”
Myoil took off his apron.
“Who are the examiners participating today?”
“It’s a hastily arranged exam, so I only contacted Hans and Beatrice. You might not know, but Hans is the head of admissions-”
“Be gentle.”
“Pardon?”
Mondri was visibly perplexed by now.
“Then what do you suggest we do for the exam?”
“I’ll participate as an examiner.”
“Myoil, are you saying you’ll directly oversee the exam?!”
“Yes.”
It was quite a spectacle to see the university president flustered by an old cat.
“As much as I respect your decision, it’s a bit difficult for me as the president.”
“Your position is not my concern.”
“Myoil…!”
“Haha, Mondri, how long will you be stubborn? Don’t you trust your great teacher?”
“No, wait, that’s supposed to be a secret-!”
Mondri glanced at us, trying to keep the conversation discreet.
“Ah. Understood! I’ll do as you say, please stop talking.”
“Hahaha, right. That’s worthy of my disciple.”
Mondri sighed, covering his face with his hand. The dignity of the president seemed to be falling apart.
Myoil appeared unconcerned. “I hate dragging things out. A quick and decisive conclusion is best.”
“…Are you suggesting we use a classical approach?”
Mondri, guessing what was on Myoil’s mind, got a nod in response.
“Indeed. It’s a special exam you’re overseeing for the Count, isn’t it? Some penalty is fair.”
Myoil looked at me, asking, “You have no objections, Count?”
I nodded affirmatively. “Just having the chance to take the exam is enough. Myoil, or should I say… Myohail Cremont?”
The old cat smiled at my words. He was the first head of the Cremont family and the first to earn the title of sage. And he was the ‘real’ president of Meikahel University.
Thanks for the chapter 😁