Tak—
A crisp ring. A black stone settles onto the wooden board’s grid.
This eighty-seventh move is more than satisfactory even to Sophien herself.
Tak—
White’s eighty-eighth move blocks the black stones pressing up beneath its throat.
However, it is the best move, not the greatest. It falls just one hair short of overturning a board position whose balance has already tilted toward black.
Tak—
Thus, black continues its attack at ease. Its sequence is as clear and bright as an immortal fanning himself by a stream.
Tak—
White, on the other hand, is pressed for time. Every move is tinged with impatience, like a general facing a battlefield with no answer.
Tak—
Despite white’s anguish, black’s offensive finally surrounds the large group.
The white territory, blocked on all sides, slowly begins to wither and die.
Tak— Tak— Tak—
Even after that, the game continues.
With victory and defeat all but decided, there is little meaning to it.
Black begins a steady endgame, while white merely waits for the defeat soon to come.
Tak······. Tak······. Tak—
The sound of stones gradually slows, then cuts off.
The result is black’s victory by resignation, but Sophien is not particularly pleased.
Because the person playing this game is “only one.”
“······Good grief.”
An imagined game played alone. White was Sophien, and black was Sophien.
“What is this, some pebble game?”
A belated emptiness surged in. Sophien grabbed a handful of stones from the go bowl. Then she hurled them in every direction.
Clatterrrrrrr──!
The stones scattered like firecrackers. A sneer bloomed at the corner of Sophien’s mouth.
“Hmph. This is more fun, if anything.”
She put her hand back into the bowl.
Swish—!
She threw them.
Swish—!
She threw them again.
Swish—!
And again.
“······.”
As if even that was not enough, this time she overturned the bowl completely.
Thump thump thump thump······. Gripping the now-empty bowl, she struck the go board over and over.
It was a tantrum.
—Knock, knock. Your Majesty. It is Jolang. Might I have a moment?
Just then, a eunuch knocked. Sophien replied curtly.
“What is it?”
—We have learned this baduk Your Majesty has been enjoying of late.”
“······.”
Sophien opened the door. She used 「Psychokinesis」, like Deculein.
“You learned baduk?”
“Yes, Your Majesty. We put our heads together and learned it.”
It was not only Jolang. Ten eunuchs stood in a row.
Indeed, if there were ten heads, it might not be so dull.
“Good. Sit.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Jolang thought this baduk would be a way to earn the Emperor’s favor. Thus, he had stayed up day and night learning it.
Sophien gathered the go stones with magic and asked,
“White. Black. Choose either one.”
“We shall take white.”
Jolang and the eunuchs sat facing Sophien and began the game.
“Let us begin.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Tak—
Sophien’s black made the first move. Jolang’s white descended onto the 3-4 point beneath the star point.
“Oh-ho. You have learned, then.”
“Yes, Your Majesty. Your grace is boundless.”
“Hmph.”
These eunuch bastards truly did seem to have learned to some extent, but······.
Exactly twenty-three minutes later.
“Tsk. Pathetic. Utterly pathetic.”
“······We beg your forgiveness.”
The game ended around the sixtieth move. Sophien placed a finger against her temple.
“Even with your ten heads combined, your calculation speed is infinitely slow, so it is instead a negative.”
“······We beg your forgiveness.”
“Forgiveness, my ass. Your playing strength is rat-dick tiny, you weaklings. Get out. If I play with the likes of you, it will become even less entertaining.”
“We beg your forgi—”
“Do not speak. Leave!”
Sophien swiftly chased out the group of eunuchs. Then she fiddled with the bow tie at her neck.
Today, she was dressed in a tailcoat. A top-quality formal suit presented by House Yukline.
“Bah······ tsk. To be this bad.”
For now, she had encouraged its spread across the continent. If she waited, talented people would pop up on their own.
But the process was awfully boring.
“······Must I wait for Deculein?”
The only hope left now was that professor.
“······.”
Thinking of Deculein, who would arrive in two weeks, Sophien began another game of baduk.
Tak······ Tak······
The sound of stone rubbing against wood echoed quietly.
* * *
“······Hmm.”
I am looking through the 「Rare Trait Catalog」.
Even now, I am still deliberating. My fastidious personality leads to things like indecisiveness.
“······.”
The 「Encryption」 I acquired last time has been quite useful in its own way.
In particular, the inventory function prevents starvation, dying on the road, or anything comparable to “sleeping rough on the street” with one hundred percent certainty, and it can also be applied to magic theory by “encrypting” formulas.
However, this rare catalog is······.
Between 「Toughness」 and 「Duck Tape」, I cannot arrive at an answer.
“Duck Tape.”
「Duck Tape」 is, quite literally, 「Duck Tape」.
It is a trait that made use of a sort of “meme” during development, and in America, the all-purpose nature of duct tape is practically akin to faith.
──「Duck Tape」──
◆ Grade
：Rare
◆ Description
：This tape is magic and religion. If the word “omnipotent” were materialized into an object, would it not become this tape?
──────
As befitting a meme trait, the description is somewhat crude, but its performance is certain. To begin with, it suits my magic category, “Manipulation,” and it can be utilized in almost any situation.
If judging only by “generality” and “versatility,” it could be called the greatest among rare traits.
“「Toughness」.”
In contrast, 「Toughness」.
It is a very simple trait that merely increases “mental strength,” but this single drop of mental strength could lead me to another realm······
“I should decide according to the situation.”
There is no difference in which of the two I acquire first. Therefore, I will decide depending on how the quests proceed from here on.
I put away the 「Rare Trait Catalog」. Then I focused once more on preparing for class.
“······.”
Here, in the [ Head Professor’s Office ], several pebbles the size of ping-pong balls are placed on the lab table. They are the core materials for today’s class.
I overlaid these pebbles with the magic formula 「Resistance」, bestowed the trait 「Iron Man」, sealed the whole thing with 「Encryption」, applied double and triple tempering, and······.
After several processes, I completed the 「Magic-Resistant Pebbles」.
“They turned out well.”
I placed the pebbles I had prepared in a velvet pouch, in numbers matching the students, and left the office.
—Assistant Professor. What’s this baduk thing now?
—Ah~ They say it’s a famous game from the Eastern Archipelago. A battle of wits. It’s similar to chess, but waaaay more complicated.
—Really? Then Her Majesty the Emperor enjoys that complicated game?
—Because she’s Her Majesty~
Epherene and Allen were chatting at the far end of the corridor. I spoke to them.
“Allen.”
“Aah, yes! Professor!”
“Prepare for class.”
“Yes!”
Allen hurried over. Epherene also scurried over and bowed her head.
“Hello, Professor.”
“Today’s class is in the ‘Hall.’ Do not be late.”
“Yes.”
I got on the elevator with Allen. Our destination was the special floor of the Magic Tower, the “Hall,” also known as Floor 99.9.
“Allen, take this.”
I handed Allen the velvet pouch. He received it with both hands, looking curious.
“Yes. What is this?”
“Pebbles.”
“Ah~ Mana stones?”
“No. Pebbles.”
“······Pardon?”
“That is today’s class.”
“······.”
Allen looked as if he did not understand at all, but he nodded for now.
Ding—
At that moment, we arrived at the “Hall.” There was nothing the special floor called the “Hall” did not have.
The main space of this vast “Hall” was, first of all, a hall in the literal sense, and around it were research rooms, training rooms, restaurants, magic-supply storage rooms, a thesis library, and so on······ There were quite a lot of facilities.
It was no different from a small village for the Magic Tower’s mages, but there was not a single person here.
Because I had rented out the entire floor.
“Wow~ This is my first time in the ‘Hall.’ It’s really big, isn’t it? The main hall is like a plaza.”
Without answering, I took out a pen. Then I began writing on the massive blackboard in the main hall.
From today’s lecture onward, there would be no need for separate explanation.
No, even if I explained, only those with the talent to understand would understand, so I intended not to explain at all······.
* * *
Epherene arrived at the “Hall.” In the main hall of the “Hall,” said to be a village exclusively for Magic Tower mages, Deculein was already there.
It was unexpected.
He was someone who disliked arriving early as much as arriving late.
“Everyone. Are you gathered?”
When noon arrived, Deculein spoke. Epherene looked around. All the mages, including Rogerio, Gindalf, and Drent, had already arrived.
“Then, look.”
Snap—!
Deculein snapped his fingers. Then the curtains of the main hall drew back, revealing the blackboard. Gulp— The mages swallowed automatically.
The theory on the blackboard was tremendous and complex at a glance, but honestly, it was no longer bewildering.
They were used to it.
“This is the theory you must master, but today, I will not lecture on this theory.”
“······?”
However, those words were rather strange.
He was not going to explain the theory?
“This is why I rented the Hall. In this Hall, you can do everything required for daily life without needing to go outside. If you correctly and perfectly understand the theory on this blackboard.”
Deculein moved the pebbles with 「Psychokinesis」. A full one thousand mana was consumed just to move a mere hundred-odd pebbles.
“You will be able to handle these pebbles with magic.”
That was the end.
“However, giving up is permitted.”
Deculein boarded the elevator just like that, and ding—!
The doors closed.
All the students stared blankly at Deculein as he disappeared.
“······What the hell is this?”
Rogerio’s first words reflected everyone’s feelings. The students, who had been watching one another, soon looked at the pebbles held in their hands.
Epherene said,
“What are we supposed to do?”
“Exactly. What’s so special about this pebble?”
Rogerio fiddled with the pebble and activated 「Psychokinesis」.
“······?”
But it did not work.
His mana clearly seeped into the pebble, yet the pebble did not move.
Tilting his head, Rogerio activated 「Psychokinesis」 again.
The result was the same.
“Huh. This is pissing me off.”
His forehead heating up, Rogerio manifested 「Psychokinesis」 with his eyes wide open. Veins bulged at his temples, and his mana was consumed like mad.
“Grrrrrrrrrrrr······ ugh!”
Yet the pebble remained in place to the end. With the capillaries in his eye burst, Rogerio clutched one eye.
“What—what is this pebble?! Ah, fuck, it hurts like hell!”
“Huh? What’s wrong?”
“What is it? What is this?”
The other mages, including Epherene, also showed interest. They simultaneously used high-level manipulation magic such as 「Psychokinesis」, 「Orbit」, or 「Resonant Wind」.
Their target was only one thing—each individual pebble.
“What? It really doesn’t work?”
Epherene was flustered. The other mages also let out groans one after another.
As Rogerio had said, the pebble did not budge.
“See? This thing absolutely won’t move!”
Rogerio growled and looked at Deculein’s blackboard.
“Haa······ That crazy professor bastard must’ve set up his own so he could move them all.”
“Huh? But wait.”
Epherene, who had been blankly looking up at the blackboard, soon recalled a certain scene from just before.
Not even that long ago—five minutes earlier. A certain action of Deculein’s that she had unconsciously overlooked.
“Just now, the Professor handed all of these out with 「Psychokinesis」.”
“······.”
At that short remark from Epherene,
All the mages in the main hall briefly fell into thought.
* * *
······Winter.
In mid-November, the Yukline estate was dyed with snow. The gardeners busily greeted the winter that had arrived a little early.
They set up works of art crafted from snow all around the estate. Flowers, horses, trees, snowmen, and so on······ decorations that delighted those who saw them.
“Let’s go.”
“Yes.”
Today, as usual, I got into the car after finishing my morning exercise.
Ren immediately handed me three newspapers.
One was the Imperial Newspaper, one was the Duchy Newspaper, and the other was the Wizard Journal. Reading them was part of my routine on the way to the Magic Tower.
I began with the Imperial Newspaper.
—[ Her Majesty Sofienne’s Imperial Mandate: I Shall Make Baduk the National Game. ]—
Her Majesty’s love of baduk remains unchanged.
The game of intellect known as baduk, which spread from the archipelago of the East, has now become a “trend” known to all nobles······.
······Her Majesty Sofienne, pleased by this wave of popularity, has also held baduk tournaments, including the “Masters’ Tournament.”
——————————
“······Hm?”
While reading the newspaper, I suddenly looked beyond the windowpane. The area near the Mage Tower was bustling. A long line of reporters armed with cameras had formed there.
─One at a time! Please ask your questions one at a time! I’m not going anywhere!
Standing proudly in the midst of it all was······ Adrine, of course.
Ren turned smoothly and took the back road.
—······Then is the exam currently underway?!
The reporters’ shouts reached my ears.
─Yes! Head Professor Deculein’s exam is currently underway!
“······?”
Exam? As someone who had never given an exam, I was bewildered.
─Does it seem like this exam will take quite a long time as well? It appears to have begun four weeks earlier than ordinary university finals!
Adrine answered the question I knew nothing about with vigor.
─Yes! I think it’ll take an extremely long time! This time, I expect about a month! Wouldn’t they have to use up the entire winter to manage it?!
─Is it that difficult a problem?!
─Yes! Both practically and theoretically, it’s an incredibly difficult problem!
Could she possibly be referring to the pebbles I had handed out two days ago?
─Absurdly simple, yet absurdly difficult! Truly worthy of Professor Deculein! It is an exam that will go down in the history of the magical world!
I changed newspapers. This time, it was the “Wizard Journal.”
─[ Even Aether-rank mages have been bound by Deculein’s exam! ]─
Renowned mages of the magical world, including Rogerio, have been staying in the Mage Tower for thirty-six hours. This is due to the exam presented by Monarch Deculein.
······.
Deculein has prepared a long-term exam for the second semester as well. According to an inside source, the exam is “controlling a pebble.”
At first glance it may appear trivial, but even Aether Rogerio, who possesses deeper knowledge of ores than anyone else, has failed to succeed.
The written material required to control this pebble amounts to no less than one hundred pages. Even that is merely a selection of the essence of the theory, so in order to understand it, an explanatory text of approximately one thousand pages or more will be necessary······.
──
“I never said they didn’t have to go home.”
Of course, I had not set a deadline, but I had never added the condition that leaving work was impossible. Naturally, I had also never called it an exam.
─If they may have to use up the entire winter······ then this exam could end up being even longer than the last midterm!
─Of course!
It was probably because of the chairwoman giving that interview over there.
─What is the current atmosphere of the exam like? As far as I know, it’s a gathering of mages who aren’t used to failure.
─Yes! I went to observe, too! It wasn’t exactly an atmosphere where they were all cheering each other on, but they were still exchanging opinions to some extent and making an effort!
─By observing, do you mean that you also attempted the exam yourself, Chairwoman Adrine?!
I was a little curious about that question as well.
─Ah, Deculein’s exam? You’re asking if I passed?!
─Yes.
─No! I thought I might break it if I tried, so I didn’t do it—more precisely, I couldn’t! My school is destruction, after all! Of course, I do think I could finish it all in about a day!
“······.”
Even I was taken aback by Adrine’s answer.
No matter how specialized in destruction she was as an archmage, to think she couldn’t control my pebble.
Had I distributed the magic incorrectly, or had I mistakenly set the difficulty of the theory itself far too fiendishly high?
······Whatever the case.
—This exam will likely become quite a major event in the magical world at year’s end! All eyes on the Floating Island will once again be focused on the Mage Tower!
If the mages were working hard, then that was fortunate.
It would be a gain if anything, and certainly not a loss.
“Ahem. Ren, head to the parking lot now.”
“Yes. Understood.”
Ren skillfully slipped onto the back road.