[DING!]
[A heroine has been detected before you in a virtual form.]
[Warning!!]
[Host is advised not to act recklessly.]
I ignored the system's warning and focused on the pink-haired girl before me, activating the reading function.
Name: Elise Calliope
Gender: Female
Age: 12
Race: Human
Talent: 10/10
Power: Bronze – Low Stage
Title: Princess of Calliope, Candidate for War Princess
Affection: 0%
Description: Currently eager to win this game. She likes sweets.
Difficulty: SS (Do your very best.)
Just as I thought — another heroine from the top 5 hardest targets to conquer. Winning her over will be extremely difficult.
Next, I looked at the girl sitting in front of me.
Name: Tasya Cransmer
Gender: Female
Age: 11
Race: Human
Talent: 8/10
Power: Bronze – Low Stage
Title: The Intellectual, The Genius
Affection: 0%
Description: Due to her high intelligence, she looks down on others. Determined to win this match no matter what.
Difficulty: AA
Another heroine…
Who would have thought that such a place existed inside the palace? If the players of the original game knew about this, they would have done anything to get in here.
Tasya was another heroine target — though she might lack overwhelming strength, her innate intelligence made her formidable.
She was Elise's right-hand in strategy, organization, and planning — and in those fields, no one could surpass her.
As soon as I entered the room, countless eyes focused on me as if I were some rare specimen. I shivered slightly under their gaze.
Looking ahead, I could see the girls behind Elise appearing in virtual form. If my guess was right, they were using magical projection devices to display themselves here.
The chessboard before me was also connected by magical links, connecting directly to theirs — meaning every move I made here would be mirrored on their boards.
It was like playing online chess with friends, but on a far more advanced level.
As I was trying to understand the magical theory behind it all, a voice spoke up.
"Invidia, don't you know the rules? No boys are allowed here!"
The voice came from one of the virtual screens. I couldn't see her, but I could tell she was someone important.
"I know. But I'm not inviting him to join — and besides, he's my brother," Invidia replied with a defiant tone.
"Invidia, are you sure he can help us win?" Theresia asked doubtfully. After all, she didn't know that her cousin was actually a chess prodigy.
"I'm sure. I trust him," Invidia said firmly.
Theresia then turned her gaze to me. I was still looking around as if I didn't understand what was happening — but I did.
It seems this is the perfect opportunity to shine.
"What's going on here, sister?" I asked innocently.
Invidia explained the situation and what she wanted me to do.
"So, I have to defeat this girl in chess?" I asked, glancing at Tasya.
"That's right," Invidia nodded.
But instead of agreeing right away, I decided to do something else.
"But why should I help?" I asked.
The room fell silent. The girls who had shown no interest earlier now paid close attention — this was the first time someone had ever said no to them.
"Hmm? So you're saying you won't help me?" Theresia asked, curious rather than angry.
"I can help… but you know what you'll have to give me," I said with a teasing smile.
My words made Invidia pause, but then she replied.
"One week," she offered.
"Two weeks," I countered immediately.
The sudden demand shocked her, but after thinking for a moment, she finally agreed.
"Fine. You can have my candy for two weeks."
Hearing that, I struck a victory pose and moved to take my seat for the chess match — but Theresia spoke up again.
"So you're not willing to do what I want for free?"
"Why should I?"
My reply, which should have angered her, instead made her smile in delight.
It's truly a different experience… being rejected like this, Theresia thought.
+35 Affection
Hmph… little girl, I know you better than you know yourself, I thought.
I turned my attention to Tasya sitting across from me. Her expression had grown sour.
"Boy, do you really think you can beat me?" she taunted.
I shrugged and smiled. "Who knows?"
We sat down and began the match. She made the first move. Time passed as we both pushed our pieces across the board, with several girls watching intently.
Fifteen minutes later, I placed my final piece.
"Checkmate."
Silence…
Everyone stared in disbelief — especially Tasya. She couldn't understand where she had gone wrong.
"How is this possible?" Tasya demanded.
"Your play was too perfect," I replied.
My words confused her, and everyone turned toward me, waiting for me to elaborate.
"Every one of your moves was too well-structured — as if predetermined. There was no uniqueness, no unpredictability. That created a crack in your strategy."
"Because your play was too perfect, you lacked flexibility… and that's why you lost," I concluded.
A brief silence hung in the air before the sound of applause broke it. Everyone turned toward Elise, who was clapping with a smile.
"Incredible. That was truly a remarkable game," Elise said.
"Theresia, I concede this match," she admitted.
After that, the others began clapping as well, impressed by my play. My sister came up to me and ruffled my hair.
"I knew you'd win. My candy isn't wasted after all."
"That was amazing, Zeref. I owe you one," Theresia added.
At that moment, Tasya stood and walked toward me. Though she was only a projection and couldn't do anything, she pointed her finger at me.
"Your name is Zeref, right? I'll remember you. Next time we play, I will win."
With that, she vanished.
"Don't take her words too seriously. She's just competitive," Elise said.
"I'm truly surprised there's a chess genius here. I hope we can meet in person someday," she added.
Not long after, I was quickly ushered out of the room. Shaking my head, I made my way back to the room prepared for me.
If I face Tasya in chess again, I'll probably lose, I thought.
The only reason I had beaten her this time was because of the information I had from the game. In fact, it was one of the requirements for earning her affection.
There was a flaw in her playstyle that players used to exploit to defeat her — I had simply taken advantage of it. But it would only work once.
Feeling exhausted, I returned to my room and drifted off to sleep.