LIGHTNOVELSTORY Chapter 53 - Taming Me?
Chapter 53: Taming Me?
—
“What the….”
After stopping by the training grounds, I returned to the dormitory by nightfall, only to frown immediately.
Snacks, letters… such things were piled up in front of the door, so much so that I couldn’t even open it.
I snapped my fingers.
All those miscellaneous items were swept away by telekinesis in an instant. I pushed them into the room for now, planning to gather them up and throw them away later.
However, there was one thing that didn’t budge.
“…How impudent.”
It was a red letter, floating conspicuously in the air.
Only after exerting a stronger telekinesis did the letter react. I unfolded it in midair.
[ Now. ]
That was all that was written. However, beneath it was the seal of the Magic Department’s Dean and the name Conette.
Along with the location of the Dean’s office.
“The Dean, huh.”
Being summoned by someone of the Dean’s stature piqued my curiosity. I started walking.
The academy buildings bathed in moonlight shone white.
When I reached the location written on the letter, I was faced with a large, castle-like building.
The entire building was solely for the Dean’s use.
“Student, what brings you here?”
Just then, someone spoke to me.
With blonde hair and a neat suit, I now knew the name of this woman. It was Professor Audrey.
When she got closer and confirmed my face, her eyes widened.
“Flan, you’re Flan, right?”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
Hearing that, the person beside her also turned their gaze toward me. Audrey wasn’t alone.
“Oh, it’s Flan.”
It was Violet. She recognized me with dark circles that had lightened slightly under her pointed hat.
Professor Audrey asked me.
“What brings you here?”
Instead of answering, I showed her the Dean’s letter. Audrey nodded with an “Ah,” sound.
“The Dean summoned you… I see. Well, Flan.”
Audrey took a step closer to me with an awkward smile.
“Would you consider visiting my lab sometime? We could have tea and discuss your career… hm?!”
At that moment, a pointed hat was pulled down over Professor Audrey’s head.
Violet spoke with a dissatisfied tone.
“What are you doing? Trying to poach someone else’s student?”
“He may be someone else’s student now, but who knows about the future?”
“The midterm evaluations aren’t even over yet.”
I watched the two of them converse, then dismissed it nonchalantly.
“I’m not interested.”
I’ve never been someone’s assistant, and I probably never will be.
However, Audrey quickly followed after me.
“Still, please consider it. Alright? I’ll guide you to the Dean’s office.”
Thanks to that, I easily arrived at the Dean’s office.
A long corridor covered with a red carpet appeared, and at the end of it was a massive wooden door.
Before I could even knock, a voice called out.
“Come in.”
A languid yet seductive voice.
I opened the door with telekinesis and stepped inside.
“Ah, it’s even more delightful to see you up close.”
A woman sitting with her back to the window greeted me.
This woman was none other than Conette, the Dean of Merhen Academy.
Despite her youthful appearance, the magical aura she emanated was exceptional.
Her hair was white on the outside but black on the inside.
Her eyes were the reverse, black on the outside and white on the inside.
The moment I met those peculiar, inverted eyes.
Before me, pieces of wood gathered and formed a chair.
“Please, have a seat.”
◈
Sometimes, when magicians meet, the flow of the conversation can take on strange directions and lead to unexpected results.
It’s only natural. The way they view the world is completely different from ordinary people.
And so, Conette quietly observed the boy who had come to the Dean’s office.
His jet-black hair and ruby-red eyes… This combination was somehow familiar to her.
However,
That wasn’t the issue right now.
The subtle manners in his steps, the confidence filling his expression. He was no longer just a student.
Moreover, his emotions were not easily readable.
She prided herself on being adept at reading others’ emotions, but Flan was different.
His emotions seemed clear yet murky, and whenever she tried to focus, they scattered like mist.
He seemed like a person devoid of emotional fragments.
Her interest in Flan deepened further.
She had only called him with the intention of meeting an admirable student, but before she knew it, Conette had greeted him as if he were a seasoned magician.
“Nice to meet you, Flan. Tonight, I just wanted to have a simple chat with you.”
Conette’s speech was divided into seven parts.
And simultaneously, Flan’s eyes flashed.
He immediately realized it.
One word in human language, five in Elvish, and one in Runes. Each of these seven parts was composed in a different language.
‘Is she trying to test me?’
There’s no need to mention that elves delve deeply into magic, and Runes are necessary for mastering advanced courses.
Flan understood that she was trying to gauge his skill in this single conversation.
If she intended to probe at such a high level, it wasn’t unpleasant.
In fact, it was rather welcome. It was the first time in this world, and Elvish here wasn’t different from the previous world.
“Even if it’s complicated, I don’t mind.”
“My, my….”
Conette’s lips curled into a smile.
There are exactly eight types of Elvish languages, and Flan had just responded accurately using the three languages Conette hadn’t spoken.
This time, Flan spoke first.
“But what is your intention?”
“Intention… nothing much.”
Conette smiled softly.
“Being the Dean is such a lonely job, you see. I’d like some company.”
Of course, this wasn’t her true intention.
Today, she intended to satisfy her curiosity about Flan’s skill and discern his goals.
Is he a *genius (天才)*?
Or perhaps, a *calamity (天災)*?
“I was impressed by how you expressed Yvonne’s swordsmanship through magic.”
Conette and Flan’s eyes quietly met in the air.
Her inverted eyes, black and white reversed, seemed to pierce through Flan.
“Seven ripples in the resonance, followed by three changes in form, and then finished with a summoning sequence. Is that correct?”
This time, the Dean had used only ‘Runes’ to ask the question, and Flan understood this as well.
“That’s a viable methodology.”
“…!”
Conette’s lips trembled slightly.
“A viable methodology, huh? Did my observation miss something?”
“It was just a different approach.”
What she considered a unique observation existed as one of many options for Flan.
Conette blinked once.
The entire space was instantly plunged into darkness.
‘A realm of observation, perhaps.’
A domain that only magicians of a certain caliber could manifest.
In this dark space, everything related to magic glowed in fluorescent light. Formulas, magic circles, circuits… it was a space designed for magical observation.
‘Impressive.’
Even Flan found it to be a flawless manifestation.
“Interesting.”
As Conette gazed into the void, a formula began to sketch itself out.
Soon, a solid 15-stroke summoning formula was completed.
“Which part did you approach differently?”
“There are various ways, but.”
Flan began to modify the 15-stroke formula.
“There were some parts I wanted to cut out entirely.”
He cut it out so decisively that it was far beyond what Conette had anticipated.
After cutting everything out, only seven strokes remained. It was almost down to the bare bones.
“….”
Conette narrowed her eyes to examine the formula.
More precisely, she observed its ‘purity.’
It was not just some skeletal remnant. The mana was intricately dense, and the circuit was organized without a single twist.
It looked sparse, but its foundation was more robust than anything.
“Like an illusion, yet not….”
Even though it was a mere seven-stroke formula, its purity made it indistinguishable from a 15-stroke one in appearance.
If the student’s mana capacity were to increase further and allow for a complete 15-stroke formula….
The Dean picked up one of the strokes she had removed.
It was a circuit related to ‘lethality.’
“You excluded this as well. I’m curious about the reason.”
“Killing wasn’t my goal.”
“Very well. Then let me ask one more thing.”
Conette’s expression grew more serious.
“…What if the opponent were a demon or a vampire?”
The stroke related to ‘lethality’ was then drawn into Flan’s hand.
At the same time, the other strokes were entirely erased, leaving no trace.
“This single stroke would remain.”
“I see, I see.”
Conette nodded. The serious expression gradually returned to her usual gentle one.
The observation space also vanished. The ordinary office scenery reappeared before the two of them.
“Then… what is it that Flan seeks?”
“The pinnacle of magic, and its proof.”
Conette quietly observed Flan.
Although she still couldn’t read all the fragments of his emotions, she sensed that the answer just now was sincere.
“I apologize for the delay in serving tea. How about a cup now?”
“Thank you.”
After a simple cup of black tea was served, at some point,
“But, just drinking tea would be dull. Do you know how to play chess?”
“No, I don’t.”
He knew of chess but had never actually played it. Magic was his work, his hobby, and his leisure.
“How endearing. I’m sure you’ll like it.”
When Conette snapped her fingers, pieces of wood rose into the air, carving and
shaping themselves into a large chessboard and pieces.
“I’ll keep the explanation brief. The piece at the front is called a pawn….”
The Dean explained the rules of chess concisely. Flan understood everything after hearing it once.
After finishing the explanation, Conette subtly smiled.
“Good. However, what I’ve explained so far is the basic rules of chess. This is ‘Agora Chess,’ so it’s a bit different.”
“…”
Flan quietly examined the board.
At the same time, a faint interest began to stir in his eyes.
“Agora Chess. I understand the meaning behind the name.”
“Yes. I thought you might find it interesting.”
In regular chess, one simply moves the black and white pieces to determine the winner, but the depth of Agora Chess is on a different level.
The Queen represents harmony, the Knight represents destruction, and the Bishop represents summoning….
Each time a piece is moved, a related problem from the Agora Board appears before you.
Only when you solve it correctly can you move the piece.
“Three minutes.”
Conette conjured an hourglass in midair.
“Let’s just do three minutes. It’s late.”
Three minutes was enough to gauge the opponent’s ability.
Five problems. No, even solving three would exceed expectations.
“Understood.”
Flan nodded in agreement.
Conette offered the first move to Flan. Thus, Flan was white, and Conette was black.
Tak—
“…?”
It was unexpected from the start. Flan moved a pawn without a moment’s hesitation.
The pawn carried a problem from the ‘Alchemy’ category of the Agora Board.
Even without considering the category, the Agora Board’s problems were difficult to approach.
For now, Conette also moved a piece.
Tak—
Tak—
“….”
Another surprise.
The moment Conette’s piece settled on the chessboard, Flan moved his piece.
‘He’s already exceeding expectations… but.’
There’s a possibility that he’s only tackling the problems he can solve. Conette moved a few more pieces.
Tak—
Tak—
Tak—
Tak—
“Ah….”
After moving her piece exactly twice more, Conette couldn’t help but smile.
He wasn’t just picking and choosing solvable problems. He was simply playing Agora Chess as if it were ordinary chess.
He was moving pieces solely to win the match.
It was Conette’s turn again.
She hesitated on purpose, gazing at Flan quietly.
Flan, that calm and collected student, the one who brought victory to the Magic Department, was staring at the chessboard and pieces like a statue.
‘…Didn’t he say he didn’t know the rules?’
His chess strategy was clear.
Tame the opponent.
He was like a trainer. He read every move the opponent could make, gradually narrowing their options… until they were compelled to make the move he desired.
‘This is his way of fighting.’
A magician’s duel wasn’t much different from chess.
You identify your opponent’s strengths and weaknesses, figure out what spells they might use, and engage in a battle of wits.
Tak—
Tak—
The approach he had shown in *the Dark Sword Master* was now evident on the chessboard as well.
Every move Flan predicted was accurately countered and blocked. Conette had no choice but to try different moves.
No, he had already read every move.
He was subtly guiding her to use specific strategies, gradually leading her to accept defeat.
‘Even in chess… is he trying to tame me?’
This is fun.
Conette found herself enjoying this rare match.
Before she knew it, she was completely absorbed.
Tak—
Tak—
Tak—
Tak—
The two began moving the pieces furiously. There was no time to pause.
“Check.”
The board was now entirely in Flan’s favor. Conette quickly evaded.
“Check.”
But Flan quietly uttered the word again.
“Check.”
Each time she evaded, he immediately pursued.
With each move, Conette’s situation became more unfavorable, while Flan’s position improved.
The question of how Flan solved the Agora Board’s problems no longer mattered to Conette. Even if it did, she had no time to think about it.
“Check.”
She was simply moving pieces to avoid checkmate.
But.
“Checkmate.”
In the end, she couldn’t avoid it.
Bang!
At the same time, the hourglass floating in the air exploded, marking the end of three minutes.
The fine white sand fell onto the chessboard like snow.
“….”
Whew.
Conette let out a breath, then spoke with a face that looked more delighted than ever.
“My, I was completely convinced I had won.”
She spoke with a tone of regret, but Conette seemed happier than ever.
“Congratulations on your victory.”
At that moment, something flew toward Flan at a threatening speed, like a dart.
Flan easily caught it.
“This isn’t a prize for winning at chess. I intended to give it to you anyway…. And one more thing.”
Conette’s smile grew just a little brighter.
She brushed her side hair behind her ear and added a word.
“Thank you for keeping me company today.”
The gaze the Dean directed at Flan was indescribably peculiar.
Instead of answering, he examined the object in his hand.
It was a blank, pure white piece of paper.