Kays Translations
Just another Isekai Lover~
Chapter 34: Needlessly Serious
With nobles surrounding them, Tauro and his companions were led farther into the room by Prime Minister Duke Barriera.
Ahead stood a table bearing one of the limited-edition Reversi boards Tauro had made.
“Ladies and gentlemen, this boy is the foremost apprentice of Reversi’s inventor and our instructor today. Please welcome him.”
The assembled guests applauded at the prime minister’s words.
“To begin, I would like to play three demonstration games against you.”
In other words, Tauro’s ability was about to be tested.
Part of him wondered whether an adult would really make a spectacle of a ten-year-old. From the prime minister’s perspective, however, he had requested an instructor and been sent a child. He might reasonably suspect that he was being mocked.
Tauro would have to play in earnest.
“I understand. Please.”
Tauro bowed, waited for the prime minister to sit, and then took his own seat.
“Rather well mannered for a commoner’s child, isn’t he?”
“Indeed…”
Whispers reached them from the spectators.
Garfish and Paulo had gone pale.
Tauro needed to prove himself against the prime minister while also allowing his distinguished opponent to retain some dignity. Could he possibly manage both? Worse, if he lost disgracefully, the trading company that had brought him might be held responsible.
The two merchants grew increasingly anxious as those possibilities occurred to them.
“Please take the first move.”
Tauro yielded the opening move to the prime minister, and the game began.
During the early stages, the prime minister steadily increased the number of black pieces, leaving Tauro apparently at a disadvantage.
“For the inventor’s foremost apprentice, he doesn’t seem particularly impressive.”
“No, no—the prime minister is simply too strong. Over the last few days, every opponent has seen that his ability stands above the rest.”
The nobles watching spoke in hushed voices, but Tauro could hear them.
So he really has been practicing. That explains it…
Even so, Tauro had never lowered his guard.
Reversi had several strategic principles.
One was to avoid taking too many pieces early in the game.
Neither the prime minister nor the spectators knew that principle.
In the endgame, Tauro launched his counterattack and employed another fundamental tactic: taking a corner. Before anyone realized what was happening, he had won by an overwhelming margin.
“As expected of the foremost apprentice. He managed a narrow reversal.”
“Indeed, though the prime minister’s early offensive was also magnificent.”
The prime minister’s overwhelming early advantage had convinced the nobles that Tauro’s victory was a fluke, and they each offered speculation unsupported by the board.
“You’re certainly worthy of serving as instructor. Let us collect ourselves and begin the second game.”
At the prime minister’s direction, the second game began.
Once again, he established what appeared to be an overwhelming lead, and the spectators praised his advantage.
Once the endgame began, however, Tauro counterattacked, and before long the position had reversed.
Some whispered that it was coincidence. Others suspected that it had been deliberate, while still others dismissed that possibility because Tauro was only ten. Speculation fed upon speculation until a peculiar atmosphere filled the room.
“…You’re strong. Very well. Let us begin the third game.”
The prime minister’s smile had vanished, and the easy confidence had left his voice.
For the third time, he appeared to dominate the opening. The strange tension in the room reached its peak.
In the middle game, the struggle centered on the corners.
After a fierce contest, each player secured two. Tauro narrowed the remaining gap with a late counterattack, and the game ended.
“The third game is a draw: thirty-two to thirty-two.”
The prime minister’s aide announced the result after counting the pieces.
“Thank you very much.”
Tauro rose and bowed.
The prime minister’s tenacity in the third game had made him inwardly anxious, but he had somehow managed to force a draw.
The spectators, however, didn’t consider the outcome accidental.
All three games had followed an apparent early landslide in the prime minister’s favor. Everyone in the room became convinced that the boy might intentionally have arranged a draw in the final game.
Tauro had merely applied ordinary Reversi strategy, but those principles made him appear to be a genius.
Why is everyone treating a game of Reversi so needlessly seriously!?
Tauro was exhausted.