Kays Translations

Chapter 34: Serious for nothing

Tauro and his group were surrounded by nobles as the Duke of Barriera, the Prime Minister, guided them forward.

At the end of the room, there was a desk with a limited edition disc that Tauro had made.

“Ladies and gentlemen, this is the boy who is our instructor today. The first disciple of the inventor of this Reversi. Please give a round of applause.”

The Prime Minister’s words were met with a round of applause from those present.

“First of all, I would like to start with a demonstration by playing three games with you.”

This meant that Tauro’s ability would be put to the test.

Tauro was a little concerned that he would do something so immature as to expose a ten-year-old child to the world. It is possible that the Prime Minister thinks that he is being ridiculed because they sent a ten-year-old child when he asked for guidance.

Tauro had to be serious about this.

“Okay, I understand. Then please do so.”　

Tauro bowed and sat down in the chair after making sure the Prime Minister was seated.

“Isn’t he too polite for the child of a commoner?”

“Hmm…”

Whispers could be heard from the onlookers.

Garfish and Paul looked pale at this turn of events.

As they thought that Tauro needed to prove his ability against the Prime Minister and also have some flowers. Will Tauro be able to do that? And if he failed miserably, he might have to take responsibility for the business association that brought him here.

When they thought about it, they couldn’t help but feel anxious.

“Well then, go ahead.”

Tauro gave up the lead to the Prime Minister.

The game began.

In the beginning, Zhai increased his black side one after another, and Tauro was outmatched.

“For a first disciple, you don’t look like much, do you?”

“No, no, no… The Prime Minister is too strong. We’ve all seen how strong the Prime Minister is over the past few days.”

The aristocrats who were watching the game were talking quietly, but Tauro could hear them.

I’m sure you’ve been through a lot.

Tauro thought, but he hadn’t let his guard down from the start.

In Reversi, there are a few tricks.

One of them is not to take too much in the beginning.

The Prime Minister and all the spectators did not know this trick.

Towards the end of the game, Tauro fought back with another trick, the square, and before he knew it, Tauro had won by a landslide.

“…As expected of the number one disciple. He has managed to turn the tables.”

“Hmm, but the Prime Minister’s early onslaught was also great.”

The noblemen who were still impressed at the overwhelming advantage of the Prime Minister in the early stages of the game, said with unfounded speculation.

“As expected of one who was nominated as the inventor’s best disciple and given the role of instructor. So let’s get ourselves together and play the second game.”

The second game began with the Prime Minister himself.

Once again, the game went in Zhai’s favor, and the spectators praised his advantage.

However, as the game entered its final stages, Tauro began to counterattack again, and the game was reversed before he realized it.

Some whispered that it was a coincidence, while others wondered if it was a deliberate move. The room was enveloped in a strange atmosphere as speculation led to speculation.

“Hmm, let’s start the third game.”

Perhaps the Prime Minister had something on his mind, but his smile had faded and his words had lost all meaning.

In the third game, Zhai had an overwhelming advantage from the beginning and the strange atmosphere in the room was at its peak.

In the middle of the game, it became a battle of squares.

In the end, however, Tauro’s counterattack narrowed the gap and the game came to an end.

The third game was a draw, 32 to 32.

The Prime Minister’s aide announced after counting the stones on the board.

“Thank you very much.”

Tauro stood up and bowed.

In the third game, the Prime Minister’s persistence made him nervous inside, but he managed to bring the game to a draw.

However, the spectators did not see the end of the game as a coincidence.

In all three games, Zhai had an overwhelming advantage in the beginning and this was the result. Everyone in the room was caught up in the thought that the boy might have intentionally made the game a draw.

Tauro was just practicing a common Reversi trick, but the trick made Tauro look like a genius.

Rather isn’t this too serious for Reversi?

Tauro was exhausted.

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