044 Genius

Battle Universe was a game where players fought to protect their respective Kings.

Each piece had a specific role, such as a Knight or a Mage, with clearly defined attack and defense ranges. It was the kind of game that was simple to learn but impossibly deep to master. Even though it started as a mere mini-game within Noblesse Oblige, it eventually became popular enough to warrant its own standalone release.

The board consisted of a 20x20 grid where players took turns moving their exquisitely crafted pieces. To be honest, I had been so obsessed with it in my past life that there were times I completely ignored the main story just to play.

And, of course, the most indispensable character when talking about this game was the girl currently sitting right in front of me: Cecil Antwerp.

At the age of eight, she had entered the first-ever world championship and walked away with a brilliant victory. She had been on a winning streak ever since. In this community, there wasn't a single soul who didn’t know her name.

But she was bored. Despite her love for the game, she had no rivals. Even the developers couldn't take a single set off her.

But I—I was going to win.

That was exactly why I had come here. My goal was to recruit her as an ally.

"—So, you seem to be overthinking things quite a bit."

"……I lost."

I gave her a polite bow of defeat.

No, seriously—she is way too strooooooooong!

How did that piece end up there?! Was she reading a hundred moves ahead? I’d seen people on message boards claiming, "I beat her!" but those were almost always dirty lies.

……But it wasn't impossible. At least, I didn't think it was.

"C-can we go again? Please?"

"Hehe. You’re unexpectedly polite, Fancent-kun."

"I value etiquette."

"I see. Well, that’s fine. I don't dislike it. ——♪ ——♪"

She probably didn't even realize she was doing it, but Cecil was humming to herself. She really did love this game. And truthfully, so did I.

It sucked that I couldn't win, but the situation was unexpectedly fun. Before I knew it, I—no, we—had become completely immersed in the world of the board.

"……I lost."

"Thank you for the game. ——Wait, Fancent-kun, look outside!"

"Hm? Wait, wha—whaaaaaa?! What happened?! Is this a time leap?!"

We were supposed to have started before noon, but the world outside the library window was already pitch black.

I looked around and saw that the room was empty. No, wait—if I looked closely, there was one librarian left, watching us from a safe distance. I see. Between the world-famous genius Cecil and the notoriously wicked Weiss Fancent, there was no way a normal staff member was going to walk up and tell us to wrap it up.

……I felt like a total jerk.

"Let’s head home. ——Hang on a second."

"Hm? What is it?"

I walked over to the librarian and bowed my head low. No matter how much fun I was having, I couldn't just ignore the trouble I’d caused. That was the bare minimum of human decency. Closing time had clearly passed ages ago.

However, the lady just offered me a bright smile.

"It’s quite alright! You both looked like you were having so much fun."

Did I really look that happy? I wondered. Still, I made sure to apologize properly before heading back. I grabbed my things, called out to Cecil, and we hurried outside.

She was staring at me, her eyes wide with surprise.

"……What? Why are you looking at me like that?"

"……I was just thinking that you’re quite different from the rumors. Now that I think about it, I wonder why I even called out to you in the first place."

"What’s that supposed to mean?"

"Well, I had this image of you being scary. Ah, maybe it was because the book you were holding was so cute?"

"……It was for the sugar content——"

"Yes, yes, it’s good for the brain, right? Still, your Universe skills might need a little more work."

"That’s just because you’re a monster."

"That might be true."

"You really don't believe in humility, do you?"

"There's no point in it. Either way, people just take it as sarcasm."

"Well, you’ve got a point. ——Cecil, are you free tomorrow? If you’re up for it, I’d like to challenge you again."

"……Eh? I don't mind, but… at the library again?"

"The weather’s been nice lately. How about the Royal Capital National Park? We won’t be bothering anyone there."

"True. That sounds lovely. See you tomorrow then, Fancent-kun."

"Yeah. See ya, Cecil."

As I watched her walk away, I noticed her break into a quiet little skip. Exactly how much does she love this game?

Well, whatever. I had fun too. Tomorrow, I was definitely going to win. And then, I would officially bring Cecil into the fold——.

▽

"I lost."

"Yes! Thank you very much!"

The Royal Capital National Park was the only place where nature truly remained untouched despite being right in the heart of the city. Looking around, the grass was mostly covered by families and couples.

Right in the middle of them, with a Battle Universe board placed on the ground between us, we were locked in a life-or-death struggle.

Well, maybe I was the only one feeling the "life-or-death" part…… Cecil looked perfectly happy as she hummed another tune.

"~♪ ~♪"

Seriously, what is going on inside this girl's head? I had been studying like a madman ever since I arrived in this world. So why the hell couldn't I win?!

"Next game. Please."

"Sure. But let’s take a little break first. I haven't eaten a thing since this morning, and I'm starving."

"Now that you mention it… yeah, me too."

A quiet moment passed between us. I realized then that aside from my hellish training, this was the first time I had been so completely absorbed in something since coming to this world. This might have been the first time I’d worked this hard at something other than just "getting stronger."

There were children and elderly people all around us. This world was technically a game, but it was also reality.

Ah, I really am living inside Noblesse Oblige.

Suddenly, a slender, pale arm reached into my field of vision.

"Here, Fancent-kun."

"……What’s this?"

"If you're going to eat while gaming, it has to be this, right?"

Held out in her hand was a delicious-looking sandwich. The filling was…… my favorite, Melo-Melon. And it was loaded with cream. Is this… could it be…?!

"……Is this from that new shop?"

"Yep. I thought about making a lunch box, but you looked like you really wanted to try this the other day. I took a detour and picked it up this morning."

"Are you a genius?"

"So people tell me. ——I’m kidding. It’s just a small thank you from me."

"A thank you?"

What for? Did I actually do something for her?

"A thank you for playing Universe with me. There aren't tournaments every day, and I'm usually alone. I don't have any friends, and nobody wants to play with me."

Oh, right. She was so strong that nobody would even give her the time of day. Because she was such a transcendent genius, her very existence was perceived as a snub to others, leaving her isolated.

"In that case, I won’t hold back."

I gratefully accepted the sandwich. As I took a bite, the sweetness of the fruit, the cream, and the bread exploded in my mouth. Maybe I was just eating lines of code and program symbols, but I didn't care.

I was alive. And so were Cecil, Cynthia, Lilith, Carta, Allen, Shari, and Duke.

The Calamity that was approaching was a hurdle so high it wouldn't be strange for anyone to die. Even Teacher Milk wasn't safe. People would die.

……I had to get even more serious.

"Cecil. Once we’re done eating, another round. No—keep playing with me until I win."

"Fine by me. Nobody’s going to get mad at us for staying here all day."

"Your answer really assumes I’m just going to keep losing forever, doesn't it……?"

After that, we kept clashing on the board. We forgot about dinner, occasionally drifting into idle small talk as the pieces moved. We did it the next day, and the day after that.

But I couldn't beat her. In the end, I never won.

The Academy was set to start soon. Once classes began, I wouldn't be able to dedicate this much time to her anymore. In other words, I had failed to "win" her over as an ally.

Noblesse Oblige was designed so that the story would continue even if your allies died. In the original game, that was considered a "feature"—it was supposed to make you feel like you had to work harder for the sake of those you'd lost.

But that kind of future was complete bullshit.

I wanted to avoid my own ruin, sure, but more than that… I didn't want anyone to die. I had confidence in my ability to fight, but I was just a "piece" on the board. I was a player, not a strategist.

The Calamity would be a chaotic mess involving a massive number of people. I wasn't smart enough to control all those moving parts, nor did I have the trust of the masses.

But Cecil was different. If it was her, everyone would listen.

I… I didn't fully understand it myself, but I think I actually wanted to protect the people at the Academy. Maybe I don't want to admit it out loud because I'm supposed to be 'Weiss.' But that was the truth.

"…………"

During the final match, the end was already in sight. And yet, I tried to resist. Maybe I was just terrified that the board state reflected the future.

"And that’s checkmate."

"…………"

When the final battle ended, I couldn't even squeeze a sound out of my throat. It was pathetic. My effort hadn't been enough. If I had refined my skills just a little more… maybe the future would have changed.

Dammit, I’m such an idiot.

"Zero wins, 674 losses, and 1 draw. That’s not even funny."

"……That’s not true. You had some really good moves in there. That last game was the strongest you’ve ever been."

"Yeah, maybe."

Should I just ask her directly? Should I get on my knees and beg for her help?

Ha… as if she’d believe me. The second Calamity hadn't happened yet. The last one was a legend from hundreds of years ago. Who would believe it was coming back now?

Ah, why couldn't I have handled this better?

"Thanks, Cecil. It was fun."

"Likewise. I’m glad I got to see so many different sides of you, Fancent-kun."

It couldn't be helped. This was just how the original story went. Trying to use "meta-knowledge" to cheat might have been a mistake from the start. I’d just have to squeeze my brain for another way to handle what was coming. At least I’d gotten better at the game thanks to Cecil. I’d just have to make use of that somehow.

"So, are you going to tell me now?"

"……Tell you what?"

"The reason you wanted to win so badly. You remember the condition for me winning, right? I’m using it now. That’s a fair request, isn't it?"

"……You probably won’t believe me."

"It’s fine, just say it. I don't think you're the type to lie to me, Fancent-kun."

I was stunned. In the original game, Cecil wasn't the type to say things like that. She didn't trust people. That was why, no matter how much you begged, she wouldn't join you unless you beat her. And even then, it was only out of a sense of competitive obligation.

But right now, Cecil was looking me straight in the eye.

"—The Calamity."

So, I told her. I talked about the second Calamity that was destined to occur. I didn't remember every single detail, and there were things I couldn't say, but I told her about the Demon King, the Demon Race, and the sheer scale of the danger.

I thought about lying and saying I’d seen it through some "future-sight magic," but I didn't. I didn't want to lie to Cecil when she was choosing to trust me.

She listened to the end without interrupting once. Objectively speaking, it was an absurd, nonsensical story. Even a close friend would have hesitated to believe it. And on top of that, I was Weiss Fancent. Anyone else would have assumed I was just mocking them.

"……I see. Something that terrible… that is a worry. It’s unsettling not knowing when it will happen, but if you’ll have me, I’ll start thinking of the best way to handle it. Though, don't get your hopes up too high."

Cecil believed me. She didn't even ask for proof.

"……You don't think I’m lying?"

"Well, you aren't, right?"

Cecil’s face was deadly serious. There wasn't a hint of ridicule in her expression.

"Yeah… but we’ve never even spoken before this. If I were in your shoes… I wouldn't believe a word of it."

Cecil slowly picked up one of the game pieces.

"……Universe is a more interesting game than you think. You can see a person's true character by how they play. Fancent-kun, you're stronger than you realize. You made moves that genuinely startled me, and you surprised me over and over. But more than that, the way you move your pieces shows how much you fear making sacrifices. I could feel your desperation to protect everyone through the board. That’s why I believe you."

"Hah. It’s just a game, though."

"Maybe. To some people, it’s just a game, but to me, it’s everything. It’s no exaggeration to say I only exist because of Universe. But because of that, everyone stopped wanting to associate with me. That’s why, when you invited me to play, I was so happy. I’ll help you. I’m sure I’ll have a lot of questions for you later, so you’ll have to keep talking to me."

"……That’s more than I could’ve ever hoped for."

"Hehe. Well then, I look forward to working with you."

Why is everyone in this world so kind? I felt it then—the reality that I was only surviving because I was being supported by others.

But thanks to her, the odds of choosing a better future had definitely gone up. I originally just wanted to avoid my own destruction, but now, I was getting greedy. I wanted to make the impossible possible.

Hey, Weiss. You feel the same way, don't you? You want everything to turn out perfectly, right? Come on, answer me.

"It’s getting late. I’ll walk you home."

"No way. You’re Lady Cynthia’s fiancé, aren't you? Honestly, I’ve been nervous the whole time wondering when she was going to pop out. You’d better tell her the truth—that you were just playing games with me."

Wait, really? Oh, right. She’d probably be pissed. ……I’d better tell her properly.

"Well then, see you later, Fancent-kun. If this leads to a fight and your engagement gets broken off or something, come tell me and I’ll comfort you."

"……Comfort me?"

"Good night! That was fun. And for the record… this was the first time I’ve had a draw since my second-ever match of Universe. You should be proud."

"Hah. I’ll do that."

I didn't quite get that last bit, but the result was the best possible outcome. Plus, everyone at the Academy—including myself—was already stronger than they were in the original story.

I will absolutely…… not lose.

I’m going to resist everything this world throws at me.

Demon King, I’m the one who’s going to kill you. Better wash your neck and wait.