Episode 660 Wins Heart (4)
Every morning, Ray visits the Celia branch.
“What did you come for again!”
“What is work? I came to my top, do I have to have a job?”
Ray naturally opened the door to the office and got into the car with familiarity.
The skill of the tea ceremony, which he had learned to live and die under Derp and Aira, was clearly demonstrated.
At first, the old man who waved his hand and refused, even fell in love with the tea scent.
He took a sip of the teacup and praised himself.
“As expected, I ride a car like crazy.”
“joy. You’re just imitating me.”
“Rather than that, how about Celia Kingdom?”
“What do you guys know? Are you planning on using sobriety to spice things up?”
“Ah, my legs hurt, why am I moving? Are you going to come find me first from there anyway?”
At that, the old man snorted.
“Stop talking nonsense. The taxes he earns are enough to sustain the kingdom. Besides, do you think the coffers of intermediary trading countries are going to dry up that quickly?”
Of course, as the old man said, the safe wouldn’t dry up.
Since it is the kingdom of Silia, which boasts a long history, it is absurd that the country would collapse at this level.
However, what if the kingdom of Celia had other problems besides financial difficulties?
And if the situation requires the half-man corps to solve the problem, the story will flow differently.
‘There must be something I don’t know. King Deogard will definitely come.’
He is a king whose impatience reached the peak and even raised the taxes of the people.
It must be that something serious has happened that will cause some of the people to give up.
The old man put down the teacup and said.
“The kingdom of Celia is not as strong as you think. It’s good to say that he is in charge of intermediary trade on the continent, but in other words, he is under pressure from several kingdoms at once. Think about it. How could that discord be worthy of a kingdom? I don’t know, but the king’s mind and body must be sick.”
After taking a deep breath, the old man looked out the window and continued.
“I hear you were born and raised in this kingdom. Me too. I was born and raised in Celia, but even though it’s been a long time since I started a family in this kingdom. I don’t want to see my hometown destroyed over something like this. I think it’s the same for you, but…”
Well, that’s right.
Inside Silia, there is the forest of Grandel and there is a family.
I had no intention of letting the people I wanted to protect live in ruins.
However, at the same time, I must pay respect to the goblins who died mercilessly.
That’s why Ray never moved first.
It was also for that reason that the trade between the top and the kingdom was cut off.
“It is not yet time. When your pride collapses and you start to push yourself to the limit, you will find me. It can’t be until then.”
Even the old man forgot his words for a moment at the words of his firm will.
It wasn’t the usual blurry eyes.
Could it be because his eyes were clear when he spoke?
The old man silently turned his head and went back to work.
* * *
Ray always came to the branch at dawn.
Now, drinking his tea in the morning has become a daily routine.
I thought I would do something if I came, but all I do is shut myself in my study and look at books.
The only time I stopped by the office was when I was in the car, so I didn’t run into them as often as I thought.
At first, I thought it was going well, but now I feel lonely being alone in my office.
I finished my work early, so I looked out the window helplessly.
As if he had a good idea, the old man took out a quality wooden board.
When Ray, who stopped by the office to catch a car just in time, was about to pass by.
The old man called him.
“Son.”
“yes?”
Ray, who had started to get used to being called a kid, answered naturally.
“You know this much if you are also a member of the top tier of the guild, right? Let’s get rid of boredom.”
While talking, he gently holds out the wooden board.
At that, Ray’s gaze moved to the table.
“Isn’t this chess?”
“Do you know how to put it?”
how to put
He was the one who introduced chess to the other world in the first place.
It feels strange to see a copy of the original version I made as a child in front of me.
I had read all the books I was going to read.
Ray, who had time left, readily accepted.
“great. If it’s just one game, there’s nothing I can’t do.”
“You speak easily. Although it is said to be taking place on a wooden board, it is a war for sure. The creator of the great country of chess said, ‘Those who take pride in understanding tactics are ignorant.’ So how deep is this fight?”
He had never said anything like that before.
Who the hell is going to come up with such crappy rumors?
Ray gave a rough answer.
“The tactics are there. Put the old man first.”
“It’s a joke. what good It’s not fun to just leave it alone, so why don’t you listen to me one by one?”
ask?
Ray looked at the old man with strange eyes.
Even if you pretend, you can see the inside.
If you win at chess, he will tell you to put a letter in the royal family first.
‘There’s no way.’
Just in time, I had a request to the branch manager.
Ray nodded and accepted it.
“It’s fun. I will.”
“The man has no words.”
An old man with a half-colored face placed the horses elaborately carved out of wood on a wooden board.
Move your words lightly and speak.
“Come to think of it, I thought Celia would come first.”
“yes.”
“But contrary to what you said, the royal family hasn’t sent a single letter yet.”
“You have to wait a little longer. Are you going to whine that the royal family isn’t even kids and it’s been a few days?”
Ray moved his words boldly.
“Not only the royal family but also the nobles must have been cornered. I’m holding on to taxes, but there’s a limit there too. Isn’t another name for the upper ranks ‘Salvation Upper Level’? Do you have any plans to move first?”
The old man told him to go first, but Gaeko didn’t even get through to him.
Ray, who moved his words with nonchalant eyes, replied.
“A thirsty guy will dig a well. Won’t you come back before you starve to death?”
“Keuk… How can a young guy have no blood or tears?”
“It’s the old man’s turn.”
“huh? Oh yes.”
Let’s move the horse late.
Ray’s army, which had been messing around and being lazy, rose up in an instant.
When the soldiers, who seemed roughly scattered, approached and surrounded them at the same time, the pressure was considerable.
The old man looked at the wooden board in astonishment.
With just one move, the insignificant army gained strength.
Moreover, the location was so exquisite that there was no sign of digging into it.
‘It’s probably just a coincidence.’
It happened once in a while.
Instead of responding, the old man waited for an opportunity by pushing back the troops.
OK.
As if he had waited, Ray led the army and took the lead.
As the knight stood in the front and the wizard assisted from behind, the defensive old man’s formation could not hold out for long and began to disintegrate.
Looking at the old man who was sweating and rushing to stop it, Ray smiled darkly.
“Heh heh. They will all be caught.”
“Umm….”
I wonder if the fact that I made a fort was helpful.
Fortunately, only the area around the king was safely blocked, but that is also a matter of time.
The old man was lost in thought as he received a terrifying barrage from both sides.
In the end, I couldn’t change my mind, so I responded by turning the knight in a hurry, but as if I had already expected that much, Ray’s army advanced.
As the soldiers exerted pressure, it would be impossible for the knights to advance.
If this happens, the king’s life may be run away by a single soldier.
Sweat beaded on the face of the old man who was struggling over and over again.
“Where is the chess player?”
“Wait a minute, you bastard!”
The old man, who was desperately thinking about numbers, had no choice but to pull his back again.
Unlike the opposing troops, who were excitedly stirring up the enemy like a fish in water, their own troops could not help but be devastated as they watched their hometown disintegrate.
obvious gap.
The difference between the commanders ultimately determined the outcome of the war.
The old man admitted defeat before the king died.
“I lost.”
“Are you finished already? It would have been nice to try to reverse it.”
“The knight died and the wall collapsed. More than this will only increase the damage.”
He shakes his head and says.
Come to think of it, I’ve heard it before.
Chess, which is played as a great country, sees not only the victory or defeat of the war, but also the character of the person.
Although the war was lost, his heart for caring for the people must have been sincere.
Ray said with a smirk.
“I won. I was going to take it easy against the old man.”
“Keuk… It’s been a while. Do you have something to tell me?”
One glance is fast.
Ray looked at the old man and said.
“Silia seems to have a lot of pride, so she doesn’t come close to me. So, it would be good to create an environment where they can approach.”
“Don’t talk back, say it clearly.”
“We cut off all supplies that were supported by the people. In particular, the old man’s branch has more support supplies than other places, so put them all in storage.”
I didn’t know that such words would come out of my mouth.
The old man groaned.
“Hey! If that happens, people will starve to death here and there one after another! Are you really giving up on being human!”
“Oh well, it’s okay.”
Ray said, rubbing his ears.
“He is a king who cares about his people more than anyone else. Perhaps raising taxes was because he believed that the half-man guild would support the people. If we cut off support, the other side will start lowering taxes again and releasing support supplies.”
“How can I believe what you say?”
“I lost in chess regardless of whether the old man believed it or not, so I just follow him. It’s impossible for a man to say two things with one mouth…”
“Keep! I wasn’t playing chess or anything!”
If you regret it later, it’s already too late.
When they are squabbling over chess.
The Demonic Church, which had been crouching down, began to move slowly.
