Magic Academy's Genius Blinker - Chapter 80

Chapter 80

Soul Chess (2)

T hi s w as co pied f r o m k i n gm t l . o r g
Soul Chess.

To Baek Yu-seol, it was a rather vexing content.

While playing Aether World, Soul Chess would appear everywhere.

Whether it was Persona Gate, dungeons, ruins, or any other place, one had to play chess to break through various soul traps and obstacles and to build affinity with major characters or persuade them.

Unlike regular chess, Soul Chess involved placing pieces with various abilities, making it more akin to a turn-based game (TRPG). Baek Yu-seol wasn’t exactly a genius, so he wasn’t exceptionally good at it.

However, the same went for other players, who could only target their opponent with the help of the ‘system.’

In Soul Chess, the strategy battle starts from the moment pieces are placed.

Th i s w as c o p ie d f r o m k i ng mt l. o r g
Does your army have abilities that counter the opponent’s? Is your deployed force more advantageous than theirs?

From there, Baek Yu-seol had an edge.

While he never directly faced Edmund Atalek, all of Edmund’s pieces and strategies were recorded in the Bulbul Glasses.

In other words, he could play Soul Chess while looking at a ‘guidebook.’

Moreover, by utilizing the Bulbul Glasses’ ‘Current Analysis’ system, he could analyze his opponent’s chess patterns and know which moves had the highest probability of leading to victory.

In other words, he had AlphaGo alongside the guidebook, making it impossible for Baek Yu-seol to lose.

Unaware of this, Edmund Atalek looked at the chessboard in front of him with confident eyes.
T h i s w as c o pi e d f ro m k in g m t l . or g

‘Ha, Soul Chess?’

His previously anxious mind had calmed down, and he could now leisurely take in his surroundings.

The signing of the oath had ended.

Now, he just needed to win in Soul Chess and claim the item trading rights.

“Hey, Edmund is playing Soul Chess with a first-year junior?”

“And it’s not just a regular game; it’s a bet.”

“They even signed an oath…”

“Edmund will win, right?”

“Of course, have you ever seen anyone in Stella better at Soul Chess than Edmund?”

The spectators had grown. Initially, the crowd had made him uncomfortable, but now he wished for even more spectators to witness his victory.

Edmund glanced at Hong Bi-yeon, who was sitting nearby. He gazed at her affectionately.

But she merely sipped her coffee, legs crossed, without even looking at him.

It was frustrating that she didn’t even glance his way, but it didn’t matter since she was destined to be his woman. No one else could touch her but him.

With that thought, Edmund met Baek Yu-seol’s eyes.

On the contrary, Hong Bi-yeon’s mind was in turmoil.

‘What is he thinking? Soul Chess…?’

Of all things, why did he choose the game Edmund Atalek was best at?

It was sheer madness. If he lost, everything would become meaningless.

Did he have a plan? No matter how smart Baek Yu-seol was, it was impossible to beat Edmund Atalek, a Soul Chess prodigy who had been playing since he was five.

Knowing this, Edmund confidently spoke.
T h is was c o pi ed f r o m k i n g mt l. o r g

“So, junior. Let’s start placing the pieces. You go first.”

Baek Yu-seol nodded without hesitation. Giving away the first move in such an important bet? What a fool.

“Alright.”

They each started placing their pieces on the chessboard, which was much larger than a typical board and was octagonal.

Even the process of placing the pieces was a battle of wits.

When one player placed five pieces, the other would then place their five pieces.

They had to check the opponent’s pieces, adjust their strategy, and decide which pieces to place.

[Edmund Atalek usually deploys the ‘Blazing Flame Beast’ units. He focuses on firepower, so be cautious.]

[If he goes first, he is likely to move the ‘Fire Giant’ or set up ‘Burning Ground’ on the field. Prepare the ‘Frozen Iceberg’ in response. If that’s not possible…]

Numerous strategies for dealing with ‘Edmund Atalek’ in Soul Chess appeared in Baek Yu-seol’s vision. Using this information, the Bulbul Glasses began [Current Analysis], displaying the most ideal routes as holograms in the air.

Following the suggestions, he leisurely placed his pieces on the board.

There was no need for psychological warfare.

He had the advantage no matter what.

“Hmm.”

As Edmund placed his pieces, he furrowed his brows slightly. Although he didn’t underestimate his opponent enough to bet on a Soul Chess game, seeing Baek Yu-seol seemingly grasping his strategy just from a few pieces was unnerving.

He was on the back foot from the start.

A moment of anxiety washed over him, but he shook it off. Such minor disadvantages could easily be overcome with his experience and superior strategy. He had been in countless battles and was used to this.

“Shall we start?”

Baek Yu-seol answered by making the first move with his piece.

‘Hmm?’

An aggressive move right from the start. Surprised by Baek Yu-seol’s bold move of sending a strategically significant piece with high offensive and defensive power close to his lines, Edmund was taken aback.

Not in a good way, but in a bad way.

‘Is this commoner too dumb to understand the concept of a reconnaissance battle?’

For Edmund, it wasn’t a bad development. If he could significantly reduce the opponent’s strength from the start.

Since the opponent came out boldly, Edmund also moved one of his three pieces boldly.

‘Speedrun Knight’

It wasn’t a piece with strong attack power, but its excellent mobility allowed it to cover the entire map.

Crash!

When Edmund’s piece moved and struck down Baek Yu-seol’s piece, it turned into light particles and vanished. But Baek Yu-seol, unfazed, immediately moved his next piece. This time, he started putting pressure from another direction.

Although the move was also aggressive, it didn’t significantly harm Edmund’s position. On the contrary, Edmund used his mobility to bring out all three of his pieces, gradually chipping away at Baek Yu-seol’s key pieces.

‘This is easier than I thought.’

Edmund didn’t bother hiding his smile. Feeling confident, he leisurely played the game.

Hong Bi-yeon bit her lip nervously.

‘What is he trying to do?’

But at some point.

As Edmund’s pieces began to infiltrate Baek Yu-seol’s territory, the game took a turn.

“Hmm?”

Before he realized it, three of Baek Yu-seol’s pieces had occupied specific points, activating a field spell.

[Trap: Prison]

A field effect that sets up a prison in a confined space, trapping any piece inside for five turns.

Whether by coincidence or strategy.

All three of Edmund’s ‘Speedrun Knights,’ responsible for his mobility, had fallen into the trap.

‘Uh…?’

It must be a coincidence. It’s just five turns. There’s no way to turn the tide in five turns.

Besides.

‘Hehe, I can complete the field soon!’

In Soul Chess, you couldn’t just kill an opponent’s piece by capturing it. You had to attack multiple times to reduce its defense, but a field spell that greatly increased his pieces’ attack power was about to activate.
T h is w a s c o pied f r o m k in g mt l. o r g

[Field: Burning Ground]

A field that reduces the opponent’s defense against fire-type attacks and increases his own attack power.

It was extremely difficult to complete this, requiring the occupation of five points. But once completed, the opponent would quickly find themselves on the defensive.

‘It’s over.’

How meticulously he had moved his pieces to occupy the points. Baek Yu-seol had been aimlessly doing meaningless things without noticing this strategy.

But then.

[Occupation: Reversal Point]

“…Huh?”

When Baek Yu-seol’s piece moved, Edmund inadvertently let out a foolish sound.

A pawn, which he hadn’t even noticed moving, had suddenly seized a specific point.

Normally, this wouldn’t trigger any effect, but if the opponent had activated a [Field], it would trigger the [Reversal] effect.

In other words, the fire-based [Burning Ground] instantly froze over and became [Frozen Ground].

“This, this…”

How did he complete the reversal right after completing Burning Ground?

That meant… Baek Yu-seol had completely seen through Edmund’s intentions.

‘No, no! If I capture all the points, I can reclaim my field!’

While biting his lip, he hurriedly moved his Speedrun Knights to target the points.

‘Oh.’

But then he realized, all his Speedrun Knights were trapped in [Prison], unable to move.

From that moment on, he couldn’t think of anything.

T h i s w a s c o pie d f r o m k i ng mt l .o r g
‘What… should I do?’

There was no way.

With his Speedrun Knights trapped, there was no piece capable of reaching the opponent’s points.

If he canceled the field himself… all the turns spent so far would be wasted. It would be a suicidal move.

‘No, no. He might have seen through my strategy by luck, but if I calmly regroup and fight again, I can win…’

Edmund bit his lip hard and canceled [Burning Ground]. The field reverted to a plain, as the burning ground thawed.

‘Alright, now to regroup and…!’

But before he could even think.

Bang!

Baek Yu-seol’s piece moved relentlessly. It was an aggressive move without any hesitation.

‘Uh…’

Though slightly flustered, Edmund tried to clear his mind.

Understand the opponent’s strategy.

If he strikes where they least expect, they would surely be caught off guard.

Slowly, slowly, he would advance.

But.

Bang! Bang!

Where Edmund took 5 minutes to think, Baek Yu-seol took 5 seconds.
T h i s w as c o p i e d f r o m k i n g m tl . or g

He showed no hesitation, moving his pieces immediately after Edmund finished his turn, sweeping through his army like a tidal wave.
T h i s wa s c o p i e d f r o m k ing m t l . o r g

At that moment.

Edmund felt a certain fear.

It was the chilling sensation of facing an entity without blood, tears, or emotions.

Suddenly, Baek Yu-seol felt distant and unreachable. He couldn’t bear to face the cold, expressionless man in front of him.

Shivering.

Edmund forced himself to hold his piece with his trembling hand, but there was no longer a way.

The opponent showed no openings to any attack, and with a ruthless, emotionless attack, he completely obliterated his army.

At that moment, he felt despair.

As if he was facing an overwhelming mage crushing him with sheer power. He had never faced an opponent who moved their pieces so coldly and emotionlessly.

It was so terrifying and chilling that it brought tears to his eyes.

“Ugh, ugh…”

He lost.

He didn’t want to acknowledge the clear fact, but the more he struggled, the more he looked like a worm writhing before a giant.

T his wa s c o p ied f r o m ki ng mtl. o r g
In the end, Edmund toppled his king with his own finger.

Thud!

A declaration of complete defeat.

He held his head in his hands.

‘What the hell is this…?’

Sweat formed on the tip of his nose. Even in the messy situation of sweat dripping onto the floor, he couldn’t maintain his dignity.

It must be a dream.

It must be a dream.

This was a match he couldn’t afford to lose.

Yes. This can’t be reality.

Despite thinking that, the students’ commotion grounded him in reality.

“Edmund lost?”

T hi s wa s c o p i ed fr o m k i ng m t l. org
“How could this…”

“Damn, did you see that? The strategy was no joke.”

“I don’t know much about Soul Chess, but I couldn’t understand a thing…”

“He just toyed with him. Edmund couldn’t even put up a fight.”

Among the students, Hong Bi-yeon silently disappeared first, and Baek Yu-seol also stood up, holding the mana oath.

Smiling warmly, something no one would believe from someone who played such an emotionless game, he bowed lightly.

“It was a good game. Thank you for your effort.”

With that, Baek Yu-seol disappeared outside the cafe, leaving Edmund with his head hanging.

It wasn’t a dream, but reality.

That fact… he realized very clearly.

End of Chapter