Chess…
Chess is a strategic board game played by two players. The objective of the game is to move different types of pieces, each assigned a specific set of possible moves, on a square board. All movements ultimately aim to capture the main piece, known as the king.
Why am I telling you this…
Among the many games I used to play in my previous world, I preferred strategy games—and what greater strategic game of intelligence has existed since time immemorial?
It is "chess."
…
After being reprimanded by my parents for leaving the house without their knowledge—and after lying to them about going out to look for art…
I received a long lecture from my mother. It was not the most pleasant thing I wanted to hear, but I accepted her words with a pained expression, knowing full well that my mother would not stop. I looked at my father, my expression saying, "Get me out of this predicament."
He moved a little closer to my mother, placing his hands on her shoulders.
"Dear, I think this is enough."
"Don't say a word."
Sparks were literally flying from her eyes…
"Understood."
My father froze, then looked at me with an apologetic smile, as if to say, "I tried my best."
Which meant more torment for me—hooray…
After listening to my mother for nearly two hours, apologizing and promising not to do such a thing again…
I returned to my room, savoring the calm atmosphere within it. I finally felt a sense of accomplishment.
Remembering what had happened last week…
And how I had survived death three confirmed times—once from the orcs and twice from that man.
Then my conversation with Mai—I began to realize something…
I had started to influence the events of this world, and this was before the story had even entered its first arc.
Therefore, I needed to think carefully about my next steps.
And the first thing I realized was that I was broke.
In every universe, in every world, in every place and every city, money had always been important.
And this world was no exception.
I needed capital; I couldn't ask my parents for an amount equivalent to seven million coins—for reasons as clear as daylight.
First, they would suspect that I was being bullied or extorted; second, I couldn't tell them that I wanted a specific skill from the black market.
I mean, there was no way to explain how I knew about it in the first place, and I could clearly imagine their reaction…
"Damn it, what's the fastest way to make money so I can enter the stock market?"
I held my head, thinking of a way to take advantage of my knowledge of this world.
No ideas for quick money—at least not before the middle of the novel.
I took out my phone and began scrolling through its apps, thinking of anything that could help me.
Suddenly, an advertisement on one of the apps caught my attention…
(Cleveland City Blitz Chess Tournament. Hurry and register before tomorrow… The winner receives one million coins.)
It was a gift from the universe itself.
"This is it."
A smile appeared on my face—how could it not, when I had been a professional chess player in my world?
"As long as there isn't anyone at the grandmaster level, I won't be defeated in this tournament."
I was so confident that I went straight to sleep.
"Tomorrow will be a busy day."
Those were the last words I said…
…..
"Lucas Silver "POV
I opened my eyes to find myself in what looked like a training ground, but the size of a football field…
"Where am I?"
My heart began to race, fear clearly visible on my face.
There was nothing I could distinguish at that moment…
But suddenly, I heard the voice of an unknown man.
"Well, well. We have someone new who wants to try to take my legacy—my art, my style, which I created with my own hands."
The speaker was a man who appeared to be in his mid-fifties, with short black hair and a golden streak in the middle…
"Leon Gregory."
The name came to my mind instantly as I looked at the arc's protagonist, who looked exactly as I had imagined.
"It seems you know me. That makes things easier. And you know why I brought you to this place, don't you?"
He looked angry, staring at me as if I were a petty thief trying to steal his home—and I was.
"To test my competence to inherit your legacy."
The moment I stated my goal, the man vanished from his spot and the ground began to shake, as strange creatures seemed to emerge from it.
Creatures moving in an odd manner… they were—
"Zombies."
Instinctively, I raised my guard to the highest level.
"You must survive for 24 hours while killing these zombies using only the bow. Don't worry, they are below your level… Oh, and death here equals death in reality."
My eyes widened and anxiety began to creep in—how could it not, when I had not written this setup in the novel…
"Damn whoever brought me to this world!"
I screamed at the top of my lungs and began running away from the zombies, striking down anyone who came close using the bow Leon had given me.