The medieval fantasy world's suburban mornings greatly intrigued Natasha Cioara.
There were no roosters crowing, no barking dogs, no rising kitchen smoke. Even in roadside taverns and inns, the conversations of men and women were not about family matters, gossip, or affairs of state… instead, they were only about games.
Everywhere she looked, indoors or outdoors, on tables before the people—though there might be a lack of drinks, food, or even money—there was never a lack of playing cards.
Mostly playing cards and dominoes, with the occasional chessboard.
What to the locals was everyday life, appeared new and strange to Cioara.
As a fresh soldier of the Empire, she had never before seen how common folk lived in a medieval fantasy world.
Today, she had learned.
"Obviously, this is a rare order formed by forcibly intervening based on personal preference."
Cioara rested her elbow on the window ledge, her fingers tapping idly.
Not long ago, after infiltrating into the world called 'Disboard,' she had marveled at its peculiar scenery. And then… she had been robbed by bandits.
Truth be told, Cioara had been rather stunned at the time—stunned that three bandits had managed to confuse her.
Though they shouted about robbery, they held no weapons. And not only did they have no weapons, they had no intention of using force at all. Rushing before her, those three ragged, half-naked thieves pulled out playing cards, shouting to place bets.
They even asked politely whether rock-paper-scissors would also do.
Cioara and the infiltrating soldiers beside her: …
Were they serious, or was this some kind of joke?
She remembered the warnings she had read carefully in the Vengeful Spirit's strategy chamber: that a so-called God of Games had decreed Ten Covenants, abolishing all war.
In this world, everything was determined by those Ten Covenants, the first two of which prohibited killing, war, and plunder. All disputes must be decided by games.
…In other words, because of the Covenants, those bandits were like that?
Bandits who could not use force—were they still bandits?
Once she understood, Cioara did not use force either, but simply declared that their wagers did not match her terms, then turned and walked away.
At her words, the three bandits clung to each other and wept bitterly, crying out: "It's all because of those two brats, those despicable outsiders! They didn't leave us even a single coin to gamble with!"
A fortunate and yet unfortunate world.
By the window, Cioara tilted her head back, her expression faintly cold. In the distant sky, islands floated among the clouds.
Beyond the horizon, amid the mountains, stood massive chess pieces, so huge they broke the sense of distance.
What a marvelous world.
But once the so-called only obstacle was removed, when the Luna Wolves descended in wrath upon Disboard, such dreamlike scenery, as if from a game, might no longer exist.
Ssshhk!
A sharp crimson fingertip guard scraped across the wooden table, raising an ear-splitting sound that made gooseflesh rise.
"So, lady, drinking alone like this… are you drowning sorrows in wine?"
Cioara's lips curved faintly. In her rose-red pupils was reflected the haggard figure of a blonde woman across the table. Purple lipstick, pale-blue eyeshadow, light pink blush, and cheeks sunken enough to show tear grooves.
Though her features were good, the heavy makeup and her current gloom left a poor first impression.
"I heard the diners say… just yesterday, you lost to outsiders…"
"Shut up!!"
In an instant, the blonde woman slammed her cup onto the table. Her grip tightened sharply as she glared at the cloaked stranger across from her. Abruptly, she rose and said coldly, "If you've come to laugh at me—do as you please…"
Before she could finish speaking—clink!
A crisp metallic sound rang out. A gleaming gold coin spun across the table before her, bouncing, twirling, and finally falling still.
"…What do you mean?" The blonde woman's angry expression faltered, her gaze shifting in confusion.
"Obviously, this is a trade."
With a sharp fingertip guard, Cioara nudged the coin, then tossed it high into the air. "I need all the information on those two outsiders who defeated you, as well as full details of the so-called 'Royal Selection Tournament' gambling cycle."
"You're an outsider too?"
"Mhmm."
Without saying it outright, she then hurled a heavy pouch of coins onto the wooden table, under the shocked and delighted gazes of the surrounding diners. A few gold pieces spilled out, gleaming faintly in the candlelight.
"Is this enough?"
"More than enough."
No matter her displeasure, no one could hate money. This pouch was far richer than what she had lost to that outsider.
She studied the hooded stranger before her.
A black cloak with wine-red trim; metallic decorations shaped like eyes; feathers on the left shoulder; sleeve cuffs like wings; both hands clad in sharp wine-red fingertip guards…
Not an Elkian. Perhaps not even human.
But whether or not she harbored malice… under the Ten Covenants, what malice could there be?
Enticed by the shine of gold, the blonde woman quickly made her decision.
"Those two… I didn't interact with them long, but they seem to be siblings. Right now, they should be with the granddaughter of the former king, Stephanie Dola. If you want to find them, head for Elkia Palace."
"And as for the 'Royal Selection Tournament' gambling cycle, it exists because of the late Elkian King's final words…"
…
A few minutes later.
"Tch…"
Leaving the inn in Elkia's western district, Cioara's expression turned strange under her hood. "To truly win everything through games… To choose a king by gambling tournaments—though it is this world's specialty, it feels wrong no matter how I look at it."
"How did it feel to throw money around like that?"
At the city gate, another cloaked figure was waiting. Raiden Mei teased lightly.
"Wonderful. After all, it's not my salary I'm spending… These are specially approved infiltration funds. Unmarked precious-metal coins. Use freely."
Pulling back her hood, Cioara spread her hands cheerfully, glancing sidelong at Mei. "Oh my, the hooded look suits you, Miss Electric Dragon. Want me to take a few photos?"
"Spare me, Lady Dodo. The mission matters more."
Closing her personal tactical terminal, Raiden Mei removed her hood, rubbing her forehead with a trace of exasperation. "Our task is to deal with the Kingdom of Elkia."
Better not to see, lest the heart be troubled. Likely, they feared they might not hold back.
For the last territory of humanity—the Kingdom of Elkia—the Luna Wolves had assigned it to the Valkyrie Corps.
As for the infiltration units of the Luna Wolves and the Imperial assassination squads, their missions lay with the other races' domains.
"So, who do you think is humanity's representative? Who's their player on the board?"
"At present, naturally the Elkian royal family has the highest chance. Stephanie Dola is the granddaughter of the former king. She has the highest priority."
"But this human kingdom is nothing like the Empire. Royal authority is weak. The people speak of the king and royal family with no respect at all, even openly mocking them. And Stephanie Dola… because of the 'Royal Selection Tournament,' even the commoners know she can't inherit the throne…"
Hearing this, Mei, long accustomed to Imperial life, shook her head. "I see. Even kings chosen by gamblers… How could that ever work?"
"Personally, I have little hope for Stephanie Dola. It should be someone else."
"Those two outsiders she took in… the deadline of the Royal Selection is approaching. If she brings them back to the palace, we should pay attention."
It was a judgment born of Cioara's mercenary instinct, based on the intelligence they had gathered.
"Mm, we'll know once we reach the palace… Only two candidates remain for the throne: Chlammy Zell and Stephanie Dola… Just wait—whoever wins, we'll deal with them."
"Then let us go openly, to 'witness' it. The birth of a so-called king."
As Cioara gave the hand signal for 'secure,' almost simultaneously, the men and women scattered across taverns, inns, and parks quickly regrouped.
All that caution had been for nothing. It seemed this land truly had long forgotten war. Even here, near the capital, there were no patrols to be seen.
Could it be the Kingdom of Elkia really had no army at all…?
...
By dusk, the rose-gold sunlight draped Elkia's royal hall in a silken veil.
The final match of the Royal Selection had ended.
Before the throne stood a small table and two chairs.
Crowds of Elkian citizens filled the great hall, their eyes fixed on the girl standing beside the throne—Chlammy Zell.
The girl clasped her hands across her frail chest, her expressionless face framed by long black hair. She wore a black veil and mourning clothes, as though attending a funeral, her cold features like those of the dead.
Moments ago, this black-haired girl had crushed her last opponent in an overwhelming victory.
In this world where games decided everything, strength was not admired. What mattered was skill in games—this alone determined one's social standing.
However weak, however frail, no one dared belittle her.
Because, unless something unexpected occurred, this girl who had defeated every human gambler would become the new monarch of Elkia.
"Very well. Chlammy Zell has achieved final victory in the Selection… Is there anyone left who would challenge her?"
Before the throne, a bald, white-bearded minister in formal garb looked out at the crowd surrounding the hall.
His eyes swept across the faces, searching. The familiar, gentle girl he had once known was nowhere to be seen. A faint sorrow shadowed his gaze.
Compared to this unknown girl who had suddenly appeared, he still hoped that Stephanie Dola—the former king's granddaughter, raised from childhood to be queen—might inherit the throne.
After all, in some sense, he had watched her grow up.
But alas, this was the will. This was the oath. It could not be changed.
Hopefully, the late king's choice was not mistaken.
"Then…" The minister withdrew his gaze with a heavy sigh. "In accordance with the late king's testament, I hereby crown Chlammy Zell as Elkia's new monarch. Any who object, speak now. Otherwise, remain silent…"
On the palace's second floor, leaning lazily against the railing, Cioara poured herself a cup of black tea, prepared to enjoy this strange coronation like a play.
"Someone down there has noticed us. That one… if I'm not mistaken, their magical adaptability is extremely high. Beneath the hood—blonde hair. Not human."
At her side, Raiden Mei's expression was cold.
"I see her. If there's no one else, then we strike."
In Mei's pale violet eyes, the reflection of a hooded figure emerged.
Sensing something, the cloaked figure in the crowd below raised her head. Her gaze—unlike that of any human—met Mei's own.
"What…" At the throne, Chlammy Zell stiffened, turning toward Mei's position.
In response, Mei smiled faintly.
"Found her. Attack!"
It was no surprise Mei thought this way. Immersed in the Empire's supreme monarchy and militarism, though she remained untainted at heart, her will firm, her thinking had inevitably been influenced.
Judging by the Empire's usual logic of profit, the other races that treated humanity as livestock clearly saw value here—they even sought to raise one to the throne of Elkia.
So what value did this young girl, Chlammy Zell, truly hold?
What Raiden Mei thought of was simple: a representative, a player on the board.
Bzzz—!
The exchange lasted but a moment. Chlammy instantly felt her hairs stand on end.
The next instant, lightning flashed!
"Chlammy!"
"Fil!"
BOOOOM—!!
Heaven's thunder, like divine judgment, crashed down upon the throne.
CRAAASH—!!
The palace collapsed as lightning raged. In that overwhelming instant, a red-haired boy with a spiky head—who had just been preparing to raise an objection with his white-haired sister—froze, hurriedly withdrawing his hand.
Thud!!
Struck by the storm of thunder, Chlammy was hurled more than two meters, smashing against a wall before coming to a stop. Surviving by sheer fortune, she realized with shock that it was lightning that had split the hall.
"The First Covenant of the Ten! All killing, war, and plunder are forbidden! Unknown race, your act is a provocation against God, and against all sixteen sentient races!"
The hood fell away, revealing long ears—the mark of the Elf race—and soft golden hair. Fil, the elf, frowned deeply as she raised her magical sigils, her gaze locked on the tall figure walking out of the storm.
From beneath her cloak, Raiden Mei's form had transformed. Two ominous horns of lightning grew slowly from her head. Within her eyes, violet lightning flickered. The gentle Yamato Nadeshiko face was now replaced with the stern countenance of a warrior.
"Thy God is not my God! Thy Covenant is not my Covenant!"
"In the name of the Divine Empress—of End, of Destruction, of Slaughter, of War, of the Abyss, of Death, of Courage, of Victory, of Evolution, of the Sun, of Life… the God of Games' Covenants are hereby ended!"
The sacred liturgy of the Adeptus Ministorum was indeed long, and excessively dramatic—fitting for those who called themselves Selene's lambs and loyal servants.
CRACKLE—!!
Without pause, lightning wreathed her fingertips. From the void, Raiden Mei drew forth a katana wrapped in violet thunder. "This is… my declaration of war—!"
At her words, and the string of divine titles she invoked, not only the elves but also Elkia's fleeing nobles, a certain sibling pair, and the former princess all froze in shock.
God… was there not supposed to be only one?
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