No Game No Life - Volume 2 - Chapter 4

CHAPTER 4 
CHECKMATE 
The embassy—no, once Elkia’s castle, now the “Empire State Building.” As she looked up from below, Shiro had one comment. 
“…My neck hurts.” 
“Jeez, why does it have to be this big… Wait, Immanity doesn’t have this kind of construction technology, does it?” 
To Sora, complaining as he held his neck, Jibril replied indifferently. 
“That goes without saying. The Eastern Union remodeled the building any number of times after they took it.” 
Hmm… Sora answered, “…Well, I was already pretty sure…but, yeah, I think we’re gonna have to just charge into this baby.” 
“…? What are you talking about?—And, wait—” 
Steph, with a tinge of irritation, pointed to the ground. 
“May I finally ask what we are doing here ?” 
—And likewise Shiro and Jibril, having also been led here with no explanation, looked to Sora as if agreeing with Steph’s words. 
“Soft, soft, I come but to lay my eyes upon the fair ‘animal girls.’” 
Sora dodged the question and marched ahead. 
“H—wait a minute, this may be within Elkia’s borders, but it’s an embassy, you know!” protested Steph. 
“I’m aware. And it was our castle.” 
“Ngh, no, I-I mean—i-it’s a violation of sovereignty!” 
“Who said anything about violating anyone’s sovereignty? We have an appointment.” 
“Wha? That’s—” 
Impossible , Steph was going to say before she was interrupted. 
“Right—Gramps?” 
Just as Sora said this… 
…The door of the giant building opened to reveal a figure. 
“—Welcome, King Sora and Queen Shiro of Elkia.” 
A gray-haired, wolf-eared, bushy-tailed, hakama -wearing Werebeast descended the steps of the entrance to the height of four people or so and bowed deeply. 
“It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance. I am the deputy ambassador of the Eastern Union in Elkia—my name is Ino Hatsuse.” 
Thus deferentially spoke the old man—Ino Hatsuse. 
“Uh, what? H-how did you make contact?!” 
Sora didn’t know what Steph was getting all that excited about, but he answered: 
“Well, you know, this morning, this guy was looking at me while I was on the library balcony .” 
—Huh? 
“So then I signaled, ‘I’ll be over in a minute,’ and Gramps nodded back. See, we have an appointment.” 
“…Um, no, that does not make sense,” protested Steph. 
“H—wait a minute. It’s thirty kilometers from here to that library!” 
“You’re right. It really surprised me to see how good Werebeast eyes are.” 
—No. That wasn’t the point. If we were talking about Werebeasts, then fine. But the question was. How did Sora see that? But without addressing that in the slightest. Ino responded calmly as if the details were already known. 
“It is my understanding you have business with the ambassador of the Eastern Union in Elkia—Izuna Hatsuse.” 
Thus—Ino anticipated their business. Ino’s narrowed eyes, the mind-reading eyes of the Werebeast , faced them all. 
Steph’s breath was stolen for a moment. They were—yes, just like Sora’s, no, even more. Eyes that seemed to see through everything, to peer into her head— 
“I’m glad we could get straight to it. So, let’s go; show me the way.” 
But, from Sora, who stood as if utterly unaffected by these eyes, taking them face-on, what did Ino glean? 
“—Come right this way, please.” 
As all he did was to invite them inside. 
 
Entering, going through the lobby, boarding the elevator. From among buttons that went up to 80, he pressed 60, and the elevator began to rise. 
“Uh?! Wh-what is this; the floor is moving?!” 
Ignoring the lone bewildered Steph, Ino said: 
“I must say, though, we would appreciate it if next time you made your visit according to the official procedures.” 
To his words, which implied, and not some stunt like that , it was Steph who surprisingly enough reacted. 
“Some talk. Has the Eastern Union ever responded to the official procedures?!” 
As if genuinely taken aback by Steph’s sarcastic words, Ino peered into Steph’s eyes and spoke. 
“—What, you have in fact posted…?” 
At Ino, seeming to read Steph’s thoughts to see that she was telling a startling truth, Steph flinched for a moment at those eyes that read her soul, but stubbornly stood her ground. 
“O-of course we have! Since the reign of my grandfather, we have sent any number of letters regarding trade and diplomacy, and not once have we received a reply. How dare you feign ignorance!” 
“…I deeply apologize. Next time, please address your inquiries directly to me, Ino Hatsuse.” 
With that, Ino sighed and put a hand to his forehead. 
“As you know, since that incident , there are a remarkable number among us who hold an excess of hostility toward Elkia… Since the last game with your previous king, I have not heard once of a letter…” 
“Wha—! You li—” 
“I suspect that your letters have been disposed of within the lower ranks. There is no excuse for this; I will identify those who ordered and carried out this grave discourtesy and see to it that they are punished severely. I beg your forgiveness.” 
Ino’s finished words, cutting off the doubting Steph, shut her up, bringing to her face rage and shame. 
—It appeared that he really hadn’t known. 
“Quite the ‘great country’; but I suppose it’s all one can expect from Werebeasts.” 
At Jibril’s snide quip, Ino’s gaze sharpened subtly. 
“Wait, Steph, what’s ‘that incident’ ?” 
Sora seemed to suppose that because letters were not arriving no appointment could be made. 
“…It involves the reconstruction after our castle was taken.” 
Sighing with a sense of pain, Steph explained. 
“Elkia built a new castle from the standpoint that having an embassy grander than our castle would affect our dignity as a nation.” 
“Hmm, the castle we have now, right?” 
“In response, the Eastern Union undertook a large-scale remodel, and then again, as if to rub our noses in it… Elkia is no match for the Eastern Union when it comes to construction technology either, so, well, you know, things happened.” 
“Oh, yeah, I hate those events; they really get on my nerves…” Sora muttered. 
To this, Jibril took the opportunity for another jab. “It’s all the more irritating for the tendency of Werebeast, at Rank Fourteen, to look down inordinately at Immanity, at Rank Sixteen.—I seem to recall reading a certain phrase in one of my master’s books.” 
With a smile of recognition, Jibril said: 
“—‘The pot calling the kettle black.’” 
Hah-hah-hah , Ino laughed, and he answered: 
“How very apt; I cannot agree more. And, to be told this by Rank Six, how it smarts.” 
But, continued Ino: 
“In that case, your old curios floating around in the sky under a pile of books constitute the pot , I presume?” 
“Hee-hee; there’s no need to overexert yourself; you’re welcome to speak your true meaning as plainly as you like,” Jibril answered, with neither breaking a crack in their smiles. 
“That is, in rank, life span, physical abilities, knowledge, wisdom…in everything we are inferior to you, O Flügel, but as wretched, inadequate creatures crawling the earth, please allow us the luxury of looking down on one of the few life-forms we can find below us !” 
“Hah-hah-hah, I should not expect to hear such a novel viewpoint but from a defective product such as yourself who travels in the company of these hairless monkeys .” 
“Why, yes, for narrow-minded mongrels such as yourself, it certainly must be an eye opener!” 
“Hah-hah-hah!” 
“Tee-hee-hee!” 
“…Hey, Steph.” 
“…Not that I can’t guess, but what is it?” 
“Is it just me, or is there way too much tension in this world? Also, by hairless monkeys , does he mean us?” 
“In a world that was fighting for almost an eternity, when you ban combat out of the blue, some grudges would have to remain…” 
To say nothing of the fact that— 
“…They’re the two most bloodthirsty races amongst all the Ixseeds.” 
As for the second question—Steph shook her head to indicate that no response was necessary. 
“Hee-hee-hee, I’m sure your children can sleep better at night now that violence is forbidden.” 
“Hah-hah-hah, perhaps they do, unlike some with no skills besides killing, who have gone and settled into retirement.” 
…… ? . 
The two siblings, Sora and Shiro, both thought the same thing: No wonder violence was forbidden in this world. 
 
Escaping from the almost crackling air of the elevator, on the sixtieth floor where they arrived, Steph seemed already exhausted, and once they were led to a space that suggested a reception chamber, she sat down immediately. 
“S-so tiring…” 
Though he sympathized completely, Sora only looked around. 
“…If you’ll excuse me, I shall call Izuna Hatsuse and return in a bit.” 
Having watched Ino take a bow and retreat beyond view. Sora started taking in their surroundings, and Steph took his lead to look around the room. 
“…But one must say it is magnificent. The difference between our civilizations is all too palpable,” she said. 
A room made of marble and some other materials that one could tell at a glance were rare. Inside the leather sofa were even springs. But such things were not what Sora was looking for. 
“By the way, Master, how did you contact Werebeast?” 
“…Jibril, have you noticed no one’s brought it up? Take a hint.” 
“I apologize; unlike the mind-reading Werebeast, I could not help but wonder.” 
Sora knew that Jibril with the unknown before her eyes equaled a horse with a carrot dangling before it. 
“……Whoop.” 
Sora, putting his index finger to his lips, brought out his phone. A video he’d apparently recorded using optical zoom and also applying an upscaling app to capture at the maximum magnification. In it was just barely visible an outline resembling an old man’s. 
—So, in other words. Sora actually hadn’t really seen Ino . It just so happened that a figure who seemed to be looking at him happened into his lens. He’d only gestured on the assumption that the person probably saw him. In short—it was just a bluff. 
Jibril’s intrigue was obvious. However—(What purpose would such a bluff serve against Werebeast, who can read thoughts ?) she seemed to think. It didn’t appear that Ino had known that the letters weren’t arriving, either—. While Jibril ruminated thus… 
“…Brother, look.” 
“Yeah, I know.” 
Another question rained upon her. 
“…Master, do you know this?” 
Jibril pointed to it—. A TV. Yes, it was exactly what Sora had been looking for. The shape was significantly different from what Sora knew, but there was no way around it—it was a TV. 
“—Hmm, now I know for sure…” 
“What do you know?” 
But he answered with a sly grin. 
“I’ll tell you later. Werebeasts have good ears. I’m sure they’re listening already—right, Gramps?” 
“—Please forgive the wait.” 
Ino, clicking the door open and coming back in. 
“This is the ambassador of the Eastern Union in Elkia—Izuna Hatsuse.” 
With this introduction, what came through the doorway… 
…had black eyes and black hair in a bob, a tail and long animal ears, big as those of a fennec fox, along with traditional Japanese-style garb tied at the waist with a big ribbon—and, however you looked at it, her age couldn’t have been out of single digits. 
“Cu—” 
Though Steph almost forgot her position and said cute , before she could get the words out… 
“King Crimson!” 
“Ee-hee-hee beautiful little girl with animal ears why don’t you come play with big brother I’m certainly no one suspicious…” 
“…Boink, boink…poof, poof…fluffy fluffy…hee-hee-hee-hee-hee…” 
—When did they move? Sora and Shiro, whom even Jibril’s eyes couldn’t catch, were already well on their way, precisely petting the girl’s head and tail. To these two, the Werebeast girl—Izuna—responded with a cute, innocent voice. 
“Who said you assholes could touch me, please.” 
…—. 
“—Huh?” 
“…Minus, fifty…cuteness…points.” 
The siblings each mumbled their reactions and took a big step back. But. 
“Who said you could stop, please.” 
“Uh…um, what?” 
“Get the hell on with it, please.” 
Izuna was like a cat that wanted to be petted, squinting her eyes, stretching out her neck. 
“Uhh, oh, it’s all right?” 
“Dumbass, of course it’s all right, please. You just touched me without any goddamn warning, please.” 
While her manner and expression failed to match, somehow Sora seemed to catch on. 
“…Oh. Don’t think putting ‘please’ at the end of any goddamn sentence makes it polite, please!” 
“…?! It doesn’t, please?!” 
Come to think of it. In this world, you couldn’t do anything to people they didn’t want you to. So, when they were able to pet Izuna, it meant that she permitted it. 
“Please don’t mind my granddaughter. She has only been in Elkia for one year and is not yet skilled in the Immanity tongue—and, also.” 
With that, Ino swiftly changed his expression. 
“You damn hairless monkeys! Just ’cos I’ve gone to the trouble of bowing my head for your scrawny asses you better not get cocky you little shits what makes you think you can get your filthy hands all over my lovely little granddaughter you’re good as dead—” 
—And, with that, restored his polite smile. 
“—is an example of the type of conversation I must caution you to avoid.” 
Sora responded with half-closed eyes and a soft remark. 
“—Gramps, this has nothing to do with the Immanity tongue and everything to do with you.” 
“I’m afraid your meaning eludes me, sir.” 
In Sora’s shadow, Shiro spoke, glaring at Ino. 
“…I hate this old fart… Minus a thousand points.” 
And, as Izuna gave the impression of wanting to be petted, Shiro fluffed her and said: 
“…But Iz-zy…so cute with that…potty mouth…plus ten points.” 
As Shiro petted and fluffed her, Ino, visibly suppressing rage, spoke quietly. 
“—Izuna. If you don’t like it, you can tell them.” 

 

“I like it just fine, please. It feels good, so keep doing it, bitch, please.” 
“Oh, then me, too.” 
Fluff fluff fluff fluff… 
“You’re pretty good for goddamn hairless monkeys, please. Do it more, please.” 
To Izuna, expressionless as a cat, yet closing her eyes as she spoke, Sora. 
“In that case, can you stop calling us hairless monkeys?” 
“Why the hell should I do that, please?” 
“Because we’d be happier if you called us by our names. I’m Sora. This is my sister, Shiro. Nice to meet you.” 
“…Nice to meet you…” 
“Understood, please. Nice to meet ya, please. Sora, Shiro.” 
Fluff fluff fluff… 
“—Gah, you won’t let your grampy touch you, but you’ll let the hairless monkeys, Izuna!” 
“Grampy…you suck; your claws hurt, please.” 
Sora laughed at Ino, who looked depressed at Izuna’s instant answer. 
“ Heh-heh-heh… My sister is a master of Nintendogs , and I am a master of the touch-based erotic video game. For us, pinpoint adjustments of our touch based on her reactions is but a trifle. You better respect the hand-eye coordination of the gamer, old man.” 
“…Not that…we have any…experience…with the real thing.” 
“Why you gotta kill it like that, huh?!” 
 
Sitting on the sofa, looking at the ceiling with an expression of rapture, Izuna, and, tense at the temples, Ino. On the other side of the table, Sora and Shiro, making four, sitting across from each other. 
“Well, then, may I inquire as to why you monkey bastards are here?” 
“You can read my thoughts, right? Why do I have to say anything?” 
“This is a place of diplomacy, a place where words are exchanged orally or in writing; or is that too challenging for a monkey to understand?” 
“…Just because we’re better with your granddaughter than you are, old man, you don’t gotta get all pissy. Jeez.” 
As Ino’s smile cracked, Jibril continued, beaming. 
“Master, inadequacy is a central part of the soul of the Werebeast, as fragile as glasswork. Perhaps you might refrain from upsetting him unnecessarily. It is most pitiful.” 
Ino, his smile on the brink of finally breaking and making up his mind that he should just blissfully forget everything and kick these asses out, peered into Sora’s eyes. 
—That instant, an unexpected chill ran down Ino’s spine. 
What was there was not the silly wag who’d sat there just a moment ago. What was there was a man full of confidence verging on arrogance, a mind in the midst of ungodly calculation, and unmistakably—the king of a race . 
“My demand is simple, Ino Hatsuse.” 
Sora flashed a cheeky grin with this, and then said with a serious mien: 
“Give me your granddaughter’s panties. I’ll give you Steph’s.” 
“—Excuse me?!” 
“Hey, monkey bastard, there’s a goddamn line you might not wanna cross!” 
Steph, tossed abruptly into the fire, and Ino shouted at the same time. But, as if it surprised him, Sora replied: 
“What, you don’t want Steph’s? You’d prefer Jibril’s?” 
“I have no qualms, be it the command of my master.” 
Just as Sora spoke, Jibril started peeling down her panties. Ino face-palmed, squeezing out his voice as if trying to hold something back. 
“Hey, monkey. If you’re just here to be an asshole, get the—” 
“Wha, you can’t have Shiro’s; to desire an eleven-year-old’s panties, there’s something wrong with you, Gramps. Or—y-you wanted mine?! Uhh, wait, that’s… I mean, I’m a tolerant guy, but that does kinda gross me out…” 
To Ino, finally starting to lose it, still Sora. 
“Come on, Gramps, are you sure? I’m saying I’d make a deal just for Izuna’s panties!” 
“Look, you son of a bitch— if you’re not going to say what you’re really here for , then get the—” 
As Ino held his forehead as if he was getting a headache. 
—Sora, like a gambler who’d just made the haul of a century. Beaming ironically. 
“—Gramps, I hate to say it, but we know you’re just pretending to read minds .” 
Bip. From Ino came a reaction the human eye could scarcely detect, but more than enough for Sora. 
“ If you’re not going to say what you’re really here for… Huh. That’s pretty good; it does make it sound like you’re reading my mind, but, if you could really read my mind, you’d have accepted a game for panties. ’Cos it wouldn’t really be about the stupid panties; it would be about the side effect, i.e.— 
“You’d never overlook the importance of erasing my memories that tell everything about the Eastern Union’s games .” 
To Sora’s words and insinuating smirk… 
“……” 
…Ino had no response but to stay expressionless. After all—. Yes, Sora’s pupils, heartbeat, even the sound of his blood flow. Every little thing told that the man here spoke with absolute conviction . 
“So, now that that’s confirmed , shall I get to your request and say what I’m really here for ?” 
Sora crossed his legs and adjusted his posture. 
“In the names of the agent plenipotentiary of the kingdom of Elkia, last nation of Rank Sixteen, Immanity: Sora and Shiro.” 
Taking Shiro’s hand, lifting it as if in oath, Sora. 

“Your fine nation, the Eastern Union, of Rank Fourteen, the Werebeasts, has been chosen as the first sacrifice in our path of glorious global conquest, and for this we celebrate . Now, in a battle of nations , we demand—” 
With a smile of blatant hostility, he announced transcendently: 
“— everything on the continent you bitches have. ” 
—At these words, everyone’s eyes, except Sora’s and Shiro’s, opened wide. Even Ino, and even Izuna, who had been spacing out until then, changed their countenance. It was just—too unhinged a demand. 
“Oh, and what we’re betting is still Steph’s panties, FYI.” 
“Ex-excuse me?!” 
“Too bad you didn’t shake on Izzy’s panties while you had the chance, Grandpa.” 
The wagers were all the territory the Eastern Union had on the continent—and Stephanie Dola’s panties? As even Jibril began to wonder about the mental soundness of the man before them, Sora continued with completely unwavering confidence. 
“Sorry, Gramps—it’s check .” 
While all sat at a loss as to the meaning of his words, perhaps having the most courage, or perhaps out of obedience to her curiosity, Jibril asked: 
“Ma-Master, ehm, what do you mean?” 
“Huh? You still don’t get it?” 
“…Oh…” said Shiro, coming out of deep thought. 
“That’s my Shiro; you got it, right? Yeah—so this means the Eastern Union is trapped.” 
But, as still no one but Sora and Shiro seemed to grasp the meaning of his words, Sora spoke listlessly. 
“Mm, okay, I’ll explain for you all, including this self-professed mind-reading grampa. 
“The Eastern Union, half a century back, rapidly developed a high level of technology… But it can be tough to be an advanced civilization.” 
Settling deep into the sofa—the nice, springy sofa, Sora continued. 
“The TV in this room, the elevator back there, this sofa… all this modern technology isn’t possible without continental resources. They’re their lifeline, no kidding. But the Eastern Union started as an island nation. They had to get their hands on those continental resources any way they could—but, before that , Elven Gard challenged them. 
“What a pickle! The only trick they had was taking challenges, but, then, if they beat the greatest country in the world, then no one would take on their mysterious unbeatable game , and they wouldn’t get the continent. But they couldn’t lose—why is this?” 
With a broad grin, Sora put up a finger. 
“Now, let’s unravel the puzzle step by step. Question one: Why did they need to erase memories of an unbeatable game?” 
Shiro answered this question. 
“…Because… if they didn’t…it wouldn’t be unbeatable …anymore.” 
Why would the Eastern Union incorporate a demand that contradicted their strategy of taking challenges? It must have been because, despite its downside, they had to . If they intentionally lost to Elven Gard, then their game would be revealed—and then it would cease to be unbeatable. 
“But there’s still a hole, even then.” 
To erase all memories of the game certainly seemed the best possible way to make it impossible to counter. And yet… 
“Even if you erase their memories—you can’t erase the result that they lost .” 
Jibril gasped, while Ino remained expressionless. 
“Now let’s move on. Question two: Why did Elven Gard step up four times ?” 
“…After losing…they tried to break down…the unbeatable game… from the results ?” 
Indeed—Unlike Elkia, Elven Gard was a vast country. To brace themselves for a few losses in scouting was but a small matter for them. 
“After losing once, Elven Gard must have guessed that it was a game where you couldn’t use magic. For Elves to lose, you know, that’s pretty much the first thing one would think of.” 
Raising a finger, Sora continued. 
“Still not knowing what the game was, with their memories erased—but knowing that it must be a game that annulled magic—the second time, they got someone outside to cast magic while they played. But then they lost anyway . And so, the third time, they probably somehow uncovered the nature of the game.” 
Man, if only I could use some crazy official cheat like magic, noted Sora. 
“And so they went in for the long-awaited fourth time— but they lost . Am I right, Gramps?” 
“……You certainly have an impressive imagination.” 
Ino responded as though Sora’s guess was nothing more than just that. Yet thinking he could beat Sora in a battle of bluffs—that was the greatest blunder. Picking up on the faint waver in his expression, Sora smiled and held up two fingers. 
“But this raises two issues. First, why did Elven Gard lose? And then this is the big one— why didn’t they try again ?” 
—Indeed. The question wasn’t why they tried. It was why they stopped trying . This was a piece of information too big to overlook in a game where the simple result of having lost told everything. 
“There are two possibilities. One is that they realized that the game was theoretically impossible to win.” 
Then lowering one of his fingers. 
“The other—that they figured out the game, but they couldn’t figure out why they lost .” 
With a laugh and a confident smile, Sora said: 
“—But, in the first case, they’d win if they uncovered it. Which means it must be the second.” 
Jibril, of Rank Six, Flügel, felt a chill of awe down her spine. Sora’s reasoning was supported and supplemented by all the fragments of information that Jibril knew. Such extraordinary, even godlike powers of reasoning—. 
“But that makes things confusing. A game that can be understood without understanding why you lost ?” 
Sora, grinning drily, as if to say that’s so weird, how could that be ? 
“And we just got the key to unlocking this mystery from you, Gramps.” 
Into Ino’s eyes. The eyes of Werebeast, who claimed to read minds, Sora peered with an ironic smile. 
“ Question three: Why would you lie that you can read minds?” 
“…Because they can’t…” 
Nodding to Shiro’s immediate answer, Sora. 
“And they must have to lie because that implies something they can’t let anyone know, right? 
“Are you starting to see it yet? Question four: What kind of game looks like you can win in theory but actually makes you lose ?” 
Sora, apparently having fun. 
“—Now, here’s a hint!” 
With theatrical gesture as if enjoying telling a riddle, Sora continued. 
“Flügel, Elf, Immanity. It makes all these races of entirely different characteristics lose every time, it can only be used in defense, it requires erasing opponents’ memories, it’s good for a race with superior technology who can’t read minds—what is it?!” 
With a glance toward the TV, Shiro answered. 
“…A video game…with all cheats enabled…” 
It appeared that neither Steph nor Jibril understood the answer. That was no surprise: The Eastern Union must be the only country in the world that knew the concept of video games . This was why—they had to erase memories to conceal them. This was why they could never lose. 
—Using video games, with them as the game masters, they could cheat all they wanted, do whatever they wanted, and there was no way— 
— anyone would know. 
“This makes even magic pointless… Well, well, now that’s a tech nation; not bad, eh?” 
In these words from Sora was not the sound of irony, but that of genuine praise. 
“All that big talk about reading minds was to give ’em something to quell the question they’d be left with as the result of losing— Why did we lose? —so they wouldn’t come searching. All you guys can do is to tell when someone’s lying —you can’t read minds .” 
Yes—it was exactly the same as what Sora was good at. Seeing through expressions, gestures, voices to the lies behind them. They just were able to use their outrageous senses to incorporate heartbeats, blood flow. It was exactly the same, logically, as how a talented fraudster would pass themselves off as a spiritualist . 
“……” 
—Bull’s-eye. Ino, struck dead on, had no words. However, without showing it on his face, he was being eaten away by doubts. Until Sora first realized they couldn’t read minds—that is, even during all that crap talk about Izuna’s panties and such—Sora had showed no reaction of unease whatsoever. It seemed it could only be that he had eliminated from the start the risk that his mind would be read. But, to those thoughts and, ironically enough, as if reading his mind, Sora answered: 
“Ain’t it weird, Gramps? I never showed any reaction to your bluff from the beginning.” 
Erk , Ino’s expression almost went, or did it? As this alone filled Ino’s mind, Sora continued snidely. 
“Yes. I knew you guys couldn’t read minds— from the beginning . How could this be?” 
And now, for the final question—went Sora. 
“ Question five: Why did our previous king lose to you as many as eight times ?” 
Shiro, Steph, and Jibril knew the answer to this question. Therefore— 
“This question—is for you, you hairy old shit. You gotta have some idea.” 
“—…!” 
— Their previous king? He was the only one who’d played the Eastern Union without having his memory erased, when they took their continental domain from him. But they played on the condition that he wouldn’t tell anyone; how could— 
—Wait, no . It wasn’t that; it was—! As if waiting for Ino’s thoughts to reach that , Sora grinned, and then spoke. 
“Yeah, you got it, huh? The fact that the previous king was able to tell us all about it is the proof that you couldn’t read his intention—you couldn’t read his thoughts.” 
Which were—. 
“—That his covenant not to tell anyone his whole life— didn’t cover after he died .” 
As Ino tried to hold up his mask of calm, he could feel his blood draining. Were that the case—. It would mean that this man, truly—knew everything about their games. If it were exposed, the Eastern Union would be ? . 
“So, you get the picture now, Gramps?” 
Grinning ear to ear and continuing idly. 
“Now you’re in a tough spot, huh? You have to erase my memory somehow. But if you play me betting your continental domain just for Steph’s panties, you’ll basically be admitting I’m right .” 
Yes—and so. The move Ino should make was a given. In this situation— 
“ You’re gonna dismiss everything I’ve said as crazy rambling —that’s your only choice, to turn down the game and run.” 
Sora intercepted Ino’s thoughts mercilessly, like a hunter giddily cornering his prey. 
—And said: “Did you think I’d leave you an avenue of escape?” 
“We bet all of Immanity— the Race Piece .” 
The moment Sora said it, before his eyes materialized a game piece, shining softly, as if made of light. Yes, it was…what, in this world where even the God was decided by games, was required to challenge the God—one of sixteen pieces to collect, by conquest of all the races. 
—The Immanity Piece. The piece of Immanity—was the king. 
—No one there had beheld it. Even Jibril, who had lived for six thousand years, was seeing a Race Piece with her own eyes for the first time. This made sense. For, in all the games played in the ages since the Ten Covenants. No one had ever bet a Race Piece, for it meant to wager all the rights of the race . In the event of a loss, it was tantamount to consigning the race to enslavement for eternity. In other words, it meant— the end . 
“A-are you in— gmph ?!” 
Steph, who seemed to have finally grasped the situation, was about to scream, “Are you insane?” when Jibril deftly grabbed her by the mouth. 
—With this, a wager was made of the piece of a race in one more struggle for continental territory. 
“With this, you’ll also tell the world I’m right if you run!” 
Thus, with a smile, Sora looked into the eyes of a Werebeast who claimed to read minds— 
“Look, it’s check again—no, now it’s checkmate .” 
—showing Ino no trace of fear, and spoke without humility. 
“—Did you see this coming, Gramps?” 
As Sora grinned, a line of sweat fell from Ino’s brow. 
—What was this? For the lowest of races, a race down to its last city, about to bet their Race Piece and lose everything, to initiate a challenge against the Eastern Union, which had an unbeatable game, and on top of that to seize the upper hand, cornering them logically —what was going on? 
But—Ino, just barely regaining his composure—no, feigning it—answered: 
“I can only applaud your remarkable imagination . However, King Sora, isn’t there something you’ve overlooked?” 
Ino struck back at the desperation in his heart with his one unshakable fact. 
“Even assuming this fantasy of yours is true—would that not mean that Elven Gard lost even under such conditions?” 
—It was true that the Eastern Union had been put into a spot in which they had to accept this match. But, if one assumed Sora’s interpretation to be correct, it was simply a challenge against the Eastern Union to a game in which they could cheat all they wanted . Just as before, there was no question that they would take away a certain victory—but. To this, Sora only sneered and answered : 
“Gramps, if you’d known how I managed to communicate with you from the library—if you could really read my thoughts, you wouldn’t just be pretending you knew . You’d be openly showing surprise.” 
Looking into Ino’s eyes, and, as if tripping him up. Sora spoke with a deeply malicious smile as he played his ultimate trump card. 
“Surprise that we’re— not humans of this world .” 
—That, in their old world , among the countless rumors, there was one about a gamer emerging unbeaten in over 280 games, ascending to urban legend—Ino couldn’t see. 
He couldn’t see that even cheats and tool assists wouldn’t be enough to beat them … 
“……” 
Reflexively, Ino tried to dismiss it as a lie. But in no motion or sound of Sora’s was there a reaction indicating a lie. If his words were a lie, it would mean that this man could lie without reacting in the slightest. If his words were the truth, it would demonstrate, just as the man said, that he couldn’t read minds. 
“……!” 
In either case—Ino was left with nothing to say. Yeah, that’s what I thought , Sora seemed to laugh. 
“When I came, I bet you thought, ‘Here comes a sucker,’ just like the old king.” 
But—. 
“—Sorry, but, this time, it’s your turn to suck it —Werebeast.” 
Ino could sense no reaction other than conviction from the heartbeat of Immanity’s king as he said this, so he merely gulped. 
“So.” 
As Sora stood up, everyone rushed to imitate him. 
“That’s all. Well, I know you probably don’t have the authority to make some craaazy wager like your entire continental domain on your own, so why don’t you go check with the big guys back home and then let me know when we’re playing.” 
Oh, yeah—he added as if an afterthought: 
“This goes without saying, but, for a game betting the Race Piece, all members of Immanity have a right to watch . Make sure you get the venue and equipment set up for that? Also, we’re going to take you on as a team of four . You don’t get to say anything about it, so see ya.” 
Sora, singing this merrily, waved to Izuna, still seated across from him. 
“Nice meeting ya, Izzy; next time we’re gonna play, yeah?” 
“…I don’t get this shit, please. But—” 
But without a trace of the warmth she had just been showing. 
“Sora, and Shiro—you’re…trying to pick a fight, please?” 
Her eyes were those of one with an investment in staring down an enemy. Of one with a duty to protect something—of an animal poised for battle. 
“A fight? Naww. Just a game.” 
Though Sora said this, still Izuna stared with keen eyes. 
“Still makes us enemies , please.” 
Her eyes filling with clear hostility, the little Werebeast girl growled: 
“You’re goin’ down, please.” 
Yet Sora responded with eyes that in contrast felt friendly. 
“Sorry, but you are going down , Izuna, without a doubt. Blank doesn’t lose.” 
“…Bye-bye… Izzy, see you later…” 
As if chasing the siblings as they playfully and wispily waved and left, Jibril followed, lifting up Steph, covering her mouth as she struggled. Watching the backs of these four as they walked out of the reception chamber, watching the door close as they pressed the elevator button without hesitation, neither Ino Hatsuse and Izuna Hatsuse could say a word… 
 
“Wh-wh-what have you dooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooone!!” 
Just as they got back to the castle, Steph screamed this, as Sora covered his ears. 
“Wh-wh-why did you just do that without saying anything in advance!!” 
“If I did, you’d have said no, right?” 
At Sora, telling her as he sat on the throne playing a wireless match with Shiro on their DSPs, Steph roared furiously. 
“O-of of course I would have! D-do you even understand what you’ve done?” 
“I blocked the enemy’s escape by putting the lives of three million Immanities on the line.” 
—So? Sora seemed to say as he answered blankly. Steph, almost at a loss, somehow managed to squeeze out: 
“A-a-and just how do you intend to take responsibility if you lose?” 
But at the words that came back… 
“Responsibility? What responsibility?” 
…Steph finally had nothing to say. 
“If we lose, then Immanity is over. What kind of responsibility would there be to take?” 
Sora spoke as if he had no interest whatsoever in such things. 
“But, come on, Steph—aren’t you excited ?” 
No—he was in fact starting to smile, as if he thought it was somehow cool. 
“If we lose, then we take the lives of three million Immanities with us and it’ll be ‘game over.’ If we win, we double our territory in one fell swoop, and we grab up all the animal-girls in the Eastern Union—this has gotta be one of the most exciting games ever. Aren’t you pumped?” 
“…( Nod, nod! )…” 
At Sora, smiling innocently, and Shiro, flapping her legs contentedly on his lap, Steph just felt a jolt of something chilly down her spine. 
 They were insane. It was not appropriate to describe these siblings by oblique expressions such as “unsound” or “unhinged.” Correctly. Truly. In the literal sense—they were insane . 
“I-is this how you treat human…human life…?” 
At this madness, madness beyond mere scorn, Steph felt fear. She wanted to run away, to escape, as she whispered on the verge of tears. 
“I’ve lost all hope I ever had in you…! I thought that, no matter what preposterous antics you got up to, it was all for the sake of the human race, but I was so wrong—!” 
Steph denouncing Sora itself was a scene that had been seen many times. But this time, it was clearly different from before; her eyes were full of genuine contempt and disillusionment. 
Sora grinned frivolously and answered. 
“Cool it, Steph… It’s a game, you know? ” 
—With this, Steph’s suspicion turned to conviction. To have believed in this man—she had been wrong. This man, no, both of these siblings were just playing. They didn’t really care about Immanity or the Eastern Union. They just thought this whole world was a game—!! 
— I was wrong to entrust Grandfather’s legacy to this craven scoundrel—! Despair, disillusionment, terror—as Steph was stirred up by countless emotions, by contrast there was Jibril, who as she attended on Sora and Shiro with even deeper respect, said: 
“How wise is my master… This is the proof of one fit to rule over us—” 

 

—For the sake of victory, he would even put the lives of the masses on the line. This was not recklessness or abandon, but a confirmation of certain victory . Steph, in regard to Sora and Shiro, responded to the unknown with fear. But, to Jibril, this very same unknown pointed the way to adoration, envy, and fascination. 
“Wh-what are you talking about! How could he—” 
“Then let me ask you a question, little Dora.” 
Steph flinched under Jibril’s uncharacteristically serious gaze. 
“You asked how he would take responsibility if he lost, but think about it the other way. If my masters are victorious, then all the Werebeasts in their continental domain will be stripped of their jobs and their rights to their land and assets, left to wander the streets, perhaps even to die. Do you ask that my master take responsibility for that ? Or would you say it is their responsibility for losing ?” 
“—W-well…that’s…” 
She had no argument. But, even so—Sora’s actions were just too irresponsible. At least…at least the people should have been consulted or something, yes? But Jibril went on. 
“Even now that war has been forbidden, killing and being killed still continue in this world.” 
—A world where force of arms had been forbidden. But, conversely, that was all. It was simple to take, to dominate, to kill by indirect means. This was the nature of the Ten Covenants, and also. Exactly what had happened to Immanity until now. 
“Dora, do you propose that Immanity not participate and instead simply perish?” 
“W-well…no, but—! Still!” 
Still, to say that then they had no responsibility was…it was crazy, insisted Steph. 
“This is what being an agent plenipotentiary is about.” 
Jibril, who herself was part of the agent plenipotentiary of the Flügel, gave Steph an icy glare devoid of feeling, and stated the facts. 
“To begin with, reality and games both are about killing each other—what kind of responsibility do you expect?” 
—At these too-heavy words from one who had lived through the bygone Great War, Steph fell silent. But unexpectedly it was Sora who spoke up to contradict. 
“Huh? No, no one’s gonna die. Didn’t I just say it’s a game ?” 
“—What?” 
“Pardon?” 
“Uh?” 
“…Mnn…?” 
As if something didn’t fit. Everyone blanked out. Then Sora spoke, as if he’d finally understood. 
“Ohhh… Okay, okay, I get it now; that’s how it is.” 
Sora, had finally identified the unease he’d been feeling all along. 
“Yeaaah, I thought this world was weirdly creaky even though everything’s decided by games, but, man, you guys—you were really thinking just like those guys back in our old world … I didn’t see this coming.” 
“…Ohh…” 
Shiro perhaps having wondered about the same thing, nodded looking as if she got it. 
“I see, so no one knows how to beat this game—no wonder God got bored and called us.” 
But, as if he’d had his moment to revel in understanding. He brought his gaze straight back to the game console in his hands and answered vaguely. 
“Well, relax. We’ll conquer the world just like we said we would . All of it, whabam, no two ways about it.” 
Then, as if remembering something, he continued: 
“Oh, yeah, and Steph.” 
“Ah…wh-what is it?” 
“I’ll give you a real answer to your question of what happens if we lose.” 
Without a trace of his clowning from a moment before. Looking into Steph’s eyes with a serious gaze, Sora spoke. 
“—There isn’t even a one-in-a-million chance we might lose. Didn’t I tell you? It’s checkmate .” 
These decisive words of Sora— 
“Our game with the Eastern Union is already done . It’s already impossible for them to beat us.” 
—They went so far over her head, there was in the end no way Steph could believe them. 
“Well, to be precise, there is one last missing piece—but we’ll have it soon enough. 
“Until then, all we have to do is play some games and wait,” Sora finished, then went back to the game with his sister. 
—The only one who got it was his sister. What was left was a countless set of hints, and two who could not follow those hints to the answer. 
Jibril and Steph could only—look at each other.