Chapter 30

Talli sold some magic plants and exchanged them for Abyss race’s common currency. She then found a hotel to stay for the night. The guests coming and going at the hotel were all from the Abyss race, their bodies enveloped in a thin layer of black mist. They cast curious glances at the two of them.

Talli was running low on money, and after booking two rooms, she only had enough left for one more night’s stay and meals for one day.

She suddenly thought that if she could turn Dusk back into a little fox, they might only need to book one room.

But the payment had already been made.

The receptionist was an Abyss race woman, the hotel innkeeper’s wife. She was alluring and charming, handing Talli a keyring while asking, “The second and third rooms on the third floor. By the way, are you human?”

Talli nodded. “Yes.”

She noticed the slight expression of frustration on Talli’s face earlier. “What brings you to the Abyss?”

Talli answered, “Just here for sightseeing.”

The innkeeper’s wife chuckled, her laugh as clear and sweet as a silver bell. “I’ve been running this inn for decades, and you’re the first human I’ve ever heard say they came to the Abyss for sightseeing.”

She glanced at the young man next to her. “Is he your companion?”

Talli, who was now eager to leave, grabbed the keys tightly. “Yes.”

The innkeeper’s wife noticed her mood and smiled, saying, “Young lady, you do know that when humans come to the Abyss, they’re bound to be affected by the demonic aura, right? Although the rate of erosion is much slower in the city, you still shouldn’t stay too long. The longer you stay, the more likely you are to be influenced by the demonic aura… It would be best if you had a companion to look after you.”

Talli felt that her warning about being “influenced by the demonic aura” was a bit vague, but she thanked the woman and pulled Deritz with her as they went upstairs.

The next day, Talli woke up early but hadn’t slept well. She had nightmares, although she couldn’t remember what they were about. However, when she woke up, she didn’t feel the refreshed, energizing feeling that usually came after a good night’s rest. Talli guessed that this might be the effect of the demonic aura.

Yawning, she ran into Deritz as he was heading out. “Good morning.”

“Mm.”

Talli noticed that he didn’t have the habit of replying with a greeting when someone greeted him.

The morning sunlight fell on the wooden steps. Talli stepped down, following the rays of light, and opened the door. The street was already crowded with Abyss race people, and curious glances were directed toward the two of them.

“We’re going to the palace today.”

Talli’s expression was slightly serious. “…If we delay any longer, I might end up sleeping on the street.”

“Out of money?” Deritz walked over and bent down to ask.

He was much taller than Talli, and every time he spoke, he had to slightly bend down. Every time he came close to her to speak, a shadow would fall over her from his side.

Talli raised her money pouch for him to see.

“How pitiful,” Deritz remarked with a sigh.

“…”

Talli put away her money pouch and walked ahead, annoyed. “Once you return to the palace, I won’t have to pay for your accommodation and meals anymore.”

“If you only pay for your own share, it won’t even cover a few days, right? Aren’t you still looking for the temple?”

“By then, it won’t have anything to do with you.”

The girl walked briskly ahead. As she approached a crowd, the noise suddenly grew louder. She stopped in her tracks, not realizing what was happening. Suddenly, a small figure squeezed out from the crowd, frantically running toward her and crashing into her arms.

The child’s black mist was so thin it was almost invisible. His face was deathly pale, his body frail and small, looking very young, and he was trembling all over.

“Catch him!!”

“Don’t let him escape!”

The child grabbed the hem of Talli’s clothes, trembling. “…Save me.”

Deritz’ gaze swept over him, lingering for half a second.

A few large Abyss race individuals caught up to them. Talli asked, “What did he do?”

“He lost a game of chess to our mage.” One explained, “We’re taking him back to fulfill the bet.”

“What bet?”

“A game of chess. If he wins, he can ask the mage any question or gather any information he wants about this world. If he loses, we take away his Abyss Protection.”

“Abyss Protection?” Talli looked down at the child, who was trembling behind her.

“You’re human, right?” Another Abyss race person stepped forward. “Abyss Protection is the faint black mist that covers our Abyss race. It protects us from the corrosive effects of the Abyss’s demonic energy.”

“…No, please, no!” The child seemed terrified by the two who stepped closer, shrinking back. “If it’s taken away, I’ll die! I’ll die!”

Talli asked, “What does he mean by ‘I’ll die’?”

“He’s not like you humans who can leave here at any time. This is our only home,” one of them replied. “For the Abyss race living in Abyss City, if they lose their protection, over time, they will be eroded by the demonic energy, just like humans, until it invades their bones, consumes their sanity, and eventually drives them mad. He’s already weak, and without family or companions to protect him, he will eventually be executed or thrown into the wilderness outside the city, where ancient creatures will devour him.”

Talli remembered the terrifying creatures she had seen in the illusion.

The child’s fear intensified upon hearing this. He clutched Talli’s clothes tightly. “…Save me, please, save me.”

“You don’t want to help this child, do you?” One of the Abyss race individuals raised an eyebrow.

Talli asked, “Why can’t I?”

“We’ve never had a precedent for something like this. Besides, you’re human, and you don’t have Abyss Protection to give away.”

At this point, several people walked up and whispered something into the ears of the two.

They paused for a moment, then turned to Talli and said, “You’re in luck. Our lord magician said he’s never played against a human before. If it’s you, he’ll make an exception. If you win, you’ll be able to get the lord magician’s information just like anyone else.”

Talli responded cautiously, “What happens if I lose?”

The Abyss race person chuckled. “Well… you should ask the lord magician about that.”

The crowd parted, clearing a path.

Talli stepped forward and saw the mage sitting at a chessboard not far away. He was a young boy, eyes closed, with a calm and composed demeanor, like a tranquil ancient well. He wore Abyss race attire, and when he sensed Talli’s gaze, he slightly turned his head. Although his eyes remained shut, Talli felt as though he was looking directly at her.

Deritz approached, crossing his arms and slightly bending down to whisper near the back of her head, “There are two crates of gold in the additional rewards. Aren’t you short on money? Just agree to his terms, and I’ll help you win.”

Talli noticed the two crates of gold placed behind the chessboard.

However, most of the people who came to play against the all-knowing lord magician were after his information, not the gold.

“What method?” Talli whispered.

Deritz chuckled softly, distancing himself and blending into the crowd, but his voice clearly reached her mind: “This method.”

Talli heard his voice and felt a surge of confidence.

She walked up to the chessboard and sat opposite the young mage. The mage drew a seven-pointed star magic circle in front of her with his bare hands. The magic circle spun toward her, and as it passed by, it transformed into sTallight and dissipated.

The young mage furrowed his brows in confusion. “…Strange. The thing I want… isn’t on you. Normally, all humans have this…”

He whispered the last word, and Talli didn’t catch it.

“Never mind.”

The young man shook his head. “Once spoken, it’s hard to take back. Your bet will be that crossbow on your back.”

Talli took the crossbow off her back. “This? This isn’t mine. It was lent to me by someone else. I’m afraid I can’t use it as a bet.”

The young man replied, “If you lose, you can trade something else to get it back.”

As soon as he finished speaking, an Abyss race person stepped forward, took her crossbow, and walked off with it.

At the same time, the young mage’s voice echoed in her mind.

“See the chessboard? Let me briefly explain the pieces.”

Talli focused intently on listening.

“First, there are the king pieces on both sides. Your blue king is pride, and the opponent’s red king is greed.”

Talli picked up the dark blue king piece. It felt cold and heavy in her hand.

“All the other pieces are the same. The four knight pieces closest to the king are plague, hunger, war, and death. They are responsible for protecting the king, staying by its side and preventing the enemy’s pieces from getting close.”

Following Dusk’s instructions, Talli recognized the four pieces.

“Next, there are two pieces: the elf and the human emperor. They come after the pawns, and when the time is right, they strike at the opponent’s pieces, their role not to be underestimated.”

Talli touched the two cold chess pieces.

“Then there are the pawns in the front row. They charge ahead and are responsible for breaking through the opponent’s stubborn defenses.”

Talli counted, there were eight pawns in the front, and their heads were shaped like ancient creatures. Although they looked terrifying and powerful, each could only move one square at a time.

“On the outermost right side of each side, there are two pieces called ‘Witch’ and ‘Abyss.’ They can sneak into the opponent’s camp unnoticed and devour their important pieces.”

“What about this one?”

Talli touched a piece next to the king. Although it looked unremarkable and was smaller than the king by half a circle, it was positioned closest to the king, even closer than the four imposing knight pieces.

“That is the Queen piece.”

The voice in her mind paused before continuing, “…also known as the ‘Witch.'”

The young mage’s voice pulled Talli’s attention back, “Have you checked enough? I could never tamper with these pieces. Instead of worrying about that, you might want to think about how to lose with dignity.”

Talli heard the clear, light laugh of Dusk in her mind.

“…”

Talli said, “…I’m ready.”

“Then,”

He picked up a piece, “Red goes first.”

—

The first ten minutes of the game passed in an orderly manner.

Dusk’s voice remained steady. Every time the opponent made a move, within half a minute, Dusk would leisurely give the next step.

“Move the second pawn forward.”

“Move the Human Emperor to the upper left.”

“Move the Abyss piece straight to the right.”

—

As time passed, the atmosphere became increasingly tense after half an hour.

“What’s going on with the lord magician today? Usually, the game ends within ten minutes, and the longest it’s ever taken is twenty minutes.”

“I can’t believe it, this human girl is so well-hidden.”

“Could it be… that we’re going to witness the lord magician’s defeat today?”

“Don’t even think about it. How could that be possible? After over three hundred years, have you ever seen the lord magician lose?”

—

Talli couldn’t help but look up at the young man. It was hard to believe that he looked so delicate, no more than seventeen or eighteen, yet he had actually lived for hundreds of years?

Upon closer inspection, she noticed that the young man was now sweating slightly on his forehead, and his expression wasn’t as confident as it had been at the beginning. His face showed a hint of uncertainty as he held his chess piece.

The young man’s voice once again rang out, calm and unhurried:

“Right flank. The elf jumps left, takes the Human Emperor.”

Talli captured the opponent’s Human Emperor. When she looked up, she saw the young man’s face had turned slightly pale.

After taking the Human Emperor, her pieces were now in direct contact with his knights. After the skirmish, her elf moved all the way to the opponent’s King, facing the greedy side.

The voice of the young man echoed in her mind lazily:

“Checkmate.”

It seemed like he let out a yawn that Talli didn’t quite hear clearly, and in her mind, she imagined a little fox lazily flicking its tail.

“I left him a little dignity. Otherwise, the game would have been over before twenty minutes.”

The young mage’s lips had turned pale. He shook his head, murmuring to himself: “How is this possible? How is this possible? I’ve never lost. This can’t be happening.”

A wave of astonished murmurs swept through the crowd, and people jostled forward, eager to study the game. The guards held them back.

“Let’s play two more rounds, best of three.”

The young man lifted his head, his eyes glaring fiercely at Talli.

Talli frowned. “…We’ve already signed a magical contract.”

“I’ll raise the stakes!” The young man raised his hand and drew another magic contract formation. “I’ll spare that child and give you three pieces of information.”

“I have no other stakes to raise.”

“No need for you to raise the stakes. It’s still the same bow,” the young man said.

Talli thought for a moment but shook her head. Although the three pieces of information were tempting, she had only won with Dusk’s help. Now that she could save the child, that was enough, and she had even earned an additional reward.

Just as she refused and stood up, preparing to leave, the magic formation swirled toward her. Talli quickly sidestepped, but a blade-like gust of wind swept across her face, and the blood dripping from her wound merged into the magic formation.

She pressed her hand to the wound on her face, swiftly drawing a short blade and thrusting it directly toward the young mage’s face!

“Clang—”

An invisible barrier blocked her strike!

“You’ve already signed a blood contract with me,” the young man said. “You can’t hurt me now. If you force your way out of the contract, both of us will suffer a great backlash.”

Talli was really angry now. “You’re asking for death.”

The young mage didn’t say anything. He raised his hand and set up a barrier around them. The street scenes and people nearby began to twist, and within half a minute, the familiar scenery faded away. The area around the chessboard transformed into a vast, dazzling, and infinite sea of stars, with occasional meteors falling from the sky.

“Now, no one will disturb us.”

He said, “Please take a seat, Miss Human.”

—

Because of the barrier the mage had set up, Dusk’s voice could no longer reach Talli. For the next two rounds, she would have to rely on herself.

During the first half of the second round, she played terribly. The sudden change in circumstances distracted her and disrupted her focus. Additionally, not understanding the blood contract and the external situation, her opening move was disastrous.

Moreover, the mage occasionally mocked her: “You still don’t understand, do you? In the blood contract we made, even though your stake was just a crossbow, after the crossbow becomes mine, if you want to redeem it, I’m the one who decides. At that point, even if you offer your soul and life to redeem it, I might not be satisfied.”

“Terrible opening move. This play… It seems that the first round really wasn’t you playing, was it? The style of the first round was sharp and aggressive, like a drawn blade, moving with unstoppable force. If it weren’t for me, no one could have lasted a minute under the hands of someone like that in the first round.”

“Alright, you lost.”

The young mage knocked over her king piece, and the arrogant monarch fell loudly on the board.

Talli’s hand clenched tightly.

Her gaze fixed on her fallen king on the chessboard. It had been killed by the opponent’s death knight. Although it was merely a cold, hard chess piece, Talli seemed to see the unwillingness in its fall.

She closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

The mage sneered: “I can tell you tried to imitate the style of the first round, but you only managed to create a complete failure.”

…He was right.

Talli had indeed been imitating Dusk’s style. Although she was skilled at various kinds of chess in her past life, the rules of the pieces here were different, and the specifications were not the same. In the second round, she had been trying to replay Dusk’s victory strategy.

But she failed.

Dusk’s victory was not something that could be replicated. He played chess quickly and skillfully, almost as if it were a natural talent—more like the talent of a master tactician.

Talli, on the other hand, was different. From the very beginning, she had her own style of playing chess.

—A style that was more indirect, subtle, patient, and methodical.

She exhaled deeply.

She opened her eyes.

Her violet eyes had become calm. In her pupils, a steady light gleamed, as unwavering as the meteors falling from the sky.

“Let’s begin,” this time, she spoke first. “The final round.”