kscans

Chapter 279 - A Night with the Unique Skill Wielders

The day after the King entrusted Arc to me, Nanapon and Yoshino-san came over to visit, so we all had dinner and stayed up late making a racket.

"Eleanor… why would you put a piece there? Do you even know the rules of Reversi?"

Yoshino-san, who was watching the holy war between me and Nanapon, offered her criticism.

"Oh, then I’ll take this corner."

Nanapon placed a black piece, matching her personality, in the corner, flipping my white pieces, which matched my heart, and dyeing them black. Watching the white turn to black, I thought it was truly like my own heart. Because my pure heart, often mistaken for an angel’s, was turning a dark black with murderous intent.

…Do we really need this person? Nanapon is cute. She has a bad personality, she’ll sexually harass you at any opportunity, and she’s a peeping tom of a Black Yuripon, but we get along, and she’s a cute disciple who adores me, always saying, ‘Eleanor-san, Eleanor-san.’ But does the world really need a disciple who would take her respected master’s corner?

"S-Senpai… your eyes are scary…"

"Eleanor-sama, please calm down. It’s just a game."

My wife and my maid tried to calm me down.

"Mia, alcohol."

"R-Right away…"

Mia went to the fridge and quickly brought back a chuhai.

"Thanks."

"N-Not at all… huh?"

I popped the pull-tab and chugged the chuhai in one go.

"U-Um, that’s bad for your health."

"I have potions."

I downed it all and handed the empty can to Mia.

"That’s not the issue…"

Mia said, but took the empty can to the kitchen anyway.

"Alright, now that I’ve refueled, let’s get serious."

"Serious or not, there’s only one place you can put a piece, Eleanor-san."

"Hm?"

She’s right.

"This is the only spot."

I drank the water Mia brought me and placed a white piece in the only available spot.

"Oh, man, this is hopeless. You’re terrible at this."

As Yoshino-san covered her eyes, Nanapon placed another piece in a corner, turning white to black.

"You’re noisy."

I feel like Yoshino-san is distracting me.

"It’s your turn, Eleanor-san. Right here, right here."

Nanapon pointed to the space right before the corner.

"It’s impossible now. Impossible, impossible."

I was starting to feel that way…

"Earth Qua—"

I reached for the Reversi board while casting a spell, but Nanapon and Yoshino-san grabbed my arms.

"You did that during Cards just now, didn’t you?"

"You’re not a child."

So annoying.

"You two are cheaters."

"How so?"

"We’re playing normally, right?"

We had played Old Maid earlier, and the two of them cleared their hands nonstop, leaving me on the verge of losing in an instant. It was no wonder. They had the strongest cheats in Cards, Clairvoyance and perfect memory. That explains why Kaede-chan said she wouldn’t play.

"You do nothing but cheat."

"How is that? I simply fought using the abilities I possess. This is a fair and square battle."

This one’s a lost cause. She’s rotten to the core. Her only good points are really just her looks and her chest.

"Same here. Besides, you can’t cheat at Reversi. I just think you’re bad at it, Eleanor-san."

Nanapon nodded smugly. If it were just me and her here, I think I would have hit her.

"Isn’t there a game we can play more peacefully?"

"Wanna play shogi? I’m good at it."

"Let’s play Concentration."

These two are impossible. You can’t play games with unique skill holders. You can tell just by looking at the Dark Queen playing a video game on the TV over there.

"You two play shogi by yourselves. Lydia-chan, come here."

I left the two of them and called over the girl who was, in a sense, the most unique of all. Lydia-chan stopped her game and came over.

"You called for me?"

"Yes. I have something important to talk about. Here, have a seat… Nanaka-san, scoot over a bit."

"Okay."

Nanapon moved aside and actually started playing shogi with Yoshino-san. And Lydia-chan sat primly across from me where Nanapon had been.

"Is something wrong?"

"Actually, I spoke with the King yesterday, and it seems he’s finally starting preparations to pass the throne to Arc."

"I thought it would be soon, but is it already time…?"

"Hey, hey, shouldn’t I be the one hearing this story? Why are you two talking about it?"

Ignore, ignore.

"The King’s health is failing, and he wants to hand over the throne sooner rather than later."

"Well, the sooner the better, I suppose. The disruptive elements have been eliminated, after all."

That noble, what’s-his-name.

"Why do you guys just naturally ignore me sometimes!? I’m the main character of this story, right!? I’m the King!?"

You’re just a figurehead. The true ruler is the final boss, the Dark Queen.

"So, the reason the King called for me yesterday was because while he’s fine with making Arc the king, he has a lot of concerns."

"Arc is young, and he only recently made his public appearance. What’s more, the situation is unstable."

"Exactly."

King Arc stays silent when it’s inconvenient for him.

"So what did His Majesty say?"

"He asked me to become his guardian. Well, I am his master, and I’m dependable, so he must have seen that in me and asked me to protect the future Ocean Kingdom."

"There’s a lot to unpack there, hey!"

"I see… I don’t think that’s a bad idea. Master, you hold immense influence here, and you’ve made a name for yourself over there as well."

My reputation is high. To be honest, it’s not a very good reputation, though.

"That’s true. Arc is my disciple, and you two are like family living together… I may not be very smart, but I want to do what I can."

"Aside from the ‘not very’ part, there’s nothing to correct there."

Can that guy do anything but heckle?

"Eleanor-san, I’m about to cry…"

Nanapon said, so I looked at the shogi board and saw a disastrous scene. Her rook and bishop were already captured, and Nanapon’s forces were being toyed with.

"I taught you the ultimate magic spell, didn’t I?"

"M-Master…!"

Well, your Earth Quake is no match for Yoshino-san’s speed.

"Master, so is it settled that you will act as guardian and protect Arc?"

Lydia-chan asked.

"Yes. I agreed. It’s for you, Arc, and the future of the Ocean Kingdom."

"Do we really have to change the country’s name? Isn’t Frontier fine?"

Arc started heckling again.

"Arc, I’ve been thinking this for a while, but Frontier is a bit problematic."

Yoshino-san looked up from the shogi board and at Arc.

"Why?"

"Frontier has spread with the meaning of a land to be pioneered. Basically, the people here are fully intent on dominating your world."

I think so too.

"They can’t, though."

Arc and the King can close the Gate at any time.

"It’s a matter of image. The Frontier Kingdom is not good."

"But isn’t the Ocean Kingdom out of the question? And what does Ocean even mean?"

"Come to think of it, why is your last name Ocean?"

The two of them looked at me.

"Because Okita is Ocean."

Eleanor is a game character. Really, anything would have been fine.

"Huh? That’s it?"

"Ah… It really is Ocean."

"It’s true! It’s Okita-san’s Ocean!"

Nanapon too… Did they only just realize this?

"Hajime, you’re so simple."

"Who are you to talk, you just figured it out."

Well, the word ‘ocean’ brings the sea to mind first, so I guess it can’t be helped.

"Then I think the Sideriver Kingdom would be fine."

"How about the Sleevebranch Kingdom…"

That’s lame.

"Morning… wait? What’s Kura in English again?"

I don’t know.

"Kaede-chan, you’re an Ocean too."

I placed a hand on Kaede-chan’s shoulder and gently pulled her close.

"Annoying."

"I think Satsuki-neesan would have definitely clicked her tongue at that."

Be jealous, be jealous, all you single people.

"I think the name Ocean Kingdom is fine, but how will you utilize your position as guardian?"

"It’s not fine."

Lydia-chan brought the conversation back on track. Arc is noisy.

"Simply put, I think it’s enough to let it be known that if anyone tries anything with Arc, I’ll show up. Or, you can cast me as the villain. Make it seem like I’m the bad guy."

"Are you sure about that?"

"Isn’t that already the case?"

In both worlds.

"Then, Master, let’s have you become a person of status."

"But the country will crumble!?"

It won’t.

"Don’t worry. I have no intention of working."

"Oh, so it’s just a title."

Arc seemed to understand.

"Exactly. I’ll show up if someone needs killing or for monster extermination, but politics are boring."

And I don’t really get it. I prefer physical activity.

"Right, you were that kind of person. Though you did say something a little scary just now."

No I didn’t.

"Then, Master, we’ll have you become a great person in that capacity. I will handle the actual work, so Master, you can just relax and play."

See, she’s already started to dominate the country. Her actions are those of a mastermind. As expected of the final boss, the Dark Queen.

"Then."

"Arc, is that acceptable?"

Lydia-chan confirmed with Arc.

"I understand everything except for the Ocean Kingdom. Well, it’s my fault for being incompetent."

"That’s true."

"Hey! That’s where you’re supposed to say something nice!"

You are incompetent, though. You do nothing but play around at our house.

"If you think so, then work hard. The King has high hopes for you, and the lives of your people are in your hands, aren’t they?"

"Y-Yeah… I’ll do my best."

Arc nodded.

"Earth Qua—"

"Dispel!"

As Nanapon reached for the shogi board, both her arms were grabbed by Yoshino-san.

"Eleanor-san…"

Do you understand how I felt? A person only grows when they understand another’s pain… Whoa, Nanapon only has her King left on her side… Yoshino-san no longer has a human heart.

Unique skill holders are seriously nothing but trouble.