Episode 1029 Intellectual Conflict (3)
On the table in the private room furnished with luxurious furniture—that is, the third game waiting room—warm delicacies are laid out.
Decorative bookshelf.A stove fire where firewood burns but does not turn into charcoal.
The atmosphere is cozy.
Verden sat on a single-seater sofa as if it were the most natural thing in the world, without even glancing at the food. Alpha and Beta each sat on the armrests of the sofa and thoroughly read the rulebook given by the host along with Verden.
An unprecedented three-way battle… … .
There are several basic win and loss conditions in intellectual conflict.
Who captures the opposing faction’s king first?Who delivers the two ancient knowledges to the sage Gimul first?Who loses all the sages of their faction first?Who obtains one of the three absolute rulers first?
Two win/loss conditions were added here.
Who captures the opponent’s key zone first?
and.
Who satisfies the conditions for camp victory first?
The nature of the knowledge tasks assigned to the participants in the second game is similar. The host effectively gave special tasks to each of the three factions.
“Our condition is…… to preemptively block the conditions for victory for Fate and the Resistance camp.”
The game rulebook did not include the individual requirements given to Bloodia and Deus. In other words, it meant that players were expected to figure them out by observation while playing the game.
“Then does that mean Fate and the Resistor can win by carrying out a special process, and if we interrupt that process midway, we win?”
[Plan Interference?]
[It is very similar to reality.]
The intellectual conflict originated from a war of destiny that occurred in the distant past. A war between destiny and the resistors. Here, the Host reflected reality.By absorbing the power source of the Magic Tower, which is connected to the ideals of the First Demon King, and inserting Verden, who destroyed the Wheel of Destiny constructed by ‘you’.
However, since it is ultimately nothing more than a game, the Circle of Reversal cannot be used. As it cannot mimic reality, it is highly likely that the conditions on the side of Fate and the side of the Resistors will differ.
[However, the result might be the same.]
Alpha affirmed this.
[Resistor. Individual victory requirements satisfied. You may be able to figure out what His Majesty the Demon King ultimately intends to achieve.]
I do not know why ‘you’ created the concept of fate, nor have I grasped its true source. However,I understand that you intend to bind the past, present, and future through fate to create a cycle of repetition. I may not knowthe cause, but I have grasped the result.
On the other hand, the first Demon King is full of secrets.
All that is known is that he is still resisting ‘you’ and has made a crazy choice.Verden could not uncover the purpose for which the Magic Tower’s power source was created, nor the origin of that power.What kind of world does the First Demon King desire?
“If we block the path so that the two factions cannot meet their different victory conditions, and induce Deus to complete his individual victory condition, we can find the answer… … .”
Verden put down the rulebook.
“It looks like the resistance side will just give up the game.”
[A good choice.]
Alpha spread his hands. For reference, he had fully recovered from the injuries sustained in the ancient game. There were no signs of damage whatsoever on his right arm.
[Opponent. First Distinguished Guest and Third Guest of Honor. His Majesty Asher wins. Right to ask a higher-level question acquired.]
Verden, who does not wish to consume knowledge, gains the right to ask questions if he defeats the VIPs and the guest of honor.
Up to 3 low-level question tickets obtained from double-digit VIPs.Up to 2 medium-level question tickets obtained from single-digit VIPs.Up to 1 high-level question ticket obtained from the first VIP and the third host.
Since we used the low-level question ticket obtained at the start of the first game, we have secured 2 low-level question tickets and 1 medium-level question ticket.
I only acquired one intermediate question ticket.
Since the only single-digit VIP Verden had actually dealt with was Mortelan, the ninth VIP who commanded the elves in the ancient adventure story, he didn’treally mind, however, because Tearel had shared the answer to the intermediate question, which was practically the same as having obtained two.
“If you obtain the right to ask advanced questions, you can hear about the source of destiny or the ideals of the First Demon King. They say excessive knowledge is poison, but judging by the Host’s past behavior, it doesn’t seem likely that he would cause a taboo violation because of a formally obtained right to ask questions.”
Of course, the host could not be trusted, but come to think of it, he maintained neutrality indirectly.
An apostle with an ambiguous attitude, taking no side.
So, even if he set a trap, it seemed he wouldn’t have wanted a biased outcome where Verden would only suffer damages, whether he won or lost.Though, as I thought earlier, he cannot be trusted.
“Whatever happens, I can’t afford to lose.”
[Victory is the best.]
Losing knowledge to Bloodia would be fatal. Also, I don’t know if Deus eats knowledge, but I have no intention of letting either of them win.
I cannot hand over Draben Lemark’s soul… … .
Rather than watching Deus fulfill the Resistor’s victory conditions, it is better to obtain the right to ask a higher question and seek an answer from the Host.
Whoosh.
Verden used magic to implement the revised intellectual conflict seen earlier. Verden and Beta have never played this game.Only Alpha has experienced the existing intellectual conflict with Luzak Paltein just once.
Compared to Bloodia and Deus, who have attended the Arcadium several times in the past, this is a meager amount of experience.
However… … I am confident.
Verden, Alpha, and Beta’s innate intellectual abilities are second to none.Otherwise, they would not have made it this far.
[Strategy formulation commenced.]
The fourth guest of honor’s exclusive authority───Three as one.
There are no variables.
* * *
The fourth VIP—Feldianne Pearcia Rate—was granted a special viewing room as the winner of the second game and the forfeiter of the third game.
The large wall installed at the front was illuminating the quiet game stage.
“Wow, as a spectator, this is the first time I’ve ever looked forward to a composition this much. I wonder if the landscape of the ancient Arcadium felt like this, too.……”
At one time in the Arcadium, there were special beings selected as guests of honor by the host before Deus Wieden and Verden.
First guest of honor – Oldark.
Second Guest of Honor – ‘You’.
Although we do not know how the Arcadium attended by the two unfolded, they must have clashed intellects that transcended the boundaries of mutual understanding to the point where the mere thought of it makes one tremble.
Feldianne showed curiosity about the sight of the two absolute beings playing a game, and for the first time, she witnessed the stage of the intellectual clash of the three-way battle taking place in the Arcadium.
“Maybe…… now might be even more surprising than then.”
Crunch, crunch.
He held a puffed-up snack of fried corn kernels in one hand and chewed it as if savoring it. It was not food from Arcadium, but something he had brought himself.
About a day and a half until the summit.
If the game ends late and Feldianne is late like Deus and Verden, there is a possibility that Verden will discover she is the seed of resistance.She might even be suspected by the Ancestor, specifically by Indren Piercia Rate, the non-elder of the Artisan Magic Tower.
Nevertheless, Feldianne was at ease.
At least for now, he focused solely on the screen as if unconcerned about the situation outside. Soon, a ripple appeared on the screen.
Oh, it’s starting.
* * *
I wonder how much time had passed.
Three doors appeared again in the dark and empty banquet hall of knowledge.
“…….”
Led by Verden, Deus and Bloodia appeared in turn. They stepped onto the participant platforms and took their positions at precise angles and intervals relative to each other.
Bloodyia of Destiny.Deus of Resistance.Verden of Defying Heaven.
The three camps form a triangle.
Flash!
Light pouring down from the ceiling illuminated the participants and the stage of the intellectual game vertically. Then, an MC stood upright, serving as both the game referee and an MC for the audience.The MC was not the host, but one of the butlers of the Arcadium.
“……The final game. I am Shelbron, the 27th Butler of Arcadium, entrusted with the conduct and moderation of this intellectual clash between the supreme beings. I thank the Host for granting such a glorious opportunity to a humble servant like myself.”
It was Shelbron who, acting on Luzak’s orders, arranged for Verden and Luzak to have a private audience when Verden first visited Arkadium.
Originally, Shelbron was scheduled to be thrown into the Landfill of Knowledge, which was swarming with the specters of knowledge, as punishment for his rudeness, but as a result, he was able to be reinstated thanks to Verden taking an interest in him.
*bows*
Shelbron bowed to the third guest of honor, the fourth guest of honor, and the first distinguished guest in that order. He showed a little more respect and gratitude toward Verden.
Having trimmed the barnacles clinging to his face and body as if giving them a haircut, he took a deep breath and immersed himself in the role of referee with the utmost respect.
Before we begin the main game, I will explain the revised rules for intellectual conflict.
Shelbron repeatedly gave a clear and concise explanation of what had been changed and what had been added for the audience watching the stage.
newness!
As intellectuals of the Arcadium, the audience was inwardly thrilled to learn that the host had personally improved the intellectual clashes they had enjoyed countless times.
Effects of region tiles.Unit-specific abilities.Additional victory conditions.Existence of individual victory conditions.… … .
Shelbron stepped back after neatly finishing his explanation over several tens of minutes.One of the lights illuminating him was removed.Shelbron will now serve as the host from offstage, audible only to the audience, and will intervene as a referee only when necessary.
The intellectual conflict is entirely the participants’ own.
“So you haven’t given up on the game. There won’t be much time to evacuate the base hidden in the Kingdom of Maren.”
[Hehehe, you’re really good at provoking.]
Bloodyia opened her eyes half-firingly.
[A bloody lump.]
Verden and Bloodia touched each other’s raw nerves in the second game. A careless Bloodia had her pride wounded as her memories were forcibly shared, while Verden was forced to watch Alpha get hurt.
As expected, there was a strong clash in the adventure story.
Deus did not intervene and devised a game strategy that took into account the animosity between the two.The objective was Draven’s soul.He, too, had a reason to win in the Arcadium.
The order rotates in the order of the third guest of honor, the fourth guest of honor, and finally the first VIP. Conversation is permitted during the game, but I will intervene as a referee if any physical attacks or excessive provocation occur.
Shelbron spoke in the darkness.
“then…….”
At that moment, all the equipment moved and loosened up.
“I will begin the third game, Intellectual Conflict.”
As soon as the game began, Deus reached out with strong determination. In this intellectual conflict, there is no need to move pieces directly.
Bang! Bang!
The infantry unit advanced two spaces.
‘from now on.’
Immediately afterwards, Verden moved the infantry unit on the left without any hesitation.
thud!
* * *
The pieces of each side move rapidly. They are precise and seamless, like the gears of a machine. The three players manipulated their pieces ceaselessly according to their strategies, as if playing haphazardly.
Whoosh, crack!
Deus’s infantry, concealed by magic, struck Bloodia’s infantry they encountered at the border. Bloodia’s infantry suffered heavy casualties and retreated.
That’s right.
In the improved Intelligent Conflict, cavalry does not die instantly like in chess. For example, infantry pieces can withstand up to three attacks, and if they are ambushed once, they are inevitably destroyed the next time.Additionally, when attacked, they are randomly pushed back one or two squares.
“…….”
Tearel quietly stared at the board game, which was like a miniature version of war.Then, he spoke toward the approaching presence.
“What do you want?”
I’ve come to ask you to watch with me. It would be a waste to watch a game like this alone.
Sit anywhere.
Tearel fixed her gaze on the screen. The host brought a personal chair and took a seat next to her. The two watched the fierce intellectual clash side by side.
Thearel asked.
So, what is the purpose?
Who do you think will win?
Asher.
She answered immediately.
“Aside from their personal relationship, Asher is highly intelligent. On top of that, there are Alpha and Beta. The fourth guest is alone, yet it is no different from a group.”
{That’s an objective assessment. However, it is a shortsighted perspective.}
“Short-sighted?”
Tearel frowned as if he didn’t know what it meant.
{Although the name of this game is Intellectual Conflict, the participants are not purely intellectual beings. Emotions are always present. That is why Asher is at a disadvantage.}
Standing tall.
Because I haven’t crossed the line yet.
Verden on the screen moves the object and then pauses.
Tearel opened his eyes wide.
“……what?”
It is a simple story.
Verden let time pass while staring at the Adrian object. His pupils trembled. That was precisely Verden’s weakness.
It’s the fear of others’ sacrifice.
Verden is a being who volunteers for sacrifice.
However, there is no such thing as a complete victory.
To win even in an intellectual conflict, one must sacrifice a piece. Even if it is a piece that resembles someone close to you whom you cherish and love.
