## Chapter 1314 – ##14_Sicilian Defense (7)
##63
1.
From the early stages to the beginning of the mid-game, where they contested the center, the goddess of victory seemed to be smiling upon Diana.
Although the two had the same number of runes, Diana had the advantage in terms of importance and versatility. It seemed that once Diana’s ability to flexibly respond to the changing battle situation began to manifest, the game would solidify in her favor.
In front of Diana, who had set a trap in the center and was waiting for him to recklessly charge in, his action was very simple.
He abandoned the center.
According to the standard approach, this was a clear mistake.
Giving up the center on the position board was a foolish self-inflicted wound.
Runes with high algorithmic importance were usually placed in the center.
Tactically, it was no different from having one’s front yard blocked by the opponent.
‘It’s definitely not a mistake.’
However, thanks to Siwoo’s sacrificial play of abandoning the center, he gained ‘timing.’
It could be said that he had taken the turn.
Diana’s formation was leaning towards defending the center, and in a situation where they were trying to push each other away, Siwoo had simply slipped away.
She needed a move to reorganize her stance.
Of course, it wasn’t the standard approach.
It was all or nothing.
Literally, a ‘one-shot’ gamble where everything was on the line.
If Siwoo’s attack was even slightly flawed, the game would end immediately.
Diana would solidify her advantage in the center and slowly kill Siwoo.
-Thud! Thud!
The fierce attacks that seemed menacing were hitting Diana’s shield, but there was no need to be so afraid.
It was an attack that had abruptly changed its style without a solid foundation.
There was even a time limit on his turn.
There was no need to interrupt his flow. Diana could simply guard carefully and let him collapse on his own.
She just had to avoid being swallowed by his spirit.
She had to do her job without getting caught up in his pace.
“You’re being reckless.”
Diana calmly repeated to herself.
If Diana were to crumble from such a surprise attack, she wouldn’t have been able to accumulate so many victories in the first place.
“I learned something from you. Never be swayed by emotions.”
“Hmm? Did I teach you that?”
“…You did?”
Whether it was her shameful appearance when she received Shin Siwoo’s hospitality board, or when she lectured him on what the standard approach was…
Anyway, she had learned that if she moved according to her feelings, she would face great embarrassment someday.
Thinking about the past made her mouth itch.
Before teabagging, Diana assessed the situation.
No matter how she looked at it, Shin Siwoo’s offensive end point was around 40 moves.
It didn’t seem like there was a surprise move within that range.
The annoying dispel pins weren’t visible, and there were no meaningfully hidden moves.
In a match between top-tier players, with a move limit?
It was a done deal.
After 35 moves, Diana forced down her twitching lips and said calmly.
“You’re playing the game a bit emotionally.”
“……”
Seeing him unable to say anything and keeping his mouth shut made Diana feel incredibly, incredibly good.
So much so that she could hear fireworks exploding in her ears.
She had beaten Shin Siwoo.
She had overcome his sincerity as he rushed in like a mad wild horse, even opening up to the second phase.
Her efforts had borne sweet fruit.
Still, Diana continued her moves silently, without letting her guard down until the very end.
The countdown to victory continued.
36 moves.
37 moves.
38 moves.
39 moves.
40 moves.
But.
41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56 moves.
Shin Siwoo’s fierce attacks showed no signs of stopping.
‘What is this?’
By this point, Shin Siwoo’s attacks should have become weak.
After all, even with the same number of mana sources and runes, Diana had more of the better runes, didn’t she?
But even though Diana was starting to feel burdened by the defense, his offensive showed no signs of diminishing.
“Miss.”
“Ah.”
“You’re looking at the board too broadly.”
And Diana realized the reason.
Diana’s judgment was not wrong.
Certainly, the number and quality of runes were better on her side.
‘Overall,’ that was the case.
“When did you do this again…!”
Only then did Diana realize that the runes Siwoo had were strangely skewed to the right.
It wasn’t an excessive skew.
It was skewed just enough that Diana wouldn’t notice it.
Looking back, in the early stages, Shin Siwoo had willingly given up runes with high importance.
Thanks to that, Diana had acquired more runes that were well-balanced, fuel-efficient, and stable.
On the other hand, what about Shin Siwoo’s runes?
He had many runes that were poorly balanced, fuel-inefficient, and unstable.
In other words, he had many runes that were good for short battles and strong in chaotic situations, especially concentrated on the right side of the battlefield.
In this right-side melee, Shin Siwoo had a short-term, localized advantage.
A strategic imbalance had occurred.
That was why, even though he had exceeded the predicted offensive end point of 40 moves, he was able to pour out attacks that surpassed Diana’s defensive capabilities.
Diana, who couldn’t hold back and had blurted out those words, looked like she had been slapped in the face.
Her face looked bewildered, even a little wronged.
“Could it be that you… planned this from the beginning?”
This was definitely not a fluke.
It had been planned from the start.
If things went wrong, he had been planning to stab like this from the early stages.
“It was insurance.”
Shin Siwoo confirmed Diana’s guess.
He had seen Diana’s surprisingly improved energy during the early skirmishes and had laid the groundwork.
He had been thinking of taking a final gamble if necessary.
“…Ha.”
Diana gave a smile that didn’t seem to mean anything and continued the game.
From the 159th move to the 179th move, where Diana’s defeat was decided, it was a forced sequence.
No matter what move she made other than the forced sequence, her defeat would only be hastened.
In the end, Diana threw in the towel on the 162nd move.
“I lost.”
“It’s been a long time since I’ve had such a fun game. Good work.”
In the past, Diana would pout and lock herself in her room when she lost a game.
Siwoo remembered that day and tried to treat her carefully.
Diana had shown him something so fun that he had enjoyed the game with her, but now Siwoo was a proper adult, wasn’t he?
To beat her so thoroughly without any hesitation.
It made him wonder what he was doing against an apprentice witch.
“Haa….”
But Diana was just rubbing her flushed cheeks and giving a bittersweet smile.
“You’re incredibly strong, Duke.”
“I was the one who was surprised, you know? I was serious, but I didn’t expect it to be this difficult.”
Her efforts over the past few days flashed before her eyes like a panorama.
In the end, Diana’s challenge had ended here.
But it was the best match without a single regret.
Perhaps there would never be another game in Diana’s life where she would pour out so much sincerity.
“It’s shameless of me, but could I ask for another match next time?”
“Of course.”
Diana shook hands with Siwoo, who smiled brightly, and went home with a refreshing defeat.
“…But didn’t we make a bet?”
Siwoo, left alone, tilted his head.
2.
“Ah.”
Diana, who had returned home and was reviewing the game while taking a bath, belatedly remembered.
Come to think of it, it was a bet, wasn’t it?
A bet to say ‘Take responsibility for my mother!’ to the shameless Shin Siwoo.
It wasn’t that she had run away because she didn’t know what to ask for.
She had forgotten because she had had too much fun playing together.
Perhaps Duke Shin Siwoo was the same.
Or maybe…
-Bubbles
Diana made bubbles and submerged herself up to her nose.
Wasn’t it possible that he had accepted such a forced bet just to play with Diana?
And even though Diana had lost the game and forgotten about the bet (or was pretending to have forgotten), wasn’t it possible that he had shown consideration as an elder and turned a blind eye?
Come to think of it, he had always been that kind of man.
He was somewhat clumsy but meticulous, seemingly rude but full of consideration…
When she thought about it, he was a benefactor to both Diana and her mother.
He was even the black knight who had saved Diana from being defiled by thugs.
And what about the intellectual side he had shown in today’s game?
‘You can have the center. I’ll take this game.’
‘It was insurance.’
‘Miss, you’re looking at the board too broadly.’
With sharp eyes.
Siwoo, who had taken everything without showing a single gap in front of Diana, the epitome of intelligence.
For reference, Diana’s ideal type was a man with a sexy brain.
“Ugh… Ugh…. Ugh….”
Suddenly, Diana’s face turned red.
She seemed to lie down in the tub for a moment, then quickly wiggled her white toes that peeked out of the water.
“Even if it’s a bet… Ang! How dare he treat me like this… I won’t forgive him… Haaang… Th, there… is a woman’s precious place…”
She suddenly started talking nonsense.
At that moment.
“Diana, are you in there? I came because your mother has something to talk about.”
“Kyaaaaak!!!”
Lucy, who had come to make up with Diana after their argument and become close again, was startled by her daughter’s sudden scream.
“Mom! I told you to knock!”
“No, no… I just wanted to take a bath with Diana for the first time in a while…”
“I’m all grown up now, so I’ll do it alone…”
Diana, who was about to get angry like a daughter whose alone time had been disturbed, calmed down for a moment when she saw her mother’s hesitant appearance.
“Haa, okay. Let’s take a bath together.”
“Really? Is it okay?”
“Yes.”
Lucy, with a brightened face, got into the tub.
“Diana, your mother thinks you’re much more important than marriage.”
“What does my marriage have to do with your marriage?”
“Honestly, I don’t really feel like I want to marry Siwoo… And what if our daughter wants to marry Siwoo later?”
“Th, th, th, that kind of thing… will never happen…”
“Hehehe.”
“Don’t laugh like that!”
“Oh my, our Diana has grown up. She even thinks of her mother. Is there anything you want? It’s on me. I’ll buy you anything.”
“…Ballet clothes.”
“Cough! Ba, ballet clothes…?”
After that, the mother and daughter’s conversation rippled on the surface of the water.
Well, something like that.
Today, the Yesod County was peaceful as well.
