The legend of the Crimson Demon clan started from Suqing.

Chapter 588 The People Unblessed by God

“e4”

“e5”

“Nf3”

"Nc6... Oh dear, Rick seems a bit rushed today. What happened to his usual steady and methodical approach?"

“d4, that’s why I’ve been unable to beat you. So I’m going to change my strategy. Don’t think I’m still the same person I used to be. I’ve grown up.”

"exd4, is that just bluffing? Very Rick-like, trying to arouse suspicion? But it won't work on me."

"Tsk. Nxd4."

"Hmm, you've caught up. You always chose to run away before, so has it really changed? Let me try... Alright, Qh4."

Is it intentional?

Rick's eyes narrowed slightly. Although it was only the fourth move, Zun Zun was no ordinary person. There must be other reasons and purposes behind his move.

“Nc3”

“Bb4”

It's really baffling. Wouldn't this just increase our chances of winning? But if that's the case, why not press our advantage?
“Qd3”

"Pfft, you've been tricked."

"——!?"

Rick's hand trembled slightly as he placed the piece representing the Queen. He seemed to realize that he had made a bad move by being greedy and overconfident. And when Zun Zun placed the piece representing the Knight on f6, he completely lost any chance of winning.

……

Black wins on move 27.

“It’s the same as before, Rick.” Zun Zun glanced at his victorious chessboard and said with a smile, “It’s because you always try to salvage the situation every time you lose a piece that you’re getting more and more passive.”

Rick, who initially possesses all the pieces, is the strongest. However, once he loses pieces, he becomes hesitant and indecisive. As his pieces are reduced, he becomes increasingly constrained until he ultimately triumphs.

Even so, Rick was able to do it, and when he was truly defeated, most of the white pieces on the board were still alive... although that is precisely why Zun Zun won so easily.

"Then I'll leave the extra meal tonight to you."

"……I see."

Incidentally, the bet between the two was the barbecue for tonight's dinner.

Because food supplies in the settlement were very limited, people often had to go out hunting—although most of the time they returned empty-handed, since animals had a hard time surviving in a world covered in black and gray, they still had to do it every day.

They wouldn't let any means of survival pass them by. And after Zun Zun arrived, he and Rick often found prey of moderate size to supplement the meals of the people in the settlement.

Don't go too far, or it will arouse suspicion.

Soon Chlorine brought in dinner, and Zun Zun unceremoniously snatched the hard-earned roast meat from his bowl, making Rick secretly resolve to win it back next time.

"I'm saying, Zun Zun, you don't know how to use magic..."

"I would never do something so tasteless."

"That's true, I'm sorry."

Rick suspected that magic was used to win, after all, it's hard not to suspect that ordinary people and powerful people with superhuman abilities might use magic when they are together. However, Zun Zun, as a player, would never tarnish the sacred duel.

Hmm, it's like being able to use internal energy to create a huge fire that evaporates rivers, but then using that energy to cook food—absurd yet somehow reasonable.

This is absolutely true.

"...Although it's a bit late, I still want to ask." Rick remained silent for a long time, hesitating before finally speaking, "Are humans able to use magic from other worlds?"

"Unfortunately, no."

Zun Zun uttered words that were almost heartless.

The humans in this world are not connected to the Elf Corridor, so they cannot use magic. Just like there is no door in Re:Zero or no aptitude in Konosuba, what is not there is simply not there.

"But there is actually another way."

"What is it?"

"—Fairy Spirit."

Zun Zun stretched out his hand, and colorful orbs of light danced up and down in his palm, appearing extremely dazzling.

Rick clearly showed resistance, but he still stared at it intently.

Fairies can use magic in place of their contractors. Although a fairy's strength is tied to that of their contractor, fairies like Beatrice can also absorb magical energy from the atmosphere to use magic.

In other words, even ordinary people without magical aptitude can use magic, but the power will definitely be much weaker.

"That--"

"But that won't work either."

Zun Zun still shook his head.

"I thought it was one thing that you couldn't use magic, but I didn't expect that your compatibility with the fairies was almost zero. Out of nearly 1843 people in the settlement, only one person has even a tiny bit of compatibility with the fairies."

"……hateful."

Rick's face immediately contorted.

Just how unloved is the human race? Not only can they not use magic, but they are also physically weak and have little strength; they die from the slightest touch. Does this mean the human race should be extinct?!
"...Wait a minute." Rick finally realized what was happening and asked curiously, "There's someone who has a connection with the immortals, who is that person?"

"Klonie".

"is her?"

"Although the connection is very weak."

Zun Zun shrugged.

The other party's compatibility with fairies is almost on par with Subaru Natsuki's; they can only form contracts with one minor fairy, which is hardly enough to create effective combat power. In fact, forming a contract with a fairy would actually increase her burden, but even so, she still hopes to do so. After all, humans have no choice; they must accept any source of power.

"That's right..."

Rick nodded.

After this period of guidance, he became more cheerful. Thanks to this, he broadened his horizons and realized how much effort others, not only he, had made for the future of humanity.

"I have also tried other methods to improve life in the community."

"...Do you mean throwing bananas into the water and planting saury in the paddy field? Are you out of your mind? How can fish grow in a paddy field? Are you crazy?"

"Can you survive in this world without going crazy?!"

"But even if I'm begging you, can you please not waste resources? Especially food resources."

"Well."

It seems that food resources are of paramount importance in any world. I am grateful to the saint who can provide me with enough to eat.

Zun Zun originally intended to replicate Su Qing's planting method. Rather than destroying the planting system of this world and changing people's perceptions, being able to eat one's fill was the most important thing.

At worst, we can correct these things when the One True God appears in the future.

However, he was probably just being delusional. No matter what he did, it would only be a waste of food, especially when resources were scarce, and he would really be criticized.

"There are also job cards. I was thinking of letting you start a job like me. Even if you can't become a mage or priest, it would be good to become a swordsman or thief, but it didn't work."

In Konosuba, one's profession can increase the survival rate of the human race, and he can also make magical items to unlock professions, but they have no effect whatsoever.

It's like——

Humanity is shunned by all mystical beings.

"Ah, really?"

Rick showed no reaction, seemingly used to it all; he was probably the kind of person who 'wouldn't pray for divine mercy.' In reality, if Zun Zun hadn't repeatedly declared that he was human, he would have been driven out of the settlement long ago.

"anyway……"

Zun Zun then looked at the map that had been pushed aside.

"So, what do you plan to do about this?"

"...Needless to say, of course we need to investigate the truth of the matter."

Rick said that.

Some might argue that since the battlefield doesn't affect the settlement, why risk one's life to investigate whether a destructive spell truly exists? Wouldn't it be better to simply stay safely in the settlement?

But that's wrong.

Once this spell is confirmed to exist, the goblins and winged races will be the first to become restless, and they will use super-powerful sorcerers and weapons against the forest elves without any scruples.

In that case, how could the forest elves not retaliate?
The racial war will eventually affect the whole world—as Zun Zun once said, even the human race in the most remote corner is already on the chessboard and cannot stay out of it.

To determine whether they truly exist, the only thing they can do is to verify the location where the forest elves are most likely to make their move, and then hide away from there as far as possible.

Information from the goblin species suggests that there may be two locations where the sabotage sorcerer is buried.

One is a forest elf city that was destroyed by a single blow from a winged creature in the past, and the other is a fortress city that was deliberately built for the purpose of researching magic.

The goblins, of course, attacked the fortified city without hesitation, destroying most of it. The furious forest elves immediately organized a counterattack and then heavily guarded it.

Although it seems like something is being deliberately hidden, something still feels off. In this situation, it's not feasible not to send someone to investigate.

Rick originally planned to only explore the original, destroyed forest elf city, but with Zun Zun behind him, he was able to gather more information.

however--

"I can agree to help investigate, but only if you can beat me at chess."

Both of them looked at the chessboard at the same time.

Rick's expression was somewhat complicated.

“However, let’s change the rules a little,” Zun Zun said while setting up the chess pieces. “Since there are two possible locations, one dangerous and one relatively safe, let the winner decide which one the opponent can go to.”

"...Okay, I agree."

Rick nodded.

Then, as expected, Zun Zun won and picked up the map of the original Mori Elf City, waving it at Rick in a showy manner.

"So……"

"Phew—oh well, a bet's a bet. I guess I'll just..."

"Rick, you go here."

The map was shoved into his arms.

"What does that mean? Is it mockery or humiliation?"

"It is the ease of the strong and the capriciousness of the victors."

Zun Zun laughed when he saw Rick frowning and looking unhappy.

"What, you're not convinced? But I'm the winner this time, so I have the right to decide. If Rick is still not satisfied, then he can beat me next time. So..."

He picked up another map and tapped Rick on the head.

"Come back alive, leader."

"...You don't need to tell me."

Rick tasted the bitter fruit of defeat, a defeat he had experienced countless times before, yet which always left him feeling resentful.

(End of this chapter)