They are still close to me today despite their negative feelings

The most famous of these is probably when a pawn moves to the last square on the opponent's board and gains the ability to be promoted.

In other words, those of lower class can become any higher class.

"Although I started with the idea of ​​giving it a try, since there is no soldier character in the game."

Chen Di shrugged.

"But after you left, Ling Chuqing, who arrived at your palace, did indeed get the opportunity to be promoted. It's a pity that she could only be promoted to the higher-ranking Queen. Although it's a bit of a shame that she lost her means of transportation, the role of the Queen is indeed more important."

This rule makes sense. After all, it's an "upgrade," you can't just "transfer" it to a castle.

"No wonder they found our location quickly, but didn't come over in a hurry." I shrugged.

"I don't have a bicycle, please understand," Chen Di said with a wry smile.

"So, time's really running out. Should we just admit defeat?"

He gently reached out his hand, seemingly to end the game peacefully.

"Even if you send Qiu Luxi and Su Qiqi to our king's side, there's still Ling Chuqing, the newly promoted queen, there, right? And here, shouldn't you be a general?"

"I've used my protective skill, which just finished its cooldown, on myself. Now, if I just get past you and touch Ning Ruoxin, the game will be over."

"...It seems that way."

Chen Di looked somewhat dejected, while I smiled.

"If that's just how it appears on the surface."

Immediately afterwards, a notification tone sounded in my earphones.

[King vs. King! The White King has been executed by the Black King! Black wins!!]

For once, I saw a hint of hesitation and surprise on Chen Di's face.

"……How did you do it?"

He looked at me, and although it was an unexpected failure, his tone was the opposite of before, filled with doubt and a hint of satisfaction.

[Next chapter preview: "Cat?" Qiu Luxi frowned, but didn't seem to mind me calling her that.]

"That was absolutely brilliant! This is the most spectacular Holy Ring War I've ever witnessed!!!"

"After the dark, you seem somewhat dissatisfied?"

"Brother, you're joking, right?"

Chapter Sixty-Nine: The Gift of the Tarot of Destiny

"How did you do it?"

Twenty minutes earlier, on the Ferris wheel, Qiu Luxi also stared at me with wide eyes and an incredulous expression.

"The important hint just now should be part of the game's hidden rules."

I said with a smile.

"According to the rules of chess, right?"

Qiu Luxi frowned.

“In rulebooks like these, the important things are often placed at the beginning. ‘Each other’s identity is known before the game. Skills and tools can be given to others to use.’ This sentence is also very important.”

"What do you mean?"

As the Ferris wheel slowly rose, Qiu Luxi tilted her head in confusion.

"Before the game, everyone knows each other's identities, which implies that these identities might be swapped after the game starts." I shook my bracelet. "And skills and tools can be given to others to use. That sounds fine, but doesn't it seem like it's implying something?"

"Is this an indication that everyone should hand over the tools to the most important person, and then win?"

"Haha, indeed, if you put command, speed, and protection all on the Queen, it would really create a Gundam. However, as long as the opponent also has protection, this kind of pig farming strategy will definitely collapse."

"This rule actually implies that using skills to determine a character's identity is unreliable."

I said with a smile.

"The one riding a white horse isn't necessarily a knight; he might be Tang Sanzang. Indeed, considering the different ways each profession operates, it makes sense that a king, who can't move easily, and a knight, who can't change course midway, would wield a command while the knight wields a galloping horse. But that's not absolute."

"This means that although Command and Dash are best suited for King and Knight respectively, in special circumstances, it is not necessary to stick to one's own skills and tools."

"That's right, that's probably the first layer of meaning; while the second layer is very direct, even to the point of being laughable—why is it specifically the king and the knight who possess the tools? And why imply that their professions can be confused?"

"...Although he is a knight, his way of moving is more like a rook in chess. The skill 'Charge' is also a hint."

"So, if it's a rook and a king, there's a very classic special rule in chess."

"Bingo~ Cats are so smart~"

"Cat?" Qiu Luxi frowned, but she didn't seem to mind me calling her that.

I lifted Qiu Luxi's bracelet.

Castling. Each player has one opportunity in each game to move their king and rook simultaneously as a move for the king.

"But the premise is that the king and the chariot must not have been moved."

Qiu Luxi nodded as I held her wrist.

"So, in the Black Square area before the game started, you had Ning Ruoxin and I touch our bracelets—at that point, Ning Ruoxin and I had already switched identities, right?"

"Well, so like I just said, we've been a couple from the very beginning. The Cat King and the Clever Queen, how cool is that?"

"...This man really knows how to say some incredible things without thinking."

Although she accepted my explanation, Qiu Luxi's gaze towards me became somewhat cold, unlike when she first heard me speak.

"So you dragged me onto the Ferris wheel just for this kind of thing?"

"of course not!"

I solemnly denied it.

"?"

Qiu Luxi looked at me suspiciously.

"After all, we no longer have the ability to detect such things. Now, this is the only place we have the opportunity to search for the other side's king."

I said matter-of-factly, "It's higher up here."

"........."

I don't know why, but even though my plan was perfect, Qiu Luxi seemed a little uninterested.

So this kind of faction battle is only fun when played with good buddies like Chen Di. Women just don't understand the fun of SLG!

Although Miss Cat didn't seem to be seriously looking for anyone and was instead quietly enjoying the scenery, my sharp eyes finally spotted Hu Dan with Ling Chuqing just as the Ferris wheel was about to come down.

……

"So you're also waiting for the 'protection' CD?" Chen Di said with a wry smile as we returned to the castle hall.

"In order to successfully 'devour' Ning Ruoxin, who thought she was the king, I used my 'protection' on myself. And at that time, Su Qiqi was probably cooperating with Qiu Luxi and used her 'protection' on Qiu Luxi, right?"

“Yes, in that case, the king with ‘protection’ is in a situation where he has the upper hand over both the queen who has ‘transformed’ and the king who hasn’t received ‘protection’.” I shrugged. “But I really didn’t expect it to be the queen over there instead of a knight. Fortunately, the king is the highest authority.”

Chen Di chuckled and sighed, "Although we didn't even realize Qiu Luxi was the queen before it was over. You dragged it out until the 'protection' cooldown refreshed. You were being too cautious."

"Big brother, don't laugh at second brother. Don't tell me you're dealing with us because of brotherhood." I rolled my eyes at the handsome guy.

"What a pity. If I hadn't 'ascended' to become a queen and possessed the tool of 'speed,' I might have been able to escape and save my life." Chen Di shook his head.

"Please leave me a way out."

"Hahahahahahaha!!!"

The old man's loud laughter interrupted my conversation with Chen Di, and Su Qiqi, who had arrived in the hall earlier, waved vigorously in our direction.

"Big brother! Big brother! We won!!"

Qiu Luxi, who was next to me, nodded at me and puffed out her chest slightly, looking somewhat smug.

"That was absolutely brilliant! This is the most spectacular Holy Ring War I've ever witnessed!!!"

I guess they say that every year.

"White Kingdom! With your brilliant strategies and powerful execution, you have created a series of magnificent moments in this war, like an epic tale of heroism; Black Kingdom! With your unparalleled command and ingenious planning, you have achieved a spectacular counterattack in this war!"

"Though wars have victors and vanquished, the glory of heroes endures forever. The Holy Hand Ring has given its instructions: every hero who participated deserves to enter the Hall of Heroes, to enjoy communion and fine wine!!"

As expected of a family-friendly theme park, even if there are temporary competitive games, it always ends with a happy ending. How boring.

Having already prepared myself, I shook my head with a wry smile, only to see An Yu, who had just been feeling dejected, suddenly bright-eyed.

...Well, a happy ending is also very important to some people.

Just as I was getting ready to tidy up and join everyone for dinner, the old man smiled slightly.

"After the dark, you seem somewhat dissatisfied?"

"Eh?"

Was I being too obvious?

“I understand your dissatisfaction. Victory is still victory. Even if there is no punishment for defeat, victory should be rewarded.”

"The Holy Bracelet has heard your prayer. Therefore, it will grant you a destined game."

"You may end up with nothing, or you may gain everything—are you willing to take the challenge?"

to be frank.

I'd rather have dinner earlier.

But Su Qiqi, Qiu Luxi, An Yu, and Ning Ruoxin were all looking at me expectantly.

"Would getting everything be like a buffet?"

An Yu whispered to me.

"Excuse me, I don't recall you being from our country, right?"

"...How stingy! We're heroes on the same side now. We're good friends of the Gray Kingdom!"

...When it comes to food, this person just starts talking.

"It sounds interesting, want to give it a try?" Chen Di said to me with a smile.

"Looks like you haven't had enough of the game yet."

"After all, losing like this makes me feel really unwilling to accept it."

I glanced at Qiu Luxi, who was silent. She was listening patiently to Su Qiqi, her head bowed, and occasionally a smile would appear on her face.

What does it mean to "acquire everything"?

I asked the old man.

The old man stroked his long white beard and smiled mysteriously.

"This is an unprecedented challenge, and even with the help of others present, you may not be able to complete it. As for the reward, I don't even know what you will receive—love, wealth, or even an entire kingdom are all possibilities."

"Wow, there's love too? Then I definitely have to participate...?" I blurted out.

Ning Ruoxin looked at me with a smile.

"Brother, you're joking, right?"

“…Of course.” I straightened my posture and hurriedly said to the old man.

"You've waited so long, please begin."

The old man stroked his beard and chuckled, then clapped his hands.

"Come forth, Tarot of Destiny!!!"

The lights suddenly illuminated the entire hall, rousing background music burst forth, and white mist erupted, shrouding the hall in a hazy gray. This scene was even more sensational and exciting than the start of the "Battle of the Holy Rings."

Is it a blessing from fate, or a curse from a riddle?

"You have proven your courage in the war, so let this wise tarot decide the future of the kingdom!"

The old man spoke with a smile, and a large table slowly rose up in front of him.

On the table, 22 Major Arcana Tarot cards were exquisitely packaged in glass and laid out in a fan shape before us.