152: First Round and the Spectators

"It looks like the first round has just begun."

"Feels intense, doesn't it?"

"Of course. This tournament is single-elimination—if you lose even once, you're out. So the first match is truly a make-or-break moment."

"There's probably a desire to finish one's own match as quickly as possible, to move on to the next rounds. Some of them are even using extremely fast-paced strategies—so fast I can tell just by watching."

Now, the Nine Cubic rapid chess tournament has already begun.

Sixty-four players are seated at the 32 boards prepared in the venue, with black and white assigned, and as soon as each player finishes setting up their pieces, the games begin.

The audience watches in various ways.

Fans following a particular player sit in seats where they can see that player’s game, quietly observing in anticipation.

Fans searching for an interesting match will stand and watch the game directly in front of them while simultaneously checking other games on their personal information terminals, occasionally moving to different locations.

For individuals like Viridiana, who hold a special status, the view is from a private room due to security reasons.

"Speaking of which, how much Nine Cubic can Joharis actually handle?"

"Just mess around with pieces now and then when I have free time. I don't really know much beyond the basic rules and the pieces themselves."

"I see, so it's pretty much the same as me."

"Is that so? Then it seems unlikely we'd be able to play against you or Memo."

Incidentally, the playing area directly below our room is not only where standout players face off, but also where matches from the semifinals onward are held... In short, it's what you'd call a prime seat.

Because of its status, this premium seating area is equipped with an elaborate holographic display system, allowing us to view scenes from various parts of the venue as if they were right before our eyes.

Right now... due to Vilijanira's request, we're simultaneously displaying about ten matches, including the ones right before us.

"But if I get commentary, I can follow along just fine. I'm interested, and Nine Cubic is perfect for training various parts of the brain."

"I see. Then let me try explaining it in terms I can understand."

"I'll help take notes."

Johari's request had led to Vilijanira and Mekokshi beginning to comment on a match that was growing increasingly interesting.

I don't really need to hear this...

Anyway, I should keep advancing Heikyo Morilyu's research...

There are still other small reports piling up, and while I'm in this relatively safe place, I should gradually reduce the backlog, or else the debt will keep growing.

With that in mind, I called out to Viridiana and her team, then focused entirely on research and report work.

"Guess skilled players really are good right from the basics of piece movement."

"Yes, exactly. The presence of a fast ship here is preventing our pieces from moving."

"But just defending won't win the game. In fact, it'll lead to defeat. The colony piece is active."

"Wait, this piece can actually be used in real combat!?"

"This is... ah, it's been taken over. Seized."

"Automatic movement, hidden by a concealment piece... and long-range shooting as a bonus."

Hmm, Hekyo Morelyu's bulb.

The taste of this isn't just reacting through simple taste or smell, it feels like something more.

Considering the pollution—or the spreading odor—reaching from the puppet to my main body... I'd rather not use such a phrase, but it seems this is exactly what it is.

To be honest, strangely enough, it feels like there's hardly any mod involved at all, Hekyo Morilyu.

"Resolution! A complete turnaround!"

"You struck the king like threading a needle. Or perhaps not even that—"

"Yes. It seems she was deliberately led to this point. She seemed to understand it... but couldn't escape after all."

"This side... wow, the board's gotten really messy."

"Multiple colony pieces in use at once? I see, it seems the fast attack failed."

"The key point of this match lies in the opening phase. It should be informative for Lady Vee as well."

While 'Sexy MiAzuma' is responsible for the onboard cultivation facility, increasing the number of Heikyo Moryu is also being done by establishing makeshift cultivation stations within the Ether Space. But can the latter really handle it?

For now, growth seems to be going smoothly, and the high-speed growth mod we created based on the Sw from the Glogrobeta system is working as well, but still… the Ether Space runs on a different OS, so I just hope it doesn’t cause any strange side effects in functionality.

Hmm, the next system we're heading to, the Shibra Smith system, was known for excelling in manufacturing everything, including spacecraft, right?

If that's the case, maybe I should place an order for one of their cultivation chambers.

"Memoqui."

"Yes, Sir Satu?"

There's something I'd like to request from the Shibrasmith system, but is it alright to go through Intelligence Unit contacts?

It depends on what exactly you're requesting. Please send me the specifications in a memo. Also, please note that if this is for personal use by Sir Satu, it might not be eligible for expense reimbursement.

Understood.

In any case, it's already decided that I'll be going to the Shibrasmith system.

In the Shibrasmith system, there's work awaiting me—renovating the interior of the 'Sexy MiAZuma' to suit the tastes of His Imperial Highness's illegitimate child, Virijianira.

Even without that, since the Shibrasmith system lies directly on the shortest route from the Niliani Potts system to the Imperial Planet Vanilla Sid... one might say there's no real reason not to go.

But the specifications...

Since I'm not an expert, I'll just have to carefully research and write them out myself.

Hmm, work just keeps piling up again.

I suppose it's unavoidable since it's necessary, but I really want to focus on writing freelance articles.

While drinking a sugary juice, I kept my hands moving without pause.