The day promised with the Emperor had arrived. Upon reaching the Imperial Palace, I was immediately escorted by the Imperial Guard to where the Emperor was. Well, calling it an escort might be a stretch.

“Hey. I’m not going to eat you, so can you back off a bit?” The Imperial Guard Knights were walking around me and Helga, keeping a close eye on our every move, ready to draw their swords at any moment.

“Hello? Can you hear me? I said back off a bit.” “…Just follow quietly.” The middle-aged man, who seemed to be the highest-ranking knight among our escorts, spoke up. His face, like the others, was clearly tense.

They were probably on edge because Tristan, the biggest threat to the Imperial Family, was by their side. Helga chuckled at their pitiful state. “Let me give you some advice… If you radiate killing intent so openly, you just look amateurish. Only beginners do that.”

“You insolent wench… Did you just call me a beginner?” The man glared at Helga with a voice full of anger. But Helga, still holding back laughter, replied, “Ahaha… Who was rude first? Our Count is here today as a guest, and you dare show such killing intent in front of him?”

“You dare insult an Imperial Guard Knight?” “So what? Are you going to draw your sword? Dare you?” The man hesitated as he reached for his sword hilt. “Think carefully with that head of yours. Why do you think I brought the Count here alone, surrounded by your Imperial Guards?”

At some point, the sharp heel of Helga’s high heels was pressing down on the man’s sword hilt. “Maybe it’s because I’m confident. Confident that I can turn your head into a burst tomato the moment you draw your sword.” “Tch…” “If you can’t hide your killing intent, just tuck your tail and stay quiet. Don’t bare your fangs from the start.”

Despite her smiling face, her words were chilling. Feeling the overwhelming difference in skill, the man and his knights lost their will to fight. I spoke up. “Helga. That’s enough.” “Yes. My apologies.”

With that one word, Helga stepped back, but the knights started walking a few steps further away. The killing intent directed at me was gone, leaving only the shame of being humiliated by Helga.

Suddenly, I thought Helga did well. I hadn’t paid much attention, but their attitude towards me was indeed rude. If Helga hadn’t stepped in, they would have continued to underestimate me and the Ruelberta Count Family.

I had always thought of Helga as reckless, but now I felt a deep sense of gratitude. “Aww. The moon looks so beautiful today, Count.” “……” Maybe she just turns into a fool in front of me.

We walked through a long corridor leading from the Imperial Palace to somewhere else. This time, the place to meet the Emperor wasn’t the audience chamber. It was probably the venue for the game the Emperor had prepared.

I didn’t know what game awaited me, but it was obvious that my life was at stake. Yet, amusingly, I wasn’t worried at all until this moment. Perhaps it was due to my personality trait of ‘pride,’ but I couldn’t imagine losing.

As we walked, the end of the corridor appeared. Stepping into the bright light, I heard a girl’s voice. “I thought my neck would break from waiting.” As my eyes adjusted to the light, I realized where we were.

I was standing in a circular arena, resembling the Roman Colosseum. It was similar to the arena beneath Meikhael University, but much smaller. And from the VIP seats, a girl with a haughty face looked down at me.

“Shall we begin?” The Night Empress, Luna, smiled as she spoke. “Human Chess.”

“The rules of this game are simple,” Luna pointed to the animal cages prepared at one corner of the Colosseum. “Choose the humans to be used as chess pieces. Then arm them and make them fight.”

There were humans chained up, one by one, in the cages. “The only difference between Human Chess and Magic Chess is that in Human Chess, humans are used as chess pieces instead of pieces made from Magic Stones.”

This was the game Luna had prepared. A cruel game using living humans. A game so bloody it made you want to look away.

Luna chose this game to show the power of the Imperial Family to the Count. The restoration of the Imperial Family’s authority was also due to such cruel examples. Fear was the easiest way to show authority.

Moreover, her opponent was Tristan Ruelberta, whose personality was as vicious as hers. Of course, showing fear to him might not be enough, but at least he wouldn’t be ignored.

“How is it? Do you like the game I prepared?” Luna leisurely awaited his response. Finally, Tristan spoke. “Tasteless.” “What…?” His words were different from Luna’s expectations.

Seeing his face, something welled up inside her. “Ha… Are you seriously trying to lecture me on the value of life?” Luna clicked her tongue. “Don’t worry. All the chess pieces are death row inmates. Ah, then Human Chess isn’t the accurate term. They’re more like tools, less than human.”

As Luna explained, all the chess pieces were heinous criminals. Trash among trash, who could be killed without issue. So why are you looking at me like that? Do you want to call me a tyrant? You, Tristan?

Luna made a displeased face. But Tristan shook his head. “That’s not the issue I’m pointing out. I’m just pointing out the problem of efficiency.” “Efficiency…?” “Yes. I agree that bugs should be treated as tools. But wouldn’t it be better to see them as tools that can make money?”

Tristan looked at the prisoners and said, “They can be used for at least 20 to 30 years. Even sophisticated machines are hard to use for that long. It’s a bit wasteful to use and discard them for such entertainment.”

“……You’re the one with terrible taste.” It was a thought befitting the head of the Ruelberta Family, who had amassed the greatest wealth in the Empire. To him, humans were nothing but a means to make money.

“Ha… Whatever. Sit anywhere you want.” “Hmm.” Luna shook her head and sat down. She sat in the best seat in the Colosseum, with the best view of the game. And where Tristan sat…

“Hey.” “…?” “Are you seriously daring to sit next to me?” Tristan, sitting right next to Luna, tilted his head with a puzzled expression. “Is there a reason I can’t?” “There are plenty of reasons. Is it proper for a subject to sit in the same place as the Emperor?” “Aren’t we equals during the game?” “What?? Equals? Are you insane?” “If not… Do you not intend to play an equal game with me?” “Huh……?”

Is this man really insane? If Luna wanted, she could have chosen a game that favored her. But as the Emperor, doing so wouldn’t show her dignity. She had prepared a fair game. Yet, this man, not understanding that, was scratching at her nerves.

Luna swallowed her anger and said, “Don’t mess around. Be grateful that I’ve lowered myself to your level.” “Indeed, I am grateful that you’ve matched my high level.” “……Fine. Think whatever you want. You’ll die by my hand after losing this game anyway.”

Luna flicked her fingers, and the Imperial Guard Knights below the arena began to move busily. “Then you choose first.” Luna spoke with a confident voice. “Let’s see how good your eye is for choosing chess pieces.”