Set Pieces

Everyone at the table all just stared at me, dumbfounded. I switched gazes between them, but they all kept the same expression.

*sigh*

– This was somewhat expected.

"I think what he is saying is true." Says Ben, making everyone shift their gaze to him.

"Before the match started, when I chose my first follower, I heard the voice that sounded like an old man saying 'You have been chosen to be the Beginner Black Candidate for Chess King. Gather your allies and strengthen your force and defeat the Beginner White Candidate'. Then when I was about to fight Danton I heard 'You have found the Beginner White Candidate for Chess King. You are qualified to initiate the duel'."

Ben pauses, then continues, "At first, I thought it was all a joke but when I lost to Danton the same voice said 'You are no longer qualified to be the Beginner Black Candidate for Chess King'."

So the others hear theirs through a voice huh? But the system is what told me about the job class, not the voice. Is it possible that I didn't hear the voice because it knows I have the system?

"You are right. That is when I advanced to Intermediate White Candidate," I pause and look at all of them before continuing, "And Grant Grail the Student Council President is the Intermediate Black Candidate."

"Oh, so that is why you picked an unnecessary fight with him." Ricky is the one that just stated the obvious.

What the? Who even let this kid join?

"But do you know what you did had a negative effect?" Elise asks, but a negative effect? Oh please, the students were all over me.

"What do you mean?"

"The students that saw you do that think you're just an arrogant, stupid kid." Arleore answers. Who else apart from Ben will have the guts to say that to me?

"Why? Wasn't it mind-blowing?"

"What is mind-blowing about a beginner scribe threatening the strongest mage in the school?" Says Arleore in her usual cold and dominating tone but this time it has a bit of mockery in it.

"..." I can't answer because I remember what the man with the blurred face told me about the evolved grizzly bear.

I now have to work to build my image. Most especially now I know that the hate from the students multiplied due to the events of the battle royale.

"Ok! I have heard you! Ugh! Now can we assign the roles?" I said, filled with anger and embarrassment.

"It is going to depend on our physical and magical traits." Says Elise with a determined look on her face.

"Hmmm?...Traits huh?"

I open the menu tab and find my way to the job class section in the stats window.

[Job Class : Intermediate White Candidate (Chess King)]

[Description : This job allows you to make your team of individuals and help them grow stronger collectively with each other. You have the chance to become the Advanced White Candidate (Chess King) by gathering allies, setting your pieces and defeating the Intermediate Black Candidate]

[Effect : Members of your team get different stats boost according to their set piece]

[-Roles/Pieces-]

[Queen : (empty)]

[Bishops : (empty)]

[Rooks : (empty)]

[Knights : (empty)]

[Pawns : (empty)]

[Awaiting to be set : Ben Gray, Elise Venorth, Arleore Bedivere, Bruce Nagey]

Thank goodness that kid's name isn't here, he's too weak.

I will look at 'Queen' first.

[Role/Piece : Queen]

[Description : The member this role is assigned to is the strongest attacking piece. This role makes the member the most versatile]

[-Effects-]

[• x3 MP boost]

[• All body stats +225]

[• INT +200]

[• +150 HP]

[Important : All the boost effects of set pieces are depended on the power level of the King and his rank on the board, which determines the limits to the increase of the boosts]

Nice, I sure wish I was a queen.

I'll proceed to check the rook, bishop and knight.

[Role/Piece : Rook]

[Description : The members of this role is assigned to become the perfect defence and tanking offence for the team]

[-Effects-]

[• STR +300]

[• STA +250]

[• END +350]

[]

[Role/Piece : Bishop]

[Description : The members of this role is assigned to have amplified magic on their specific magic-type and can have deviations of their magic type depending on the type of bishop, either white or black]

[-Effects-]

[• x3 MP boost]

[• INT +300]

[]

[Role/Piece : Knight]

[Description : The members of this role is assigned to have increased speed and weapon mastery for enemy camp infiltration and assassination. They are also damage dealers on the battlefield since enemies don't see them coming]

[-Effects-]

[• x3 speed boost]

[• Weapon mastery +50 (on only member's specific weapon)]

[• Unique piece skill: Teleport to a set location limited to 3 meters and costs 300MP]

These are the powerhouses. I remember I'm forgetting one more piece.

[Role/Piece : Pawn]

[Description : The members this role is assigned to are the basic defence system and suicidal pieces. If used correctly can be the strongest piece]

[-Effects-]

[• Weapon mastery +10]

[• Unique piece skill: Promotion]

This is the most useless piece. 'If used correctly can be the strongest piece'? Ha! What a joke.

I looked at every one of the group members stats, and they screamed out the best roles for them.

I can't possibly give Ben the role of a queen since that will just be like cheating the whole world.

"Arleore you're the Black Bishop."

'Ttri-ting'

[Black bishop role: assigned]

"Wow, I feel my mana capacity increase. No wonder people flock over Chess King candidates." Says Arleore, looking fascinated.

"Bruce you're a rook and Elise you're the queen." I notice Elise's face turn red as I finish. She makes this so easy it's not even worth working hard for.

"I-I'm y-your q-q-queen?" Says Elise. She uses her hands to cover her face.

But seriously, does she never get tired of blushing every single time? Maybe I'm just that good-looking.

"And Ben... You're a pawn." I stifle a laugh. Ben probably didn't see this coming.

"I see what's happening here. Very well then." Ben smiles, but I can notice his devilish side plot his revenge.

"Hey! What about me?" Ricky asks. This kid thinks I'll let him join.

"You are--" I pause to look around and search the area.

"What are you searching for?" Elise asks but I just keep on searching.

"Where are Zeus and Hades?!" I ask anxiously. I forgot about Rose's puppies because of all that's been happening. Mom and Dad won't be happy.

"Do you mean those dogs that were in the room? I was the second to arrive at the dorm, so I took them to the school's beast keeper," Says Ricky with his usual high-spirited self and doesn't look like he knows the implication of what he has done, "The man said I just gave him a thousand gold pieces." He adds.

""WHAT!""

Arleore, Ben and Elise shout, causing looks from the other tables to fall on us.

I put my hand on my head and massage my temples before saying,

"Ricky, what have you done?"

"Err... It's Riley." Ricky still didn't realize the implication of what he did.

Arleore, Ben and Elise were in commotion, then when Ben explained to Riley that the twins aren't normal dogs he joined their feet of commotion.

I sat there smiling at them, but that only lasted for less than a minute after I heard 'his' voice.

'Do you think I'll let you be happy when Vivian died because of your weakness?' The blurred face man speaks in my head like how Garmi does.

'Do you think I'm not hurting? I'm keeping up a facade, so they wouldn't suspect anything, and you're taking that as me being happy?' I ask back at him, but he didn't reply.

'And how is it my fault Vivian died?' I have been wondering why he has been constantly blaming me.

'Didn't you feel something was wrong? You have barely touched the surface of 9th Sense, but it still alarmed you! I'll leave with saying that and now pray we never meet again.' The voice in my head stops, and I can feel the void that remains.

Ben, Elise and Ricky went to get Zeus and Hades from the school beast keeper. Bruce, Arleore and I were left at the table.

I quietly finish my food and start noticing that some students are talking about me since I can see some point with their fingers and shift gazes when I look back at them.

"What is wrong with you?" Arleore was just an inch away from my face, making me blush a little and move back, startled.

"N-N-Nothing."

"Then why are you putting up a facade?"

"How do you know I am putting up a facade?"

"I am from one of the top military families, so it is a necessity to detect when someone is lying or acting. Do you think we just depend on luck with the constant prying eyes of people seeking our death?"

"I am the son of the Overlord, so I know how to be a gentleman from time to time." I said, feeling proud because I just dodged an incoming attack. She would have forced the truth out from me and I know better than anyone that I shouldn't make her angry.

Arleore had a confused expression written all over her face before she spoke,

"Huh? What are you saying? The Overlord is a Daevik, not a Stonehead."