"You mean, now?" The challenge surprises me.

Well, it's not like I have a choice.

Clearing the trigger might be impossible, and I'm fine with living in the manga.

But what happens if they kick me out?

I'm weaker than most. Outside of the Academy, I have nowhere to go, and for them to let me stay after that shameful display, I must prove myself.

"Well, clearing your exams early won't cut it," Aratsuki's eyes light up, and she throws herself on my bed again. "But the dean loves his wargames, and if you say you can beat him—"

"Hold on. So who is this dean, and what tabletop wargames are we talking about?"

I played some strategies because I sucked at FPS, but I wouldn't call myself an expert.

At least until I inherited Odysseus' memories: the guy had some unconventional ideas.

His knowledge should be useful unless it's about modern warfare.

"Oh, you don't know? He's the Emperor's cousin, Duke Ethan Al Hannan, the Imperial Knight's Vice Commander." The name sounds familiar from the manga.

Does he run the Academy?

He appears in an earlier episode as a ruthless strategist, and he's unbeatable.

He leads a battle before Aratsuki joins the knights, beating back the Demoness' armies.

That's the only time in the manga when Greed has to retreat, but the fight ends up as a draw.

He's also related to the Princess Knight since she is a member of the Imperial Family.

"You want me to beat the Vice Commander in wargames?" The realization hits me in the chest. This is bad news. "He's the undefeated champion, that's how he became the Vice Commander."

"Hmm, you are right. The wargames will start later this semester, so that won't work."

The Princess Knight ponders, but she's worried about the wrong problem.

"We need something before that." She claims, putting way more trust in me than I have in myself.

"There's a game the dean loves to play. It's like chess in your world, but even simpler."

She draws lines with her fingers on my bedsheet, explaining the rules.

The manga uses different terms, but the rules match an ancient game called Petteia.

Why do I recognize it?

"It's an 8 by 8 board with nine figurines."

She gives me a rundown, which triggers the Greek strategist's memories.

Odysseus was a master of this game.

Holy shit, I'm saved.

"With the eight soldiers and one leader, you must capture the enemy's pieces. You surround them from two sides, and each figurine can move in any direction."

I let her explain everything anyway, in case the manga changed the rules, but I'm in luck.

Other than the naming differences, it's all the same. How? Why would the mangaka include this?

It's an ancient game almost forgotten in the modern day, and there was no mention of it in the manga. Is it something I brought here through the Dive? Am I changing the world?

Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.

"The leader can help with the captures, but it's immune to capturing."

She continues, explaining all the rules of what they call Mercenary Gamble.

No doubt, it's Petteia.

It all sounds familiar, thanks to Odysseus' memories.

This might give me a chance to stay, but I have doubts.

The old Greek man could have been a master, but I never played it.

"The game ends when one side loses every soldier, or surrounds the enemy leader from all four sides. It should be easy."

Why is she so confident? I was earlier too, but now I'm scared.

"And beating your dean in this game would allow me to stay?" I raise an eyebrow as it sounds too good to be true, even if I can play this. "And what if I lose that too?"

"If you don't do anything, you'll be out of here. If you beat him, and he finds you interesting, you might stay." Her voice is much less confident now, but somehow it calms me down.

It's more comforting that she has doubts too.

Now if I fail again, it won't be such a disappointment.

A few more and the trigger will remain unconquered forever.

Huh? I know it's impossible to clear already, so why do I care now?

I start to ponder, and she takes it as my confidence crumbles.

I'm sure all I had came from inherited memories though.

Confidence and I never mix in the real world. After collapsing at the first practice, the false hope in my manga life disappeared too. But this is a chance, and I should take it.

"Fine. How do I challenge this dean of yours?" I nod, searching for her gray eyes.

She's smiling, which gives me more strength than I would have thought.

At least my heart rate is up again.

"I'll arrange it." The Princess Knight offers, reaching for the doorknob. "In the cafeteria. Go, grab some lunch, and before you finish it, I'll get the dean to meet you there."

"I-in the cafeteria? I have to play against him with an audience?" This deal is getting worse at the moment. I bet the rumor of me collapsing is already rampant in the Academy.

Imagine all those cute anime girls watching me while we play... Whispering about how pathetic I am, gossipping about my collapse, then seeing me lose. Shit, there's no way out now.

The only alternative is to leave the Academy. What would happen with the manga then? Why did my character even come here? Why didn't I inherit any new memories now?

And why did I have to fall asleep in the same bookstore again, instead of reading the manga and running home? Fuck. It is what it is now. I can give it a try, or give up from the start.

Aratsuki is waiting for my answer at the door. Her hand clutches the doorknob, her bushy eyebrows furrowing as if she tries to read my mind. I need her to fall for me.

There is no way back. I nod, gathering what little confidence I have left.

"Okay. I'll beat your dean in the cafeteria in this Mercenary Gamble."