“I...lost?”

“Yup. Now then,” I turned around to face the old man, grinning at him.

“How about you spill the beans already?”

The old man looked a bit baffled, clearly not listening to what I’ve just said at all.

Oh well.

Let us turn to the barbarous lady--not that she did anything barbarian, but the mere fact that she keeps glaring at me is disturbing my psychological comfort zone--and let her feel my grace!

“If you think that I won by a simple fluke...we can try again?”

The young woman(I.E Angel), simply ignored me as well as she began to review the match one step at a time.

Is it that?

She wants to know exactly how I’ve beaten her?

Hmph. I have no reason to mind those who are inferior to me.

“A-ahahaha...”

Hmm?

“Oi, old man...why are you laughing?”

“No...I was thinking about how to comfort you while you were playing the game in case you failed...in which case, I honestly did! And the words I was going to utter seem so laughable right now...”

“Huh...Old man, for argument’s sake, how about you say those words out loud now? I want to hear ‘em.”

The old man broke a resigned smile, and quickly said, “Angel, as the youngest vice captain in the Ace Regiment history is a genius even among the elites. Heck, she had offers to join the first company in the regiment, the Wolf Company...which she turned down! To simply join the Ace Regiment, you must be genius level in three fields. Magic, Proficiency in using a weapon and strategical ability to make the right decisions even if contact with headquarters is ever broken. So...don’t feel bad for lo...sing...”

“Don’t worry, old man! Although I can’t use magic or any weapons, I am the best at gaming.”

After that, I spent the next few hours beating the hell out of Angel until she finally submitted to my superiority.

“I better leave...I’ve been back to my own capital, and have yet to finish the paper work left for me. Oh, and by the way Miss, Angel is your own personal bodyguard.”

Saying that, the old man sprinted out of the room without leaving me a single chance to utter a word.

That bastard ran away again without explaining the situation and why I, as a man should dress like a woman and marry the emperor!

The guy seems relaxed enough though...so I get the feeling that he’s just messing with me...

I miss my games...

“Oi you, do you have any crystal gear games? ...A crystal gear system is fine as well.”

I looked at the girl, and she quickly replied while biting her lower lip, “If you let me win in chess...I-I’ll answer your question!”

“Sigh. What is up with you people and chess...are you really going to be satisfied with me letting you win?”

She quickly lowered her gaze, in which case I could easily tell that she looked really conflicted.

Is it perhaps that her pride is getting the better of her?

Is she perhaps not mature enough to handle that someone is better than her?

“You’re right...No, I’ve never played any crystal gear. After all, it’s a hindrance to my concentration if I ever played it...the only games I really got to playing are shogi and chess.”

“I see. Now then, if I may trouble you...can you please leave the room? I need to change my clothes.”

I have, indeed, been wearing nothing but girls undergarments and a sheet/blanket for hours.

......Don’t pity me! *Cries*

“Oh...indeed, let us continue our game after you finish changing clothes.”

What game?! I never agreed to playing!

...This is but a trial set by the crystal gears...I’ll be able to play my games...when I overcome this trial and meet the emperor...*Sniiiiiff*

I somehow feel like it’s the dragons!

They keep yelling “THEY’RE COMING!” and in the end, they never did...

Where’s the emperor?!

So anyhow, I quickly changed clothes.

At least that bastard of an old man knows some style...he left me all fancy dresses except for a pair of black jeans and a long, black T-shirt.

I’m honestly surprised to see a T-Shirt and jeans here...why, you might be asking?

Because the capital, of all places, fancies elegance over anything...that’s common sense yo!

You might find people wearing jeans or a T-shirt in the edges of the continent, where nobles usually avoid.

To put it simply, the more you head to the center of the continent--the capital--the more nobles you find.

Nobles fancy elegance, and thus some might not even heard of clothing such as jeans because of it’s lack of elegance.

As for myself? I’m the man of the night. Of course I know about jeans.

...Well, I mostly heard about them from games but whatever!

It took me in around five minutes to figure out how to wear the jeans, and I quickly wore the T-shirt before letting that woman get inside the room.

“What a weird nightwear,” Said the woman as soon as she got inside the room.

“Are you here to complain about my clothing or for me to beat your ass in chess?”

This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

No one asked for your opinion!

But I got to say...that’s one witty comeback, don’t you agree?

Eh...no?

...................................................................................

“E-eh, is this the legendary Fool’s mate?! A two-move checkmate!”

With that being said, I ended up accompanying her until late at night.

After all, it seemed as if I passed out for a full day...so I was brimming with energy.

Did she even win against me once?

Fool! I am not someone who would intentionally hold back!!

----------------------------------------

The very next day, I decided to take a tour.

Wait, isn’t that totally a bad flag?! Some of you might be asking.

Indeed it is, indeed it is.

But! I must fight through all of the risks!!

Why? You might be wondering.

But of course...

“...To get my hands on a crystal gear system!”

I asked the old man kindly to give me some money, since it seems that I’ll be staying at his place until the emperor is free to see me with that woman as a bodyguard.

The only thing I really don’t seem to enjoy is that...I’m wearing a fancy dress.

It seems that even though he smuggled in some jeans and a t-shirt, I can only wear that within the mansion of his.

Oh well.

“So, milady,” The woman suddenly said, “Do you want to visit the tea house first, or the clothes shop?”

“Huh? None of those, you silly woman!”

“Oh. Please excuse my lack of consideration...of course, we must first go to the jewelry shop!”

Is this her payback for me beating her?!

I did, kinda, earn her respect though...so let’s excuse the Milady part, but still...I’m not a girl!

Not that she knows, but...take a hint!!

But since we’re in public...if they find out that I’m a guy...the shame! The mere thought of strangers talking bad about me is about to make me hurl!!!

“I’m sorry...but can you take me to any crystal-stop?”

For those who don’t know, crystal stop is the number one provider for crystallized technology!

From weapons infused with crystals up to crystal water purifiers! They sell everything!!

“Oh my, it seems angels truly have descended from heaven,”

“Huh?”

Is this what I think it is?

Is someone hitting on someone else?!

I quickly turned around to look at the smooth talker who just spoke, and...

“Eh?”

I turned around to look at the smooth talker--I thought that he was talking to someone else in the street--only to see a handsome blue haired, light blue eyed man, surrounded by two other beautiful ladies--who are twins by the way--from either side, looking directly at me.

He quickly moved, and before I realized it, grabbed my palm and kissed the top of my hand.

“An angel as beautiful as you truly needs the best of care,” He quickly said, as he walked toward the woman--my so called bodyguard--and kissed the top of her hand as well.

Ehhh, is this the stereotype noble playboy?

AND IS HE HITTING ON ME?!

By the way, Angel doesn’t have her sword nor her uniform that she wore yesterday.

Since...well, this is public outing and all.

It seems that she doesn’t need a sword to protect me, since she already knows magic...

Ahh, sorry, my mind escaped for a second there.

I kept blabbering about the woman...still...I want to throw up...

I looked at the young man, who was brimming with a charming smile and then back at the woman.

“Do something,” I whispered into her ear.

But she simply smiled back at me.

...This woman!!!

The young man who looked to be around eighteen years old, simply smiled and said, “How about it, flowers as beautiful as you two are indeed a one in a million--and yet you seem to be together, truly birds of a feather flock together--would like to go shopping with us? Of course, if there’s anything that catches your beautiful eyes, you simply have to ask and it’ll be within your reach.”

I see that this smooth talker is beyond hope.

I’m a man you know!!

I quickly eyed the two women next to him, who seem to be of the same age as he is, and said, “A-and...y-y-you...two?”

Aren’t they going to be mad that even though he already has them, he goes around picking up other girls? And right in front of their eyes nonetheless?

And it looked like they misunderstood my question entirely when they answered, “I am the third daughter of Baron Harley von Charles. This, here, is my twin younger sister.”

The young man took it as his chance, and made his grand introduction, “As for me, I’m the only grandson of Duke Arthur! My name is Alastair, my two roses.”

Angel quickly whispered into my ears, “There are only seven official dukes in the capital. Of course, duke Arthur is known to spoil his only grandchild, Alastair...which turned him into what you see today, a simple playboy in the court.”

Yay. Great. I’m being hit on a super spoiled brat, who has an important political figure behind him.

Doesn’t this mean...that I am forced to follow him around...?