Gate: Thus the Sorcerous Kingdom Fought There

CHAPTER 21: The End of the Hunt, Vision's Arise

Facing each other, two-person loomed over a chess table. For first, the figures on the matrixed table followed a chaotic order. For an outsider, it was nonsense. No obvious tactic could be observed in the game. But who watched the match in close order, those few can find a patterned move behind every step. The calculated thinking behind every move.

Several chess pieces already sat on the sidelines. The match is ongoing for almost a half an hour. Or a more extended period. The game was far from over, and outside of the three-person in the room, no one knew since when the series of the game started.

Behind the table, the two figure was strange. One of them was an undead being. Clothed in a royal red robe, edged with gold. Adorned with strange feathers. In his neck, a silvery necklace hung. His marble skull was bald, on his ten fingers, nine rings shone. In his sockets, two crimson flames brimmed.

The second figure was a female. Her hair is silvery white. Her eyes' sclera pitch black. The iris of her left eye is red with a black pupil, several veins running through her eyeball. Meanwhile, in the right socket, a very distinctive eye settled, characterised by a blue pupil surrounded by a blue and white flower-like iris.

Her chest covered by an agile looking armoured chest piece. Her limbs protected with shin guards and forearm protectors.

Her gloved hand moved towards a piece, trying to figure out her next step. Her black, stylish ankle long leather coat moved with every move of hers. The huge black and white feathered wings on her back squirmed as her concentration intensified.

"Well, I am waiting." Said Ainz. From his voice, his slight impatience echoed. Esdeath's face flinched hearing her companion's impatience.

"Hush! I am thinking..." she grumbled as she reached for her knight, playing with her hair, curling it around her finger.

Ainz followed her hand close order. Looking at her friend, the undead king slightly shook his head. Pulling back her hand, Esdeath fondled her chin concentrating.

"Huh, you are really taking your time."

"I want to beat you at least once," she answered. A metallic tail with a snakehead at the end of it curled up in her side, inspecting the game and hissing.

"If the match goes like this. You never will..."

Pouting, she looked away. "You are cheating."

"No, I am not..." Ainz retorted with a poker face. It was easy for him. He neither had flesh, nor muscle to betray his intentions. His emotion suppression was also a plus. He was a person you can't read from. The perfect poker machine.

Sighing, she leaned back in her chair, slumping in it, looking at the infinite ceiling. Her majestic wings squirmed under her. "I am crap at this game..."

"Well, if you never try. You will never improve."

"Huff..." Ainz only earned a groan. Making him shake his head disapproving.

"By the way, aren't you had an appointment?" Inquired Ainz suddenly. The question only earned him an eye roll.

"I am exhausted. Since I departed, my paperwork piled up. I needed to take care of It." grunting, she grabbed her rook and moved it, eliminating Ainz's bishop.

The undead king just nodded, watched the table for a moment. "Aren't Zero take care of that?"

"Out of the house," she answered quietly.

"Oh, right. I almost forgot. Sorry, it must be hard."

"Ah, don't think about it. In the recent times, I relied on him too much. I can't push everything on my servant after all. It would be not fair. Turning myself into a slave driver was never my intention. Not after what happened to us and how most of our comrades treated back in our previous life."