Chapter 12

I'm glad the number of bookmarks is increasing.

I hope you continue to enjoy it. Today, I plan to make Reversi using the paint and wooden boards I got in the village the other day.

Reversi is a two-player board game that is said to be easy to learn in a minute but takes a lifetime to master, as the catchphrase goes. It seems simple but is actually quite deep.

After drawing an 8x8 grid on the board, all that's left is to cut the board into circles and color them.

How easy it is to make. The person who first came up with Reversi must be a genius.

While thinking this, I started painting with a brush, and before I knew it, it was complete.

"It's done."

"What's that?"

Before I knew it, Elinora had entered my room and was tugging at my sleeve.

"It's a game called Reversi."

"What is it? How do you play?"

Sure enough, in a world with few forms of entertainment, the interest in games is intense.

"It's simple! The one with the most pieces left at the end wins!"

After explaining the basic rules, Elinora was eager to play. She was impressed by the black and white stones.

Sure enough, the catchphrase worked. Elinora was able to learn the rules quickly. By the way, I didn't teach her any tips.

"I'll color all of them for you!"

"Then, Elinora, you go first."

We placed two black and two white stones and let Elinora go first.

"Since this one is sandwiched, it's white."

Elinora seemed to enjoy flipping the stones to increase her pieces, especially in the early stages.

What a terrible move.

"Oh, I got taken."

I also tried to boost Elinora's confidence, and by the middle of the game, she seemed confident of victory.

"Al, you came up with this, but you're weak."

She was getting cocky. It's time for a counterattack.

"How about this? This one and this one, and, oh, the diagonal ones flip too."

"Huh? Huh? Why? Why?"

Finding a hole, I started taking Elinora's white stones one by one.

It was like spilling soy sauce on a white T-shirt; there was no turning back. The stones, like the soy sauce, didn't budge.

"You can't play there, so it's a pass."

"Huh? Really?"

"This time it's no good too."

"..."

"Ah, this time it's open. Only one will flip though."

"...Just one."

And the last turn came.

The white stones were cut off, and the black stones surrounded them.

The result was a 56-8 victory for me. Hehe, overwhelming, isn't it! My army!

I wonder how Elinora will react. She was silent at the end, so I'm curious.

"..."

Elinora's mouth was open, and her eyes were fixed on the board.

I'm not a hardcore player, but I know the basic points.

In Reversi, there are 64 squares, so if you take 33, you win.

Let the opponent take many stones and reduce their options.

Increase the number of stones that can never be flipped.

These are the three main points, I think.

Taking the four corners means you won't lose. Taking many edges means you'll win. But it's not always that simple.

I had a friend who always aimed for the edges, but because of that, he often fell into the stone trap and lost a lot.

I only learned these to counter my friend who always aimed for the edges. I can't do intermediate techniques like C-moves or X-moves.

"...What's wrong?"

"This is fun!"

When I called out to her, Elinora lifted her head and said with an innocent voice.

"Huh?"

"Again! Again!"

"Ah, okay, okay. Stop shaking my shoulder."

Fifth time

"Again!"

"Okay, okay."

Tenth time

"Again! This time I'll take the edges!"

"Eh?"

Eighteenth time

"Why am I losing!?"

"Hey, I'm bored."

"One more time! Just one more!"

Nineteenth time

"Okay, and the stone trap."

"Eh!? I finally took the edge!"

"Okay, it's over. It's time for dinner."

"There's still time!"

"Eh!? You said one more time!"

"I'll be scolded by Mother Elna if we're late."

"Fine! One more time!"

"Silvio, can you play with me later?"

"Al, it's time for dinner. What are you doing?"

Elina Mother came into my room to check on us, as we were the only ones not at the table.

"We're playing this!"

Elinora pointed to the Reversi board, as if to say, "What do you think of this?"

"What is it? ...The stones have different colors on each side, and there are lines on the board."

Elina Mother picked up the Reversi stones with interest.

"How do you play?"

"Oh? What's this?"

"Well, you take turns placing the stones and sandwich the opponent's stones to turn them into your color!"

"Oh, that's why they have two sides."

Elinora and Elina Mother sat down, and I explained the rules.

"So the one with the most stones of their color at the end wins!"

"Oh, it's surprisingly simple. Can you place the stones wherever you want?"

"You can't place them where you can't sandwich."

"I see. Let's play."

"Okay!"

Of course, it ended up like this...

I left Elinora and Elina Mother, who were playing happily, and went to the dining room downstairs.

When I entered the dining room, Nord Father was sitting in the place of honor, and Silvio was already seated.

The table was set, but two people were missing.

"Al, where are Elinora and Elina?"

"They're still in my room."

"They'll probably come soon."

"No, they might not come soon."

"Did something happen?"

"Rather, they're absorbed in it."

"Silvio, go check."

"Okay."

Silvio nodded and went out of the room.

"Oh, Father, dinner will be late today."

"Eh? What do you mean?"

Twenty minutes later, Silvio still hadn't returned, and the maid's scolding finally made it possible to have dinner.

That day, Reversi was confiscated by Nord Father, and for three days, Elinora, Elina Mother, and Silvio complained.

I learned that giving entertainment to a place that lacks it can lead to serious addiction.

From now on, I need to be careful when providing it.

---

I had to make two more Reversi sets for the family, and I ran out of materials.

I didn't expect to make three so quickly...

I knew Elinora and Elina Mother would want them, but I didn't expect Baltro to want one too. He wants to show it to his acquaintances, saying that there are definitely people who will get hooked.

Because of this, and because I had a meeting with Celia, I decided to go to the village today.

The warm spring sunlight felt nice, and the plants swayed in the gentle breeze, as if welcoming the spring.

Spring and autumn are neither too hot nor too cold, making them the most comfortable seasons, and they are popular among people.

When asked which season they like, spring and autumn are often the first to come to mind.

If asked whether they prefer summer or winter, people tend to hesitate more.

"Oh, summer, I guess. Ice cream is delicious."

"But, you sweat a lot, don't you?"

"Oh, then maybe winter?"

Many people waver between the pros and cons of summer and winter.

In the end, they tend to choose spring and autumn. In other words, spring and autumn are the most popular seasons, liked by everyone.

While thinking about this, I arrived at the place where I first met the brother and the old man (who is dominated by his wife).

"Neither the brother nor the old man is here today."

I looked around, thinking I could tease the old man if he were here.

The green wheat fields swayed in the wind, welcoming me to the village of Coriatt.

It will be about three months before they turn into a golden carpet.

I walked down the "Wheat Road" (my name for it) and headed to the village square, where people were bustling about.

...But, is Natalie that scary?

When I went to the restaurant where Celia was, there were four men loafing around even though it was morning. Ah, the old man is here. Isn't he going to get scolded by Natalie? Is he okay?

Farmers are supposed to be quite busy and hardworking, but I decided to think that they had just come for a break after working early in the morning.

"Oh, Alfred. What brings you here?"

"Eh? Did you forget? I told you I need some tools to make a new dish."

"Oh, right. Of course I remember."

Celia waved her hands and smiled wryly. She definitely forgot for a moment.

"Are you going to have Logan make something?"

"Yes, I need a frying pan and other things."

"Logan's house is to the north of the mayor's house. It's a solitary house, and you should hear the sound of work at this time."

"Got it. I'll go there."

As I left the restaurant, I heard a motherly voice from behind, "Okay, go."

Since I was here, I thought I might as well liven up the village. I took out the Reversi set I had stored with spatial magic.

"What's wrong? Are you lost?"

"No, if you'd like, try playing this."

I handed the Reversi set to Celia, who tilted her head, and explained the rules briefly before heading to Logan's house.