I won the reversi tournament and finally made it to the finals.

　Just like in the previous tournament, I thought my opponent would be Carla, Celia's daughter, but it was Yulina, the thread-eyed man, who defeated Carla and made it to the final.

　Judging from her match against Carla, Yulina was the type of player who calculated her opponent's two or three moves and took them without fail.

　Not as much as brother Silvio, but this is another opponent who is going to have a hard time. You're talking big, but I can't beat Brother Silvio in chess or reversi anymore. It's a bit frustrating, though.

　Anyway, the finals are coming up now.

　The onlookers who heard about the finals of the Reversi tournament and those who have lost so far surround the table for me and Yurina.

'Hey Roland, who do you think will win?'

'Oh? Isn't that Master Alfried? I was super comfortable against Carla last time, too.

''Shut up. For the most part, Reversi was Alfried-sama's idea, so of course he's strong.

But this man, Yulina, was the one who beat Carla so easily. Maybe he'll compete this time.

Don't tell me I'm losing to a rag or something, will you?

'It can't be helped. It's a standard we can understand.

Yeah, that's easy.

So who did you guys bet on?

"Five pieces of pirate treasure for Master Alfried.

Okay.

"I'll bet you a copper on Master Alfried!

I'm giving Yulina two coppers!

　Villagers were happily discussing who would win and who would be the best bet. You can hear them raising the stakes, just like in an auction.

　I don't mind, but please don't get me in trouble.

I'm sure you'll be happy to oblige. Mr. Alfried.

'The same, please. Mr. Yulina.

　As me and Yulina greet each other, Mr. Ehrman comes to the side of the table.

''Then let the finals of the Reversi tournament begin.

"Woo-ee-ee-ee-ee!

　At the same time as Ehrman-san's starting voice, the villagers raise a mysterious wild voice.

　What the hell is that? Is it a fad?

I'll take the black.

Okay, I'll take white.

　The mysterious voices of the villagers puzzled me, but I left the stone behind. Now, how do we go from here? Perhaps Yulina won't be able to take the easy trap. How much more stone can you get by winning the reading and how much more stone can you get? I have a feeling that this will be a battle.

　Even though it's called a reversal tournament, it's a modest one, but the villagers are watching the game while talking without being too noisy.

''Hmm? Why would you put it up there when you can only turn one over?

That's why Roland is such a small fry.

You can't just turn it over so much, can you?

Oh, oh. That's right.

Well, you'll know it when you see it.

　As we get to the middle of the game, we have more time to contemplate, and we both have more time to hit the stone. I'm still not sure here. Yulina has more stones than me at the moment. However, we can't rely on such temporary numbers in Reversi. I'm outnumbered, but my white stones are placed exactly at the edges and in the squares that form the fabric of the game. You can call it my attack from here on out.

　Jurina grabs the black stone and wanders around the board.

''This.........''

　Perhaps Yulina realized now. That the only place I can hit is almost at the X position. If I hit anywhere else, my stone would take the edge off.

　Yes, I'm hitting Yulina at position X. That is, I was guiding her by turning over one stone at a time to let her hit the inside square diagonally from the corner.

　This is called "X-position".

　If he could only hit at the X position, I would take the corner. If I was beaten in this area past the middle of the game, the opponent would be in a tough spot.

'You're holding an important square.

　Yulina's slender eyes narrowed further as she stared at the board.

''Hey, are you activating some amazing technique?''

Hm, Roland doesn't understand.

"Tell me, Wester.

'Carla, tell that to the fools in Roland.

Wester, you don't know, do you?

'No, it's just a pain in the ass to say it.

'What's the matter, Wester. You usually talk a lot of useless stuff.

''Haha. Alfried-sama guided Yulina-san to take the edges and corners no matter how she tried to place them.

Is there such a place?

....

No, you guys have done it so many times you know it's dangerous to put it inside that one diagonal corner.

Well, sort of?

I knew that, though.

"Westa didn't know. You have a lot of self-confidence. In fact, you should use your head!

"Feel it. It's a gut feeling. That's our thing, Reversi.

What are you two pretending to be?

　I wait for Yulina-san while listening to Roland, Westa and Carla-san talk. I think I often see those three people hardening up and talking today.

　They may look choppy, but they might actually be a good trio with a good balance.

　Roland brings up topics and questions, Wester inflates them and mixes in stories and lies, and Carla plugs them in.

　Great. I wonder if they could do a comedy. Alfried will produce it. If it's true, it would be better to have an idol, but it's tougher around here where music isn't as popular as it used to be. What about in the capital?


''It's tough.

　Yulina frowned, but avoided the X's position and placed the stone in another square.

　But it's still painful. Placing it there would take the edge off and make it even harder.

''Then here then........''

I can't imagine winning.

　Yulina chuckled and left the black stone behind. Her face looked radiant, though she seemed convinced that she was losing.

　From then on, the game was thrashed out as I had calculated, and I won 51-13.

　The villagers applauded, and we stood up to shake hands with them.

'Thank you very much,'

I thought we could do a little better.

　Indeed, Yulina's thinking skills are probably the best among the villagers. She could predict well what would happen if she put it where it would be. However, he didn't have enough experience. If he could gain a little more experience with the strongest people, he would become like Brother Silvio.

　He thought in his mind that he would let him play against Brother Silvio when he had the time.

"Two of my coppers!

"Heh, now I can drink more booze.

"Yes! It's a party!'

"Oh! I'll drink it!

"Celia, ale, fried eggs and meat, please. No sugar on the eggs.

　In the outfield, the villagers are buzzing and making a lot of noise as they place their orders.

　Perhaps because of the orders coming in all at once, Celia-san and Carla-san look very busy.

Yo, Mr. Winner! Shall we have a meal? I'm buying, okay?

　When I looked next to him, I saw Merna, whom I played against in the second round, sitting with a drawstring bag in her hand.

''Well, I'll take your word for it.

Do you mind if I join you?

Oh, Yulina. Come on, you too.

　Me and Yulina sit in a chair when Merna invites us to sit down. Do the two of us know each other?

　Merna called Celia and was about to ask for three servings of ale first, when she was stopped by Urina. Unfortunately, he's an adult in spirit but not good because his body is a child. You look like some great detective, but your brain is not good.

Then do you want to eat fruit water and Alfried-sama?

I've got spaghetti.

　The stalls are still open from the night, and I don't want to leave my stomach full.

'I'll do the same. And since they say spaghetti started in this village, I want to try a lot of things.

'Well, there it is, Master Alfried's idea.

Is that so?

　Jurina looks at me with a surprised expression. Her eyes are so narrow it's hard to tell, but she should be surprised by the raised eyebrows and the change in her voice.

'Well,'

Spaghetti, three servings, one fruit water, and two ales. I'll have a large portion.

　Celia answered, 'Yes,' and gave her order to Carla and prepared the fruit water and ale.

　When the fruit water and ale arrived, we immediately made a toast.

''Oooh, you drink as good as an ale.

Unfortunately, it's just fruit water.

'Oh? You want some ale? Are you ready?

'No. Master Alfried is just a child.

Oh, that's right. How old is Master Alfried now?

I'm six.

You seem quite calm for a six-year-old.

　Yulina-san looks at me with a surprised expression.

''Well, things are tough here,''

　Women and sisters and maids and mothers....that's all the same.

'It must have been hard to get those tired eyes at your age...'

　Merna pats me gently on the back.

'Drink it,'

　Yulina orders more, and she offers me a cup of fruit water.

　We're both good guys. Today's fruit water seemed to have a harsh sour taste.