Robert's challenge was set for seven-thirty in the evening, after dinner.
Since he had decided to accept the challenge, Dark naturally had no intention of losing.
Cramming at the last minute was his specialty.
As the sun set, clouds rolled across the horizon like waves, their brilliant orange-red glow dazzling as a rainbow.
Only when darkness was about to fall did Dark pick up that box of Magic Chess. Like a lone warrior who had crammed for three days before marching into the examination hall, he left the dormitory, descended the stairs, and entered the common room.
Led by Dulong and Pistan, the spectators had been waiting in the common room for what felt like ages.
The moment they saw him come downstairs, they erupted.
"He's here! He really came!"
"This is going to be good!"
"His opponent is Robert, right? Robert, whose only decent skill is Magic Chess."
"Dark's a beginner. The only person he's played against so far seems to be Dulong—and he even won."
"Well, it was Dulong, after all."
"What's wrong with being bad at Magic Chess? It's not embarrassing!"
"He's getting worked up! He's getting worked up!"
"Don't keep picking on him. If Dark can win, it'll still be thanks to that [Vampire Vlad]."
"That piece is way too strong!"
"I've always thought this match was unfair."
"Yeah, unfair to Robert."
Dark had never imagined that one day, he would become the subject of the spectators' gossip.
Perhaps this was karma for all the gossip he had enjoyed!
He simply waved at Dulong and Pistan, smiling. "Let's go together."
Dulong immediately said with delight, "Together, together."
After that, a group of first-years mixed with several upperclassmen filed out from the Noble House tower and marched in grand fashion toward the Dueling Class classroom.
When they