Chapter 18

Chapter 18: Showdown with the Demon Lord!

"If you want to know, how about challenging me to a game? You can decide the rules."

I couldn't back down here.

Even if it's called a game, there's no way I can win against the Demon Lord through sheer strength.

If I were to win, it would have to be a battle of wits...

"A game of numbers?"

She seems puzzled.

Well, of course!

"The rules are simple! The one who says 'twenty' loses."

Alciona tilts her head.

I explain the game easily.

- The winner is the one who counts from "one" and says the final "twenty."

- You can say up to three numbers at a time.

"That's all! It's simple, isn't it?"

"I see. Is it okay to have such a game? It's unusual."

"You may go first."

I yield the first move to Alciona.

"One, two, three," "Four, five," "Six, seven, eight," "Nine, ten, eleven," "Twelve, thirteen, fourteen," "Fifteen," "Sixteen, seventeen, eighteen," "Nineteen," she responds, and then says "twenty."

"Yes, I lose!"

I inform Alciona of my loss, and she seems to realize that she lost, looking frustrated.

"...One more time."

She demands a rematch, and I agree, but I win again.

Alciona is quite frustrated.

She demands another rematch, and then...

"In addition to answering my previous question, is there something good for me if I win?"

I have no intention of engaging in meaningless games.

"I'll give you that mountain!"

She points to the mountain where the dragons reside.

It's a sudden request, and Graniel seems anxious.

Naturally, because if she loses, he'll lose his habitat.

"No, I don't need it. Besides, it might not even be yours."

I reply immediately.

"For each time I win, teach me one of your unique skills as a favor."

I present my maximum benefit from this negotiation.

"Fine, since I have eleven unique skills, we can play eleven times."

...Eleven times! That's totally cheating!

I've only managed to acquire eight after negotiating...

Is this so-called Demon Lord an idiot?

If I keep doing things like this, it's only natural that the world will collapse!

***

Even in the rematch, the battle naturally ended with my complete victory.

There's no way I, who knows the "Law of Victory," would lose.

In this game, if you say "three," "seven," "eleven," "fifteen," and "nineteen" in order, you will definitely win.

Even if you can't say "seven" or "eleven," if you say "fifteen," you can say "nineteen" at the end and claim victory.

As Granneil was making a fuss, I used telepathy to raise my voice.

("The undefeated Alcyone-sama lost!")

Granneil was surprised.

"Enough noise!"

Alcyone, who had both hands and knees on the ground, lifted her face while looking down.

She was sniffling, just like a crying face of an elementary school student.

She wiped away her tears with her hands and stood up.

"Takuto! You are the only one in this world who has defeated me! Be proud!"

...Why is she acting so arrogant when she lost to me?