Chapter 6: The Second Genius

"Sure." I smiled gently.

With that, I took out the deluxe edition chess pieces, the board, and even the chess clock from the nearby wooden cabinet. These were all commemorative items Merak and I received after winning a Go game against The Psychic Club in an amateur competition.

After setting up the area on the long table, the match was about to begin.

I picked up the chess clock and set it.

"Each player gets fifteen minutes, okay? This is the standard for joining The Psychic Club," I explained.

Lunar nodded.

"Then, Merak , could you please record the game?"

"No problem."

Lunar seemed to be quite familiar with the process of Go, even understanding the rules of determining the first move.

He took the black pieces and made the first move.

While others were attending evening self-study sessions, the seniors in The Psychic Club were playing Go in the twilight.

Lunar played exceptionally fast, his attacks relentless and his moves forceful, focusing on exploiting my weaknesses.

I had no choice but to defend and wait for the right moment to counterattack.

Unlike him in person, his Go style was aggressive and proactive.

However, even with such fast-paced gameplay, his structure remained organized. No wonder he seemed so confident earlier.

This was truly a match.

After some time, I had only one minute left while he still had eleven. Yet, the situation on the board remained tense; he continued his relentless attacks while I stubbornly defended, resulting in a deadlock.

As my time was running out, I made a move, placing a white piece deep into his territory. It was a carefully planned move, seizing the best opportunity for a counterattack after defense—a single move, but it was enough.

In an instant, the situation on the board changed drastically.

I had to admit, the player before me, Lunar, was no ordinary opponent. Each move was made in less than three seconds. Such fast-paced gameplay required remarkable calculation abilities.

But Lunar didn't hesitate. As if anticipating my countermove, he calmly placed his winning piece, severing all connections.

"It's over, right?" Lunar still looked at me expressionlessly. "Dawn, you're strong. Your countermove was brilliantly executed."

Lunar's words were sincere, not flattery or pretense.

Though I felt a tinge of reluctance in losing, there was nothing to be regretful about. Because—during that game just now, I had no way to win.

The visible gap, the person before me, undoubtedly possessed the same genius as Merak .

"Good job, it was a beautiful match," Merak poured me a cup of warm tea and ruffled my hair vigorously, as if urging me not to dwell on it. Then she turned to Lunar and said solemnly, "Bring a cup tomorrow, Lunar."

"What do you mean?" Lunar asked puzzledly.

As the name suggests, to have tea together.

"You'll understand when you bring it," Merak patted my shoulder, signaling me to join her in saying the next sentence, "Welcome to The Psychic Club."

Merak glanced at the recorded game, her eyes becoming somewhat sharp. "Lunar, who did you learn Go from?"

"I don't know..."

"Oh, I see." Merak didn't dwell on it and got up to find something else.

Wait a minute, Merak , aren't you going to comment on that response full of loopholes?

Regardless, after two years, The Psychic Club finally welcomed its third member.