Chapter 780

Worry, surprise, worship, and an indescribable palpitation churned and intertwined in her heart.

"Natsume-kun..."

She whispered the name, her cheeks blushing involuntarily.

The previous pessimistic guesses were crushed by the iron-clad facts before her eyes.

Not only did he win, but he won so overbearingly, so... dazzlingly.

How strong is his strength exactly?

Clearly, he looked like he had similar strength to her before, just winning by luck... but why can he now crush Contestant Morimoto, whom even she couldn't defeat?!

Tianbian Youren's perfect "matchmaking plan" shattered with a "pop" like a pricked soap bubble the moment Natsume Chikage won and stood up calmly.

The calculation and relaxation on his face disappeared instantly, replaced by dumbfoundedness.

"Ho... how did he win?"

"Wasn't he weaker than me?"

He blurted out, his voice dry.

"Why..."

"And he won... so..."

He couldn't find an adjective.

Crushing? Humiliating? Kingly posture?

No matter which word, it was the exact opposite of the script he had preset: "Natsume loses in hatred - Akatsuki comforts him like a mother - finally the two's feelings warm up - then they are lovey-dovey"!

At this moment.

In another corner of the spectator area, Honda Takashi.

The smile that was about to stretch to his ears had already begun to stiffen when Morimoto Yūki was thinking, sweating, and his face was turning pale.

When Natsume Chikage began to coldly "clear" the pieces, that smile had completely frozen.

When Morimoto Yūki swept down the King with trembling hands...

"Clang!"

That muffled sound seemed to knock on Honda Takashi's forehead too.

He gritted his teeth hard, his eyes wide enough to almost split, staring fiercely at the appearance of Morimoto Yūki collapsing on the screen, and Natsume Chikage's calm, waveless face that didn't even look at his opponent again.

"No... impossible..."

He squeezed out a hoarse voice from between his teeth, even more unbelievable than Morimoto Yūki.

"Morimoto, this trash! A 2-dan Apprentice Association player can't beat a wild path?!"

"Trash!"

"Truly trash!!"

The expected humiliation didn't fall on Natsume Chikage, but was instead doubled and returned to their private Tianhao!

He could feel the mocking gazes from the surrounding audience that should have been aimed at Natsume Chikage now piercing him like needles.

Anger and shame swallowed him instantly.

He slammed his fist onto his seat armrest, but couldn't feel the pain, only endless anger and embarrassment.

Private Moonlight Academy.

Shogi Club activity room.

A deathly silence lasted for a full three seconds.

Then—

"Ahhhhhhh—!!!"

"He won! He won! Natsume-kun won!! My god! He beat Morimoto Yuki! And it was a complete victory! A slaughter! Did you see that?! Nomura-sensei! Ryoto! Did you guys see it?!"

"Won! Won! Natsume-kun won!! My god! He beat Morimoto Yūki! And it was a complete victory! Slaughter! Did you see it?! Mr. Nomura! Liangdou! Did you see it?!"

She was incoherent with excitement, but her eyes quickly turned red; that was the wild joy and triumph released after being suppressed.

Mr. Nomura Tomohiro was also flushed, very excited.

"Saw, saw it... my god..."

He stared dead at the words "Fifth round first match winner—Natsume Chikage" on the screen, confirming it repeatedly.

"Ryoto! Did you see that?! This is absolutely not the shogi of a Level 1 in the Promotion Society! This level... this control... this guy is definitely a genius, the kind without a doubt!!"

"Liangdou! Did you see it?! This is not shogi from an Apprentice Association 1-kyu! This level... this control... this guy is absolutely a genius, the kind without a doubt!!"

"He's afraid he has the strength of a 'dan-holder' just like you!!"

He just stood there quietly, staring fixedly at the close-up of Natsume Chikage's profile on the screen.

He just stood there quietly, staring dead at Natsume Chikage's side profile featured on the screen.

His furrowed brows had long since loosened, replaced by a deep shock and sharp scrutiny.

He saw it.

Saw it more clearly than anyone.

A shogi game comparable to or even surpassing an Apprentice Association 2-dan, this... is this your true strength, Natsume-kun?

It seems I still underestimated you...

Although his rank in the Promotion Society... was exactly the same as Morimoto Yuki's, both being 2-dan in the Promotion Society.

Although his rank in the Apprentice Association... was exactly the same as Morimoto Yūki's, both were 2-dan.

But that didn't mean he was weaker than Morimoto.

Instead, he knew very well that his strength was definitely more than 2-dan, but at the 3-dan quasi-professional level.

After all, even Suzuki Takayuki, who was also a professional 3-dan, had been defeated by him back and forth.

So he thought that even if he faced Natsume Chikage, he wouldn't be afraid at all!

Class 2-B classroom.

Akita Sana covered her mouth suddenly, blocking the cheer that was about to rush out.

But her eyes were wide, filled with excited tears, her body trembling with excitement.

She pulled Kondo Weixi's sleeve desperately, her other hand typing on the phone screen quickly, her fingers trembling.

After seeing the news, Kondo Miki was suddenly somewhat dazed and shocked.

Kondo Weixi felt dazed and shocked after seeing the message.

Won?

And... listening to Sana's tone, it didn't seem like an ordinary win?

Her mind recalled the "maybe he hid a trick," "situation similar" she said to comfort Sana...

Actually... really guessed it right?

A subtle shock, even she herself felt surprised, rippled in her heart.

No... why could he still win?

What exactly is this situation?!

No... it must be that the opponent made a mistake, it must be like this!

Otherwise, how could Natsume Chikage win?

And now it's just the first match?

It's impossible for everyone to make mistakes, so he has absolutely no possibility of winning the next round!

Kondo home, living room.

Kondo Miyuki maintained the posture of holding the sofa pillow, motionless.

Until the clear announcement of "Winner—Natsume Chikage!" came from the TV.

Her eyes, which were staring at the screen, blinked.

Blinked again.

Then, immense joy like exploding fireworks instantly washed away all nervousness and worry, muttering very unbelievably:

"Won? Natsume-kun actually won?!"

"And it was a crushing victory?"

"Too strong... his strength is actually so much more powerful than I imagined?"