Breakthrough with the Forbidden Master Chapter 430: An Unyielding Heart Changes the World, Apparently

Before absconding from my home, I occasionally engaged in games of Go with Sadiz.

My own skill level wasn't particularly high, yet I grasped the fundamental rules.

However, I found myself unable to follow matches played at a significantly higher level.

It was precisely the same situation previously, when Tre’ainar faced Shinobu; I was utterly bewildered by the proceedings this time as well.

「What’s your assessment, Tre’ainar? Is this individual formidable?」

Before me, Makushita was visibly trembling and appeared as pale as a ghost, drenched in sweat.

Even without a complete understanding of the unfolding events, it was evident that Tre’ainar held the advantage.

Yet, the superiority wasn't overwhelmingly obvious, and I had no means of gauging Makushita’s true strength.

Was he merely boastful, or was there substance behind his words?

「Hmph…」

To my surprise, his confidence wasn't entirely unfounded.

Given Tre’ainar’s tendency to be candid, his assessment was likely accurate.

Furthermore, there was more to it.

Unbeknownst to me, Tre’ainar seemed to be genuinely enjoying the game.

『It is precisely because his standard is elevated that he plays in a manner that aligns with my own expectations. This makes for a rather engaging contest with moves made in passing. When I occasionally competed with the child during our journeys, your skill was far too rudimentary—the progression of stones lacked elegance, and I couldn't even experiment with novel strategies……』

「Ngh… My apologies… Ugh……」

『Do not become disheartened. I shall continue to impart rigorous training upon you! Therefore, moving forward, we shall incorporate Go into your regimen as well ♪.』

「…… You aren't merely indulging in this for your own amusement, are you?」

『N-no, that is not the case. Go is a game of profound contemplation! In essence, it is a training exercise for concentration, plunging into the depths of focused thought, um, indeed! It serves to further enhance the child’s state of flow!』

It felt as though a considerable number of justifications were being presented… but setting that aside, it appeared to be true that the person before me possessed a level of skill that even earned Tre’ainar’s praise.

Thus, he had been confident.

For that very reason, I could only offer him my sympathies.

“Higu!……? Wh, wh, what… wh, what has… transpired…?”

Makushita’s words tumbled out involuntarily.

He appeared so utterly dismayed by Tre’ainar’s executed move that he could only stammer out such a question.

However, to be so profoundly shaken simply by being outmaneuvered in a mere board game—

“Guwaaaah, I, I’ve been cut down!?”

“Guha!? Gahah!?”

“Hiiiii, s, such… a move!?”

“Hic, I’m frightened, Mommy….”

“Shh, avert your eyes! Wh, what… what a dreadful move!?”

…… Huh!?

“Wait, hah? …… Huh?”

No, in all seriousness, “Huh?”

「T-Tre’ainar, what is happening with these individuals?」

For a fleeting moment, I suspected the presence of an assailant targeting the onlookers, but that was not the reality.

Every single person present—from the youngest children to the adults—suddenly reacted with these excessively dramatic responses solely upon witnessing the placement of the stone I had made.

Suddenly, pandemonium erupted around me—outcries, weeping, fits of nausea, individuals collapsing. An utterly bewildering spectacle unfolded. Wait, why did someone say “Don’t look”?

「Huh?! Wait, aren't there children crying?!」

『Even the young possess the capacity to comprehend the dynamics of Go…… In a game of Go, the determining factors are not age or physical stature, but rather individual perceptiveness and sudden flashes of insight…… It is not surprising for children of exceptional gifts. Rather, it is precisely this quality that defines the people of Japone.』

「…… Eh…… Huh~?」

Beyond mere exaggeration, the peculiar conduct of the Japanese seemed akin to being ensnared by an inexplicable enchantment. Yet, Tre’ainar appeared to be observing with admiration?

How peculiar. Am I the one reacting strangely?

Oh, but Espie and Slayer appear equally taken aback.

『However, with such extreme reactions, only sheer terror and utter despair will persist… Even if we manage to discreetly resolve the matter concerning Shinobu’s brother at this very juncture, in the future, the child will invariably be recalled solely as an embodiment of pure dread……』

Frankly, I cannot fathom the precise nature of what is occurring, but I grasp the essence— Tre’ainar is delivering a blow of such overwhelming force that it reduces children to tears and adults to a state of incontinence.

However, this situation appeared to be escalating into a significant affair, and even Tre’ainar seemed to be contemplating the implications, exhibiting signs of hesitation.

But truly, after achieving such a monumental feat, what recourse could he possibly possess now?

There was no turning back from this….

『Hmm…… I suppose no alternative remains… Child… From this precise moment forward―――― 』

「…… Huh?」

At this juncture, I was contemplating whether there was any option other than leaving the inhabitants of Makushita and Japone immersed in despair and terror, when Tre’ainar presented an unforeseen proposition.

「Hold on, Tre’ainar! Won’t that course of action prove counterproductive? Furthermore, is such a feat even within your capabilities?」

The concept proposed was simply too… so much so that even I deemed it seriously problematic.

Could he genuinely accomplish such a thing? And even if he could, wouldn't it result in adverse repercussions?

But Tre’ainar, in his characteristic fashion, exuded unwavering confidence…

『Hmm, I am confident in my ability. Do not harbor any concerns. Whom do you perceive me to be?』

He proclaimed with a hearty laugh.

Given that assurance, there was no possibility of doubting him.

Consequently, I……

“Uh, kuh…… My journey ends here… Guh, I, I yie―――― “

“Ah, hold on a moment!”

“Eh, ah, huh? Wh, why are you…?”

Just as Makushita was about to concede, I interrupted him, proposing a plan that Tre’ainar had suggested.

"Hey, how about we swap your White stone for my Black one… and continue the game from here?"

"... H, huh?"

Makushita appeared confused by my words. It was understandable.

The spectators surrounding us were equally bewildered.

So, I reiterated my proposal clearly.

"From this point onward, we'll swap stones. I'll play White and make a comeback starting now."

"… Wh… what?"

"Umm… let's put it this way… 'I'll show you. This situation is indeed a desperate, hopeless predicament. It seems like there’s no light in this dark battle. However… the world hasn’t ended yet. There is one… infinitely difficult, narrow path… yet it is still a path of hope and a future. I will now let you witness it. See it clearly with your own eyes… It’s still too early to despair'… Something along those lines."

"… Huh!?"

Just as he seemed to have utterly crushed his opponent, Tre’ainar appeared to be trying to convey something to Makushita and the people of Japone by dramatically reversing the situation he had created.

"Wh, what is this kid talking about!"

Honestly, it was impossible for no one to react. One person from Japone voiced their disbelief, and everyone else echoed the sentiment.

"From such a losing position… no, this isn't merely a losing position."

"In a post-apocalyptic world where White is all but extinct, now he's playing White to turn things around? Is it truly too early to despair?"

"How can that possibly happen!"

"That's right… Uh, uh… In this world stained with darkness… there is no hope left!"

Certainly, under normal circumstances, that would be the natural conclusion.

"Is that alright… Big brother…"

"Well… he’ll be fine, Brother… No, Mr. Tre’ainar is making him say that, isn’t he?"

Espie and Slayer seemed half-exasperated.

But, as Slayer pointed out, Tre’ainar himself had proposed this course of action. This implied that a solution existed.

And then…

"Hm, hmph… you dare… you dare to mock us, I say?! To think you would utter such words? To mock me… to mock Japone… to mock Go… no, to mock humanity itself is far too much, I say!"

Finally grasping the implication of my words, Makushita's voice rose in indignation.

Yes, he understood that I was implying a comeback was possible from a seemingly hopeless, losing position where surrender was the only viable option.

It was only natural for him to feel insulted.

Moreover, he was an opponent quite confident in his Go abilities.

His pride must have been profoundly wounded.

"In this situation… there is no more hope, I say… for humanity…."

"… Ah~, just do it already, hurry up and switch with me… Here we go."

"Uh, I say… Huh?"

The situation had become overly dramatic and irritating, so I swiftly exchanged my stones with Makushita's using a quick left jab.

"Wh, what? I, I didn't even see that…!?"

Makushita couldn't react to my left either, blinking in confusion once more.

However, I paid no mind to his reaction. I simply did as Tre’ainar had instructed…

"Here, your turn."

"Huh!?"

This time, I picked up a white stone and placed it on the board.

"Th, then try it!"

After a moment of stunned silence, Makushita's anger flared again upon seeing the stone I had placed. He grabbed a black stone and slammed it onto the board in a fit of rage.

"Geez… Here goes."

"Hmph!"

"Hmm."

"Hmph!"

"… Here you go."

"Ugh!"

With every move I made, Makushita responded by slamming his stone down without pause.

It was as if he were intent on demolishing the board itself.

But…

"… ah!?"

Huh? What? That gasp of surprise wasn't from Makushita.

It originated from someone in the spectator gallery.

Their gaze was fixed intently on the board…

"Th, the White stone… that was the very stone Makushita-kun bravely played earlier, only to be cut down… But… Wait… White has no possible escape now… none… but… that cut territory has come here…."

They were muttering to themselves.

『Hoh~… I did not anticipate someone noticing… That individual must be quite the skilled player.』

"S, Sensei! When did you arrive… and wh, what is happening…"

Tre’ainar expressed his admiration at the observer's insight, while Makushita mumbled, "Sensei."

Was this Makushita's master?

『Fufufu, so this one's master… If that is the case, I would be keen to play against him later… But regardless, surely with the next move, this one and those around him will finally comprehend… Now then, child!』

"Here you go."

"……… Ah!?"

Honestly, I had no clue what was transpiring. However, the instant I placed the stone exactly where Tre’ainar had directed, Makushita abruptly stood up.

And he wasn't the only one who reacted.

"Ah! White…"

"Huh? …… Ah, I, I see!"

"Impossible! T, this… this line of play!?"

"B, but, but, with that final move… you must be joking, right?"

"White has survived! No, more than just survived."

"Rebirth! Revival! It's absurd! White, a stone that should be dead, has come back to life!"

Suddenly, the entire crowd surrounding me erupted into a frenzy. Moments before, the atmosphere had been as silent as a funeral, but now everyone was leaning forward, their eyes burning with intense focus, fixated on the game board.

“I, I truly cannot believe this… The world plunged into an abyss of despair after the Cataclysm… I had believed not even a sliver of light would ever pierce through the gloom… and yet… light has finally broken through. Humanity, the world, has taken a renewed breath! What is happening… everyone had faltered, stopped, and looked downwards… humanity had despaired and perished… However, a nascent, minuscule life emerged, introducing a faint luminescence into this world stained by darkness, and that light expanded, illuminating the globe, becoming a beacon that uplifted humanity once more! That unyielding spirit altered the world, breathing life back into it!”

“””””HUMANITY…… THE WORLD IS NOT OVER YET!!!”””””

“Furthermore, the very impetus for this was that singular action—the step taken with such valor by Makushita-kun, even after suffering a grievous wound. The stone that perished then, the formation born from that act, has been reborn anew… precisely, the courage was passed on! That courage was not expended in vain! What appeared to be a futile sacrifice at the time, over the passage of time, was inherited, entrusted to one possessing new life and resolve, and consequently revived the world once more!”

“””””UOOOOOOOOOOOOOHHH!!!”””””

Somehow… Makushita’s master was acting like a dramatic stage performer, emitting all sorts of noises, and the other onlookers joined in the chorus…

“I understand now… We must not surrender… That was the sole path to breaking through a world that offered nothing but utter despair… This represents… Hope! And the dawn of a new future!”

Well, in any case, that seems to be the core message of the event.

I've lost track of what's going on.

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