BL: The Northern Grand Duke’s Hamster (Novel Translation)

'... What kind of chess is this, all of a sudden?'

When I woke up, things were taking a strange turn. I quietly poked my head out of my pocket and quickly pulled it back in. It was utterly not the mood to show myself off. It was very frustrating being stuck in his pocket and unable to see outside. However, I couldn't stick my head out. Because I shouldn't be noticed by Knox.

I had no choice but to take out an item.

Enhanced Insight Eyes.

The lens of the hamster glasses, 'Insight Eye,' had been changed, and each time the enhancement function was used, the lenses turned black and transformed into a sunglasses-like shape. Although the shape was a bit odd… no one would see me anyway. Also, unlike what it looked like, it wasn't used to block light, but for clairvoyance, to see the outside I wanted to see. According to the system's guidance, I couldn't use my clairvoyance indefinitely; there was a one-hour limit, once a day.

'This is better than I thought.'

[(￣︶￣*)b]

That's how I carefully watched the situation outside from my pocket. In careful silence, the chess pieces placed by the two sometimes held their place, and sometimes were completely eliminated and kicked out of the square world.

Knox led the game in a fairly radical way. It was no exaggeration to say that he was the most important player in chess, but he directly moved the King and Queen to put pressure on Kyle. On the other hand, Kyle was quite defensive. Even though I knew it was impossible, he tried to do something, trying not to lose his words. Because of that, I missed the opportunity to checkmate many times, I prayed.

"If you embrace something trivial, you will be ruining the cause."

Kyle moved the knight to block the Queen's path. It had been like this all along. When the unavoidable moment came, the King moved one square at a time, but the Queen didn't move. Even though it was the piece that could move most efficiently, it remained static. As a result, Knox's white queen moved freely on the small chessboard, constantly pressuring the black queen. Kyle sent a knight to protect the Queen every time.

"He's also loyal."

Knox chuckled. The last Black Knight was taken down by the White Queen.

"I don't know why you pamper a queen who won't be used well."

Kyle's thumb and index finger gripped the black bishop. It didn't shine, so it seemed to be molded from shadows, and it knocked down the white queen.

"There is something precious about existence itself. Ah, a word that has nothing to do with you. Approval? Respect and affection."

"Hmm."

Knox laughed quietly. He didn't pay any attention to the white queen who had gone out. He played games just like me. He just moved the rest of his pieces, aiming for the moment when he could cut off the king's breath.

"Survival comes before respect. No matter how much I love you, if I'm dead and gone, what's the point of that?"

The Black Queen fell. White pieces, and many pawns, knights, bishops—the black and white pieces were gradually banished outside the square world. A pure white queen was placed in front of the black king. It was a checkmate.

But before Knox could smile triumphantly, Kyle said calmly, "At least you won't feel that you've been abandoned outside of this world. You didn't die a miserable death."

The atmosphere froze. The subtly tense tension that had just continued was gone, as if it was just a joke, and the air flow became cold. Knox truly wanted to tear the man in front of him to death. Yet, Kyle did not retreat. The two of them didn't take out any blades, but they looked at each other with their eyes, as if they were being stabbed dozens of times.

'Stop!'

I had been quiet the whole time, but I curled my fists and slapped Kyle's thigh. At that moment, I also remembered the system message.

[Eye of Enhanced Insight expires!]

'Let's go back now!'

I couldn't make a noise, so I struggled with my arms and legs and pulled myself into Kyle's pocket. I didn't think he would beat Knox. The last time Kyle played chess, he said it was about fifteen years ago. The simple game he played occasionally with the full nobles of the imperial castle was forgotten after he put all his attention into survival in the North; the only thing he didn't forget were the rules. The reason he sat on the other side of Knox, even though he knew he was going to lose, was because he could somehow keep the Thought Pile Wizard quietly locked up. It would be nice to take a look into the inside of the game.

Kyle, who noticed my protest, cleverly covered the pocket I was in with his cloak. I stood up. I clung to his thigh and made myself as small as possible. You like it. All you have to do is go back safely. Kyle was not in a hurry, nor was he loose; he turned his back with a steady gait.

However.

"Your Highness."

Knox's cold voice called Kyle. His body, which was moving smoothly, stopped.

What, what? Why do you call me all of a sudden? ... No way, he noticed that I was hiding here, didn't he?

"You seem to have forgotten your promise."

"..."

"Didn't the winner of the chess game decide to ask a question?"

Kyle sighed softly and replied, "Yes, I did. Do you have any questions?"

The white wraith bowed his head forward slightly. "That little one of yours."

"..."

"Does she belong to another world, come from another world, or have the ability to move to another world?"

Because the glasses were exhausted, my vision was completely dark. Was it because there was nothing to see? My heart was pounding nervously. It was Knox who won the chess game. As promised, Kyle had to answer Knox's questions only with the truth.

Kyle straightened his hips slightly. His body stiffened for a moment with tension, then relaxed.

"Yes."

I thought he would continue to ask more questions to satisfy his curiosity, but there was only silence. After hearing the answer, Knox walked quite lightly and left the living room.

'A different world… How did he know?'

I climbed onto Kyle's palm and looked up at him. Kyle also looked down at me with a sad expression. It seemed that it was still a long way for us to see through Knox's inner workings.

Boxing Day.

I was about to have a late lunch at a restaurant when the shameless owner of the Frost Mage Tower sat down beside me.

"There is no end to the digging and digging. Fresh and good."

"You look at people as if you were choosing some kind of vegetable. I don't have the desire to be like radishes and potatoes in your garden at all, do I? Clearing the snow."

I lowered my voice and growled, taking a big bite of the sandwich in my hand. The good lettuce and moderately moist tomatoes were gently crushed in my mouth.

"That's good. If you chew it and it disappears, it's too empty."

He stared at the sandwich I was eating and said, "Like that poor tomato," he added.

I suddenly lost my appetite and put down the sandwich with a tired face. When he eats, he doesn't even touch the dog. A bastard without morals.

"You are not lucky today."

"Thank you for the compliment, kid."

"You are also grumpy in a variety of ways."

When I calmed my boiling stomach and pulled my mouth up, the stiff corners of my mouth trembled. Today, I had something to discuss with the Knights, so I made the 'call' a little early, but as soon as I returned to my body, I realized that the condition of my right arm was a mess. Oh boy, the demon also stigmatized me, but I didn't answer, so it looks like that ghost guy was playing a prank on me.

"Because you don't answer. I couldn't help it."

Shameless. Are you blaming me in the midst of this? I cursed and gulped the sandwich at the same time.

"Are you okay? It must have been quite painful. Normally, I would say something like, 'You really need a lot of hands!' Even though it was a situation where it would have been more than enough to open my door, it was quiet. It's like..."

"..."

"As if I had crossed over to another world."

So, it seems that the question he asked after winning chess yesterday was like that.

"Hah..."

I took a short sigh and put away the sandwich I was eating, then shook my hands and stood up. Yes, what are you doing on the street?

For those guys, indifference is the answer. The more you deal with it, the more you feel scratched in your stomach. It was clear that this blood pressure management would be very bad for it.

Let's not answer. When I answered, it was my loss.

[(#O′)/!]`

Somehow, as soon as I 'brought it up' today, I stumbled, and the system went on a rampage. In a way, it would have been a challenge to the system. Hiding well wasn't enough to make a mess, and there were times when I bumped into each other.

'Yes, yes. I hate him too.'

In this case, we are also on the same page. I walked diligently, soothing the system with a moderate amount of effort.

There were two footsteps echoing in the hallway. One was mine, and the other was his. I was annoyed that he was walking at my own pace, so I slowed down and repeatedly told him to speed up.

And when I arrived at the study, I was the only one who was tired.

"... Isn't a wizard also an office worker?"

"It's because the little guy has short legs."

"Go ahead, a little."

I opened the heavy study door and quickly went inside. I'll follow you anyway. I wanted to see a little less, even if it was just a second. Sure enough, when I stood in front of the largest bookcase, the door opened. I put more books with my hands. I turned away from him as much as possible.

'Don't come close.'

The study was covered with a thick carpet, so I couldn't hear the sound of his shoes. I opened any book I could get my hands on and pretended to be immersed in writing. If this happens, wait a minute. I was afraid that I would lose interest.

After cleaning, the window was left open, and the dark red velvet curtains swayed in the wind. The cool air came in together. Let's turn our heads along a ray of sunlight across the back of our hands, and before I knew it, the other person approached me and carefully hugged my waist.

"Shu."

My stiff body lost strength. It was loosened like thin ice melting in the spring sun. A familiar body temperature, a familiar touch, and a familiar voice. I leaned back slightly and laughed, then turned my chin and pressed my lips to Kyle's cheek.

"Your Highness."