Chapter 120:

A fun experience

En Passant Grandmaster

As the game ended, the arbiter squad quickly closed in on Carol, but stopped as soon as Sorcha raised her hand. "So which of you two wishes to fall next?"

Mimoko stepped forward.

"Overkill? Well, not like we can force odds, so guess I gotta hope for a miracle," Sorcha sighed as she pulled up her WWCF card again. "But that being said, care to make a little wager, like for example should you win, your hair, eyebrows, and eyelashes will grow back to the length they were before they were sheared off?"

Mimoko and Iori shot shocked glares at Sorcha. "Are you saying-"

"We fairies have some magic too. Of course if you lose, you sport your bald look for eternity. Irreversible in other words. As for me. If I lose, I guess I'll embrace the bald look you're all rocking and have the deed be done at that fancy barbershop over yonder. and if I win... Guess maybe I'll get a million euros."

"WHOA, WHOA! You're saying if you win, Mimo-chan stays bald forever AND she's gotta fork over a million euros!?" Iori fumed.

"No, the million euros will rain down from the sky upon me, and not a cent will come from any of your savings. I'm a kind woman after all. So, are you in, Mimo-chan?"

Iori scowled in frustration as Mimoko nodded and silently approached the board. "So she's got a DESPER... Or maybe..."

"To be honest, I don't fully believe your claim about your "magic", but nonetheless, beating you will ensure Carol-chan's release, yes?" Mimoko asked as she moved her pawn to d4.

"Naturally, and I won't be able to challenge your group again for the remainder of the game too," Sorcha smiled as she moved her pawn to d5.

Mimoko then moved her knight to f3, causing Sorcha to scowl. "You're going for a Jobava London, yes? Síos leis an Londain [Down with the London], " she glared as she moved her pawn to c5.

Mimoko let out a sigh. "Are Irish gambits your go-to strategy?" she asked as she moved her bishop to f4.

"Not taking it? Well the Queen's pawn opening: Chigorin, Irish gambit is my go-to counter for London systems.," Sorcha replied as she captured the pawn at d4 with her c-pawn.

"In that case, I'll praise you. This is a pretty solid strategy. Had I taken the pawn, you would have had a slight edge, but for now things remain even," Mimoko smiled as she captured the pawn at d4 with her queen.

"Ara? You're praising me?" Sorcha gasped as she moved her knight to f6."

"Naturally. You've been playing really well so far. If there's any Irish gambit you should stick with, it's the Chirgorin Irish. Now let me show you how I counter it," Mimoko smiled as she captured the knight at b8 with her bishop.

"Ara, ara. I wasn't expecting that. Though I guess it's easy to figure out what to do next," Sorcha smiled as she captured said bishop with her rook.

Her confidence didn't last long though as Mimoko castled on the queen's side, leaving her confused as to what to do next. She thought for a few minutes before finally deciding to move her bishop to g4.

"Seems she's got some skill, but is still an intermediate," Mimoko thought as she moved her knight to f3.

Rather than capture it with the bishop, Sorcha opted to instead move her pawn to e5, but that was her first blunder.

"Seems like you hung that pawn," Mimoko smiled as she captured the pawn at e5 with her knight.

"Ara, seems I'm beginning to slip. And here I thought I could beat you," Sorcha chuckled as she moved her queen to b6.

"The game is far from over though."

"And are you going to go a bit easier on me?"

"Not in the slightest, check," Mimoko smiled as she moved her queen to a4.

"Seems I'll just have to get lucky then," Sorcha chuckled as she moved her bishop to d7.

"It's never good to play hope chess," Mimoko stated as she captured said bishop with her knight.

"Usually I tend to get lucky against my opponents though," Sorcha countered as she captured said knight with her knight.

"And what is the general skill level of the opponents you play?" Mimoko asked as she captured the pawn at d5 with her knight.

"Hmm... I guess 1000 would be the average, though once I got lucky and beat a 2000-rated player. Check, by the way," Sorcha stated as she moved her queen to h6.

"What was the time control for that game?" Mimoko asked as she moved her pawn to e3.

"Hmm... Normal I think, maybe rapid," Sorcha shrugged as she moved her pawn to b5.

"So how did you beat them?" Mimoko asked as she moved her knight to c7.

"Well, they played a queen's bongcloud and from there I just got lucky and they resigned after a few moves," Sorcha stated as she moved her king to d8.

Mimoko began to laugh. "Guess luck really can be a factor in some cases. Though skill is ultimately the name of the game," she smiled as she captured the pawn at b5 with her bishop.

"Still, I like to rely on luck," Sorcha smiled as she captured the knight at c7 with her king.

"Then feel free to. I was simply teaching you some ways to improve your skill," Mimoko smiled as she captured the pawn at a7 with her queen.

"But why? I'm your enemy, right?" Sorcha asked as she moved her king to d8.

"To be honest, I'm not fully sure myself. As I was watching your game against Carol, I noticed both of you making blunders and simply wanted to give some pointers on how to improve. Once I did, I just felt happy. It reminded me of how I was before everything with Michiko happened. Oh, and checkmate," Mimoko smiled as she captured the knight at d7 with her queen, winning the game.

"Wait, HUH!? ...Ara, ara. I really was outclassed," Sorcha chuckled as the board began to vanish.

Then to everyone's surprise, Mimoko's hair, eyebrows, and eyelashes grew back in majestic fashion.

"WHOA! You got a DESPER or something!?" Iori cried.

"No, I don't have one, but I guess you can tell one was used for this match. Now as promised your friend may go free."

The arbiter squad nodded and released Carol before dispersing.

As for me, seems I have an appointment at the barbershop over there," Sorcha sighed as she began walking towards a nearby barbershop.

"Uh, can I film it?" Iori asked.

Sorcha went silent before bursting into laughter and allowing Iori to do so. Iori and Carol grinned at one another and immediately followed after Carol while Mimoko let out a sigh.

"Just don't get jumped, you two," she happily called out.

"No worries, we're the meme team!" Iori called back.

Mimoko couldn't help but muster a smile.

The full game:

White: Mimoko Inoue (2730) Black: Sorcha Glas (777)

1. d4 d5

2. Nc3 c5

3. Bf4 cxd4

4. Qxd4 Nf6

5. Bxb8 Rxb8

6. O-O-O Bg4

7. Nf3 e5