Villainous Instructor at the Academy
Chapter 100: Bait play

Chapter 100: Bait play

The tension in the air was palpable as Nicholas and I sat across from each other. The Stones and Crowns board lay between us, pieces set in their starting positions. Around us, the gathered students and instructors whispered amongst themselves, anticipation thick in their voices.

Gale stood nearby, arms crossed, his smirk never wavering. "This should be entertaining."

I rolled my shoulders, cracking my neck. "Entertaining is one word for it. Let’s see if you can live up to the hype, Nicholas."

Nicholas gave a slow nod, his fingers hovering over his first move. Unlike Evelyn, who had been methodical and precise, Nicholas was a different beast altogether. He was a veteran at this game, known for his aggressive and unpredictable style.

The moment his fingers landed on a piece and slid it across the board, I knew this wouldn’t be easy.

He opened with an unconventional gambit, pushing his Stones forward aggressively. It was a high-risk move, meant to control the board early and suffocate my options.

I countered with a slower, defensive approach, keeping my Crowns shielded while probing his formation for weaknesses. Nicholas didn’t hesitate, pressing forward with calculated aggression. Within the first few moves, I could see his style—he played like a warlord, overwhelming opponents before they could react.

The audience was enraptured. Even Julien, who usually had something snarky to say, was watching in silence.

Nicholas pressed his advantage, and I found myself on the back foot, forced into reactive play. My Crown was perilously close to being trapped, my defenses crumbling. If I didn’t shift tactics soon, I’d lose within a dozen turns.

I exhaled slowly. Time to change the tempo.

Instead of resisting his push, I started leading him into traps of my own. I let him take what seemed like easy victories, sacrificing minor pieces in ways that looked careless. But each loss created an opening—small, almost imperceptible at first.

Nicholas’ confidence grew, his moves becoming sharper, faster. He believed he had me where he wanted me. But that was the problem.

He was too focused on winning.

And that’s when I struck.

One by one, the traps I had woven into the board snapped shut. His powerful offense suddenly had nowhere to go. His pieces, once dominant, were now entangled in my seemingly reckless play. The shift in momentum was subtle at first, but then unmistakable.

Nicholas narrowed his eyes, recognizing the change. He slowed, considering his next move carefully. But it was too late. I had already turned the board against him.

Five moves later, his Crown was in check.

Seven moves later, it was completely trapped.

Silence.

I leaned back, stretching my arms. "Checkmate."

The crowd erupted. Some were cheering, others whispering in disbelief. Julien let out a low whistle. "Damn, Professor, that was nasty."

Nicholas stared at the board, his expression unreadable. Then, after a long pause, he chuckled softly. "Impressive. I see now why you took the challenge."

I shrugged. "Had to make it interesting."

He stood, extending a hand. "You did."

I shook it, though I could still see the sharp calculation in his gaze. This wasn’t over for him—not by a long shot. But for now, I had the victory.

Gale stepped forward, still smirking. "A thrilling match. Though I must say, I wonder if you were always this skilled, or if you’ve simply been hiding your talents."

"Who knows?" I replied lightly. "Maybe I just like winning when it matters."

Gale chuckled. "Indeed. Well, enjoy your moment, Professor. The Academy always enjoys a rising star. But remember—stars that shine too brightly often burn out the fastest."

A veiled threat. How charming.

I simply smiled. "I appreciate the concern."

With that, the match was officially concluded, and the students began dispersing. Julien clapped me on the back. "Alright, we won. So what’s next?"

I gave him a look. "Training. You all still have a long way to go."

Groans erupted from the students, but they followed me nonetheless. As we walked away, I caught Nicholas watching me from a distance, a thoughtful expression on his face.

I had won the game.

But I had a feeling the real battle was just beginning.

The moment Gale’s fingers brushed against the first piece, the tension in the air became palpable. Unlike Evelyn, who had played with a measured, defensive approach, Gale was aggressive. His first move sent a clear message—he was here to dominate.

I smiled faintly. Good.

His opening was sharp, a sequence of moves meant to establish immediate control over the board’s center. He wasn’t giving me time to breathe, let alone strategize. A classic approach from someone used to crushing weaker opponents before they had a chance to adapt.

Unfortunately for him, I wasn’t a weak opponent.

I played slow at first, feigning uncertainty. Let him think I was struggling. Let him believe I was barely holding on.

The crowd was silent, save for the occasional murmurs as pieces shifted across the board. Even my students were tense. Julien leaned forward slightly, watching every move like he could will the game in my favor.

Gale smirked as he advanced. "You’re playing cautiously."

"Am I?" I moved a piece, subtly closing off one of his escape routes. He didn’t notice.

"You’re trying to delay the inevitable," Gale said, moving another piece to apply pressure.

I met his gaze. "If you say so."

Another move. Another shift in the board’s flow. Gale was forcing me into a corner, and the crowd could see it. A few whispers spread through the onlookers.

Nicholas, who had been observing from the side, finally spoke. "Looks like Gale has the upper hand."

Someone from Class A chuckled. "Did you really think a washed-up instructor could beat Professor Gale at his own game?"

Julien scowled. Mira crossed her arms, her expression unreadable. I could feel their frustration, their unease. It was almost time.

I made my next move.

And suddenly, Gale’s confident smirk faltered.

It was subtle, a barely perceptible shift in his expression, but I caught it. He hadn’t expected that move. More importantly, he hadn’t accounted for how it would affect his positioning three turns from now.

He hesitated. Just for a second. Then he made his move, covering his mistake as best he could.

Too late.

I advanced, my pieces slipping through the gaps he’d left exposed. His earlier aggression had given him control, but in his rush to corner me, he’d neglected his own defenses. A classic mistake. One he couldn’t afford.

Five moves later, his Crown was trapped.

Checkmate.

Silence.

I leaned back, exhaling slowly. "That’s game."

Gale stared at the board, his smirk completely gone. His fingers twitched slightly, as if resisting the urge to reset the pieces himself.

The silence stretched on, broken only when Julien let out a sharp laugh. "Holy shit."

Mira grinned. "Well, that was satisfying."

Nicholas hummed, intrigued. "That was an impressive reversal."

Gale took a deep breath, smoothing out his expression before standing. "It seems I underestimated you."

"Seems like it." I stretched, rolling my shoulders. "But don’t worry, I’m sure you’ll get me next time."

His jaw tightened slightly, but he nodded. "Well played."

He turned to his students, his voice calm despite the clear tension in his posture. "We’re done here."

Evelyn gave me a curious glance before following him, while the rest of Class A dispersed. The crowd, still murmuring in disbelief, slowly broke apart.

I turned to my students. "See? Strategy isn’t just about experience. It’s about adaptability."

Julien snickered. "That’s one way to say ’I just outplayed a senior instructor.’"

I shrugged. "You can learn a lot from watching."

Leo, who had been quiet the entire match, finally exhaled. "For a second, I thought we were screwed."

"You doubted me?" I placed a hand over my heart, feigning offense.

He deadpanned. "Obviously."

The others laughed, and just like that, the tension broke. The challenge was over, and more importantly—we’d won.

As we turned to leave, Nicholas stepped beside me, his tone casual. "That was an interesting move at the end."

I glanced at him. "Which one?"

"The bait play. You let him think he had control until it was too late to recover."

I smiled. "A good opponent needs confidence. It makes them predictable."

Nicholas chuckled. "I’ll keep that in mind."

As we walked away from the clearing, I could still feel eyes on my back—Gale’s, lingering longer than necessary.

I had a feeling this wasn’t over.