The world smelled cleaner now.
Like new parchment and cool stone, mixed with a faint electric buzz.
Yuuji stumbled forward as the light faded, nearly tripping over the polished marble floor beneath his feet. Around him stretched a corridor so vast it could have swallowed his entire school, its towering columns shaped like chess pieces—bishops, knights, rooks—each one glowing faintly with magic.
"What is this place..." he muttered, running a hand through his messy hair.
"Welcome to the Academy of the 64 Houses," said a smooth voice behind him.
Yuuji turned.
There she was again—the regal woman from before, now dressed in an elegant black and gold uniform. A long cape fluttered behind her as if moved by an invisible breeze.
"I am Elvira Chessaria, Headmistress and Queen of this institution," she said with a smile that somehow felt both warm and dangerous.
"You, Yuuji Serizawa, are now officially a King without a House."
"King? Without a House?" Yuuji repeated, feeling like someone had dropped a chessboard on his head.
Elvira chuckled lightly. "Every student here belongs to a House—Pawn, Knight, Bishop, Rook, or Queen. Each specializes in a different magic style based on their piece. But you..."
She paused, a glint in her eye.
"You are... special."
"Special how?"
"You are a King. You can command others. Build your own House. Form your own board."
Yuuji blinked. "Build... a team?"
"Exactly," Elvira said, stepping closer.
"In one week, you must gather at least five students under your command—or you will be expelled from the Academy... and sent back to the void you came from."
Yuuji swallowed hard.
No pressure, right?
Suddenly—thud!
Something crashed into him from the side. Yuuji stumbled, arms flailing, and found himself flat on the ground, pinned under—
A girl.
No, not just a girl—a short, fiery-haired girl with sharp eyes, dressed in a uniform with a silver horse emblem. Her skirt dangerously flipped as she struggled to get up, giving Yuuji a full view of—
SLAP!
"Pervert!" she shrieked, slamming a fist into his face.
Yuuji groaned as stars exploded behind his eyes.
Great. First move of my new life... and I've already been checkmated.
The massive stone gates swung open without a sound.
Yuuji stepped inside and was immediately swallowed by the sheer scale of the Academy.
Towering white marble buildings stretched into the clouds, each carved in the shape of grand chess pieces. Students in sleek, sharp uniforms moved about the sprawling courtyards, some practicing spells, others dueling on floating chessboards.
The place buzzed with energy. With purpose.
With... expectation.
"This way, please."
The same golden-armored woman from before waited for him just beyond the entrance, now without her helmet. Her golden hair fell freely across her shoulders, gleaming in the sunlight.
Yuuji hesitated, then followed.
They walked through vast halls lined with banners—each depicting a different chess piece. Pawns, Knights, Bishops, Rooks, Queens.
The King's banner was missing.
"Why are there no Kings?" Yuuji asked, glancing around.
The woman smiled without turning.
"Because Kings are rare. Kings are... born, not made. Only those summoned from beyond Strategia itself can claim such a title."
Yuuji snorted.
"Lucky me, huh?"
At last, they entered a massive circular chamber—a throne room without a throne.
Instead, in the center stood a giant marble chessboard, the squares glowing faintly under a glass dome ceiling.
The woman turned to face him, her expression now serious.
"Listen carefully, Yuuji Serizawa," she said, voice formal.
"You are now a King without a House. Alone, you are nothing on this board."
"Gee, thanks for the pep talk," Yuuji muttered.
She ignored him.
"Within one week, you must form your own House by recruiting other students. Pawns, Knights, Bishops, Rooks... even a Queen if you have the skill."
Yuuji raised an eyebrow.
"Sounds like building a chess team."
"Exactly," she said sharply. "Each recruit will swear loyalty to you. Together, you will rise—or be crushed."
"And if I don't?" Yuuji asked, crossing his arms.
The woman smiled thinly.
"Then you will be erased from Strategia."
Yuuji felt a cold shiver run down his spine.
"...No pressure, right."
The woman nodded approvingly.
"Good. Now, allow me to introduce myself properly."
She placed a hand on her chest.
"I am Elvira Chessaria, Queen of the 64 Houses, and your first and only ally."
She snapped her fingers.
In an instant, a small silver crest shaped like a King piece appeared on Yuuji's chest, burning slightly as it fused with his uniform.
"This will mark you as a King," Elvira said. "But beware—others will see it. And not everyone here welcomes a new ruler."
Before Yuuji could ask more, a loud crash echoed through the hall.
A blur of movement slammed into him from the side—
—and he found himself on the floor, groaning, once again pinned under—
A girl.
Short, fiery red hair. Silver knight emblem on her uniform. Sharp, fierce golden eyes.
She scrambled up, glaring down at him.
"Watch where you're going, idiot!"
Yuuji blinked.
Welcome to Strategia.
Ow, ow, ow..."
Yuuji sat up, rubbing the side of his head. The red-haired girl stood over him, hands on her hips, glaring like he had just insulted her ancestors.
"Seriously! Watch where you're going, newbie!"
Yuuji raised both hands in surrender.
"Hey, technically you crashed into me."
The girl blinked, then huffed, flipping her short hair back.
Her uniform, like the others', had a crest—a shining silver horse. Knight.
"Tch. Figures. Another clueless rookie dropped on us like yesterday's trash."
Yuuji stood slowly, brushing dust off his borrowed uniform.
"Yeah, nice to meet you too."
Before the argument could escalate, Elvira stepped forward, clearing her throat.
"Mira Valentina," she said sternly. "Mind your manners. This is a King without House. A rare guest."
The redhead—Mira—stiffened, eyes widening slightly.
"A... King?" she repeated, her voice half disbelieving, half mocking.
She looked Yuuji up and down.
"Him? Seriously?"
Yuuji gave a lazy wave.
"Yo. Local chess nerd. Apparently royalty now."
Mira stared for a moment longer, then laughed sharply.
"Well, good luck, King. You're gonna need it."
Without another word, she turned and stormed off down the corridor, boots clicking against the marble floor.
Yuuji watched her go, rubbing the back of his neck.
"Friendly place," he muttered.
Elvira smiled faintly.
"You'll find many here are... competitive."
She gestured for Yuuji to follow her again.
They moved deeper into the academy grounds, passing students practicing magic—some casting spells in diagonal arcs like bishops, others leaping in L-shaped blurs like knights.
Everything here operated by chess logic.
And Yuuji was starting to realize:
He might actually have an advantage.
A huge one.
They stopped at a large, circular plaza—a meeting ground, where various students gathered.
Above the plaza was a giant floating display, shimmering with names, rankings, and titles.
At the very bottom, blinking brightly:
NEW ENTRANT: YUUJI SERIZAWA – KING WITHOUT HOUSE – RANK: UNRATED
Several students pointed at him, whispering. Some snickered.
Others looked curious... or hostile.
Elvira glanced at him, her voice low.
"This is your starting point. No House. No allies. No rank."
She smiled.
"Now, Yuuji Serizawa... it's your move."
Yuuji stared up at the floating display, feeling dozens of eyes on him.
Whispers filled the plaza.
Snickers.
Some curious, some mocking.
"King without a House..."
"He won't last a week."
"Another reject from the outer worlds."
Yuuji exhaled slowly through his nose.
He wasn't the type to care about popularity.
But in a world like this, reputation was a weapon—or a weakness.
Elvira stepped beside him, arms folded gracefully.
"This is Strategia," she said quietly. "You must move first, Yuuji Serizawa. Or be moved."
He nodded slowly.
First move, huh?
He scanned the plaza, eyes sharp.
Several students looked strong—bigger, more powerful, magical auras leaking from them.
Not ideal first targets.
And then he saw her.
A flash of fiery red disappearing around a corner.
Mira Valentina.
Knight class.
Aggressive. Hot-headed. Skilled in L-shaped attack patterns.
Probably dangerous.
Perfect.
Yuuji smirked.
"No better place to start."
Without a word, he turned and strode after her, leaving the murmuring plaza behind.
He found Mira near one of the training fields—a massive black-and-white grid where students practiced combat moves according to their piece types.
Mira was sparring against three others at once, moving in sharp, unpredictable bursts—classic Knight style.
She dodged, weaved, struck in angles no normal fighter would anticipate.
Yuuji watched for a moment, calculating.
Then he stepped onto the edge of the grid and called out:
"Oi, short stack."
Mira froze mid-strike, barely dodging a practice bolt.
She turned, golden eyes narrowing.
"You again?!"
Yuuji grinned lazily.
"Yeah. Got a proposition for you."
She crossed her arms, scowling.
"Not interested."
Yuuji shrugged.
"I wasn't asking."
Gasps echoed from nearby students.
Mira's fists clenched.
Yuuji pointed to the grid.
"One match. You win—you walk away. I win—you join my House."
For a heartbeat, silence hung heavy.
Then Mira grinned—a wild, wolfish smile.
"You're on, King without a clue."