Chapter 31: Tamer
"Lots of obstacles."
Top Chat: Well, without obstacles there’d be no strategy.
Top Chat: Is this random placement?
Top Chat: It’s pseudo-random, chosen from multiple layouts at the moment of decision. Since the random numbers in this game are all independent, if you’re a pro, you can sync the start right after powering on and easily get the same stage.
Top Chat: Pro (there aren’t any tournaments with prize money).
I had five cards in hand: ┃┛┃┫━. On my turn, another ┛ was added, and I was prompted to choose which card to play.
I placed it so the wires connected from my power plant, and then it was the computer’s turn.
After eight turns of back-and-forth, I managed to connect power lines to the nearest city.
"Elf, you got the flow of it now?"
"Harder than I thought."
Top Chat: Oh?
Top Chat: Unexpected words.
Top Chat: Elf-san, not good at puzzles?
My current hand was ┛┃┛┃┛. Since I’d gone for the shortest route to the city, my hand ended up pretty skewed.
The computer seemed to pick up on that, stretching its lines to block the route to the next city. Looked like I’d be forced into quite the detour.
"In games like this, timing is everything."
"Timing."
"Right. You can’t just draw cards and place them without thinking."
"Timing, huh…"
Top Chat: Yeah, when your hand’s skewed, your options shrink.
Top Chat: And the computer players in this game actually understand that, so they go super aggressive when they see it.
Top Chat: Huh, pretty smart AI.
"Hmm."
"You’ll get the hang of it as you go along."
"True enough. Looks like it’ll take me a bit longer."
Top Chat: Those words really don’t sound like Elf-san.
Top Chat: Thank goodness… Elf-san really is human after all…
Top Chat: True but also completely wrong.
Seven more turns passed, and the situation had heavily tilted in the computer’s favor. But then—
"I’ve got it now."
Top Chat: Eh?
Top Chat: Hm?
Top Chat: Got what?
My current hand was ┫┛┛┃┛. I drew another ┛ and played ┫.
Next turn. ┛┛┃┛┛. I drew yet another ┛ and played ┃. My hand became ┛┛┛┛┛. Complete.
Top Chat: Uh, what exactly are you trying to do?
Top Chat: Ahhh, she’s gone and been corrupted.
Top Chat: Computer: "Going all-in on offense lol."
I drew ━. Using the gap the computer left while attacking, I slid my line neatly through.
Next was ┏. The aggressive computer was now forced into a huge detour.
And then ┃. That sealed it—the computer wouldn’t be able to return to the front line anytime soon.
"Good."
Top Chat: …Uh, Elf-san?
Top Chat: Are you… aiming for specific draws?
"Didn’t you say timing’s everything?"
Top Chat: No, not like that.
Top Chat: I thought maybe you’d do something like manual slot timing, but this? Totally unexpected lol.
Top Chat: Watching the computer get more aggressive seeing Elf-san’s hand, only to get hopelessly lost, is hilarious.
Top Chat: This is awful.
Top Chat: Elf-san’s breaking the game again lol.
Top Chat: Truly, Elf-san is an elf.
Top Chat: True, but also completely wrong.
"Victory."
"I figured I could win if it was with you, Elf, but actually winning this easily? Kinda freaks me out a little."
Top Chat: Kirishi-tan lol
Top Chat: Elf power was basically TAS-level
Top Chat: LMAO
"Was I not supposed to win?"
"No, no! I even unlocked the achievement I wanted, so I’m more than satisfied!"
Top Chat: A strategist appears!
Top Chat: Kirishi-tan, Elf tamer
Top Chat: The Elf Tamer!
Top Chat: Hey Pro-kun, you still alive?
Top Chat: Ngh… kill me!
Top Chat: SLASH!
Top Chat: SWISH!
Top Chat: STAB!
Top Chat: CHOP CHOP!
Top Chat: At least hesitate a little lol
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