COTE: Expelliarmis… Wait, Why Isn’t It Working?! (MTL)

The Good Chess Players

After the "chaotic pool party" incident the other day, I had a different view of Kōenji. At first, I thought he was just an arrogant, showy rich guy with nothing but muscles.

But I was wrong. To a certain extent, Kōenji was truly an outstanding person—both physically and mentally.

Not only did he have incredible stamina, but he also knew how to control the situation in his own way. Although annoying, I had to admit that Kōenji was no ordinary person.

And that was why I started observing him more.

Today was a beautiful day, but I hated the afternoon sun of summer.

The bright yellow sunlight reflected off the surface of the turquoise pool, creating sparkling rays like thousands of crystals floating on the water.

I lay down on the cushioned lounge chair next to the villa's pool, feeling the soft surface but still a little hot from being exposed to the sun all day.

Even so, this was still the most comfortable place I could find at the moment. I lazily raised my hand to cover my eyes, trying to enjoy a little peace amidst the luxury of the resort, but an uneasy feeling still crept into my heart.

But no.

I couldn't enjoy it.

Because the familiar "Oh ho ho!" laughter of Rokusuke Kōenji—the most arrogant young master I had ever met in my life—was still ringing in my ears.

He was standing not far from me, among a group of middle-aged men wearing expensive suits, leisurely gesturing as if they were the center of the universe.

Those people were not ordinary businessmen—they were the sharks of the Japanese business world.

They were here because they had been invited by the Kōenji family to a high-class business meeting.

Kōenji, as the heir, was tasked with attending these conversations to build relationships and demonstrate his abilities.

What was remarkable was that he wasn't just sitting there for show, but was actually leading the discussion in an amazing way.

But what was surprising was… they were listening to Kōenji seriously.

I narrowed my eyes and sat up straight. I had always thought that Kōenji was just a rich guy who liked to show off. But the scene before me told me otherwise.

He wasn't just a show-off. He actually knew how to control a conversation. I watched Kōenji for a long time.

He wasn't just standing there to brag about his wealth—he was leading the conversation. He talked about aspects of the financial market, about investment trends, about the potential expansion of a certain industry.

And those men? They didn't laugh. They didn't treat Kōenji like a snooty brat.

They paid attention. Some even nodded in agreement with what he said.

I felt uncomfortable. Kōenji—who always acted like a crazy person—could talk on equal terms with experienced businessmen?

No way. I had to verify. Thinking to myself, I stood up and walked to a nearby table, when suddenly a girl came and sat down across from me.

"Kazuki, I have a question."

I turned to look at Hoshino Reira, a girl with long black hair, wearing an elegant white dress, sitting across from me. She is the daughter of one of the major investors present at the party, coming from a prestigious family in the Japanese financial world.

Not only did she have a refined appearance, she also had the calm demeanor and sharp eyes of someone who was very familiar with business negotiations. The interesting thing was that she seemed to know who I was.

Not in a familiar way, but in a way that she had heard about me from some source.

She gently picked up her teacup, took a sip, and put it down on the table, her eyes still not leaving me. "Kazuki Kuzunoha, right? The son of the family that is the top of the Japanese pharmaceutical market.

I heard that no matter how hard competitors try, they can't surpass your family, because your products are incredibly superior in quality."

I raised my eyebrows. "Oh? You're interested in the pharmaceutical industry?"

Reira smiled lightly. "My family has investments in several pharmaceutical companies. A new company like yours that has taken over the market so quickly… will naturally attract the attention of many people."

She looked at me with a challenging gaze, as if assessing whether I was truly worthy of the reputation she had heard of.

"If you were to stand up and replace Kōenji in that conversation right now, would you be able to do as well as him?"

I was stunned. I wanted to answer "Of course," but my mouth wouldn't let the words come out.

I could analyze the Japanese economy just by reading reports. I could explain how each industry worked just by looking at statistics. But…

I had never actually tried standing in front of people like this and talking to them on an equal footing. I slowly opened my mouth. "I'm not sure."

Reira nodded, as if waiting for that answer. "You get the point."

I felt something was wrong in my heart.

Reira curled her lips, her eyes cold. "You're only good at theory, Kazuki. You've never actually put it into practice. It's funny to see a rich kid like you sitting here pretending to think as if you understand everything."

I squinted at her, clearly feeling the sarcasm in every word.

"It seems like your family is not only good at capturing the pharmaceutical market share, but also good at creating nouveau riche who doesn't know manners and practical knowledge.

You just need to sit still, eat well and dress well, and the money will flow into your pocket, right?" Her words were like a punch to my pride.

At that moment, Kōenji turned around, as if sensing the tense atmosphere. He smirked, walking towards me and Reira with confidence.

"Oh ho ho! Kazuki, I feel like you're interested in what I'm saying, right?" Kōenji interrupted Reira before she could continue her attack on me.

Reira raised an eyebrow at Kōenji. "You want to defend Kazuki too, Kōenji? I don't think you care about people who only live off their family's money."

Kōenji laughed, tossing his perfect hair back. "Oh ho ho! I don't care about that, but I find it unpleasant that a beautiful lady would waste her time teasing someone else instead of enjoying this party. How about we change the subject?"

Reira chuckled, but I could see a hint of annoyance in her eyes. Kōenji had successfully pulled her attention away from me, at least for a moment.

After the exchange with the businessmen ended, Kōenji left the group of middle-aged men and walked towards me with a smug smile.

He dropped into the chair opposite me, folding his arms as if he were enjoying a delicious spiritual meal.

"Oh ho ho! How do you feel, Kazuki? Does the feeling of witnessing my greatness with your own eyes awaken you a little?"

I glanced at him, shrugging. "I have to admit that you're better than I thought. But don't think I'll admit it so easily."

Kōenji laughed, tossing his perfect hair back. "Of course! I don't need anyone to acknowledge me, because my greatness is obvious! But tell me, Kazuki... what do you think of the exchange just now?"

I was silent for a moment, thinking about what I had just witnessed. "...You're not just showing off. You actually know how to hold a conversation. I don't think someone who only knows how to run, flip their hair, and laugh arrogantly can do that."

"Oh ho ho! I'm glad you're finally opening your eyes to reality! But Kazuki, you're still lacking."

I crossed my arms. "I know I don't have any real combat experience in this. But that doesn't mean I'll always be inferior."

Kōenji curled his lips, his eyes flashing with a rare sharpness. "That's not all. Your biggest problem is… you're too passive. You just react to the situation instead of controlling it. You have intelligence, but you don't know how to make others do what you want."

I frowned slightly. "So what are you suggesting I do?"

Kōenji stood up, stretching his shoulders in a stylish manner. "Oh ho ho! You'll have to figure that out yourself, Kazuki! But first, let me challenge you a little!"

I raised an eyebrow. "Try what?"

Kōenji laughed, his expression still full of confidence. "Is that so? Then… do you want to try?"

Kōenji pointed to the chessboard placed on the marble table nearby.

"A chess match."

I frowned. "Are you trying to provoke me?"

"I just wanted to see if the intelligence you boasted about could actually be used in a strategic game."

I snorted. "I've never lost a game of chess."

Kōenji smiled. "Is that so? Then I look forward to it."

I sat down, grabbing the white pieces.

Alright, Kōenji. I'll show you who's really smart here.

The game began. I quickly deployed my usual strategy: solid defense, waiting for the opponent to slip up.

As I moved my pieces, Kōenji leaned back in his chair, his eyes filled with triumph. "Kazuki, did you notice anything?"

I narrowed my eyes. "What?"

"About how you were treated earlier." He dropped a knight onto the board, unfazed. "You don't have to look down on those guys. They don't look down on you because you're incompetent, but because you're belittling yourself."

I frowned, thinking about his words. Kōenji continued, his tone somewhat sarcastic. "Do you really understand the stature of your family company?"

"The current Kuzunoha family can crush any competitor in the pharmaceutical industry with a wave of their hand. You still act like an ordinary person, but in reality, you're in a different class."

I moved my queen forward, feeling a little uncomfortable. "So you're saying I should become an arrogant person like you?"

Kōenji laughed, tossing his hair in a stylish manner. "Oh ho ho! No, Kazuki. But you need to understand what you have in your hand and what it can do."

He picked up a rook, then stared at me. "For example, that girl Reira just now. Do you know who she really is?"

I frowned. "Only that she's the daughter of a businessman at this party."

Kōenji laughed, tossing his perfect hair back. "Oh ho ho! Kazuki, you're seriously lacking in information. Reira isn't just a simple businessman's daughter."

"She's the heiress of the Hoshino Group, one of the most influential financial groups in Japan's investment world."

"Her family once intended to enter the pharmaceutical industry, but your family crushed them to the point of having to withdraw. Why do you think she's so bitter towards you?"

I paused, starting to piece together the events in my head. "So that's why..."

Kōenji smirked. "That's right. The Hoshino family probably hasn't given up on their ambitions yet, but right now they can't do anything but be bitter and try to bring you down with sarcasm."

"And if you want, just one move from your family could push their conglomerate to the brink of bankruptcy faster than a losing game of chess."

I fell silent. To be honest, I hadn't really studied her that well.

Kōenji shook his head. "You lack information about your opponent. You let her lead the conversation, let her humiliate you without fighting back. Meanwhile, if you wanted, just one phone call to your parents would have made the Reira family lose its place in the financial industry."

I paused, realizing that I had never thought of it that way.

Kōenji put down the chess piece and crossed his arms. "Kazuki, do you know why your parents' voices are so valuable? The pharmaceutical industry is more than just producing medicine."

"It affects the entire economy and politics. A pharmaceutical company that dominates the market can control the supply of drugs, influence prices, and even indirectly influence the insurance, healthcare, and scientific research industries."

"If a hospital or a health insurance corporation wants to survive, they have to rely on a steady and effective supply of drugs from companies like your family's."

I frowned, realizing that I had never looked at the matter this way before.

"In other words, your parents are not just ordinary businessmen, they are people who can decide who lives and who dies in the medical industry. One word from them can cause an insurance company to collapse, a hospital to lose its right to operate, or a politician to change his medical policy."

Kōenji curled his lips, his eyes sharp. "And yet you act like you're an ordinary person, being looked down upon by a girl from a family that has no chance of competing with you without even fighting back. You really don't understand the power you hold in your hands."

He paused for a moment, then smiled faintly. "And guess which financial sector her family does the most business in?"

I raised my eyebrows, waiting for an answer.

"Health insurance and investment in the private hospital system." Kōenji put down the chess piece, his eyes sparkling with interest.

"Her family makes money by investing in health insurance companies and private hospital systems, a business model that is directly dependent on the pharmaceutical industry."

"Without a stable and reliable supply of drugs, health insurance companies will not be able to control treatment costs, leading to heavy losses."

"The hospital system her family invested in will also be in big trouble without effective specialty drugs from your company, which is also part of the reason why they wanted to enter the pharmaceutical industry, to control costs. However, they have encountered a difficult bone to swallow."

I frowned, starting to understand the problem.

Kōenji smirked. "In other words, if your parents wanted to, they could raise the price of medicine for unfriendly partners, or even end their cooperation with them."

"That would put the Hoshino family in a difficult position immediately. Without quality medicine, their hospital would lose customers, their health insurance would lose credibility, and their entire financial empire would be shaken in an instant."

I took a deep breath, realizing that I had truly underestimated the power of my family company.

Kōenji laughed arrogantly. "Hoshino Reira may be able to raise her head and provoke you, but in the end, her family is still just a small fish in the pond that your family controls."

Kōenji leaned back in his chair, crossed his arms, and smiled smugly. "Kazuki, you're very capable. But you still have one big weakness."

I clenched my fists. "What weakness?"

Kōenji lifted the chess piece, smirking. "You're too passive and haven't caught up with the cruelty of this society. This world isn't for those who only know how to react to situations like theory or those who want a comfortable life. You have to learn to control and fight to get what you want."

"You're only good at theory. You lack practical experience. And more importantly... you don't know how to manipulate people."

His words were like a knife cutting straight into my pride.

But I couldn't refute.

Because it was the truth.

I took a deep breath.

For the first time in my life, I had a real motivation to grow.

I wouldn't let myself lose again.

And I wouldn't just get stronger in magic.

I would get stronger in every aspect.

This wasn't just a chess match anymore.

It was a battle to become truly strong.

Kōenji picked up a piece, twirling it between his fingers before placing it down. "Kazuki, you have potential. But if you want to be truly strong, you must learn to look further, understand people better, and control situations better."

He tilted his head, his eyes filled with interest. "I look forward to the day when you can stand on equal footing with me in a serious match. When you are no longer passive, no longer playing by other people's rules, but can create your own rules. I will wait for that day, Kazuki. Don't disappoint me."

I looked at the board, then back at Kōenji. The bitterness of defeat was still there, but instead of being upset, I felt… excited.

Kōenji smirked, slowly placing the last piece on the board. "Checkmate."

I glared at the board, then looked up at his smug face. Impossible. I had calculated every move, but he still found a way to checkmate me?

"Hm? Are you surprised, Kazuki?" Kōenji laughed heartily, tossing his perfect hair back. "It was obvious that my opponent was lacking so much. But don't be too disappointed, you did quite well for someone who's only used to theory."

I gritted my teeth, but couldn't argue. He had won by an overwhelming margin. Not by luck, but because he had actually read my entire strategy from the very first moves.

Kōenji stood up, stretching his shoulders with style. "But don't worry. Next time, I hope there won't be a Kazuki as passive as today. Get stronger, so that one day, I can really fight you seriously, Kazuki!!!"

.................

After the trip and summer vacation with Kōenji, I realized that magic wasn't everything. Until now, I had always thought that as long as I had enough power, everything else would be meaningless.

But for the first time in my life, I felt that there were still many things in this world that I had yet to grasp.

I didn't want to continue being passive. I didn't want to continue being just a person who was good at theory but poor at practice. If I wanted to become truly strong, I had to start changing.

From that day on, I began practicing strategic thinking, gathering information, and observing how people with real power operated the game. I learned how to communicate, how to read people, how to manipulate psychology.

I experimented in the classroom by observing teachers and classmates, analyzing how they reacted to different situations.

I started asking provocative questions in debate classes to see how my teachers and classmates would react when pushed into an awkward situation.

I also tried changing my communication style—sometimes polite, sometimes sharp, to see how my opponent's reaction would change.

Once, I intentionally got a simple math problem wrong to see if the teacher would point out my mistake objectively or with a slight bias toward the better students.

When I joined the debate club, I not only expressed my opinion, but also deliberately guided the conversation in a direction that was favorable to me, using words and intonation to manipulate how others saw the issue.

All of this was part of my training—a psychological game to understand people better.

I started joining debate clubs, not because I liked it, but because I wanted to practice my ability to persuade.

In society, I learned how to interact with influential people, starting with talking to the senior employees of my family company, listening to their market analysis, learning how they negotiated contracts.

I even tried going to a few business events with my parents, quietly observing everything that was going on around me.

One time, I deliberately tried negotiating with a sales person in a shopping mall to see how much I could get them to lower the price with just words.

I began to learn how to use my eyes, gestures, and words to control the situation. Not with magic, but with my own communication skills.

I was no longer a Kazuki who only knew magic—I would become a Kazuki who could stand firm anywhere, not only with his strength, but also with his intelligence and acumen.

This was not just a small change.

This was the first step towards me becoming a truly strong person.

P/s: My grandfather just passed away so my family is in mourning. Sorry for the delay in writing.