"Why are you here Tet?"

"Why is that any way to treat an old friend?"

"Friend? No, you are simply the only god from your world that has reached our level."

"Aww, but you remembered my name, you're the only one that does."

"Tet I swear to me if you don't leave you'll regret it!"

"Oh come on, X, I came here for a reason. How is your work with your new prophet doing?"

"HE- Or she now. Is not my Prophet!"

"But you are putting in all this effort to make her have faith, specifically in you."

"Exactly, if I can make even the most stubborn of non-believers have faith then that means I can ensure everyone does."

"Yeah, but you're going about this the wrong way, maybe if you had more fun she would come around."

"Please, unlike you boy I don't want to play games with those I talk to."

"Could have fooled me, you might be the biggest sore loser out of all of us. And you know how much of a sore loser I can be! even if it's only happened once."

"I have the power to crush you like an insect Tet!"

the smaller god touched his cheeks, "But you won't, you like me too much X."

"Gah! You never answered my question you living headache, why are you here?!"

"Oh, well, Since your little 'experiment' is not going to plan, I have another idea."

"And what is that?"

"First X, let's play a game, if I win, you have to agree to my idea!"

Tanya Von Degurechaff walked back towards the base, having gotten her coffee on a rare day off. She sighed heavily as her battalion had finally gotten some time away from the front lines but for how long? She knew it was likely they would be sent out again soon.

Their enemies were nowhere close to suing for peace even as many of their lands remained occupied and as many battles as they were losing.

And it seemed her constant perfect work kept her from her dream of working from a safe place on the back or homefront. Her titles such as Aces of Aces, White Silver, and Eleventh Goddess were great for prestige but they also kept the expectations of her from the brass high.

And so she was stuck here waiting for the inevitable call back to any of the Empire's current fronts. All While making sure her battalion remained in tip-top shape. Even her more reliable Soldiers like Weiss and Viktoriya had to have kept on them, lest they get drunk or worse.

At least Viktoriya was one of the few people she could rely on for more than just doing orders, Tanya actually likes the coffee that Viktoriya makes the most but today Viktoriya had other duties so she was unable to make any.

"Tch, and then there is that self-proclaimed god." Tanya cursed him a million times under her breath, Being X was bound to make things difficult for her once they were redeployed as well. Maybe mess with their magic somehow, maybe double the size of the enemy forces mid-battle and out of nowhere, or maybe have that Sue brat be there again.

Maybe she could try to get Lieutenant Rerugen to extend their off time or send them on a less risky mission, he seemed to be understanding and, at least in her eyes, had helped her and her battalion out before.

As Tanya racked her brain to think of how to talk to him about it she heard a 'psst' sound.

"Hm?" She looked over and saw some kid motioning her over to an alley. Of course, Tanya was not going to fall for that, he was likely an orphan due to the war and was trying to lure her in to rob her. Sure in her new life, she too was an orphan of war and was still technically a kid even if she still had her memories and mindset of a thirty-plus-year-old man.

Tanya tried to ignore her but the moment she moved forward the boy was right in front of her, "huh?"

"Hi there! Could not help but notice your rather rude attempt to ignore me. Do soldiers not have time for their citizens these days?"

Now that he was right in front of her she got a better look at the boy, He was wearing raggedy clothes with patch all over it, a half-torn scarf around his neck, shoes with holes in them, and a smudge on his right cheek. A poor orphan if there ever was one. But he also looked odd, his hat looked out of place, with a checkerboard design on the rim with red and black around it and a clover shape on the sides. His eyes were multi-colored and maybe she was seeing things but it looked like his right pupil had a diamond shape in it and his left pupil had a spade shade in it. Something else felt off about this boy but she could not tell what it was just yet.

"Look, kid-"

"You're a kid as well."

"I am- well- yes, but that is not the point. I am very busy right now, I have stuff I need to sign and only have so much time before my coffee break is over okay?"

"Wow Miss Devil of the Rhine, you sure are busy for a kid for sure. How boring that must be!"

Tanya nearly choked as hearing another kid call her 'Devil of the Rhine' reminded her of just how far she had come in this war. Also because it was odd hearing a kid call her that, at least one that was not a soldier!

"Yes, yes, very boring now if you will excuse me-"

"Want to play a game with me?"

"Hah," Tanya chuckled, "I don't have time for games." She cannot remember when was the last time she played a game of any kind, her childhood in her old life was likely the last time a toy or a game had been used by her(him) to pass the time.

"But you do, you said you only have so much time before your coffee break is over. So you have time!" The boy stuck his tongue out at her like he was teasing her by using her own words against her.

A vein popped on Tanya's neck, 'this kid' she grumbled and walked past him. But she stopped just at the edge of the alley where it met a building. Her eyes briefly shined, there was magic in front of her. Behind her as well at the other edge of the alley. She looked over at the people on the other side of the magic wall, none of them even noticed it, even the soldiers.

She slowly looked over at the Boy who was lounging backward with his arms behind his head, "Being X? Is this your next move?"

The boy looked confused, "Being...X?" he gasped, "Oh I heard soldiers often get mad after being near death for so long, So young and yet already crazy. So sad."

"I AM NOT CRAZY!" Tanya's sneer seemed to make the boy look worried.

Tanya could not tell if this boy was another ploy by being X or just someone with a high aptitude for magic, even able to use it without an operation orb and other objects she normally needed herself.

"...This game, what would you have it be?"

"Normally I go for chess." The boy lifted a folded-up box, it looked old and was likely a chess board, "But I also have cards if you want a game that relies more on chance."

Tanya stared at the boy for a bit, "Fine, however." A large grin appeared on her face. "If I win, you have to take a certain magic test, if you pass you have to join the army."

The boy laughed a little.

"What is so funny?"

"Oh nothing, just your smile reminds me of someone else, one of only two people who have beaten me before. Maybe that means you will be the third."

This kid's overconfidence reminded her once again of Being X and it only served to increase her motivation to beat him. That and she has figured it out, if she can make this magic prodigy join the ranks of the army she can turn all attention on to him as the famous young soldier of the army, and with her reputation, she can secure a more strategic planning position and stay safe from the front lines. She may even be able to do this if she wins, his unique face would make him easy to identify if she reported she found someone with high magic to her superiors, The empire is always in need of new mages especially ones like this boy.

They moved further into the alley where a somewhat ruined table and stools waited for them, Tanya thought this boy might be a grifter, once again if he was desperate for money she could maybe convince him to join if she lost as well. So many options.

"So what will it be? Chess? or a card game?"

Tanya thought about it. Any card game left him a better chance at cheating, but his offering chess was probably part of his grift. People underestimate him because he is a poor orphan boy only to be beaten by said poor orphan boy, he has likely been playing his whole life as little as that likely has been. So either she risks a chance and him cheating, or She risks him outsmarting her.

She grinned again, "Let's play war."

The boy nodded, "Oh fitting!"

He took out his cards, they also looked odd, because of a chessboard design on the back of them, but regardless they were all the same. Including Joker cards

"Joker cards?" Tanya said inquisitively.

"Oh right, sorry I normally prefer to play with those as well. I have my own variant, as I find the rule of them just being higher than aces to not be as fun."

"Oh? and is that?"

"The Joker cards lose to all cards except 2 but if they are played during a war all cards played don't return to the hand of either player, they remain unused until either another war starts or one player loses all of their cards. If Joker is also played during the second war and is not against an ace, they take all cards played and all cards left after the previous Joker was played."

Tanya was a little surprised, "You seem...to be a little too creative." She was starting to wonder what this boy really was if he was not Being X, there was another possibility he was a reincarnation like her but she would rather avoid being called crazy again, at least until after she had won. "But I like that idea, I will agree to your little house rule."

The boy smiled, "Why thank you miss Devil of the Rhine."

Tanya sighed, "Just call me Tanya for now it will get annoying if you keep using titles over and over again."

"Oh okay, then you can call me Tet!"

The game began, and both of them shuffled before splitting the cards into separate stacks of 27.

The first cards played with Tet, with a two and a four being played. Next was Tanya's win, with a five and then another two. It switched off for a little bit, with the occasional two or three wins in a row by both players. After a little while, Tet was in the lead by four cards. It had been hours meaning Tanya was totally going to get some words from the generals later, but hopefully, if she beats Tet and brings him before them it will make up for it.

'I have to turn this around.' She had thought of using magic but if He is a prodigy with magic he may already see that coming. Plus she did not have to, she already figured him out, Aside from remembering each card he played and won Tanya was sure he had an order to how he played his cards, she just had to predict something and force him into a war.

Her prediction was correct, she thought he was mostly likely to play a five because he was in the lead, it was high enough that he could still win a card but low enough that if he lost he would still be a couple of cards to his advantage.

Both of them played a five-card at the same time, "WAR!" Tet shouted enthusiastically.

Both place a card face down and one card face up, miraculously both of them played a ten and two cards, once again making the war continue, tying once again this time with their queens! and then their kings and and nine cards as well, until eventually the war had been played for multiple rounds, and that was when Tet threw in his curve ball. He played his Joker card.

Tanya's eyes widen, the house rule!

"either of us could have played it earlier but I think we both knew that the Joker's true strength came from the war part. Neither of us gets the cards, meaning unless a second war happens, I think I have this in the bag." Tet's confidence was not unfounded, with all played cards set aside, He had eight cards left. Tanya only had six cards left.

'playing the Joker card during the first war does not make much sense since you could lose all your cards as well. But he did not care about that, in fact, that was his plan all along. To make me think a war was the only option I had and then take away my chance at victory.'

they played two more rounds, and Tanya lost both leaving her at just four cards. Tet was so close to victory.

"You know, for someone about to lose, your scary devilish grin tells me you're quite happy."

Tanya never even noticed she felt her face, she was happy, happy because even now she was sure she could win. This was war, even if it was not the hellscape of death and destruction she had gotten accustomed to, she still felt she had to win. She still had her Joker Card, all she needed was to get into war again. However even though that had risks, Tet still had his ace cards which would end that if he played it when she played her joker.

"Tet."

"Yes, Tanya?"

"I am only going to play one of two cards."

Tet seemed surprised as his smile dropped for the first time this entire game.

"My Ace. And my Jack."

Tanya knew Tet was smart enough like her to know what cards she had left, at least if he had been keeping track of all the cards played and exchanged. And the Cards are left to the side. Both cards were high to be able to take any of his cards, unless he played an ace to beat her jack, or used a jack to her jack. If he played his jack against her ace, he would lose it as well. neither of them had a queen or a king remaining. Tet held the advantage in number cards but he knew she would not play her joker card now, and left her one numbered card to be unplayed.

Both of them picked up their cards, and placed them down, each playing their Aces.

"War" Tanya says menacingly. He played his ace because that was exactly what she would do, with the choices she gave it forced his hand to only play the ace. At worst, he goes to war, and at best he gains a jack, it was the best option.

Tet smiled back, "Indeed." both of them placed a card face down, Tet could do nothing to stop it, as he placed down a random number card against her joker, preferring to keep his jack. Tanya got all played cards and the cards were kept to the side from the last war. Leaving Tet with only seven versus the rest of the entire deck.

"I can still turn this around with seven cards Tanya, so don't think you've won just yet."

"Tet, let's make a second bet." she lifted a card, "if I win, you have to tell me who or what you are."

"adding to it huh? no fair." Tet's cheeks puffed out a bit, "But fine, in that case, if I win, you have to resign from the army." He quickly turned his back on her.

Tanya could laugh, as if the Empire would let her go that easily, she could be executed even from leaving the army. But she knew she could win.

"Fine, I agree."

it took several more rounds and one last war before the game was finished, leaving Tanya as the victor.

"Gah! That went on for way too long, I can feel cramps from the lack of support the whole time as well." Tanya rubbed her shoulder and winced a little.

"Still hah, I win!"

"And I bet you had fun as well!" Tet smiled widely.

"Yeah, I-" Tanya quickly cleared her throat, "No this was all for business. Now would you prefer to come with me now to get tested or would you want me to come get you tomorrow?"

"Test? Oh I don't think I will be doing that, violence is not really my thing." Tet smiled cheekily at Tanya whose smile dropped to a galled look.

"But you, lost don't remember what I-"

"I don't remember ever agreeing to that. The only deal I remember agreeing to was the one of me revealing who or what I am, and the reverse of if I win you resigning from the army."

Tanya gritted her teeth, "I would suggest you come with me anyways because-"

Tet held a finger up to Tanya, "Don't bother, I am in no need of money nor Am I threatened by the Empire hunting me down. Why would I?" A knowing goblin-like smile was seen off the boy, "After all, I am a god."

Tanya would have reached for her rifle if it was on her at the moment, she could still use some magic though, "So are you Being X or another eternal annoying stain that wants my faith?"

"Ohho, I think I get why X wants you to follow him so badly. Yes and no, I am a god-like X, but I am not desperate for your faith. I already have plenty of believers as both the god of play and the one true god of my world. Tet!" He snapped his fingers and suddenly Tet was wearing far more colorful clothes, still coming off as boyish she believed even less that Tet was a god than Being X.

"God of play? seriously?" She lifted up an eyebrow and rubbed her forehead, "Wasted all this time for nothing."

"Was it? Say, was my deal of you leaving the army so bad?" Tet floated upward, "What if I told you In my world, everything and the fate of everyone was decided solely by games and not with war. No death or misery, at least so long as you don't lose."

Tanya stared at Tet she said nothing but also did not leave.

"And! Since I would be taking you from this world, you would be the only human with magic in my world. Talk about possibilities am I right?"

Tanya chuckled and pointed at Tet, "You think I would believe you? Why don't you run along to that pathetic Being X and tell him his plan failed once again. Tell him he can fuck himself as well. Goodbye."

"But Tanya, if there was such a world, would you not like to live in it?"

Tanya shrugged, "If such a world were to exist, I probably would still hate it. Maybe if I could still challenge worthess self-proclaimed gods I would find it more interesting. It certainly sounds safer than here as well, so I suppose I would like to live in it. but like I said, I am not buying it."

Tet giggled a little, "That was all I needed to hear."

Suddenly the floor beneath Tanya became pure white, and similar pure walls of white surrounded her and a ceiling as well, "What the hell are you doooopooooooooooooooing?!" The entire room opened up and suddenly Tanya was falling from space towards a planet, the more she fell the more she saw large chess pieces.

Water formed in her eyes due to the rush of air coming over her face.

"Like I said, I am the god of play, so listen closely as this world has ten commandments everyone must follow."

Tanya held her hand out wide and a circle of mana appeared in front of it, she was pissed beyond all hell at Tet. She fired focused magic from her fingertips but Tet easily dodged it,

"Rule 1: All Murder, War, and Robbery are forbidden in this world.

Rule 2: All Conflicts in this world must be solved through games!"

Tet ducked out of the way of two more blasts. But he could tell Tanya was still listening, she basically had to since she was focused on him while falling towards the earth of his planet.

"Rule 3: In games, each player will bet something that they each agree is of equal value.

Rule 4: As long as it doesn't violate pledge three, anything may be bet, and any game may be played.

Rule 5: The challenged party has the right to decide the rules of the game."

Tet flipped out of the way of Tanya's next blast, floating above her while he continued to speak.

"Rule 6: Any bets made in accordance with the pledges must be upheld.

Rule 7: Conflicts between groups will be conducted by designated representatives with absolute authority.

Rule 8: Being caught cheating during a game is grounds for an instant loss.

Rule 9: In the name of god, the previous rules may never be changed!"

Tet barely managed to tilt his head out of the way of the last blast.

"Crap the ground!" Tanya was so wrapped up in trying to kill yet another pest of a "diety" that she forgot how close she was getting to the ground. She braced for impact curing herself for not saving magic for protecting herself for the impact.

But she stopped just short of the ground while Tet Held her iron cross. While holding her he said the final rule, "Rule 10: Let's all have fun and play together!"

He dropped Tanya but thankfully she was just inches off the ground so she was safe. She stood up and dusted herself off as she looked at the scenery around her.

"Where the hell am I?" Tanya said as sweat dropped down her head and her eyes shook.

Tet lounged in the and held up two fingers on each hand, "Tanya Von Degurechaff, welcome to Disboard!"