Mourning Wood Game

Claude was now heading towards Mourn Wood Village but this time at his own pace.

"System, what games are famous in Mourn Wood Village?"

[There are simple card games, sword duels and the most famous one which the village is known for the "Mourning Wood Game"]

"Mourning Wood Game? Could you please elaborate? I need to think like 'Blank' right now! God that feels so awesome to say!" Being a die-hard fan, Claude knew everything there was to know about the anime and even tried to change his name to Blank but luckily failed.

Remember, although Claude Zero was a die-hard fan he would be nothing less of a genius! Actually being compared to the intellect of both Sora and Shiro.

[Mourning Wood Game- Two people are given the same materials to burn an equal piece of wood. The first person to completely burn the wood into ashes wins]

"Hehehe! I wanna play that game! Seems like its easy to win!" A gigantic smirk appeared on Claude's face as he knew how he could win before it even started.

"System! My first skill is --" With this skill, he was bound to win whatever the situation may be.

[Understood]

Upon arriving at Mourn Wood Village, he was basically ignored by everyone as they thought it was just another passerby. Claude surveyed the area and where there would be the most people. After a while, he stood on top a crate shouting, "Does anyone want to play the Mourning Wood Game?" With a gigantic smile on his face, it was as if he was confident that he was going to win.

The nearby pedestrians' eyes widened as they all looked at Claude with surprise. Does this kid want to die early? Doesn't he know that it was a very dangerous game? Murmuring could be heard before Claude's challenge.

"Kid! You don't even have anything that looks valuable! You better quit it unless you wager your rights!" A smug man along the spectators scoffed at Claude's challenge.

"Is that all? Fine! All I ask in return is a few coins!" Claude's expression didn't change at all.

"Are you out of your mind?"

"Kid, come down before someone actually takes your challenge."

"Don't be stupid! Risking your own life just for a few coins? Here I am willing to give you a few coins!"

All the spectator knew that this game was rigged by a certain person so that they would win every time but it was according to the rules so they had no right to say that that person was cheating.

"Hey! Kid! I accept your challenge!" An ugly man with a hunched back yelled from behind.

"It's him!" Quite a few people were starting to sweat as they backed off.

"Did you hear my requirements to challenge me? Which were a few coins in terms of my perspective if I win and my life if I lose!" Claude was starting to get suspicious at this particular man as everyone in the crowd's expressions started to change the moment he arrived.

"Yes! Yes! So we will play the Mourning Wood Game! Alright?" The ugly man then started slobbering as he spoke. "I will explain the rules:"

1. There will only be 2 participants.

2. Both participants will receive the same wood of equal size.

3. Both participants will be given materials and only those at hand could be used in burning the wood.

4. No one is allowed to interfere with the participants, and no participant may directly influence the other.

5. Once the game starts, the participants may not leave 5 meters from the wood.

"Yes, the rules are pretty lenient to say the least!" Claude's smile wasn't warm anymore rather is was devious and as wicked as the devil. Like how a person fell into a trap, Claude was devious as he knew the moment this ugly man accepted it was his fate that was sealed.

The ugly man then signaled Claude to follow him, the spectators then also went and followed to try and cheer up and the young man when he would inevitably lose.

The man took 2 pieces of wood and Claude instantly knew why the other spectators were wary. He saw through the trick of the ugly man and just snickered as he knew that even with this he would still undoubtedly win without question.

Claude and the ugly were both given the same materials: 2 pieces of rock, some dry leaves, kindling, and a stick. This was a pretty primitive way to make a fire. When it was signaled to start, the ugly man and Claude immediately tried to create a spark to create a fire. Claude was very knowledgeable in this as he was a genius.

The ugly man was not far behind but he still had a snickering expression the same as Claude. The only difference was that Claude knew the ugly man's trick while not vice versa.

Claude was the first one to light up the piece of wood as he executed the spark and proper process swiftly without mistake. The both of them were still snickering like idiots. The spectators saw the entire scene and actually thought in their minds that what kind of scene was this?

Not long after Claude started to burn his wood, the ugly man jumped and immediately set his wood on fire. The difference was that the ugly man's wood burned faster than Claude's. Still, they were both snickering and when the ugly man noticed this he saw something in Claude's hand. It was something that the modern world would call a lighter.

At this point, it was only Claude snickering as he kept the lighter under his piece of wood making it burn faster than before. The ugly man was shocked and shouted, "Hey! That is not fair! That's chea--" but he immediately stopped and thought about it. He saw the item in Claude's hand be seen by everyone but it wasn't counted as cheating.

"Cheating? Pfft! HAHAHAHAHA! Please, enlighten me! I don't understand how in God's name I am cheating!" Claude looked no different from the devil as he said this.

Thinking back to the rules number 3 in particular:

1. There will only be 2 participants.

2. Both participants will receive the same wood of equal size.

3. Both participants will be given materials and only those at hand could be used in burning the wood.

4. No one is allowed to interfere with the participants, and no participant may directly influence the other.

5. Once the game starts, the participants may not leave 5 meters from the wood.

"Rule 3: Both participants will be given materials and only those at hand could be used in burning the wood. It never said anything about not being allowed to bring your own items! Idiot! Trash! HAHAHA!" Claude didn't hold back his laughter as such a simple-minded game could be won with both hands behind his back.

"You! You devil! Finding such flaws in the game how could such an insolent lad be allowed to live?" The ugly man retorted.

"Haaaaa? You dare scold me about finding flaws? HAHAAHAAHA! What the hell? HAHAHAHAHA! Come on! This is just too funny! Such a hypocritical idiot spouting such idiocy." Claude's evil grin kept on getting bigger and bigger as he kept on talking.

"Huh? What did I do? As you can see I play by the rules unlike you! Hmph!" The ugly man at this point was extremely angry and nervous at the same time. What if this kid actually knew that he had been finding flaws within the rules and used that against the people in the village.

"Oh man! That was hilarious! Now, everyone let me explain to you why this ugly bastard's wood always burns faster!" Claude created two identical pieces of wood out of thin air which shocked everyone present. The two identical pieces of wood were burned at the same time.

When the wood was ignited one was burning faster than the other, "You see, the one that burns faster was actually dry and the wood you have was still moist so this ugly bastard's been using a flaw in the rules to screw everyone here! Well then, how would you now respond?" Claude looked at the ugly man and the latter's heart froze.

He thought about this trick for a very long time and just realized this not long ago while doing his job but this kid from nowhere knew the secret he had. That explains one thing but the other thing was that he also used a flaw in the rules which the ugly mang pointed out.

"Since you also found a flaw in the rules and I am very nice so let's call this a draw! If you don't mind I will be going since--" The ugly man started to go but was stopped by Claude.

"So you forfeit? Also, the flaw in the rules don't matter in the game so either win or lose your move! Then how did you win all those times?"

"Argh! Listen here punk! Let's end this right now! There's no point anymore! Just be grateful that I am letting you off" The ugly man's expression made him even more ugly.

"Letting me off? HAHAHAHAHA! Oh, I don't know..." Claude then took out a saw out of thin air and dispersed the fire then started to cut it. This took him 10 mins to do since he wasn't physically fit at all.

Ha? This brat is actually this dumb? My win! I am almost done in 10 mins while still needs twice the time. "Tsk! I gave you the chance but now you aren't turning back! Win or lose those are the only outcomes here brat!"

"Hahahaha! My god! I can't stop laughing with your idiocy!" Claude then put a mysterious liquid on the wooden pieces which was actually gasoline and burned what he sawed earlier and was burning faster than before.

"W-What?! No! T-This can't be happening!" The ugly man was surprised as Claude only needed one more minute to burn everything into ashes.

"I-I can't take this anymore! YOU ARE CHEATING! BY BREAKING RULE 3!" A sudden thunder appeared out of a clear blue sky that had a voice accompanying it "For accusing false, Kenneth Mawer will now follow pledge 7." The thunder disappeared as fast as it appeared.

[7. The other party that is participating is the only one that could declare 'cheating' and if they are false in accusing the other party they will pay the same punishment as pledge six. But if the cheating was obvious there would be no need.]

"A-a slave? To that brat?!" He knelt on the ground just as the last embers of Claude's wood turned into ashes.

The ugly man looked at Claude but the latter looked at him as if he was merely a bug that was not even worth stepping on.

The scene that unfolded in front of them already left them speechless but one managed to voice out his concern, "How did you make things appear out of nowhere?"

Claude glanced at them and simply smiled, "It's. A. Secret."