episode_0009

It’s difficult to become friends with people. It is a bit more difficult if you are of the opposite sex rather than the same sex. And it’s even more difficult when you’re the daughter of a powerful person like me who can be erased with a single wave of your hand.

Crucially, it goes without saying that she spends most of her time with spirits instead of people.

But all of that can be handled simply by including just one premise.

It’s a board game.

‘Board games are gods and invincible.’

I’m not blindly believing in board games for no reason. Because I have had the experience of resolving several of life’s challenges through board games.

Even though I had no friends in high school and was at risk of being bullied, I made friends by playing board games I brought from home.

Even during a group project in college, we neutralized the awkwardness between us with a board game.

Even on our first blind date, we were able to maintain a friendly atmosphere by going to a board game cafe. In the end, it was a difference.

And in the military, instead of spreading board games to senior officers and getting them excited, they made fun of them by playing board games with them.

When I was in college, I had several board games in my bag instead of textbooks, and instead of playing RPG or AOS games on my laptop, I played online board games.

Board game, my light. Board game, my salt.

Board games, my eternity.

Anyway, as long as we played board games together, I was confident that we would become friends with whoever the other person was.

[Growl.]

[Sigh.]

“… … … Hey, guys?”

okay.

That is, if you play the game.

‘What is this?’

The princess’s room, said to be so loved by the spirits, was located in one of the ducal castle’s spiers.

The Duke’s castle has four spires, and it seems that each spire is home to one of the duke’s children, but now the princess is the only one left in the castle.

Even though it was a spire, it was clearly a ducal castle and was neatly maintained as it was the place where a princess lived.

[growl.]

There was something blocking the entrance to the spire. therefore… … It was a tiger made of water.

Is this the spirit I only heard about?

I knew that it was a life form made of pure elements, but seeing it in front of my eyes like this was quite unusual.

The body, legs, and head are made of water and droplets fall, but the size of the body does not decrease. Although there is clearly nothing other than water, the color of the water is changed or the shade is deepened to express eyes, patterns, and shapes.

It was so big that it seemed like it could swallow me and drown me at any moment.

At first glance, it was a monster that could crush even an average knight, but it wasn’t just one monster.

[Sigh.]

The tiger is making a roar, but it is making the sound of its hooves.

Next to the tiger, also guarding the entrance to the spire was a horse made of wind.

So of course it shouldn’t be visible to the eye, but unusually, the wind itself is light green and takes on its own shape as it swirls. It’s a bonus to change the color of the wind like a tiger and make it look like a horse.

A water tiger and a wind horse.

It was obvious why these things were blocking the entrance to the spire.

“Do you understand what people are saying? Do you understand?”

[growl.]

“Am I your princess now? What do you call a spiritist? Anyway, I have to play some board games with him. So, will you please get out of the way?”

[Sigh.]

Oh my, I’m not getting out of the way.

Is this preventing spirits from entering the spire of their own accord, or did the princess order the spirits to do this?

I wouldn’t be able to force my way in because I think the tiger’s water teeth and the horse’s wind hooves could easily crush an ordinary person.

I prepared several games other than Kyle Gali, but I couldn’t even see the princess, let alone play games with her.

As the standoff continued, I heard someone approaching the entrance to the spire.

“… … Your Excellency the Duke?”

“As expected… … Just as expected.”

Duke Nicholas, who walked alone without any attendant, shook his head.

It was as if even a brief moment of anticipation had been shattered, and I don’t know why, but the fierce look in my eyes had disappeared.

“You can’t even enter the spire. In the end, Kyle Galli is Kyle Galli and the creator is different… … .”

“Excuse me, but Your Excellency, can’t you come in too?”

“It’s been like that for over 3 years.”

No then.

The princess really only spends time with spirits in that spire… … ?

“How do you eat?”

“Meals and daily necessities are taken by spirits periodically. I remember seeing my daughter’s face and the time I came out of that spire a long time ago.”

“… … How did this happen?”

I didn’t listen closely earlier, but does it make sense that no matter how much the spirit loves me, I don’t even meet my family?

I don’t know if the spirits were blocking the princess’s desire to meet, but the duke’s words contained the nuance that the princess herself was rejecting other people.

The duke, who had been looking at me, soon looked up at the top of the spire with a bitter face.

“My daughter… … Lacia was hurt more than I thought. Gradually, I started to lose trust in people and only talked to spirits.”

“What do you want to say… … … You don’t have one.”

“I hope you understand. After all, aren’t you an outsider? It’s impossible to tell everything about the duke’s secret circumstances.”

“Even though the distance between you and the princess is only getting further away?”

“… … Yes.”

Even after trying it once, the duke’s attitude was stubborn. And beyond that, his eyes were deeply sunken.

It took some courage to say it, but the Duke seemed to take it for granted.

Even though he knew that the situation was going wrong, the duke did not go any deeper, using the excuse of being an outsider.

“It’s good to go back.”

“Yes?”

“The spirits rejected you, so there is no hope anyway. You can go back as long as you promise to keep it secret. Of course, we will also provide some compensation. Thank you for accommodating my whims.”

“… … … … .”

“If you want, you can stay a little longer in the duchy or castle. I’ll give you everything you want… … … .”

The back of the Duke as he says that and turns away.

He was depressed, unbecoming of a person with omnipotent power.

[…] … … Grumble.]

[Dag… … … Shut up.]

The spirits also, unlike me, just make noises helplessly as they watch the peacock run.

After staring helplessly at the Duke’s receding figure, he turned his head to the spirits.

“… … See you next time.”

[growl.]

[Sigh.]

so that.

I also left with just those words and left.

Promising the next time someday.

*

[…] … Ugh… … … Rung?]

[…] … … Shut up.]

Ding.

“No, that’s not it? Press it when there are five shapes. You guys know that you have to be good at Kyle Gali to be able to play with the princess, right? Are you feeling sad these days because you lost the seat next to you? Let’s try again.”

“… … … Hey, what are you doing now?”

“Ah, Your Excellency the Duke. Good morning.”

next day.

The duke, who had been walking alone to see the spire as usual, stopped.

A place where there should be no one except the spirits and dukes who originally block the spire.

Kyle Byron was playing a board game.

… … That too with spirits.

“Okay, is that a waterproof card? Just touch it and turn it over. It only looks like a front paw and is made of water, so you can do that, right?”

[growl.]

“You didn’t ignore it? Actually, this is what I’m really worried about. Isn’t that right? Can you pick up cards with hooves made of wind?”

[Ur… … Rung?]

[Shut up!]

“… … Does this work?”

Are you crazy?

Duke Nicholas, who was seriously thinking about Kyle Byron’s mental state for a moment, soon sighed.

“You, whatever you try to do is meaningless. I’d rather just go back.”

“Your Excellency the Duke, do you know that? I am confident.”

“… … What?”

“I am confident that once I meet the Princess, I can become closer to her through board games. But aren’t the spirits blocking the entrance and preventing us from meeting the princess?”

“Okay… … However.”

“Then the priority would be to become friends with the spirits. Similarly, through board games.”

It’s clear he’s turned around.

I was wondering whether I should send William a letter of apology and a competent doctor.

From far away, Kyle Byron’s exclusive maid came running toward the spire.

‘It just worked out.’

As you can see right away, your master has become a bit strange, so take him away──

“Do, master! Ma, I brought the extra card you mentioned… … !!”

“Thank you, Sally. Ah, this is my exclusive maid, Sally. Greetings.”

[Rung.]

[Sigh.]

“Ah? yes yes. This is Sally… … ?”

“Anyway, thank you. I’m going to play a game with them and then go back later. Do you want to look at the castle?”

“Well, I want to play a game with you too!”

“Is that so? Can I include Sally too?”

[Growl… … … .]

[Dag-dag-daq.]

[Ureung?]

[Not really.]

[Growl, growl.]

“They say the game is okay. Sally, take the card too.”

“Yes!!”

“… … … … … .”

The owner said he was the servant.

Even the dedicated maid, who had no reservations about playing a board game with spirits, sits next to Kyle Byron and participates in the game.

Duke Nicholas, who was looking at Kyle who seemed to be genuinely trying to play a board game, immediately shook his head.

“It won’t last long anyway… … … .”

In any case, he was a guest invited by the duke himself. Since we can’t force them out, they’ll just get tired of their jobs.

Becoming friends with spirits through a board game, what is this if not the idea of a madman?

The duke looked up for a moment at the top of the spire where his daughter would be, then turned around.

Just come back tomorrow. There will be no Kyle Byron by then.

Chop rock.

To the ears of the returning duke.

The only sound was the sound of cards being flipped.

*

Another day.

“Please, please, please… … !!”

[Ugh, ur, ur… … … Rung!!]

Ding!

“Ah! I lost again! Hey you! Can I make another water leg out of my body? I have to maintain my tiger appearance!!”

[growl… … … .]

“Look at how arrogant this kid has become? Hey, don’t you think so too? You’re the wind, so even if you’re like her, it’s hard to ring the bell!”

[Dag, dag dag! All at once!!]

[Growl~]

“One more round! If I win this time, I will take a step back into the spire… … !!”

[Rung!]

[Shut up!]

“… … … Huh?”

*

Again the next day.

“But I suddenly became curious. Which of you two is better at Kyle Galli?”

[Ureung?]

[Quarantine?]

“That’s right, right? You guys also improved your skills to the point where you were much better than me in just two days. Now, since I’m an ordinary person, I’m definitely in last place, but you two keep going back and forth. Do you know who has won more so far?”

[…] … … … … .]

[…] … … Shut up.]

“Wrong, the tiger won twice more. Can you stay in second place like this? I heard that your skills improved so much here that you even received attention when you played with the princess? Are you going to live like this, being second in line to that guy?”

[All, Dag. All right… … !!]

“Right? How about fighting fair and square like a spirit? Are you a tiger?”

[growl!]

“It’s hearty and good. Then proceed with special house rules. I’ll be the referee for a moment and you two will play using the spirit-specific rules I created. Are you ready?”

[Dag, shut up!]

[Growl!]

“Okay, let’s start!”

“… … … … … … .”

*

and.

[Grrr, growl!]

[Shut up! Shut up!]

“Ah… … I have to go back today, so even if I say that, I don’t think I can hang out with you guys anymore. Now you two can do it without me, right?”

[growl… … … .]

[All right… … .]

“It’s not fun if it’s just the two of you, and other spirits are too bad at it? It’s an honor for people to tell me that it’s only fun if I participate, but I can’t help it. I stayed there to meet the princess, but in the end I couldn’t even enter the spire… … … .”

[…] … … Grumble?]

“What? No, no, no. Your role is to prevent outsiders from entering, right? If I go in, the princess might get angry.”

[Dag-dak, dag-dak!]

“Just up to the door? Is it okay to talk to the princess through the door there? Is it true?”

[growl… … .]

[Shut up! Tap, tap, tap!]

[Grrr, growl! Growling!]

[Shut up!]

“You guys, you went that far for me… … ! I guess this is what a good friend is like! Then, princess, meet tomorrow and let’s hang out all night long today!”

[growl!]

[Shut up!]

“Do, master! Sis, I’ve prepared a meal for you!”

“Bob is here! Let’s eat first!”

[Urrung~]

[Talk~]

“… … … … What is this?”

*

It’s been a week since Kyle Byron arrived at Everts Castle.

Finally, this morning he entered the spire with the two spirits.

“… … … … .”

And Duke Nicholas could only stare blankly at the back.

The Spire let Kyle Byron in, though.

… … Duke Nicholas was still refusing.