episode_0017

How long has it been since the wizards of Arche Tower heard Kyle Byron’s announcement?

In just three days, the Magic Tower became active in many ways.

Of course, it was meant in a good way.

“Elder, if we make the illusion look like this, wouldn’t it be possible to play Jenga?”

“You tried it out as a fantasy a few times and then tried making it yourself by hand. Jenga is not suitable for fantasy. It’s the most fun game when you try it yourself.”

“Still, it was fun… … … There isn’t much entertainment when you’re in Mapap.”

“Rather than that, I think it would be better to build this ‘magic maze’ on one entire floor. Wouldn’t this be the most effective?”

“Uh, when the producer talked about that, not many people liked it… … … Just the elder’s taste───”

“If someone criticizes you, you should be an elder.”

Seven years of continuous deficit.

At first, only a few people knew about it, but as it continued for several years, everyone was bound to notice.

The Arche Magic Tower was slowly sinking. In order to defeat him, the Olpin Mage Tower made a decision to save the country for him.

In that atmosphere, everyone had something in common.

──Arche’s glory is over.

Even if the deficit is resolved by selling giant board game boards, it will not be okay for several decades, and if a fundamental solution is not found, Magic Tower will inevitably fall into deficit again.

No, will he be able to remain a member of the 6 Great Magic Towers when he sold the symbol of the Magic Tower in the first place to relieve the deficit?

Arche looked like a sinking ship, and naturally the wizards in the tower had no choice but to talk less in the gloomy atmosphere.

It’s different now.

“Vermilie, I know you’re obsessed with this board game called Catan, but to turn it into a fantasy, it’s going to take more than the current maintenance costs. Shouldn’t we avoid additional spending when we don’t know whether we will succeed or not?”

“I know. But Catan is a fantastic game… … ! You know it well because you made it roughly and tried it! A game of monarchs who rule the island! How could I give that up!”

“That’s true, but didn’t the producer also express concern? Putting everything else aside, if one game takes two or three hours, everyone will go back after watching it, let alone the trend.”

“Gun… … ! Now that things are like this, I have no choice but to change the rules!!”

The magic tower, which had been in a state of stagnation, is now busy demonstrating various illusions. There are many people who actually try out the board games Kyle mentioned or try to modify them further.

It would be no exaggeration to say that the 37 board games brought life to the magic tower.

An unknown young man who was considered a fraud suggested as many as 37 board games. All of them are of great quality.

In particular, since there were more than five complex strategy games, the wizards believed that those board games were all that Kyle had come up with in his entire life.

And that means.

“The producer is also amazing. Who would have thought that he would release all of his life’s work for a magic tower that he has never met.”

“But none of them were released on the market. In the end, didn’t you just think about it and use our TOP to implement it yourself?”

“What’s wrong with that? If you save us now, it’s a cheap business. Moreover, you explained all the rules. If any of us steal it and make it, only we will lose, but we talked about it openly.”

“That’s… … … .”

“Regardless of age, he is a capable person. The producer must be younger than you. What did you do back then?”

“You were learning magic under your teacher!”

It was enough to make the wizards of the Magic Tower trust a man named Kyle.

Now, no wizard doubts that Kyle is serious about solving the problem of the Magic Tower.

In particular, Kyle Byron himself, who was called the ‘creator’ and received considerable recognition among the wizards of the tower.

“Tap owner, is it possible to have a more detailed fantasy? Here, the part of the robe with a skull on it… … … .”

“I can do it, but considering that other wizards also need to know how to do it, it’s difficult to get any higher quality than this. And don’t get too close. In the end, it is an application of light and darkness, so if it is covered by shadows, the illusion becomes blurred.”

“Then what about the handwriting? A kind of manual as a fantasy? Can you make something similar?”

“That’s… … I guess it’s possible. However, if there are multiple pages, you will be distracted even if you display them around.”

“Don’t worry. One page is enough.”

… … Because I was engrossed in making a board game for almost three days and nights without rest.

Obviously, the ones who need to be most desperate are the wizards of the Arche Tower, including the Orphin Tower Master, but Kyle was working on it more passionately than anyone else, as if it was his job.

What’s even more surprising is that the escort maid, as if she was used to it, used magic to keep her clean and even brought her meals.

Currently, I am talking with the owner of the Mage Tower, Olpin, but I also exchange opinions with many people, including the Mage Tower’s elders, young wizards, and document managers, to find and research appropriate board games.

And, in all those situations, Adela.

The only thing that was a bit out of place.

“… … … … … .”

I apologized to Kyle right away. I’m sorry that I misunderstood your sincerity. On the contrary, he accepted it as if it was no big deal, which made Adela feel uncomfortable.

But Adela could not go further than that.

While colleagues, seniors, juniors, and teachers all approach Kyle to demonstrate and talk about board games, she just stands silently in the background.

It wasn’t that I was embarrassed or that I didn’t acknowledge Kyle.

Just, she.

“Adella.”

“… … Top owner.”

“Can I sit down for a moment?”

“… … Of course.”

At some point, Olpin Matapju came up next to Adela and sat down on the sofa next to her. Adela also sat along with the owner of the tower.

While the tower owner came next to her, next to Kyle, the elders of the magic tower, Vermely, and several young wizards were gathered together and doing something.

Admiration, sighing, smiles, concern, passion. Voices and actions filled with various emotions come into her sight.

The moment Adela, who was just looking at the crowded scene, lowered her head slightly.

“Don’t you like it?”

“… … … Yes?”

“Kyle Byron.”

“What am I.”

“You can be honest.”

“… … … … … .”

Olpin Matapju smiled generously as always.

The smile I’ve seen since I was young.

Adela.

“… … … Yes.”

“Do you know the reason?”

“… … no. I’m fine too… … I don’t know.”

just.

I just don’t like it.

I overreacted when they first showed me to the guest room.

He also proved his abilities in front of the wizards of the Magic Tower.

And that figure that monopolizes everyone’s attention.

I just don’t like it.

Adela hated Kyle without knowing why.

“I think I know why.”

“… … Are you sure?”

“You are jealous.”

“Jealousy… … … ?”

“Jealousy over having their home and family taken away. I want you… … It’s a feeling that I wasn’t aware of because I was raised wrongly.”

“Absolutely not. The owner of the tower calls me──”

“I raised you to be a great wizard, but I couldn’t raise you to be an ordinary child.”

Sreuk.

Olpin Matapju took out a photo from his arms and smiled sadly.

His face was a mixture of regret and an unknown emotion.

“Do you know why I joined Kyle Byron’s plan?”

“… … Isn’t it because the owner of the tower really likes his board game?”

That too, for over 13 hours. Was there any other reason than that?

Olpin Mage Tower, who was at a loss for words for a moment, cleared his throat for a moment.

“Hmm. hmm… … … okay. That’s also true. But I lived a long time and traveled all over the world. Currently, there is only one board game that is used throughout the entire empire, but if you go to certain regions or rural areas, they have their own games. If I wanted to, I could have brought them instead of Kyle Byron’s board game.”

“… … … But.”

“But I chose Kyle Byron. that… … … It’s because he is a shining person.”

“Shiny, person?”

It shines.

After hearing those words, Adela turned her head to look at Kyle, but he wasn’t particularly shining.

What on earth is the tower owner talking about?

He looked at the Orpin Mage Tower again with such doubts, but he was regretting her very actions.

“Adela, you are too mechanical. That’s an admirable quality for a wizard, but… … It wasn’t something a child who had just turned 20 should have.”

“… … … … … .”

“So it was Kyle Byron. He was a young man who poured everything into what he liked.”

Adela is a child, but Kyle is a young man.

Where does that minor difference come from? No matter how much Adela thought, she couldn’t figure it out.

I just looked at Kyle Byron’s back like an Olfin magic tower owner.

“Adela, is there something you truly like?”

“The revival of the Arche Magic Tower and the spread of its magic.”

“That’s not to say I like it. Goals and likes are different.”

“Other… … Are you afraid?”

“Okay. You still don’t understand… … It might be difficult. After all, it’s my karma.”

Those were vague words. At the same time, it was also something Adela couldn’t understand.

Suddenly, Adela asked the Olpin Mage Tower one thing.

“Taplord, then what is my jealousy?”

“… … … … .”

“Top owner?”

“… … Knowing that would be the first thing.”

“… … … … … .”

“Let’s just go. That young man is almost finished.”

“… … … Yes?”

That moment.

An exclamation escaped from the wizards gathered around Kyle.

“Oh, oh… … This is the tower owner’s fantasy… … !!”

“It’s surprisingly sophisticated. And this tombstone… … ?”

“Now you will gradually understand. Olpin Magic Tower Lord?”

“It’s here.”

Step by step. Step by step.

Olpin’s magic tower stands up and approaches Kyle Byron. Kyle also raised his eyebrows as if he had finished preparing.

“Did you decide on that game?”

“I thought it was the best board game considering various conditions. However, that doesn’t mean you can’t just port it to that huge board game board.”

“You can try demonstrating it. Vermily, Adela.”

“Yes! Tower owner!”

“… … Top owner?”

“The two of you and the producer decide to demonstrate it yourself. However, if you do it on a small scale, variables may arise when the size is increased, so as much as possible… … !!”

thud!

As Olfin Magic Tower Master’s Dragon Heart Staff shook the floor of the tower, an indescribable amount of mana spurted out from his body.

He is higher than any other wizards in the Arche Tower and is one of only eight great wizards in the vast empire.

A great wizard who made even dragons tremble with fear with his illusions of light and darkness.

The great man whose name is engraved in the history of magic casts magic with all his might.

Immediately after, the illusion is established.

Churrraging

The tower is knitted again. The spacious hall completely changes its appearance in an instant.

In the end, it’s just an illusion. It is a deception using the magic of light and darkness, and may be nothing more than a mirage.

Olpin’s magic creates the illusion that reality is distorted.

With a single wave of his hand, Adela and Vermily are forced to become light and move to a designated location, and a tombstone falls from the sky.

I know it’s an illusion. However, the monuments that suddenly fell had a majesty that overwhelmed people just by their sheer size.

And Adela, Vermily, and Kyle board the rising platform and fly into the air.

Five tombstones, roughly 10 meters long, are lined up in front of the players. However, the Player family could not see their own tombstone. Because the back was facing them.

Naturally, Adela was only able to see the tombstones of Vermily and Kyle, excluding her own, and the rest were only able to see the tombstones of the other two.

On the tombstones of other players that Adela, who was barely able to keep her balance, saw.

“… … … Picture?”

A picture representing something is carved into the dull gray tombstone.

A vivid and detailed picture that looks like a wizard causing scorching heat. And the number ‘7’ was engraved in the upper left corner.

After completing the preparations, Kyle, unable to hold back his laughter, opened his mouth with a smile.

“Then, I will tell you the rules now.”

Other wizards floated in the air with their own magic and became spectators, and the Olpin Mage Tower presides over the illusion.

And that moment when Adela and Vermeil’s eyes focused on Kyle.

Kyle raised one hand and shouted with an excited smile.

“Fireball!!”

“… … … ?”

Adela, unable to understand the intention, narrowed her eyes at the sudden shout.

As soon as Kyle finished speaking, something strange happened.

Grumble!

“… … … What?”

As if in response to Kyle’s words, a fireball larger than an average person begins to burn above his hand.

An unbelievable sight, as if an incompetent person who could not even feel mana was using magic, let alone a wizard.

Bermerly was shocked and opened his eyes wide, while Adela was speechless.

“Then, Adella.”

“… … … ?”

“Please receive it.”

“… … … !!”

Scorching flames rush in. A small sun, completely blocking the view, flies towards Adela.

Adela hesitated for a moment. Should I use magic? Is this an attack on me? Is it really a fantasy?

She liked it or hated it, but since it was her first board game, Adella hesitated whether she should see it as a type of game or revenge for last time.

Meanwhile, a fireball engulfed her.

Puhwaaa!!

“… … This is.”

But, of course, she doesn’t get burned. This is ultimately an illusion.

However, the fireball that hit Adela exploded spectacularly as if it were real, completely obscuring her, leaving burning scars in the air and spreading sparks.

Overwhelming and extravagant magic.

Adela was just dumbfounded until the flames eventually disappeared.

and.

“One tombstone… … … ?”

“If you hit the magic in front of you, the tombstone will disappear.”

One of the tombstones in front of Kyle, who shot the fireball, cracks and falls apart.

The collapsed monument is that of a magician who causes flames that Adela had seen.

Kyle laughed as he looked at the tombstone collapsing so vividly that it seemed a bit excessive.

“There are a total of 8 types of magic, and you can find out what magic there is by looking at the manual displayed next to it. The number of magic is limited depending on the level. The ‘fire magic’ I just used is level 7, so there are only 7 tombstones.”

“… … … Manual.”

Suddenly, when I look to the side, I see an illusionary piece of paper floating in the air.

Is this the manual Kyle was talking about?

Adela, scanning the contents with her eyes, stopped at a certain point.

[Fire Magic: The player to your left loses 1 life.]

“That fireball earlier… … .”

Only then did Adela look around more. Five brightly shining spheres were floating on the front railing of the platform.

However, one of them burned down and lost its shine.

It was my first time playing a board game like this, but I could feel it intuitively. Those five are her lives, and one life was lost with the fire magic that Kyle just used.

After checking everything, I looked at Kyle and he immediately spoke.

“Every turn, when it is your turn, you must memorize magic. And if you guess the magic written on the tombstone in front of you like I did.”

“If you get it right… … ?”

“You can choose. Will it stop like this? … … Or should I memorize one more spell!”

Sigh.

Kyle shouted, this time extending his hand towards Vermily.

“Ice Spear!”

“… … Laugh!”

Damn it!

A spear of ice comparable to the fireball from earlier took shape above his head.

Vermily Archon, a leading figure in the Arche Magic Tower and a wizard who once played a board game with Kyle.

Although he was by no means at Olpin’s level, he was a master at illusions, but he couldn’t help but break into a cold sweat as the ice spear was aimed at him.

Anyone would do the same if ice that was sharp enough to easily pierce a person was aimed at them. This would be even more so if it were the illusion of an archmage that Vermilion could not dare to touch.

Just like what happened to Adella, Vermilie steeled herself and said that the ice spear that was coming at her was just an illusion.

Wow───

“… … Huh?”

An ice spear that made an ominous sound.

Not towards Vermeili── towards Kyle himself, who had shouted the spell.

It pierces through.

It was a creepy sight, with a piercing from the back to the stomach, but of course Kyle didn’t vomit blood or anything.

He just looks slightly burdened at the illusion that has penetrated his body.

“Wow, this is wrong.”

“… … … Right! I guessed the magic of the tombstone earlier, but… … !!”

“You are wrong this time. And if I memorize the wrong spell, I have to pay with my life. The person whose vitality is so low is eliminated.”

One of the spheres in front of Kyle freezes. Since it was a wrong spell, his tombstone did not collapse again.

However, when his turn ended, a new tombstone fell, leaving him with 5 again.

“At the end of the turn, the used tombstones are replenished. Of course, it is not created completely new, but one of the remaining magics is taken at random.”

Did it end forcibly because the spell was wrong, or did it end arbitrarily after it was correct?

Once that player’s turn is over, the turn passes to the next player.

“It goes around and around like this. As you can see, the game doesn’t last long. The rules aren’t that complicated, and if you’re confused, you can look at the manual right next to it. Moreover, the uniqueness of memorizing magic is even realized through visual effects through illusion.”

“There may still be some shortcomings and some that need to be corrected. I say this with confidence.”

“This is the board game that is most suitable for the current Arche Magic Tower.”

“A board game that can turn anyone in the world into a wizard, even if just for a moment───”

“ , it is said.”