episode_0031

Archmage.

The envy of all wizards and the dream of children. There are differences among them, but on average, each one is treated as a force equal to or greater than one legion of the empire.

But what is the standard that divides a wizard and an archmage?

There is no god of magic who appoints you as an archmage from today, so the standards for an archmage have always changed depending on the wishes of powerful countries throughout the history of the continent.

There were scammers who called themselves archmages, and the standard for archmages was so low that people called themselves Gaenaso or archmages, and there was a time when the standards were so high that there was not even a single one.

Naturally, the standards of the current era could only be established by an empire that had reigned as hegemon for over 200 years.

There are three standards for a great wizard established by the empire.

First, he would be able to cast great magic alone, which usually requires a gathering of 30 or more high-ranking wizards to even attempt.

Second, make a contribution to contributing to peace on the continent.

Third, his skills must be recognized in front of the emperor of the time.

The first was a widely used standard throughout history, but the second and third were largely conditions for imperial rule.

Although it is said to be peace on the continent, in the current era when empires dominate most of the continent, peace on the continent is the same as peace in the empire.

Asking for recognition in front of the emperor of the time was an outrage that he would not recognize an impure element that could rebel against the empire as a great wizard.

Extremely demanding standards that require not only simple magic skills, but also performance and political skills.

Even though many wizards cried and became frustrated in front of him, in the end, there were eight people who were recognized as great wizards.

Six from the magic tower representing the empire. There is one beggar on the street. And one from the collateral royal family.

Archmages are respected no matter where they go on the continent, are equivalent to marquis-level nobles under imperial law, and considering their influence, even dukes and imperial families cannot treat them carelessly.

“Haha, do I really look old even though I look like a grandfather? Don’t be a rip-off.”

“You heard it, right? How about we take this ice away, ice cream girl?”

“Reflection.”

“No… … .”

“Yes, rainbow reflection.”

“Bitch.”

I was seriously over-engrossed with a few cards and a bell in between.

The office has long since exploded. The decorations and magic books that had been thoroughly cleaned fell out of the tower, and since the entire top floor of the tower was used as the tower owner’s office, it was as if the entire ceiling of the Arche Magic Tower had been completely shattered.

Shisha’s ice swirls, and Stella’s star shines in the sky, turning into a huge snow and pressing down on this place.

However, although anti-magic magic was being used to lightly cover the top floor of the tower, few people on the ground noticed it.

Even those who saw it briefly will soon pass it off as having seen something in vain.

That was an illusion created by the Grand Wizard.

“Your skills are still the same, Olpin. Even if it’s just the top floor, the entire starry sky is covered in illusion… … … .”

“Compared to before, my skills are rusty.”

“I think this is much better than ice magic.”

“… … What I just said, please don’t do that at the Glesia Magic Tower. please. Because it’s nice to see the elders crying.”

Stella, momentarily dizzy at the sight of the Grand Wizard of the Glesia Magic Tower belittling the tower’s ice magic, frowned for a moment.

He then looked down at the table, which had managed to maintain its shape, and continued speaking nervously.

“Anyway, I hope you solve this quickly.”

“What?”

“I mean ice! Oh my goodness, who freezes an entire bell just because they couldn’t press it!?”

“Here.”

“That’s not what you’re saying, you crazy bitch!”

It was just as Stella said. The first few rounds of the game proceeded normally, but because Shisha froze the bell, no one could ring it.

Shisha despised ice magic, but became an archmage through ice magic. Breaking her ice was quite a task, even for an archmage.

The major eruption of Volcano Regulus, which was predicted to wipe out an entire large island and have a tremendous negative impact on the continent.

It was Shisha’s permafrost that froze the boiling lava and volcanic ash and turned it into a tourist attraction.

‘How do I destroy this here?’

Since there was no physical means of interference, Orfin was out of the question, so Stella would have to destroy it.

For Stella, the only way to break this ice is to drop a star.

Of course, Stella couldn’t help but feel anxious, knowing full well that if she did something like that, she could be caught and killed by Orphin right now.

Because no one can ring the bell unless Shisha himself melts it.

“If I can’t press it, no one can press it.”

“What are young people these days… … … .”

“That old lady predicted the card first, right?”

“… … … … … .”

“You should be ashamed. The great prophecy of forcibly rearranging the heavenly bodies is to find out what the next card is? Just use clairvoyance magic.”

“… … This is a card imbued with Olpin’s magic, right? You know that you won’t be able to see through anything other than this level of magic.”

“So you’re saying you did a good job? Are you the one who fouled first?”

“… … … The young rogues are tangled… … .”

The reason why Stella, who should have exploded long ago, ended up just muttering was because she made a mistake first.

Stella Burnision is not blind, even though her eyes are always closed. It’s just that I’m more used to it because I’ve been doing it since I was young.

This was even more so because I was able to see the world as if I had opened my eyes thanks to the magic of the Astron Tower.

However, since it is ultimately seen through magic, the immediate response is slow. Because of this, he had no choice but to continue being toyed with by Olpin and Shisha.

So, I used magic.

By forcibly readjusting the star’s position to make it possible to receive prophecy.

… … I looked to see what card was coming next.

Because of this, Stella swept all the cards, and Shisha, who noticed the trick, froze the bell.

That’s how we get to now.

“Actually, the modification I was talking about was also about you, Stella. Some shisha… … It’s petty, but Stella, you were the one who made the mistake first.”

“Ugh… … … .”

“I’m senile. I’m getting old on the inside and getting dementia, but having to act like a young person on the outside is putting a strain on my brain. Olpin, admit it?”

“Normally, I would have taken Stella’s side… … I’m glad I grew old quietly.”

“Ha, but! You both giggled and made fun of me because I never rang the bell! So I did it! What is that!!”

“Why are you sleeping? It’s against the rules.”

“Isn’t freezing the bell a foul!?”

Wow.

“This bitch? Are you going to catch it first?”

“Come on, let’s finish today!”

Shisha and Stella screamed loudly as they grabbed each other’s hair as if they were very used to it.

Is this a fight between the great wizards that make the empire tremble and the emperor recognizes?

Olpin, his heart pounding, quietly reached for the refreshments.

Fried corn snacks were the most delicious at this time. To be honest, it was a specially prepared refreshment in anticipation of a scene like this.

Olpin, who had been watching the dog fight between Shisha and Stella for a while, finally opened his mouth to intervene.

By no means did we run out of fried corn snacks.

“Let’s sleep. So, you’re saying that neither Stella nor Shisha can give in?”

“… … … Yes.”

“I will never back down.”

“Then there is nothing we can do. We have no choice but to decide whether we win or lose based on the current results. Do you agree?”

“What… … I can’t help it.”

“… … Chi.”

Neither Stella nor Shisha really fight sincerely anyway. That doesn’t mean it’s an act or a show, but if two great wizards really fought, it wouldn’t end with the entire area being devastated.

Grabbing hair was a method of fighting that the two had agreed upon(?).

As a result, they threw away a handful of each other’s hair, and as their eyes met, sparks flew.

It must have been implicitly decided that the winner of the dog fight would be decided by Kyle Gali.

It was an obvious choice. Because the two cards looked similar to each other.

“For the sake of fairness, can I tax it?”

“It’s okay.”

“Agree.”

Excluding the cards frozen under the bell, Kyle Gali’s cards were actually split almost evenly between Stella and Shisha.

On the other hand, Olpin’s cards are almost exhausted. Since last place is certain, victory or defeat will be determined objectively.

Stella and Shisha thought that as they handed over the cards.

“Well, actually, there’s no need to count.”

“… … … Yes?”

“What?”

“Of course it’s my victory.”

Just right.

After declaring victory, he snaps his fingers.

Only then did Stella and Shisha realize.

The number of cards has changed to the exact opposite.

No, in the first place──

“Fantasy… … It was? Uh, since when?”

“… … Oh my god.”

“There is a misunderstanding.”

Victory and defeat were clear to both of them. Stella and Shisha’s cards were not small, but Orpin’s cards were much more.

Since when did I fall in love with Olpin’s fantasy?

Did Orphin actually ring the bell? In the first place, playing cards… … Did you do it?

“Since when did you think I stopped creating illusions?”

“… … Huh.”

Even though it is inside the Arche Magic Tower, the main base, it is a state where even other great wizards do not feel uncomfortable.

Stella suddenly got goosebumps and trembled.

‘this… … The last dragon slayer on the continent who killed the last dragon.’

The Grand Wizard of Illusion, Orphin Glassburn.

Although it was impossible due to the nature of light and darkness, it was the power of the great wizard who is said to have overturned the empire long ago if physical interference had been possible.

Stella, who realized something about Orpin again, and Shisha, who was angry that she was just fooled, made eye contact with Orpin.

He laughed lightly and opened his mouth.

“Now that it’s over, I’d like to ask, how was Kyle Gali? Wasn’t it better than expected?”

“Honestly, I don’t know if I can call this Kyle Galli… … … I can’t deny it.”

okay.

Regardless of when I started playing with Olpin’s fantasy.

Kyle Galli, who has enjoyed a few rounds so far… … It was quite a board game.

A game that surpasses Kill the King in many ways.

‘At first glance, it seems like a game that simply tests physical ability, but it requires a high level of psychological warfare.’

What Stella especially paid attention to was the part called ‘psychological warfare.’

If it was done with ordinary people, that is, incompetent people, physical abilities such as reaction speed would ultimately take priority over psychological warfare.

Even if you were an Auror user, it would be no different. In the first place, those muscle guys would find this boring, and I doubt they would be able to withstand paper or cards in the first place.

However, when it comes to ‘wizards’, it’s a different story.

‘If you do this well.’

Couldn’t it be used to figure out the level of wizards?

The rule that Olpin explained was ultimately based on producer Kyle Byron’s standards, that is, a rule that assumed the player was incompetent. However, with appropriate modifications, it would be possible to create house rules unique to wizards.

‘For example, you can limit the magic to not turning over the cards, or even ringing the bell.’

You can test things like clairvoyance magic or controlling Zen magic without breaking the bell.

This is just a simple thought, but what if we dig deeper?

No, before that.

What if you could just invite Kyle Byron to Astron Tower?

‘I felt it during Abracadabra, but in terms of board games, he might be a genius that will go down in history.’

Well, it’s now been 100 years since board games like Kill the King appeared.

Of course, given its short history, no one has made a name for themselves with board games or the like, so it may be the first on the continent.

Stella Bernicion quietly took a sip of her food, feeling an intuition that bordered on foresight.

“Kyle Byron’s future.”

“If you beat me, you can take me.”

“… … Ugh, I get it. After this trend passes, we will send out an official invitation. That’s no problem, right?”

“Hehe, in the end, it’s up to the producer to decide.”

“I mean, Shisha, how about you? Even if he’s rotten, he’s a great wizard, so there’s no way he wouldn’t appreciate this game.”

“… … … … .”

“Shisha? The most ruthless ice princess in Academy history?”

“I’m listening, so don’t call me nicknames at that time.”

Shisha frowned for a moment and thought about something.

He muttered as if he had finally made up his mind.

“Of course, that maid is dangerous.”

“Shisha?”

“When you think about the value of Kyle Galli and Kyle Byron… … It would definitely be right to resolve it.”

“… … Shisha.”

It’s the same as the madness I first said, and the words I muttered now.

Orphin, who sensed something, muttered quietly.

“Kyle Byron is an honored guest at the Arche Tower. Even if it is you, I won’t allow you to touch it as you please.”

“Don’t worry. For Kyle Byron──”

“And of course, that includes his maid.”

“… … … … .”

“Please don’t ignore my warning.”

“… … No problem. You mean Dragon Slayer.”

Although the atmosphere became tense for a moment, Stella and Shisha eventually agreed on Kyle Gali’s value.

With that alone, Orpin kept his promise to Kyle.

But Olpin went one step further. It was just a sudden whim.

“Anyway, that’s it. If Kyle Galli was pretty good… … How about spreading it out some more?”

“Put… … Do you want to?”

“I’m not talking about something serious like announcing it at all. Just introducing you to some nobles we know.”

“Um.”

“Probably the creator will be happy too.”

“Then we should do it. Shisha?”

“… … Even if you don’t look at it like that, you’ll do it. If you at least throw Kyle Byron into the Magic Tower instead of me, the nagging from the elders will be lessened.”

“Good. Thank you all.”

A small recommendation from the archmages, which was ultimately made up of Orphin’s whim.

What results will that bring?

Even Olpin himself, who suggested it, did not expect it.

*

And a week later.

“How about making a reservation at Abracadabra?”

“Wow, it’s full today too. We’ll have to wait two more days.”

“Then let’s go to Kyle Gali again today. I will definitely win today!”

“Good! Let’s go quickly!”

world… … Not this, but the Arche Magic Tower and the Gias Territory.

The era of Great Khail Gali has arrived.