episode_0010

Entered the spire.

It was an achievement that took only a week, and it was not as difficult as I thought.

‘If the princess is loved by the spirits, the spirits will also want to look good to the princess.’

Of course, there will be more than one spirit staying around the princess. And the princess cannot share the same love with all of those spirits.

Naturally, there are spirits that get closer and spirits that become alienated, and Kyle Galli, which the princess has recently fallen in love with, would be the best way to deal with such spirits.

The process of informing Water Tiger and Wind Horse of the rules of Kyle Gali and having them continue playing to gain experience could perhaps be considered a bribe.

In fact, I must have gotten closer to the princess, because the tiger and the wind horse also treated me kindly.

Additionally, strangely enough, after becoming acquainted with the spirits, I was able to understand some of what they said.

[growl.]

“I know. I’ll just go to the front door.”

That cry doesn’t sound like human speech, but you can roughly guess what it’s trying to say based on the nuance.

It would probably sound perfect to the princess.

Step by step. Step by step.

The spire that goes up with a tiger on the left and a wind horse on the right… … It was quiet in many ways.

There was no one there except the princess, so even though it was a large space, I didn’t feel like anyone was there, so it was lonely.

[…] … … … … .]

[…] … … … … … .]

[…] … … .]

[…] … … … … .]

At the same time, that silence was also because those who filled the spire instead of people remained silent.

Throughout the hallways and stairwells, spirits of various shapes were staring at me with bated breath.

Small rabbits, birds, squirrels, pigs, cows, sheep, lions, leopards, elephants, and even giraffes.

There are spirits that are so large that I wonder how they can move around the spire, and there are spirits that are smaller than my foot.

A scene where there is no movement, with only eyes focused on me.

Since they didn’t even make a sound, I couldn’t tell exactly what they were thinking.

… … At least it was clear that it was not a favor.

How long did you walk under those gazes?

Me, the tiger, and the wind horse spirit were soon able to reach the top floor of the spire.

Unlike the other floors, which were made up of multiple rooms, there was only one door at the top.

A door that is larger, more ancient, and more luxurious than any door I have ever seen.

And a voice was coming from inside.

──Um… … I won again.

──Whirik… … …

──It’s already our 56th consecutive win. Oh, aren’t you so bad at it?

──Daughter.

──I’m kidding. Well, yeah. Shall we play one more round?

──Meow!

What is heard beyond the door is the voice of a woman presumed to be a princess, and the cries of spirits trying to get closer to her.

As I was quietly listening to the sound, the tiger spirit tapped me with its front paw.

[Rung.]

“Can I tell you now? hmm… … Well.”

[Quarantine?]

“That’s right, I came here to talk. That’s right, but.”

I don’t want to interrupt while playing a board game. That’s quite rude behavior.

How many times have you been in the middle of a game when your pulse suddenly stopped and you couldn’t continue the tension and fun?

Moreover, I would have to at least look good on the princess to talk to her, but if I interfere and incur hate while the princess and the spirits are enjoying Kyle Gali, it’s over.

‘For something like that… … The princess’s voice seemed to have calmed down a bit.’

Anyway, for that reason, I put off knocking on the door or calling the princess through the door.

Even so, it won’t be a long time, so what’s the point of standing here quietly in the meantime?

“Do you want to do Kyle Gallina for a moment?”

[…] … Urrung!]

[Shut up!]

okay.

After all, there are only you!

*

Lacia Everts.

The youngest of the Duke of Everts, a spiritist loved by spirits, and a princess who never leaves the spire.

Since they all referred to her, Lacia didn’t care who called her or what they called her.

After all, there are only spirits in her life.

That’s why, starting a few years ago, he stopped anyone from entering the spire, and kept only spirits by his side, who were honest and honest, unlike people.

Still, there were times when I felt that way.

Ding!

“I… … Won again, yes!”

[Whirl, whirr!]

“Yes, thank you… … … .”

Unbearable boredom and boredom.

Of course, spirits are kind and gentle, but that doesn’t mean spending time with them is always enjoyable.

Just as boredom comes to couples who love each other.

No matter how close you are, there are times when things get awkward.

‘I’m bored.’

Lacia fell into such thoughts from time to time. It was a thought she had had several times over the years, but it never caused her to leave the spire.

Sometimes it gets boring with the spirits in the spire, but other than that it’s really fun.

Because I didn’t even like talking to people outside the spire.

Lacia decided to live with the spirits in this spire. Even if you are kicked out of the duchy, you can build a cabin in the forest and live there.

In any case, Lacia had been feeling such boredom until a few days ago. A feeling of weariness that was especially stronger than the one I felt after entering the spire.

In the meantime, what my father passed on to the spirit, asking how about this, was a piece of paper containing Kyle Gali and its rules.

It was truly a gift that a father left to his daughter after a long time, and it was also something that Lacia was reluctant about.

However, it was a time when I was feeling really bored, so I tried it with spirits.

‘It was fun, yeah. very.’

It was truly more fun than Lacia could have imagined. When I first played Kyle Gali, I played it all day.

It’s not that there aren’t books or board games in the spire, but I’ve already read all the books and the only board game is a 1v1 strategy game. There was no way I could do something like that properly with the spirits, and since Lacia’s level was quite high, it wasn’t even a waste of time.

But Kyle Galli is different.

It has rules that even spirits can easily understand, simple gameplay, yet multiple people can play at the same time, and most importantly, fun.

It’s no exaggeration to say that I’ve been like Kyle Galli for the past week… … only.

Lacia was slowly feeling the limits of Kyle Galli.

‘It’s boring because I keep winning.’

It is already the 57th consecutive win. It’s not that the bell rang 57 times in a row, but the victory condition of getting all the cards is done 57 times in a row.

At this point, no matter how many times I continue to the next game, I’m going to win anyway, so all I can think about is what fun it is. At first, I enjoyed those victories, but as they became more than enough, I became less interested.

I’m still playing Kyle Gali, but I just hang out with the spirits since they seem to want to do it too.

Ding!

“Yes, I won!”

‘I won again.’

[Meow!]

[Wow!]

[Whirl!]

[Ringle.]

“Thank you everyone. But we… … Shall we take a break? I’ll lie down on the bed for a while!”

[Daughter?]

With those words, Lacia put down the card and lay down on the luxurious bed. Immediately after, the spirits that were doing Kyle Galli also came up on the bed and wrapped Lacia.

Lacia liked times like this. Nap time with the spirits. It was always a time when my heart healed.

but.

──Growl!

──Quit!

──These are not scams. Isn’t this proof that humans are superior to spirits? Hehe.

──Growl!

──No, you should stop building new bridges. Should I call you octopus from now on?

──Dag… … Shut up!

──That is correct. It’s not wrong that you’re in third place, but it’s also true that you’re in last place, right?

──Ureung?

──Dagdakdakdak!!!

‘… … … what.’

I knew already that someone was outside the door. It was surprising that the water spirit and wind spirit who were supposed to guard the entrance to the spire had let someone in, but I was embarrassed because they had come all the way to the top floor while just guarding the side.

However, thanks to the whispers from the spirits, I was able to quickly find out that the person who had been brought in was the creator of Kyle Gali.

That’s why I was even more surprised. Until now, the spirits have never disobeyed Lacia’s request.

There is no way we can lose by force anyway. At this point, Lacia was also starting to get curious.

Of course, it was only curiosity, and in the end, no one from outside the spire would enter the room or talk to her. I decided to ignore even if there was a knock on the door or someone spoke to me from the other side.

Then, I would return home, and I was going to hear what happened from the spirit of water and wind later.

‘Why are you sitting in front of the door doing kail gali…’ … ?’

The producer of Kyle Gali did not knock or speak to me.

He just enjoyed Kyle Gali with the two spirits who brought him there.

At this point, it’s not just curiosity. I have a strong urge to see what’s going on outside the door.

So Lacia deliberately lay down on the bed and closed her eyes, pretending to sleep.

And focus your mind.

‘Synchronized.’

is one of the extreme forms of elemental magic that can be used when the bond between a spirit and a spiritist reaches its peak.

For an ordinary spiritist, this is a secret weapon that can only be used by spirits that have spent their entire lives with one another.

For Lacia, who was innately loved by spirits, it was just a game that could be played by any spirit.

The effect of synchro is simple. Becoming one with the spirits.

From this moment on, Lacia identifies with the water spirit in the form of a tiger.

[…] … Urrung!?]

“Huh? Why are you doing this all of a sudden?”

[…] … … Ugh, growl.]

“Oh, there’s nothing we can do if it’s because of bugs.”

Because I closed my eyes, my vision, which should have been pitch black, was completely transformed. At the same time, the sense of handling the body is also colored in a different way.

The water spirit was momentarily taken aback by the sudden synchronization, but when it realized that Lacia was inside, it calmly left control of its body to her.

Thus, Lacia was able to come out the door even while lying down in her room.

‘Let me see.’

When I raise my head and look around, I see a strange man along with the wind spirit that I realized was synchronized with Lacia.

This person is… … He must be the producer of Kyle Gali.

I knew it was Kyle Byron because the game was named after him. The spirits wandering around told me that there was that man in the Byron family’s carriage.

‘It’s Kyle Byron.’

Lacia had one curiosity about him.

What kind of person is this that the two spirits opened their hearts to him? That’s to the point where you can understand the spirit’s words.

To get to know him, Lacia turned her gaze to Kyle Gali spread out on the floor.

Somehow, it seemed like the Kyle Galli skills of these two spirits had improved considerably, but was it because they were playing games with Kyle Byron?

Chop rock.

Anyway, I turned over the cards in my turn. If we win a few games like this, wouldn’t we be able to find out what kind of person Kyle Byron is?

In fact, for the first time in years, she encountered a person who was not a spirit even though she was synchronized, and even though she was playing a board game with that person, Lacia couldn’t help but feel a little annoyed.

She’s going to win anyway.

Lo and behold, with Lacia’s card, the star became five.

[Dag… … Shut up.]

While the wind spirit, whose skills were not as good as hers, hesitated, the bell–

Ding!

[…] … … growl?]

“Wow! What, tiger, were you losing your mind? Why is it so slow?”

… … Slow? I?

No, more than that.

I… … You couldn’t ring the bell?

“With this, I turn the tables! 2 wins in a row this time… … !!”

Ooh, it must be a coincidence.

At most, the bell was stolen once. Even when working with spirits, there were very few times when Lacia couldn’t press it.

Every time, all the spirits’ eyes turned to the spirit who rang the bell at the same time. Maybe it wasn’t cheering.

Anyway, the game isn’t over yet. Not yet──

Ding!

“It’s mine again!”

Okay, next time──

Ding!

“What’s wrong with you two? The tiger suddenly became mean, and you, the wind horse, hesitated… … You’re trying to play a game, right? I’m taking this edition?”

Oh, there are still cards left──

Ding!

“It comes out like this, right? Then, I will receive the card neatly. Isn’t this the tiger’s first time coming in last place?”

Last place is never──

Ding!

“This is the end! my victory! I think they hosted me this time, but it’s too obvious. Do you want to go to the next game? Are you serious this time?”

───I lost.

I did my best from the middle. I also borrowed the superior physical abilities of the water spirit.

Even though I tried my best… … … I lost.

And that’s without even winning a single card from Kyle Byron.

“… … … Ah.”

The synchro was released. The synchronization that requires composure due to such intense emotional changes seemed to have been forcibly cut off.

Lacia, who opened her eyes on the bed instead of in front of the door, got out of bed immediately.

[Daughter?]

“Profit… … !”

Did I lose? Me, who had a 57-game winning streak? Even though he was a producer, he lost so miserably?

What does it mean to suddenly become worse? What else does hospitality mean?

And beyond that.

‘I’m pissed!!’

Kyle Byron’s facial expression, tone of voice, and body language when he won.

Even though it was my first loss in a few days, I was so angry about every single one of them.

Lacia, who was outside the spire, ran out roughly and opened the door.

Squeak!

“You! Come into the room right now!”

“… … … Princess Lacia?”

“That’s right! Because she’s the princess you were looking for, right now anyway──”

“Then please wait a moment.”

“──Yes?”

“Aren’t you playing a board game right now? It is rude to other players to cut off mid-play. I’ll just play this game and go in… … Ah, you tiger! You can’t hand over the card while I’m not looking!”

[Urrung… … … .]

[Sigh.]

“What? Then can I go straight to the room? I’m in first place now? If this happens, you become a defeated spirit who lost to ordinary people three times in a row?”

[…] … … Growling!]

[Shut up!]

“Yes, this is my player! Anyway, please wait a moment. Because I will definitely go in with three wins in a row… … !!”

“… … … … … .”

Although Lacia didn’t know.

Her expression now was exactly the same as when her father was looking at Kyle playing a board game.

Lacia just waited silently without saying anything… …