episode_0030

For the first time in a long time, Olpin personally brewed black tea and took out the refreshments and snacks he had secretly hidden.

Remove all the documents that filled the office, and organize decorations and magic books so that they look neat.

If you’re meeting the wizards of the tower, it’s a place to meet one of the few great wizard comrades in the empire. I couldn’t do it in vain.

‘If I were to be honest, I would be closer to an enemy than a comrade… … .’

Such is the relationship between archmages. Since they are each representing the top, they have no choice but to take political factors into account when acting. Even though we were friends in the past, this is the reason why we are now indifferent relationships.

Of the eight great wizards, only two except five from the Six Great Towers and one from the imperial family escaped from there. Gwanghee (狂姬) of the Glesia Magic Tower and the beggar archmage.

However, paradoxically, the two who were least tied to anything were the ones who were the most neglected.

Among the archmages, Olpin was the one who maintained close friendships with the others. Because I was able to ‘send’ invitations to everyone except the Agni Tower and the Beggar Archmage.

‘That guy from the imperial family, of course he refuses. Other towers also said that although they could not come, they would send a high-ranking wizard… … Stella and Shisha came in person. In the end, is that the only place that was openly ignored?’

Still, it was more than expected. Unless it was a magic lecture or a personal invitation, Orphin honestly thought that no archmage could come. It was a great harvest for the two of us to come.

Since the tower owner and the crazy bitch came from Astron Tower and Glesia Tower, it is natural to entertain them in person.

But Olpin had no intention of ending this as just a simple meeting.

‘I’ll leave it to you, Kyle.’

This is what Kyle Byron himself requested. This is a golden opportunity to help the benefactor of the tower.

Olpin sat down and waited for the archmages, looking sideways at Kyle Galli, who had prepared separately.

“Thank you for the invitation, Olpin.”

“It’s been a while. Stella.”

I met an astrologer who always had his eyes closed.

Waist-length hair as black as the night sky, star patterns drawn under closed eyes, and fluttering clothes that reveal the curves of the body.

To be honest, it was a very burdensome outfit every time I saw it, but unlike other places, the Astron Tower floating in the sky is physically disconnected from the continent, so there are many oddities. Stella Burnicion’s fashion sense was also part of this.

Rather, it was the Astron Tower’s teaching that if you did not have such stubbornness, you could lose your mind in the flow of the universe you are always observing.

The astrologer and archmage, who is said to be the tallest and farthest-seeing person in the world, greeted me lightly and naturally sat down in the prepared seat.

“This is the first time we’ve seen each other in person since our last meeting, right? It’s been a while since we met in person, and it reminds me of the old days.”

“At times like this, I envy you. Even though he’s probably about the same age as me, he still looks young.”

“… … Please don’t say things like that outside.”

“Don’t worry.”

That’s because Stella Burnicion’s exact age is not disclosed to the public. It was a secret I knew because I had known Olpin since I was young.

It was possible because the great wizards didn’t care about age or hierarchy anyway.

Anyway, I was chatting with Stella, whom I met for the first time in a while.

bang!

“Hu… … … Phew.”

“Now, please, for the sake of your dignity, I won’t tell you not to run, so please sit down.”

“Thank you, grandma.”

“That fucking bitch… … .”

Shisha Glesia. Since he was a commoner without a last name, he was an archmage who took the name of the Magic Tower.

He is the youngest of the eight great wizards, and although he belongs to the Glesia Magic Tower, he vehemently refuses the position of tower owner.

The legend that he knelt down in front of the elders and begged for him to become the owner of the tower, but said he did not want to be the owner of the tower anyway, and instead froze the entire nearby sea area to expand his territory was famous within the empire.

She hated being tied down to something and did whatever she wanted, making her more easy-going than anyone else.

He went to the extent of openly revealing his age, which was a desperate secret to Stella. Since the real Stella dropped a meteorite, she has refrained from doing so in public.

Although he was the youngest, he was an archmage, so Orphin never spoke informally to her.

“Shisha, it felt like I was being chased by something. What did I see at the Arche Tower?”

“Nothing… … no. Ultimately, it’s my duty to handle it… … … I don’t want to do it, but.”

Shisha, who looked oddly tearful, muttered something about how unfair it was and why I had to do something like this, but then she seemed resigned and sank into the sofa.

Here, an archmage gathered three strategic weapons capable of blowing up the surrounding area on his own.

Stella opened her mouth, perhaps feeling a new emotion at that.

“The world has gotten a lot better these days. In the past, even gathering together among archmages would have been subject to the Empire’s notice. They must have been watching because they thought they could plot some treason.”

“Isn’t there that guy in the imperial family? Even if you really plot treason, you probably think there is no problem.”

“Honestly, I’m so grateful? That foolish bastard sacrificed himself to guarantee the freedom of other great wizards. Thanks to you, I can travel around with peace of mind.”

“Old guys talking about things only they know… … … .”

“Oh, I really want to throw a meteorite in that bastard’s face.”

“Shisha, Stella. Even if you fight, please do not fight in the Arche Magic Tower. I don’t want to lose my home either, so I have no choice but to turn you into light.”

“… … Well, that’s definitely a bit scary.”

It’s absolutely bloody when you hear it, but from the archmage’s perspective, it’s a light joke.

Aside from being able to actually drop a meteorite and make a person disappear by turning them into light, the joke is made because you know that wouldn’t work on one another.

Orphin, who was talking like that, smiled and placed a bell between them.

“Jong, is it?”

“Why… … ?”

“Have you heard of the board game called Kyle Galli?”

“This is my first time hearing it. Wait a minute, Kyle… … Galli?”

“It’s the first board game created by Kyle Byron.”

“… … !!”

Kyle Byron. It was a name I had never heard of until recently, but Stella and Shisha are now well-known names.

The Abracadabra he created with the wizards of the Arche Tower was surprising to Stella in many ways.

However, Shisha seemed to take Kyle Byron in a slightly different sense.

“… … Poor guy.”

“Shisha?”

“At the point when I became the target of such madness… … … Tsk tsk.”

“… … … ?”

What does madness mean?

Olpin had doubts about her words, but if there really was a problem, Shisha’s personality would have intervened long ago.

It will be enough if you tell me later. After flipping through the bell, he unfolded a card with a shape drawn on it.

“So, are you saying let’s try this? It’s true that Abracadabra was quite interesting, but… … .”

“I’m confident it’s a fun game. I also enjoyed it for over 10 hours.”

Tsk tsk tsk.

“If you’re going to do it, let’s start quickly. I think I need to focus on something.”

Stella is somewhat skeptical, and Shisha is already shuffling the cards.

Orphin, who was looking at them, smiled.

“You’ll find out soon. this… … What kind of game is it?”

*

The time when the three great wizards started Kail Gali.

An unexpected person visited the guest room of the Magic Tower.

“So, um. What you are trying to say is… … … .”

“Come to the imperial palace, Kyle. I will take responsibility and push you forward.”

“Ah.”

While Adella, the water tiger, and Sally, who was a little late in bringing snacks for some reason, gathered together to play Abracadabra, it was the 3rd prince who came.

Honestly, personally, I wanted to tell them to wait until the board game was over, but I had no choice because I was the opponent.

However, the 3rd prince seemed to be aware that he was an uninvited guest and immediately told him about his business.

The problem was that it was a truly difficult business.

“Do you know my position in the imperial family now?”

“I heard that you gave up your right to succeed to the throne.”

“Okay. Thanks to that, I was able to obtain a freedom that was unbelievable for a prince. Even though I gave up the succession, I am still the prince, so I still receive the respect.”

but.

“How long do you think this situation can last?”

“… … … … … .”

“The moment one of my two brothers ascends to the throne, my life will be like a candle in the wind.”

“I don’t know the true meaning of what you said.”

“There is no need to be too careful. Because I am in the position of asking you for a favor.”

“… … … … .”

“Please come to the imperial palace. If it were you, I think you would be the key that would allow me to walk the line between my two older brothers.”

Even though he gave up the succession, this is what the prince says. A request that an ordinary noble would consider an honor.

However, as it happened, I was not that ordinary nobleman.

‘I don’t want to go.’

Still, now is the time to focus on the mass production of Kyle Galli and the popularity of Abracadabra. Even if we promise a future date, we don’t know when that will happen, and we can’t keep the prince waiting for a long time.

Well, if you go to the imperial court and follow the 3rd prince’s words, mass production and fashion issues may be easily solved under the prince’s orders.

Will we really be able to create and enjoy board games as freely as before?

And that too under a prince who wanted to use a board game to walk a tightrope between me and the other princes?

It was right to refuse this. The question is how to refuse.

I’m not used to aristocratic rhetoric. What should I do?

“His Royal Highness, at the risk of being rude, I have something to tell you.”

“You… … Are you the master disciple of the Olfin Magic Tower? I remember her as Adella.”

“That’s right. And I tell Your Majesty, Kyle Byron cannot go to the Imperial Court.”

“… … … What?”

uh.

Adela, why are you here? … ?

Adela, who had been showing an expression that seemed to bother her a little while ago, continued speaking despite the prince’s facial expression.

“Kyle Byron is a guest of Arche Tower and is currently a key figure in the Tower of Magic’s most important projects. Olpin Tower has decided to continue a relationship with Kyle Byron.”

“… … … … .”

“Of course, the Arche Magic Tower is unwaveringly loyal to the imperial family, but stealing influential figures from the tower for the sake of the 3rd Prince himself rather than for the sake of the entire empire is an action that may be considered extremely unpleasant.”

“Taking it away is a bit of an expression.”

“That’s the reality. Currently, Kyle Byron is an honorary elder of Arche Matap and also holds the position of highest external advisor. Therefore, Arche Magic Tower has no choice but to be reluctant to hear His Royal Highness’s words.”

“… … … Is it really like that?”

No, I didn’t know. What is an honorary senior and what is a top external advisor?

… … To be honest, it would be tactless to say that.

‘Adela is helping me.’

It was clear that he knew that I did not like me following the prince to the imperial palace, so he spoke to me appropriately.

Talking about honorary elders and top external advisors would be an excuse. Even if there was a position like that, there was no way I could rise to that position.

I naturally nodded, feeling grateful to Adela.

“I’m sorry for not telling you in advance, Your Highness.”

“No, because I was the one who came without saying anything. By the way, Kyle, I didn’t know you were recognized that much in the Magic Tower. This is my rudeness. The imperial family hopes for an unwavering friendly relationship with the 6 Great Magic Towers.”

“I’m just sorry for making you waste your time.”

“… … Still, it’s not a waste of time.”

“Yes?”

The 3rd prince thought for a moment, then looked at Adela and me with a smile.

“It may be impossible to change affiliations, but it would be possible to give some advice, right?”

“Advice… … What do you mean?”

“After this incident is over, please stop by the imperial palace, if only for a moment. It’s a pity that I can’t do it as a subordinate, but isn’t it possible for me to call you as an external advisor like the Magic Tower?”

This can’t be helped.

It was difficult to turn down this offer as Adela lied about my position as an honorary senior and external advisor.

And the prince appears so low-key, so why does he keep refusing?

Unless you go downstairs, it would be nice for me to go to the imperial palace.

“I promise. But what can I do when I go there?”

“It would be enough to make a board game like Abracadabra this time. Personally, I want to become closer to my brothers. I was thinking about a method, and it seemed like a board game would be great.”

“If that’s the case, I’m the right person.”

“You have good confidence. Thanks for the favor, Kyle Byron. Don’t worry about my case.”

okay. But this is the end of the business, right? I want to quickly continue playing board games.

Strangely enough, it seemed like Adella, Sally, and the water tiger’s attention was focused on the prince, and if they had nothing more to say, it would be burdensome to stay there.

It might be better to have the prince participate in Abracadabra as well.

While I was thinking that, the prince looked over at me and my board game friends and laughed.

“Ah, I was so oblivious to this. Kyle, I see you are quite popular.”

“Yes? Oh, I have a lot of board game friends.”

“… … Hmm, it seems that perception is inversely proportional. Well, that way I can survive for a long time.”

Suddenly, the prince, who had been muttering something I couldn’t tell whether it was a compliment or an insult, stood up.

“See you again then. The time to reserve Abracadabra is slowly approaching.”

“Have fun.”

“Thank you. Anyway, since I’m only playing with the same people, I’m starting to want to play with new players as well───”

bang!!!!

“──What!?”

“Uh… … ?”

“His Royal Highness! Are you okay!?”

A sudden roar and a vibration that shook the entire tower.

Immediately, a guard rushed in from outside the room, and the prince, who was about to open the door and leave, levitated himself using magic and went out the window. I followed him and hurriedly stuck my head out the window.

It was a somewhat risky move, but it allowed me to immediately see what was happening.

“What the hell is that… … … ?”

The ice that covered the top floor of the tower like a whirlwind, and the stars in the sky aligned like giant snow.

The moment when I was struck by magic and destruction on a formidable scale.

Just right.

──With a small sound heard from somewhere, everything returns to its original state.

To the original, plain top floor and sky, unbroken and without any magic in sight.

“… … Is this really the great wizard?”

But that doesn’t mean that something just happened. The murmur under the tower, which had been noisy for a moment, died down, but the prince was certain.

It is a reality that ice and stars swirled around and the top floor collapsed. It’s just that ‘fantasy’ covered it all.

The magic of the archmages is probably swirling up there even now. If you properly organize the debris that will fall to the ground, no one will be able to notice the anomaly.

There were only three beings capable of doing such a ridiculous thing, even in the Arche Tower where so many people had gathered.

Olpin Glassburn, Stella Burnicion, Shisha Glesia.

Three great wizards who are considered to be the most important force for the hegemonic empire.

“Now that I think about it, Olpin Tower owner went with Kyle Galli… … .”

“Kyle, Gali? Is that a board game you made too?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“So, the board game caused that division… … ?”

The 3rd prince trembled for a moment due to the incredible scale of magic.

He muttered in an extremely serious voice.

“Please just leave that out. I don’t want to have to make a life-or-death decision with my brothers.”

“… … … Yes.”