episode_0036

“Adela, have you seen the water tiger? I’m sure we slept together, but when I woke up in the morning, it wasn’t there.”

“… … … … .”

“Adela?”

“… … I do not know. I’m not spying or bugging your room, so how would I know?”

“Isn’t that what you’re saying…? … It’s already a royal castle, so you can’t just nod your head just because it disappeared.”

“If you have any questions, ask the maid.”

“You mean Sally?”

“Maybe… … Maybe you know, right? Something.”

“… … Jae, you say something interesting.”

“Sally, what do you know?”

“Oh, no! Well, I don’t know anything either. As for where that spirit went… … .”

“Are you sure?”

“… … … Ah, why did you do that earlier? Yes, master! This bitch keeps slandering me… … … Hi!”

“Sally, I’m not questioning you. You know how Adela speaks, right? He just seems a little cold, but he’s a good person.”

“… … … … Hmm.”

“Anyway, neither Sally nor Adela know… … Did something happen?”

“… … … … … .”

“… … … … .”

[…] … Ureung.]

“Huh? Tiger! Where have you been?”

[Ur… … … Rumble.]

“A short walk? If you’re going to go, you should at least say something. After all, this is the imperial castle. If possible, don’t walk around alone.”

[growl!]

“Huh? Is it okay to have a dagger stuck in your throat? I heard that spirits are immortal… … Why are you giving such a scary example?”

[Ur… … … Lung.]

“… … … … .”

“… … … … … .”

“Well, as long as you’re safe, that’s fine. Then shall we all go play Catan together?”

“Good.”

“ㄴ, yes! Master!”

[Rung!]

*

“What are the brothers’ movements?”

“It seems like your suspicions about His Highness have disappeared somewhat. Kyle Byron’s board game played a big role.”

“Okay… … I’m so glad. It felt like bad luck, but it was good.”

The imperial castle, the hallway of the residence where the 3rd prince lives.

The 3rd prince, who was heartbroken when he heard the report from the maid who was walking down the hallway with him, let out a sigh of relief.

It has been ten days since Kyle Byron came to this castle.

Fortunately, this incident seemed to have passed safely.

‘It’s a shame I somehow covered my father’s mouth.’

My son said he wouldn’t do it himself, so why do they keep trying to get him back in the race for the throne? It was to the point where I was seriously wondering if it was really for the sake of my youngest son or if I was trying to kill him.

Even though the 1st and 2nd princes were extremely wary of him thanks to his political rhetoric asking him to be both emperor and father, they were somehow able to prove his innocence.

He firmly declared to his father that he would not participate in the competition for the throne, and by spending most of his time playing a board game created by Kyle Byron, the 3rd Prince showed that his interest was not in the competition for the throne but in the same entertainment as before. Because I gave it to you.

There was a crisis due to my father’s sudden words, but I was able to get over it thanks to Kyle Byron. In many ways, I realized that inviting Kyle Byron to Arke Matap was the greatest luck.

‘And I also got an unexpected harvest.’

They say the ground hardens after the rain. The two older brothers, who had once doubted him, seemed to have become closer than before, as when their suspicions subsided, they gave the third prince a gift of apology or spoke to him first.

In the current mood, it wouldn’t be unreasonable to deepen our friendship through Kyle Byron’s board game. No matter who becomes emperor in the future, the chances of their lives being saved have increased.

If you look at it up to this point, it seems like you have overcome the crisis safely and took advantage of him to take advantage of the opportunity.

“… … … … .”

“His Royal Highness?”

“… … It’s nothing.”

Why?

Aside from relief, the 3rd Prince, Lou Gehrig Severus, felt uncomfortable in his chest.

That’s why… … I knew it myself. How could you not know?

“Woman, Lou Gehrig.”

“Second brother.”

“Meeting His Highness the Second Prince.”

“Yes, yes. More than that, Lou Gehrig, you’re not mad yet, are you? Please forgive this brother, okay?”

“What can I do with forgiveness? I just always support my brothers.”

“Hmm… … ‘Brothers’. You always say something in a safe and meaningful way.”

A man walking with a somewhat awkward attitude, accompanied by several attendants. He was the second prince.

In the competition for the throne, he maintains almost equal power with the 1st Prince, and is himself an excellent Auror user.

Moreover, he voluntarily enlisted in the northern monster front for five years starting at the age of 15 and achieved numerous majors, receiving absolute support from the north.

Although they were older and younger brothers from the same father, and the 2nd and 3rd princes were 5 years older than each other, the positions between him and Lou Gehrig were like heaven and earth.

As if to prove it, the 3rd prince bowed his head politely, but the 2nd prince just smiled and tapped the 3rd prince on the shoulder.

“Did you receive the gift well?”

“… … When it comes to exercise equipment, I use it every day.”

“Yeah dude. Get some exercise with it! Always doing something wrong with magic or something. It’s not like you’re going to be a great wizard, are you?”

“I know… … Yes.”

“Well, anyway, I’m sorry for doubting you. It’s going to be hard just for my damn brother, so what if you get involved as well? Because I don’t want to kill my beloved brother myself. You know?”

“I know very well.”

“Even if you compete anyway, it’s not like you can ascend to the throne, so what… … … Your father is so kind too.”

… … You don’t know.

By any chance, you don’t know.

‘If only I had more talent.’

If only he had the talent to be a disciple of the Olpin Magic Tower Master, rather than a talent that would make him even a lieutenant.

‘I wish I could have had more power.’

He is the eldest son, and like his older brother, he is engaged to the daughter of the Duke of Grandel and receives support from the central and eastern regions.

If only he had the power like his second brother, who served in the army and received absolute support from the North.

and.

‘I… … ‘If you weren’t the youngest.’

Since he was the youngest of the princes, he was unable to increase his power even if he wanted to.

As he was the youngest of the princes, he cultivated management skills from an early age to avoid being eliminated by his two older brothers.

As he was the youngest of the princes, he had no choice but to give up the race for the throne in order to survive.

Only because I was born as the youngest.

Because that’s the reason.

Therefore, the Third Prince suppressed his boiling anger as always and smiled.

“That’s right.”

“Haha! Lou Gehrig, don’t you have too much self-esteem?”

“It is at an appropriate level.”

Don’t ignore me.

Don’t look down on me.

Don’t look at me like I’m a bug that can kill you at any time.

I also want to become an emperor. Since I was born as a prince of the empire, I want to pursue everyone’s dream to the end.

But the moment I stand at the starting line, you two will crush me to death.

So be patient. Because that’s all I can do.

Unlike his two older brothers, the 3rd prince.

Because I am a person who cannot shine.

“This is it? Be sure to come next time I invite you!”

“Please take a look. Brother.”

Although the words are an invitation, in reality, I know very well that it is an attempt to make him sit among the second brother’s supporters and be ridiculed implicitly. Because I’ve already experienced it a few times.

Supporters feel satisfied that their choice to support the second brother is better than that guy, and the second brother unites internally through him. It was a boring thing.

Perhaps because he served in the military for five years, the second brother’s methods were more blatant than the first brother’s.

The only thing they have in common is that they are both extremely shady.

The third prince raised his head only after the second prince had completely disappeared.

Only when all his followers were out of sight was he able to raise his head.

“… … … … … .”

“His Royal Highness… … … .”

“Stop. Don’t say anything. just… … … So that ”

Clench your fist. I grit my teeth.

Okay. No, actually it’s not okay. It’s just a feeling I’ve been dying for for over 10 years, so I’m just used to it.

The feeling of inferiority was never easy.

If I had become like this simply because I lacked talent or because my older brothers were smarter or better than me, I would have given up, even though I would have been angry.

In the Third Prince’s opinion, his only fault was that he was born late.

It was a mistake to be born 8 years later than the 1st prince and 5 years later than the 2nd prince.

‘Is that really true? My talent… … ‘Maybe it’s not enough?’

It was a thought that came to my mind for a moment, but I quickly brushed it away like it always did. Because I knew very well that if the idea spread like that, all that would remain would be helplessness and defeat.

So don’t give up and just keep persevering.

An opportunity that may come someday, just in case…

“… … Let’s go back.”

“Are you going to the board game room?”

“Okay. Just to change my mood.”

Board game room.

Originally, it was a board game made and played in Kyle Byron’s room, but when the number of board games created in 10 days exceeded 6, another room was ordered to be used as a production room.

Although he said it was a change of pace, the Third Prince was visiting the board game room almost every day except for the first day or two.

It wasn’t simply to check how many board games he had made.

It was to play board games directly.

“I’m here. Kyle, you haven’t already started, right?”

“Is that really true? I’ve just finished one game. Let’s get started right away!”

“… … Good.”

Ten days ago, ‘Catan’, a board game created by Kyle Byron as soon as he came to Hwangseong.

After that, he made other board games, but the prince mainly played Catan.

The reason was simple.

Unlike other board games, the prince was able to feel vicarious satisfaction in Catan.

“Let’s build a village here. Put one more road.”

“For that, you need one tree.”

“Don’t you have it? Exchange one for my iron.”

“Ah, then it is obvious that His Royal Highness will take the lead, so why would I do that?”

“Two iron.”

“Here it is!”

“Yes.”

It was not a vicarious satisfaction of becoming the monarch of a civilization in a virtual board game.

What the 3rd prince felt.

It was a somewhat strange vicarious satisfaction that everyone was fair.

‘Actually, it’s funny.’

Speaking of vicarious satisfaction, Abracadabra in Arche Tower seems better. It is a fantasy that is infinitely similar to reality and allows anyone to experience as if they were a wizard.

But ironically, the prince was feeling more vicarious satisfaction from the equality of the board game, which had no illusions.

It may be in the mid to late stages when you have expanded your power, but in the beginning, everyone is equal. No matter how good the land is, everything depends on the dice, so there is no one-sided push.

Under equal conditions, compete with each other and increase power.

If it were just that, I could have felt vicarious satisfaction from other board games.

“The dice are… … seven. I put thieves in your land.”

“Now, wait a minute, Adella. There is still room for negotiation.”

“There is no such thing. Out of the 17 editions of Catan I have played so far, you have placed thieves on my land 42 times, and each time you moved a thief, you placed them on my land at a rate of over 40%. Would you believe that?”

“Do you remember all that? In other words, didn’t you put more than 60% of it somewhere else?”

“But that doesn’t work. Please calmly provide a resource.”

“Gun… … Your Royal Highness, isn’t there one resource I lent you earlier? I need to get that back.”

“Isn’t it too revealing?”

“Instead, the next time you lend it, no interest is charged.”

“That’s… … It’s pretty good.”

Catan is different from other board games. In this board game, other players are not unconditional competitors but also collaborators.

Conversing, negotiating, and interacting with others are all types of experiences. I feel a sense of agency as if I am competing for the throne in a board game.

Of course, the 3rd prince also knows. Compared to the battle for the throne and the bloodshed, this is just a board game and entertainment.

but.

‘… … fun.’

The entire process of trading and talking with others naturally leads to over-immersion in the game. If you don’t have motivation, you won’t trade well in the first place.

The starting line and equality you feel in a game you are so immersed in that you didn’t have in the race for the throne.

The 3rd prince was relieving his feelings of inferiority in the competition for the throne through Catan.

Of course, it was definitely not enough to relieve all the emotions that had built up.

At least to the point where I look forward to this time every day.

“Use all the resources you have gathered! I will build 3 roads and 1 village at once!”

“Then… … ?”

“15 points for victory. I get 1 more victory point for building another village, and since my road has become the longest with this road construction, I get 2 more victory points by achieving the ‘Longest Trade Route’ achievement… … !! This gives you 15 points!”

“The last-minute flip… … I didn’t expect it. Congratulations, Your Royal Highness.”

“Chu, congratulations… … … .”

“As expected, you are the Prince! That was a great play!”

“… … … Thank you.”

Moreover, the 3rd prince was talented. A talent for these strategy board games.

It was something that came from the management skills and insight that I had cultivated in order to survive since I was young. Aside from his weak magical talent, the only thing left to the 3rd Prince is self-deprecation.

This is an insight that was only possible because competition for the throne was impossible in the first place. Paradoxically, the 3rd prince would not have competed for the throne if it were possible.

Although I relied on his insight and skill in life, I had a contradictory feeling about him, thinking unfavorably of him, but not just now.

For the first time in his life, the Third Prince saw his insight again.

It was a ‘talent’ that I had longed for, but I smiled wryly at the fact that it was a talent for something like board games.

The 3rd prince.

As many people congratulated me, I thought about what if.

‘if… … If only there were set rules in real life like in Catan.’

It was just a useless, hopeless idea.

Because the more I thought about it, the sweeter it seemed.

The prince kept falling into ‘what if’.

And him like that.

“… … … Um.”

A board game maker looked at me with a subtle expression.

*

That night.

The once noisy board game room was immersed in darkness, and there was only silence and silence.

The door opened slowly.

“… … I heard you called me, Kyle.”

“Are you here, His Royal Highness?”

The 3rd Prince enters the room, and Kyle Byron, who had been there before, greets him with a smile.

And I slowly cleaned up the table.

“That’s… … … .”

“I did not summon His Highness the Prince for any serious reason. Just.”

Chop rock.

Catan, a fully set up board game, sparkled in the moonlight.

Only then did the 3rd prince realize Kyle’s intention in calling him and looked dumbfounded for a moment.

Kyle Byron, with a deeper smile, continued.

“How about a round of board games?”

… … … With a truly happy smile.