“Suddenly, what is this…?”
Of course, Kyle wasn’t the only one surprised. In fact, it was Duke Nicholas who had entered with the water tiger who seemed even more taken aback.
The servants following him, as well as the mages in the hall, were all frozen in place by the sudden turn of events.
In the midst of the difficult situation where the spirit the Duke brought was hostile to a mage belonging to the Arkhe Tower…
No one stepped forward. Even though Adela could very well be attacked.
It was because an overwhelming force presided over the room.
“Hmm.”
Olphin Glassburn. One of the eight Archmages within the empire.
As the symbol of the mage tower and the embodiment of raw power, Olphin would have acted if the water tiger had any real intent to attack Adela.
And yet, he merely stroked his beard with a puzzled expression on his face.
“Your Excellency the Duke, could you explain what that… is?”
“…It is my daughter’s spirit.”
“Your daughter’s? Then why didn’t she come herself…? Hmm.”
Muttering something unintelligible for a moment, Olphin soon nodded as if he understood.
“Well, I suppose there must be some reason for it.”
“Tower Master Olphin?”
“From what I can see, that spirit seems to have a great deal of affection for the game creator. Such overprotectiveness… Do they have a personal connection?”
“When I visited the duchy, it was a spirit I became closely acquainted with.”
“Haha, then that does explain it. How about this? Let’s leave the spirit to the game creator for now and continue with the tour. Adela, you should get along well with the spirit. It may become a valuable connection in the future.”
Why was he suddenly bringing up connections when talking about bonding with a spirit?
While the others vaguely assumed that becoming close to the young lady’s spirit might lead to forming ties with the young lady herself, only Adela managed to grasp the true intent behind Olphin’s words.
In truth, it couldn’t have been helped. Perhaps others wouldn’t have noticed, but Adela could clearly see what that water tiger really was.
Two souls are coexisting within one body.
Adela was particularly sensitive to “boundaries” even among the mages of the tower. This was a rare and blessed talent for the mages of Arkhe Magic Tower who dealt with light and dark magic.
When she looked at the water spirit, she sensed a distinct boundary within it. It was clear that there were two separate souls.
One was the original owner, the water spirit, and the other was an unwelcome guest.
Yet, the fact that the intruder was dominating the body while the original owner quietly yielded was…
“Adela?”
“…I’ll follow the Tower Master’s orders.”
With sharp eyes, Adela alternated her gaze between the water tiger which was glaring at her, and Kyle Byron who tilted his head in confusion.
Even though the spirit had suddenly lunged in and threatened Adela, Kyle hadn’t intervened. Instead, he seemed merely startled, as if he was familiar with the spirit.
…There was clearly a relationship between the two that Adela didn’t know about. A relationship that appeared to be quite close.
At the very least, even if Kyle wasn’t aware of it, the other party seemed close enough to go to such lengths to meet him.
No, but what does it matter to me who Kyle Byron is involved with in the first place? After all… I’m the one who acted so rudely to him.
The memory of that day, when she had attacked Kyle with an illusion spell, still haunted her dreams.
Whenever she recalled it, Adela who was normally composed would kick her blanket in frustration. And for some reason, she found herself hovering around Kyle even more.
She needed to apologize. She had to tell him she was sorry.
She had apologized already, but Kyle had brushed it off as if it were nothing. However, that hadn’t eased the burden on Adela’s heart.
That was why she played board games with him. Why she played Abracadabra with him.
At first, it had been an act of revenge. But whenever she played board games or Abracadabra with Kyle, who enjoyed them so much, she felt her guilt lighten little by little.
That was all there was to it. A one-sided relationship where Adela carried her guilt alone. A connection she would ultimately forget once Kyle left.
…Or so Adela believed.
“Ah, Game Creator, could you follow me for a moment? I called for you earlier.”
“I heard on my way here. Well then, Tiger? Adela? Please go on ahead. I’ll catch up soon, and we can play some Abracadabra together!”
“……………”
[………….]
“Well then, let’s go.”
Kyle Byron headed toward the Tower Master and the Duke. They had said there was something to discuss, so he would probably come back soon.
At that moment, the water tiger tried to follow Kyle, but Adela blocked it with a hand gesture. She heard it growl lowly, but she paid no attention.
After Kyle and the others disappeared from sight,
“………….”
[…………….]
In that suffocating silence, the mages in the hall quietly hid their presence. As expected of mages, their quick wits and social skills were truly impressive.
Not a single conversation nor sound was heard.
Adela took the lead, and the water tiger followed. Unlike when she and Kyle had descended, going back up felt unbearably heavy and deep.
[Chirp…….]
Meanwhile, the sparrow spirit Peeya let out a pitiful chirp.
They walked and walked until they entered the room where she and Kyle used to play board games. Only then did Adela turn around.
“Please stay put until that man returns. I’d rather not have to restrain you roughly for no reason.”
[………Grr.]
“What are you doing…?”
However, the water tiger paid no heed to Adela’s words.
It glared at the board game Abracadabra which was placed on the table.
And then,
“………!!”
Thud!
It immediately threw itself onto the table, knocking the board game over in the process.
Had Adela not sensed something amiss and hurriedly used magic to lift Abracadabra into the air, it would have spilled everywhere and become a total mess.
Adela, who had just saved the board game, looked down at the water tiger with a grim expression on her face.
“You are overstepping your bounds. And you were suspicious enough to begin with.”
[Grrr!]
“Did you think I wouldn’t notice? Coming here without showing yourself directly and using such a shady method… I’m worried about Kyle Byron’s well-being.”
[…………….]
Adela’s eyes were tinged with intense emotion.
It had suddenly appeared, inserted itself between Kyle and Adela, and now it was trying to ruin the board game they played together. Yet it had the gall to act so shamelessly.
Adela knew exactly what she was feeling at that moment.
It was a humiliating, mortifying emotion she despised even acknowledging.
Jealousy.
Why on earth would she feel jealousy toward such an unknown being, as if Kyle Byron and she had anything special between them?
The memory of that day suddenly flashed through her mind, and she felt the urge to bury herself under her blankets once again.
This is… protecting him. A relationship that resorts to sneaking in like this can’t be normal. And Kyle Byron didn’t seem to know anything about it either.
Perhaps Kyle Byron’s deeper connection was with the original owner of the water spirit’s body, and this other soul was a complete stranger to him.
No, she was almost certain. Otherwise, this other soul wouldn’t have come in such a creepy, stalker-like way. Adela nodded firmly and became fired up with a sense of duty.
After all, this was nothing more than the “natural” action to repay the debt she owed him.
“…………….”
[………….]
They glared at each other again. It was much the same as what had happened in the hall earlier, but now a critical difference set it apart.
In this place, there was no board game creator they needed to mind, nor any other curious onlookers.
In the razor-sharp atmosphere that felt as if it would explode at the slightest provocation,
Creak!
“Y-Young Master! Y-You must be hungry, so I brought the snacks y-you like…?”
“……….”
[………….]
“? What are you two looking at, y-you bit*hes? I’m not giving anything to you, you who bother the Young Master.”
…And there stood maid Sally who was smiling as she spoke.
All anyone could do was hope Kyle Byron would return soon.
Peeya held its breath with all its might.
***
Time passed, and the sun went down.
Slowly, darkness blanketed the land, but only in Geass did another sun rise.
Normally, the artificial sun was not raised out of consideration for the residents’ daily routines, but today was different.
Countless nobles and influential figures had gathered due to the invitations that had been sent throughout the Empire.
“This is exciting. When was the last time one of the Six Great Magic Towers sent out such a grand invitation?”
“About three years ago, the Agni Magic Tower sent one asking for help from the Duchy. But this is the first time they’ve sent such a formal and cordial invitation.”
“I heard from my grandfather that more than a hundred years ago, the Arkhe Magic Tower sent invitations across the entire Empire, using a giant board game as bait.”
“I see. So it’s the Arkhe Magic Tower again…”
Those who received the invitation from the Magic Tower were all powerful nobles, wealthy merchants, famous adventurers, and other magic tower members. Every single one of them was well-known or highly influential.
In essence, it was the result of mobilizing Tower Master Olphin’s extensive network and the brand value of the Arkhe Magic Tower.
After all, it was one of the Six Great Magic Towers, so they had the power to gather people of this caliber.
Of course, such an effort didn’t come without a price.
“I’ve heard that the Arkhe Magic Tower has been running a significant deficit in recent years. It seems like they’ve overreached with this.”
“Are they trying to recreate the trend from a hundred years ago? How outdated. With all the other entertainment and attractions in the Empire, board games? It’s bound to be that game where you capture the opposing king, isn’t it?”
“Is there any other board game besides that? Anyway, this is perfect. If their deficit worsens after this, they’ll have no choice but to seek outside help. I’m curious to see how much we can squeeze out of them.”
Merchants who were eager to exploit the Arkhe Magic Tower’s struggles.
“Even though I accepted the invitation and came, this is quite unpleasant. To think we’d be lumped together with these merchants and adventurers with no real standing. What do they take us for?”
“The Magic Tower must be desperate. If this event turns out to be unimpressive, we might as well cut off the donations we’ve been sending to the Arkhe Magic Tower. This visit will provide us with the perfect justification.”
“To make such a fuss over a mere board game, how disgraceful. Tsk.”
Nobles who were clearly displeased with the fact that so many people had been gathered.
“Haha, how long has it been? I don’t think we’ve met since the last conference.”
“Indeed. Shall we move over there and continue our conversation?”
“Hmm. The Tower’s announcement is about to start soon, though…”
“A slight delay won’t hurt, will it? It’s probably the same board game from a hundred years ago anyway.”
“You’re probably right about that. Haha!”
And then there were those who showed no interest in what the Arkhe Magic Tower was planning and instead focused solely on networking with other nobles and influential figures.
It was not as though only those who held pure goodwill or interest had set foot in the Arkhe Magic Tower. If the upcoming announcement displeased them or fell short of their expectations, they would deal a fatal blow to the tower.
However, that did not mean everyone shared the same intent.
“Greetings to His Highness the Prince.”
“It has been a while, Duke Everts. To think so many people would gather in one place. This is the first time I have seen such a sight in my life.”
“I feel the same way, Your Highness.”
“Duke Grandel as well? Indeed, this is quite the interesting matter. What about you all? I would like to hear from those at the other Magic Towers.”
“The Astron Magic Tower always wishes for Arkhe to regain its former glory.”
“Stop spouting nonsense. You were the ones most desperately hoping it would collapse.”
“…Please mind your words in the presence of His Highness. It is embarrassing to share the title of Archmage with you.”
“Suit yourself.”
“You little son of a—”
There was a circular lecture hall prepared in the first-floor hall of the Arkhe Magic Tower.
Even in that space, arranged with seats and refreshments for honored guests from all over, a strict hierarchy still existed.
Near the center, where an illusion was being prepared, the closest and lowest seats were occupied by adventurers or merchants. Beyond them, the seats gradually increased in height, with nobles sitting according to their rank.
And above all those seats, in a separate area suspended in midair that provided the best view of the entire hall and the illusion, sat the most exalted individuals.
They included the Empire’s Third Prince, Duke Everts and Duke Grandel, Marquis Lutenhark, and the two Archmages of the Astron Magic Tower and the Glessia Magic Tower.
Although each person there was influential enough to stir the Empire, the situation turned out to be quite chaotic.
“Please, try to maintain some dignity!”
“No, I refuse.”
“Aaaagh!!”
The two Archmages looked as though they were about to grab each other by the hair as they fought.
“That looks rather tasty.”
“That is why I ate it.”
“…As expected, you eastern hicks have no self-control when it comes to food.”
“Haha, surely that is better than those insufferable western snobs, is it not?”
“Hohoho.”
“Hahahaha.”
The two dukes, who shared a traditionally competitive relationship and were already afflicted by regional antagonism, laughed even as they ground their teeth at each other.
“Marquis Lutenhark, which Archmage do you think will win?”
“…I… really… have… no… idea…”
“Indeed. I did not expect much from you either.”
“…….”
“Now, do not look so sullen.”
That was how the Prince and Marquis Lutenhark ended up making idle conversation.
At a glance, their behavior and remarks did not seem fitting for those who should have been seriously concerned about the Empire’s future.
However, they were freer than anyone else to act as they wished, precisely because of their lofty status.
They were not in front of the First or Second Princes, who were embroiled in the struggle for the throne. Despite their growling at each other, Everts and Grandel were deeply tied together financially. The two Archmages had been friends since childhood, and as for Marquis Lutenhark, he was personally close to the Third Prince.
Because they were all well aware of one another’s circumstances, they merely maintained a bit of decorum; their actual conduct remained thoroughly unrestrained.
Of course, if the nobles or others below had seen such behavior, they would have all become immediately solemn, but that was not the case here.
Who knew how long they had carried on like that?
Then, the Third Prince, who had been watching the two dukes and the two Archmages bicker while enjoying his refreshments, suddenly turned his head.
“He has arrived. Tower Master Olphin.”
“Greetings to Your Highness the Prince, and to the rest of you as well.”
“Ahem, ahem! It has been some time, Tower Master Olphin.”
“Olphin is here now. Let us stop this, you peeping creep.”
“That means…!! Ugh, I cannot believe someone like you is the master of the venerable Glessia Tower….”
As soon as the host of the gathering Archmage Olphin appeared, the dukes’ argument and the Archmages’ scuffle both came to an end.
They did not suddenly turn solemn just because Olphin was there, but at least they felt compelled to restrain themselves in front of the host.
Among them, Duke Nicholas who had remained silent up to that point approached Olphin first.
It was as though he intended to confirm something important.
“Tower Master, is that kid’s preparation complete?”
“After what we discussed earlier, everything was perfect. He was actually trembling.”
“Trembling…? I cannot imagine that.”
“He was excited, saying that everyone would soon come to appreciate the charm of board games.”
“Huh.”
What could their conversation possibly mean? Since when had Tower Master Olphin and Duke Nicholas grown so close? And who was this “kid” they kept mentioning?
The third prince had plenty of questions, but with a smile, he chose to ask only one.
“By the way, is it really fine for you to be here? It’s almost time for the event to start.”
“Thank you for your concern, Your Highness. But I’m not the main figure anyway.”
“Huh…?”
“The true protagonist… is someone else.”
If Olphin had sent out invitations under the name of the Tower and as an Archmage, and they had all gathered here in the tower’s hall, yet he wasn’t the star of the event…then who on earth was the protagonist?
At Olphin’s words, the prince, Duke Grandel, Marquis Lutenhark, and the two Archmages all looked down curiously toward the center of the hall.
“——Thank you all for waiting!”
From the center of the hall, where hundreds of nobles, merchants, and influential figures were watching, a young man walked out confidently. He spread his arms wide as he shouted.
“My name is Kyle Byron, a board game creator.”
“A board game… creator? Not a mage of the tower?”
“Wait, did he say Byron? As in the Byron family? I don’t recall that name… maybe a third son or some collateral branch?”
“Have you not heard? A month ago, the second son…”
“What?”
“Anyway, are they seriously letting some greenhorn like him take the lead? This speaks volumes about Arkhe’s standards.”
The reactions were far from favorable. That much was expected and, in fact, anticipated.
Even as the murmurs of disdain reached him, Kyle Byron merely smiled.
“Since everyone has been waiting, I’ll skip the long-winded introductions. Now then…”
Vwoom.
From Kyle Byron’s outstretched hands, light and darkness began to rise.
It was a basic spell that any mage from Arkhe’s tower could perform.
But then—
“What the…!!”
Clang.
The Third Prince, though his talent for magic was not exceptional, noticed it immediately.
Kyle Byron had absolutely no aptitude for magic. Naturally, he wasn’t a mage, yet he was using magic from Arkhe Magic Tower.
In that moment, as the prince unconsciously rose from his seat and fixed his gaze on Kyle Byron—
“Shall we begin?”
Clap.
With a single clap, light and darkness converged. Magic was manifesting from the hands of someone without the ability to wield it.
As the light and darkness coalesced, they created an intense flash. The brilliant radiance filled the entire hall, and while a few managed to endure it, most of the distinguished guests in the hall shielded their eyes.
By the time they opened their eyes again—
“…What is this?”
Something had risen in the center of the hall, where there had been nothing but bare floor before.
Three towers rose. They were strange and majestic at the same time, with a wide flat space at their tops.
And stone tablets came down from the three towers that were forming a triangle.
Boom!! Boom!! Boom!!!
Arkhe’s illusions were not supposed to have physical form. No sound, no vibration. Yet this felt so vivid, so real.
Faced with these changes, the entire hall fell into stunned silence.
Standing atop a platform floating in midair, Kyle Byron flashed a mischievous grin.
“From this moment forward, I invite all of you… to the board game of mages.”
A board game where anyone could become a mage.
A game of dreams and illusions.
Leave a Reply