An overwhelming illusion that captivated the entire audience.
The flames conjured by the prince, the chunks of ice created by the marquis, and the lightning strike unleashed by the duke.
Each one seamlessly intertwined with their movements, making it feel less like a mere “illusion within a board game” and more like real magic they were casting themselves.
As the spectators who were overwhelmed by awe voiced their astonishment and immersed themselves in watching Abracadabra,
A woman standing in the now nearly emptied space where only two Archmages and the Duke of the East remained closed her eyes and murmured.
“Impressive.”
“The Tower Master’s words are true. This is truly remarkable.”
“Well, Duke, I was referring to something else entirely.”
“Something else…?”
Stella Burnishion. The great Archmage and the Tower Master of Astron Tower, one of the Six Great Magic Towers.
Though blind, she saw the world more clearly than anyone else. She spoke softly.
“Of course, the illusions from Olphin and Arkhe Magic Tower are remarkable, but in the end, they’re just embellishments.”
“Embellishments, you say.”
“Bringing illusions into the realm of experience is certainly worthy of applause, but ultimately, the reason His Highness and the others are so immersed… is because of the game itself.”
“Abracadabra… You mean the one that young man created.”
“I pride myself on knowing a vast array of knowledge, yet I have never heard of these rules before. And I’m sure the same goes for the Ice Princess beside me, doesn’t it?”
“…Did you really have to call me by my academy nickname, you damn—”
“Am I wrong?”
“Ugh, whatever. I’ve never heard of anything remotely similar.”
A blue-haired woman sighed. She propped her chin on her hand and waved dismissively in frustration.
Though she was the sole Archmage of Glacia Magic Tower, she was an eccentric who had refused the title of Tower Master. She scowled.
Yet despite the fierce glares directed at her, Stella remained composed with her eyes closed as she looked down upon the board game hall filled with dazzling illusions.
“The number of spells allowed by rank, the risks and rewards of high-ranked magic, the ability to observe and count an opponent’s spells, the limited means of recovery, the uncertainty of outcomes forcing players to cast spells with bated breath….all of it.”
“Hmm.”
“Honestly, we’ve played way too many board games, right? It felt like the scene had gotten a little stale.”
A board game where players moved their pieces to target the enemy king. Kill the King.
Kyle used to call Kill the King a “chess-like game”, but in reality, it was the only board game recognized across the entire empire. It was an accepted form of culture even among the nobility.
It had already been several centuries since Kill the King first became known. By now, even the identity of its creator was nearly impossible to determine.
And personally, Stella Burnishion had never been fond of Kill the King.
If you think about it, it’s just a game of memorizing possibilities.
At first glance, Kill the King seemed to require genius-level strategy and skill, but when analyzed thoroughly, it was ultimately a game of memorization.
The starting positions of the pieces were fixed, their movement directions and distances were strictly defined, and there were no probabilities or external variables to consider.
As long as a player memorized the correct moves for any given situation, they could win regardless of who the opponent was. At higher levels, it simply became a battle of who had memorized more patterns.
As a result, over time, Kill the King became a game played by only a select few. Once a player reached a certain level, it was difficult to find anything new in it.
For that reason, Stella Burnishion had lost interest. In fact, any mage of a certain level likely felt the same way.
But what about that Abracadabra board game?
In the end, it’s still a counting game. But…
Unlike Kill the King, this game inevitably forced players to rely on probability. Penalties and rewards for that probability were also clearly established.
Furthermore, there was even the existence of a hidden spell that could be used when a player’s health dropped to one.
The sheer level of completion was so impressive that even Stella couldn’t help but admire it.
And the fact that it can only be played here… That’s its weakness.
Abracadabra was a game that could only be played within the Arkhe Magic Tower, where illusions could be conjured and maintained.
Though Stella had dismissed it as a mere side feature, in reality, the illusions of the Arkhe Magic Tower were an indispensable part of Abracadabra. The entire game had been designed with illusions as a fundamental premise.
It could be adapted into a standard board game, but that would require giving up the illusions. And without them, it would be nothing more than a hollow imitation.
Even the most noble blood in the empire would have to come to the Arkhe Magic Tower if they wished to experience the true Abracadabra. That was the key.
On top of that, the tower had even prepared specialized artifacts to simulate vibrations and heat, further enhancing the immersion.
Beneath the dazzling illusions and effects lay the true intent of the board game.
The Arkhe Magic Tower was genuinely attempting to revive the trend of a hundred years ago.
“…Kyle Byron, huh.”
And that was why Stella sighed. Just as the other Archmage had mocked, she sincerely wished for the downfall of the Arkhe Magic Tower.
But that was merely her personal desire; she had no intention of plotting against them or taking any action. She had simply hoped the Arkhe Magic Tower would collapse on its own.
But after analyzing Abracadabra, she was certain of one thing.
The Arkhe Magic Tower would rise again.
With the unknown genius, Kyle Byron, and the board game he had created at its center.
“…Is that thing really okay? Tower Master Stella suddenly has a serious expression on her face.”
“Ah, it’s fine. Stella, that bit*h, is always so full of herself and gets lost in her own thoughts. Isn’t that just how the Astron Magic Tower is?”
“…Please refrain from discriminating against towers. Isn’t the Glaicia Magic Tower also not just an ice cream factory?”
“That’s right. It’s not ice cream; it’s a shaved ice factory.”
“You’re nitpicking every little thing…”
“Mhmm~ Get angry, get angry~”
“You fu*king bit*h.”
Just as Stella grabbed a handful of the other’s blue hair and they were on the verge of another epic hair-pulling battle between two Archmages—
Grand Duke Grandel, who had been watching the two Archmages with a somewhat complicated expression, rose from his seat.
“Then, if you’ll excuse me first.”
“Your Excellency? Ah, please stop pulling my hair.”
“Let go first, you crazy bitch.”
“I don’t want to interfere, so I’ll be going down. Abracadabra is about to end, and if I want to participate in the next game, I need to move quickly, no?”
“[Dragon Breath]!!!”
At the same time as the prince, who had become more enthusiastic than anyone, shouted that, a dragon that Olphin had once hunted appeared.
Because feedback suggested that shooting its breath from behind the players, rather than from the sky, felt more realistic, the dragon revealed its grandeur as if to embrace the prince, then unleashed its breath.
“Game over! The winner is His Highness, the Third Prince!!”
“”””””””Waaaaaaah!!!!””””””””
“We’ll now be accepting participants for the next game as well!”
“Oh dear, I need to get moving if I don’t want to be late… right!”
Thud!
Duke Grandel who was an Aura user descended alone toward the board game arena, and the people gathered in the hall erupted in a frenzy unlike at the very beginning.
At that moment, the Archmage of the Glacia Magic Tower who had been pondering how to most effectively yank out Stella Burnishion’s hair suddenly narrowed her eyes.
“…Huh.”
It wasn’t at the Third Prince who insisted on playing one more round.
Nor was it at the Duke Grandel who was determined to participate.
Nor at Kyle Byron who was smiling in the center of it all.
Rather, she focused on someone standing even farther back—
Beyond the tower mages who were desperately controlling the illusion out of everyone’s sight—
Past the water spirit synced with the spirit mage—
Right next to the female mage said to be Olphin’s disciple.
A girl in a maid’s uniform.
“What is that…?”
The Ice Archmage who was considered the highest rank among the eight Archmages hardened her expression.
Because from a glance, there was something bizarrely gifted about the maid who looked as though she’d just begun learning magic…
…And a vow that was practically a curse.
***
Calling Abracadabra’s demonstration a mere success would be an understatement—
It was such an unprecedented mega-hit.
“T-Tower Master! The number of reservations for Abracadabra has surpassed four digits! More than 90% of those who’ve played once are making repeat bookings!”
“Over a hundred people have newly pledged sponsorship or increased their donations. We won’t know the exact figures until next month, but the upfront sponsorship money we’ve already received is over thirty percent of our previous total!”
“A major merchant guild in the capital is requesting to meet with you, Tower Master! From what I hear, they plan a massive investment in Abracadabra…!!”
In Olphin’s office, which had been bogged down by deficit reports for years, voices flew back and forth in excitement.
The difference this time was that most of it concerned new inflows of capital.
Olphin who was trying to calm his excitement while seated turned her gaze to Adella who was compiling all the documents.
“Adella, how are our finances looking?”
“…We’ve already covered the cost of the artifacts we purchased additionally for Abracadabra and the stockpile expenses. Assuming this trend continues and calculating the amount guests will spend in Geass and the resulting increase in taxes…”
Gulp.
Olphin and all the tower mages present swallowed nervously as they stared at Adella.
It was only natural. This was a huge gamble for the Arkhe Magic Tower to resolve its chronic deficits.
And the outcome could now be confirmed through Adella.
After a moment of concentrated calculation, she nodded.
“While it may be too early to assume a long-term trend, I predict that the Abracadabra trend will continue for at least a month. Based on those assumptions…”
“…And the result?”
“It should cover not only the deficits the tower has accumulated over the past seven years but also our expenses for roughly the next five years.”
“…Fantastic!!!”
“F-Finally!”
“We’re in the clear now! Our magic tower can keep going!!”
Forgetting his dignity as Tower Master, Olphin leaped up and punched the air while shouting loudly.
The tower’s mages hugged each other and freely expressed their joy.
Even under the worst-case scenario, that the trend wouldn’t last long, things looked this good.
“Wh-What if it lasts as long as the trend a hundred years ago?”
“In that case, there’s no point in calculating.”
“Why’s that?”
“Because the conditions for a trend now and a hundred years ago are different. But if we go purely by duration… under our current expenditure, that would cover roughly 120 years.”
“One hundred twenty…!!”
That’s enormous. Absolutely unbelievable jackpot.
When the entire tower made its decision and purchased additional artifacts to perfect Abracadabra, everyone still harbored the same lingering anxiety. What if we fail?
But at this moment, all that stood out was Olphin’s foresight in choosing to believe in Abracadabra and in Kyle Byron.
Even Olphin himself seemed overwhelmed with emotion. He took deep breaths as he gazed up at the ceiling.
“…This might have been the best decision of my life.”
There wasn’t a single person who didn’t understand whom he was referring to.
The plan to recreate the trend from a hundred years ago, the concept of Abracadabra as a board game, and even the idea of maximizing the immersive experience. All of it had originated from one young man.
It was the mages of the Arke Magic Tower who had brought it to life, but without him, they wouldn’t have even begun.
Now free from the crushing pressure that the tower might collapse under his leadership, Olphin quietly spoke.
“Kyle Byron… What’s the game creator doing right now?”
“I heard he’s thinking up additional hidden spells after today’s demonstration. Aside from that, he’s focused on mass-producing Kyle Galli.”
“Hah.”
Even after making Abracadabra a huge success, he was already moving on to another board game?
Whether the Prince won or lost, he had used his influence to play Abracadabra twelve times in a row and publicly praised Kyle Byron, further elevating his name.
Normally, one would expect him to be networking among nobles or, like Olphin and the other tower mages, reveling in his success.
Yet Kyle seemed wholly uninterested in social status or wealth. He was devoting himself entirely to board games.
Perhaps it was that level of sincerity, that unyielding dedication, that had made all of this possible.
Olphin who was both baffled and convinced by Kyle’s actions gave a slow nod.
I’d love for him to stay at the tower if possible…
But hope aside, Olphin instinctively knew. Someone who sought to spread board games wouldn’t stay in one place for long.
In that case, the least they could do was support his journey.
Maybe it’s time to have a proper talk with those guys again.
At the very moment, Olphin recalled the two Archmages who had come here to repay Kyle for quite literally saving the magic tower,
Adela, who had been spacing out for a moment, suddenly sensed something and stood up.
“Then I’ll go see Kyle Byron.”
“You’ve been getting along with him quite well lately.”
“Spending hours alone together in a room, huh?”
“Guess you bonded over board games… Oh my.”
Olphin and the other mages chuckled. They were amused by the thought, but Adela carried an odd sense of determination.
For some reason, her expression looked as if she felt a sense of duty.
“I have to protect him from that vile stalker spirit master and that foul-mouthed maid.”
“…Huh?”
“Well, then.”
Even at this very moment, her unease knew no bounds. The water tiger was unpredictable and dangerous, and the maid was a crude woman utterly unfit to be around Kyle Byron.
Only she could truly protect him.
After that unwanted three-way confrontation, Adela had come to a realization. And now, she hurried toward Kyle’s room.
And more than anything else—
—She still hadn’t properly apologized to him.
So this was only natural.
A duty, nothing more.
Purely out of sincerity, with no ulterior motives whatsoever.
Adela believed that without a shred of doubt.
“……”
Throb.
…while desperately ignoring the strange ache in her chest.
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