Two magicians, a guardian, and a secret society face off.
Stella couldn’t help but wonder why there was even a role called “Secret Society” if they were just going to reveal half their identities from the start. If they were going to be this obvious, what was the point of moving in secret?
But she figured she could save that feedback for after the game was over.
First, Stella used a Mana Potion to restore Olfin’s health, then continued to play her cards.
“I’ll use the Magic Shop.”
<Magic Shop>. Flip a card from the deck for each player, and starting with the player who used the card, everyone picks a card in clockwise order.
Stella was aiming for another Mana Potion or Blink. For Olfin, a Magic Missile would also work.
Either way, she had to save Olfin, who was down to just 2 health.
*Flip*
‘Nice.’
The cards drawn were Mana Potion, Blink, Magic Missile, and Meteor.
Without hesitation, Stella took the Mana Potion, Olfin took the Magic Missile, Shisha took the Meteor, and Bantain took Blink.
Olfin probably took the Magic Missile because he could use it as Blink anyway, and to prevent Shisha and Bantain, who had threatening abilities, from getting too many Magic Missiles.
Stella immediately used the Mana Potion to restore Olfin’s health to 3, then used the Magic Missile on Bantain.
“Oops, that was the card I just picked.”
Of course, Bantain used the Blink he just got from the Magic Shop to dodge.
As expected. Well then, now───
“…………….”
“Stella?”
“……I’ll end my turn.”
──This card, I should save it for later.
It might seem like I’m looking too far ahead, but as a member of the Secret Society, it’s necessary to aim for victory.
For now, I’ll just have to protect Olfin as much as possible until the opportunity arises.
Olfin’s turn came around, and after drawing two cards, he said:
“Hmm, quite an interesting card. I’ll equip the <Wyvern Staff>.”
“A weapon card……?”
“This will increase the range of my Magic Missile.”
Originally, Magic Missile could only target players directly adjacent, one space away.
But the <Wyvern Staff> Olfin equipped increased the range to two spaces.
In a game with more players, that might not be a big deal, but with only four players, it meant everyone was now a potential target.
Even Bantain, who was previously out of range.
“And I’ll use <Magician's Duel> on Shisha.”
“Magician’s Duel? Olfin, what’s that?”
“It’s where the designated opponent and I discard one Magic Missile card each. If you can’t discard anymore, you lose one health.”
“……Tch.”
<Magician's Duel> inevitably consumes multiple Magic Missile cards.
It’s the most efficient card against Shisha, who has no limit on how many Magic Missiles she can use in a turn.
“I’ll just take the loss. I’ll lose one health, right?”
“Are you intentionally saving them?”
“Olfin can’t kill me this turn anyway, so I’m not going to waste Magic Missiles over one health.”
Shisha’s health was at 4. Even if it dropped to 3, Olfin couldn’t kill her.
With that reasoning, she refused the <Magician's Duel>, and it was a pretty effective decision.
“Then I’ll equip <Chaos Magic> on you.”
“What? Olfin, not you, but me?”
“<Chaos Magic> can be equipped on anyone. Read the effect.”
“……Are you insane?”
<Chaos Magic>. Its effect is simple and straightforward.
The player equipped with Chaos Magic flips a card from the deck at the start of their turn before drawing.
If the card has a circle symbol in the bottom right corner, the magic activates, and the player loses 3 health.
If it’s another symbol, the magic is passed to the next player. It’s literally a roulette.
Coincidentally, Shisha, who was down to 3 health after the Magician’s Duel, was now at risk of being eliminated.
“I’ll end my turn here. Now, let’s test your luck.”
“………….”
Shisha’s hand trembled slightly at Olfin’s smile, but she quickly grabbed the top card of the deck.
True to her personality, she flipped it without hesitation.
The card was <Mana Potion>.
And the symbol was.
“Ah……crap!!”
“……Oh dear, now I’m in danger.”
Diamond.
Shisha threw an uppercut into the air with a cheer, and Bantain, with a bitter smile, moved the Chaos Magic card in front of himself.
After that, he drew two cards, and the rest was the same as the first turn.
“Magic Missile, Magic Missile!”
“Seems like there’s a bit of emotion in that, huh?”
“Because of you, I almost got eliminated!”
Thanks to Shisha Glesia’s character effect, Magic Missiles were fired at the Guardian and Olfin.
Fortunately, thanks to Stella’s magic shop and Olfin drawing more cards, they didn’t lose any health, but Olfin’s cards were almost depleted.
Satisfied with that, Shisha declared the end of her turn.
“………Oh no.”
Bantain, still squinting, flipped over a card with a circle.
Chaos Magic activated, and Bantain, who was left with only 1 out of 4 health, laughed awkwardly.
It seemed like he didn’t have a Mana Potion in his hand.
“I didn’t use Meteor just in case. You should be grateful.”
“Of course, I am deeply grateful, Archmage Shisha.”
Meteor is a card that shoots Magic Missiles at all players except the user. It was also a card Shisha had taken from the magic shop.
Normally, she would have used it immediately to reduce Olfin’s health, but she didn’t because she thought Bantain might get eliminated due to Chaos Magic.
That thought turned out to be correct, avoiding a 1 vs 2 situation.
“But it only delayed the inevitable.”
“What?”
“Anyway, there’s nothing more I can do.”
“What? Hey!”
Bantain, whose hand was quite tangled, ended his turn by shooting a Magic Missile at Olfin.
As soon as it was Stella’s turn.
“Magic Missile.”
“That’s Blink.”
“Then I’ll use Magic Missile again.”
“Huh? Archmage Stella, what are you………Oh.”
“I’ll equip Dragon Heart.”
Dragon Heart, the weapon Stella had saved from the previous turn.
While Olfin’s Wyvern Staff increased range, Dragon Heart kept the range at 1 but had a special ability.
Dragon Heart
<Can use Magic Missile as many times as desired.>
An ability similar to Shisha’s character ability.
Thus, the second Magic Missile targeted Bantain.
“I surrender. I can’t block anymore.”
“Hey! Old man Bantain!”
“Do you have time to get mad at me? Archmage Stella will probably target Archmage Shisha next.”
“Anyway, that old hag doesn’t have many cards───”
“Bang’s rule. The player who eliminates a magician can immediately draw 3 cards from the deck.”
“──Gulp.”
“And with the Support Magic I just drew, I’ll draw 3 more cards.”
The simple yet powerful ability of Support Magic to draw 3 cards. Thanks to that, Stella quickly replenished her hand with 5 cards and targeted Shisha.
Magic Missile. Magic Missile. Magic Missile.
The deck has an overwhelming ratio of Magic Missiles and Blinks compared to special cards. Most of the drawn cards were those.
“Is this even fair!?”
Leaving behind Shisha’s last words, which felt like a punch to the gut.
Shisha also had a few Blinks, so Stella used almost all her cards to eliminate Shisha and drew 3 more cards.
Only 1 Magic Missile remained in her hand.
The drawn cards were Magic Missile, Magic Missile, Blink.
This was Stella’s last chance.
‘If I don’t finish it this turn.’
Who knows what variables might arise from the cards Olfin draws. It was certain to finish it this turn.
Olfin’s health was now 2 after being attacked once by Bantain.
With only the Guardian and the Secret Society left.
Stella aimed at Olfin.
“Magic Missile.”
“Likewise, Magic Missile.”
Olfin’s character ability turns Magic Missiles into Blinks.
Now, only two Magic Missiles remained in hand, and Olfin had only 1 card.
Without delay, she fired the second Magic Missile.
“Magic Missile……!”
“This time, I’ll use Blink.”
“……!!”
Who would have thought he’d block both.
If at least one had hit, the remaining Magic Missile could have finished it.
But now, the answer was nowhere to be seen.
Master Olfin had no cards left. Naturally, he couldn’t dodge the attack. But all Stella had left was one Magic Missile and one Blink.
This time, should she just pass the turn and hope for luck?
‘In the end.’
Could she not even beat Olfin in a mere board game?
As Stella clenched her teeth, entrusting victory or defeat to luck rather than her own skill.
‘………Huh?’
Standing by the table, watching the Archmages play Bang, Kyle Byron was… laughing.
At Stella.
‘He’s not… mocking me, right?’
She didn’t know much about Kyle Byron, but she knew he was dead serious about board games. He wasn’t the type to laugh at a player in a tight spot.
Then…
Is there a way?
‘A way to turn this situation around.’
But even if there was a way, all she had left was Magic Missile and Blink.
With this, she couldn’t do anything………
“………….”
“Stella, will you end your turn?”
“……I’ll use Magic Missile.”
“There’s no way to block it now. This will leave me with 1 HP. Anything else………?”
“No, nothing.”
“Huh?”
“I’ll shoot Magic Missile at myself.”
“What!?”
Targeting herself? What kind of move was that? Was that even possible?
The ever-composed Olfin’s expression finally showed a hint of panic.
<Magic Missile>
<Attacks a player within range.>
“Of course, I’m within range too.”
She could aim her staff at herself and fire the spell.
Olfin’s eyes widened in shock at the sudden self-harm.
“And then I’ll dodge it with Blink.”
“What on earth…?”
Shooting herself, then dodging it.
In the end, she just wasted two cards for nothing.
If she had targeted Olfin, she could have reduced his HP and used Blink to dodge his attack next turn.
But Stella…
“……So this was it.”
With trembling eyes, she looked at Kyle Byron, who was smiling as if to say, “That’s the answer.”
Having used all her cards, Stella reached for the deck.
“Wait, Stella. Why are you trying to draw a card?”
“Because I can.”
“What do you mean? There’s no such rule……….”
<Great Prophet, Stella Varnicion>
<If you have no cards in hand, immediately draw one card from the deck.>
“………Ah.”
That was Stella’s character ability, which had been completely unnoticed until now.
Unlike Olfin, Shisha, or Bantain, it didn’t fit the prophet concept or align with Astron’s magic, but…
It was a special gift Kyle had prepared for Stella, who had been utterly crushed by Olfin.
“Draw, Mana Potion.”
She used it on herself. Now her hand was empty again.
And she drew a card.
“Draw, Magic Missile.”
She used it on Olfin. His HP dropped to 1, and her hand was empty again.
And she drew another card.
“Draw……….”
This ability could be incredibly powerful if the situation aligned, but it had one flaw.
If she drew <Mana Potion> or <Magic Missile>, it was fine, but if she drew <Blink>, she couldn’t use it immediately.
Then she’d have to pass her turn without being able to activate her character ability.
‘In the end, it’s all luck. Relying on luck, but……….’
Why was it?
In this situation, where she was pushing her ability to its limits…
Even though it was the same as relying on luck, Stella felt her heart racing like crazy without any sense of despair.
“…………….”
“………….”
“……………….”
Bantain, Shisha, and Olfin’s eyes were all fixed on Stella’s hand.
On the card she held, which could be her last.
With an indescribable feeling, Stella drew the card.
“………Magic Missile.”
“……Oh no.”
Guardian Olfin, eliminated.
Which meant…
“With this, the Secret Society’s Stella has won!”
“That was a pretty good play. Congrats, old lady. Guess you didn’t waste all those years.”
“As expected of Archmage Stella Varnicion. That was an excellent play.”
“………Stella.”
“Ol, fin.”
“I lost. It’s your victory.”
“………!!”
It was just a board game, after all.
But it was also the only moment since her master’s death that Stella Varnicion had defeated Olfin Glassburn.
Stella, amidst her overwhelming emotions.
“……Kyle Byron.”
“Yes, Lady Stella.”
“It’s fun…… really fun, this board game. It opened my eyes.”
“I’m just glad you enjoyed it.”
Quietly.
She shed tears.
*
‘Was she just crying?’
Stella, who had won at Bang and then disappeared somewhere alone.
She seemed to drop something like water while bowing her head, but I decided to pretend not to notice.
‘Still, should I say she’s truly an Archmage? She’s quick to catch on.’
Bang, or rather, using Magic Missile to shoot herself and activate Blink to trigger her character’s ability.
Even if you’ve played the game multiple times and got the hang of it, pulling off such a play in the first game—truly, she deserves to be called an Archmage.
Even after witnessing a large-scale spell earlier, this aspect made the greatness of an Archmage even more apparent.
“Master Olfin, what do you think? Is this quality sufficient?”
“An excellent board game. Personally, I find it more enjoyable than Abracadabra.”
“It’s a game that requires strategy more than probability, after all.”
“I found it quite good too. It would make a nice pastime.”
“It truly exceeds expectations. Kyle Byron.”
“Thank you, everyone.”
Good. If the Archmages have given their praise, then this should be sufficient.
Still, there were changes like removing the numbers from the card symbols.
“Could you play a few more rounds? There might be some rule oversights.”
“Sure. If even we can’t find any, then it’s practically flawless.”
“Hmm……… I have some work to attend to…….”
“Archmage Olfin, it’s a fun board game, wouldn’t you like to play a bit more?”
“Ah, no. I have some things to do.”
“Thank you all! Then let’s play for about 5 hours lightly! I’ll join in too!”
“………Huh?”
“Hmm?”
“……This is why I declined.”
“By the way, could you bring Tower Master Stella? Originally, Bang is much more fun with 5 players than 4──”
“…………….”
Thus, dragging Stella, who hadn’t even wiped her tears, we played Bang for 7 hours.
No issues arose, and satisfied, we began selling it the very next day throughout the Gias Territory.
[To the Creator of the Board Game Bang.
Let me get straight to the point. This board game is heavily magician-centric. While the game’s completeness is admirable, like the previous Abracadabra, it seems too biased towards magic. While magic is indeed a convenient and excellent ability, it is not the only solution. I understand that the background setting of Bang involves a guardian protecting the city, a magician attacking it, and a secret society moving in the shadows, but the attackers of the city do not necessarily have to be magicians for the plot to make sense. The fact that all weapons and artifacts are magical items seems to reveal the creator’s magic-prioritizing ideology.
Given that your board game has a significant impact on the Empire, you should pay attention to these aspects. My suggestion is to incorporate Aura and Knights. Originally, when it comes to weapons, swords or spears are much more realistic than staves, and attacks could be replaced with swordsmanship instead of Magic Missile. Aura is also an ability as useful as, if not more than, magic, so if you are thinking correctly, you should revise the board game Bang to release a new version centered around Aura and Knights───]
“………….”
……Received a 5700-character letter.
