It all started with something very trivial.
Not something serious, just a simple competition.
“……8 minutes and 19 seconds.”
“How long did Olfin take again?”
“7 minutes and 21 seconds.”
“That’s fine, Stella. You have talent! Since you mainly handle large-scale magic, it’s natural that your multi-casting ability is weaker than mine. You did great! Be proud!”
“Eeeek……!!”
The escape room game I made for Diogenes’ request.
In the end, it was an alternate reality game that solved the request, but if the escape room had only included problems at the level of an Archmage, it could have been a solution too.
Plus, since I already made it once, it would be a waste not to use it.
With that thought, I finished it with high quality, and Stella, who happened to be nearby, showed interest in it.
“8 minutes……hmm……well, it is quite difficult. It makes sense that it took 8 minutes instead of 7.”
“………….”
“But didn’t you say 8 minutes and 19 seconds? That’s still early in the 8-minute range! The 7-minute wall might be tough, but with effort, you can break through! Keep it up!………Oh, didn’t you say this board game ends after one play? Then your record will forever be 8 minutes and 19 seconds!”
“OLFIN GLASSBURNNNN!!!!”
……I didn’t expect it to be about the clear time.
There were already competitions based on escape room board game clear times, but who would’ve thought even Archmages, who solve 1-hour puzzles in under 10 minutes, would care about it.
‘Wait, is it because they’re Archmages?’
Thinking about it, it’s a way for Archmages to compete in multi-casting, after all.
I’m not a magician, so I don’t know, but according to Olfin, multi-casting is what separates the skill levels of magicians.
That thought suddenly brought up a question.
“Should we have others try it too?”
“Creator?”
“Huh? What did you say just now?”
“I originally thought Archmages wouldn’t find much meaning in playing this escape room board game, but since it’s come to this, aren’t you curious about Shisha and Bantain’s clear times? Both of them are about to leave soon, so wouldn’t it be fine to let them try it as a last hurrah?”
It was purely out of curiosity. Frankly, I couldn’t resist the idea of Archmages competing over clear times.
Out of the eight Archmages, four are gathered at the Arkhé Magic Tower. Since this is something that’s usually impossible, if I don’t take this chance, I might not get another opportunity.
‘After all the effort I put into making board games, they’d be grateful if I let them play, right?’
I also thought about the reward of getting to play the board game as a way to get back some of the effort I’ve put in.
But for some reason, Olfin and Stella looked a bit awkward.
“You’re saying you’ll ‘make’ Archmages do it……?”
“Stella, just accept it. The Creator is the kind of person who would say that even in front of His Majesty the Emperor.”
“What’s most amazing is that it’s not even intentional, just a genuinely pure thought.”
“Lady Stella? Master Olfin? What are you whispering about?”
“Nothing at all.”
“………?”
So, I went to find the other two Archmages, Bantain and Shisha.
The results were truly astonishing.
“Bantain……1 minute and 45 seconds?”
“I already knew the rules, so it’s natural that my time is shorter than Archmage Olfin or Archmage Stella.”
“Even so, 1 minute is possible?”
“Well, of course. The magic of Terra Magic Tower requires multi-casting to the extreme.”
“Lady Stella? What does that mean?”
“The magic of Terra Magic Tower, which controls the earth, isn’t just one spell but multiple spells layered together. Even the most basic earth shaping requires…”
“It’s the result of combining various magics, like magic that carves into things, magic that pulls soil upwards, and magic that moves things as desired.”
“That’s also why the number of magicians affiliated with Terra Magic Tower is the smallest. Unlike other towers, they require multi-casting from the basic stages.”
“That means…”
“At least when it comes to multi-casting magic, there’s no magician on the continent who can match the Master of Terra Magic Tower.”
This plain-looking, squinty-eyed young man, who smiles awkwardly, is said to surpass Diogenes, Olfin, Stella… and even that brick man from the imperial capital.
Although it’s only in the field of multi-casting, Olfin once said that the higher a magician’s level, the more powerful their multi-casting becomes.
Thinking that way, Bantain must undoubtedly be an Archmage.
“Huh? But didn’t you say last time that Bantain isn’t suited for combat?”
“Yes, that’s generally the case for our Terra Magic Tower.”
“During the Bang tournament, he created statues and arenas on the spot. If he just applied that to combat, wouldn’t it be overwhelming?”
I still remember how, with a single gesture from Bantain, high-quality marble sculptures and a temple-shaped arena rose from the ground.
It wasn’t pre-made either—he shaped and summoned it on the spot, and the result was that impressive.
It’s hard to understand why he’s considered weak in combat.
At that, Bantain raised the corner of his mouth.
“That’s because Terra Magic Tower’s magic has a clear limitation.”
“Limitation, you say?”
“Requiring multi-casting from the basics means that as your level increases, you need even more powerful multi-casting. That’s why Terra Magic Tower’s magic takes time to cast.”
“Only someone at the level of the Tower Master, like Bantain, can do it with a single gesture. If you watch a high magician’s chanting speed, you’d be yawning.”
“Stella, watch your words. Ahem! Anyway, Terra Magic Tower’s magic takes time. And that time is more than enough for other magicians to target Terra’s magicians.”
“But… even if that’s the case in one-on-one situations, wouldn’t it be overwhelming in war if used with support?”
“That’s not wrong. But if I were to use magicians in war, I’d rather use those from Agni or Arkhé than Terra’s.”
“Ah…”
“That’s why our magic has developed more in architecture and sculpting. It’s just far more useful in that field.”
“In fact, most of the decent architectural structures are the work of Terra Magic Tower.”
In other words, Terra Magic Tower’s magic is awkward for combat.
It requires high-level multi-casting, so it takes time, and the results aren’t overwhelmingly powerful either.
‘Arkhé may not have direct lethality, but its influence in war is overwhelming due to light, darkness, and illusions.’
And I’ve heard of Agni Magic Tower too.
A warlike tower located in the principality between the Empire’s northern region and the Monster Mountain Range.
I heard they completely exclude other fields and focus solely on combat.
It definitely seems better to use Agni’s warmages or Arkhé, which has a more overwhelming influence, than Terra’s magic.
…And so, my conversation with Bantain ended.
But the real problem was the one person left.
“…Lady Shisha, it’s over.”
“It’s not over yet.”
“Um, your time is up.”
“Damn it.”
Shisha Glesia. The Archmage of Glesia Magic Tower, who can freeze vast lands in an instant.
She didn’t escape within the hour.
“Tsk! What a trash… no, a Diogenes-like game.”
“Lady Shisha?”
“It’s annoying, but I expected this outcome. Still, I didn’t think I’d fail to escape entirely.”
“What are you talking about?”
“I don’t know how to do stuff like multi-casting.”
“………Huh?”
Wait, isn’t multi-casting a must for magicians above a certain level?
Olfin, Olfin, did you lie to me?
……With that look in my eyes, I turned to Olfin, who gave a bitter smile and replied.
“Let me tell you, that’s not a characteristic of Glesia’s magic. It’s just that Shisha is special. She’s a genius, in both good and bad ways, the best on the continent.”
“I’ve heard the rumors that she became the youngest Archmage.”
“Kyle Byron, do you know how old that brat is? Probably not. The royal family blocked the release of her age.”
“Huh? Why would they…?”
“Because of the sense of deprivation. That brat is in her mid-20s now.”
“………?”
Wait, what?
I thought she was young, but in her 20s? So she might even be younger than Roderick?
“Before she came along, the youngest in the empire’s history was in their late 50s. And even they were called a once-in-a-lifetime genius.”
“……Is that even possible?”
“Here I am, the person in question, standing right in front of you. What’s the point of doubting now?”
“Anyway, Shisha is a genius beyond common understanding. When she was recognized as an Archmage in her 20s, do you know how many court mages quit out of frustration and a sense of deprivation? That’s why her age was kept a secret from the public.”
“So what does that have to do with not knowing multi-casting? Shouldn’t she be even better at it then?”
“I never needed that kind of thing.”
“Huh?”
“Why bother splitting your thoughts like that? Just do it. You can do it all by feel.”
“Wow……….”
“How about it? Do I seem impressive now?”
“You’re really annoying.”
“What!?”
Becoming an Archmage in her 20s, and with that attitude, it’s no wonder other magicians feel deprived.
For a moment, I felt sorry for the mages of Glesia’s Magic Tower. They had to somehow put that brat in the position of Tower Lord.
It’s not like I’m badmouthing her because she called my board game trash earlier.
Wait, hold on.
“So, if we exclude Shisha, among the Archmages………Stella is dead last!!”
“Please shut your mouth……!!”
“Pfft! No, that’s not what I meant! Isn’t it a bit ambiguous to end the clear time competition with just this one attempt?”
“……Go on.”
“The escape room board game I made isn’t just this one. The quality might be a bit rough, but there are others that Adela drew, so shouldn’t we compete multiple times and average the clear times to determine the real rankings?”
“That’s………true.”
Well, Stella being last right now doesn’t change.
Since it’s come to this, I thought I’d use the Archmages as test players for the escape room board games.
From their perspective, they’d probably clear them in less than 10 minutes, but still.
‘Maybe I can get some unexpected feedback or advice.’
In the end, I’ll release the escape room board games I’ve already made to the public, so refining them now would only benefit me.
The problem is, unlike the games I’ve made so far, escape room board games have a lot of components, making mass production difficult.
The Magic Tower’s workshop could handle it, but Arkhé’s workshop is already running non-stop with the production of Bang and its expansion packs.
I needed another solution.
‘Well, I can think about that slowly.’
Between Leisha’s trauma, making Bang as soon as I returned, hosting a Bang tournament, and solving Diogenes’ request, I was feeling a bit worn out.
The mass production issue of escape room board games? No big deal, just chill and think about it.
With that in mind, I first handed over other escape room board games to the archmages.
“………….”
The next day, after Stella, who had been giving the escape room board game a peculiar look, and the other archmages, who had nothing better to do anyway, played the board game, Stella came to my room.
With a high magician in tow.
“These escape room board games.”
“Lady Stella?”
“We want to make these games at our Astron Magic Tower.”
“Well, that’s great for me, but why?”
“You might only see the fun in the game, but I see another value in it. I felt the need to secure it first.”
“Anyway, I have no reason to refuse……….”
“However, there’s one condition.”
“……Condition?”
“Guarantee Astron Magic Tower’s exclusive rights to the escape room board games we produce.”
“………!!”
“Of course, in return.”
*Thud.*
The high magician behind Stella put down the sack he was carrying.
The sack, almost the size of a human head, was filled with what looked like expensive gems and gold coins.
It was clearly a fortune I had never held in my hands before.
“……Lady Stella, I’m disappointed. Did you think I was someone blinded by money?”
“………….”
“I’ll pretend I didn’t hear this conversation. Please leave.”
“Saquiel.”
“Yes.”
“Lady Stella, how far are you going to mock me───”
*Thud.*
“……Did you bring this with magic? Even so.”
*Thud. Thud.*
“………Uh, Lady Stella?”
*Thud. Thud. Thud.*
*Thudthudthudthudthudthudthudthudthud!!!*
In an instant, the large room was filled with sacks.
Every single sack was packed to the brim with gold, silver, and jewels.
Overwhelmed by the unimaginable scale, I was left speechless as Stella approached me with a serious tone.
“One sack contains 100 million gold. There are 100 sacks.”
“10 billion……!!”
“Not long ago, I told the Grandmaster that even 1 billion gold was a huge amount. This is ten times that.”
10 billion gold.
For a moment, my sense of reality was paralyzed by the sheer amount.
Stella, who had come right in front of me, made eye contact and continued.
“The lord of Astron Magic Tower, Stella Varnicion, requests a deal with board game creator Kyle Byron.”
“………….”
“The deal is for exclusive rights to all future escape room board games produced by Kyle Byron. In return, Astron Magic Tower will take full responsibility for the production of the board games and offer you 10 billion gold.”
“…………….”
“Choose.”
As she spoke, Stella’s eyes were trembling with an indescribable emotion.
