“Walter is…”
“He passed out.”
“…What on earth did you do?”
“Nothing much. Just played a board game for a bit…”
This time, it wasn’t even that long. Just about 13 hours?
Of course, for a Dwarf whose day was only 8 hours, that’s almost 2 days spent just playing a board game.
‘Isn’t it common sense that board games are fun no matter how long you play them?’
If you think about it, this isn’t punishment. It’s more like a reward.
So, it wasn’t just about having fun playing board games.
“And I heard the story.”
“The story…?”
“About the mechanical devices installed on this table.”
The table where Roderick had sliced Kyle Galli in half with magic.
There were still functional mechanical devices embedded in it.
The quality of each device was crude, as if hastily made.
But when connected, they produced astonishing results.
“Storing specific cards under the bell, and setting up a device to retrieve them when needed. Moreover, if someone else presses it, the bell temporarily doesn’t ring, causing confusion.”
“……”
“I heard that while you were preparing Kyle Galli, Walter brought the table.”
In just a few short minutes.
In that time, he hollowed out the table, made the mechanical devices, assembled them, and inserted them.
Moreover, judging by their functions, it was clear they were made on the spot, not pre-made.
‘Even though he’s played Kyle Galli at Glesia Magic Tower before.’
Kyle Galli, played as a gesture of friendship with the Dwarves.
There were no issues back then, so why is this happening now?
“…That’s why he’s called ‘The Precise Hand.'”
“Is it a Dwarf-style name like Brown Beard?”
“Yes. The Precise Hand, Walter, was known as an eccentric even in the village.”
Charlie sighed.
It seemed like he was revealing something hidden.
“Walter never made weapons or armor, or artifacts. Instead, he really loved gears.”
“Hmm.”
“That’s why he rarely participated in festivals. Frankly, he was a bit of an outcast. Honestly, I never thought Walter would be chosen to come to the continent.”
So, a Dwarf who prefers mechanical devices over weapons or armor.
‘The War’s Hammer was the one who selected the Dwarves.’
The War’s Hammer himself is still underwater. I heard the Emperor is about to officially appoint him as Grandmaster and bring him to the imperial palace.
Thinking about it, not many Dwarves actually wanted to come up to the continent.
‘It’s a completely unfamiliar world.’
Even though they longed for the continent and the real sun, setting off fireworks in their ancestors’ honor.
When the opportunity actually comes, it’s natural to feel scared. Especially since they have to entrust everything to humans, whom they’ve always hated.
Some probably refused just because the continent is teeming with humans.
Among those chosen were Charlie, Green Shoe, Rough Axe, Rais Bakal, and Walter.
The other four are understandable, but why did the War’s Hammer choose Walter?
‘It’s obvious, isn’t it?’
“Mechanical devices.”
“…Human, as a representative of the Dwarves, I will take responsibility and apologize for this incident. Of course, to your brother as well. We decided to learn about the Empire and humans, but for this to happen is truly shameful—”
“No, Charlie.”
“Huh?”
“This is…an opportunity.”
Why didn’t I think of this earlier? Maybe I subconsciously had a fixed perception of Dwarves.
I should have had deep conversations with each Dwarf from the start.
Aren’t these the masters who can effortlessly produce thousands of miniatures with just five people?
“First, let me ask, why did Walter make mechanical devices…”
“Did he commit a foul?”
“…It really wasn’t about the money. Knowing that guy, it was probably just for bragging rights.”
“Bragging, huh.”
“That guy probably thought he’d win and proudly show off his machine. Especially in front of humans… tsk.”
“Alright, even better.”
“Did he cheat in front of me?”
“Of course, it’s wrong. I was pretty angry when I noticed it too.”
“But when I thought about it carefully, it wasn’t something to just get mad over.”
“Sins can be forgiven, after all.”
“How?”
“With more ‘good deeds’!”
“…Human, your eyes look kind of scary.”
“Charlie, would it be okay if we took care of Walter’s safety on our side for the next few days?”
“…Are you planning to kill him? With a board game?”
“Ah, what are you talking about? It’s just a small favor. With a bit of atonement added. I’ll handle my brother’s matters on my end too.”
“Uh… sure.”
If Charlie’s eyes looked like a villager offering a sacrifice to the demon king, maybe it’s just my imagination.
Anyway, I got permission from Charlie, the dwarf representative.
“It’s a chance to make what I’ve only imagined a reality.”
I’ve made quite a few board games by now. If you count the escape room board game currently being made at Astron Magic Tower, even more.
So now, I’m ready. Even if the chances of success are iffy, it’s time to give it a shot.
A board game cafe.
A paradise.
*
“That’s the gist of it.”
“Uh…”
“How is it?”
“Well, it’s great! Yeah, absolutely great!”
Walter desperately agreed with the human crouching in front of him as soon as he regained consciousness.
He had just escaped the board game hell by passing out, and he had no idea when this grinning human might restart that hell.
‘I just wanted to show off my machine in front of humans!’
How did it come to this? Was asking for the wallet too much? No, but it was that human’s brother who brought up the wallet first, right?
Was it because I got too excited after leaving that stuffy dwarf village?
The stuffiness wasn’t physical. It was the suffocating attitude of the dwarfs who wouldn’t acknowledge his mechanical devices and kept hushing him.
‘Only forging and smelting, making weapons and armor makes you a true dwarf?’
He couldn’t say it out loud, but shouldn’t dwarfs progress as much as humans have built empires? How long are they going to stick to outdated methods from the age of war?
That’s why Walter was an outcast in the village, and the only one he could vent to was the War’s Hammer, whom he occasionally met outside the village.
The oldest and most elderly dwarf, the War’s Hammer, listened seriously to Walter and spoke of the future of dwarfs.
That’s why he recommended Walter as one of the five dwarfs going to the continent. So Walter thought he’d show his mechanical devices to humans and either learn or show off as much as possible.
‘But that was the only chance I had.’
He couldn’t wander during the day because of the sunlight, and while struggling with the time difference, he rarely got a chance to interact with humans properly. At best, it was just this scary human in front of him.
So he thought that moment, watched by nobles and many humans, was the perfect opportunity.
Now, what’s going to happen to me? Walter, who shuddered at the thought of the board game hell, unconsciously trembled.
Meanwhile, the scary human with a beaming smile crouched in front of Walter.
“I’ll call you Walter.”
“Huh? Oh, yeah! Of course!”
“So, did you understand everything I said so far?”
“Well… uh…”
Board game cafe? Board game room? Anyway, the name isn’t decided yet.
This scary human’s proposal was to stock all the board games humans have ever made…
It was about creating a space.
A space for leisure and play.
“Though, honestly, it seems like this human did most of the work on that board game.”
At first glance, it doesn’t sound too bad, right?
And then… that’s it. What more is there to think about?
More importantly, why are you suddenly telling me all this?
“Then, let me ask you one question. If there’s a flaw in this plan, what would it be?”
“A flaw…?”
Do you really have to say it? I mean, don’t most planners hate hearing about the weaknesses of their plans?
But if I didn’t say something, it felt like I’d be thrown back into board game hell.
Walter desperately racked his brain.
“It’s a really perfect plan, but if I had to say something… space?”
“Correct. We need space. But I’ve already arranged that by talking to my father.”
“Oh… right.”
Well, he *is* the son of a noble family with a vast mansion and territory.
No matter how much space is needed, one word from him would make it happen.
“Then, money?”
“Money, you say?”
“The cost for the people coming…”
“Oh, you’re more knowledgeable than I thought. In the Dwarf Village, money isn’t really a thing, is it?”
“Imperial gold coins are used, though.”
“Money is also a valid point. If it’s too expensive, people won’t come, and if it’s too cheap, that’ll cause problems too. But there are ways around that.”
“…Then what answer are you even looking for?”
In a moment of frustration, Walter blurted out his true thoughts, but then he paled and covered his mouth.
Had he offended this terrifying human? Was board game hell about to begin?
That’s what he thought, but…
“In my opinion, it’s knowledge.”
“Kno…knowledge?”
“Take this board game, for example. Can you tell what kind of board game it is?”
The terrifying human pulled out a deck of cards. Cards with pictures of all sorts of spirits—fire, water, lightning, wind, and more.
Of course, just looking at those cards, you wouldn’t know what kind of board game it is. But…
“Well, if someone explains the rules…”
“Who’s going to explain them?”
“Uh, the staff or… writing it down on paper?”
“Exactly. That’s how it’s done.”
“……..”
Wait, then why did you bring it up as a problem?
He almost got frustrated again, but this time, the terrifying human continued first.
“That’s how it is now.”
“Now…?”
“The board games I’ve made so far are intentionally simple and easy to understand. Like Kyle Galli, which you played earlier, or this card game you’re looking at now. But will it always be like that?”
“……..”
“Starting with Abracadabra, board games are finally becoming popular in the Empire. Soon, new board game creators will emerge.”
“…And the games they make will be different?”
“Most will probably be simple games, but more complex strategy board games will start appearing too. I want to make some as well. Can staff explain all the rules of those complex games, or can they be fully understood just through written instructions?”
That’s… a fair point.
The terrifying human seemed to be preparing not for the present, but for the near future. A future where more complex and challenging games would become common.
Even with Kyle Galli, the rules were so simple that Walter could easily play it.
But what if the rules were complicated?
Could he have played it properly on his first try? Would he have even gotten hooked on it in the first place?
Walter himself was doubtful.
“That’s why I want to create a device to help with that.”
“A device…? You don’t mean a mechanical device, do you!?”
“Exactly. What I ultimately want is a small machine that can be placed on each table. When you select a board game, it will show you the gameplay and rules through a video.”
“Oh, oh…!!”
Walter didn’t know it, but that was a method used in Earth’s board game cafes.
With just a touch, you could easily browse through the rules of hundreds, no, countless types of board games.
Of course, it wasn’t absolutely necessary for running a board game cafe, but it was essential for popularity and helping new players get started.
Naturally, Walter couldn’t just create what Kyle Byron knew right away.
But Kyle Byron’s words alone inspired Walter.
“Yeah, if it’s something like that, you came to the right dwarf! Mechanical devices are my specialty!”
“So, I’d like to ask for your help.”
“Of course! A mechanical device that explains the rules? That’s a fantastic idea!”
“Great! Then, please make it.”
“………Huh?”
“Didn’t you hear me?”
No, wait.
I heard you, but…
“Uh, what?”
“Ah, don’t worry. I’m not expecting perfection from the start. This is a forward-looking development, after all. Just get it done within 10 years or so!”
“Huh?”
“Fighting!”
*Thud.*
With those final words, the terrifying human left the room.
Only now did Walter notice the room was filled with all sorts of tools and metals.
The perfect environment for making mechanical devices.
But environment or not, Walter snapped back to reality and frantically turned the doorknob.
“W-wait a second!”
“……Walter.”
“Charles! Charles, it’s you! Open this door!”
“………Why did you do such a thing, Walter?”
“Charles!?”
“I won’t forget your sacrifice.”
“You sold me out! You sold out a dwarf!”
“I’ll be back in 10 years.”
“Chaaaaaarles!!!!”
*
*Rustle.*
The dice roll. You buy land on a game board set against the backdrop of an entire continent.
It’s been a long time since I last played a board game.
“Remember what you said last time, bro? You said we should play Monopoly together when you got back.”
“……I did.”
“Seeing you bring this along on your way home, I guess you were somewhat interested? I thought you didn’t like board games much. You even suggested playing Kyle Galli first.”
“No, I still don’t really like them.”
“Really?”
The dice roll, you buy land, and you build buildings.
Monopoly, the ultimate capitalist game that even makes siblings grab each other by the collar.
It’s also the poison (?) I spread at the Academy.
“So, bro.”
“…………….”
“Shall we talk for a while?”
Why did you, bro.
Why did you suggest playing a ‘board game’ to the dwarves first, without any other conversation?
Just like with Leisha back then.
“This time, there’s no need to rush back.”
“………….”
So, let’s take it slow.
It’s time for a proper brotherly conversation once again.
To make sure everything is clear this time.
