The sudden surge in popularity of Kyle Galli over the past week.
No one could have predicted Kyle Galli’s sudden rise to fame. Not even Kyle himself.
The reason was simple.
Kyle Galli was too rough of a game for the “nobles” to play.
“Don’t you think so, Adela?”
“I don’t quite understand.”
“Frankly speaking, playing Kyle Galli can get intense, and there’s a high chance of getting real injuries. I never thought nobles would enjoy such a game.”
“But you… are also a noble.”
“Ah, that’s a bit of an exception, isn’t it?”
It was part of the reason why I called an emergency meeting in the guest room where I was staying.
I did intend to spread Kyle Galli. In fact, I had already started the mass production process, though it was still lacking.
But I only planned to make Kyle Galli popular among the commoners, not the nobles.
Originally, the noble class was supposed to enjoy Abracadabra and spread its popularity, while Kyle Galli was being mass-produced for the wealthy middle class and commoners who would later visit Arkhé Magic Tower.
In other words, the current situation was far beyond my expectations.
“Master Olfin, how did things turn out like this?”
“Well… hmm.”
Master Olfin, who attended the meeting with Adela, also looked puzzled.
However, having had other magicians investigate how the trend spread, he slowly began to explain.
“At first, when I mentioned it to Stella and Shisha… I only thought of letting a small number of influential people know about the existence of Kyle Galli.”
“I thought so too.”
A week ago, I had thanked him for that idea, thinking it was a good one.
Normally, people wouldn’t even remember the name of a board game creator, but due to the success of Abracadabra, interest in me had grown.
In that situation, I wanted to let people know about Kyle Galli, which I had created, and then contact them once mass production was complete. The original goal was to spread Kyle Galli even to distant noble territories.
That way, even places that would normally take a long time to hear about it could quickly learn about Kyle Galli.
Moreover, from the perspective of nobles and influential people, receiving a call about a game they already knew about was different from receiving one about a game they had never heard of.
Especially if the person recommending Kyle Galli was an Archmage? That alone would be enough to firmly plant Kyle Galli in their memories.
But now, the trend had already taken off far beyond what was expected.
“I heard the main reason was that the wait time for Abracadabra reservations was too long.”
“What do you mean?”
“While waiting for their reserved time for Abracadabra, some nobles tried Kyle Galli, and it gradually spread.”
At first glance, it seemed like a plausible explanation.
But Olfin was still tilting his head in confusion.
“But that’s strange. Gias Territory has been preparing various tourist attractions since the trend 100 years ago. There are even new ones this time, so the nobles’ spare time should be directed there.”
Why were the nobles, who usually prefer elegant and luxurious tourist attractions, drawn to the rather rough Kyle Galli?
Olfin was curious about that very point.
I couldn’t be sure either, but the answer came from an unexpected place.
[Grrr.]
“…What? Really?”
[Grrr.]
“Wait, how do you know that?”
[…]
“Tiger?”
[Grrr.]
“Ah, I see.”
It came from Leisha’s water tiger spirit.
Over the past week, the water tiger had literally been by my side all day, every day, and it had been quite a reliable presence.
At first, it was a bit overwhelming since it even slept on the same bed as me, but surprisingly, hugging it felt cool and not wet at all, which was nice.
Plus, having a water tiger spirit, larger than most people, by my side meant that few people dared to look down on me. Frankly, aside from the creation of Abracadabra, there were probably those who weren’t too pleased with how much attention I was getting.
Anyway, since we were always together, the water tiger was sitting there, hugging one of my legs during the meeting, when suddenly it…
It was a fact I hadn’t even thought of.
[Grr, rrr.]
“That… that’s how it is?”
[Grr.]
“No, it’s not that it doesn’t make sense… but yeah. If it weren’t for that, there’d be no way to explain it.”
“…Kyle Byron. What did that dog-like, no, that spirit that looks like a dog-like animal, blabber about?”
“Hmm.”
For some reason, Adela’s words sounded aggressive, and Sally behind me seemed to be giving the Water Tiger a chilly glare… but for now, the board game story is more important.
Anyway, the story the Water Tiger told was simple.
“It’s because of the nobles’ pride.”
“…Huh?”
“How should I put this… For the nobles, the fact that the Archmage recommended it is more important than the actual content of the game.”
“Hmm. I’m the Archmage myself, so I wouldn’t know.”
What the Water Tiger said was this.
The first nobles who recommended Kyle Galli were, of course, high-ranking nobles or influential figures who had personal connections with the Archmages.
For them, the key wasn’t what kind of game Kyle Galli was, but the fact that the Archmage personally recommended it.
It would serve as proof of their ‘friendship’ with the Archmage.
‘So, it’s like saying, “Wow, the Archmage personally recommended a board game to me, we’re that close!” They can naturally brag about it when playing Kyle Galli with other nobles.’
And the nobles who hear that bragging will then play Kyle Galli with other nobles. To show off their own influence.
It’s like saying, “I’m personally close to an influential figure who’s close enough to the Archmage to get a board game recommendation.”
That way, Kyle Galli spreads gradually through the nobles’ connections.
Not because the board game itself is fun, but as a tool for bragging in noble society.
‘And noble society is sensitive to trends.’
Even if they have no personal interest, if a powerful noble likes something, they have to stock it or buy clothes from a specific brand. That’s their society.
And right now, Gias and Arkhé Magic Towers are places where all sorts of nobles and influential figures from the entire Empire have gathered. It’s essentially a microcosm of noble society.
Just walking around, you can easily see high-ranking nobles flaunting their overwhelming authority in Gias Territory.
Once Kyle Galli starts spreading there, it won’t take long for everyone to accept it… That was the Water Tiger’s explanation, but…
‘Why the Water Tiger knows so much about noble society is another matter.’
Frankly, there was one part I didn’t understand.
“But… there’s regional sentiment, right?”
[Grr?]
“Take Duke Nicholas, for example. He doesn’t get along well with Duke Grandel from the East. Even though they’re economically close, the regional sentiment between the West and East isn’t great, so naturally, their relationship isn’t great either.”
Excluding the North, which has almost no nobles, the West, East, and South are practically enemies. Historically and regionally, it’s been that way.
But in this place where nobles from the West, East, and South have all gathered, Kyle Galli is becoming a common trend?
Having lived in 21st-century modern Korea, I know. Regional sentiment is a more sensitive issue than you’d think.
Especially in this Empire, where it’s not easy to travel between regions, unlike Korea, where only a few extremists remain.
They might not go to war, but they’d refuse to support each other during disasters or openly belittle each other’s trends and cultures.
What the West likes, the East and South oppose. And vice versa.
In the midst of that, could Kyle Galli really become their common ground? I was skeptical.
[Grr.]
“Huh? Think about the Archmages?”
[Grrr.]
“Well, there’s Master Olfin, Glesia Magic Tower, Astron Magic Tower… Ah.”
Arkhé Magic Tower in the West, Glesia Magic Tower on the East coast, Astron Magic Tower in the Southern sky.
That means the influential figures who met and recommended it would naturally be…
‘West, East, South. Influential figures from all three regions…!!’
No influential figure or high-ranking noble is stupid enough to reject a board game recommended by their region’s Archmage because of regional sentiment.
Of course, there must have been an unspoken agreement between them, and that’s how Kyle Galli spread among all the nobles.
No, in fact, it might have spread even faster because of that.
[Grrr. Grr!]
“The rules… I see.”
In the midst of all this, they even went as far as refining the inherently rough rules of Kyle Galli to make them more noble-like.
The Water Tiger, who claimed to have seen it firsthand, explained. They flip cards or press bells, but the main goal isn’t to focus on the game itself—it’s all about socializing.
Kyle Galli was never a “board game” in the traditional sense. It was merely an excuse for nobles and influential figures to meet, follow trends, and flaunt their status.
Of course, not everyone used Kyle Galli as a tool. There were a few who genuinely enjoyed it as a board game, but they were a tiny minority.
Ironically, Kyle Galli was spreading as a board game that wasn’t really a board game.
So, is this a bad thing?
“Tower Lord, how far behind is the Abracadabra reservation schedule?”
“It’s fully booked for the next ten days.”
“Do you think this trend will continue?”
“Hmm… It’s only been about a week since Abracadabra was introduced, so it’s likely to continue. Considering the people who will come after hearing the rumors…”
“How many of them are nobles?”
“…I see what you’re getting at. No matter how peaceful the Empire is, nobles can’t leave their territories unattended for too long.”
“Then.”
“Even if they sent representatives, it wouldn’t be more than a month at most. A month is already stretching it, given the special circumstances of countless high-ranking officials gathering in the Gias Territory. If they’re not concerned about networking, many would return even sooner.”
“So, we have about two to three weeks left.”
Then, will they continue playing Kyle Galli after returning to their territories? My answer was, of course, “No.”
Right now, Kyle Galli is just a substitute for tea and snacks when nobles meet. Once they return to their territories and meetings become less frequent, they might keep it as a souvenir, but the chances of them playing it again are slim.
After all, from their perspective, Kyle Galli is just a rough, un-noble-like game.
‘Is this my greed?’
Abracadabra has achieved more success than anticipated, thrilling the invited nobles and influential figures.
And thanks to the recommendations of Archmages like Olfin, Kyle Galli has also spread like a trend among the nobles.
That much is good. It has to be. The fact that nobles, who weren’t the original target, are playing Kyle Galli is a pleasant surprise.
They’ll remember Kyle Galli more than I initially expected, and many will respond positively when I reach out later.
‘Then, should I be satisfied with this?’
The current trend of Kyle Galli is a fleeting one. Once the nobles return to their territories, it will quickly fade.
Mass production is underway, but with the current trend, it will end with each noble taking one as a souvenir. There’s no way to spread it further than that.
Can’t I spread this unexpected trend beyond Gias, throughout the entire noble society?
‘…Wait, isn’t this a trend that spread from the top down?’
It happened because the Archmages’ acquaintances were naturally high-ranking figures like marquises and dukes.
So then.
“Go even higher…?”
“…Kyle?”
“Young Master?”
“If we reach the very top, the pinnacle that leads all trends.”
[Grr…?]
It’s impossible to leverage or grow this Kyle Galli trend as it is. That’s the current situation.
But on the flip side, it also means that in noble society, trends spread much more efficiently from the top down than through word of mouth or natural diffusion.
Above dukes, marquises, merchants, and other influential figures.
The pinnacle of the Empire.
“The Imperial Family.”
“The Creator?”
“I think… we need to go to the Imperial Family.”
I was planning to go anyway, but now I have a proper reason instead of just going because the Prince asked.
I’m going to the Imperial Family to spread board games among the nobles.
With the clear purpose that anyone who loves board games would understand.
I’ve decided on my next destination.
*
As the sun set, the Gias Territory was still bright.
The room was quiet, with the lights off, despite the noisy glow outside.
Only the steady breathing of someone sleeping could be heard in the room.
[…]
Sitting right next to Kyle Byron on the bed, the Water Tiger quietly opened its eyes.
At first, it had resisted, but now, as it gazed at Kyle, who was deeply asleep, it found comfort in sleeping together.
The Water Tiger quietly brought its face closer to his chest.
Sniff. Sniff.
Spirits don’t have noses. Though it mimics the appearance of a beast, complete with something resembling a nose, it doesn’t actually use it to smell.
Still, the Water Tiger wriggled under the blanket, snuggling closer to Kyle.
Kyle, whose body was made of water, likely found it cool, as he pulled the Water Tiger closer.
[…Not bad.]
After muttering something unusual—words a spirit shouldn’t be able to speak—the Water Tiger’s eyes glimmered faintly.
“……”
[…]
Something sparkled in the darkness.
It was unmistakably the glint of a blade, reflecting moonlight, held by Kyle’s knight guard maid.
This standoff had been going on for days now.
“……”
[…]
They glared at each other as if ready to tear each other apart, yet neither moved.
The maid, strictly speaking, was an uninvited guest. She was always by Kyle’s side, but not in the same room while he slept. She sneaked in, watching his sleeping face all night.
The Water Tiger was the only one allowed to sleep with him, but that was solely because it was a “spirit.” If Kyle knew what truly lay within the spirit, it would never be allowed to sleep with him again.
So, the two kept watch over each other, ensuring neither crossed the line.
As long as no one crossed the line, the standoff would continue. But what if someone did?
Amidst this, the maid quietly spoke.
“……The, the royal family.”
[…]
“Are, are you going to follow?”
Holding the blade, she stammered with an unchanging, expressionless face.
The maid, harboring an unfathomable madness in her heart, murmured.
“If, if you follow……”
[…]
“……I’ll kill you.”
She muttered without a hint of emotion, as if stating something obvious.
At the same time, a chilling mana, directed solely at the Water Tiger without disturbing Kyle’s sleep.
As if ready to plunge the blade and magic into the Water Tiger’s neck at any moment.
[I’ll go.]
“……”
[So, what can you do about it?]
Hehe.
The Water Tiger laughed. Though not a proper laugh, given its tiger form, a genuine sneer echoed within its soul.
As if comparing the maid standing in the cold darkness to itself, nestled warmly under the blanket with Kyle.
This ease was only possible because the conversation was happening through the spirit, not its true form.
“I, I can tear you, you pitiful spirit, apart.”
[Try it. I’m not that weak.]
“……”
[…]
Silence returned, and only Kyle Byron’s breathing could be heard in the room.
Suddenly, both the maid and the Water Tiger turned their heads toward the door.
Outside, a white-haired magician was eavesdropping, pressing their ear against the door.
In Kyle Byron’s room, where the maid watched, the Water Tiger sniffed, and the magician listened.
And so.
The night grew deeper.
