Can this be called a board game ‘club’?
The line of students started outside the building, stretching through the stairs, hallways, and all the way to the clubroom door.
Even a rough estimate made me laugh dryly—there had to be over 100 people.
“Monopoly must’ve been way too popular.”
I’m pretty sure that the majority of those students came here not for ‘board games’ but specifically for ‘Monopoly.’
Even if one was installed in Astron and another in Natura after the meeting, just two sets weren’t enough to satisfy all the students.
After the meeting ended, classes resumed, and the professors who had been maintaining the Great Magic to speed up perceived time left for their lectures. Naturally, the students couldn’t keep up the Great Magic on their own.
If this were a time when we had nothing to do and too much time on our hands, maybe. But not now.
Eventually, Monopoly games started lasting hours with six players each, and while the number of Monopoly sets increased, the turnover rate of students dropped significantly compared to before.
In the midst of all this, if Kyle Byron, the creator of Monopoly, were to become the advisor of the board game club…
The students would naturally assume that Monopoly would be available in that club too.
“Except it’s not.”
The one made by the royal family is in Astron, and the somewhat crude Monopoly set, which was gradually put together in the week between its release and the meeting, is in Natura.
At this point, even if we wanted to make more Monopoly sets, it would take at least a few days.
Unlike Kyle Galli or Spirit Poker, making Monopoly requires wooden blocks for the buildings, carving knives, coating agents for finishing, metals to act as fake gold, smelting techniques to produce them, drawing and painting the board, creating the deeds, and so on.
If I were to make it alone, it might take weeks, not days.
“Bro, I think we’ll have to recruit club members a few days later.”
“………A few days later.”
“What else can we do? Sure, we have other board games, but most of those people probably came for Monopoly. We need to have the game they’re interested in first, then slowly introduce them to other board games.”
“………I don’t want to give them time.”
“Bro?”
Unlike yesterday, we weren’t alone but in the middle of the academy with many other students around, so it was only natural that casual speech came out instead of that disgusting polite speech.
No, honestly, I’d beg for it. Polite speech is driving me insane.
‘………But even if he loves board games, does that mean he’d serve his younger brother with polite speech?’
When I first heard the polite speech yesterday, I was so baffled, and last night, I was too busy thinking about the club to notice the fundamental question.
The eldest brother getting into board games? That’s possible.
Getting my autograph as the creator? That’s………possible.
But the eldest brother’s attitude didn’t stop there.
He spoke to me with polite speech, almost worshipping me with his tone.
Is this really something that ‘could happen’?
Knowing the quiet, reserved brother from the past, I couldn’t help but be suspicious.
………But for now, I need to focus on the club.
I decided to ignore the eldest brother’s cryptic comment about not wanting to give them time and approached the students waiting to see when the club would open.
“First, let’s apologize and send them back. I’ll try to make Monopoly as quickly as possib───”
“───Fine.”
“Bro?”
“If they want to join the club………they’ll have to do their part.”
Huh?
What does that even mean……
“……Kyle, go and mo───”
“Help me make Monopoly,” he said.
“Huh? Suddenly?”
“Just say that, and it’ll be fine.”
Asking the students out of the blue to help make Monopoly? I had no idea what my older brother was thinking.
‘Well, whatever.’
It wasn’t that hard of a task anyway.
Leaving my older brother waiting behind, I approached the students alone.
As I got close enough to see each other clearly, a few students in line were startled.
“Huh? Huh? Kyle Byron?”
“Finally, you’re here! The club’s opening up!”
“There’s Monopoly inside, right?!”
“Monopoly!”
In an instant, the line became chaotic, and even those waiting inside the building turned around, wondering what was going on.
And as expected, what they wanted was Monopoly.
……How many sets would we even need to make for this many people?
I sighed at the overwhelming thought but continued.
“Everyone, could you help us make Monopoly?”
“Huh?”
“Yeah?”
First, I said what my brother told me to say.
But all the students looked confused, so it didn’t seem very meaningful──
“So……does that mean we’re allowed to make it secretly now?”
“……Huh?”
“Is this official? Last time we got caught by the professors and got in big trouble.”
“We can destroy the evidence, but it’s annoying to keep remaking it every time.”
“Kyle! Can we start right now?!”
“Uh……yeah.”
Secretly? Destroying evidence? Remaking it every time?
I blinked a few times at the students who spoke as if this were familiar and nodded.
One of the students in line stepped forward.
It was the Student Council President, who had moderated the meetings.
“Kyle, would it be okay if I took control of the students for a moment? I don’t mean to undermine you, but since everyone’s a magician and all.”
“That’s fine.”
“Thank you. Then……everyone, attention!”
The Student Council President bowed in thanks and then shouted loudly, drawing the attention of all the chattering students in an instant.
Even those standing outside the building and those inside leaned out the windows to see.
In that situation, the Student Council President confidently declared.
“Kyle has just approved the creation of Monopoly!”
“Creation? You mean……?”
“Hey! Student Council President! Does that mean we can make it openly now?!”
“We won’t get caught by the professors, right?”
“Yes. The board game club requested by Natura’s top student is recognized for this entire building and about 100 meters of the surrounding area. But to avoid chaos, we’ll make it on the land outside the building, not inside!”
“Okay! Gather by your magic towers!”
“The faster you make it, the sooner you can play Monopoly!”
As soon as the Student Council President finished speaking, the students moved in perfect unison.
As if they’d done this many times before, the students grouped by their magic towers and started using magic.
“The dice?”
“Make them out of ice.”
“The game board?”
“Make it out of ice.”
“The property cards?”
“Make them out of ice!”
Glesia was creating Monopoly through intricate ice carvings.
“Let’s raise the land. Just about waist height──”
“Just raise it to the height.”
“Someone who can extract metal? I haven’t learned that yet.”
“Anyone with free hands, start carving the stone! It’s basic magic, you know?”
Terra, raising earth and metal to create Monopoly.
“Hmm… maintaining the illusion is too tough? If we want to add colors, we’d need over ten people just for one Monopoly illusion.”
“Then let’s just do it in black and white. As long as it’s readable and distinguishable, right?”
“Anyone with an artifact? That could keep it going for quite a while.”
“Or should we ask the high magician from the tower who came with Kyle Byron?”
“…That person is the tower lord’s disciple. Don’t even think about asking or making eye contact.”
Arkhé, building the illusion of Monopoly in their own way.
“What can our Agni do without ice, earth, metal, or illusions?”
“Shall we try making Monopoly with flames?”
“Don’t talk nonsense, let’s just fry corn like we usually do. We can use that to bribe our way in.”
…And Agni, frying corn to make snacks and bribes.
Except for Astron and Natura, who had Monopoly in their dorm and thus had very few students joining the club, everyone else was familiar with making Monopoly.
Each creating Monopoly with their own magic, enjoying it in their own way.
As I was momentarily mesmerized by the sight.
“How is it? It must be your first time seeing something like this, Mr. Kyle.”
“…You’re the student council president.”
“You can just call me Andrew. As far as I know, we’re the same age. Being in the same grade at the academy doesn’t mean we’re all the same age.”
“Then, Andrew?”
“Great! And to think I’m looking at the creator of Monopoly, which I really like… it’s also fascinating.”
Andrew, the student council president, smiled for a moment and then looked around at the students busy creating Monopoly.
“Everyone’s been doing this secretly. During breaks, in the dorms, in hidden spots.”
“No wonder…”
Now that I think about it, no matter how much great magic speeds up the perceived time, I wondered how all the students could play with just one Monopoly.
But if they were making it this way, it’s a different story.
Of course, it wouldn’t be as refined since it’s made with magic, but on the other hand, the cleanup would be simple.
“Of course, the professors were furious. They said it wouldn’t look good if the creator himself was staying at the academy and this scene got exposed. After all, Mr. Kyle is also a noble.”
“Are you a commoner?”
“I just told you, didn’t I? Andrew, no surname. Surely you’re not suddenly reluctant to talk to a commoner, are you?”
“Of course not.”
In the end, ‘Board Game Creator Kyle Byron’ and ‘Noble Kyle Byron of the Byron family’ cannot be separated.
Some, like Andrew, might see me as a board game creator, but at the same time, there are people like the professors who focus more on the noble aspect.
…By the way, a commoner as the student council president.
I don’t have a noble’s sense of authority, but it’s truly remarkable.
Even in the magic tower, noble magicians are favored over commoner magicians, and it must be even more so in the academy.
Yet, this magician maintained the position of student council president. Perhaps even more outstanding than my eldest brother.
“Hmm… Mr. Kyle? If I may, could I ask you something?”
“Yes, anything is fine.”
“Um, by any chance…”
Andrew, glancing around cautiously.
He used a small soundproofing spell and quietly asked me,
“……Are you not on good terms with Roderick?”
“………….”
Roderick. As far as I knew, there was only one person who called him by that name.
Roderick Byron.
My eldest brother, who used to speak to me formally and worship me.
“What are you talking about?”
“Well, I’m Roderick’s roommate. Even though we’re roommates, he’s so quiet that I’ve never really had a proper conversation with him.”
“………….”
“About a month ago, I received a deck of cards and a bell along with a letter. It seemed like it was from Lord Byron.”
Kyle Galli.
Something our father sent to my eldest brother.
“But after reading the letter……he crushed the bell with magic.”
“………What?”
“I was pretending to sleep, but—not to brag—my detection magic is better than Roderick’s, so I could tell even with my eyes closed. He tore the cards and crumpled the bell.”
“…………….”
“He did restore them with magic soon after, but he repeated that several times. The next day, I was so curious that I asked him what it was, and he just said, ‘Kyle Galli,’ and walked away.”
“………….”
“I forgot about it at the time, but the name Kyle Galli……seemed to come from Kyle Byron. I know I shouldn’t meddle in noble affairs………but I felt like I had to tell you.”
“……Let me ask you one thing.”
“Ah, yes.”
“Has my eldest brother been to Arkhé Magic Tower recently?”
“………Huh? No, Roderick hasn’t left the Academy even during the break. Even if he were to leave on the same day, he’d have to file paperwork with the Student Council, but there’s no such record. I’m the Student Council President, so I’m sure of it.”
At Andrew’s words,
I turned around.
The eldest brother who said he’d wait behind me,
the one who played Kyle Galli for fun and went to Arkhé Magic Tower to play Abracadabra,
the one who said I was the true genius, not him,
the one who awkwardly spoke formally and worshipped me,
………wasn’t there.
While I was focused on the board game club,
he must have been sure I wouldn’t look back.
*
“……So you were hiding here, watching.”
“………….”
“Sally.”
“………D-don’t come any closer, or I-I don’t know what I’ll do.”
“……It doesn’t matter. I’m………here to listen to your story.”
“M-my story?”
“……Yes, it’s a story that might help you too.”
“What?”
“……Kyle.”
“………What is he doing with the succession rights?”
