After the battle of the Archmages ended, there was no need to hesitate since the rankings were already decided.
As soon as Stella and Shisha woke up, they returned to the Magic Tower and began creating “Bang.”
“Let’s just keep the name ‘Bang’ as it is.”
Originally, “Bang!” was obviously derived from the sound of a gunshot, so in a world without guns, it would have been better to change the title. However, the sound of the Magic Missile spell, which replaced the original Bang card, was surprisingly similar, so everyone accepted it without much issue.
“Misses are replaced with Blink, machine guns with Meteor, and general stores with magic shops…”
Localizing it for this world wasn’t difficult. All we had to do was substitute the terms.
The Magic Missile spell, which replaced Bang, was a well-known basic attack spell, and Blink was a fitting spell for dodging, so it worked out.
The goal was to create a board game that anyone could play, not just magicians, so we aimed for maximum accessibility.
However, the problem was that there was a hiccup in the mass production we had originally planned.
“We’ve received too many orders… what do we do?”
“We initially planned to produce it in the Magic Tower’s workshop, but due to the Abracadabra craze, we’ve been flooded with visitors. Even if we prioritize the board game, it will take quite some time.”
“Hmm.”
An unexpected side effect of the Abracadabra boom.
We could ask the workshops in Byron’s territory, but the distance was an issue, and frankly, the quality of the Magic Tower’s workshop was far superior.
So, what should we do?
“Wait a minute.”
Why am I even worrying about this?
We have excellent talent right here.
“Master Olfin, you said we should mass-produce this new board game as quickly as possible, right?”
“That’s correct. But right now…”
“Then you can help us.”
“……?”
“There are four of you here, after all.”
“Surely you don’t mean…?”
Honestly, yeah.
Ironically, the Tower Masters and Archmages had the least to do in the Tower. The actual work was handled by the elders and high-ranking magicians, while the Tower Masters only had to approve final documents.
Compared to when I first arrived, Olfin’s workload had decreased significantly. He had already finished a day’s work and was sitting next to me drinking tea.
And what about the other Archmages who had come from different Magic Towers?
“They left their towers to settle the rankings.”
Surely they could stay to help with something as important as creating a board game, right?
So, I called Olfin, Stella, Bantain, and Shisha. To speed up the production of the board game.
Olfin, being the one who suggested we make it quickly, agreed immediately.
Bantain accepted, saying he was already interested.
Shisha, bored and looking for something to do, nodded weakly.
Only Stella objected, asking if this made any sense.
“Kyle Byron, is this how it’s supposed to be made?”
“You’re not making any mistakes now. Excellent! Master Bantain, you might have a talent for board game production.”
“Terra’s magic is all about shaping the earth. This kind of work is basic for me.”
“Creator, take a look at mine. Isn’t this drawing great?”
“…Isn’t this an illusion? Just redraw it.”
“Really…?”
“It’s more fun than I thought. It feels like carving ice…”
“Take a cue from Shisha. See how meticulous she is?”
“………”
“Stella? Are you still standing there?”
“…What am I supposed to do?”
“Just paint this. Draw the Magic Missile, but don’t make it too detailed for mass production.”
“It’s tough, so please draw it moderately.”
“…………….”
As the other archmages quietly followed along, Stella also somewhat dispiritedly began working on the board game.
Since it wasn’t mass production but rather a prototype, with four archmages working together, it didn’t take long.
“Shisha, you’ve been moving quickly since earlier. How are you doing that?”
“This? It’s a spell to speed up perceived time. No big deal.”
“……I’ve seen it at the academy, but isn’t that also a great magic?”
“Great magic? Well, it does fall under the category of great magic. But it’s a spell that can be done if you just have enough people, so calling it great magic is a bit ambiguous. It’s also inefficient. Anyway, it’s a simple spell.”
As expected of archmages, they used all sorts of magic to speed up the work, and in less than an hour, they managed to create a set of “Bang.”
After organizing the completed “Bang,” they pulled over a table.
“Everyone, you’ve worked hard. Shall we start the demonstration right away?”
Basically, the more people, the more fun the game is, but it’s enjoyable enough with just four people.
With a grin, they set up the chairs. Bantain and Olfin immediately took their seats, Shisha sat down after briefly looking at the cards, and since Stella was slumped over, I went over and pulled her to sit down.
Let’s all enjoy the board game!
*
‘Why am I doing this?’
Stella Varnicion. Over 200 years old.
The master of Astron Magic Tower, who has lived since the reign of the emperor before last, sighed inwardly.
She just couldn’t muster any strength. She felt somewhat ridiculous.
‘Just because of a character card……?’
Saquiel urgently reported that Olfin, among the archmages, had declared her the number one.
Remembering Olfin from the past, Stella was convinced that Arkhé, having restored its finances with Abracadabra, would step forward again.
That’s why she came fully prepared, even wearing this somewhat masculine outfit she dons when going all out.
But not only did Shisha and Bantain respond to her impulsive message.
Turns out, it wasn’t a provocation but just because of the character card abilities in the board game.
Stella Varnicion was so embarrassed she could die.
‘And I even wore this outfit…….’
This outfit, passed down through generations in Astron Magic Tower from some emperor, was clearly a great artifact, but no matter how much Stella used her magic, she couldn’t do anything about the see-through design.
Even though her usual attire is somewhat revealing, even Stella couldn’t tell if this was underwear or clothing.
She endured Olfin’s teasing and Kyle Byron avoiding her gaze.
But upon learning the truth, Stella, unable to bear the shame, tried to vent her frustration on the cheeky Shisha, and due to the awkward timing, ended up fighting Olfin too.
‘This makes it 16 matches……16 losses.’
Adding another loss to her mental record, Stella hung her head low.
She knew it. Ever since she first saw Olfin as a child, she knew defeating her was nearly impossible.
Stella was the greatest genius born from Astron Magic Tower, but Olfin was a figure to be reckoned with in the continent’s history.
Just think about how her mentor, an archmage, was killed by a dragon.
From the moment Olfin killed that dragon, Stella could never defeat her.
Especially since Olfin didn’t even use the great magic she used to kill the dragon………
“Stella, it’s your turn.”
“……Got it.”
Prompted by Olfin, Stella randomly drew a card.
A character card from the new board game “Bang,” created by Kyle Byron.
Each character has different abilities.
The very thing that brought Stella here.
‘
“Just tear it apart?”
For a moment, I had that impulse, but I held back. What kind of person is Kyle Byron anyway?
For the sake of the board game, he’s the type of guy who even bosses around the Archmage. He’s like Olfin, one of those real ones who’d risk their lives for their own interests.
For Olfin, it was magic. For Kyle Byron, it was board games.
Stella stood beside him, clicking her tongue as she watched Kyle, who was looking at the Archmages with a grin, clearly enjoying himself.
“Shouldn’t have suggested it.”
I did suggest he come to the Astron Magic Tower for research, but he rejected it and just made a board game instead. The regret was overwhelming.
Let’s just hang around for a bit and then leave. That’s the right move.
And I should probably deal with Saquiel too.
As I thought that, I flipped over the card.
“Huh…?”
“Well, isn’t this ironic? Everyone gets their own card?”
“I manipulated it. I figured this would be the most interesting.”
“Bantain, you’re something else.”
“I like it. My character? Not bad.”
<The Great Prophet, Stella Varnicion>
A card depicting Stella standing majestically in front of a night sky filled with a meteor shower.
Come to think of it, Kyle Byron drew all the character cards himself.
The card wasn’t fully colored yet, but even in black and white, her image was captured well.
Stella’s head tilted slightly, somewhat pleased with how it turned out.
Olfin flipped over his own card that had been lying face down.
Not a ‘character’ card, but a ‘role’ card.
“I’m the Guardian. Let’s begin.”
Guardian, Magician, Secret Society.
I vaguely listened to the background explanation about a magical battle unfolding in a city. Players each receive a role card, and only the Guardian reveals their role.
And her role was the Secret Society.
‘A role where you win by eliminating all other players and being the last one standing.’
On the other hand, the Magician wins immediately by eliminating the Guardian, regardless of the Secret Society, and the Guardian wins by eliminating both the Magician and the Secret Society.
The Guardian, being the target of the Magicians, starts with an extra point of health as a bonus.
Stella, though blind, glanced at Olfin’s character card using magic.
<The Last Dragon Slayer, Olfin Glassburn>
<Can use Magic Missile as Blink and Blink as Magic Missile.>
‘What kind of ability is that…?’
Magic Missile is a basic attack method that, if successful, reduces health by 1. However, it can only be used once per turn.
And Blink is a means to dodge such Magic Missiles. So, having too many Magic Missiles or too many Blinks alone isn’t a good hand, but Olfin’s ability to freely switch between the two was perfect for him, a magician who deals with illusions, and also suitable for the Guardian, who would be the main target.
The game is played with a deck in the center, and players draw 2 cards each turn to use their hand. Except for the 1-turn limit on Magic Missile, other cards can be used as much as you want, or you can choose not to use any cards and end your turn.
However, you can’t hold more cards than your remaining health at the end of your turn. That’s pretty much the end of the rules.
‘The rules are simple. Easier than Abracadabra.’
The turn starts with the Guardian.
Olfin didn’t use any cards and just passed his turn. Starting with 5 cards, he drew 2 but didn’t use any, so he discarded 2 according to his health.
The card is Blink and Magic Missile.
Does the deck only have Blink and Magic Missile? Then why didn’t they use Magic Missile?
“……It’s because of the Secret Society.”
There’s one Guardian but two Magicians. Even if the Guardian has one more health point, it’s still a disadvantage in a 1v2.
But the Secret Society changes that dynamic. Since the Secret Society must be the last one standing, and the game ends if the Guardian dies midway, they have to fight the Guardian one-on-one at the end to win.
Naturally, until then, they’ll have to help the Guardian eliminate the Magicians.
And since Olfin doesn’t know who the Secret Society is, he just passed his turn without attacking.
Next was Shisha’s turn.
“Olfin, take this.”
“I’ll use Blink.”
“Sure, whatever.”
Right off the bat, Shisha shot a Magic Missile at Olfin, but since Magic Missile can also be countered with Blink, Olfin blocked it pretty easily.
This basically revealed Shisha as a Magician.
But her turn wasn’t over yet.
“Then, one more Magic Missile.”
“Huh? You can only use one Magic Missile per turn, though.”
“Check my character ability.”
<The Youngest Archmage, Shisha Glesia>
<Can use as many Magic Missiles as desired during her turn.>
“Wait… what?”
A character ability that removes the limit of using Magic Missile only once per turn.
A relentless, ice-cold barrage—very fitting for Shisha.
Shisha fired a whopping three Magic Missiles.
“Ugh……….”
Thanks to his ability, Olfin managed to block all of them, but he was left with only two cards in his hand.
Next was Bantain’s turn.
“Haha, Archmage Olfin. Excuse me.”
“Oh no, you too…!?”
<Nature Destroyer, Master Bantain Terra>
<Magic Missiles fired by this character require two Blinks to dodge.>
A character ability that’s practically telling you not to bother blocking.
Normally, Bantain wouldn’t have been able to target Olfin since they were two spaces apart, but…
“I’ll equip <Tracking Magic>.”
An Artifact card that reduces the distance to all players by 1. Thanks to that, Bantain could target Olfin.
Olfin still had two cards left, but since neither was a Magic Missile or Blink, he had to take Bantain’s hit.
Now, he’s down to just one health point.
Bantain adjusted his glasses and ended his turn.
“Looks like the game might end next turn, huh?”
“Maybe. But who knows… it’s still too early to tell.”
Without hesitation, Shisha and Bantain attacked the Guardian, confirming themselves as Magicians.
Since Olfin is the Guardian, that leaves Stella’s role.
“…I’ll use <Mana Potion> on Olfin.”
“Stella!”
“It’s just temporary, okay? Until we take those two down.”
Of all people, she’s the Secret Society, harboring a grudge against Olfin.
Using <Mana Potion> to restore one health point to Olfin, Stella made a displeased face.
It’s essentially a standoff between two Magicians, the Guardian, and the Secret Society.
The board game had only just begun.
