Multi Casting is a headache-inducing magic in many ways.
Of course, a High Magician should naturally know how to do it, but for an ordinary magician, it’s an extremely tricky spell.
For a regular magician to be recognized as a High Magician, they must go through various procedures in the Magician Association, and one of them is Multi Casting. That’s how highly regarded Multi Casting is as an advanced magic.
But just being able to use Multi Casting isn’t the end of it. If that were the case, then everyone in Terra Magic Tower, which demands Multi Casting from the beginner level, would have to be a High Magician.
Even if you can use Multi Casting, it’s also different depending on how many thoughts you can split within it.
“Saquiel, how many can you manage?”
“Up to 13.”
“You’ve grown since last time.”
“Thank you.”
Saquiel, a fully matured High Magician of Astron, can split his thoughts up to 13.
Beyond the standards of a High Magician, Multi Casting itself offers many advantages, such as allowing the use of multiple spells simultaneously. That’s why Magic Towers have devised various methods to effectively teach Multi Casting.
Of course, if all those methods were effective, Stella wouldn’t have had to worry separately about the Multi Casting of the tower’s magicians.
“Saquiel, do you think it’s excessive?”
“……Are you referring to spending 10 billion gold on that board game?”
“In 10 years, you could become an elder yourself. I’d like to hear your opinion.”
“First, let me ask, Tower Lord, are you planning to use that Escape Room Board Game as a method to evaluate how well someone has mastered Multi Casting?”
“Well, you could use the average clear time for that. But I’ve found a more useful method.”
“A more useful method, you say?”
“To get accustomed to and train in Multi Casting.”
“……I see.”
In truth, it’s not like there’s absolutely no way to train Multi Casting. Since it involves artificially splitting thoughts, it’s not easy, but you can get used to it by maintaining Multi Casting in daily life or frequently mixing it in when using magic.
Astron Magic Tower also has its own methods, but Stella focused on the ‘board game’ aspect of the Escape Room.
“Let’s be frank. Saquiel, how did you learn Multi Casting?”
“……I stood in the middle while shock spells flew at me from all sides. I kept getting hit until I could split my thoughts and deploy multiple defensive spells.”
“Was that even remotely fun?”
“Absolutely not! Countless magicians got injured learning that way.”
“So, are you using a different method now?”
“………That method is still in use.”
Training Multi Casting was generally like that. A method so threatening that you had to brace for injury was the fastest way to instinctively get used to it.
But relying solely on that method every time could take a toll on the body.
From that perspective, Stella saw the Escape Room Board Game as a perfect fit.
“Frankly, shock spells are probably more effective. Training Multi Casting while sitting comfortably and training while risking injury require different mindsets. But how many magicians are willing to endure such methods to get used to Multi Casting?”
“……Everyone wants the most comfortable and safe method.”
“That’s why the Escape Room Board Game is suitable. It’s a board game, so it’s fun, and if you compete based on clear times, it’ll be a big help in training Multi Casting. Plus, it’s highly profitable.”
“That much?”
“Of course, it’ll take a considerable amount of time to cover 10 billion gold, but it’s definitely possible.”
“Good heavens.”
Who would’ve thought a mere board game could cover 10 billion gold? Such a trivial ‘game’ being taken seriously…
It was a shock to Saquiel.
It must feel like this when you realize that the janitor you always ignored is actually making hundreds of millions.
Even after coming to Gias Territory, Saquiel, who had never tried games like Abracadabra, Bang, or Kyle Galli, felt his eyes waver.
Anyway, overall, it’s highly profitable, an easy way to get used to multi-casting, allows for evaluation based on clear time, and most importantly, since it’s fundamentally a game, magicians are likely to voluntarily participate.
Only then did Saquiel understand why Stella had been so serious.
“How about it?”
“……More than enough. No, it seems to have even greater value.”
“That’s why I want exclusive rights. Not elsewhere, but only our Astron Magic Tower should monopolize that sweet honey. Olfin seems oddly uninterested in that board game, though……….”
No, even if he recognizes its value, he’s definitely staying silent.
After all, thanks to board games like Abracadabra and Bang, Arkhé Magic Tower has regained its prestige, and Kyle Byron has become more than just a noble or honorary elder—he’s now an untouchable figure.
Moreover, the tower’s workshops are no longer idle, so they probably avoid bringing it up on purpose. Kyle Byron also seemed quite worn out due to Diogenes’ affairs.
But that’s exactly why.
For Stella, this was her only chance.
“………The return date is in four days, right?”
“Yes. It’s difficult to leave the tower vacant longer than that.”
“Shisha and Bantain will also return around then. We did get Kyle Byron to promise to come to Astron, but it’s better to be certain.”
Securing exclusive rights to the escape room board game in front of Olfin and Arkhé Magic Tower would prevent any unforeseen issues.
Considering what she knew about Olfin and Kyle Byron’s personalities, they wouldn’t ignore the exclusive rights and secretly produce it, but Stella Varnicion, the Archmage, was meticulous to the point of annoyance.
……In that sense, this was also a very tricky situation for her.
“But Lady Stella, didn’t Kyle Byron flat-out refuse?”
“Frankly, money doesn’t mean much to him. He’s the type to spend his time playing or creating board games rather than indulging in luxury. Still, I tried offering a substantial amount just in case……but it failed spectacularly.”
“Then what will you do?”
“Obviously, we need to prepare something Kyle Byron would desire.”
Something he’d desire? Saquiel tilted his head in confusion.
Honestly, after Kyle Byron rejected 10 billion gold, Saquiel had already deemed him an incomprehensible being. At the very least, he could’ve hesitated or wavered a bit, but Kyle Byron immediately shook his head and refused even Stella’s sincere offer.
10 billion gold. A whopping 10 billion gold! Considering Kyle Byron’s age, that’s enough to live lavishly for a lifetime, yet he refused it?
Then we’d have to offer something worth more than 10 billion gold, but frankly, even if we offered 20 billion gold, would he nod? Saquiel wasn’t confident.
However, Stella, his Master of the Magic Tower, seemed to have some certainty.
“Bring the Micro Planet.”
“Yes! The Micro Planet………w-wait. Lady Stella? Did you just say the Micro Planet?”
“Do I need to say it twice?”
“N-no, absolutely not! But Lady Stella! The artifact ‘Micro Planet’ is one of Astron Magic Tower’s greatest treasures! Its value alone would easily surpass 10 billion gold……!!”
“And has that so-called greatest treasure ever been effectively used in Astron Magic Tower’s history?”
“Well……….”
“Whether it’s the greatest treasure or not, it only has value if it’s used. I won’t say it twice. Bring the Micro Planet.”
“……Yes, understood.”
“Even Kyle Byron………wouldn’t be able to resist that artifact.”
“Maybe not for magicians like us.”
“But for someone like him, it’s worth more than anything.”
“It must be an unimaginable treasure.”
“So, you refused 10 billion gold?”
“It would be a lie if I said I wasn’t tempted, but there’s nowhere to spend it anyway.”
“Nowhere to spend it?”
“I can’t buy more board games with it… Besides that, there’s really no place to spend the money.”
“I see… Well, if it’s you…”
Nodding in agreement, Adela watched as I smiled and put down my teacup.
Sally immediately refilled the cup, and the small water tiger on my lap was still in dreamland.
The daily life I regained after reconciling with Adela.
It felt like my heart was at ease only when the four of us were together.
“By the way, 10 billion gold… It really is the Astron Magic Tower.”
“I’ve heard it’s the wealthiest among the magic towers.”
“It also has the longest history, and since ancient times, it has made enormous profits through prophecies and such. Even Arkhé, with its overflowing reserves, would struggle to prepare 10 billion gold in cash…”
“So, you really refused that? As expected of the Young Master!”
[Growl.]
“Sally, that’s a compliment, right…?”
For some reason, Sally’s sparkling eyes seemed to hold a different meaning, making me feel uneasy. But Sally probably didn’t mean anything else—it’s just that my heart is still unsettled.
Frankly speaking, 10 billion gold? Only a fool would refuse that. It’s true that I’m financially comfortable, but money is always better the more you have.
Just think about the time when I couldn’t even afford to mobilize nearby workshops for the Bang expansion pack.
‘But what can I do?’
Still, I had no choice but to refuse when the word “exclusive rights” came up.
It’s obvious why Stella insisted on exclusive rights. She must have discovered some value in the escape room board game and wanted only the Astron Magic Tower to benefit from it.
That goes against my goal of spreading board games throughout the world.
‘Why did it have to be exclusive rights?’
It’s not even about the board game itself. I thought about just giving up on one genre and using that money to spread other genres of board games!… But.
I was the one who created the concept of escape room board games in this world, and it’s highly unlikely that such a concept will emerge again in the future.
For that to happen, the entire Empire would have to be obsessed with board games, leading to cultural development, but that’s impossible.
It would essentially mean closing off one genre of board games in this world. Thinking about it that way, I couldn’t possibly accept.
Well, in the end, I guess this is just the kind of person I am.
Some might call me a fool for turning down 10 billion gold, but to me, board games are more precious than 10 billion gold. It’s all because of my childhood.
As I forced a bitter smile and sipped my tea, there was a knock at the door.
*Knock. Knock.*
“Kyle Byron, may I come in?”
“…Please come in, Lady Stella.”
“Excuse me.”
It had been a day since the 10 billion gold was refused.
Stella, who seemed to have prepared another approach, confidently entered the room.
Yeah, I knew she wouldn’t give up.
She didn’t seem convinced enough to just let it go.
“I wanted to revisit yesterday’s conversation.”
“Lady Stella, about that…”
Just as Stella, sitting across from me, was about to speak with a confident expression, Adela, sitting beside me, interrupted.
“Lady Stella Varnicion, I apologize, but Kyle Byron is a member of our Arkhé───”
“Be quiet. This isn’t a conversation for someone like you to interrupt.”
“…Excuse me?”
“Lady Stella. Adela is a genius who became a High Magician at her age. Even so…”
“It’s still the same. She’s just a High Magician, after all. Is she an Archmage, by any chance?”
“…No.”
“Shisha Glesia, that insolent girl, became an Archmage at her age. That…”
So it’s okay if you act rude to me. Since becoming an Archmage, everyone is equal.”
“………….”
“A high magician in their 20s? From the perspective of the Master of the Magic Tower, that’s not even an unprecedented genius. A real genius would be someone like Shisha. Or an Archmage like me.”
“…………….”
“So shut up. I came here to talk to a real genius, not someone like you.”
“……Are you, perhaps, talking about me?”
“Kyle Byron, you’re underestimating your own worth. A genius in magic? That’s impressive. But there are plenty of them. Do you think there’s no one in this entire Empire as talented as the magician Adela?”
“………Hmm.”
“But you’re different. You’re probably one of a kind in the entire Empire, no, the entire continent. That’s why even Archmages like me acknowledge you.”
Come to think of it, Stella did seem a bit quirky, but that was only around fellow Archmages or grandmasters like Knight Roland.
Has Stella ever even spoken to other magicians outside of the Bang tournament?
And Stella’s arrogance wasn’t just talk. I clearly saw her abilities during the gathering.
Maybe Adela isn’t that special to Stella Varnicion.
And her considering me a real genius………hmm.
Suddenly, I thought of my brother Roderick, and it felt a bit strange.
“Anyway, Kyle Byron. This time, I’ve brought a proposal that even you can’t refuse.”
“Are you giving up on the exclusive rights?”
“Not a chance. The stakes have just gone up a bit.”
“Even if you offer 20 billion gold instead of 10 billion, my mind won’t change.”
“Don’t worry. I’ve brought something far more valuable than mere money.”
*Tap.*
As Stella reached out her hand, something fell from the small night sky she had created.
A luxurious box adorned with various gems, gold leaf, and the intricate seal of Astron.
I had no idea what it was, but the moment Adela saw it, her eyes wavered.
“This magical energy, could it be……?”
“Take a look.”
*Click.*
Inside the box.
On a silk cushion……was a rough, spherical object.
It wasn’t just a smooth sphere. It had holes, indentations, and a somewhat strange shape.
Just as I was wondering what on earth this was, the sphere floated up on its own and approached me.
“Huh?”
And then, the sphere began to orbit around me like a planet.
While I was dumbfounded, Stella, with a confident smile, spoke.
“The artifact, ‘Micro Planet.’ A treasure of our Astron Magic Tower, and the only one of its kind.”
“So, what is this?”
“The Micro Planet is a very peculiar artifact. Strangely, it holds no value for magicians or aura users. But Kyle Byron, for you, it’s a different story.”
“Me?”
“The effect of the Micro Planet is to turn the target into a magician.”
“………What?”
“If you hand over the exclusive rights to the Escape Room Board Game.”
“………….”
“Now, you will become a magician.”
