Making friends is hard. It’s even harder if it’s the opposite sex. And it’s even harder if it’s the daughter of a powerful person who can erase someone like me with a single gesture.
And if she spends most of her time with spirits instead of people, well, that speaks for itself.
But there’s one simple solution to all of this.
Board games.
“Board games are godly and invincible.”
It’s not like I blindly worship board games for no reason. I’ve solved several life crises through board games.
In high school, when I was on the verge of being ostracized for having no friends, I made friends by bringing board games from home.
In college group projects, I neutralized awkward relationships with just one board game session.
Even on my first blind date, I went to a board game cafe and kept the atmosphere warm and friendly. Though I still got dumped.
And in the military, I spread the gospel of board games to a tough senior, and instead of getting yelled at, I got to play board games with him and had a sweet time.
When I was in college, my bag was filled with board games instead of textbooks, and instead of playing RPGs or AOS games on my laptop, I played online board games.
Board games, my light. Board games, my salt.
Board games, my eternity.
Anyway, if I could just play board games with someone, I was confident I could become friends with anyone.
[Growl.]
[Clatter.]
“Uh, hey, guys?”
Yeah.
*If* we could play a game, that is.
‘What the hell is this.’
The room of the princess, who was too loved by spirits, was located in one of the towers of the ducal castle.
The ducal castle had four towers, and it seemed that each tower housed one of the duke’s children, but now only the princess remained in the castle.
Though it was a tower, it was still part of the ducal castle and where the princess resided, so it was kept neat and tidy.
[Growl.]
Something was blocking the entrance to the tower. Namely… a tiger made of water.
Is this what they call a spirit?
I knew they were lifeforms made of pure elements, but seeing one in front of me like this was quite peculiar.
Its body, legs, and head were made of water, dripping and falling, yet its size didn’t decrease. Despite being made of nothing but water, it changed the color and shading of the water to express eyes, patterns, and shapes.
And it was disgustingly large, looking like it could swallow me whole and drown me at any moment.
It was clearly a monster that could crush a mediocre knight, and it wasn’t the only one.
[Clatter.]
While the tiger at least made growling sounds, this one was making hoof sounds.
Next to the tiger, guarding the tower entrance, was a horse made of wind.
Of course, it should be invisible, but strangely, the wind itself had a light green hue, swirling and forming a shape. Like the tiger, it changed the color of the wind to look like a horse.
A water tiger and a wind horse.
The reason these things were blocking the tower entrance was obvious.
“Do you guys understand human language? Do you?”
[Growl.]
“I need to play a board game with your princess? Or whatever you call the Spirit Master. So, could you move aside?”
[Clatter.]
Wow, they’re not budging.
Is this the spirits acting on their own to block the tower, or did the princess order them?
Forcing my way in seems impossible since the tiger’s water fangs and the horse’s wind hooves could easily crush an ordinary person.
I prepared several games besides Kyle Galli, but it looks like I won’t even get to see the princess, let alone play a game with her.
Got it.
How long had we been standing there like that? Suddenly, I heard footsteps approaching the entrance of the turret.
“…Duke?”
“As expected… just as I thought.”
Duke Nicholas, walking alone without any attendants, shook his head vigorously.
It seemed like even the slightest hope had crumbled. For some reason, the sharp look in his eyes as he stared at me had disappeared.
“To think I can’t even enter the turret. So, in the end, Kyle Galli is just Kyle Galli, and the creator is someone else…”
“Excuse me, but even you, Duke, can’t enter?”
“It’s been over three years since that became the case.”
Wait, what?
So the princess has been living in that turret with only the spirits all this time…?
“How does she eat?”
“Meals and daily necessities are brought in periodically by the spirits. It’s been quite a while since I last saw my daughter’s face or since she stepped out of that turret.”
“…How did it come to this?”
I didn’t pay much attention earlier, but even if she’s loved by the spirits, doesn’t it make sense for her to at least see her family?
Unless the spirits are blocking her from meeting others, but the Duke’s words implied that the princess herself is rejecting people.
The Duke, who had been staring at me, soon looked up at the turret with a bitter expression.
“My daughter… Leisha has been hurt more than I thought. She gradually stopped trusting people and now only talks to the spirits.”
“You don’t seem willing to tell me more…”
“You’ll have to understand. After all, you’re an outsider. I can’t reveal all the inner workings of the Duke’s House.”
“Even if it means distancing yourself further from the princess?”
“…Yes.”
Even after my attempt, the Duke’s attitude remained stubborn. And beyond that, his eyes were deeply sunken.
I had mustered some courage to ask, but the Duke seemed to take it as a given.
Even though he knew the situation was going wrong, he didn’t delve deeper, using the excuse of me being an outsider.
“You may leave.”
“Huh?”
“The spirits have rejected you, so there’s no hope anyway. If you promise to keep the secret, you may leave. Of course, I’ll provide some compensation. Thank you for indulging my whims.”
“………”
“If you wish, you can stay a bit longer in the duchy or the castle. I’ll give you whatever you want…”
As he said this and turned to leave, the Duke’s back looked unusually slumped, unlike the all-powerful figure he was supposed to be.
[……Growl…]
[Thud… thud…]
Even the spirits, watching the Duke leave, made weak sounds, unlike their usual selves.
I watched the Duke’s retreating figure for a while, then turned my head to the spirits.
“…See you next time.”
[Growl…]
[Thud…]
And so.
I also left, leaving only those words behind.
Hoping for the next time we might meet.
*
[……Growl…?]
[……Thud…]
Ding.
“No, that’s not it. You press when there are five shapes. You guys know you have to do well at Kyle Galli to play with the princess, right? She’s been sad lately because her spot got taken, right? Let’s try again.”
“…What are you doing?”
“Ah, Duke. Good morning.”
The next day.
The Duke, who had come alone as usual to check on the turret, stopped in his tracks.
In a place where only the spirits blocking the turret and the Duke should be.
Kyle Byron was playing a board game.
…And with the spirits too.
“Alright, those cards are waterproof, right? You can touch and flip them. They just look like they’re made of water, so you can handle that, can’t you?”
[Growl.]
“I’m not ignoring you, okay? Honestly, I’m more worried about this one. Aren’t you? Can you pick up cards with hooves made of wind?”
[Grr…growl?]
[Clatter!]
“…It actually works?”
Is this insane?
Duke Nicholas, who had been seriously contemplating Kyle Byron’s mental state for a moment, soon let out a sigh.
“You, whatever you’re trying to do, it’s pointless. Just go back.”
“Your Grace, do you know something? I’m confident.”
“…What?”
“Once I meet the Princess, I’m sure I can get closer to her through a board game. But the spirits are blocking the entrance and won’t let me meet her.”
“That’s…true, but.”
“Then I should get close to the spirits first. Through a board game, of course.”
He’s clearly lost his mind.
While debating whether to send William a letter of apology and a competent doctor…
From afar, the personal maid Kyle Byron had brought came running toward the turret.
‘Perfect timing.’
At a glance, it’s obvious your master’s gone a bit off, so take him away—
“Young Master! I-I brought the extra cards you asked for…!!”
“Thanks, Sally. Oh, this is my personal maid, Sally. Say hello.”
[Grr.]
[Clatter.]
“Huh? Oh, yes. I’m Sally…?”
“Anyway, thanks. I’ll play a game with these guys and head back later, so why don’t you go sightsee around the castle?”
“I-I want to play the game with you too, Young Master!”
“Really? Is it okay if Sally joins?”
[Grrrr…]
[Clatter clatter.]
[Grr?]
[Clack.]
[Grr, growl.]
“They say it’s fine. Sally, take a card too.”
“Yes!!”
“…………….”
Like master, like servant.
Without a single doubt about playing a board game with spirits, the personal maid sat down next to Kyle Byron and joined the game.
Watching Kyle, who seemed genuinely intent on playing the board game, Duke Nicholas shook his head.
“He won’t last long anyway…”
After all, he was a guest the Duke himself had invited. He couldn’t just kick him out, so he’d probably tire himself out soon.
Trying to befriend spirits through a board game—if that’s not the idea of a madman, what is?
After glancing up at the turret where his daughter was, the Duke turned away.
I’ll come back tomorrow. By then, Kyle Byron will probably be gone.
Click.
As the Duke walked away, all he could hear was the sound of cards being shuffled.
*
The next day.
“Please, please, please…!!”
[G-grr, grr…growl!!]
Ding!
“Ah! I lost again! Hey, you! Can’t you make an extra leg out of water? You’re supposed to stay in tiger form!!”
[Growl…]
“Look at this guy getting cocky! Hey, don’t you think so too? You’re made of wind, so it’s hard to press the bell like him!”
[Clatter, clatter! Clatter clatter!!]
[Growl~]
“One more round! If I win this time, you take one step back from the turret…!!”
[Grr!]
[Clatter!]
“………Huh?”
*
Another day.
“By the way, I suddenly got curious. Which one of you is better at Kyle Galli?”
[Grr?]
[Click-clack?]
“Well, you know? Both of you got so much better in just two days, way better than me. I’m pretty much guaranteed last place now since I’m just a regular person, but you two keep going back and forth. Do you know who’s won more so far?”
[…………….]
[………Clack.]
“Wrong, the tiger won two more times. Are you okay with staying in second place? You got a lot of attention when you played with the Princess, right? Are you just gonna live as the second fiddle to that guy?”
[Cla, clack. Click-clack……!!]
“Right? How about a fair one-on-one match, like a true spirit? What about you, tiger?”
[Grrr!]
“That’s the spirit! Alright, we’ll do it with special house rules. I’ll step back as the referee, and you two will play with the spirit-exclusive rules I made. Ready?”
[Clack, clack!]
[Grrrr!]
“Alright, start!”
“……………….”
*
And then.
[Grr, grrr!]
[Clack! Click-clack!]
“Ah… I have to go back today, so I don’t think I’ll be able to play Kyle Galli with you guys anymore. You two can just play together now, right?”
[Grrrr……….]
[Click-clack…….]
“You’re saying it’s not fun without me, and the other spirits are too bad? I’m honored you think it’s only fun when I’m around, but I can’t help it. I stayed to meet the Princess, but I didn’t even get to enter the turret……….”
[………Grr?]
“What? No, no. You guys are supposed to keep outsiders out, right? If I go in, the Princess might get mad.”
[Click-clack, click-clack!]
“Just up to the door? Is it okay to talk to the Princess from there? Really?”
[Grrrr…….]
[Click-clack! Clack, click-clack!]
[Grr, grrr! Grrrrr!]
[Click-clack!]
“You guys, going this far for me…! This must be what true friendship is! Then I’ll meet the Princess tomorrow, and tonight we’ll play Kyle Galli all night!”
[Grrrr!]
[Click-clack!]
“Yo, Young Master! I, I brought your meal!”
“Food’s here! Let’s eat first!”
[Grr~]
[Click-clack~]
“…………What is this.”
*
It was the seventh day since Kyle Byron arrived at Everts Ducal Castle.
Finally, this morning, he entered the turret with the two spirits.
“………….”
And Duke Nicholas could only blankly stare at his retreating figure.
The turret allowed Kyle Byron in.
……But Duke Nicholas was still being rejected.
*
