Monopoly: Path of Gold (1)

Board game.

Honestly, it all started with board games.

Going to extremes, even gacha games are basically just luck-based, right? Rolling dice to land on good squares and draw lucky cards to win—it's no different from Monopoly.

So for the first time in ages, I could really dive in and focus. How long had it been since I last made a game like this?

I named it Path of Gold. No point calling it Monopoly when no one here would get it anyway.

Truth be told, I could've whipped up a prototype on notebook paper in an hour or two right here in the library, but my pride as a reincarnated game dev wouldn't allow it.

Magic was seriously convenient in moments like this.

Shape Memory Branch, mainly used for simulations or physical experiments by injecting mana, changes form according to the mage's intent.

Since mass-produced magic tools on the market were typically made from this material, the library had a decent stockpile.

'Master said I could use supplies freely. I can restock later and pass it off as research expenses.'

First, I created the game field.

The board was an 8x8 square grid. Two dice. Up to four pieces. And 30 Star of Fate cards, corresponding to the original game's golden keys.

Each side consisted of eight squares: one mandatory Star of Fate gift square per side, with names of imperial cities and villages written on them.

Starting from the origin point, they went south, west, north, east in sequence.

And at the end of each side, I added special region names.

With the board done, all that was left was setting the rules.

Starting funds: 5 gold coins.

1 gold = 10 silver; 10 gold = 1 platinum.

You need deeds to buy land. Deeds were cheapest for south, then west, north, east.

Once you had a deed, landing on your property again let you build.

Three building types: lowest-tier mansion, mid-tier guild, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠top-tier city hall.

But city hall required a mansion or guild already built there first.

In other words, fully claiming one square took 3 turns.

I also made one famous imperial trade city square per side.

Deeds and buildings there cost double, but owning all four trade cities triggered the Golden Age victory condition for a special win.

Player win conditions: amass 10 platinum steadily, bankrupt everyone else, or usher in the Golden Age.

"Man, this is fun. How did the guy who invented this first even come up with it?"

Plus, the Star of Fate cards added all sorts of wild variables, ramping up the fun exponentially.

And since strategy mattered but dice luck was king, I could even hold my own against Wiki.

"Double! 12. I'm going first."

"That's the Great Forest, though...? Forest penalty ignores doubles."

"Dang it."

Stuck inactive for 2 turns, I watched Wiki fume as I snagged all the prime real estate deeds for free.

Or,

"Hahaha! You'll have to pay the toll. 30 platinum. Or just flip the board like last chess game?"

"Hey Wiki, enough crap. Star of Fate activate! 'Subtly Great'! This effect grants me a one-time toll exemption!"

"What!?"

Snatching away Wiki's perfect comeback opportunity.

Or,

"......"

"Come on, roll already?"

"H-how did you snag the entire north side?"

"You sold deeds to cover your shortfall. Of course those lands are mine now."

"Invalid! There's no rule forcing deed sales for shortfalls!"

"Then how do you pay up? Sell your assets, duh?"

"————!!"

In a flash, the board flipped.

I caught the flying pieces with float magic and flashed a victory grin.

Finally. I'd baited this damn spirit into the forbidden art of board-flipping.

"Yujin Feltro: 12 games, 11 wins, 0 losses, 1 forfeit."

Yep, luck-based games are the best! Always fresh and thrilling!

That was when it happened.

Our sacred duel interrupted by an intruder.

"What's this?"

I turned to see golden blonde hair filling my view, red eyes sparkling beneath.

Liana Aishinkiore.

She was a regular at the Central Imperial Magic Library.

Not a mage but the eldest daughter of the Golden Duke—called the Merchant of Merchants—yet she spent half her week here.

With all their ventures, I figured she was just into magic tools.

We weren't total strangers; I'd helped her find some books last time.

But this was the first time she'd come to the stacks and approached me first.

"What brings Lady Liana here?"

"Just curious what the quirky librarian's up to this time."

"Ah... If the noise is bothering you, I'll cast a soundproof spell. My bad."

"Noise? Haha, who worries about noise in the capital's magic library? That Red Tower hierarchy manager over there has been chanting incantations for hours."

She pointed; a bearded old mage was muttering ancient runes like he'd done hard drugs.

Hm. Yeah, standard Central Imperial Magic Library vibes.

"And if it really needed focus, you'd have gone home or used a noise suppressor. I'm not that broke, you know?"

Liana added with an elegant smile.

Obviously. Blood of the empire's richest after the prime minister.

Word was, she even ran a massive guild named after herself: Liana Merchant Guild.

"So? What's this? Looks kinda like a military map. 'Belverta'—isn't that a southern city from the capital?"

"Ah... this game?"

Sudden spark of interest.

Chess got boring playing Wiki nonstop, but it'd be fun with others.

Those two draws on my record against Wiki? Not just ties.

In modern terms, it'd be like going toe-to-toe with AI and drawing.

My chess skills had long surpassed normies—probably grandmaster level now.

So, adding a new player to my custom Yujin board game?

Sounds like a blast.

I glanced ahead with a nod; Wiki got it and nodded back.

She'd bow out so I could have fun.

Liana tilted her head.

"Who're you looking at?"

"Ah, talking to a spirit."

"A ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠spirit?"

Wiki, the knowledge spirit, was only visible to those with even a speck of space magic talent.

She probably couldn't see or sense Wiki at all.

Hence why Wiki never chatted with anyone else.

Occasionally tidied shelves or cleaned the library, sure.

"I'll call you after. Suffer your defeats in there for now."

"......We'll see how long that confidence lasts. Enjoy your game."

Wiki replied and faded from view.

Probably back to her private office, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the Spirit Corridor.

She seemed a bit sulky over that last line, but a fancy magic stone would fix it quick.

Confirming she was gone, I tapped the seat opposite.

Liana sat.

"No way—you can talk to spirits? I thought you were playing alone......"

"Eh...? Come on, that'd be nuts. I'm not schizophrenic."

"Everyone probably thinks that. But spirits play chess? First I've heard."

"Thanks to my master. No clue on the details myself."

Enough chit-chat.

I clapped to refocus, then handed her the neatly folded rulebook.

"It's a dice game called Path of Gold. Rules are in here."

Of course! I'd prepped a rulebook for times like this.

Fun 1v1 with Wiki, sure, but designed for four players—rulebook essential.

Who knows, even Master Arkythia might get hooked?

Liana scanned the one-sheet rulebook thoroughly, then nodded like she'd nailed it.

"Perfect for me. Roll dice, buy squares with your cash, snag tolls when others land on yours, build your empire."

"Spot on."

"The Golden Duke's sole daughter, Liana, as your opponent in this game? You sure, librarian?"

She flashed a smug smile.

I fiddled with the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠dice and shot back.

"Gotta play to see who's got the edge."

Roll. Game on.

And 30 minutes later.

"Just 3 gold, leave me 3 gold! Not total liquidation! *Sniff* All assets seized!? At least spare my father's territory...... Nooooo!!!"

Liana begged after I liquidated her last capital: the Golden Duke's territory—Silk Road.

I slapped a guild on it for good measure. Teabagging achieved.

Ah, Golden Duke turf tastes sweet!

Luck goddess is on my side. Daughter of a duke or not, dice don't care—you roll bad, you die.

"*Sob*, *waaaah*! Daddyyy!!"

But I didn't expect her to bawl and bolt.

Wait. Am I screwed?