Extraction Shooter: Escape from Sanctuary (7)
The emperor's one-on-one audience was honestly just a matter of time.
Have I only pulled aggro from one or two places?
Excluding that very first Mafia game, every single one probably made its way up to the palace in some report or another.
Even Dementia: Lost Memories was known to the Security Bureau chief, a relative of the emperor, so he must have heard about it naturally.
But knowing something and experiencing it firsthand are two different things.
No wonder he's called the Iron Blood Emperor.
Even seeing Pavel Ishinkiore back then had made me pause from the sheer intimidation, but this was on another level entirely.
Was it the innate presence unique to his bloodline? Or the weight of that epithet, 'Iron Blood Emperor'?
My legs trembled without my realizing it. My palms were already slick with sweat.
Still, a man's gotta do what a man's gotta do.
I bowed politely toward the emperor, then snapped my back straight.
A mage doesn't bow or kneel to anyone but their master. That's the iron rule.
Not even the Iron Blood Emperor is an exception.
"Well, finally meeting you in person. Thanks to you, we achieved great results."
"You're too kind, Your Majesty."
The middle-aged man with white hair, the mark of the imperial family.
Until now, I'd only caught glimpses of him from afar, giving speeches at events. This was my first time seeing him up close like this.
"What have I done? It's all thanks to the Imperial Army bravely fighting on the front lines and Your Majesty's keen insight."
"The new weapons were quite satisfactory too. Especially how they use even less silver than silver arrows to hunt demons from long range."
"Guilds like the Riana Merchant Guild and others are continuing the refinements. I merely tossed in the spark, Your Majesty."
"Too much humility becomes poison, mage."
We exchanged pleasantries about the expedition like that, until Titus Solla Bellator's eyes sharpened and he cut straight to the chase.
"Enough small talk. The moment I returned from the expedition, I looked into that 'game' you created. This is the Cube, yes?"
A small hexahedral magic tool emerged from the emperor's robes.
A Gaming Cube.
"Quite entertaining. It took me back to my younger days raising my daughters—it's been ages."
...The versions on the market right now couldn't be used without the custom Order Maid I'd made for Pavel, though?
As my face betrayed my surprise, the emperor chuckled leisurely.
"Why the shock? If the emperor of the empire desires it, nothing is impossible."
Looking closer, a faint blue light shimmered around the gloves he wore.
Mana Glove.
A magic tool that lets non-mages gather ambient mana to cast basic spells.
Of course—everyone else gets to enjoy it, so it'd be weird if the emperor alone couldn't just because he's no mage.
"I haven't tried Dead Wizard's City or Escape from Sanctuary yet, but I hear they're highly praised. You truly made all this alone?"
"I handled the core design myself, but my colleagues helped with planning and the finer details."
"I heard Sir Dante is working with you too. As the empire's finest writer, it's only natural."
Fortunately, judging from the conversation so far, this didn't feel like the kind of summons I'd feared.
I figured no censorship, but if he starts demanding games just for himself from now on, that'd be a problem.
I hadn't started making games for money or fame.
It began as fulfilling Master's wish in my own way, then shifted to my personal goals.
I wanted everyone to enjoy them happily.
As a creator, I hoped games would influence many lives.
But becoming the emperor's personal dev would pull me far from that.
His eyes pierced right through me then.
"Mage, are you worried I'll command you to make games solely for the emperor?"
"......"
My words caught in my throat.
From earlier, it felt like he could read minds—yanking my heart one moment, releasing it the next.
"No need for concern. It was amusing, but not quite my style. Seems I'm growing old; I can't adapt to new contraptions well."
"Frankly, yes. I sincerely thank you for Your Majesty's graciousness."
"In truth, I summoned you neither for personal favors, nor to reprimand, nor to keep you in check."
He spread his arms wide and added,
"I'll grant you a reward. What do you desire, mage?"
"You've already promised no restrictions on game development. That's more than enough, Your Majesty."
"That was relayed through Cassian and Pavel. Not a reward directly from me."
Hmm. Pushing it this far, I'd have to accept.
It was a matter of face, after all.
Demanding arbitrarily from the emperor was rude; refusing his offer outright was equally so.
Even a mage didn't want to sour things here.
I pondered briefly.
Money? Nah, didn't need it.
I spent as fast as I earned, but even factoring that in, we were fine.
Title? Office? Not like when I first entered the academy—no interest now.
Fame and glory? Screw that.
My parents were already spoiled rotten by my brothers.
So it circled back to the start.
How to help Master faster and more efficiently?
How to make more and better games?
"I have two requests."
"Speak them. You have earned that right."
"First: unlimited access to the expedition's battle records, demon reports, and any information you deem unrelated to critical national matters."
"Battle records?"
I nodded at his questioning echo.
Escape from Sanctuary was still in an unfinished state.
No proper storyline yet, and the genre's highlight—PVP—was missing.
Gun variety was limited, and boss NPCs beyond the Scav Goblin had rigid patterns.
To chase true realism, I needed more raw data.
Expedition over means trash it? Fat chance!
Unfinished games didn't exist in my vocabulary.
Alpha test and bail? That's a dev's shame.
Official release. No matter what.
"The 17th and 8th Legion commanders both said as much. They want to integrate the game into regular training curricula. More data's essential, right? Even as a spatial mage, I can't fabricate what I've never witnessed."
"......What you've never seen."
"Yes, Your Majesty. And if possible, information on Demon Lord Bellrat too."
"Planning to manifest the Demon Lord in a dimensional space like before?"
...Was that a no? I'd already squeezed in Balrogs and Liches, near quasi-Demon Lord tier.
As I sneaked a glance, the emperor erupted in booming laughter.
"Hahaha!! Fascinating. Truly fascinating! No reprimand here, mage. That madness to manifest a Demon Lord with your own hands—that's the mark of a true mage."
"Precisely, it's imitation, Your Majesty. Might prove invaluable for Bellrat's eventual subjugation."
"Granted. And your second request? I haven't laughed like this in ages—quite refreshing."
"Second: the construction of a new Imperial facility."
"An Imperial facility—like the Inspection Bureau or Security Bureau?"
"No, Your Majesty. I want a Cube Room accommodating 1,000 people."
This incident drove it home.
Game demand far outstripped supply.
I'd vaguely known from Dead Wizard's City and Queen Maker, but those scraped by on reservations.
This time, even with expansions, it wasn't nearly enough.
With barely a third of the expedition force training, the Central Magic Library's Cube Room was effectively shuttered.
Enter the dilemma.
Master could expand internally with her spatial mastery.
Probably right after server and Gaming Cube upgrades.
But ours was a 'Magic Library' first and foremost.
Without the expedition's special circumstances, non-mages weren't permitted entry.
Expand the Cube Room and open to others? Belly button bigger than belly.
And security would flash red.
Manageable now, but manpower couldn't handle explosive demand.
Plus, Sephirot—the central server and spirit corridor hub—was on the second floor, and the underground forbidden vault sealed all sorts of insane tomes.
Couldn't just fling open the doors.
To boost access while simplifying management? Only one way: Imperial status.
Two letters, and bureaucracy handles itself.
"I'd like to name it Arcade."
Imperial Arcade.
The emperor savored the word, then broke into a gentle smile.
"Granted."
And so, in the capital Romanium.
On 22nd Street, not far from the Central Magic Library, construction began by imperial decree.
Finally transcending the humble 200-seat neighborhood PC bang—a massive gaming complex was born.
As a game dev, could I hold back?
Perfect timing. Official launch it is.
Rumors swirled around the Imperial Arcade as it took shape.
Just as anticipation for Escape from Sanctuary began to wane...
"Official release at last!?"
"...I'm seriously thinking of ditching the northern garrison to become an adventurer. Then I could stay in the capital."
"Hey, check this out! Now we can fight each other? Loot their gear too..."
"What? Why're you looking at me like that? You bastard! You promised that machine gun was mine from the start!"
"What? You punk—bring it! Last time you called me a moron who can't even brace properly. Let's settle this for real!"
The promotional flyer from the Central Magic Library was more than enough to set Romanium abuzz once again.