Chapter 12
Chapter 12
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 12
Chapter Title: Audience with the Emperor
-----------------------------------------------------------------
After the second release, time had passed, and with new illusion mages in our ranks, we were seizing the moment of calm to ramp up production of Maple Leaf Tale once more.
"Ugh... ughhh... I wanna stop... I wanna play the game..."
"No, Tower Master. We have to produce at least ten thousand this time."
"Hooee..."
My goal was to let everyone enjoy games.
Not just nobles who could afford such luxuries, but commoners who hadn't been blessed with luck as well.
To show the world that anyone, regardless of the fate decided at birth, could have fun.
"R-Rye... save me..."
"I came here because you said I could play games... but this is..."
"Come on, come on. You can play as much as you want once the work's done. Let's just make ten thousand by next week."
Sacrifices were necessary for that.
Hina and the new illusion mages were being worked to the bone producing artifacts.
We currently had 1,500 users. We still had a long way to go.
I left production to the other mages and headed to the top floor for updates.
A massive maple leaf-shaped artifact floated in the center of the top floor, emitting light.
It was the main server for Maple Leaf Tale.
Users connected to this illusory world through illusion-sharing magic.
Updates were applied by adding illusion magic to this artifact.
"Rain. What are you doing here?"
This was a place few entered besides me, yet there was already someone there.
"Oh, Rye. Here for an update?"
"Yeah, the third release is coming up soon. What about you, Rain...?"
"Just... looking at this big artifact's light makes me feel good for some reason."
It was certainly a mystical sight.
Just like the massive crystal orb in the center of the room where mages job-advanced into Elinia Mages in Maple Leaf Tale.
"Do you know that at the top of other towers, there's a massive floating stone symbolizing each tower, Rye?"
"Of course. That's why Trinity doesn't need streetlights at night."
High in the sky atop each magic tower.
A massive floating stone infused with the tower's attribute shone there.
The Fire Tower had a blazing red floating stone like fire, the Ice Tower a massive ice one emitting blue light. All the other towers too.
But our Illusion Tower's summit was empty.
Until recently, we'd used illusions to make the top invisible, extending it endlessly upward.
"But we have nothing. Because our magic is all 'illusion.' It was that way in the past, and it still is."
As Rain said, since our magic was illusion.
Because it didn't truly exist, we couldn't have a floating stone embodying an attribute.
Everything was mere intangible illusion.
"That's why sometimes... I imagine this artifact shining at our tower's peak. Like the other towers, raising our spire high into the sky, with Maple Leaf Tale illuminating Trinity. I imagine it now and then."
"...That sounds nice. We'll make it happen soon. It'll take time, but."
Each tower's height was proportional to its history and achievements.
But our Illusion Tower had nothing to show for it so far.
No money, no accomplishments, so we hadn't been able to raise it.
Come to think of it, we should expand the tower soon.
I'll move the artifact to the top then.
"R-Rye! Big trouble!"
Medea's clone rushed up the stairs in a panic.
"The imperial palace...! Someone from the imperial palace!"
"What? The Third Prince again?"
"Nooo! This time it's an imperial decree from His Majesty the Emperor!"
"Pardon?"
Rain and I hurried down.
There stood a splendid carriage and an imperial minister in golden robes holding a scroll.
"Illusion mage Riot, receive the imperial decree."
"...Pardon?"
Did I have to kneel like in a historical drama? The atmosphere suggested it.
While I was thinking that, Rain had already done so.
I didn't particularly want to, so I showed an illusory version of myself kneeling.
"Illusion mage 'Riot' has toyed with the imperial family with his serpent tongue..."
The content was roughly: "You tricked the Third Prince with a fraudulent contract—want to get punished?"
Even so, since it was a contract with a Trinity mage, the palace had to tread carefully, so it ended with an invitation to come to the palace for a direct talk.
I'd expected something like this. And we weren't desperate for imperial funds anyway.
"Understood."
I had no intention of dodging it.
The palace couldn't easily touch a Trinity mage either.
A few days later, Rain and I headed to the capital.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "Your Majesty. Illusion mage Riot has arrived."
"I see."
The emperor strode in majestically.
The audience chamber already held the First Prince and the Third Prince, the culprit behind this mess.
"I see the Sun of the Empire."
A female illusion mage bowed first to the emperor.
Then the male illusion mage beside her followed suit.
The conversation, led by the magic minister, naturally veered toward threatening them.
How dare they deceive the imperial family for illicit gains? We won't let this slide easily. That sort of vibe.
But a contract with a Trinity mage held binding power even the imperial family couldn't ignore.
So they needed to negotiate terms to some degree.
That's when the emperor appeared.
'I shall graciously overlook the investment matter. But to do so, I must assess the value of this 'Maple Leaf Tale,' so I shall try it myself and decide the investment. The Illusion Tower should be grateful that I deign to use their artifact.'
That was the emperor's plan: secure Maple Leaf Tale while doing so.
The foolish illusion mages would then bow, saying, "We are unworthy of Your Majesty's grace!"
This preserved his dignity while letting him play.
The emperor struggled to suppress his twitching lips at the thought of playing Maple Leaf Tale.
"...Thus, the Illusion Tower offered an illusory artifact to the Third Prince, drawing an unfair contract, and sought to disrupt the palace with that wicked contraption. Therefore, the imperial family cannot accept this contract."
The magic minister's speech had just concluded.
The illusion mages were still bowing.
"Ahem. But the Third Prince bears some fault in this matter as well, doesn't he, Magic Minister?"
"Indeed, Your Majesty."
Now was the moment for his prepared line.
As the emperor opened his mouth to speak gravely.
"Understood."
A youthful voice cut in first.
It was the male illusion mage.
"Understood?"
"Yes. I am illusion mage Rye Ought, creator of Maple Leaf Tale."
"I-Is that so."
"I made the contract with the Third Prince as well. If the palace views it that way, I'll void it."
"Wh-what?!"
The emperor shot to his feet.
The illusion mage's reaction was nothing like he'd anticipated.
"It was unfair in parts, so yes. Additionally, if my artifact disrupts palace order, I'll block access from the palace. I made it with good intentions—if it's causing harm, that's only right."
"...Hey! What are you saying?!"
Third Prince Rikal shouted.
Honestly, the game mattered more to him than palace funds.
"My apologies to you too, Your Highness. Forgive us this once, and we'll call it even."
"W-Wai...!"
The emperor stammered in shock.
They'd already declared the illusion mages and artifact insolent; he couldn't backtrack now.
'W-Wait... this isn't the scenario I wanted! If this goes on...!'
He could already feel the ministers' sharp glares.
He knew Maple Leaf Tale was all the rage, even in the palace.
This would spread gossip about the palace for sure.
And he'd never play Maple Leaf Tale in his life.
Neither would anyone in the palace.
But saying now, "On second thought, let us play Maple Leaf Tale," would shatter imperial dignity.
"Then we'll take our leave. Once more, apologies for troubling the palace."
In the end, Rye bowed and began exiting the audience chamber.
'No...! Argh...!'
Caught off guard, the emperor's hips fidgeted.
He desperately wanted to grab him, but as emperor, he couldn't.
An immense dilemma. Amid it, Rye reached the door,
and finally, the emperor's hips lifted from the throne.
"W-Wait a moment—!"
At that moment, a desperate voice stopped Rye.
"?"
It wasn't the emperor.
It was the magic minister.
"W-Wait! Illusion mage Riot!"
He too was a Maple Leaf Tale player.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "Thanks, Rye."
"No need. It's for the tower."
In the end, the palace agreed to our terms.
Replacing the original unfair contract with new conditions.
Like other towers, we'd receive research funding (until now, only the Illusion Tower got none from the palace), plus partial costs for Maple Leaf Tale development.
In exchange, we'd share some profits with the palace as investment return.
It amounted to a standard investment contract.
The magic minister had pulled it off with various excuses,
and seeing the emperor accept without much protest, he must have wanted to play Maple Leaf Tale too.
Next sales would be in more diverse regions anyway.
Wonder if the emperor ends up on the waitlist.
"Still, when did you get so bold? You were just a little kid smaller than the Tower Master when you first came."
"Ugh... can't... breathe, Rain."
Rain hugged me tight and flopped onto the bed.
It was late, so we'd stay in the palace guest room provided.
"Actually... that man is my father."
"...Pardon?"
Rain spoke while holding me.
Buried in her chest, I couldn't see her face.
"Royalty?"
"No~ Not royalty. The magic minister who spoke beside His Majesty earlier. That's my father."
"Eh? Really? The magic minister is super famous..."
"Yes. Our family is an old mage lineage."
The magic minister was among the world's top mages.
And his family had led imperial mages for generations.
Though their prestige had waned lately.
Even so, none had illusion affinity.
They avoided bearing children with anyone who had such a trait.
Lest their child inherit illusion and tarnish the family name.
Yet Rain was an illusion mage.
"Father was Wind S-rank, Mother Metal A-rank. But I came out Illusion B-rank. Broke the low odds for a different lineage entirely. Illusion, of all things."
"Ah..."
I should've been the one like that. Drawn a non-illusion attribute against the odds.
For Rain, it must've been a disaster.
"I was disowned. The only place to go was the Illusion Tower. I'd never imagined anything but becoming a mage since childhood."
All current illusion mages were commoner-born.
No wonder Rain alone carried herself with refined poise.
Rain continued her story, still holding me.
I listened quietly.
"...That's why I can't thank you enough, Rye. Now our magic is recognized too."
"No big deal. I just wanted to make money. And illusion magic is still magic."
Rain paused, then said.
"Rye. Want to sleep together here tonight?"
"...Pardon?"
"I just... don't want to sleep alone tonight..."
W-Wait, what development is this? Suddenly going this route?
The genre would change—
Knock knock.
Someone knocked then.
"Ha, haha! We have a guest. I'll get it!"
I bolted upright from the bed.
I didn't look back to see her expression.
"...Huh?"
Opening the door, I couldn't help but be shocked.
There stood Rain's father—the imperial magic minister—we'd just been discussing.
"Magic Minister?"
"Illusion mage Riot, may we speak briefly?"
I glanced at Rain, but she seemed fine with it.
"Yes. Come in."
"Pardon the intrusion."
He entered, glanced around awkwardly for a while, then got to the point.
A very long story.
He beat around the bush at length, but the conclusion was this.
"...The Magic Minister is xPowerArcherx?"