Chapter 27
Chapter 27
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 27
Chapter Title: Lightning Tower's Game Addiction
-----------------------------------------------------------------
"Then we'll do that."
"Good. I'll come down when work hours end. We'll select representatives fairly, all equal."
"Yes."
The Lightning Tower, along with Electra, dove into preparations for the Arcane War just like the other towers.
Still, they couldn't play games all day, so they decided to research as usual during the day and practice in the evenings.
Electra floated off with a satisfied expression, beginning her research.
She was unusually excited at the thought of jumping into COL soon.
It wasn't easy. Convincing all the towers to hold the Arcane War.
Especially since it wasn't a proper magic war like before, but just a game.
At first, some tower masters even got angry.
But in the end, they succeeded in persuading them alongside the Illusion Tower Master.
To be honest, it was more provocation than persuasion.
By poking at the old rivalries between attributes, they got riled up and all agreed to join.
"Heh heh heh..."
Electra chuckled mid-spell formula.
Then she hurriedly schooled her expression.
It had been ages since Electra showed such emotions.
After becoming tower master, the long, boring years had dulled her, it seemed.
Dopamine, was it?
As a tower master, achievements demanded grueling effort, so she reacted strongly to quick hits like this.
The other tower masters, living equally dull lives, were the same.
And so, the Arcane War was set.
The Lightning Tower, like the others, practiced COL after work.
The first week, they struggled to adapt and didn't find much fun.
But by the end of the first week, they started enjoying it a bit.
Electra had fun too, watching her disciples' COL skills improve rapidly.
Of course, she kept her stern face.
Then the second week.
Now fully hooked, the Lightning mages raised their voices in excitement during games.
By the end of the second week, they began thinking strategically—vision, pathing, roaming.
The mages' sharp intellects boosted their play levels dramatically.
And one day in the third week.
Electra, feeling fatigued mid-research, closed her spellbook.
"Hoo..."
The plasma filling her room dissipated.
Only then did the red sunset light filter in.
"...Still too early."
The sun hadn't set yet—work hours weren't over.
But with the sunset, not much time remained.
"Might as well head down early. It's been a while since I checked on their research."
Having closed her book unusually soon, Electra left her room.
She normally didn't meddle in her disciples' routines.
But today, she'd offer some magical advice since she was out early.
Descending to the lower floor...
"...It's quiet."
Oddly, the lower floor was silent.
As if everyone was asleep.
Magic research or artifact crafting always made noise.
Even at end-of-day, this hush was unnatural.
Sensing something off, Electra opened the door to a nearby disciple's room.
And there, a shocking sight unfolded.
The disciple lay on the bed, seemingly dead—passed out.
"...What."
To be precise, not passed out.
Operating an illusion magic artifact, immersed in the illusion world.
In other words, gaming.
"Work isn't even over yet..."
Other rooms were the same.
No research—just COL.
Electra nearly zapped them awake with lightning but held back.
She was a refined tower master. And she knew interrupting a game pissed people off.
As sunset fell, disciples emerged one by one.
Seeing Electra down early, they flinched.
"H-Ha! Tower Master, you're down early today! We were so deep in research we didn't notice! We were so focused, we didn't even breathe loud!"
"Haha! Same here! Research has been going great lately?"
"Hahahahaha! Haha... Ha..."
The disciples sensed it.
Electra's ominous aura.
We're screwed, they thought.
"I said to keep it moderate..."
"You were the most hyped one..."
"Exactly, no gaming during work..."
Electra was famous for never interfering in routines.
Knowing that, they'd gamed during work.
After two weeks, COL was way more fun than magic research—they couldn't resist.
"All playing COL. During work hours."
Disciples hung their heads like criminals, mouths shut.
"Since when?"
"A-After lunch. Meant to just one game..."
"Haa..."
Nearly four hours gaming.
Sparks flew from Electra's body.
Disciples trembled.
They all knew what her anger brought.
"How dare you..."
"Ugh... S-Sorry, Tower Master!"
"Please, just once!"
"Activate barriers, quick!"
Disciples triggered lightning defense barrier artifacts.
Electra's explosion could cripple Trinity City if it leaked.
"We'll survive at least! She won't kill us!"
"Heart attack maybe!"
"Same difference—!"
Like prepping for disaster, barriers up.
Once Electra snapped, unstoppable.
Might as well survive the scolding.
"Incoming—!"
"Uwaaaaaah—!"
Electra's lightning erupted.
As exalted tower master, even furious, she controlled power.
Not lethal to disciples, not shattering tower barriers.
But far from light magic.
⚡ LIGHTNING EXPLOSION ⚡
Bzzzzzt—!
Massive plasma surges everywhere
Lower mages convulsed, electrocuted, unable to endure.
"How dare you..."
"Sorry Tower Maaasteeer—!"
"How dare you play without me—!"
"Y-Yes?!!"
"That was the issueeee?!!"
Unexpected rage point left disciples more flustered.
"Hoo..."
The calamity passed.
"I'll let this slide once. With Arcane War nearing, only two weeks left—focus on prep from now."
In the end, Lightning Tower went full-time gaming till the end.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "Can't understand tower masters."
Tower masters were incomprehensible.
Each in their own way.
Honestly, Electra's plan sounded low-odds at first.
I went along anyway—something over nothing.
Yet truly, all 31 towers committed to Arcane War as she said.
"Most transcend ordinary humans, mages. Save a few young ones, they've held seats since Trinity's founding. Back then, factions, not towers."
Rain spoke as I shook my head, crafting the bracket draw.
"Pre-Trinity? How old..."
"Way, way older than they look."
"Even you, Rain?"
"No? My rank isn't high like yours, Rye. Heard you need at least A-grade. Details? No clue."
Do mages slow aging past realms? Elf-like.
Come to think, Hina looks same as first met.
"Our tower master too, since founding?"
"No... Original master different. She's second-gen. But affiliated with faction pre-Trinity."
Anyway, Hina was a mage before Trinity.
Thinking her here since founding felt distant.
What happened to original? How'd Hina take over?
Unlike other towers with elder mages, we had just Hina.
Rest young-ish.
"Ry-Rye! Come in quick! Everyone, hurry!"
Right on cue, Hina dashed up with COL artifact.
Illusion Tower practiced daily for Arcane War too.
Selecting top 5 reps last week.
"...Tower Master, the thing I asked?"
"Uh, um? That..."
"You've been on Maple Leaf Tale till now. Now COL? All day gaming?"
"B-But I'm tower master... L-Listen...!"
Uncharacteristically defiant Hina.
Gaming bred violence?
Sure enough, hooked on COL.
Can't solo, so evenings only when all gather.
Waits via Maple Leaf Tale during others' work.
More game addict than tower master now.
"Hurry iiiin—"
Pow pow pow—
Hina pummeling my back with fluffy fists.
I gathered everyone helplessly.
Agreed to group COL after work.
All excited, artifacts in hand—same mindset.
"Okay, make rooms. No fighting same-team, got it?"
-Yes!-
Tower folk chorused like kids.
But I knew they'd flip soon.
Normal games: no needless fights.
COL: no same-team fights—instead insane.
"Seriously, no fighting. Don't ruin friendships. Connect."
We activated artifacts, entering COL world.
I vowed pure COL culture here.
Set periodic team-respect messages.
Handed artifacts, begged no infighting.
But COL's nature inevitable?
Skill lacking, every game one or two flame wars.
Glad no parent-check pings yet.
Pure culture? Abandoned long ago.
Humans...
"I-I won't team with Rye...!"
"Huh? Why."
"Rye sucks at games..."
"......"
Hina to enemy side.
I made it, but didn't excel.
Trash in past life too.
But watched COL champs— theory solid.
"Win this one."
Can't lose after open diss.
Room made, ban-pick started.
My COL: full VR, pre-game implemented.
Users summoners on login.
Match? To Summoner's Rift.
Till then, Rift palm-sized miniature.
Ban-pick champs amid mini Rift/champs.
Done? Mind transfers to champ, enter Rift.
⚔ TEAM CHAT ⚔ — OtherworldGM (Rye) [Jungle] Follow me—all to enemy jungle. Invade Amumu. — CloneMaster (Darius) [Top] No, gotta push lane early? Last time your order lost us. — OtherworldGM (Rye) [Jungle] TP if top. Follow. Must invade. — CloneMaster (Darius) [Top] I'm TP... Chats: voice auto-transmits regardless distance.
Default: team-only.
Mini-map/vision in corner, adjustable.
Dizzying at first, adapted quick.
— VirginGhostFan (LeBlanc) [Mid] What? Empty? — FantasyMagicTrash (Caitlyn) [ADC] Enemy jungle red start? — OtherworldGM (Rye) [Jungle] No way. Vs Amumu, take bot leash. Game start, we rushed enemy jungle.
Enemy blue empty. We hid in bush.
— OtherworldGM (Rye) [Jungle] Coming soon... wait... Krick—
Mid-sentence, mechanical whir.
— FantasyMagicTrash (Caitlyn) [ADC] Kyaak—!? Our Caitlyn, snatched by yellow palm, dragged over wall.
— VirginGhostFan (LeBlanc) [Mid] Ah... ward here! — OtherworldGM (Rye) [Jungle] Warded already?! Enemy warded bush first—saw us coming.
First Blood!
— FantasyMagicTrash (Caitlyn) [ADC] Aaaah! Rye ruined everything! I'm out! — VirginGhostFan (LeBlanc) [Mid] Mid lane wrecked! — CloneMaster (Darius) [Top] Told ya... Never ganking top ㅅㄱ. Invade botched.
Jungle me ate every curse, no leash, solo red anyway.
How'd they ward so fast? Game just started—smurf room?
Irritated, circling jungle solo.
Knew no smurfs possible, but needed to cope.
[Chat Muted]
Team chat muted—voices gone.
Five minutes nonstop teammate mumbles cursing me—insanity.
Me? Jungling solo.
Meantime, enemy jungler topped kill.
Game dragged.
We lost.
"Rye! What the hell!"
"Jungle diff shit! No more! Not with Rye!"
"From invade call #@!#!#"
Post-game, teammates unloaded waited rants.
Ah, real-life mute needed.
League anon only.
Sympathizing past trolls now.
Time passed to bracket draw day.
Towers gathered for rep draws.
I didn't make Illusion Tower reps.
"Rye, just nerf Darius."
"Rye, dev only. No play."
"...Yes."
Arcane War brackets began.