Chapter 28
Chapter 28
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 28
Chapter Title: The Revival of Arcane War
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Two days before the scheduled Arcane War.
The representatives from each magic tower had gathered in the central chamber of the Trinity Council building.
A massive space existed in the center of the donut-shaped Trinity Council building.
It was large enough to accommodate more than 155 people.
"Yes, please write your affiliated magic tower and the representatives' names on this paper."
I sat at the registration desk and handed out papers to the people from each magic tower.
I wasn't the Illusion Tower's representative, but as the game developer, I was participating in the overall management of the Arcane War.
This was the first time I'd met so many mages from other towers.
Until morning, I'd actually been quite worried.
I knew well how people from other towers viewed Illusion Mages.
I wondered if they'd look down on us unnecessarily or complain about the Arcane War operations.
"...You're Riot, the one who made COL?"
"Yes? Yes, that's me."
"Hrm... I see."
"This is really fun! How did you even come up with something like this?"
"Implementing an entire world. Even setting aside the illusion magic, I'm impressed by the sheer scale of your imagination."
Fewer mages picked fights than I'd expected.
There were plenty of cases like these Light Mages I was talking to now, approaching with smiles.
Was it because the game was fun? Or had the dismissive gazes toward us lessened a bit, unlike before?
"Ah, Lightning Tower Master. You've arrived."
The Lightning Mages, including Electra, came to register toward the end.
"You look in a good mood."
"Yes. The mages seem to like the game."
"That's plenty understandable. COL is."
"Haha, thank you. Just write it here."
One of the Lightning Mages took the paper and started filling it out.
"By the way, the Tower Master is coming out as a representative too. You must really have the skills."
"Of course. Unlike that kid Lina in our tower, everyone went through fair qualifiers. Purely based on COL skill."
Some of the five representatives included Tower Masters, others didn't.
If anything, there were more without.
The Arcane War was a battle of pride between towers, so they seemed to have chosen purely based on strength to secure victory.
It meant even a Tower Master wouldn't represent if their COL skills weren't up to par.
As expected of the most intellectual and rational group among humans.
Of course, some towers didn't seem that way at times.
"...Huh?"
While chatting with Electra, I spotted a familiar face.
One that had faded quite a bit from my memory.
"Lea?"
A very long time ago. A friend from the same hometown.
Lea had gained Lightning (A) while I got Illusion (S), our fortunes crossing paths.
"...Hmph. Long time no see."
"Ah, yeah... How've you been?"
Lea replied primly, as if she'd known all along.
Well, she would've known the Illusion Mage who made this was me.
"Was the game fun? You even came out as a representative, so you must've enjoyed it quite a bit."
"...Ha! No? I worked hard just for the tower and the Tower Master! For the victory of our Lightning Tower!"
"I-see. Then do your best."
"...Hmph."
Lea scrawled her name and headed to her seat.
"...You know Lea?"
"Yes. We're from the same hometown. She was a tomboy back then, but she's gotten worse."
"I see. She's not usually like that, so this is a new side of her."
"Even so, she wouldn't act like that in front of you, Tower Master..."
Electra, surprised by Lea's attitude.
She must behave normally at the tower.
"Anyway, thank you. Thanks to you, we made it this far."
"It's just receiving due reward for skill, so no need to say that. Once this Arcane War ends, mass production permission will likely come through too."
"Yes. It's all thanks to you. The other mages seem to enjoy it too. I thought there'd still be people looking down on the Illusion Tower."
"Of course there are plenty. But everyone gathered here are COL addicts, so they won't harbor ill will toward you."
"Ah, right."
"You need to practice seeing the fundamentals a bit more."
True. They all came here because they like COL.
So it was natural they wouldn't dislike me.
There are probably still mages outside who look down on us.
Like always, Electra had an eye for dissecting situations to the essence.
"Well then."
Electra went to her seat with her remaining disciples.
She seemed a bit more gentle than when we first met.
Her personality hadn't soured from playing COL. As expected of a Tower Master—unpredictable.
A short while later, registration for all towers concluded.
The time for drawing the brackets had arrived.
There were 31 towers in total.
It would proceed as a 32-player bracket, with the last remaining tower getting a bye.
"Ahem, is everyone gathered?"
The current council chair, the Space Tower Master, spoke through a voice amplification spell.
"Honestly, I never thought the Arcane War would be revived. But since everyone's participating, we couldn't sit it out. Because our Space Tower has been the greatest among all schools since ancient times."
A few Tower Masters jeered at the Space Tower Master's provocation.
The regular mages didn't react, but their faces showed irritation.
"Before we draw the brackets, the Illusion Mage Riot, creator of COL, will explain the rules."
I hid my trembling hands and ascended the podium.
From the podium, I could see all the mages' faces at a glance.
There were some dissatisfied expressions here and there, but most looked expectant.
Just like I used to before COL Champs.
Seeing those faces, I finally realized my game had been accepted by them.
When Electra first told me the plan, I'd wondered if it'd work.
Now it seemed like needless worry.
Mages with strong competitive spirits wouldn't tolerate losing to another tower, even in a game.
And they'd gotten hooked on COL over the past month too.
With newfound confidence, I decided to stoke their competitive fire—and COL's popularity—even more.
"Greetings, I'm Illusion Mage Rye Ought. Before I explain the rules, there's something I need to tell you first."
I'd prepared something to make the Arcane War even more exciting.
I'd already gotten the Tower Masters' approval through the Trinity Council.
"This Arcane War will be 'live broadcast' in front of an audience."
Whispers broke out.
The mages' expressions changed rapidly at my words.
Some were surprised, others looked at me unpleasantly.
But the Tower Masters all wore calm expressions.
They already knew.
"This was decided through the council. Two days from now, when the Arcane War takes place, dignitaries from around the world will gather in this central chamber as spectators. In other words, this Arcane War will clearly imprint on the world which tower is the greatest."
Such a grand tournament naturally needed an audience.
I recalled memories from my past life of watching COL Champs live.
"The old Arcane Wars were fights among ourselves. That's not bad. But now, when mages—and the mage city of Trinity—stand at the pinnacle of the continent, don't you want to show the world which tower is the best?"
The murmurs grew louder.
Determining the greatest tower in front of all humanity.
Not literally with magic, but no mage's pride would allow defeat in front of so many.
The presence of spectators would make the mages tackle the Arcane War even more passionately.
"Or do you want to show the world your defeat in front of all humanity?"
In the end, mages shot to their feet, shouting.
My provocation had landed perfectly.
They all looked unable to wait to start the Arcane War.
"Trinity. Let's clearly show humanity our greatness. Let's show them the history of the Arcane War! Make ordinary humans look up to us in awe!"
Roooaaar—
Mages have strong competitive drives and love feelings of superiority.
Having stimulated that properly, this Arcane War would surely be an intense competition.
"Let's proclaim the revival of the Arcane War—and the greatness of mages—to the world once more!"
I spread my arms wide, declaring like a cult leader.
The mages cheered, but for some reason, reality hit me in that moment.
People in this world really got overly immersed easily.
Well, in my past life, I'd cheered madly at COL Champs too.
With fewer entertainments here, it was natural they'd immerse more easily.
Regaining my composure, I began explaining the rules of this Arcane War.
The rules were identical to COL Champs from my past life.
I'd put great effort into balancing the champions for this Arcane War.
With the rules explained, the bracket drawing began.
"Water Tower. Number 31!"
"Kyaooo—!"
The Number 31 spot got the bye.
Water Tower Master Lina, who drew it, cheered triumphantly.
"Oh, darn. Too bad—we would've beaten anyone. Piraeus, you're not gonna lose before even reaching the round of 16, right?"
"As if? We'll meet in the round of 16 per the bracket, so just wait."
"...To reach the round of 16, you have to beat us first. Piraeus."
"Yeah, yeah, Ion. Obviously. You think we'd lose to tin cans like you? We'll melt you all."
"...I'll kill you. Piraeus."
The Tower Masters already trading barbs.
The longstanding feud between Fire Tower and Water Tower now had Metal Tower butting in too.
"Illusion Tower. Number 2."
We drew Number 2, the first match slot.
Our opponent was Wind Tower, composed entirely of regular mages without their Tower Master.
The Wind Tower Master was an extremely free spirit.
He was often sighted soaring through Trinity's skies on the wind.
He was watching from above even now, but it seemed even he was serious for this fight.
"You guys, don't lose—!"
True to his personality, Wind Tower had selected purely by skill too.
And so, the brackets were set.
The news of the Arcane War spread throughout the world.
📰 Breaking News [Revival of the Arcane War? Mages Starting to Fight Again.] [Mages at War. Neighboring Nations Tremble in Fear. But the Battle Method Isn't Magic—It's COL?] [Illusion Tower's Next Artifact 'Championship of Legends'. What Is Its True Nature?] [Trinity Invites Outsiders for the First Time. Purpose: Spectating the Arcane War.] [The World's Attention on the Mages' Battle. Who Will Win the Revived Arcane War?] [COL Info Roundup, the Event of the Arcane War. Requests for Official Release Flood In.] [Dignitaries Invited to the Arcane War. Imperial Family Also Attending.] [Jebit's Popularity Shows No Signs of Waning. Expected to Skip Arcane War for Health Reasons.] [A Look Back at Past Arcane Wars Ahead of the New One...] As expected, front pages of all newspapers were plastered with related news.
And so, under the gaze of the world watching to see which tower was greatest,
"W-We have to win it all...!"
"You all know we absolutely can't lose, right?"
"Kids, make sure you win and come back~!"
"We will achieve victory without fail."
"Hey, we have to beat the Water Tower guys no matter what. Got it?"
"We will win the championship. Anyone who trolls gets 24 hours of electric torture."
"Let us secure victory. Especially against that wicked Darkness."
"Hee hee hee heek... Kee hee."
With the towers' competitive spirits bursting at the seams, the Arcane War began.