Overwhelming Firepower

After the demonstration of the video orb, Mireya accompanied Lucen back to the Thornehart estate.

The two walked side by side through Caelhart’s streets. Unlike a few days ago, when the city had been filled with screams, monsters, and smoke, the capital had mostly returned to its usual rhythm.

The damaged buildings had already been repaired. This was one of the advantages of a world with magic and superhumans. The busy streets of Caelhart were once again filled with the noise of the people making deals.

Seeing Lucen and Mireya pass by, a few people could not help but look and whisper at one another, concocting whatever kind of rumor they could think of at the moment.

Yet despite all that, Lucen did not notice any of that as his head was filled with different ideas on how to use the video orb.

The two of them continued walking in silence. It didn’t take long for them to reach the Thornehart estate. The two then sat down in one of the smaller receiving rooms.

A servant soon brought tea and light snacks before quietly leaving the room. Lucen leaned back against the chair, still thinking about the Video Orb and the many ways it could be used for entertainment.

He could recreate his favorite scenes in movies and anime. In this world, even without CGI, with the power of illusions and the superhuman abilities of knights, he could do it. While Lucen was getting even more excited by the thought, Mireya said his name.

”Lucen.”

”Hm, what is it?”

”You have been staring into nothingness for some time now.”

Lucen blinked and turned his gaze toward Mireya. ”Was I?”

”Yes, you were.”

”Sorry about that, I was thinking about something.”

”Surely, it’s about the video orb again.”

Lucen smiled. ”Can you blame me? That thing has too many uses. It’s like a new toy I want to play with.”

”I see... Speaking of toys, do you remember the reason I did my best for years to create that so-called video orb with the grey mages?”

”Um... Were you not doing it out of the goodness of your heart? Or because you thought it was interesting? Or can’t it be because I, your friend, asked it of you?”

Lucen already knew the right answer, but he decided to do it this way, since it made it a little bit more interesting for him.

Mireya stared at Lucen for a few seconds. ”None of those are the reason.”

Lucen blinked his eyes. ”None?”

”Yes, none of those were the reason. Have you forgotten? I did all of this because you said that you would make another game for me to play once this is all over.”

Lucen looked at Mireya’s lavender eyes and smiled. ”I guess I do remember that promise. Still, are you sure that’s what you want?”

Mireya stared at Lucen in silence for a few seconds before answering.

”You have created numerous things, from weapons, transportation, medicine, toys, plays, and, of course, games. You are a genius of an era, one who changed the lives of those Norvaegard.”

”I don’t know why you’re suddenly praising me, but I’ll take it.”

After Lucen’s comment, Mireya continued what she was saying. ”Among all those things, your games, well, it is but one game, but it was the best one among your creations. It was fun and challenging at the same time.”

Despite somewhat knowing what she was going to say, Lucen was still quite surprised to hear it.

”So you’re telling me the game I created, Territory War, was more significant than the train, the guns, the airship, and even medicine?”

”To me, yes,” Mireya answered without hesitation.

”Heh, you really are quite different from others. To think you liked Territory War that much. Trains and airships have so many uses. Guns can change the way we do war. Medicine can save lives. As for territory war, at best it’s good for tactical thinking, but in the end it’s just entertainment.”

Mireya nodded. ”That is true.”

”Then why do you like it so much?”

”The other things you made might be useful, but to me, all those things can also be done with magic. Magic can move people across distances. Magic can create fire, ice, wind, and illusions. Magic can heal wounds, protect cities, and kill enemies. But Territory War is something magic cannot reproduce, plus it was fun.”

As Mireya finished what she was saying, there was a slight smile on her face. Lucen looked at her for a few seconds before chuckling.

”Fine, since I did promise to make you a new game, I guess I will. So what kind of game would you like me to make?”

Mireya stared at Lucen for a few seconds. ”A game where I can beat you.”

Lucen was startled by the answer for a second before replying, ”That is not a type of game.”

”It is the most important requirement,” Mireya answered without any hesitation. ”Of course, it should be fun and challenging as well.”

Lucen stared at Mireya for a moment before laughing softly. ”As honest as ever.”

”I have no reason to lie.”

”That is true.”

Lucen leaned back against the chair and placed one hand against his chin. A game where Mireya could beat him, but at the same time, one that was still fun and challenging.

Territory War was a game of tactics, positioning, resource management, and prediction. Luck existed only in very small ways.

Because of that, as long as Lucen continued to understand the game better than Mireya, it would be difficult for her to win.

If he wanted to create a game where Mireya could defeat him, then he needed something different.

A game where strategy mattered, but where the situation could change at any moment. A game where the player did not merely move pieces across a board. A game where they fought not only with strategy but also with luck.

Lucen’s fingers tapped lightly against the table. ’A game that has both strategy and luck would be one that uses dice or cards... Cards... I think I have an idea of what to create.’

Lucen then remembered an anime that he used to watch when he was a child, something that later created a famous card game. It was about a spiky-haired protagonist who believed in friendship and his cards.

The memory made Lucen’s smile slowly widen. That anime was one of the best parts of his childhood. Cards that summon creatures, use spells, with hidden tactics, a world where cards decide everything.

A game where strategy mattered, but where one draw could change the entire situation. It was the perfect game to create right now.

’Yeah, I guess I can create that new game, I did promise her. Also, I have already made preparations in case the war between the kingdoms happens. Yeah, that’s right, I don’t want to be like those protagonists in those novels I read that just focus on one thing. I want to do whatever I want, and the consequences, well, if I still lose after this much preparation, then there’s nothing else I can do.’ Lucen convinced himself.

Mireya looked at the changing expression on Lucen’s face. ”It seems that you have an idea now of what to create.”

”Yeah, it’s a card game,” Lucen replied.

Mireya tilted her head slightly. ”Cards? Is it possible to make an interesting card game? I did try the card games they do in taverns, but those turned out to be boring.”

”Yeah, this card game is different. I promise it will be fun and challenging as you like it.”

”That’s nice to hear. Tell me then what kind of card game is it?”

Lucen smiled as he asked for a pen and paper. The servants who were waiting at the side moved quickly and gave Lucen what he needed. Once he had the pen and paper, he started explaining the game to Mireya.

”There will be three kinds of cards. Summon Cards, which call creatures, warriors, spirits, and monsters. Art Cards, which activate spells, blessings, curses, or special techniques. And Ambush Cards, which are hidden until the right moment arrives and are activated.”

Mireya stared at the paper for a few seconds. ”So it’s a game similar to a summoner’s battle? Even though there aren’t any summoners in Norvaegard, I have read about them.”

”In a way, I guess it would be similar.”

”That does sound interesting.”

”Before you created this,” Lucen gestured at the Video Orb. ”I would just make cards with pictures on them, but with this, we can make the game even more exciting, using illusions and such.”

Mireya’s eyes faintly gleamed. ”Illusions?”

”Yes.” Lucen’s smile widened. ”The cards alone will be enough to play the game, but with the Video Orb and illusion spells, we can make the summoned creatures appear on the table. When a Summon Card is played, its image rises. When an Art Card activates, the effect appears. When an Ambush Card is triggered, the opponent sees the trap unfold before them.”

Mireya stared at the paper in silence, then she looked at Lucen. ”That sounds troublesome to make.”

”It will be.”

”That sounds expensive.”

”It will be.”

”That sounds fun,” Mireya said with a bright smile on her face.

”It absolutely will be,” Lucen replied with an equally bright smile on his face.

Mireya nodded her head with satisfaction. ”Let’s make it.”

The two smiled at each other with pure excitement in their eyes, unaware of the chaos that would be created with nothing but a simple card game.