Chapter 216 - Side Story 16

[Translator - Angel Dust]

[Proofreader - Prototype]

Side Stories 16

"My turn, huh? Uh-huh! I won again, Eloise."

"What? Why? ...Argh! Isn't this game rigged?!"

This damn luck-based game! Why did that card have to come out now?!

Eloise looked like she was about to flip the table. She's going to have a stroke at this rate.

"Eloise. What did I tell you?"

"Luck-based game!"

"No, not that. Lefia, can you explain it for me?"

"Oh, yes! Oppa said that a game is just a game!"

That's right, that's right. That's the correct answer. A game is just a game.

Enjoying it passionately? Good. Trying your best? Good.

Not causing trouble for other players? Even better.

But that's it. Games are best enjoyed as games.

"But my deck keeps getting messed up!"

"That's just your bad luck. Don't blame the cards."

You know who designed and made them, right? Blaming the cards is like insulting your future husband.

"Arghhh...!"

Well, I can't say I don't understand Eloise's frustration.

Her record against Lav is a whopping 0 wins and 12 losses. That's a complete shutout.

With their subtle rivalry, such a record would be a nightmare.

She's been diligently opening card packs and trying out better cards. She tried everything.

But what is this game in the end? It's just luck.

Good cards are useless if you don't draw them.

In that sense, I think Lav is winning in the luck department.

"Give it up, Eloise. You won't win with your luck."

"Let's play again!"

"Let's stop. It seems like you've already used up all your luck for next year, when you'll be the second to marry my Orabeoni."

Huh, now that I think about it, Lav might be right.

After graduation next year, who will be the first to get married?

Eloise won that important battle.

I remember Lav being quite upset at the time. She was gloomy for almost three days and even cried.

To comfort her, I had to create the spectacle of being with another woman despite being newly married.

I was lucky that Selena was understanding, or I would have looked like a real jerk.

"That's beside the point! But losing to Lefia is just absurd...!"

"Hehehe! Eloise is really bad at games!"

"Grrr! No! I'm not!"

For the record, Eloise's record against Lefia was 0 wins and 11 losses. In other words, another complete shutout.

* * *

"What the hell did you make?"

Selena approached me as I watched the three women walk away, chatting and laughing amongst themselves.

"You're back?"

I hurried over to greet Selena. She wasn't alone anymore, so I had to be careful!

"It seems the exchange students who attended the academy spread it."

I was dumbfounded. Where did all that elven pride go?!

I know our Empire emasculated them, but did it really work this well?

They said they weren't interested in human culture, and now they're playing this stupid game!

...Of course, that's just what I'm thinking. I can't say that out loud.

I immediately asked Alexander and Joachim to create a suitable pack for them.

And soon after, the Forest Folk card pack, also known as the Druid Deck, targeting the elves, was released.

The reaction? Well, as expected, they were thrilled when cards representing their culture and mythology were released.

I briefly considered adding some Kanfra-bashing content out of spite, but I held back.

There was no need to add fuel to the fire between humans and elves, which was finally dying down.

"Karl."

"..."

"Karl!"

“Uh, yeah. Selena? Did you call?”

"Look over there. Aren't those people from the church?"

"Huh?"

A group of people were being escorted into the mansion.

As Selena said, judging by their priestly robes, they seemed to be from the Radiant Church.

What's going on? Did something happen?

I tilted my head in confusion and returned to the drawing-room, where I was greeted by...

"Brother Karl, I heard you created something quite interesting."

"Ah."

"We believe this could be beneficial for the church if utilized well, so we came to visit. We'd like to ask if you'd be willing to create cards that incorporate various stories from the church."

"..."

"Brother Karl?"

"Ah, yes. Uh, that wouldn't be a problem. However, it would be best to discuss the details with the Hydra... I mean, the quartet... I mean, the Marquises and Counts..."

I'm starting to think I might have created something unnecessary.

I just wanted the academy students to enjoy it on a small scale!

I never intended to make the entire continent shout ‘Luck-based game!’

* * *

"This! Give me this!"

"As you wish, Your Highness."

The head maid carefully handed a book to the Crown Princess.

It was a rather advanced book for a child who wasn't even three years old.

Its sheer thickness was intimidating, but it was the Imperial Law Code, so it made sense.

Normally, a child her age would be reading picture books. That's the natural order of things.

But the Crown Princess was different. She had already learned to read.

And for some reason, she kept poring over the Imperial Law.

"I cannot fathom why Her Highness is doing this..."

Meanwhile, the Crown Princess of the Empire, Lily, diligently flipped through the pages with her tiny hands.

Then, she exclaimed, ‘Ah! Found it!’ and started smiling brightly.

[ Imperial Marriage Law ]

[Translator - Angel Dust]

[Proofreader - Prototype]