Chapter 32: The Arcade and Board Games (2) Fin
-Taverns with nothing but flies buzzing around!
What is this arcade that brings tavern owners to tears?-
-The joy of board games that has even changed people's lifestyles!
Even among the places most visited by the capital's citizens, the arcade ranks first!-
-Is Author Wei truly a god of culture?
Consecutive grand successes with comics followed by board games!-
I read through the newspapers praising the arcade and board games one by one and raised a toast.
"Hoo hoo hoo hoo!"
I can hear it. I hear it!
The sound of board games becoming a massive success can be heard even here!
This wasn't a fake success that only looked good because the newspapers were hyping it up.
At the arcades, the actual venues showcasing the board games, requests were pouring in daily to expand the stores and increase game stock due to the endlessly rising number of visitors.
Thanks to that, the people in charge were working so hard to produce new stock that they couldn't even go home.
"As expected, making the first released games from the foundational lineup was the best choice."
Before fully developing video games, I had decided to slot board games in as practice—something transitional.
Thinking that what you show first should be a foundational lineup without cheap tricks, I had chosen Blue Marble, the Game of Life, and Find the Black Wizard—a slightly modified version of the mafia game.
All three were recording massive hits without exception, though there were differences in preference.
Hm? Blue Marble is a knockoff, and isn't Monopoly the original?
'Well, Monopoly is more of an original than Blue Marble, but that's too complicated and takes too long.'
If you include elements like trading and monopolies in a board game for first-timers, the game gets too complicated and drawn out.
So I deliberately chose Blue Marble, a more casual version, and instead made it so people could add sub-rules as they pleased.
Things like line monopolies, trading between users, and negotiations.
When they get tired of playing Blue Marble after doing it a lot, they can add those in then.
I guess you could say I set up stages so they could enjoy it longer without getting bored.
And here, Blue Marble had an unexpected effect.
"The city printed here on Blue Marble—are you saying it's your territory, Count?!"
"Hmm, hmm. Indeed."
"Wow! That's fascinating! The description in Blue Marble said the lake in summer is truly beautiful. If I visit, might I ask you to guide me?"
"Hohoho! Of course! You are welcome anytime!"
On the city spaces of Blue Marble, I had inserted the names of several cities with permission obtained through the Publishing Guild and Duke Lucid's connections.
The recognition of these cities rose sharply, creating massive travel demand!
Thanks to that, the lords of the cities who had granted permission without much thought were apparently grinning from ear to ear as if they had won the lottery.
It made sense, since their territories' name value and revenue were increasing without much effort.
'Well, this had a similar effect in my previous life too.'
After all, weren't Korean children in my previous life knowing the names of foreign cities like Cairo and Istanbul all thanks to Blue Marble?
'The capital of America isn't Washington D.C., it's New York. Heh heh.'
Anyway, they say quite a few nobles have been growing favorable toward me because of this.
They're grateful because I promoted their territories for free.
If I play this well, I might be able to use it as a promotional tool again when making another version.
Thus, Blue Marble's popularity and reaction were especially huge, but...
The Game of Life was also popular because people said they could feel like they were walking a new path or becoming a new self.
Find the Black Wizard was... well, it too enjoyed maniacal popularity, gathering a devoted fanbase.
'Tsk. To think it would become a game of political scheming already.
Anyway, people always learn the bad things first.'
I did feel a bit guilty, like I had corrupted the innocence of this world's people.
Still, the fact that all three games were successful was quite an encouraging result.
This way, even when fighting games come out later, people will take quite a lot of interest.
"And in that sense, creating the arcade was also a success."
My original intention in creating the arcade was similar to the arcades or PC bangs of my previous life.
Because the cost of game machines was expected to be quite high, I worried that only well-off households would be able to buy them.
I made it so people could enjoy them at low cost without purchasing the machines.
And I intended to release board games to let people get familiar with the arcade system early on.
"It far exceeded expectations."
It had become so famous that people were using the arcade as a plaza for social gatherings.
I never expected it to succeed so much that it would draw in all the people who used to go to taverns and even change their lifestyles.
With all kinds of newspaper articles mentioning the arcade...
As someone who remembered the game-hatred of my previous life, I flinched for a moment, but...
Unlike my previous life, the newspapers in this world were filled with nothing but praise.
And there was a good reason for that.
-'It is truly commendable that you have made the citizens reduce their drinking and take their rest wholesomely!'
His Majesty the King has also left words praising the arcade!-
The supreme leader and highest authority of this Yustia Kingdom, His Majesty the King, had firmly stamped his seal of approval with an "An arcade? Why, that's splendid."
Not many possessed the beastly heart to openly refute this.
And the fact that people's actual perceptions differed little from this also played a part.
'They say there are more people sitting idly in arcades doing no work?
Still, isn't that better than being dead drunk at a tavern?'
'That's right. At least they aren't causing accidents while drunk.'
'His Majesty views it favorably, so what are you going to do about it?'
Perhaps because the times were different.
Rather than causing accidents while drunk, relieving stress healthily through board games was viewed much more favorably.
Still, I was a bit scared, so I limited usage to no more than 5 hours per game.
I was also blocking people from betting money on games.
Since I had gained a good image, I didn't want to give anyone unnecessary ammunition to use against me.
'No, why impose limits when people are willing to pay?
Just let them live in the arcade all day, every day, forever—it'd be like printing money, so why not??'
'Rather than outright banning bets, how about having the arcade host official betting boards for the games?
We'd make a fortune just from fees alone!'
"No, come on. If he says don't do it, just don't do it!"
Thanks to that, I had a hard time persuading the Merchants' Guild who had cooperated in setting up the arcades.
From the Merchants' Guild's perspective, they could earn more money, so they must have wondered why they had to take losses.
I told them, if the situation got serious and ruined the arcade's image, who would take responsibility?
'Merchants stained by capitalism, I swear.'
I did wonder if I had pointlessly cooperated with the Merchants' Guild instead of the Publishing Guild, but considering the costs of making and installing game machines and fighting games in the future, games really should be with the side overflowing with capital.
'Author-nim?! Are you abandoning us?!
Wh-what did we do wrong!'
Rex and the Publishing Guild, eliminated from this cooperation, screamed that I had abandoned them, but...
Come on, it's a bit of a stretch to call games publications, right?
It can't be helped.
Anyway, only after roughly sorting things out like that...
could I enjoy board games for the first time in a while.
"So. Rena. Is academy life bearable these days? Are your studies going well? Have you made many friends?"
"...What's with that annoying, nagging tone? Oppa."
"Nagging?! It's all worry and advice for your sake. Kids these days think everything is nagging."
"There's only a one-year age gap between us, okay?!
If you're curious about academy life, please stop with the weird talk and just ask, can't you?"
For members, I put together Aria, who was always with me, and Rena, who had returned from the academy.
To fill the headcount, and to hear Rena's academy stories, that is.
"Well, it's a bit chaotic, but I'm having quite a bit of fun.
I've made... a few friends. They're a bit weird, though."
"Hoo. What kind of kind and nice friends would become friends with our violent little sister?"
"Want me to really show you how violent?
Anyway, I don't know why they like such an annoying Oppa so much."
"So who are these friends?"
"The Saintess, a genius swordsman from a ducal house, and a genius demonic swordsman from the slums."
"?"
"I'm serious, so could you stop looking at me with those 'how could someone like you?' eyes?
I'm about to cast a spell at you."
...Well, it seemed she had only chosen to befriend some rather unique people.
But they weren't bad friends, so there was no need to interfere.
"Shall we invite them over sometime?
I have some connection with Bei anyway."
"No! Absolutely not!
It's already annoying how all three keep shoving your books in my face and praising you.
If they find out I'm your sister, it'll definitely get way more annoying than it is now!"
"Can't you just tell them the truth?
What's the point of friends if there are secrets between them?"
"I'll tell them someday, but not now.
I'm not mentally prepared yet."
It seemed our little sister was leading a school life like an extra being pushed around by three strong main-character personalities.
Separate from being close friends with them, she complained of fatigue that sounded like her very energy was being sucked dry.
"Hmm. Not really my business, is it?"
Whatever happened to Rena, as long as it was interesting, I was fine with it.
Being with friends like that, I felt like I would be able to automatically farm great academy stories in the future, so I rather liked it!
"Sigh. I didn't expect you to help.
It's fine. Just pay the toll fee for stepping on my land just now.
Don't try to sneak your way out of it!"
"Tch. That's why I hate sharp little sisters."
After enjoying a few rounds of board games for the first time in a while, Rena came in last due to a combined attack from me and Aria in the final round and stormed off to her room in a huff.
"Author-nim. Then, what are you planning for your next work?"
Aria asked about the next work.
Saying that quite some time had passed since the new release, she asked about the plan for the next volume.
Hmm, indeed, after releasing Volume 2 of [The Genius Mage of the Slums].
With renovating the academy, games, the arcade, and all that, new releases had been paused for a bit.
The four-panel comic I was making with Aria was still ongoing.
But to the readers, that was a separate matter.
There must have been quite a lot of people waiting all this time.
"I should start my work again soon."
[The Genius Mage of the Slums], Volume 3.
It was time to begin the next story of the academy series.