Chapter 6
“Slash!”
Boom…
The golems collapsed under Galliard’s attack.
Galliard, who had recently advanced to a Swordsman through his first job change, was currently hunting for level-ups while progressing through the main story.
Every moment of adventure in this completely new world made his heart race.
When he first used a proper skill instead of throwing snail shells after his first job change, he was so overwhelmed that he even shed tears.
And now, as he progressed through the story, he had reached level 29.
The Warrior Instructor had clearly said that he could undergo his second job change at level 30.
Coincidentally, his skill points also lined up perfectly.
“Just one more level…!”
It was an exhilarating moment.
Defeating golems, completing quests, and gaining experience points.
Flash—
Finally, the moment he reached level 30.
Ding—
A light bulb-shaped illusion appeared above Galliard’s head.
When he touched it, the image of the Warrior Instructor named “Sit Down and Fist” appeared and began speaking.
“It’s been a while. You’ve become much stronger in such a short period… (snip)… What do you think? Would you like to walk the path of a stronger warrior?”
No matter how many times he saw it, it was an unrealistic sight.
He knew everything was illusion magic, but he couldn’t fathom how it was made.
The map and the teleportation system. The two-dimensional world. The characters almost like chibi figures.
He got used to it quickly, but the magician who created this illusion world was truly something.
Galliard thought of him as quite a peculiar individual.
“Accept.”
But none of that mattered.
He was only grateful to the person who created this fun world for him.
From level 1, adventuring and growing in this mysterious world became a new purpose in his life.
[Job Change] The Three Paths of the Warrior
That was the name of the quest Galliard accepted.
The long-awaited second job change quest.
For the main quest, Galliard headed to the Warrior’s City through the Six-Branch Road.
The desolate Warrior’s City, Parion, where not a single blade of grass grew.
Galliard liked this dusty place quite a lot.
“Well met. You’ve become much more dignified than the last time I saw you.”
When Galliard found “Sit Down and Fist,” he greeted him as if he’d been waiting.
Although they seemed alive, they were merely game background characters.
They always repeated the same lines when spoken to and gave quests depending on the conditions. NPCs.
There were times he felt lonely, but he heard that once development was complete, players could do party play with others.
Even now, it was fun, but Galliard looked forward to that even more.
It would bring back the nostalgia of when he first began his adventure.
“Hmm… I have to choose one of the three paths, huh.”
Anyway, the important thing now was the second job change.
“Sit Down and Fist” explained the three choices available for the warrior.
Depending on this choice, it would determine what kind of warrior he would become in the future.
“Alright, then make your choice. What kind of warrior do you want to be?”
“Hmmm…”
Three quest choices appeared before his eyes.
[Job Change] Path of the Fighter
[Job Change] Path of the Page
[Job Change] Path of the Spearman
It was a serious decision.
It would determine his future.
“Are you having trouble deciding? In that case, I’ll show you what kind of warrior you can become if you choose each path. Then, you can decide again.”
“Sounds good.”
When Galliard accepted “Sit Down and Fist’s” proposal, the background changed, and illusions began to appear.
They were images of what each job looked like at the fourth job advancement.
“Have you made your decision?”
Each job had its own unique charm.
Now, it was time to make a real decision.
***
“Rai, Rai! Raiii…!”
“Ugh… I’m dying here.”
The one waking me from my sleep at the desk was the small hand of Hina.
“What’s wrong, Tower Master…”
“One hour has passed.”
“Ah, thank you.”
Right now, I’m diligently developing Maple Leaf Story.
About ten months have passed since we received investment. The development was almost at its final stage.
The speed of development picked up once Hina started helping midway.
Despite her unreliable nature, she was still the Tower Master, and her illusion magic skills were impressive.
“And, and that old man… he’s here.”
“What? Where?”
“Ou-outside.”
“Ah? You should’ve let him in.”
“I-I was too scared…”
When I stepped out of the lab, I saw the large, trembling doors of the Magic Tower.
Hina had already hidden in her room.
When I went outside, Galliard was there.
“What brings you here again? You haven’t reached max level already, have you?”
Just as Galliard said, reaching max level within six months was impossible.
But since he kept pressing me to finish the game quickly, I let him play up to the part that was recently completed.
It was easier to think of him as a beta tester.
He hadn’t visited since then. Was there a problem with the game?
“The game will be completed soon, and we’ll be able to officially launch. Please wait just a little longer…”
“That’s not why I’m here. The game’s plenty fun as it is. Of course, it’ll be even better when it officially starts.”
“Then, what is it…”
“I reached level 30 yesterday,”
“Oh, then you can do your second job change.”
“That’s right! But I can’t decide which job to choose!!! They all look so fun, and I’m torn!!!”
“Ah…”
So, it was for something trivial again.
He should just go with the one that appeals to him the most.
Was this really the hero who saved the world?
Well, I guess I can understand his dilemma.
Right now, players can only create one character.
Later, when new jobs and regions are released, I plan to allow multiple character creations.
However, doing so now would require more mana stones.
Even with Galliard’s investment, the budget is tight.
“Sigh… This is really troubling. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime dilemma…!”
I ignored him and focused back on development.
The game itself was already finished. All that remained was to complete the artifact, a kind of supercomputer that would act as the main server.
And then, mass-produce the artifacts for sale.
The artifacts would allow individuals to connect to the main server through illusion-sharing magic.
The design was decided to be a maple leaf shape, just like the initial concept.
“Anyway, what I handed over is just a demo version, so once it’s officially released, you’ll have to start from the beginning. Try it out, and when the time comes, you can make an official decision. Well, I’m busy, so I’ll take my leave. Playing games for too long isn’t good for your health.”
Leaving Galliard, who was tapping his foot anxiously, in the lobby, I headed to Hina’s room.
The final stages of development were complex, and I needed her help.
After about a month of wrapping up, the official release date approached.
“Come on… Even if it’s a request from Lord Galliard, I can’t agree to it. We’re not running a charity here. Where would we even sell artifacts from a place like the Illusion Magic Tower?”
“But considering that Lord Galliard himself is vouching for it… It seems like a solid product.”
“That’s been bothering me too… But I heard every other merchant guild turned it down as well, right? No, no. This deal is already risky as it is.”
Rippert, the head of the Blue Head Merchant Guild, one of the top guilds on the continent, shook his head.
It was due to a new trade deal that had come up recently.
It was a product recommended by none other than the former hero Galliard, but it was made at the Illusion Magic Tower.
They couldn’t afford to bring in a product no one would buy and try to sell it.
The merchant guild’s job was to buy well-selling products at low prices and sell them at high prices.
“Anyway, send a polite rejection letter. Just don’t be too firm, in case some other guild picks it up and we can gauge the market reaction.”
“Yes, understood.”
Rippert’s beginnings were as a small-time peddler.
Back then, he feared nothing, adventuring through every city and selling goods.
He built up his reputation and eventually established the Blue Head Merchant Guild as it is today.
But now, after accumulating countless achievements, he focused more on maintaining what he had.
He minimized new ventures and aimed for as much stability in business as possible.
He no longer enjoyed adventuring.
Though recalling the past still made his heart race, his behind had already grown far too heavy.
“An attack!”
Rippert and his guild were passing through the forest, carrying a load of goods for trade.
Bandits attacking merchant guilds loaded with goods was a common occurrence.
That’s why merchant guilds always hired guards. However—
“…What? But this is the Elves’ Forest!”
For this trip, Rippert had hired fewer guards than usual.
And for good reason—he just needed to pass through this forest.
This forest, called Elium, was the territory of the elves.
The elves always guarded the forest, so no bandit or rogue would dare set foot in it.
By agreement between humans and elves, a single path was allowed to be used, making it a favored route for merchants without the threat of attacks.
But now—
“You need to take cover, Guild Master!”
“Damn… This is a major trade deal…”
Rippert decided to abandon his entourage and flee.
Judging by the size of the attacking force, the guards he’d hired would undoubtedly be defeated.
If he were taken hostage, it would result in even greater losses, so it was a necessary decision.
With tears in his eyes, Rippert ran into the depths of the forest.
The losses he would incur from losing so much merchandise flashed before his eyes.
It was the first time something like this had happened since he established the Blue Head Merchant Guild, making it all the more painful.
“What are the elves doing…? Damn it… My money…!”
“Indeed, it’s strange. Now that you mention it, I haven’t sensed the presence of a single elf since we entered the forest. Normally, they’d be leaping from tree to tree to guard it.”
“Exactly. Could something have happened to the World Tree?”
The World Tree was just a large tree to humans.
But to the elves, it was something entirely different.
If there was a reason for the elves to neglect the forest, it could only be related to the World Tree.
“Hah… It doesn’t seem like they’re chasing us anymore.”
“For now, let’s hide here for a while, and then we’ll head back to the main road and rejoin the merchant guild. Ugh, what a mess…”
Rippert hid himself among the trees for the time being.
When the commotion subsided, they planned to leave the forest.
“…Hmm?”
Rippert, who was leaning against a nearby tree, noticed something on the ground.
It was a red maple leaf that didn’t quite match the green landscape of Elium.
Rippert picked it up.
Upon closer inspection, it wasn’t a real leaf but something hard shaped like a maple leaf.
It seemed to be an artifact.
“What is that?”
“I’m not sure. It looks like an artifact, but it was just lying on the ground.”
“Could it be a trap? Just to be safe, you shouldn’t use it…”
“Hah, do you even know who I am?”
Rippert activated his magic.
His Attribute Affinity was Observation (B).
He could use a spell to identify the details of objects.
It was a low-tier attribute, so that was the only spell he could use, but it was more than enough for a merchant like him.
“There’s illusion magic all over this thing… My magic can’t fully analyze its structure. What kind of item is this to just be lying on the ground…?”
“Wouldn’t that make it more dangerous? If it’s something that can’t be analyzed even with a B-rank Observation spell…”
“But one thing’s for sure—it’s entirely composed of illusion magic. It shouldn’t be dangerous.”
After contemplating for a moment, Rippert decided to try using the artifact.
Something he normally would never do.
But strangely, the maple leaf shape piqued his sense of adventure.
“Keep watch. If something happens, deactivate the artifact immediately.”
“Yes, sir.”
Rippert channelled his mana and activated the artifact.
What he encountered was an immense and mysterious new world.
In that world, he could leap into the air and soar like a bird, cast powerful attack spells like a hero, and summon mystical and beautiful creatures.
‘What in the world is this…?’
Since it was an illusion magic artifact, everything must be an illusion.
Yet it was so vivid, so extraordinary that he found himself not wanting to leave it.
At that moment—
Bam—!
“Ugh—!”
Suddenly, the artifact deactivated, pulling him back into the real world.
He found himself on the ground, rolling, and standing before him was an elven woman.
“Ugh… What is this…”
“What are you doing? Using someone else’s belongings without permission.”
“But that’s because… Ah, wait…! Lady Riana?”
“So you know me, human.”
“Of course, I know you! A long time ago, didn’t we travel together briefly? With Lord Galliard and the other members of the Hero Party.”
When Rippert first started his merchant career, he had travelled briefly with the Hero Party.
It was towards the end of the war against the Demon World.
That’s when he formed his connection with Galliard.
Now, most of the members of the Hero Party were dead due to the passage of time.
The youngest member back then, Galliard, was now an old man, and Rippert had also aged significantly.
But as an elf, Riana looked exactly the same as she did back then.
“…Hmm. I vaguely remember. Back then, you were just a young peddler.”
“Haha, time sure has passed. You still look exactly the same as you did back then. But what is this? I found it lying on the ground and tried using it.”
“This is an artifact called Maple Leaf Story, a gift from Galliard. It’s so much fun that the elves of Elium have started buying one each.”
“Maple Leaf Story, you say…”
That was the name of the artifact that Galliard had once recommended to Rippert, made by the Illusion Magic Tower.
“Now, I must hurry and level up, so I’ll take my leave.”
Leaving Rippert behind, Riana vanished into the forest.
It was a hurried and careless run, unbecoming of an elf.
“…Don’t tell me they’ve been neglecting the forest’s security because of that game?!”
“Pardon? Guild Master, are you alright?”
“…Hey. We need to head back.”
“Pardon? Where to?”
“To the Illusion Magic Tower! We need to secure exclusive rights to this before any other merchant guild does!”
“Whaaat?”
The natural merchant instincts within Rippert caught a whiff of tremendous profit from that small maple leaf artifact.
—
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