Overwhelming Firepower

In the following days after the first episode of Card Summoners was shown to the public, it started a craze like no other.

Territory War took a bit of time for the people to start playing, but this time, in just one day, many people started playing it.

The first episode was then shown in different public squares of different cities. Since the Card shops from those cities were not yet ready to open, many journeyed to the Capital to buy cards.

The Card shop always had a long line and was packed to the brim. Still, no one would dare cause a ruckus in there, no matter their wealth, their nobility, or their strength. The reason for this was simple. Lucen Thornehart owned the Card Shop.

No one in Caelhart was foolish enough to cause trouble in a place owned by the young man who, not only was the heir of the Thornehart ducal family, but he was also someone whom the King showed considerable favor to.

There was also the fact that he was considered a hero amongst the people. He had the charisma, intelligence, and power to overwhelm any noble house below the Ducal houses.

Because of that, even the most arrogant young noble who entered the Card Shop would suddenly remember how to behave properly.

No one cut in line.

No one shouted at the staff.

No one slammed coins on the counter and demanded to be served first.

At most, they glared at the long line with impatience, then quietly stood at the back like everyone else.

It was a strange sight. Commoners, merchants, knights, young nobles, and even servants sent by noble families all waited in the same line.

Some were there to buy starter decks for themselves. Some were there because their children had begged them nonstop since the first showing.

Others were there because their masters had ordered them to buy as many card packs as possible. Of course, Lucen only allowed one person to buy ten card packs, one starter deck, and two Booster boxes.

This was to allow everyone to have a chance and also to prevent scalpers. Not to mention, they did not have that much in stock, seeing as each card needed to be hand-drawn.

’Damn, maybe if I use that memory potion, I can find out if I have any knowledge about printing technology. Maybe there’s something I can use from the history of my old world or from a manga or novel I read that could help me.’

Lucen decided to do just that once he had the time. Still, he was happy to see the changes happening in Caelhart.

Children were playing against each other, and no matter their station, noble or commoner, as long as they had a duel, it felt like they could get along.

Of course, it was not like it was happening everywhere, but still, the fact that it was happening, no matter how small, made Lucen smile.

***

Lucen was currently hiding amongst the crowd, watching them play. He had changed into simpler clothes and covered his silver hair with a hood, but anyone who looked closely enough would still be able to recognize him. Fortunately, most people were far too focused on the cards in front of them.

Inside the card shop, there were separate rooms for teaching how to play the game and for those who wished to duel each other.

Many children were gathered; there were also equally as many adults playing the game.

A grown man slammed a card onto the table with far too much force and shouted, ”I activate Old Hunter’s Snare!”

Across from him, a young noble boy froze. ”So that was an ambush card, not an Art card!”

”Now I’ll finish it off by directly attacking you!”

The young noble couldn’t believe he lost to an old man and shouted. ”I demand a rematch!”

In another table, Lucen saw a few people discussing the perfect strategy to use and which cards counter other cards. There were also those who were thinking about the synergy between the cards.

Seeing as certain card effects can boost other cards, and there are certain ambush and art cards that only affect certain creatures.

Looking at the scene before him, Lucen felt a wave of nostalgia hit him. He and his friends had many such discussions. Watching everything going on around him, Lucen could no longer hold back; he wanted to play.

Lucen removed his hood and spoke. ”Who wants to play against me?”

The second those words were said, everyone looked at Lucen. It took them a few seconds to realize who had spoken and what was said. The very moment their brains finally processed who had spoken, the entire Card Shop exploded.

”Young Master Lucen?!”

”Did he say he wanted to play?”

”I want to duel him!”

”No, I was here first!”

”Please choose me!”

Seeing that everyone wanted to play with him, Lucen took out his personal deck. ”Come on then, let’s play!”

***

While Lucen was happily playing with those in the Card Shop, Robert, who had finished with the backlog of things he had as an instructor, finally had some free time.

He used this free time to call on a few dwarves, one of whom was Durik, and he also called Mireya Aeromont. He wanted to make Card Summoners the same as the version shown in the orbshow, where cards could summon creatures and activate spells.

When Mireya heard Robert’s idea, she stared at him for several seconds. Her eyes were shining brightly, as this was also something she wanted to do.

”Explain,” Mireya said.

Robert grinned, as that single word was enough to tell him that Mireya was as passionate as he was about this.

He immediately placed several cards on the table and began speaking at a speed that made the dwarves frown.

”The cards in the game are only cards. That is obvious. A disappointing limitation, but not one that can’t be changed. If the image, card material, rune engravings, and illusion foundation are combined properly, we should at least be able to create a visible projection of the summon.”

Hearing Robert’s explanation, Mireya, who always had a neutral expression, looked disappointed. ”So not real creatures.”

”Not yet, but as we progress forward, we’ll eventually reach that point. For now, I guess we step forward towards illusions first.”

Mireya stared at the cards on the table. Her disappointment did not disappear, but her eyes remained bright.

”Then explain how you intend to do it.”

Robert grinned wider. ”The card itself becomes the base. The image acts as the shape. The rune engravings act as the instructions. If we link illusions spells to the rune engravings, it is possible, right, old man Durik?”

Durik scratched his beard and looked at the card on the table.

”Possible? You and that lad Lucen always spout such nonsense as if it were normal... Still... Aye, it is possible, difficult but possible.”

Robert’s grin did not disappear. ”That’s good enough.”

”No, it is not good enough,” Durik replied. ”You asked if it is possible. I said yes. That does not mean you can start carving runes on every card like a goblin scratching a wall. If we did it for every card, who knows how long that would take.”

Durik’s words did not dampen Robert’s excitement in the slightest. His mind was already thinking about the next step.

”Then we do not carve runes on every card,” Robert said, eyes gleaming with excitement at his own thoughts as he continued. ”We make a base device that reads the card instead.”

Robert grabbed one of the cards and placed it at the center of the table. ”The card does not need to hold the full spell. It only needs a mark. The device will recognize the mark, then project the proper illusion. The card becomes the key, not the entire mechanism.”

Durik, who listened to Robert’s explanation, rubbed his beard and then nodded his head. ”Aye, that seems more doable than the last idea of yours.”

Durik’s answer was enough for Robert. ”Then we’d better get started.”

”It ain’t that easy, lad. We need to first figure out how to create this ridiculous device of yours. What materials do we need, what kind of rune engravings must we use, and how will we infuse illusion spells into the device?”

Robert waved his hand dismissively. ”That’s why we experiment.”

”I knew you would say that. We’d better make a workshop outside of the city just in case,” Durik replied.

Robert looked offended. ”You say that as if explosions are a bad thing.”

”They are when they happen beside my beard,” Durik growled.

Mireya picked up one card and stared at the painted monster on it. ”I do not care where the workshop is. I only care if we’ll be able to create a genuine recreation of the Card Summoner game shown in the orbshow.”

”Of course, Mireya, as long as we continue forward, we will eventually reach the end of the path,” Robert said, eyes shining. ”First, illusions, the movement, then the interactions with other cards. Then someday, true summoning.”

Robert tapped the card twice. ”Then we need to go and set out now. I already have a few things I want to test out.” Robert stood up and started walking towards the outer area of the city.

Mireya followed behind him, her usual calm expression broken by expectation. Durik, alongside the other dwarves, was also getting a little excited to create another brand new thing.

None of them realized that what began as a simple card game would one day become a new path, one that stood beside the path of monster tamers.