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CH.453 Getting the Prince to advertise my Tournament
CH.453 Getting the Prince to advertise my Tournament
Today was one of those days I wasn’t the biggest fan of. Not because it is actually bad, but because I just … don’t know how to feel about things.
I had been invited to the Royal capital, to join a party hosted by Elias, the second Prince.
The number of invites I’ve been getting has been steadily increasing as news of my accomplishments have spread, but the latest escapade to the Seaside Paradise dungeon increased the amount a lot.
… and I don’t know it for sure, but I feel like that is because of Rudevik. I feel like he has been telling exaggerated versions of what really happened in there.
Because I don’t know if you remember this, but technically, all S-rank adventurers in Ruiso Kingdom are honorary nobles. Sure Rudevik never took a family name, but he does fall into that ‘technically a noble’ category.
So yeah. I think he has been spreading some stories, and you know how things go from there. I usually just decline anything I get invited to, citing the fact that I’m basically on the other side of the country and the travel would be a pain. … naturally anyone who actually knows me knows that that is complete lie, but whatever. It works on those who just invite me for no reason.
But Elias is … I think we are friends. I’ve taken him dragon riding, so we are friends. And he knows I have airships, so he will expect to see me there, so I won’t refuse.
Besides, I think I’ll ask him if he is interested in the Yugioh tournament I wanted to host. If he advertises it a bit, I should get some competitors.
And if, and the if is the big part, if I get some more Synchro monsters, and maybe some more Synchro era sets unlocked, maybe I can host a second tournament that is all ‘turbo duels’. They wouldn’t technically be real turbo duels, as I don’t have Speed Spells, but whatever. I mean, there were no Speed Spells in Arc-V and Arc-V had turbo duels.
I’ll also need more D-Wheels, so I’ll have to spam summon the Synchro monsters I have.
Speaking of, I noticed something interesting about the D-Wheel shop. Mainly about the custom D-Wheel section. It doesn’t actually work like I assumed it did.
Basically, I don’t buy a new custom D-Wheel with stats that I want, but instead, I buy the stats used and I can then use the same stats to make a new, completely different D-Wheel.
So for example, if I want to make a single wheeled D-Wheel, like Jack’s Phoenix Whirlwind/Wheel of Fortune, whichever name you prefer, I can just purchase the ‘one wheeled’ option once, and then I can use it for any number of D-Wheels.
The same goes for stats. If I purchase the ability to make a D-Wheel with a top speed of 200 km/h, all of my custom D-Wheels can have that top speed.
… sadly there is one big problem. I can’t actually design any D-Wheels that are copies of the D-Wheels in the store, or the designer will complain to me about it. Something something copyright and buy the original first. Which is fine, but it just is a bit of a pain. I’ll just have to come up with a way of generating tons of Momentum, and sadly, Laura summoning Synchroes in the Factory doesn’t count for that, so I can’t just be all like: “Laura, take care of it.”
But I’m sure she will figure out a solution to that little problem. She’ll just need more time to break the Momentum reactor like how she breaks everything else. In a good way.
(I do have an idea.) Laura told me. (While Synchro summoning in the Factory doesn’t produce Momentum, riding a D-Wheel does. We may be able to use that.)
Yeah. What did I say? Laura always figures a way to break any sort of resource system.
But anyway, back to visiting the Capital and the second Prince.
I asked my girls if one of them wanted to come with me, and after a competition which may have been rock-paper-scissors, Cailie was the one to come with me. It will be interesting to see how the Capital’s nobles react to her.
Other than her, Cina and Molly also came with us. They aren’t going to take part in the luncheon, but they are going to be our escorts. And besides, when the two of them heard that I’ll be going from the Sawyer manor by carriage, they basically demanded to be there to pull my carriage.
So they were dressed in their coachman, or in their coachwoman uniforms, which were really just stylized overcoats, along with a skirt that covered their horse features.
Cailie had on a pink dress with some blue embroidery, while I had on a three-piece suit. I know, it isn’t exactly the common suit in this world, but I prefer it. It was green in color, matching both the color and pattern of Cailie’s tail as well as I could. My undershirt was just a simple beige color, and I didn’t have on a tie or a ribbon, because fuck having something around your neck.
… okay, I don’t actually hate having something around my neck, it is just … ever since Laura told me about what happened with her, anything too tight around my neck is just … I don’t like it.
And yes, naturally my suit lacked the left sleeve, so that my dungeon terminal was out in the open for everyone to see.
Once we got to the capital, and yes I did warn Cressida we would be dropping by, I got my carriage out of Storage, Cina and Molly took their positions at the front, while Cailie and I got into the cab.
We got more than a few looks while we made our way through the noble district. It isn’t common to see two centaurs pulling a carriage after all. I’m just glad the noble district has less people walking around than the other districts, and most people here know not to try and stop a carriage with a crest.
By the way, I guess this is a good time to mention the fact that the luncheon or whatever this party is supposed to be isn’t taking part in the castle, but at the Queen’s villa. Which is interesting, because Her Majesty Nelliel isn’t Elias’ mother. Nelliel’s only child is Princess Nevelle.
But it doesn’t really matter to me. A more casual party is more up my alley anyway.
“Brian! Welcome.” Elias called out to me as I got out of the carriage.
“Elias. Thank you for the invite.” I greeted him casually, just like he did. “And thank you for hosting us, Your Majesty.” I greeted the Queen as she approached, before turning to the princess. “You as well, Your Highness.” I said to Princess Nevelle.
“I think we are beyond that already.” The Queen said. “Besides, this is just a simple lunch, not an official party. So feel free to call me Nelliel.”
“Call me by my name too.” Nevelle asked.
I quickly confirmed which personality, Nel or Vele was the one here, before I figured out that this was the complete Nevelle, and greeted them appropriately.
I then helped Cailie out of the carriage, not that she needed the help, but it looks better if I offer her a hand. Even if she will just casually float out.
“... who is she?” Nevelle was the first to ask.
“... She was at Brian’s home during the reveal, but I don’t recall her being a server.” Nelliel said.
“True. Allow me to introduce you. This is Cailie, one of my fiancées.” I introduced her to everyone.
“... weren’t you already in a relationship with the dhampir lady and the daughter of the Watchman family?” Nelliel asked.
“Yes, but they accepted that I take on another wife. … future wife. And since I do hold Cailie dear, I did.”
“... stupid question, but how is she flying?” Nevelle asked. “She isn’t using Wind Magic, right?”
“No. It is a skill.” Cailie answered. “Ah! I apologize for speaking out of turn.” She quickly said, thinking she broke some kind of etiquette.
“Don’t worry about it.” Nelliel said. “As you may have guessed, you know, with no other guests and all of that, this meeting is just between us.”
That finally made me realize that that in fact is the truth. There was no one else here. Well, not that I care. Again, I prefer casual meetings.
“But just where did you pick up this cutie?” Elias asked.
“Don’t hit on her, or I will challenge you to a duel. In which I will destroy you with no mercy.” I warned the Prince. “... do you mind if I tell them the story?” I asked Cailie.
“... I … It’s fine. It is my past and without it, I wouldn’t have met you.” Cailie answered.
“Then let us head to the backyard. We have a table set up.” Nelliel said. “... will the centaurs be joining us?” She then asked.
“They aren’t my fiancees, if that is what you are asking.” I quickly said. “And while they do dine with me on HomeBase, because my home my rules, I do not expect you to tend to them.”
“I’d like them to join.” Nevelle said.
“Then they will.” Nelliel agreed.
The backyard table was nice, but it did have some issues when it came to Cailie and the two centaurs. Cailie wasn’t too bad, I just had to trade her chair for her floating wheelchair.
For the centaurs, they were a bit too tall for the table, so the best choice was for me to bring out a nice soft blanket for them, before the two lower their horse bodies onto the blanket.
Yes they could have transformed into humans, but I think this is funnier.
As we enjoyed the meal, I told everyone Cailie’s story. Some of them knew parts of it, like Elias knew of the rising mer-folk singer in the Hero’s country, while Nelliel had read the report about the fish problems Cailie caused.
What none of them knew was the spirit world adventure we all went on, or how we ‘took over’ the Nixie clan.
“... now I want to visit the spirit world. Brian, could you take me there?” Nevelle asked.
“Sorry, but can’t. I don’t have the skills for that yet.” I apologized. “I can probably get Lady Janina to do it for us. She isn’t that difficult to bribe.”
“... I find it alarming that you talk about the Supreme Dragon in that way.” Nelliel said.
“What? I speak to a queen this way, I talk to a supreme dragon this way. It is just what I do.”
“She is referring to the fact that you are just casually able to ask her for favors.” Elias pointed out. “While I don’t know everything, I do sometimes talk with representatives from the Crystal Empire. They say the Supreme Dragon is tough when it comes to trades and such.”
“... well, it may be because my monsters are the few things in the world that can actually challenge her.”
“They can? How strong are they?”
“Yes. They are strong.” I answered.
“That somehow answers everything and nothing.”
After a bit of silence, Nelliel brought up a different topic.
“Could you tell us the story of the centaurs? How did you come across them?”
After the meal, I gave the Royal family some gifts I’d brought with me. Because of course I brought some things.
First were a few emerald roses. Yes, they didn’t have an official name, so I named them emerald roses.
Second and third was something to do with said roses. Mainly some emerald rose tea, which is just generic tea with some emerald rose petals mixed in. The tea it makes tastes … better than just straight tea, but it isn’t super special in taste. The special part is that after drinking some of it, your Wind Magic will get a temporary power boost, which lasts for around 2 hours for a cup of tea. More tea, longer lasting effect.
The third is basically the same, but in potion form. So a Wind Magic boosting magic potion. The potion was far from perfect, as I don’t have a dedicated alchemist/potion maker on staff, so I just had to have my monster who was the best at it make the potion. It is more effective than the tea, but the effect lasts for a shorter time.
Last were the new resurrection ribbons, made with Ribbon of Rebirth.
Nelliel really liked the flowers, and asked where they came from. To which Cailie responded by getting out her dragon. She was about to summon it, before I interrupted her, summoned Gora Turtle of Illusion to make sure people outside the property couldn’t see what came next, and then I let Cailie summon her Wind Rose Dragon.
The Royal family then asked Cailie if she would be willing to sing for them, and I think she usually would refuse, I think having Wind Rose Dragon by her side gave her a bit of extra confidence, and she agreed to give a short performance.
After that little show, Nevelle asked me something important.
“Brian… I’ve heard you’ve taken on apprentices at HomeBase.”
“Yeah. I’m bringing in dhampirs Lua and I cured so they may learn True Blood Magic.” I confirmed. “Alongside other useful skills.”
“... do you think I could also study there?” Nevelle asked. “I want to get better with my unique skill, but … there isn’t exactly anyone who can teach me things about it. … but maybe you’d have a summon that can.”
“... I don’t recall one off the top of my head, but I suppose your unique skill is somewhat similar to Soul Magic, so Lady Janina might have some tips. And I may have some monsters that can also help.”
“... is that a yes?”
“Yeah, why not? It isn’t like one more student will break anything. In fact, I’ve always planned on taking more students. We are just … well, let’s just say that dhampirs are easier to feed than regular people.”
“I can get you in contact with food producers, if that really is a problem.” Nelliel offered.
“It isn’t the production part, but the cooking part.” I told her. “HomeBase houses large CropFields, and is fully self-sufficient when it comes to food. It is just … the kitchen staff will get overwhelmed and while I’m working on it, teaching cooks isn’t an instant process.”
“Yes, I can see how that might be a problem. Trained chefs are also in high demand, so I can’t just get you them.” Nelliel said, sounding a bit apologetic.
“I guess if you know of some people who are willing to learn, I can always just take them in and have my chefs teach them. I just don’t have the connections to find people like that.”
“If you are willing to teach my daughter, I can find you those people.”
“Sounds like a deal.” I agreed.
After a bit more chatting, mainly setting up the timeline on Nevelle moving to HomeBase and all of that, our meeting was done. … almost.
I still had something to ask Elias.
“Elias, if I were to host a small little tournament where you play a game based on my summoning cards, would you be interested in joining? And what about advertising it a bit so we can actually have some competitors.”
“You can play a game with them?” Elias asked. “Won’t that be extremely dangerous?”
“Nah, I got it covered.” I reassured him. We weren’t going to actually use the real cards, but literal cardboard copies of them. They won’t actually be able to summon any monsters. I’ll just develop a hologram table that will be able to project the monsters, kind of like the tables they use in the anime, and we will be golden.
“... I wouldn’t say I’m not interested. Where would you hold this tournament and what the reward will be? I’d ask about the rules and the game, but I feel like you wouldn’t tell me that.”
“Yeah, the rules and the card pool are still in the works. … don’t ask. I’ll host it on HomeBase, which I’ll move to an appropriate location, and like with the reveal, I’ll take care of all the transportation. Also, the grand prize will be a Card Summoner skill orb, and a few cards to go along with it.”
“... REALLY!?”
“That was the idea, yes.”
“No! Not that! You have skill orbs for that skill!?”
“Yep.” I confirmed.
“... could I have one?” He asked meekly.
“If you win the tournament, you can. And if you win, I’ll even give you Victory Dragon, the golden dragon you’ve flown.”
“Now I must win.”
“... I feel like this is going to backfire.” I muttered. “You won’t bring actual competition now.”
I then felt someone place their arm on my shoulder, before she said.
“Don’t worry. I will deal with the advertisement. Women are better at that anyway.” Nelliel reassured me. “Little Elias won’t have a free win.”
“... please don’t call me that.”
“Thank you.” I thanked the Queen. “I shall place my trust in you. … and if you want to take part…”
“Thank you, but I think I’ll leave it to my daughter and the boys. But I wouldn’t mind visiting your home again, so perhaps I can observe.”
“I’ll send you an invite.” I promised.
And so, we headed out of the Queen’s villa, and eventually out of the city.
… not that we officially ever were in the city. That is just what happens when you enter and exit illegally. Invisible space ships for the win!
Also, I do realize that when I got the invite, I was a bit … angry about it. I don’t like social gatherings. But meetings like these, where everything is super casual. Yeah. I like them.