“Well then, I’ll be off.”
The day after the game was completed, I contacted Sylvia through the communication crystal ball.
I had spoken to the Edward Consortium a few times before about the sales numbers for Tetric.
It was selling so well that transporting the profits in gold to the southern region was impractical, so I planned to deposit the money in the royal bank instead.
Was that the reason?
When I told Sylvia that the new game was released as promised in just a month, she immediately asked me to come over.
“Take care, my apprentice!”
“Take care, Yuren!”
Honestly, I was a bit tired and wanted to rest, but as a game developer, I was eager to show off the game, so I agreed.
Early in the morning, I left the school, and my masters and fellow apprentices came out to greet me.
“But where are Jiren and Noirin?”
“They’re still sleeping.”
“Yeah, you need to rest when you can.”
I felt a mix of pride and guilt for those guys, working themselves so hard to develop the game. I decided to buy a bunch of health potions made from the finest unicorn horns when I returned.
“Yuren-bro! I’m counting on you for a gift!”
“Us too!”
The other younger apprentices also came out to welcome me.
Actually, they were more interested in the gifts I would bring back.
They were so cute, I couldn’t help but smile.
“Alright, I get it. Everyone, make sure to listen to our Master while I’m gone… ‘Wona!’”
Pyu-yu-yung!
The moment I used ‘Wona’ (Teleportation Magic), a blue light enveloped me, and I felt a rush as I quickly flew away.
Teleportation magic in this world consumes a lot of magical energy and has weight and distance limitations, so it wasn’t as versatile as one might think.
However, for a simple trip like this, carrying a few small crystals and one magic scroll allowed me to quickly travel near the royal city.
After flying for about five minutes, the feeling of buoyancy disappeared, and my view opened up.
As the blue light faded, a massive city came into view in the distance.
That was the royal city of the Zers Empire, [Zephia].
Unlike our small rural village in the Irene School, this was a grand city filled with massive medieval European-style buildings, full of gold and prosperity.
“Long time no see, Zephia.”
Zephia was the center of the empire, where the Magic Association, the royal family, nobles, and merchant guilds all gathered.
As such, the security was tight, and there was a barrier blocking teleportation magic, so I could only teleport this close.
From there, I needed to fly the rest of the way.
“Well, let’s fly right over there!”
Just like that, I used ‘Eio’ (Flying Magic) to soar over to Zers.
It had been almost three years since I last set foot in Zers. My last visit was for matters with my master and the Magic Association, and I hadn’t had reason to come back since then.
“Apples are cheap! So cheap!”
“Get your fresh bread here!”
I headed straight for the merchant area where the guilds gathered.
The streets were bursting with energy from early morning, and as I made my way to the Edward Consortium, I glanced around Zers.
The shops and buildings hadn’t changed much, but there was one thing that surprised me.
There were tons of Tetric machines on the streets.
I saw children gathering to play Tetric, and various stores showcasing Tetric crystal balls.
The BGM for Tetric played from block to block.
“The Tetric game has really taken off!”
Apparently, the supply had increased so much that the price had dropped to 100,000 gold.
The fair price Sylvia and I had thought for the Tetric game was 50,000 gold.
It seemed they’d been diligently pumping out stock for a month, bringing the price down step by step.
I couldn’t help but suppress the urge to brag to those children that I was the creator of the game as I hurried to the Edward Consortium.
The building of the Edward Consortium was, of course, the largest marble structure on Merchant Street, fitting for a consortium.
“Hurry, hurry, move it!”
“We just brought in 5,000 small crystal balls! Where should we put them?”
“Store them in warehouse number three!”
The merchant area was bustling with workers and goods, making it look quite chaotic.
I informed a guide that I was looking for Sylvia.
A moment later, Butler Thomas came to greet me.
“Welcome, Yuren.”
“Hello, Thomas! It’s been a month since we last met.”
Thomas, with his trademark red mustache, welcomed me just as graciously as he had a month ago.
“The lady has been waiting for you. Please, this way.”
I followed Thomas up to Sylvia’s office on the top floor of the building.
Just like the consortium, the office was twice the size of ours and had a luxurious atmosphere filled with the gentle scent of roses, where Sylvia was waiting for me.
“Welcome, Yuren! As representative of the Edward Consortium, I welcome you!”
Sylvia, still boasting her beautiful blonde hair, greeted me like a child waiting for a present.
“Shall we get straight to the point?”
She sat down and urged me to get right into it.
“Wow, Sylvia, you’re in a hurry; it feels like the roles have reversed since last time.”
After teleporting and flying here since morning, I honestly needed a moment to catch my breath.
I took a sip of the water Thomas had given me and let out a sigh.
“In just one month, thanks to your Tetric, so much has happened! You should know that my expectations have grown along with Tetric’s success.”
I had heard that Tetric had been selling like crazy during the last month.
They had sold approximately 30 to 40 times more than what we had sold, and because of that, they had set up a new small crystal ball production facility.
With a curious expression, she crossed her legs and said, “I’m really looking forward to that amazing game you mentioned.”
“Hehe, you can expect even more.”
I confidently responded to her challenge.
I couldn’t wait to see her reaction when she tried it.
I took out the precious crystal ball containing the game I had carefully kept and handed it to her.
“Is this the game?”
“Yes, that is indeed the game.”
Sylvia took the crystal ball containing the game and examined it slowly, as if trying to feel something.
“So what’s the name of this amazing game that this mustached gentleman is going to have fun with?”
“This game is called…”
I didn’t mention the game name, Super Mario.
I thought it was better to decide on an original title that suited this world for the title.
After 30 days of game development, I had pondered over the title and decided on this one.
“It’s called ‘Super Thomas.’”
“Super ‘Thomas’?”
The moment she heard the title, Sylvia’s eyes shifted to the person named Thomas who was right there in the room.
And surely, in the previously quiet room, a song echoed that only I could hear.
My (Sylvia’s) chaotic thoughts and anxious gaze (Thomas) with me watching.
“I… I also just heard about this! Really! I swear it, Lady!”
The usually composed and relaxed Butler Thomas was visibly flustered and waved his hands.
He shot me a look that demanded an explanation, and having accomplished my goal, I opened my mouth.
“This has nothing to do with Butler Thomas. I just chose the most ordinary and familiar name.”
The name Thomas was one of the most common names in this world.
We had at least five of them among our school apprentices.
An ordinary hero for ordinary people.
I hoped Super Mario would also be remembered that way in this world, so I chose that name.
After hearing my explanation, Sylvia finally seemed to understand.
“Ah… I see. Then you should have told me earlier!”
But then again, explaining it all beforehand would ruin the fun, right?
Having been caught off guard, Sylvia huffed indignantly yet held her composure.
“Then how about we give that ‘Super Thomas’ game a try?”
“Please, enjoy it as much as you like; there’s also a manual inside the game.”
With the crystal ball of ‘Super Thomas’ in her hands, Sylvia activated it.
Then…
“Da-da-dan-da-da♫ Dan⬈ Dan⬊”
With the title of Super Thomas, our Thomas appeared on the game screen.
I could see her eyes widen in wonder at the new game screen, unlike anything she had seen before.
“Hmm… so this is the game?”
Maintaining her calm, she began reading the game rules and started playing.
“What! What’s that monster!? Just touching it kills me!”
And like many others, she started without learning how to avoid dying and was immediately killed by a Gumba.
“I see, I can kill it by stepping on it.”
As expected, Sylvia quickly adapted to the game and began playing.
Her instinct to find hidden items was the best among all the players I had seen so far.
However…
“Da-da-dan-da-da♫ Dan⬈ Dan⬊”
“Ah! I slipped and died again!”
She was trying to play dangerously, but she kept slipping and dying because she couldn’t hit the timing.
Seeing this, even Butler Thomas couldn’t just watch and chimed in.
“Lady, I think you should jump a little faster.”
“I know! I know!”
Suddenly, it seemed that Thomas took an interest in Super Thomas.
Maybe it was because they shared the same name?
“I have one more crystal ball; Butler Thomas, why don’t you give it a try too?”
“Then I won’t refuse.”
Receiving the crystal ball from me, Thomas began his game beside her.
Seeing this, Sylvia paused for a moment and watched him play.
But then…
“Yah-hoo! Woo-hoo! Yay! Ha! Yah! Ha-yahoo!”
“…Thomas, have you played this game before?”
Butler Thomas began an amazing super play, zipping through the stages.
Even though he was just watching at first, he cleared four stages without dying even once, continuously jumping and running while unleashing fire, slaughtering Gumba hordes.
He touched his mustache and said, “No, this is my first time. But I could feel the protagonist wanting me to control him.”
“I… I see.”
Mana is also a life force.
Could it be that the game was made with mana, giving life to the mustached old man, lending strength to another fellow mustached person?
Nah, impossible…
Still, just to be sure, I’ll have to check the code when I get back.
