Chapter 3: First game

Five years had passed since I left home to live in Edgar’s laboratory in the city, dedicating myself to the study of illusion magic under his tutelage.

During those five years, I had poured every ounce of my being into mastering illusion magic, to the point of tears of blood, sacrificing even eating and sleeping.

It felt as though I had never exerted myself with such intensity in my entire life.

Ordinarily, whenever I pursued a goal, my attention would quickly be diverted by the myriad distractions available at every turn, leading me astray.

Paradoxically, perhaps because it was the medieval era, devoid of entertainment, my study efficiency soared.

The forms of recreation available in this age, being vastly inferior to the high-quality entertainment I enjoyed in modern society, simply held no appeal for me.

More importantly, I knew that the more diligently I worked to accelerate the creation of games through illusion magic, the sooner my future self could finally indulge in true entertainment.

After five years of grueling effort, a little after my twenty-first birthday, I received a perfect declaration of mastery from Edgar… or rather, my Master.

“You have truly excelled, Zeke.”

“I have met countless individuals who sought my guidance in illusion magic, but you are the first with such tenacity and passionate dedication.”

“Usually, they would badger and pester me at the slightest lack of visible progress, so it has been an age since I encountered someone with such perseverance.”

“Your praise is so lavish, Master, I fear I might break out in hives.”

“It is pure commendation.”

“When I heard your purpose for learning illusion magic was for the benefit of others, I had thought your motivation might be too weak to sustain you for long.”

“But it seems I was mistaken.”

“You have done exceptionally well.”

“Hmm…”

My true motivation, however, stemmed from a deeply personal desire, a fact I chose not to disclose to my Master.

My Master patted my shoulder, regarding me with immense pride.

“At this point, I have imparted all that I can.”

“What remains depends on how much further you strive, how much more you hone your skills.”

“You have demonstrated an exemplary attitude toward learning thus far, but the moment you grow complacent, your growth will cease.”

“Therefore, always remember what I have taught you and continue to strive for perfection.”

“Yes, Master.”

“You may now return home.”

“After five years, your family must miss you dearly.”

I had finally received formal permission to depart and return home.

However, there was something even more crucial to attend to before then.

“Master, before I leave, would you perhaps take a look at the world of illusion I have created?”

“Oh? You have already manifested an entire world?”

“For about a year now, I have been sacrificing my sleep, little by little, to build it.”

“Each time I received new teachings from you, Master, I refined this world of illusion.”

“I have completed it to the best of my abilities, and I would be grateful if you could examine my world before I depart.”

“You barely had enough time just to learn, yet you sacrificed your sleep for this?”

“Hahaha… I’ve never encountered a disciple who dedicates themselves with such fervor.”

“Very well, I shall take a look.”

“A world created by a disciple as diligent as you—I must see it.”

“If there are any points that need refinement, I will address them all for you one last time.”

“Thank you, Master.”

“The medium for entering the world of illusion is prepared in this crystal orb.”

This crystal orb was not a user version but an administrator’s orb.

Accessing the world of illusion I had created through this orb meant entering a state akin to that of a Game Master (GM).

My Master merely needed to assess its perfection and manifestation, so there was no need for him to play through the entire game from start to finish.

My Master accepted the orb I offered, placed his hand upon it, and a moment later, he stood motionless, as if frozen in time.

I sat beside him, patiently waiting for him to open his eyes again.

After about two hours, my Master opened his eyes, removed his hand from the orb, and asked me with an incredulous expression,

“Zeke… did you truly create all of this by yourself?”

“There’s no one else here but you, Master, so who else could have helped me?”

“Indeed, you are right… I have explored the entirety of the world you created.”

“It was remarkably flawless and devoid of any superfluous elements.”

“There were no errors within the world of illusion, nor any flaws in its manifestation.”

“It was so pristine, it was hard to believe it was your first manifestation.”

“I am pleased to see my teachings have not been in vain.”

“You flatter me, Master.”

“It is thanks to learning under such a benevolent Master.”

“Hahaha, your flattery has improved now that it is time for you to leave.”

“In any case, I have nothing further to say regarding the illusion magic you have created.”

“If you wish to present it to others, rest assured, it is perfectly ready as it is.”

“Yes, Master.”

“Thank you for all your teachings thus far.”

“I will visit often!”

****

After Zeke packed his belongings and departed, Edgar stroked his chin, replaying the world of illusion he had just witnessed in his mind.

“The perfection of illusion magic, while naturally dependent on the caster’s magical prowess, is even more critically determined by the caster’s creativity and imagination.”

“Those lacking imagination cannot even construct a stage compelling enough for others to easily immerse themselves in the world of illusion.”

The fundamental principle of illusion magic was to make others believe the world was real.

To achieve this, providing an overwhelming sense of immersion to those exposed to the illusion magic was paramount.

Those who lacked creativity and imagination, even if their magical fundamentals were excellent, could not properly immerse and hold others within the world of illusion, and thus could not truly be called a proper Illusionist.

This was the greatest weakness for mages who merely memorized theories, practiced incessantly, or recited mathematical and elemental formulas in their pursuit of magic, and it was also why truly exceptional Illusionists were exceedingly rare.

Yet, the world Zeke had shown him brimmed with such boundless creativity and imagination that Edgar could not even fathom where the inspiration had come from.

To such an extent that even he, who had merely intended to evaluate the magic’s perfection, momentarily cast aside that objective, yearning to properly explore this world of illusion himself.

“It seems an Illusionist with a talent destined for history has, by their own volition, sought me out.”

“Zeke, once the world you have created reveals itself to the world, I, too, wish to joyfully explore it as an ordinary person.”

****

Having received my Master’s approval, I felt as if I could soar as I rode the carriage home.

It had taken me four years just to properly master the techniques, and for the past year, ever since I had mastered the flawless manifestation of my abilities, I had poured all my efforts into embedding the ‘game’ I envisioned within the illusion of the crystal orb.

Of course, it was far from easy; over that past year, various errors in the illusion’s manifestation—or ‘bugs’ in game development terms—were ceaselessly discovered.

Catch one, and two more would emerge; catch two, and four would spring forth, a relentless tide.

I wrestled with bugs day and night, and for another year, I utilized my Master’s teachings to squash those bugs.

Those arduous years had finally borne fruit, and five years after leaving home for my training, I had at last succeeded in completing my very own game, free of bugs.

Strictly speaking, it wasn’t my pure creation but merely my imitation of a masterpiece from another world…

Yet, since the copyright holders didn’t exist in this world, I would simply consider it my own creation.

‘There were times in life, I mused, when one’s conscience became an unnecessary burden.’

The game I had created was one that had enjoyed immense popularity in my original world, enjoyable for all ages without any burden.

While games like Grand Theft Auto or Civilization were excellent, introducing such complex concepts to a world where the very culture of gaming didn’t exist would be like force-feeding a newborn a steak.

One had to start with something universally enjoyable.

I had spent too much time mastering the techniques, so I hadn’t been able to create many games yet, but now was the true beginning.

After days of travel, I finally arrived at the familiar Hyndel family estate, and passing by the guards who greeted me with vigorous salutes, I headed to my room in the main manor.

Even though the room had been unused for five years, its interior was meticulously clean.

Minutes after I lay down on the bed to ease my travel fatigue, thundering footsteps echoed from the corridor, the door burst open, and a cute-faced, blonde-haired maid appeared, breathless.

She had matured slightly more than I remembered, but having seen her face daily since I was very young, it was impossible not to recognize her.

“Zeke… Young Master…?”

“Oh, Catherine.”

“You look full of energy.”

“You’ve grown quite beautiful since I last saw you.”

“Did you clean my room?”

“Young Master… Y-you’re back?”

“But it’s been five years, and you didn’t send a single letter!”

“I was busy with my magic studies, you see.”

“I’m glad to see you’re healthy—”

“You could have visited at least once!”

“Do you know how worried the Master and Mistress were?”

“They worried if you were doing well, if you were eating properly, if your sleeping arrangements were comfortable, if you had any inconveniences in your daily life…”

Then she subtly wiped away a tear.

“Do you know how worried I was… how much I… how much…”

“Wow~ So that shrew, Catherine, actually worried about me?”

“I’m touched.”

“Anyone hearing this would think you actually liked me.”

Even after speaking, I couldn’t help but inwardly chuckle at my own words.

No matter who it was, when it came to Catherine, that would never happen, not in a million years.

Who would that shrew like, anyway?

“N-no!”

“It’s just that I know the Young Master’s terrible habits so well, and since I wasn’t there to assist you, I was sure you would become completely lax—”

Just look at her.

I placed a finger over Catherine’s lips, silencing her, then pulled out a blue crystal orb from my bag.

“Silence that sassy mouth for a moment.”

“Perfect timing, actually.”

“Catherine, I’ve brought the culmination of five years of my research and development.”

“Would you care to experience it for yourself?”

“What… is this?”

“It is the crystallization of my five years of study.”

“The world of illusion I created is contained within this.”

“Just place your hand on the crystal orb, close your eyes for a moment, and then open them, and you will experience that world of illusion.”

“I need you to freely adventure within it and then tell me your impressions.”

“Why me, though?”

“There are many others who can wield magic, aren’t there?”

“I don’t need someone to comment on the magic’s perfection; I need someone to tell me how they enjoyed the adventure within this world.”

“And wouldn’t you know it, you just happened to arrive.”

“How about it?”

“You’d be the very first person to enjoy my masterpiece.”

“Aren’t you curious?”

“I have no one else to ask right now.”

“M-me, the first one…?”

“And you can’t ask anyone else…?”

Catherine twirled a strand of her hair around her finger a few times, then cleared her throat.

“Ahem, ahem.”

“Oh, very well then!”

“If the Young Master’s world of illusion turns out to be riddled with flaws, then only I, who have always assisted him since childhood, would be able to give him honest criticism.”

“F-fine!”

“I’ll experience it for you.”

“Good thinking.”

“The way to enter the world of illusion is as I just told you, and to return to reality, you just need to recall the sight of this room we’re in.”

“You’ll return to reality instantly.”

“But just in case… let’s set the maximum time for six hours, for now.”

“Six hours?”

“I don’t think it needs to be that long…”

“You can say that after you’ve experienced it.”

I placed the blue crystal orb before Catherine.

This was the user version, destined to be revealed to the world, not the GM version my Master had experienced.

I took Catherine’s hand, placed it on the blue crystal orb, and said,

“Have a good adventure.”

****

As Catherine opened her eyes, a remarkably peaceful rural village scene unfolded outside the window.

She was in a bedroom on the second floor of a wooden house.

“Where… is this place?”

“Catherine, dear!”

“Are you awake?”

“You can’t oversleep today; it’s an important day!”

Catherine instantly whipped her head around at the familiar voice, and a middle-aged woman ascended the stairs leading from the first floor.

“Oh, Mom?!”

The person was Catherine’s mother.

“Mom, you should be gardening right now!”

“Why are you here?”

Catherine’s mother also worked as an employee of the Hyndel Ducal household, but the mother before her tilted her head, as if bewildered by her words.

“Are you still half-asleep?”

“No, this isn’t the time for that!”

“Hurry and get dressed!”

“Today is the day the Professor said he’d give you a very important gift at his laboratory, isn’t it!”

“Huh?”

Utterly bewildered, Catherine was led by her mother’s hand to change her clothes and then moved out of the house to a large building nearby.

There, an elderly man with a shock of white hair greeted Catherine warmly.

“Welcome, Catherine!”

“Today is finally the day you are to embark on your journey, isn’t it!”

“I am glad I could prepare this gift for you!”

“Excuse me, what are you… Who are you—”

“Oh dear, I forgot to introduce myself!”

“I am Professor Samuel Oak!

“You can call me Professor Oak for short!”

Professor Oak arranged three small, spherical, openable capsules before her and said,

“Catherine, your journey ahead will be quite long and arduous!

“And it’s dangerous to travel alone outside!

“Take one of these children with you.”

“They are the gifts I have prepared for you!”

Then, the three capsules opened, revealing three different monsters.

“A Grass-type Bulbasaur, a Fire-type Charmander, and a Water-type Squirtle.”

“Choose the one you desire!”

“……”

Catherine stared at the three creatures in turn, momentarily lost in wonder.

Then, a few seconds later, she shrieked.

“Th-th-they’re so cute!!!”

It took mere moments for Catherine, the first player in the world of the game Zeke had poured his heart and soul into, to become utterly captivated by it.