Isekai Online Game Developer

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I spent almost two months pouring my time into creating the Maple Leaf Story.

My goal was to build Victory Island as it was during the heyday before the Big Bang patch.

Creating monster stats, balance, and the map structure wasn’t a major issue.

While I couldn’t remember every single detail, it was definitely something I could manage after dedicating nearly half my life to the game.

The problem lay elsewhere.

For example, aspects like the story and NPCs.

I had to meticulously set up the details of the main story and the designs and dialogues of the NPCs one by one.

For someone with no sense of aesthetics like me, it was quite a challenge.

“Ugh, I’m stuck in an unexpected place… ha…”

“Hey little bro, need some help from your dear sister?”

“No, I’m busy… Ah, wait. Medeia, how long has it been since you started working at the theater?”

“It’s been about… five years now?”

She was Medeia, who worked part-time at the theater.

She could perform various roles using her clones and knew how to do makeup herself.

“Well then, can you help me with this…?”

And so, I began to seek help from Medeia and some seniors who were also part-timers in the theater.

I entrusted them with NPC dialogues and designs.

It really came in handy at times like this. Experience is never worthless.

“All done!”

After about two months and a week’s time,

the creation of the Illusion Magic Artifact containing the Maple Leaf Story was completed.

To reflect the theme, I shaped the artifact like a maple leaf.

Just looking at it made my heart race.

Having played it myself, I found that the emotions from back then were perfectly recreated.

Playing inside the game felt infinitely better than experiencing it through a monitor screen.

This could definitely work.

“Now, it’s time to find investors…”

I planned to show this prototype and secure investment. That was my initial plan.

However, the amount of mana stones consumed was significantly high, and up to this point, I had only implemented up to the first job advancement.

Starting as a beginner, I had completed quests for the first job advancements of Knight, Magician, Archer, and Rogue on Victory Island.

To build further, I needed more mana stones.

“Ugh… why isn’t anyone replying?”

“Hmm… Rai, is it not going well?”

“I’ve finished it. I sent out letters to select investors, but no one’s written back.”

“W-well, of course, no one wants to invest in us…”

“Is that really the case…? I guess it must be…”

Seeing me downcast, Hina approached.

She had been sulking for a while after I used up all the mana stones from the tower without permission.

Maybe she had calmed down a bit since two months had passed.

Perhaps I looked so dejected that she wanted to talk to me.

“…How about you give it a try, Tower Master? I haven’t made anything beyond the first job advancement, but that part is flawless.”

“The first job advancement?”

“Yes. Think of it as evaluating your disciple’s magic. Here, take this.”

I handed her the maple leaf-shaped artifact.

In a way, since I used the mana stones without her permission, it was only right for her to be the first one to give it a spin.

It was late, but I thought that if she tried it, she’d probably lighten up.

And an hour later…

“R-Rai…!”

“Oh, you’re already done?”

“What’s next? I became a Rogue, but it just ended…!”

“You finished the first job advancement already? That was quick. I could only make it that far because of the lack of mana stones.”

“W-Waaah! Nooo…!”

She did it in just an hour.

It wasn’t impossible, but for a complete beginner, it was definitely quick.

Plus, since this requires actual movement, it takes twice the time compared to playing on a computer.

“Someone, anyone, help me find an investor…! Quick!”

“Isn’t that something the Tower Master should handle?”

For some reason, Hina was speaking faster than usual with excitement.

It seemed that she really enjoyed the game.

Looking at this, it was clear that this could appeal to the people of this world.

So, was it that they were unable to invest since they hadn’t played it themselves?

“If someone plays it once, I’m sure there’ll be investors. The problem is, they won’t meet in person…”

I had already been to the Merchant Group near Trinity.

I had asked them to invest in our magic! But as soon as they recognized it was Illusion Magic, I was kicked out immediately.

There are other places to seek investment, but access to guilds or national-level investors was off-limits.

Those places have strictly defined procedures and conditions.

For us, with no substantial achievements or investment experience, it was absolutely impossible.

“Ah, geez, who knows? I’ll go out for a bit!”

“G-Get me an investor for sure!”

I have no idea. I’m destined for the streets anyway.

I’ll just wander around and beg for investments or something.

Looking at famous people, they all started from the bottom.

There was nowhere to fall lower.

Trinity had a lot of wealthy people living around, so maybe there could be a personal investor who’d help.

“Ugh, just go away!”

“Ah!”

Thud.

But perhaps that was just my reality.

People didn’t even listen to the story of me, an Illusion Mage.

In desperation, I clung to one person, but all I got in return was a kick.

“Ouch… that hurts.”

If only there were some magic I could use right now.

Something to numb the pain using illusions would have been possible.

Of course, it would have been pointless.

“Hey, what’s this? Aren’t you the next Illusion Tower Master? Hehehehe.”

“…?”

Just when I was sitting there in despair, a fire witch named Haster appeared.

“You’re looking for investors? Hahaha! Hehehehe…”

He read the sign I had prepared and began to laugh uncontrollably.

I felt annoyed, but I knew engaging with him would just be a hassle, so I started to move my sign to a different spot.

“Hey, where are you going?”

Suddenly, Haster, serious, grabbed my shoulder.

“Are you talking? I could invest, you know?”

“It’s not that simple.”

I shrugged off his grip and walked away again.

But this time, Haster ran in front of me and blocked my path.

“Seriously, Illusion Tower punks. Let me see what fantastic thing you’ve built! How do I know if I’ll invest unless I see it?”

Haster reached for the maple leaf story artifact.

I immediately clutched it close to my chest so it wouldn’t get snatched away.

“It wasn’t made for someone like you to use.”

“…What did you just say?”

With my words, fire ignited in Haster’s eyes.

“You know what happens when you use unauthorized magic within Trinity, right?”

“Yeah, I get it. No magic. Then let’s get it on.”

Pow- Puh- Bam-

Haster started hitting me.

I tried to fight back, but having never fought even in my past life, defeating him was impossible.

In the end, all I could do was curl up and protect the artifact.

“Ugh… these damn insects.”

After a while of him hitting me, Haster left.

The various gazes from the onlookers on the curled-up Illusion Mage ranged from mockery and disdain to laughter, scorn, and, every now and then, pity.

That was the treatment an Illusion Mage received in this world.

“Ouch… I’ll have to block that jerk when we officially launch.”

But I still had to find investors somehow.

I settled in a new spot and sat for several hours.

Naturally, no one took any interest in me.

Just as I was about to call it a day and head home, I heard a knock.

Knock Knock-

Someone knocked on the door of the Illusion Tower for the first time since I arrived here.

“…Huh?”

It was that old man from yesterday.

He had a piece of paper in hand.

He handed it to me and said,

“This is the amount we talked about yesterday. Create the Maple Leaf Story within six months. You should be able to get the funds if you show this at the Trinity Central Bank. So come find me in six months.”

Saying that, the old man left the tower.

“A guarantee check… signed by Galleard? What’s this?”

Galleard seems to be the old man’s name.

No way can that old guy have that much money.

He must have gone a bit senile.

But still, I felt a brief moment of joy and thought about throwing the scrap of paper into the trash when I left the tower again.

…If that had been the end, nothing would have happened next.

“What’s this, Rai? One, ten, hundred, thousand… ayy!!”

“A random old man just gave it to me as investment money. Must be losing his mind. Suddenly a guarantee check? There’s no way an old man can have that much money… it’s gotta be a prank.”

“N-No way?! G-Galleard?!”

Rain, who was about to let me throw it away, snatched the check from my hand.

Upon hearing the name Galleard, Rain trembled as she held the check.

“T-That Galleard?! The hero? The one who saved the world before! He must have loads of money!”

“Seriously?!”

That was the moment the future of the Illusion Tower shifted.