The Audience Hall erupted into chaos.
"Magic Games? What's that?"
"I heard Lord Silas say it's a magical item created by the Demon King! It can provide mana for the Core!"
"We're the founding members of a startup! I don't know what a 'startup' is, but it sounds incredibly impressive!"
News that the Demon King had found a few monsters to test "Magic Games" had already spread through the dungeon like wildfire. Although most hadn't seen a Magic Game with their own eyes, if the testers were praising it to high heaven, it had to be something extraordinary!
Even the wolf pups were jumping up and down, their little tails wagging like propellers.
Wolf's brow furrowed, and a low, displeased growl vibrated in his throat. He reached out and grabbed the scruff of the most energetic pup, yanking it behind him and silencing it with a stern glare. The pup tucked its tail, confused. Isn't it good that the King found a way to get us mana without us having to fight Heroes to the death?
Wolf shoved his way through the crowd to the very front. The bustling hall fell silent instantly; you could have heard a feather hit the floor.
Silas and Serina both gripped the whips at their waists, falling into combat stances. Killing intent crackled between the three of them.
"It's over! They're going to fight!" In the back of the hall, a skeleton in tattered robes clutched its skull, its tibias rattling together.
Beside it, a Siren remained remarkably calm. She ran her fingers through her thick, seaweed-like hair. "I'm curious to see how the Demon King handles Wolf. If he can't suppress his own subordinates, his prestige will hit rock bottom."
The skeleton frantically covered the Siren's mouth. "Shh! How can you say that? Do you want to die?"
"That's why we're standing in the very back!" the Siren's voice muffled through the skeleton's wide finger-gaps.
Wolf glared up at the Demon King. "Your Magic Games might provide some mana, but do you know how many monsters are in the Gloom Catacombs? That amount is a drop in the bucket!"
Lorne had expected Wolf to be the "difficult employee." But an effective CEO knows how to win over the dissenters. "That's why I'm scaling production," Lorne said calmly. "Human emotions while playing are converted into mana. As long as the player base is large enough, it can power the entire dungeon."
"How do you know humans will like it?" Wolf sneered. "Maybe they won't care at all, and we'll have wasted our breath!"
"You leave that to me. Humans will be unable to put these tablets down."
Lorne couldn't guarantee everything, but he had absolute faith in the addictive nature of gaming. Humans were the same everywhere—give them a dopamine loop, and they were yours.
"The Gloom Catacombs is full of talent. In the past, your skills had no outlet because of the mana drought. Now is the time to shine," Lorne announced. "I am forming a Game Development Team. Each member will contribute their specialty."
Lorne had no intention of being a solo dev forever—that's how you get burnt out. He needed to train a team.
"Siren!" Lorne called out.
The Siren, who had been gossiping in the back, snapped to attention like a student caught daydreaming. "The Siren's voice is world-renowned. You will be in charge of Voice Acting and BGM (Background Music)."
"All Undead!" Lorne continued. "Once the obsidian arrives, I will prioritize mana to you. You will be responsible for copying the runic arrays onto the tablets. We're turning you into a production line."
The skeleton bowed stiffly. "It is our honor to serve, Lord Demon King."
"Silas, Serina! You will manage the physical experience store in the city. Your job is sales and customer service."
Beautiful succubi in sales? It was a guaranteed win. Finally, Lorne turned his gaze to the werewolf.
"Wolf!"
Wolf's eyes widened. He prepared to say, "I'll never take orders from you," but Lorne didn't give him the chance.
"I appoint you as the Head of Security for the experience store!"
"What?!"
"Don't you want to see the future of Magic Games?" Lorne smiled. "Then witness it with your own eyes."
One month later. Norelia, the Capital of Academics, Sunset Boulevard.
It was Friday evening, and the street was packed. This area, the junction of the New and Old Districts, was the heart of the city's nightlife. Carriage bells rang, and horses' hooves clattered on the cobblestones.
Suddenly, a loud horn blasted through the air. Pedestrians turned in shock as several brass-colored steam-powered cars roared past, belching thick smoke. In Norelia, owning a steam car meant you were incredibly wealthy.
The cars stopped in the middle of Sunset Boulevard. A group of young men in blue formal suits hopped out—none of them looked older than twenty. Shopkeepers rushed out to greet them.
"Young Master Chris! We have new stock!" "Master Chris, we have a new chef from the Desert Kingdom!"
The young man, Chris, was the son of one of Norelia's wealthiest merchants. He ignored them all, focusing entirely on the girl beside him: a young woman with black hair and violet eyes.
"Miss Yvette, this is Sunset Boulevard," Chris said with a hint of flattery. "We have theaters, clubs, even an underground boxing ring. Today, I am your humble servant. Wherever you wish to go, I shall lead."
Yvette looked around lazily. "The capital has all of this. It's boring. If I wanted to see people get punched, I'd go to my grandfather's military camp. Is there nothing new here?"
Chris broke into a cold sweat. Yvette's grandfather was the kingdom's only Grand Marshal. He had been ordered by his father to win her over at all costs, but she was unimpressed by everything.
"Wait," Yvette said, looking at a tall tower in the distance. "Norelia has a Wizard's Tower, right? Let's go there. I want to see real magic."
"My dear lady, you can't just 'visit' the tower!" Chris panicked. "Those mages are dangerous weirdos!"
Yvette ignored him, her eyes suddenly catching a sign on a nearby shop.
"Magic Game Experience Store..." she read aloud. "I know 'Magic' and I know 'Games,' but what is a 'Magic Game'? Is it run by a wizard?"
Yvette's curiosity peaked, and she strode toward the entrance. But then she stopped, her face pale, taking two steps back.
Chris rushed to support her, but when he looked at the shop, he retreated even further than she did.
Standing at the door wasn't a smiling greeter, but a mountain of a man over two meters tall. He had messy hair like an animal's mane and a light blue uniform that his massive muscles threatened to tear apart. He stared at passersby with a cold, predatory gaze.
"Miss Yvette, let's... let's just go," Chris whispered, pulling her sleeve.
Just then, a low, smooth voice came from behind the giant.
"That's enough, Wolf. Come inside. You're scaring the customers."
The giant snorted and stepped back into the shop. At the same time, a man with silver hair and crimson eyes stepped out.
"Pardon the scare. That's our Head of Security. He doesn't mean any harm; he's just a bit... thick-headed." The man's red eyes brimmed with a welcoming smile. "Welcome to the Magic Game Experience Store. I am the owner, Lorne Dungeon. Today is our grand opening. Would you like to take a look?"