Bam bam bam bam! Bam bam bam! Bamparabarabarabam! Bam bam bam bam bam! Bam bam bam bam bam bam!
A loud melody echoed.
What appeared was Iberkina, the Blue-Eyed Ice Dragon, of which there were only four in the entire continent.
However, the reaction of the person who drew it was not good.
"Sigh, why does only this come up?"
The First Princess, with a bored attitude, threw the Blue-Eyed Ice Dragon sticker.
A Blue-Eyed Ice Dragon was added to the mountain of stickers, piled up like a heap of junk.
The already thrown Flame King Dragon talisman slipped and fell.
"I'm so unlucky."
Princess Luciella shook her head.
She already possessed two copies of the Flame King Dragon, one copy of the Blue-Eyed Ice Dragon, one copy of the Red-Eyed Demon Dragon, and one copy of the Antaeus.
The other epic-level cards couldn't even be counted.
Luciella obtained what the Third Prince couldn't get even after pouring millions of gold at the auction, simply by diligently tearing apart bread.
It was the result of the effort of tearing more bread than anyone else.
However, Luciella, who had no interest in the Beast card game at all, did not know how valuable the cards she had drawn were.
Even if she had known, nothing would have changed.
The only thing Luciella was interested in was Milk Angel Lilith, and nothing else.
Vampire Lord Lilith is already owned, so it's excluded.
Squeak.
Bam bam bam bam bam bam! Bam bam bam bam bam bam!
"...Sigh."
It was at that moment that Luciella sighed over her own misfortune.
Squeak.
As Luciella's door opened, a small girl in pajamas came in.
"Oh my, Kina, what's going on?"
Luciella greeted Iberkina with delight.
However, Iberkina did not look at Luciella and instead gazed at the mountains of stickers.
Iberkina's eyes sparkled like stars as she discovered something there.
"...That. Give it to me."
Luciella watched as Iberkina raised her hand and pointed.
"This?"
"...Yeah."
It was the 'Iberkina the Blue-Eyed Ice Dragon.'
Luciella's hand, which was about to lift it and give it to Iberkina, suddenly stopped in confusion.
When Iberkina looked up at her, Luciella shook her head.
"I can't just give it to you."
Luciella had no interest in Beast Cards, but even Luciella knew about the Blue-Eyed Ice Dragon.
The most famous beast that adorned the first page of the Beast Compendium was the Blue-Eyed Ice Dragon.
Of course, it wasn't that she didn't want to give it.
The fact that Iberkina wanted the Blue-Eyed Ice Dragon was important.
"...What do you want?"
"Hehe, I don't want anything."
Luciella placed the sticker in a spot where Iberkina couldn't reach.
"If you listen well, I'll give it to you."
"...What?"
"Yes, then I'll give it to you."
Luciella smiled kindly.
*
The day marked a fortnight since the Beast Card was released.
The Third Prince has finally been defeated.
However, considering it was just one defeat, the aftermath seemed too severe.
Seeing the Third Prince sitting with his head bowed, I asked Donovan, the guard, with a puzzled expression.
"Why is he like that?"
"Him and his opponent each put up their cards and played a game, but he ended up the one losing his card."
"Ugh, that Paradox guy, my Blue-Eyed Ice Dragon...!"
"...."
Was he looking so gloomy because he had his card taken away?
It was absurd, but on the other hand, it was also puzzling.
No wonder, the Third Prince spent a fortune on Beast Cards.
It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that almost every card in the Third Prince's deck was infused with illusion magic.
'How can you lose with that deck?'
My question was resolved by Donovan's answer.
"The opponent also had a Blue-Eyed Ice Dragon."
Ah, was the opponent also a pay-to-win player?
"I heard the fourth copy has come out, so the Third Prince's opponent must be that master."
Then, I could fully understand.
The Third Prince was what you call a "Wallet Warrior," overpowering others not with his own skill but with the power of his deck.
When two warriors of the same kind fought then the only way to win lies in the difference between skills…
"Did he wager the Blue-Eyed Ice Dragon?"
"Yes, when the opponent refused to sell the card even after offering money, they decided to settle it with a duel..."
"So he lost."
"...Hmm, that's right."
As he continued to win consecutive victories, the Third Prince forgot his own abilities, leading to this disaster.
"As promised, I will keep the Beast Cards for a month."
"Wait a minute!"
"A promise is a promise, didn't you agree to restrain yourself if you lose?"
The head butler of the prince's palace coldly snatched the deck away.
"Yuri, I'm sorry, but could you please come back later?"
"Yes, that makes sense."
I had come to talk about the Fioré Kingdom, but since it wasn't the right atmosphere for a conversation, I left the prince's palace.
*
After leaving the Third Prince's Palace, I stopped by the First Princess's Palace before returning to the Magic Tower.
Since the First Princess invested funds in the development of the Beast Cards, I had to inform her about the progress.
But.
"That's right, well done, Kina."
"Aww."
"...Your Highness, what are you doing?"
"I was playing with Iberkina."
I looked at the First Princess and Iberkina with a dumbfounded expression.
"Nom, nom."
Iberkina was jumping up to catch and eat the fries that the First Princess was giving her one by one.
"Is she trying to train her or something?"
For reference, Iberkina is active in the Magic Tower, but she mainly sleeps in the First Princess's Palace.
At that moment, while the First Princess was distracted by me, Iberkina's head collided with the basket of fries held by the First Princess.
"Ah!"
The basket bounced up, and the fries scattered everywhere.
"Nom, Nom, Nom, Nom."
Iberkina's face darted around, catching every single flying fry without leaving a single one behind.
Munch, munch.
"...."
Leaving behind a scene that made me unsure whether to praise their quick thinking or find it absurd, I brought up the matter that had brought me to the princess's palace.
"This week's Beast Card sales."
"Not much came out."
"Yes, it will take time to recover the costs."
Beast cards were given to those who brought stickers by paying a small fee.
Depending on the card, there were cases where it was received at a price lower than the cost, making it difficult to expect profits in the short term.
But anyway, the cards are a bait product.
The money made from goods or events derived from the cards would be enormous.
The First Princess asked, as if curious about my explanation.
"Event?"
"The Arena."
Instead of explaining with words, I took out the crystal orb and placed it on the table.
─Wow!
It's Paradox!
Just beyond the crystal orb, a Beast Card game was in full swing.
It was the place where people gathered to play card games and duel, called 'Arena.'
"They charge an entry fee there. They also promote products there."
Many people gather at the arena.
The fact that people gather means that it can soon become a new promotional outlet.
Because we were able to easily inform many people about the processed foods that will be made in the future through the arena.
"Food is essential for spectators."
By the way.
"Paradox?"
I tilted my head at the sound coming from the crystal orb.
The name of the opponent who supposedly defeated the Third Prince was also Paradox.
Just as expected.
─Come forth, Blue-Eyed Ice Dragon!
"...."
I looked back at Iberkina.
The movements of Iberkina, who was munching on fries, had come to a halt.
Her eyes were nailed to the crystal orb, unable to look away.
"...Ice Dragon."
Did I misjudge?
─The person holding the remaining Ice Dragons, please step forward! It's a showdown for whoever obtains the Ultimate Ice Dragon!
The person in the video shouted boldly.
Not even knowing that the opponent they are provoking is a real dragon.
"Looks like someone that's addicted to the game like Leon. When I see people like that, I just don't understand."
The First Princess shook her head, as if she couldn't understand a man who would risk his life over just one card.
I honestly don't know if it's something the First Princess, who spends all night peeling packs, would say.
Meanwhile, upon hearing the man's remark, Iberkina ran to her room.
Then she came back carrying a large bag.
"Kina, what's that?"
While we looked at her in bewilderment, Iberkina poured the sack onto the floor.
Crash.
Stickers poured out.
For your information, beyond that bag is connected to her lair.
Iberkina often used to reach into the bag, rummage around, and pull something out.
She poured out the stickers she had collected in the collection.
"...Trading them for cards."
"Are you planning to play a game with that person?"
Nod, nod.
"Understood, then."
"I-Iberkina!"
Just as I was about to say that I would bring the card, the First Princess shouted in surprise.
Her eyes were wide open, fixed on something.
"Th, th, t-that is...!"
Following her gaze, I turned my head and could understand the First Princess's reaction.
Ah.
"M-Milk Angel Lilith!"
A sticker with a Lilith adorned with angel wings was sprawled out, reaching for milk.
***
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