Otherworld TRPG Game Master

162 – Afterword: Conclusion

After finishing Enbus’s thrilling martial arts journey, I said, lying down on the sofa.

“I’m going to take a break from TRPG for a bit.”

“……!!”

The purple producer, who had been lying next to me with his head on my thigh, suddenly sat up in shock. His expression was like someone who had heard that the sky was going to collapse tomorrow.

Even I checked my face to see if I was a doppleganger. No matter how much I rubbed my face, it wouldn’t come off. I’m really me.

The producer let out a “Hik!” and started making a fuss. Pinvalley came out of the bathroom, wrapped in a warm towel.

His skin was slightly reddened from washing, and he wore a pair of pants, but his upper body was bare. A long towel was wrapped around his neck, covering his chest.

If I didn’t have self-restraint, my gaze would have wandered all over the place. But as someone who is with the Great Sage, I felt like an old man taking a bath.

……No, that’s a lie.

I gazed out at the distant mountains to escape the immense gravitational pull of my gaze. My current situation is a bit pitiful, even though I know it.

“…What’s going on?”

“Juriya! This is strange, isn’t it? It’s like you’re pretending to be a crazy magician!”

“It’s possible that you’re a Doppleganger disguised as a mad magician. I’ll check by removing your pants.”

“Why are you removing my pants?”

I responded to Pingvalere’s attempt to remove me, grasping the belt to prevent my pants from falling off, and thought to myself.

Isn’t it surprising?

I calmed down the fuss of the top hat and took a deep breath, saying, “It’s a natural phenomenon, like a natural disaster.”

“How can someone think about TRPG all day? Sometimes they need to take a break.”

“…You did that, didn’t you?”

“No matter how enjoyable it is, it’s impossible to do it for 365 days a year.”

“…You did that, didn’t you?”

I did, and I had.

In both my past and present lives, there was no hobby that made me more nervous than TRPG. So I devoted myself to it, and I’ve been running for a long time. TRPG is still my life’s hobby.

But sometimes, it’s necessary to balance life and hobby. Now that I have something more precious than hobby, I want to spend a long time happily with Yu Na.

And if I don’t take a break, the quality of the session will deteriorate.

For the sake of both TRPG and our well-being, I need to take some time apart.

“So, what do you want to do with this session? Are you planning to destroy the world?”

“Let’s cast a large-scale illusion magic spell on the moon, enslave the entire continent’s intellectual bodies, and become the ruler of the world. I saw it in a manga book.”

“What do you think of me?”

“…Ugh!”

I hugged Yu Na, who was trembling, and held her close. This is the conclusion of my trivial top hat. I’m already blushing and giggling.

Pingvalere dried his hair with a towel, put on a shirt and tie, and joined us. We lay down, with me holding Yu Na. The faint scent of medieval-magic-body wash hung in the air.

These days, we often spend time together, embracing.

Yu Na is someone who often feels lonely, and I’m someone who needs human warmth, so it’s not unusual. Even Pingvalere, who seems cold-blooded, seems to like being close to us.

At first, I thought he was just clinging to us to play with me and Yu Na.

But maybe he’s just satisfied with being like a cat on a car hood, enjoying the excitement of watching others get flustered.

Whether it’s his natural temperament or just a habit, I can only guess.

Yu Na asked me, rubbing my chin with her fingers.

“So, what are you really going to do?”

“I’ll take a break. Or maybe I’ll take care of the relationships I’ve been neglecting. Let’s go drink some alcohol. That’s what we’ll do.”

I’m not a machine swallowed by TRPG, but I will return to a human life.

“…Is that really all?”

“A quick-witted tower master like you deserves a tight hug.”

“Ugh!”

As Yuna said, there’s more to do than just rest.

There are two reasons why I suddenly had this thought.

Firstly, as I watched Mr. Namgung Cheonghwi, the former Enbus, play with his family, I felt I should do something for my family, not just play.

Looking back, I think I’ve neglected Yuna and Pingballez, and I want to spend meaningful time with them.

“Then start with a gender-reversed date, you crazy wizard.”

“……”

I’m not mentally prepared for that yet.

Secondly, I’ve been chasing a sense of discord in my head.

After entering the Purple Tower, I literally ‘ran’. I researched TRPG as if the world would end if I didn’t, and scattered the results everywhere.

That’s strange. Am I being too serious and desperate?

It’s just a hypothesis, but maybe “that thing” in my head is influencing me. Maybe there’s a reason I have to spread TRPG to all sorts of people.

I was thinking of digging into that part.

The sensation of being led not only caused discomfort but also awakened my fighting spirit. One must choose their own destiny. It should never be someone else. I believe that.

So, I dislike those who use people as pawns to achieve their goals. Even if the players show a splendid performance, they are the ones who will stubbornly force a bad ending. I can’t help but despise them.

Yuna clapped her hands as if she understood what I said.

“I thought it was strange that you meticulously organize session materials every night before bed…!!”

“No, I did that in my past life too.”

“Indeed. I also thought it was strange. Didn’t you carefully look at the floorboards and say the pattern resembled a squid, and then you didn’t think of a deep-sea fishing session?”

“I did that in my past life too.”

Originally, when the wind blows and touches the fallen leaves, GMs think, ‘Ah, that’s a session material.’ There’s nothing strange about that.

The Purple Tower Master, who was listening to my hypothesis with a serious face, looked sour.

“…Don’t you just love TRPG too much?”

“No, it’s different.”

“That was the least convincing thing I’ve heard this year, you crazy wizard.”

Anyway.

So… I decided to take it easy. I planned to clear my mind and do various things other than sessions. Leveling up would be good too. I haven’t even metamorphosed yet.

And there was magic that needed to be completed.

Previously, in the fight against Roderus, I repelled him as a hologram clad in power armor. It was a way to augment the hologram’s lacking physical strength with equipment.

From this, I conceived the idea of creating an artifact. An artifact that would solidify the hologram, supply a power source in emergencies, and increase the efficiency of converting belief into magical power.

By bestowing the artifact upon named NPCs, I could have allies ready to summon at any time.

The reason I’ve been making sure Evil God-chan attends every session is the same. Although their forms differ, their essence is the same, and the belief flowing from Roderus and Enbus steadily accumulates in Evil God.

The picture I’m envisioning is as follows:

The vanguard is the Celestial Demon, and the rear is the Evil God.

A merciless AI pairing machine tanks in the front, while the seasoned Evil God sprinkles all sorts of debuffs. And I, leisurely casting magic, defeat the enemy.

It could be said to be perfect.

I glanced at the clock, slipped my hands into the sides of the Tower Master, lifted him up briskly, and set him down beside me. Then, I released Pingballez’s hands wrapped around my waist and stood up.

“Where are you going?”

“Enbus is filing for a leave of absence. They say you need to consult with a professor to take a leave, so I’m off to handle that.”

“Enbus seems to be returning to their family, doesn’t it? It’s dangerous, but I hope it goes well.”

“It will work out.”

It wasn’t just blind optimism. I believe everything will work out.

I’m still connected to Roderus through a thread of enmity. Occasionally, I read his dreams to check on the movements of the Red Flavor Duke, and he is currently at the duke’s mansion.

The Magical Girl activities have paused for a moment, and she seems to be waiting for an opening while following the duke’s orders, but it feels a bit overwhelming.

It’s not easy to stand alone against such a large family. But what if there were two?

Reinforcements, Roderus. I will send your sibling there.

Namgung Cheonghwi, the storyteller with a wide-area debuff, is on his way!

—

Enbus Redburn sat with a composed posture and requested the magician.

“I wish to take a leave from the academy.”

“Very well.”

The exchange was brief. The magician pulled out a leave of absence form from the drawer and placed it on the table, and Enbus Redburn signed it.

Enbus sighed. A strange mix of emotions began to surface. Anxiety and tension about the journey ahead, doubt about whether they could really pull it off.

Against such turmoil, the image of the sky held in their heart.

They would return to their family and turn everything upside down. Instead of someone’s tears, only laughter would echo. Then, at last, they would have their family in their grasp.

As Enbus gazed at their signature, gathering resolve, the magician casually suggested.

“Burying the past and starting a new life is also an option.”

“…”

“You have friends, and relationships that are almost romantic, and above all… you’re ready to start a family. Starting life anew should be simple for you.”

It would be.

Graduating from the academy with excellent grades, one could simply choose from the myriad of love calls pouring in. Becoming a noble’s escort knight wouldn’t be a bad option, nor would building one’s own power.

For a strong person who has reached a fable-like status, numerous paths lay open.

With plenty of money and a comfortable life, one could live happily ever after with a spouse and children in a house with a vast garden.

But if there’s a reason to forsake the assured happiness of the future and deliberately head towards danger.

“I do not wish to leave even a single regret in life.”

“Very well.”

The magician nodded.

He seemed to ponder for a moment, then pulled out a deck of cards from within his robe and asked Envers.

“Do you know astrology?”

“I understand it’s magic that predicts the future by reading the stars.”

From noble mtl dot come

“Yes. And these cards are designed for ‘astrological play’. If you wish, I can tell your fortune. It’s just a game, so it has no credibility, but that’s why you can enjoy it lightly.”

“…”

Envers carefully observed the deck of cards in the magician’s hand. They were ordinary cards that bore no magical power, yet the one handling them was extraordinary.

If one could freely send people to another world, perhaps they could truly discern the future right where they sat.

Therefore, Envers firmly shook his head.

“I have no need for fortune-telling. My heart has already decided its path, and whether the future is good or bad, it will not affect me. I will just walk steadfastly—”

“Love fortune is also possible.”

“…Please do tell my fortune.”

Envers pulled his chair up to the table as if glued to it. No matter how resolute his will, love was different.

As the magician shuffled the cards, he asked.

“What is your current situation?”

“We’ve kissed, but there’s been no progress, and I’m not sure if this is… just as friends, a bet of sorts. Or if there’s something more.”

“That’s clear without seeing. You both have feelings, so persevere.”

“But the expression is always so stoic, and I’m uncertain even when trying to confess…”

Swoosh.

The magician spread the cards in a fan shape on the table and suggested Envers pick one.

After a long stare-down with the cards, Envers finally chose one after five minutes. The magician flipped the card to reveal an upside-down image of a moonlit night.

“The unease will be resolved, and everything will become clear. The tangled threads of emotions that have been knotted and murky until now will be neatly sorted out. Not just in romance, but in all matters.”

“…Those are comforting words.”

“However, it’s necessary to honestly accept someone’s transformation. No matter how surprising it may be, that’s an unchanging truth.”

“…?”

An advice whose meaning is unclear.

Yet believing it holds some significance, Enverus etched the magician’s words into his heart.

—

Enverus Redburn packed his bags and left through the academy’s main gate. Turning around, he saw Luna had come out to see him off. However, her expression was not the best.

It was because someone had gone as far as a kiss before leaving on a long journey, having submitted a leave of absence at the academy.

His insight told him so. Enverus deliberately avoided Luna’s burning gaze. Still, there were things that had to be done.

Enverus said with an awkward smile,

“I’ll see you again later.”

“If it takes too long, I’ll forget you.”

“…I’ll be back soon.”

Only then did Luna give a thumbs-up, as if satisfied. Enverus took one last careful look at Luna’s face, treasuring it in his memory, then turned his back.

His destination was the Redburn Ducal House. The reunion with his brother Roderus was imminent.

Much had changed since he left. He had gained fables, a family, and convictions. He received from the world what the family could not give him.

Now it was time to give back to the family what he had received. To change everything from the roots. To set everything right!

Filled with a noble spirit, Enverus shouted towards the sky,

“I am not the b*stard of the Redburn Ducal House. I am the foremost disciple of the great Nangong family, Nangong Qinghui!”

Hahaha!

His hearty laughter spread far and wide into the sky.

Nangong Qinghui was finally returning to the family that made him.