Overwhelming Firepower

Chapter 358: Memories Beneath Deep Water

Lucen’s group had created many cards now, but it was not enough to sell them. He needed a few more cards, and once that was done, he would do it like in his old world, selling them in packets and placing rare cards to make people buy more.

Lucen wanted to sell the cards in tandem with when he creates a show that goes with it, using the video orb. He was going to introduce something that would change entertainment in this fantasy world.

’Heh, to think I’ll be able to introduce TV shows and movies into a world of sword and magic. Not only did I change this kingdom into something heading towards steampunk, but I also made it more entertaining. Once people start creating their own shows, I’ll be able to watch new stuff.’

As Lucen thought of that, a strange smile slowly appeared on his face. He was getting excited again.

Not only is the creation of more entertainment great for him, but it might also inspire people to create their own things.

’I’m getting too excited, I guess, because tomorrow is the start of the school term. Teaching Alexander and the others how to use guns will be quite an interesting sight. I wonder if my old gamer buddies would be jealous of me seeing this new route in person and introducing guns in this world...’

The second Lucen thought about that, he felt a tinge of sorrow. It had been quite a long time since he thought about the people in his old world.

In fact, now that he thought about it, why did he stop to think about his parents in his past life? He could not remember their faces or their names.

He could easily drink that memory potion again to remember, but for some reason, he hesitated.

Deep down, he understood that the memory of those people who no longer exist in this new world of his would bring him pain.

It was not that he did not care. That was the very reason he hesitated.

If they truly meant nothing to him, then he would have already taken the potion without thinking too much about it.

He would have treated those memories like information. Like the rules of a game. Like the story of Aerok. Like knowledge that could be used.

Unlike when trying to remember his death, which was unclear even with the memory potion, this was something he could most likely remember if he truly wanted to.

It could answer the questions of who his parents were, if he had siblings, and the names of his friends whose faces and voices he could no longer remember, but the conversations and the feelings he had with them remained.

The excitement he was feeling before seemed to have drowned out. Even though in this world he had parents, a sibling, and friends, it was different from before.

Not to mention, in this world, he was not just a random nobody who was good in games; he was an actual somebody. Yet for some reason, that did not make the ache disappear.

In his past life, he was ordinary. He did not have a noble title. He did not have soldiers who followed his orders.

He did not have craftsmen waiting for his ideas, mages who listened to his theories, or a family name powerful enough to shake an entire kingdom.

He had been just one person among many. He had an ordinary life with parents and friends. Those friends of his who he joked with, who he played many games with, who he watched anime with, and who went to conventions with.

Despite his memories being a blur, he could still picture the sights they had seen, in-game and out.

He remembered sitting in front of a glowing screen, laughing at something stupid one of them had said.

He remembered crowded halls filled with people wearing costumes of characters they loved.

He remembered cheap food eaten after long hours of walking, arguments about which character was stronger, and the strange happiness of finding someone who understood the same ridiculous things he did.

He remembered the feeling. That was the worst part.

The faces were unclear. The names were gone. Even their voices sounded distant, as if they were calling to him from beneath deep water. But the feelings remained.

Despite his enjoyment of being a part of the world and story of his favorite game, every now and then, he would miss his past life. Especially as he was working to grow the entertainment here to be able to see a similar sight,

He understood it, that he could no longer return to that room. He could not send a message to those friends. He could not tell those family members that he was continuing to be himself.

He could not ask whether they had mourned him. He did not even know if he wanted to know.

Lucen reached into the spatial pocket of his coat, and after searching for a few seconds, his fingers touched the small bottle containing the memory potion. He had prepared several bottles beforehand.

His alchemy skills had increased, and he could make his own batch. He did not take it out and instead just touched it for a bit before releasing it back into his pocket.

’... Yeah, what use is it to remember a past that I could no longer return to? I can use these memories to create new things, to help me survive and advance, but I... Memories should remain that way as memories...’

Lucen had reminisced a few times before, and every time he did so, he felt a bittersweet feeling.

’... I’d better stop thinking about this for now and focus on what’s about to happen tomorrow. The start of a new semester means the prologue is already over and Chapter one is about to begin.’

Lucen slowly exhaled. Let’s reminisce some other time; for now, focus on the things ahead. The first day of his being a special instructor was about to start. There was also the creation of the card game, creating a show using a video orb, and showing it to everybody.

’I guess I will also need to create a place where you could watch the show from the video orb, like watching from a cinema. Still, it’s in 3-D, and it’s the area where it can show is large.’

Lucen placed one hand against his chin. A normal theater could work, but it would not fully use what the Video Orb could do.

The audience could not simply sit in front of a stage. They needed to sit around the recorded scene, or perhaps have the recording projected in the center of a hall.

That way, it would feel less like watching a play and more like stepping into another world. Yeah, and they would sit on a higher platform to see the entire video orb.

’But then that would cause a problem with the angles of how they watch. Watching a show from a bird’s eye view will not look that good. I guess I can limit it to a stage and block the light of the video orb with a glass wall. Yeah, like how they do it with VTuber 3-D lives. That way it’s like watching a movie, but in a better 3-D format.’

The more Lucen thought about it, the more ideas started appearing in his mind. Still, he stopped for now as he needed to get some sleep since tomorrow he needed to arrive at the Royal Academy early.

’Oh, right, better ask Robert if he will accompany me to school, seeing as he’s also a new special instructor.’

Lucen stood up from his chair and headed to the workshop in the estate where Mireya and the others were playing with the new cards they had made.

The second Lucen stepped into the workshop, he drew the attention of everyone. "You came back, Lucen. Are you going to play another round?"

"No, I just came to ask Robert if he’s joining me early in the morning to go to the Royal Academy."

When Lucen said those words, Mireya frowned, and Robert showed an expression that said he had forgotten about it.

"Wait, if you’re going to the Royal Academy, what about finishing the creation of our game? We haven’t even discovered how to create illusion spells on the cards to make them seem real." Mireya said her lavender eyes stared straight at Lucen.

"Yes, she’s right, Lucen. Let us postpone going to school for now, and focus on finishing this project." Robert said while nodding his head.

"Sorry, but no. I already made a commitment to be an instructor, so I’ll do it properly, and you should as well, Robert."

"But that’s so much less interesting than what we are doing here," Robert replied.

"Yes, you aren’t allowed to go until you finish creating this game," Mireya spoke while hugging Lucen’s arm.

"I will continue to create this game with you all, but the priority for now will be my job as a special instructor."

Mireya looked at him as if he had betrayed her. Robert looked as if he had just been told that experiments were forbidden.

Lucen sighed as he shook his head. "Do not look at me like that. The game will still be here when we return."

"For now," Mireya said quietly.

Robert nodded. "The Academy has stolen valuable development time."

Lucen couldn’t help but smile faintly as he looked at the two adults who acted like stubborn children.