My Magical Card Tavern

"Ten thousand gold coins? Are you crazy?"

Morin held the card, feeling that perhaps Ginnell's magic had malfunctioned during meditation.

"Dear Tavern Owner Mr. Genelec, do you know what 10,000 gold coins means outside?"

Ginnell squinted.

"I remember someone just told me that although the Gran family is not the most prestigious noble family in Silver Star City, they are not bad either."

Morin shook his head repeatedly.

"The family can indeed come up with 10,000 gold coins, but the family is not mine. Strictly speaking, I am just a mage apprentice who is still enjoying the support of the family."

"Why all this rambling? Let's play cards! Don't make me look down on your card skills!"

"You should know that I am a proper young nobleman, and card games are part of the social skills that we need to learn at our age."

Morin's words effectively ended the game, and Gianna immediately sat down and took out his deck from his card box.

"Come!"

As the game began, a glint of light flashed across the otherwise ordinary wooden table, as if coated with a layer of light.

Morin got the first move and decisively slapped the character card in his hand onto the board.

The card flickered, and a lifelike little figure quickly condensed on the light membrane, holding a one-handed sword and a small round shield, looking full of spirit.

Molin curiously poked the little figure, but was slashed by the figure's sword.

Morin instantly withdrew his hand, leaving a clearly visible red mark on his fingertip.

"This card actually has offensive capabilities?"

Genelec nodded: "Yes, because you're the one controlling the cards now, so theoretically the damage is very low."

"If it were against an enemy, that slash was at the level of a one-star warrior."

Morin nodded thoughtfully, then immediately sensed something was wrong.

"Wait, doesn't that mean that having the cards essentially gives you a dual-casting ability?"

For example, the fireball spell that Genelec used during the assessment—it's obvious he must have the corresponding card in his hand.

If they start fighting, will they immediately unleash two large fireballs?

With a speechless expression, Genelec slapped down his card, and an identical swordsman figure appeared on the battlefield.

"What a joke! Double casting is a very advanced magical technique. Even if I had a shortcut, I couldn't possibly perform it so easily."

Morin shrugged and commanded his little men to attack Ginell.

"There are many records in the family's books, especially about you unreasonable geniuses."

The attack took effect, and Morin's little figure left a wound on Ginell's side, with the health bar above his head suddenly dropping by a third.

Similarly, one's own character is also hit by the enemy character's defensive counterattack, and their health drops by the same amount.

Morin silently estimated that, based on the damage data on the field, this ordinary card would have about one point of attack and three points of health.

"So that's how it's calculated. Doesn't that put the player who plays second at a disadvantage?"

Ginnell calmly revealed his hand.

"How could that be?"

"Theoretically speaking, you might not lose health after an attack, since you can dodge. But our simple gameplay doesn't have such complicated mechanics."

"In easy mode, the fact that both offense and defense will result in health deduction serves as a reminder in a sense."

"In the process of taking risks, every decision may come with a corresponding price."

Mana Gem, use.

Two-star magic power, play a magic card.

[Two-Star Magic: Robust Body]

[Effect: Increases physical strength and agility]

The little figure in front of Ginell swelled up as if inflated, and after the attack command was activated, it took away Morin's little figure in one move.

"Like this."

Morin touched his chin.

"I see. The mana gem measures variables. Although this mechanism is a bit crude, it's still acceptable."

"Wait, what do you mean by 'simple mode'?"

Genele shook his head.

"I don't know, I just can't understand it."

"Unrestricted, rule-free real card duels have, to some extent, completely abandoned the turn-based system we used to play."

"To be honest, that kind of game isn't just about hand speed. You have to use your brain while playing your cards quickly, instead of just throwing them out in a daze."

Ginnell had indeed seen him a few times, but only during the late-night business hours. One of the card dealers was the old man from Silver Star.

Well, how should I put it?

If the essence of cards wasn't the manifestation of power, even the most exquisitely crafted playing cards would crumble to dust under that kind of gameplay.

The speed at which they play their cards, and the power of the cards themselves, is probably equivalent to the amazing gadgets of high-level assassins and thieves.

Essentially, it was no longer a card game, but a miniature real battle.

Being able to participate in, or rather, observe, their card games means that in reality, the observer has also experienced many battles of the same magnitude, which is why they are adept at this kind of high-speed, all-out combat.

Still the old saying.

In high-level combat, it's not easy to even see a fraction of the moves of those advanced professionals.

The two were getting into the swing of things, or rather, it was just that Gianna was playing a beginner's game with Morin.

He chose a standard deck and didn't bring out anything beyond Morin's knowledge, nor did he pull out any of the cards he had learned.

Morin was having a lot of fun. Although Ginnell repeatedly emphasized that the game could not teach him magic, as a mage apprentice, he was bound to have some innate talent for drawing inferences from other things.

Ginnell felt he hadn't gained anything, but Maureen retorted, "What makes you presume my talent?"

After the goblin in front of Ginnar wiped out his last bit of health, Morin stood up and stretched.

"What a thrilling battle!"

Ginnell laughed.

"Where is the exhilarating feeling? I'm asking you."

With the lease agreement void, Morin watched the cards in his hand scatter in the wind, feeling a sense of loss.

"This kind of power is wonderful."

"The vastness of knowledge, the wonders of magic, everything seems so close at hand."

Ginnell brought over a glass of water.

There's a saying in my family: what you're seeing now is a flower in a mirror and the moon's reflection in the water.

Morin laughed, his fighting spirit returning.

"That's right, I will definitely work hard to become a full-fledged mage!"

"Just you wait, Ginell, I'll show you many more cards that truly belong to me!"

Genele raised his glass in a gesture of respect.

"Of course, no business owner wants their customers to become poor."

"I'm waiting for the day you'll give me a 10,000 gold coin tip."

After seeing Morin off, Gianna placed her card box on the table, reached into her pocket, and tossed the card pack that appeared into the air.

The card pack exploded with a bang. Ginnell casually tossed the duplicate cards back into the box and picked up the card that represented Morin.

[One-Star Character Card: Maureen Glenn]

[Occupation: Apprentice Mage]

[Skill: Apprentice's Diligence]

[Description: Every two rounds, generate a temporary mana on the third round.]