episode_0007

Behind the blonde girl, decks were being shuffled in perfect order as if they could duel right this instant, while,

“Hiiik……!!”

“Th-that much, please spare me!!”

“Actually, I was also being bullied by these two!!”

One was terrified, one prostrated himself and begged, and one sold out the two.

“Ugly excuses, I can’t listen anymore. Be prepared for when I return.”

The blonde girl frowned as if disgusted, passed between the three, opened the window of the dormitory, which was about five floors high, and jumped out.

“[Windy].”

Wheeeoosh-!!

Faster than the blonde girl fell, wind wrapped around her body, and the girl flew towards her destination, flapping her cloak.

“This is……?”

The blonde girl, who had exited the Duel Academy at the same speed as the wind, looked down at the ‘Forbidden Forest’ and frowned.

‘What on earth happened?’

Traces of violent explosions visible even from above the forest, goblin corpses, trees cut down in a spiral shape, and ice shards.

‘Even if it’s an explosion, ice…? Miss Arianna should have been a fire affinity.’

The blonde girl frowned as she recalled Arianna.

A small, timid girl from the countryside with fluffy, abundant hair, who only had cards that were ten years behind the meta.

She was a girl with a strong heart who, despite being worried about her being pushed around everywhere and being told she could ask for help if it was too hard, said it was okay and that she would try as much as she could on her own.

“……Kugh.”

She was relieved by those words. She thought she would manage well on her own.

Perhaps she herself had secretly thought that troublesome things had decreased.

‘I should have taken action before it came to this. Damn it. I’m disqualified as the head of the student council discipline committee…….’

The blonde girl trembled at her complacency and let out a deep sigh.

“[Flare].”

And as if that was enough self-reproach, she slowly descended to the ground and created a flame in her hand.

“Find the girl with fire magic power around here. You can do it, right?”

The flame flickered as if it understood, flew like a bird, and left the girl’s hand.

‘Please, I hope it’s not too late……!!’

*

“Heok.”

I nodded and opened my eyes.

‘Hmm……. When did I fall asleep?’

It seems I fell asleep at some point while leaning on the bed and looking at the binder. It makes sense, since there was so much going on today and I was also tired.

‘It’s a blanket.’

Looking down, I found myself covered by a blanket at some point. Did Arianna cover me?

When I turned to express my gratitude, there was no one on the bed. Instead, something softly touched my opposite shoulder.

Arianna was leaning on my shoulder, sleeping soundly.

‘Why is this kid sleeping like this instead of on the bed.’

That weight brought about a ticklish feeling difficult to describe. I adjusted my posture so Arianna’s neck wouldn’t hurt and gazed at her profile.

Her skin is very white and she still smells good. She’s cute enough to be forgiven even if she drools on my shoulder.

‘……No. This isn’t the time to be spaced out.’

I turned my head and thought about what I should do next.

‘Well, I did say I wanted to go back to the world I originally lived in……’

But is it even possible to go back?

Thinking about it calmly, I originally came here after dying. Going back might be impossible from the point where I came here after dying.

‘Do you really want to go back that much?’

And I don’t have such lingering attachment to reality that I’d want to go back.

Other than working part-time on weekdays and going to TCG stores on weekends to play cards, there was nothing enjoyable. For me, who had already lost everything precious long before becoming an adult, that was all that was left.

Perhaps this place is more enjoyable. That thought also crossed my mind.

“…….”

I looked to the side again.

‘She doesn’t resemble them much.’

Whether it’s fortunate or unfortunate that Arianna doesn’t resemble what I lost much, I don’t know.

‘Since this is a world where dueling is important, maybe I can make a living somehow with my dueling skills?’

When it comes to dueling, I have some confidence. I’ve won a hall tournament once.

‘On top of that, although I don’t know much, I heard talk about being ‘the chosen one’ or something.’

I took out the Legend card I had put in my pocket, Ice Mirror Marius, and held it up to the moonlight coming through the window.

The reflection of the brilliant light and the intricate curvature treatment are incredibly stunning. It’s more beautiful and pretty than any rare card I saw in my past life. It truly looks like a work of art.

“It’s beautiful…….”

‘How embarrassing.’

When I unconsciously mumbled in admiration, I was surprised to hear a reply.

‘I express my gratitude for the compliment.’

“Ah, no. Yes.”

‘……I wish you would speak to me casually too. When I’m addressed only formally, I feel a bit lonely.’

“Yes sir, no, uh.”

Contrary to its name, Ice Mirror Marius had a surprisingly lonely personality. Perhaps anyone would be like that if they were sealed inside a card for such a long time.

‘You have a face that seems to be troubled.’

“Hmm. I was wondering what I should do next.”

I never thought I’d end up having a life consultation with a card.

‘What should you do?’

“I don’t know what I should aim for right now.”

‘In that case, you should first do what you want to do the most.’

What I want to do the most right now.

Actually, that’s simple.

“……I want to build a deck. One that uses you as the ace.”

If you obtain a powerful card, you want to build a deck that uses it. Any duelist is like that.

‘Then you should do that. I’m also looking forward to it.’

“Okay. Thank you. I feel refreshed.”

Anyway, once I build a deck, I’ll be able to do something. After that, will there perhaps be options like enrolling in the academy? Although I don’t know if there’s anything for me to learn.

First, I need to acquire cards, and while I was wondering how I should do that,

‘Someone’s here.’

“What?”

Marius whispered in a sharp voice.

Click, click, click.

When I held my breath and listened, I heard footsteps. Someone was coming up.

‘I feel hostility. Be careful.’

What could it be? Could it be an assassin aiming for the Legend card? My heart is pounding.

Click, click-click, keeng!

The lock on the door, which I had bolted shut, was broken off ridiculously easily. I quickly hugged Arianna and retreated backward.

“[Flare]. Are you really here?”

The person who entered the room, muttering to herself, was a blonde twin-tailed girl with drill curls, wearing the same kind of cloak as Arianna and a red armband.

I, who had been holding the sleeping Arianna close while holding my breath, met the girl’s eyes.

“…….”

The drill-curled girl’s eyes widened, and then she intensely furrowed her brows, and,

“……You pervert bastard!!”

“What?!”

She summoned five decks behind her back and grabbed one of them.

“I’ll make you a eunuch with a duel!”

“W-wait a minute. It’s a misunderstanding!!”

“Let Arianna down right now and take out your deck!! This is an order……!!”

And then she flung open her cloak and, the moment she tucked a deck into the cleavage between her undone shirt-

[Opponent does not possess a deck capable of dueling.]

A message like a warning popped up between me and the girl.

“Doesn’t have a deck…? How is that possible?”

At that message, the blonde girl furrowed her brows even more as if she couldn’t understand, and then,

“……Then the story is simple!! [Duston], restrain this one!!”

She returned the deck and tried to use something like magic. Sand swirled and gathered in front of her hand.

“Wait a minute, let me explain……!!”

Before I could finish speaking, a swirling sand bullet was fired from the girl’s hand, and,

KWA-AAANG!!

“……!!”

The sound of an explosion rang out. I opened my tightly closed eyes.

“How dare you try to attack your master without a duel, how contemptible.”

“What are you……!!”

Ice Mirror Marius, who had blocked the sand bullet with one hand, was standing in front of me.

“If you want to fight the master, compete fairly with a duel.”

“What are you……!! Are you a monster?!”

“Don’t you know. This one is…….”

“Hoo-etchu!!”

As if sand had gotten into her nose in the tense situation, Arianna sneezed. Everyone’s gaze focused on Arianna, who was in my arms.

“Uh, uhm……. Oh, et? K-Knight Sir……?”

“You might be surprised, but this isn’t the time to be surprised. Do you know that person?”

I grabbed Arianna’s shoulder, who was looking up at me in a fluster from my arms, turned her, and made her face the blonde girl.

“Yes? Uh……. E-Elfelt Senior?!”

Arianna called the blonde girl Elfelt Senior. As expected, she was also a student at the same Duel Academy.

“……Arianna. I won’t ask what this person did to you.”

The blonde girl, Elfelt, continued speaking with her brows heavily furrowed.

“But don’t worry. I will judge that man.”

And as if she could never forgive, she pointed at me and declared.

“J-judge? Yes?”

“Arianna’s Senior. I understand you’re misunderstanding, but I didn’t do anything that warrants being arrested. Please believe me.”

I raised both hands and spoke, showing my intention to surrender.

“Arianna is in such a state, and you expect me to believe that?!”

Elfelt shouted at me in an angry voice.

“It’s obvious without even looking, you made her wear it!! Such a completely see-through pervert’s outfit!!”

“?!”

At Elfelt’s shout, Arianna hastily covered the places she needed to cover with her arms and hands. The gown she had draped over herself during the commotion had slipped off, leaving her in the clothes she had on after washing up.

“Ah, no, it’s not!! Senior. This, well, I wore this myself!!”

“……Arianna. Are you saying you wore such a revealing outfit of your own accord? An outfit for pleasing men, utterly vulgar?”

Elfelt interrogated her in a cold voice, asking if that could possibly be true, but,

“Ugh. Well, so. That is…….”

The one cornered by that question was,

“W-well, while washing up, you could say I got too heated up, or you could say I didn’t expect it to be this see-through when I put it on……. Anyway, it failed in the end too…….”

“……Huh?”

It was Arianna.

“Could you please just pretend that’s what happened and let it go……? Since you said you wouldn’t ask…….”

Arianna, who had turned bright red, enough to be seen even in the faint moonlight, pleaded with a tearful expression, and,

“…….”

Elfelt’s expression, which had been overflowing with anger, gradually filled with embarrassment.

“……Uh, how to say it, I feel kinda sorry.”

“I’m the one who should apologize for causing the misunderstanding…….”

“Master. It’s awkward, can I return to being a card? I’m not used to this kind of atmosphere.”

And a world where everyone gets hurt was completed.