episode_0024

“Y-Young Master?! Are you alright?!”

Past lay sprawled on the chair, looking up at the 9 cards with trembling eyes.

“Haa, haa, haa, haa…”

Past, who was trembling and looking up at the cards with rough breaths,

Rip!

“Young Master?!”

tore the cards.

Rip, rip, slash, snap!

And while lying down, he tore the remaining cards one by one. The violently torn cards scattered on the floor as scraps of paper.

“Th-They are my cards, but…?”

The attendant looked flustered and awkward, but Past ignored him, got up from his seat,

“Where is it.”

“Yes, yes?”

“Where are they selling it!! Tell me now!!”

He demanded the source of the cards with a voice torn by shock and anger.

*

In front of the Disciplinary Committee office, where ‘Judgment’ was temporarily written on paper and attached to the sign.

“Everyone, please stand in a straight line!! If you cut in line or do anything like that, you’ll have to go to the very back!!”

Arianna held a megaphone made by rolling up paper to her mouth and desperately controlled the long line.

At the very front of the line that stretched long beyond that hallway,

“Here. Use them well.”

“Th-Thank you!! The duel today was amazing!! Keep up the good work!!”

I was selling the ‘Hand Trap’ 3-card set consisting of [Spirit of Lock], [Earth Absorber], and [Earth Shackles] to Duel Academy students.

For the price of one sandwich I ate today for 3 cards, making it 3 sets, a total price equivalent to 3 meals.

“Sir Knight, do you really have enough cards to sell to the entire student body? Really?”

“Unfortunately, I do.”

As a result of asking Elfelt, the number of students in this Duel Academy is just over 300. A simple calculation is 2700 cards. It’s certainly not a small number.

‘I guess I’m a terrible guy for having that many…’

But I did. Enough to have some left even after selling everything.

“…Sadly, I do. I have them.”

“For what reason, exactly…? Ah, if it’s difficult to talk about, it’s okay. I was just worried.”

What I was selling to the students of Duel Academy were Normal Rare cards included in Structure Decks (complete decks for new users). There were 3 copies of each in one box.

These ‘Hand Traps’ were all rare cards at one time, but as time passed, they became essential cards adopted by any deck, becoming the first cards new users needed to get. Therefore, it was a natural progression for them to be included in Structure Decks for new users.

And at that time, I purchased several boxes, specifically cartons (one carton had 25 boxes), of the Structure Deck [Awakening of the True Evil Eye], which was my main deck.

Of course, for me who was already playing the [Evil Eye] deck, the cards included in [Awakening of the True Evil Eye] were all cards I already had, except for a few new support cards. But there was still a reason to buy them.

Targeting a limited rarity card called ’30th Anniversary Premium Rare’, which could be obtained from the included ‘Bonus Pack’ at a very low probability, released to commemorate the 30th anniversary of [Duel Fantasia].

Since there were many reprints of delicious generic cards and it was a Structure Deck of a theme I liked, driven by the desire to have at least one Ace card of the highest rarity, I made up my mind and bought a carton of Structure Decks, not even boosters.

But it didn’t come out.

It felt a waste to stop there, so I bought 25 more boxes, then 50 more, and eventually reached the 100th box. While opening the 200th box, completely beside myself, thinking ‘Let’s see who wins’, and even after giving up thinking ‘It’s really impossible now’, I impulse-ordered the 300th box late at night as a ‘real, absolute last attempt’, but it still didn’t come out.

To be exact, a ’30th Anniversary Premium Rare’ card did come out in each carton due to compensation. Except for the card I was aiming for. Out of a total of 4 ’30th Anniversary Premium Rare’ cards, only 1, [True Evil Eye Radiant Dragon Chaosium], was missing.

‘At that time, after my head cooled down, I really regretted it so much I could die.’

For several months afterwards, I barely paid the installment fees and only ate ramen. I was so depressed by the fact that the money I spent was enough to buy 3 individual copies and still have money left over that I almost died.

Even afterwards, I couldn’t give up my lingering attachment and would buy Structure Decks with tournament participation fees every time I went to the store for several years. I finally got the ’30th Anniversary Premium Rare’ Ace card in my hands, but by then, the [Evil Eye] deck was already far behind the meta. There was nowhere to use it except for casual matches.

In the end, all that remained was the ’30th Anniversary Premium Rare’ [True Evil Eye Radiant Dragon Chaosium], which I couldn’t use even once in a real match and immediately decorated in a binder, and a mountain of Structure Decks that filled under the bed and even up to the top of the closet. The ‘Bonus Packs’ were checked, but the boxes were unopened.

“Still, good days like this come along sometimes.”

“I don’t quite understand, but you must have had a very difficult time…”

To think a day would come when I could use them like this, life’s affairs are truly unpredictable. If I sell everything, I can completely recover the cost, since the price of 3 sandwiches is exactly the price of 1 Structure Deck box. I’m happy.

“…These cards, are they really genuine?”

As I was selling them, the question I had heard several times today came back.

“That’s rude. What makes them seem fake?”

Elfelt asked the student who had asked, showing displeasure on my behalf.

“Ah, no. If they’re real, it would be very grateful, but I can’t understand why such strong cards would be sold cheaply, even if they are Normal Rare cards…”

It’s a perfectly understandable reaction. I, too, have experienced great shock when cards that cost tens of thousands of won in reality became 500-won cards after a single reprint. It’s something I’ve experienced many times.

“I understand your concern. These cards are…”

Just as I was about to kindly explain that these cards were not fake,

“Yes. There’s no way they’re real!!”

A ringing, tearing, yet somehow familiar shout came from beside me.

“There’s no record of these cards being issued as Normal Rare!! They’re all fakes!!”

It was the noble who looked cowardly and had gotten angry at me for using cowardly cards throughout the morning’s duel. His hair, slicked back with oil, was distracting.

“These cards don’t exist, they shouldn’t exist!!”

The students in line started to murmur at the declaration of the slicked-haired noble.

“No, they’re perfectly normal cards that can be put in a deck and used?”

“Professor. Speak.”

The slick-haired noble ignored my words and poked the chubby professor who was with him, the one who had a pale face throughout the morning’s duel.

“P-Past-kun is right. [Spirit of Lock], [Earth Absorber], and [Earth Shackles] are currently only issued in Silver Rare and Gold Rare grades. According to records, Normal Rare does not currently exist…”

The professor said hesitantly. The murmuring grew louder.

“Professor, but these cards are…!!”

“It’s alright. I’ll handle it.”

I calmed Elfelt, who seemed a little agitated, and got up from my seat.

“Here. Please check.”

And without saying much, I handed the professor the ‘Hand Trap’ 3-set. The professor took the cards and stared at them intently.

“N-No need to look!! Of course they’re fake!! Cards that haven’t been issued couldn’t possibly exist!!”

The slick-haired noble tried to snatch the cards, but the professor quickly turned his body away to avoid him and held up the cards he received from me against the light.

“Wait, Professor!! What are you doing!!”

“…This sparkling hologram is ‘Minarco’s’ certification.”

And returning the cards to me, he declared that they had the certification of ‘Minarco’, the Duel Office that issues cards in this world.

“This cannot be forged. These cards are indeed cards issued by ‘Minarco’.”

The professor, whom he brought to support the claim that the cards were fake, instead certified that my cards were genuine.

“The fact that they can be put into a deck and used in a duel without issue, regardless of checking, is proof that they are real cards. Forged cards cannot be put into a deck or used in a duel.”

Furthermore, Elfelt stepped forward and testified that my cards were not fake. The murmuring line also started to feel relieved upon hearing that they were real.

“No, no way. They shouldn’t exist!! I can’t accept this!! If they were legitimate cards, there would be a record of them being issued, but there isn’t!! It’s illegal distribution!!”

Amidst that, the slick-haired noble continued to clamor and insisted that my cards were ones that shouldn’t be used, making a fuss, and

“Th-The fact that there is no issuance record is true. They are cards issued by ‘Minarco’, but… This is the first time I’ve seen something like this in my life… Cough?!”

“If you’re just going to say useless things, get lost!!”

He kicked the professor, who was trying to mediate the situation as politely as possible.

“Professor?! You, what are you doing!! How dare you attack a professor!!”

“Ah, it worked out perfectly. You’re Disciplinary Committee, aren’t you!! Crack down on this right away!! Can you overlook something like this?! It’s an act that destroys the balance of the Duel Academy!! You were also attacked by that cowardly card!! Your ace card became useless because of one card!! Can you tolerate that?! Are you going to accept that your ace is weak?!!”

The slick-haired noble pointed his finger and poured out insults at Elfelt, who was helping the surprised professor up,

“…My ace card is not weak.”

Those words touched Elfelt’s sore spot.

“Exactly, so confiscate all these cards right now!!”

“I’m the one who’s weak.”

“…What?”

“My ace card isn’t weak enough to be defeated by one or two cards!!”

The slick-haired noble seemed overwhelmed by Elfelt’s spirited shout and stepped back. The professor, Arianna, and I were also startled by the sheer intensity.

“And I’m no longer the Disciplinary Committee. I am ‘Judgment’.”

“Ju, ‘Judgment’? What’s that?”

“You said it destroys the balance of the Duel Academy, didn’t you? That would be what you did. I’m just grateful you saved me the trouble of finding you. ‘Past of First Turn Kill’. I will investigate you for ‘Manipulation outside of the duel’.”

Elfelt pulled out a card from his cleavage that proved his identity as ‘Judgment’ and held it out. Looking at the card, the expression of the slick-haired noble, Past according to Elfelt, gradually hardened.

“Du, Du…”

“Du?”

Past, who was stammering with a pale face,

“Duel!! Let’s settle it with a duel, you outsider!!”

pointed at me, not Elfelt, and challenged me to a duel.

“Alright. Let’s decide it with a duel.”

To me, who thought it was much better than him babbling on and was about to accept immediately,

“Ha, how can I trust your deck?!”

Past, despite being the one who proposed the duel first, started saying strange things.

“It’s suspicious from the start that you’re using [4 Kings] that haven’t been discovered until now!! Aren’t they fake too?! I can’t duel with a deck that uses such cards!!”

“Th-That can’t be right?! It’s a ‘Legend Card’, not just any other card!!”

“I don’t know, I can’t trust it!! I can’t trust your cards!! Take them all out for a fair duel!! Take out all those ‘Hand Traps’ of unknown origin too!!”

He shook his head vigorously even at Arianna, who finally couldn’t stand it and shouted, making unreasonable demands.

‘I can’t listen to this anymore. Should I come out and freeze him right away?’

‘No. You can’t use a legendary sword for catching a chicken.’

I appeased Marius, who was starting to get annoyed in my head. It’s not cost-effective to reveal that I’m the ‘Chosen One’ just to shut this guy up.

And, it just so happens there’s a suitable knife here.

“I really can’t stand watching this. Sir Knight, I’ll be your opponent.”

Elfelt also stepped forward in front of me with a frown, as if he couldn’t stand the unpleasantness, but

“Elfelt. You haven’t finished modifying your deck yet, have you? Because you couldn’t get the ‘Hand Traps’.”

I grabbed Elfelt’s shoulder and restrained him.

“Th-That’s true, but… I can still win with the deck I used before. Against a guy like that.”

“Don’t fall into their trap.”

Elfelt called that noble ‘Past of First Turn Kill’. If that’s true, even Elfelt cannot guarantee victory.

Because what he does is never a duel.

“Arianna. Could you take out the ‘Hand Traps’ from the deck you just made and show them?”

“Yes? Ju-Just a moment…”

When I suddenly requested, Arianna fumbled around, found the ‘Hand Traps’ from her deck, and took them out, and

“Hmph! I can’t accept the Normal Rare cards you’re selling!! They’re all banned!!”

“How about it? The rarity.”

“Ah, well… They’re all Gold Rare.”

Arianna’s ‘Hand Traps’ were all Super Rare, Gold Rare according to this world’s grading.

My conscience didn’t allow me to give Arianna, who had helped me a lot, the Normal Rare ‘Hand Traps’, so I had given her Super Rares. Actually, there were also more sparkling rarities, but I thought she might feel burdened by them.

“…What? Gold Rare? A commoner?”

“This should be fine, right?”

“There is definitely a record of Gold Rare being issued. There is no problem.”

“Huh? Huh? Wait, what?! I can’t follow what you’re talking about?!”

The professor also agreed with my words. Arianna, holding the ‘Hand Traps’, looked at me and the professor in confusion, demanding an explanation.

“Arianna. You be the opponent.”

“Yes, Yeeeesss?!”

The time has come for Arianna’s new deck, [Wooden Sword King], to shine.