"Good guess. I banished the Angel in the Graveyard with Owl, Special Summoned Madolche Messenger from my Deck, then activated Madolche Messenger's effect again to add Madolche Festival from my Deck to my hand."
"Then, I stacked the two Madolche Messengers on the field. Two monsters construct an Xyz Network—Xyz Summon—Madolche Queen Tiramisu!"
The elegant queen appeared on the field once more, scepter in hand. Looking at the two monsters on her opponent's field, she revealed a dignified smile.
"So this is an Xyz Summon?" Nero felt the Xyz Particles in the air, then lowered her left hand holding the Duel Disk. "I surrender this duel."
"So decisive?" Hara Shichi was rather surprised.
"I've seen you use Tiramisu's effect before. Its effect doesn't target and returns two cards, right?" Nero sighed as she looked at the Chaos MAX Dragon in her hand. "My Chaos MAX Dragon can't be targeted by effects, which means it's perfectly countered by your Tiramisu of the Tiara."
"The instant I failed to OTK, I had already lost this duel. I only kept going because I wanted to see an Xyz Summon." Nero slowly walked over and placed her Deck in Hara Shichi's palm. "Sorry for the trouble, but please put it to good use. If you intend to sell it, let me know. I'll pay the highest price for it."
Having said that, Nero left the practice room without a hint of reluctance.
"Wait, she just left like that?" Mina said incredulously.
"She lost. What else was she supposed to stay for?" Aoshi chimed in.
"No, that's not what I mean..." Mina furrowed her brows. "I was annoyed by that smug look on her face. I was looking forward to seeing her burst into tears or beg for mercy after losing, but she just left so calmly?"
"She really was too calm," Aoshi agreed.
"Could it be that she simply isn't used to showing her emotions?" Yukikaze asked as she watched the petite figure walk away.
"Who cares? Evil brings its own punishment. Let's see how she manages without her Deck." Mina sounded irritated.
Yukikaze blinked her azure eyes, rose from her chair, and walked over to Hara Shichi.
"Um... Hara Shichi, congratulations on winning." Yukikaze smiled faintly.
"I only got lucky. If I hadn't known she had Chaos MAX Dragon in her hand, I might have instinctively switched to Defense Position and been cut down in one strike by it."
"Oh, so that was it." Yukikaze's eyes darted left and right. She bit her lower lip and fidgeted for a long while before finally asking, "But Nero's Deck didn't have any cards you need, right? What are you going to do with it? Sell it?"
"Sell it? I'm not short on money. Why would I sell it?" Hara Shichi saw through Yukikaze's thoughts at once and could not resist teasing her.
"But... but you can't perform a Ritual Summon either, so it's useless for you to keep it." Yukikaze spoke in a soft, sweet voice.
"How do you know I can't perform a Ritual Summon?" Hara Shichi laughed. He might not know how, but Ai was the Goddess of Duels. Performing a Ritual Summon would be effortless for her.
"Um..." Yukikaze frowned as she began to think, but before long, someone lightly flicked her forehead.
"Dummy."
"I heard Mina say that Nero was the one who started trouble with you, right? Why are you speaking up for her?"
"No." Yukikaze shook her head. "Other than trying to provoke me into dueling her at the beginning, Nero didn't do anything to me. Didn't Mina exaggerate things?"
"Is that so?" Hara Shichi froze. He did not know the exact details; everything he knew had come from Mina.
"I didn't exaggerate anything!" Mina jumped out to defend herself. "Coming over to provoke someone for no reason isn't picking a fight? Bringing out rare cards that only great families can possess isn't bullying? And she acted so arrogant too. Without those rare cards from her family, let's see if she still dares cause trouble. Besides, those Crimson Lotus Society people... not one of them is any good!"
Hara Shichi silently looked at Ai beside him. The cards he printed with divine power... seemed to be bullying others too?
"Alright, alright, Mina, calm down." Aoshi hurriedly stepped in to smooth things over.
"Sorry, Mina got a little emotional, but there's a reason for it." Aoshi sounded helpless.
"One of Mina's friends was coerced and tempted by someone from the Crimson Lotus Society into a duel with their Deck on the line. After losing their Deck, they dropped out of school."
"Mina may have gone a little overboard, but I think she's right." As Aoshi said this, a trace of disgust showed in his eyes.
"Not one of those Crimson Lotus Society people is any good."
When You Run Into Trouble, Find a Teacher.
"So what are you going to do?"
Ai tilted her head at Hara Shichi. "Just so you know, something as simple as a Ritual Summon is definitely within my abilities."
"Didn't I tell you the answer from the very beginning?" Hara Shichi put both hands in his pockets, his expression blank. "People obsessed with taking other people's Decks are probably no good. I'm going to be a champion of justice and give them a personality-correction punch."
"So?"
"So I came here." Hara Shichi looked at the sign reading Dean's Office and gently knocked on the door.
"Come in."
Hara Shichi pushed open the door and saw Zhuxiu seated in his office chair, writing something.
"Hara Shichi? Are you having trouble adjusting to life at the academy?" Zhuxiu stopped writing and looked at him with concern.
"Thank you for your concern, sir. There are indeed some things I'm not used to." Hara Shichi nodded.
"Tell me about them?" Zhuxiu asked. The academy was located near deep mountains and forests, after all, and many things were less convenient than in the city. It was normal for students to find it difficult to adjust. If it did not require much money—for instance, complaints about mosquitoes, food they were not used to, or small matters like applying to hold an event—
Zhuxiu would still listen to the students' opinions and offer help within reason.
But if they complained that the facilities were outdated, or said they wanted something like a botanical garden—
Then sorry, there was no money. He would brush them off with a few perfunctory words and say goodbye.
"I find the existence of a club like the Crimson Lotus Society very difficult to accept." A smile appeared on Hara Shichi's face.
Zhuxiu, however, could not smile. He frowned, his gray eyes examining Hara Shichi from head to toe before relaxing again. "That is an internal academy matter. We teachers will handle it."
"Can you tell me how you plan to handle it?" Hara Shichi asked flatly. "Today, I nearly lost my Deck."
"Impossible. Anyone capable of defeating you would not target you, and anyone who targets you cannot defeat you." Zhuxiu rejected the idea outright.
"You think too highly of me, sir." Hara Shichi sighed. "What if I have bad luck one day and stumble?"
"Wait a little longer." Zhuxiu lowered his eyes. "The principal is already dealing with this matter. I'm sorry, but for now, you should avoid provoking them."
"Do you say that to every student who comes to you?" Hara Shichi suddenly asked. "Tell them to swallow their anger?"
"..."
Zhuxiu could not answer. If he had been able to reform the academy's current atmosphere, he would have done so long ago.
Wait. If he could not act himself...
Zhuxiu looked at Hara Shichi once again. "If you truly are willing to wade into this mess, I do have a solution."
"That's why I came."
"The reason I haven't moved against the Crimson Lotus Society—I told you before, didn't I?" Zhuxiu stood and poured Hara Shichi a cup of tea.
"Because of the board?"
"To be precise, it was because our academy suffered a crushing defeat against the Empire's Royal Duel Academy in the previous National Higher Academy Tournament." Zhuxiu adjusted his glasses. "That defeat cost the academy much of its funding and reputation, damaging the board's interests."
"That is why the board pressured us to reform our teaching methods, and why the Crimson Lotus Society received the board's support." Zhuxiu explained slowly. "And the way to break this deadlock is very simple."
"The board is doing this because it wants to rapidly cultivate powerful young duelists through radical methods before this National Higher Academy Tournament."
"You only need to defeat the starting duelist they select from the Crimson Lotus Society to prove that this method is wrong. They will decisively abandon the Crimson Lotus Society and its ideals, then choose you without hesitation." Zhuxiu pointed at Hara Shichi.
"That's ridiculous." Hara Shichi complained. "As long as I win a duel, the board will decisively abandon the Crimson Lotus Society?"
"To those people, the method and style of education are irrelevant. Winning is all that matters. If you win, the Crimson Lotus Society will have no reason to continue existing." Zhuxiu spoke calmly. "If you are willing, I can give you an opportunity."
"Just an opportunity? What else?" Hara Shichi spread his hands. "I heard the board has been giving cards to members of the Crimson Lotus Society."
"We are handling that matter, which is why I didn't want students dragged into this struggle." Zhuxiu sounded concerned for Hara Shichi, but what he truly meant was that he had never planned to ask Hara Shichi for help. Hara Shichi had not been part of his plans at all.
"I'm not doing this for myself. I'm contributing to the academy." Hara Shichi raised an eyebrow.
"Fine... Take this card." Zhuxiu thought for a moment, feeling that he really was being somewhat unfair, then tossed Hara Shichi a card.
"Smack!"
Hara Shichi caught the card and looked closely. A gigantic Kaiju was depicted on its face—Gama the Kaiju.
"Eh, just one? Give me a few more." Hara Shichi put Gama the Kaiju into his card case.
"You need to understand something, Hara Shichi. I don't think highly of you." Zhuxiu said abruptly.
"You mean you think I'll lose?" Hara Shichi asked.
"Although you are a very talented duelist, there are likely very few among your peers who can compare with you."
"But?"
"But Crimson Lotus is stronger." Zhuxiu explained. "I do not believe you can defeat her, so I will not place too many expectations on you. Naturally, I will not give you much help... I would even advise you not to become her opponent."
"If students encounter an opponent who is too powerful, they may suffer a blow so severe that they never recover." As Zhuxiu spoke, he seemed to recall something. A strange light flickered in his eyes.
"You underestimate me too much, sir. Even if my opponent is truly so strong that she is beyond my reach, I won't be beaten down beyond recovery." Hara Shichi said calmly. "I'll keep moving forward step by step, and then I'll win."
Zhuxiu froze slightly, then looked at Hara Shichi with an odd expression and murmured, "No wonder Nafili thinks so highly of you."
"In that case, go recruit your teammates."
"Huh? Teammates?" Hara Shichi did not understand what Zhuxiu meant.
"Don't you know? The National Higher Academy Tournament uses a five-versus-five elimination format. If you merely defeat some member of the Crimson Lotus Society by yourself, the board will only consider your individual ability outstanding and put your name on the starting roster." Zhuxiu found it strange that a student did not know the rules of the National Higher Academy Tournament.
"If you want the board to abandon the Crimson Lotus Society, you must gather five people, then defeat the Crimson Lotus Society's five starting members in a five-versus-five elimination match."
This Kid Was Terrifying?!
"Five versus five? I thought I could handle it all by myself." Hara Shichi paused, looking troubled. "I haven't been at the academy for long. I can't gather five people in such a short time. Sir, do you have anyone you would recommend?"
"No. Most of the academy's strongest students are already in the Crimson Lotus Society." Zhuxiu shook his head. "Crimson Lotus seems to possess great charisma. Not long after creating the Crimson Lotus Society, she invited all the capable students in the academy to join."
"It isn't charisma." Hara Shichi tugged at the corner of his mouth. "Joining the Crimson Lotus Society lets them gamble cards openly. For those strong students, how is that gambling? It's clearly robbery."
"I never expected so many students to choose such a crooked path." Zhuxiu was also deeply puzzled. In his eyes, the academy's students should not have had such poor character.
No, it was not a matter of character. The temptation of obtaining an entire Deck just by winning a single duel... was simply too great.
"In that case, I'll just find people myself?" Hara Shichi asked.
"Do as you please. Just give me their names when the time comes, and I'll arrange it for you. But I'll repeat myself, Hara Shichi—I have no expectations for you." Zhuxiu repeated himself.
"Understood, sir."
"Click."
As he looked at the tightly shut door, Zhuxiu's brows furrowed again.
Something was off. There was something very wrong with this student.
He had initially thought that a powerful monster like a Kaiju would cause some backlash. At the very least, Hara Shichi should have found it difficult to control.
Yet he had simply placed it into his card case so calmly? He did not seem to react at all. Zhuxiu himself had suffered greatly back then in order to master a Kaiju, but in Hara Shichi's hands, it seemed to have become as harmless as White Rabbit.
Wait! Could it be that it was not because Hara Shichi's Duel Power was too weak to sense, but because... his Duel Power was so immense that Zhuxiu could not perceive it?!
A bead of cold sweat rolled down Zhuxiu's forehead. If that were truly the case, then this student could no longer be described as merely terrifying.
Over the past few days, Zhuxiu had reviewed the records of every dueling family in the Empire, yet he had found nothing matching Hara Shichi's identity. He was so young, yet he could already perform Xyz Summons. His dueling skills were highly polished, and he even possessed quite a few rare cards.
How could someone like that appear out of nowhere?
Or had he truly been trained by some secret organization?
Impossible. How could they bear to send such a talented young man out as an undercover agent? They would surely train him desperately until he became a top-tier duelist.
"Something's off, something's off..."
Yet from his observations so far, there was nothing suspicious about Hara Shichi's behavior. And setting aside the mystery surrounding him... he truly was an outstanding student.
He had even helped a classmate win back a Deck and wanted to reform the academy's atmosphere. Besides, although Nafili was somewhat unreliable, she still had the tiniest bit of credibility.
Well, about as much as a pinky fingernail.
"But if all his cards really were printed by himself, his dueling skills were honed on his own, and his Duel Power was simply an extraordinary talent... then what I'm doing now is maliciously suspecting an innocent student."
As a teacher, that was an utter failure of mindset.
If he could not trust his own students, what kind of teacher was he?
But he was not merely a teacher. He was also the Head Teacher of this academy.
And Hara Shichi had appeared at precisely this critical moment, wanting to voluntarily enter the whirlpool of conflict between the academy and the board... Zhuxiu could not help but think deeply about it.
Zhuxiu rubbed his forehead, then finally sighed. He picked up the landline on his desk and dialed a number. "..."
Before you continue