Duelists Never Surrender! Chapter 3

"I really don't know. Where do they come from?" Hara Shichi hurriedly sought off-field assistance from Yi, who floated beside him.

"Either a Duelist uses Duel Energy to imprint one onto a Duel Card, or a Duel Spirit is sealed inside a Duel Card," Yi explained calmly.

After Hara Shichi repeated Yi's words, Yukikaze nodded. "That's right! Because of humanity's development of towns and cities, Duel Spirits can now only be found in the wilderness. There are very few left within cities."

"But!" At this point, Yukikaze seemed to grow excited. "I found a very powerful Duel Spirit in the back mountain of Duelist Academy!"

"You found a powerful Duel Spirit in the back mountain?" Hara Shichi asked in surprise.

"That's right. I saw it with my own eyes—a Duel Spirit as huge as a bear attacked her, and she cut it in half with a single slash!"

"I've already figured out her behavior patterns during this time, but I was too weak to get close. If it were you, you could definitely subdue her and turn her into a powerful card!"

"A powerful card... That's not wrong. Continuously subduing powerful cards to grow stronger—I can't deny that there's anything wrong with that." Hara Shichi gave a self-mocking smile.

"What are you talking about?" Yukikaze asked curiously.

"Nothing, just talking to myself. Are you taking me there now?" Hara Shichi asked.

"No." Seeing how tired Hara Shichi looked, Yukikaze shook her head. "I'll show you around the school first, but before that..."

Lifting her skirt, Yukikaze gently sat down, then patted the grass beside her. "Come experience the lawn and breeze of Duelist Academy first."

The Strongest Card

"Nafili, you invited another person of unknown origins into the academy?!" An angry roar came from within the tightly shut office. Anyone standing outside the door would have noticed the sign hanging on the wooden door—Dean's Office.

"Calm down. This student I found is truly extraordinary, you know?" Nafili sat cross-legged on the sofa, speaking as she stuffed fruit from the platter on the glass table into her mouth, completely ignoring the angry words of the Dean seated behind the desk.

"You say that every time. And what happens? They're either spies sent by some faction, or troubled children with extreme personalities. I truly don't understand why the Headmaster let you sit in the position of Vice Headmaster." The Dean pushed up his black-rimmed glasses and spoke coldly.

"You'll have to ask the Headmaster about that..." Before Nafili could finish, a series of heavy knocks sounded from outside the door.

"It's unlocked. Come in," the Dean said impatiently.

"Creak—"

The heavy wooden door was pushed open. Hara Shichi poked his head in from outside, only to see a middle-aged man sitting behind the desk with a deep frown, eyeing him suspiciously.

"You're not a student of this school. Who are you?" the Dean asked sternly.

"This is the good student I was talking about!" Nafili shot up from the sofa and pulled Hara Shichi before the Dean. "Let me introduce him. This Duelist is named Hara Shichi. At such a young age, he has already mastered Xyz Summoning, and he easily OTK'd one of our academy's second-year students in a duel! I guarantee this boy will achieve great things in the future!"

Without waiting for the Dean to react, Nafili began fussing over Hara Shichi. "Have you finished looking around the school? What do you think? Are you used to the cafeteria food? Is the dorm bed soft enough? If not, I'll have someone replace it for you..."

"Um, Teacher Nafili, I came to handle my enrollment procedures. As for the dorm, one hasn't been arranged for me yet," Hara Shichi interrupted. His instincts told him that Nafili was rather talkative. If he didn't cut her off, they might not get to the point for hours.

"Oh, you came to handle your enrollment procedures." Nafili seemed to realize it only then.

"Wasn't it you who told me to come?" Hara Shichi had been wondering how Nafili had contacted him. But when Yukikaze had been showing him the school's history hall just now, a black-and-gold hound had appeared before him, bitten his pant leg, and dragged him outside.

Fortunately, Yukikaze recognized it as Nafili's Duel Spirit—Shaddoll Hound. Otherwise, he might already have been holding up his Duel Card and attempting his first Duel Spirit sealing on the hound.

"Yes, I sent Shaddoll Hound to call you." As she spoke, Nafili pulled two documents from a black bag that had seemingly appeared from nowhere. "I've already prepared your enrollment paperwork. All you need to do now is sign it, and I'll stamp it. Dean, bring over your seal. Dean?"

"Nafili!" Veins bulged on the Dean's forehead as he interrupted her. "I never said I agreed to admit this student, Hara Shichi."

Nafili's eyes widened as she put on an extremely exaggerated expression. "Oh my! Did you not hear what I just said? Xyz Summoning, defeating a second-year student—does that even need consideration? If you don't want a student like this, other schools would be fighting to have him!"

"One or two victories prove nothing. As for Xyz Summoning... Nafili, after that incident, you should understand, shouldn't you? A powerful summoning method represents nothing." The Dean rose from his chair, slammed his palm onto the desk, and pointed at Nafili. "In any case, I cannot tolerate you continuing to act recklessly!"

"Tch." Nafili clicked her tongue. "So you want me to take this matter to the Headmaster?"

"I never said that." The Dean looked at Hara Shichi. "I don't trust Nafili's judgment. She has always been poor at judging people. I only trust myself. So, student Hara Shichi, would you like to duel me? As long as you defeat me, I'll acknowledge your strength."

"Pah, ignore him. A teacher challenging a student to a duel—doesn't he feel ashamed?" Nafili said irritably. "If he won't stamp it, I'll have the Headmaster stamp it. Let's go."

"I won't use my current deck. I'll use the deck I had as a student." The Dean took a somewhat worn card case from his waist. "And if you defeat me, you can take any one card from this deck."

"What do you say?"

"Accept it." A crisp voice rang out as Yi floated beside Hara Shichi once more.

"Your deck was carefully built by me, while his is an outdated deck from years ago. He's only the Dean of Duelist Academy, while you're the Duelist I chose!" Yi analyzed logically. "Isn't this a guaranteed free card?"

"Fine, you said it," Hara Shichi said helplessly.

"Very well. Then let's go to the training room." Mistaking Hara Shichi's words as being directed at him, the Dean walked past him and pulled open the office door.

Then he saw a white-haired girl standing awkwardly outside.

"Student Yukikaze? What brings you here?" the Dean asked.

"I... I..." Yukikaze looked at the stern-faced Dean, her tongue tying itself in knots. She couldn't exactly say that she had followed Hara Shichi out of concern, heard an argument inside, and pressed herself against the door to eavesdrop, could she?

"If it's not urgent, tell me later." With that, the Dean strode out. "I'm about to have a duel. If you wish to learn something, you may come along."

"Oh, okay, okay." Yukikaze nodded hurriedly and followed behind the Dean.

She had heard outside the door that Hara Shichi was going to duel the Dean. Hara Shichi might be strong, but that was the Dean—a rare figure among Professional Duelists ten years ago. Even using the deck from his student days, he was not someone an ordinary student could challenge.

If Hara Shichi lost, wouldn't that mean... he couldn't become her classmate?!

Yukikaze realized the seriousness of the problem and quietly moved behind Hara Shichi.

"Why did you come?" Hara Shichi remembered asking Yukikaze whether she wanted to come along before he entered, but she had politely declined.

Couldn't you tell I was just being polite?! Besides, Teacher Nafili called for you, not me!

Yukikaze grumbled inwardly and shoved the item in her hand to Hara Shichi with some irritation.

"This is... a card?" Hara Shichi asked in surprise as he felt the familiar texture.

"Shh." Yukikaze glanced at Teacher Nafili and the Head Teacher walking ahead of them. "Keep your voice down. It'll be bad if they notice."

"..." Hara Shichi thought, Your move to sneak around behind them was so obvious that they could probably guess what was happening without even turning around.

"This is my strongest card. I'm only lending it to you, okay? Give it back after you win." Yukikaze said reluctantly, clearly pained by the thought.

"Got it, got it. I'll win." Hara Shichi smiled and slipped the card Yukikaze had given him—Book of Moon—into the card case at his waist.

This Was My Old Deck from My Student Days

Duelist Academy had dedicated duel rooms for dueling. Teachers usually brought students there for practical lessons, but since it was Sunday and the rooms were not open to the public, the students had gone to the Gymnasium to duel instead.

Naturally, as the Head Teacher of this Duelist Academy, Zhuxiu had the keys.

"Here will do." Zhuxiu said as he stood in the flat dueling arena.

"Alright." Hara Shichi took his place opposite Zhuxiu and pulled out his deck.

"Duel!"

"Duel!"

"Beep!" With a crisp sound, Zhuxiu received the right to choose who went first.

"..." Hara Shichi turned to Yi, who floated in midair. "Honestly, is there something wrong with your Duel Disk? Why haven't I gotten the right to choose first or second in two consecutive duels?"

"Are you questioning a god's Duel Disk?" Yi snorted coldly. "It's perfectly normal not to get the choice once or twice. Next time, you'll be able to choose."

"Is that so?"

"Of course it is!"

Yet, to Hara Shichi's surprise, his opponent did not choose to go first.

"I choose to go second." Zhuxiu said, drawing five cards from his deck.

"Second?" Hara Shichi frowned. Choosing to go second in this situation—if Zhuxiu was not simply looking after him as a student, then that meant...

"Is the Head Teacher going easy on Hara Shichi?" Yukikaze, watching from the side, asked outright.

"Heh. The man I know isn't someone that soft-hearted." Nafili sneered.

"But isn't going first better than going second?" Yukikaze tilted her head. "The first player can safely summon monsters without any interference, and they can set Trap Cards to disrupt the opponent's turn. The second player has to break through the other side's powerful monsters while also watching out for set Trap Cards."

Those were all things the teachers had taught in class, and Yukikaze remembered them perfectly.

"That's under normal circumstances." Nafili explained patiently. "As you said, going first has many advantages, but some duelists still choose to go second."

"Why?" Yukikaze asked curiously.

"Because the second player can attack." Nafili curled his lips. "Especially since our school mostly uses the four-thousand Life Point rules now. Naturally, some people have gotten ideas."

"For example... using powerful high-ATK monsters to swiftly finish off the opponent."

"If he isn't going easy on me, then there's a high chance he's planning a going-second OTK." Hara Shichi looked at the five cards he had drawn and quickly made his decision.

"I enter Main Phase 1 and activate the Spell Card Reinforcement of the Army from my hand." Hara Shichi slapped the Spell Card onto his Duel Disk. "This card lets me add one Warrior-Type monster from my deck to my hand. I choose Mewfeuille the Magical Cat."

"Madolche? Isn't that an entertainment deck popular among little girls?" Although Zhuxiu had left the Professional Duelist League, he still paid attention to matters in the Duel World. The Madolche deck had apparently become popular among girls because its Duel Spirits were adorable. For a time, it had even been wildly overpriced in the Black Market, but because its strength was too limited, its price had quickly dropped again.

Hara Shichi did not hear Zhuxiu muttering to himself. The five cards in his hand were Terraforming, Mille-feuille the Magical Cat, Madolche Madeleine, Mewfeuille the Magical Cat, and... Huh, he had actually drawn this card. Hara Shichi looked at the rightmost card in his hand, his expression turning somewhat strange.

The normal play now would be to Normal Summon Madolche Madeleine and fetch Madolche Puddingcess, preparing to Xyz Summon Tiramisu of the Tiara afterward. But if the opponent was likely going for a going-second OTK...

"I activate Terraforming and add a Field Spell Card from my deck to my hand. I choose Mewfeuille Castle!" Hara Shichi took the Madolche Field Spell from his deck. "Next, I activate Mewfeuille Castle!"

A massive castle made entirely of desserts rose up in the dueling arena in an instant. Its fragrant sweetness and vivid colors assaulted the onlookers' senses of smell and sight. Yukikaze even swallowed, then gently pressed a pale finger into the white cream.

"It really is sweet!" Yukikaze said in surprise, licking her finger.

Hara Shichi: "..."

Zhuxiu: "..."

Nafili: "..."

"These desserts are merely formed from the energy contained within the cards. They aren't real desserts." Nafili gave a light cough, hinting for Yukikaze to stop eating. They were in the middle of a duel. This was serious.

"Oh... Sorry, carry on." Yukikaze's little face reddened as she hurriedly stepped back.

Hara Shichi had been somewhat tense, but Yukikaze's interruption actually relaxed him. He continued, "I Normal Summon Mille-feuille the Magical Cat from my hand."

"Meow~" A pink ragdoll cat sat atop an enormous mille-feuille pastry, meowing adorably.

"Due to Mewfeuille Castle's effect, all Madolche monsters on the field gain 500 ATK and DEF." Mille-feuille the Magical Cat's original 500 ATK became 1000 ATK. "Next, I activate Mille-feuille the Magical Cat's effect. When this card is successfully summoned, I can Special Summon one Madolche monster from my hand."

As he spoke, Hara Shichi slapped the Postman card from his hand onto the field. "I Special Summon Mewfeuille the Magical Cat. I activate the Postman's effect: when this card is successfully Special Summoned, if there is a Beast-Type Madolche monster on the field, I can add one Madolche Spell or Trap Card from my deck to my hand. I add Mage of the Madolche Night to my hand."

After the dashing young postman appeared, he adjusted his cap and flashed Hara Shichi a sly smile, as if saying, Leave it to me!

"Alright, I set two cards. End turn."

Thanks to Mewfeuille Castle's effect, the Postman's ATK reached a staggering 2100, exceeding that of most Level 4 monsters. Meanwhile, Mage of the Madolche Night in his back row could negate monster effects and prevent the opponent's monsters from activating their effects.

Come on, let me see how you break through my defenses.

"Then it's my turn. Draw." Zhuxiu drew a card from his Deck, then said, "Next, I activate Mystical Space Typhoon and destroy the Set Card on the left side of your back row."

"Eh?" Yukikaze looked stiffly at Nafili. "Didn't you say he was using his old Deck from back then?"

"Mystical Space Typhoon is a very, very old card," Nafili explained.

"But... but isn't Mystical Space Typhoon a very rare card?" Yukikaze couldn't understand. Why did it feel like everyone else had rare cards except her?

"Mystical Space Typhoon... rare?" Nafili froze for a moment, then pulled a Mystical Space Typhoon from his card case and said pityingly, "Don't mention it. Consider it a gift from your teacher."

"..."

The duel did not pause because of Yukikaze's question. Hara Shichi's Set Card was sent to the Graveyard—it was the Mage of the Madolche Night that Madolche Messenger had searched earlier.

Unexpected, yet perfectly reasonable, Hara Shichi thought. Since he was the Head Teacher of Duelist Academy, he probably hadn't been an ordinary duelist in his student days. It was perfectly normal for him to have a card like Mystical Space Typhoon.

However, what happened next completely threw Hara Shichi off balance.

"I Set one card, then Special Summon Azure Cyber Dragon from my hand." As Xiuzhu spoke, he Special Summoned a monster onto the field.

"Oh, Azure Cyber Dragon. So it's a Cyber Dragon Deck..." Hara Shichi paused, then suddenly realized something was wrong.

"Cy... Cyber Dragon?!"

??

You're telling me this was your Deck back in your student days??

Hara Shichi was dumbfounded.