Duelists Never Surrender!

"I was just curious about who she was," Hara Shichi said, putting his cards back into his deck box. He suddenly felt that Ai being able to materialize wasn't a good thing; he had a feeling she'd be getting handsy with him all the time from now on, though it didn't really hurt.

"Then why didn't you take off her mask while she was unconscious?" Ai tilted her head.

"Because my intuition told me we'd meet again," Hara Shichi replied. It wasn't right to take someone's mask off without permission, and if she didn't want to reveal her identity, there was no need to push it.

"Hmph, you want to meet again? What for? To fall in love?" Ai pinched Hara Shichi's cheek, speaking irritably.

"Ai, are you really a God?" Hara Shichi looked at the silver-haired girl before him suspiciously. "Why is your mind filled with malicious guesses about me?"

"Then why were you spacing out earlier?" Ai pressed on.

"..."

That night, Hara Shichi understood one thing—Gods were unreasonable.

Fortunately, their relationship didn't suffer because of such a small friction.

Especially after printing several good cards, Hara Shichi felt that his relationship with Ai had taken a step forward.

It was like fish and water; it didn't matter who was the fish and who was the water. In any case, he felt refreshed and wore a smile on his face the next morning as he went to school.

"Did something good happen, Master?" Ghost Ogre asked curiously. Ever since she escorted Hara Shichi to class that day, Ghost Ogre had accompanied him on his way to school every day, and sometimes she'd come out for some fresh air after school.

Hara Shichi didn't want Ghost Ogre to be cooped up in a card all the time, so he was happy with this arrangement.

"I printed some good cards last night," Hara Shichi answered truthfully.

"What kind of cards?" Ghost Ogre asked softly, her eyes lowered.

"Some pretty powerful monsters," Hara Shichi replied vaguely, as there were other students on the road and it wasn't convenient to go into detail.

"Are they better than me?" Ghost Ogre blinked and looked at her own radiant glow.

"What are you thinking?" Hara Shichi patted Ghost Ogre's shoulder. "How could they compare to you?"

"Mm, I understand," Ghost Ogre's snow-white eyelashes trembled slightly. Since Master said so, it had nothing to do with her.

Ghost Ogre was fragrant, soft, white, tender, cute, strong, and huggable. How could ordinary monsters compare?

Thinking this, Hara Shichi couldn't help but reach out to hug Ghost Ogre and pinch her stern yet adorable little face, but there were too many students around, so he had to give up.

Then, when he entered the classroom, he found Yukikaze looking at him strangely.

"Did something good happen to you, classmate Hara Shichi?" Yukikaze asked.

"Huh? Ah, I printed some good cards last night," Hara Shichi touched his face. Was he that obvious?

Damn it, Hara Shichi, they're just a few extra monsters, why are you so happy? Aren't your goals Ash Blossom & Joyous Spring, Infinite Impermanence, and Solemn Judgment?

With that thought, Hara Shichi's expression returned to normal.

"I'm so envious of you; I was unlucky," Yukikaze sighed. "Last night, halfway through my shower, the room lights suddenly went out, and the shower water turned cold. I was worried I'd catch a cold."

"You encountered that too?" Mina chimed in from the side. "The lights in many students' dorms suddenly went out last night; it was so scary. Everyone was saying it was some kind of ghost haunting."

"Ghosts... that's probably impossible," Hara Shichi chuckled dryly, glancing at Ai floating in mid-air. While not a ghost, it was pretty close. Everyone's guess was spot on.

"But I saw a dark figure on the balcony last night," Mina said nervously.

"A dark figure? Are you sure you didn't missee it?" Yukikaze was also a little surprised.

"Impossible, that dark figure even knocked on the glass. Luckily, I locked my floor-to-ceiling window tightly, so it didn't get in."

"Did the dark figure say anything?" Hara Shichi suddenly had a guess.

"It seemed to be calling my name, and the voice sounded familiar. But the lights were out, and I was hiding under the covers, too scared to speak," Mina frowned, trying to recall.

Hara Shichi twitched the corner of his mouth. He probably knew who the dark figure was.

"You can tell classmate Aoshi about this later; he might know something," Hara Shichi hinted subtly.

"What could he possibly know..." Mina's voice suddenly became quiet. She seemed to have remembered who that familiar voice belonged to.

"Oh, right, classmate Hara Shichi, Senior Julie asked us to meet at the game center after school today," Yukikaze whispered in Hara Shichi's ear.

"What are you two whispering about?" Mina eyed them suspiciously.

"Uh, nothing..." Yukikaze didn't want to involve Mina. Setting aside their dueling skills, Mina wasn't at the academy because she wanted to become a duelist.

She came to Duelist Academy just to attend the same school as her childhood friend, classmate Aoshi. In reality, she wasn't interested in dueling at all.

"Sigh, you've forgotten your old love for a new one. It's fine; best friends can't compare to boyfriends. I'm disturbing your affection," Mina pretended to wipe her tears. "I'll leave now and won't interrupt your lovey-dovey time. Goodbye!"

Saying this, she quickly left before Yukikaze could retort.

"Ahem, Mina was just joking," Yukikaze said, her small face blushing with embarrassment.

Hara Shichi didn't pick up on the conversation and instead asked, "Did Julie say what it was about?"

"Your topic change is too abrupt!" Ai quipped.

Yukikaze's small face stiffened. She hadn't expected Hara Shichi to change the subject so easily and said resentfully, "I don't know either. You can ask her directly when you get there."

With that, she turned her head and began preparing for class.

Chapter 65: Why Not Fight Hard When There's Nothing?

"Hey, did something good happen to you?"

Julie leaned lazily against the wall, her shoulder-length purple hair and dark red eyes making her look like a vampire from a legend in the dim room.

"Why is everyone saying that? Is it that obvious?" Hara Shichi thought he had already calmed down from his excitement.

"Your face is rosier, and your complexion is better," Julie observed, examining Hara Shichi. "You look much more energetic than before."

"It's all thanks to me," Ai said, proudly patting Hara Shichi's shoulder. "I used my Duel Power to help revitalize your physique. Otherwise, every time you duel, you get blown away like paper by your opponent, and your body probably wouldn't be able to handle it."

"Stop chatting by the door," a certain green-haired loli, curled up in her blanket and holding a game controller, called out to Hara Shichi. "Come in, don't be shy, make yourselves at home."

Hara Shichi scanned the room. Perhaps because it had been tidied up, there was no longer any trash. The school uniforms were hung on the wall, and the CDs were neatly stacked together, but... the room still only contained a saggy bed and a glowing television.

"Senpai, there's nowhere to sit here," Hara Shichi complained.

"So picky. Can't you sit on the floor?" Sera rolled her eyes playfully. "Don't worry, the floor's been cleaned."

"As if you cleaned it yourself," Julie retorted, taking off her shoes and revealing black socks. She unhesitatingly sat down on Sera's bed.

"Ah! Allowing you to share this space of freedom with me is already the biggest concession! You're not allowed to invade my sacred bed!" Sera waved her small, pink fists in protest.

"Don't forget who cleaned the room for you," Julie said, tapping Sera's head.

"Ugh, holding it over me, are we?!" Sera clutched her blanket and was forced to retreat, giving up the center of the bed. "Fine, everyone come up."

Hara Shichi then took off his shoes and got onto the bed as well.

"Where's Yukikaze?" Julie finally noticed someone was missing.

"The teacher called her over after school, something about an assignment," Hara Shichi replied.

"I'm here," Yukikaze said, waving her small hand as she appeared at the doorway. "Sorry, I kept you waiting."

"It's fine. Since everyone's here, I'll begin," Julie said, taking out a scroll from her hand and unfurling it in front of everyone. "Do you know what's behind our academy?"

"The Elcrain Great Forest?" Hara Shichi vaguely remembered Yukikaze mentioning it.

"That's right. The academy was established here for two reasons: first, to be far from the city and prevent students from being disturbed by urban life, and second... the Elcrain Great Forest is one of the largest gathering places for Duel Spirits on the continent. As the continent's premier academy, we are situated on the edge of the forest, serving as a boundary between humans and Duel Spirits, monitoring their situation to prevent any unrest."

"Um, but that doesn't really concern us, does it?" Yukikaze asked, confused. "Isn't that the teachers' responsibility?"

"Wait, Julie, you're not thinking of..." Hara Shichi sensed Julie's intention, but before he could finish, Julie interrupted him.

"That's right! Let's go capture some Duel Spirits!"

"Huh?!"

"I don't really feel like going out."

"Reasons?"

The three reacted differently, but this was all within Julie's expectations.

"There's only one month left until the National High School Tournament begins," Julie stated calmly. "That means we have to get stronger quickly within a month and defeat the Crimson Lotus Society. Otherwise, once they return to compete under the academy's name, our duel will be meaningless."

"And there's only one way to get stronger quickly – acquiring powerful cards," Julie scanned the people present. "Does anyone here have a lot of money, or come from a wealthy family?"

"My family... well, we're not exactly rich," Yukikaze tilted her head, thinking for a moment, then shook her head.

"I'm super poor," Hara Shichi said, explaining that he was an outsider and still freeloading at the school, so he had no money.

"If I had money, I would have bought new games already," Sera said weakly.

"Then, are any of you children of dueling families? Do your families have any secret treasures, trials, or guardian monster cards?" Julie asked again.

The three shook their heads like rattles.

"Then, do any of you know professional Duelists who could give you cards?"

"I know some, but they probably won't give me cards."

"I don't."

"I think the teachers have quite a few cards too."

"Since you have none of that, we can only go capture them ourselves," Julie said calmly.

"But isn't that a very dangerous thing to do?" Yukikaze worried. She had personally witnessed Duel Spirits fighting each other, and the scene could only be described as gruesome.

"The earliest Duelists captured Duel Spirits directly," Julie said in a deep voice. "It's just that with the mass duplication and sale of Duel Cards, everyone chose the safer method of printing cards. Since others have succeeded, why can't we?"

"I agree," Hara Shichi was the first to speak. "Besides, I have a Duel Spirit to protect me, so it should be fine."

As soon as he finished speaking, Ghost Ogre jumped out of Hara Shichi's card case, its small face serious. "I will surely protect my master's safety."

"Then... I agree too," Yukikaze said softly, pursing her lips.

"I'm not going."

A cool voice rang out, and everyone's attention snapped to the speaker.

Sera raised her chin haughtily and snorted, "My deck doesn't need other monsters to strengthen it; it only needs traps."

"Hoh..." Julie narrowed her eyes and hooked her arm around Sera's neck. "What did you just say? I don't think I heard you clearly."

"No bullying on campus! Ah! Don't touch there! ... Wuwuwu..."

"Heh heh, don't touch where?"

"Wait! Where... where isn't it okay... I'll break..."

"You're not allowed to look!" Ai quickly covered Hara Shichi's eyes.

Hara Shichi awkwardly turned his head away. After a bit of roughhousing, Sera collapsed onto the bed with a dazed look in her eyes.

"Did you agree?" Julie whispered into Sera's ear.

"I agree... I agree..." Sera murmured softly.

"All done," Julie said, clapping her hands together cleanly.

Senior Julie is so scary...

Yukikaze couldn't help but tremble.

"So, we'll meet at the school gate tomorrow, no problem?"

"Okay."

"No problem."

"..."

"By the way, you don't really need to come either, A-Qi," Ai said out of the blue on the way back. "We printed quite a few cards yesterday. Monster cards are probably useless to you at this stage, right?"

"Even if I don't go, she'll go alone," Hara Shichi recalled Julie holding a book in the library that day. "It's better if we all go together for support, and to foster some team spirit."

"So that's how it is, A-Qi is so gentle," Ai praised him.

"Don't," Hara Shichi twitched the corner of his mouth. "You can praise me for anything, just don't call me gentle."

"Why?"

"It's too cliché."