Though it was called a "tournament," it was actually a nationwide event spread across stores throughout the country, primarily consisting of small-scale competitions.
Naturally, the Saint Marian Academy branch would also hold a small-scale simulated duel tournament on schedule. The champion would receive a trophy personally presented by the honorary president of the Universal Duel Society—Dark Dimon.
Dark gazed through the window at the Ring Belt and the spectator stands beyond it, relaxing the nerves that had been tense for so long amid the bustling crowds.
Lately, he had increasingly felt a sense of urgency, as if there was never enough time no matter how he used it.
But haste made waste. He had to find a way to restrain that feeling and slow himself down appropriately.
Dark and Claudia Meg's duel was scheduled very early.
In fact, he had not waited long in the contestants' lounge before receiving the staff's notice to take the stage.
Before long, he had stepped onto the duelist platform—this time, on the Blue Side.
After a while, the sixth-year senior opposite him finally arrived and stepped onto the Red Duelist Platform.
Dark raised his head and studied his opponent.
Claudia Meg looked very ordinary, and he had never had much of an impression of her.
But he would not underestimate her because of that.
Professor Jones often brought up classic cases of star duelists suffering humiliating upsets because they had underestimated their opponents, using them as examples in class. The students loved hearing those stories and never tired of them.
Dark Dimon was no exception.
Humans always liked to build their happiness upon the suffering of others. That was why there was an idiom for taking pleasure in others' misfortune.
For some reason, Dark's thoughts were somewhat complicated at that moment.
To calm those