Yu-Gi-Oh!: Starting with a Hellish Deck, Depressing the World, Part 12

Jiang He was stunned.

Still, the damn system surely couldn't have been wrong.

Most likely,

it was because there simply weren't any Duel Spirits in his deck to begin with, so he hadn't seen any appear.

"Kuri, kuri...!"

Just then, Jiang He faintly heard a somewhat familiar sound coming from next door, where the soundproofing wasn't very good.

It sounded neither human nor like any real-world pet.

It was more like the cry he had heard in his previous life, the cry of Winged Kuriboh, whom that hot-blooded idiot next door called his "partner"!

That was right!

It was the rare monster card that Yugi Muto, the King of Games, had given Jaden Yuki earlier that day: Winged Kuriboh!

Hearing that sound,

Jiang He immediately perked up.

He was now absolutely certain there was nothing wrong with the ability he had just exchanged for from the system!

The fact that he could hear Winged Kuriboh meant he really could sense the presence of Duel Spirits!

I have to say, Chazz Princeton really is a good guy, Jiang He thought with a contented sigh.

Chazz had provided him with both the funds for his luxury cabin plan and the means to exchange for the ability to see spirits.

But Jiang He maintained that he, too, was a kindhearted man!

With the "warmth" Jiang He had given him in their duel, surely Chazz would have a "good night's sleep" tossing and turning tonight!

Chazz treated him to a meal, and he treated Chazz to a setback. Fair was fair! (smirk)

Chapter 19: Crowler Was Dumbfounded, Mamma Mia!

"A Duel Monsters deck is made up of Monster Cards, Spell Cards, and Trap Cards. Monster Cards are further divided into..."

Early the next morning, inside Duel Academy's spacious lecture hall,

the first lesson in theory was already underway.

At the lectern was none other than

the unlucky old fellow Jiang He had instantly defeated in yesterday's duel test with a perfect opening hand of all five Exodia the Forbidden One cards.

Professor Crowler, with his blond mushroom haircut.

His voice was rather comical, and he habitually added "none" to the end of every sentence.

It made him look quite ridiculous.

"Spell Cards are also divided into Normal Spells, Quick-Play Spells, Continuous Spells..."

But Jiang He had no interest whatsoever in listening to the most basic of basic theory Crowler was teaching.

With nothing better to do, he propped his chin on his hand at a raised desk in the back row and surveyed the lecture hall in utter boredom.

Duel Academy divided its students into three ranks: Obelisk Blue, Ra Yellow, and Slifer Red.

But just as he remembered,

everyone attended class together in one large lecture hall.

It wasn't even limited to one year group. Students from all three years at Duel Academy were here.

Not far away, Jiang He spotted Alexis Rhodes, who was a year above them,

along with Alexis's two Obelisk Blue best friends, who followed her around.

Even Zane Truesdale, who was another year above her and would graduate the following year, was in the room.

"Hmm...?"

Noticing that someone seemed to be looking at her, Alexis Rhodes paused and turned her gaze slightly.

When she saw Jiang He, Alexis Rhodes immediately remembered what had happened the previous night and gave him a slight nod.

Then she turned back and continued listening to Crowler's lecture.

"Huh? Alexis, that guy is...?"

"Do you know him?"

The two best friends sitting beside Alexis noticed her gesture and glanced in Jiang He's direction.

Curious, they whispered their questions to Alexis.

The school nurse had called them away to help yesterday, and they hadn't finished until evening, so they hadn't been with Alexis.

As a result, they didn't know Jiang He.

Now they had seen Alexis nod to the boy, who seemed to have just enrolled, as though she knew him.

Both couldn't help wondering what had happened yesterday.

"He's the interesting guy rumored to have drawn all five sealed Exodia the Forbidden One cards in the first turn and defeated Professor Crowler here at Duel Academy yesterday."

Alexis smiled faintly as she spoke.

She was still curious

about the secret Jiang He had "hidden" rather than answer when she asked him last night: why he wasn't afraid of anyone targeting his one-turn-kill Exodia the Forbidden One deck.

What exactly was it?

"Oh, so he's Jiang He, examinee number 111, the one who got ridiculously lucky!"

At her words, Jasmine and Mindy, her two best friends, both looked as though they finally understood.

Clearly, they had also heard the rumor that had spread throughout Duel Academy!

After that, neither of them paid any more attention to the rumor about Jiang He.

Like most Duel Academy students who had heard it,

they simply assumed Jiang He had only beaten Professor Crowler in one turn through sheer luck.

But several nearby Obelisk Blue students overheard their quiet conversation.

Quite a few of them glanced curiously in Jiang He's direction.

The collective movement immediately caught Crowler's attention as he lectured at the front of the room!

Following their gazes, he spotted Jiang He at once!

"..." Jiang He was immediately annoyed.

Seriously, were they drawing aggro onto him?

Sure enough, the instant Crowler saw Jiang He, his expression stiffened!

He remembered the utterly dreadful events of yesterday!

Mamma mia!

It was that poor student again!

Crowler bristled and nearly went wild, almost jumping on the spot!

Jiang He's perfect opening hand of Exodia the Forbidden One yesterday had been so incredibly rare

that news of his one-turn defeat at Jiang He's hands had spread throughout Duel Academy!

He had become a laughingstock.

Last night, Crowler had holed up in his dorm room, so distraught that he had nearly chewed through the collars of several shirts!

By comparison, the fact that Jaden Yuki, another poor student, had also defeated him was a little easier to bear.

At least that wasn't as well known around Duel Academy as the first defeat!

"Jiang He, answer the next question." Crowler forced himself to maintain a stern expression and called on Jiang He to answer a question about what he had just taught.

"Tell us what types of Trap Cards there are!"

By now, Crowler was snickering behind his hand in his mind.

Once the poor student stood up and failed to answer the question, Crowler could give him a good scolding and get some revenge for yesterday!

But just as he had snickered to himself a couple of times, with a faintly "ridiculous" expression beginning to show on his face,

he heard Jiang He's lazy voice.

"Trap Cards are divided into Normal Traps, Counter Traps, and Continuous Traps."

"Continuous Traps can be further divided into ordinary Continuous Traps and Continuous Trap Monsters!"

At his words, everyone else in the lecture hall looked astonished.

"H-he actually answered everything!" Crowler was completely dumbfounded too.

Jiang He's answer was even more detailed than the standard answer he himself had in mind!

He had even added that among Continuous Traps, there was a small special category that, once activated, counted as both Monster Cards and Trap Cards!

He had included that too!

Super mamma mia!

Crowler was utterly dumbfounded.

Hadn't this poor student boy, Jiang He, scored zero on the written test, just like that other poor student named Jaden Yuki next to him?!

Was that an answer someone who had scored zero on the written test could give?

Chapter 20: I Won't Let You Get Away So Easily!

"That awful poor student boy, Jiang He, actually made a fool of me again, boo-hoo-hoo!"

"I have to find a way to drive that poor student out as soon as possible and get my revenge!"

A little later, Professor Crowler walked back toward his office, muttering through gritted teeth and clenching a fist to encourage himself.

"Come to think of it, poor student boy and the others have health class this afternoon, don't they?"

As though he had thought of a good idea, Crowler's eyes suddenly lit up with a sly gleam.

I'll use this to make poor student boy Jiang He unable to stay and force him to drop out! Oh-ho-ho!

"That was amazing, Jiang He! You even know the theory so well!"

In the lecture hall, Jaden Yuki spoke to Jiang He with admiration.

Most people had already left to grab lunch, leaving only a handful, Jiang He included.

"You know it even better than I do," Syrus Truesdale said, looking at Jiang He in surprise.

He had originally thought Jiang He was like his big bro: someone who had scored zero on the written test and was much worse than him.