Friday's Practical Duel Class was supposed to pair students based on their grades, using a pseudo-random system.
The goal was to let students duel opponents of similar levels, helping them improve through balanced matchups.
Yet here Aisha was—dueling Luca on her second day of enrollnt.
The sa thing happened back during the withdrawal duel against Kevin.
Whenever sothing critical happened... Aisha felt personally targeted by the "random" system.
Yeah. Not random at all.
"Aisha~, how was your night sharing a room with the beautiful transfer student? Or maybe... Miles had the best ti—golden-haired cutie at his side 24/7. I'm jealous."
Now that Aisha finally had a roommate, Irene had lost her freeloading privileges—and her vinegar jar of jealousy was sloshing wildly.
Aisha chuckled awkwardly. "No, Ren-chan. Luca didn't stay in the dorm last night."
"Huh? Why not?"
"She said her luggage with her daily necessities hadn't arrived yet. So she spent the night at a hotel off-campus."
Yes—the Continent of Elves had delivery services, handled by griffin riders. The efficiency wasn't any worse than a modern logistics company.
The only thing missing was online shopping. Otherwise, shut-in life would be fully achievable here, too.
"No wonder I didn't see her."
Irene scanned the Duel Field. A girl as cute as Luca should've been surrounded by a flock of enthusiastic classmates. Sure, plenty of students—even second-years—were here to spectate.
However, one crucial person was missing: Luca Slint.
In the usual upper-row seats, Irena and Kaima were also present, watching the first-years' practicals again after a long ti.
"Ugh, everyone's overenthusiastic. Probably scared the poor transfer girl into hiding."
"Hmph. No matter how cute... if her Duel skills suck, she's just a decorative vase."
Arms crossed, Kaima Seth glared down with an icy gaze—spouting words nearly identical to Kevin's from the day before.
"You say that, but Kaima... you're curious too, aren't you? Soone who out-summoned Kevin... what's an Xyz Academy student's true strength?"
Fusion Academy was terrible at keeping secrets.
With so few students, any gossip—like yesterday's summoning contest—spread to the entire academy by the next day.
"What I care about... is Aisha Carlos's duel. If she loses to the Slint family's transfer student, it'll be the Seth family's second humiliation."
The first humiliation was Aisha, the bottom-ranked student, defeating Kevin Seth.
That grudge? Oh, Kaima would settle it eventually.
But right now, Aisha bore the title of "Seth Slayer." Until that was resolved, if soone else defeated her—especially a mber of a prestigious foreign family like the Slints—it would bring sha not just to the Seth family, but to their entire nation.
The world of nobles... sounded fantastical. Despite that, it was this disgustingly real and dirty.
If that happened, Kaima could already envision the fallout—rumors, ridicule, conspiracy theories targeting the Seths and the Slints. A PR nightmare.
The Carlos family, a crumbling noble house, could easily be crushed by the darkest corners of this aristocratic cesspool.
"Aisha Carlos... does she even realize what this duel represents?"
"I'm pretty sure... she has no clue." Irena deadpanned.
One look at Aisha's behavior was enough. She was far too naive—utterly oblivious to the cutthroat gas nobles played.
Expecting her to grasp all that... from a standard practical duel? Not happening.
"Actually... I think that's for the best."
Irena, unlike stern-faced Kaima, smiled casually.
"A heart untainted by ugliness... that's what makes Aisha who she is. No pressure ans she'll duel even better."
"If only it were that simple..."
Kaima's unease didn't fade. Whether it was about the duel's outco—or Luca Slint herself.
A prestigious heiress like her transferring to Fusion Academy? No way that wasn't a storm brewing.
…
"Explode! Black Fla Bomb!"
"AAAHHH! NOOOO!"
[Mizuki, LP: 100 → 0]
Black dragon fire scorched the field. Kevin once again steamrolled his way to victory in the practical test.
The morning's matches were more than halfway done. Still... no sign of Luca.
"...She didn't get into trouble, right?" Irene started getting nervous.
A cute girl like Luca... staying alone at an off-campus hotel... yeah, the more she thought about it, the scarier it seed.
After the duel, Miss Erin flipped her roster.
"Next match: Aisha Yuna Carlos versus Luca Slint. Please take your positions."
"Uh, Miss Erin... Luca isn't here yet." Aisha raised her hand nervously.
"Still not here?" Miss Erin frowned. "She did inform yesterday she might arrive late... but I didn't expect this late."
"I—I'm here!"
A tired voice rang out from the edge of the crowd.
Like magic, the spectators parted to make way.
There was Luca—struggling to drag a suitcase bigger than her entire body toward the Duel Field.
Miles thought, 'So... that's the luggage she ntioned. What the heck kinda 'daily necessities' fill sothing that huge?'
Tiny girl. Giant suitcase.
Of course, soone like Miles—peak steel-brained dude—would never understand the complexities of a girl's packing habits.
Still... even by those standards, hauling a case that size after the academy provided essentials? Yeah, rare.
"Sorry for being late, Miss Erin!"
"No problem. Get in position, Luca."
Luca dropped her luggage, then stepped onto the Duel Field, fatigue vanishing as she flashed Aisha a bright smile.
"Sorry to keep you waiting, Aisha. Let's have a fun duel!"
Her outfit today was noticeably different—more eye-catching than yesterday's cute ensemble. Most striking were her legs, clad in asymtrical black and white stockings, giving off a mismatched but srizing aesthetic.
It had the sa charm as heterochromatic eyes.
"Yeah. Let's do our best, Luca."
Aisha flipped her skirt slightly as she drew her Deck.
Ding-ling~!
Faintly... Miles heard the sound of wind chis again.
...
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