"Dismount!" Hikaru and the others got off their Spirit horses.
Some people recognized them, but nobody paid them much attention. Those who still had strength left scrambled back to their feet and charged at the curtain of vines again, shouting: "Please Duel me one more time!"
A moment later, they were blasted out even faster, landing flat on the ground with a slap.
Yet, like masochists, these students, despite being pummeled, lay there with idiotic grins, half-sprawled and chuckling foolishly.
What... was happening?
Before Hikaru could grasp the situation, a figure emerged from behind the curtain.
A slender, perfectly porcelain-like arm, clad in a pure white glove, gently pushed aside the vines. Then, with graceful steps, she walked out from behind the curtain of plants.
Long white gloves, a loose blue mage robe, and white thigh-high stockings framed an impossibly eye-catching absolute territory. Her angelic face, with brows knitted in frustration at the noisy humans nearby, only made her look even more endearing.
"So pretty," Celina murmured.
"Woooow," Bastion let out an instinctive, lovestruck groan.
Hikaru raised an eyebrow.
So it was...Rosemary?'
Wasn't this Aromage Rosemary?
"M-Miss Rosemary, please, let me try again! This time, I'll win for sure!" One boy scrambled over, groveling beside her.
Rosemary quickly grabbed her staff and bowled him away like a bowling pin.
Yet the student didn't mind at all, instead laughing happily on the ground.
Hikaru glanced around.
No wonder.
Now that he noticed... the entire crowd nearby were guys.
"You humans!" Rosemary sighed deeply, waving her staff in frustration. As it spun, the air filled with a fragrant aroma, releasing plant-based particles that glowed faintly and floated toward everyone.
Moments later, everyone's injuries vanished, and the crowd sprang back to life.
"Anyway, today's challenge is over! Come back tomorrow to try again, okay?"
"Okay~~~" The boys, including that shameless Math Doctor, raised their heads and answered in unison.
Rosemary then turned to Hikaru's group, noting their mounts.
'Warriors accompanied by Spirits…'
Naturally, the surrounding students who'd been pestering her also noticed Hikaru and Celina.
"That's Amaki Hikaru..."
"Ugh, Amaki Hikaru..."
Everyone knew Hikaru opposed the Polymerization Club, but his slogan had become far too famous. After everything that happened lately, no one could help but waver.
Besides, the girl next to him... That had to be Leo Akaba's rumored daughter.
"Seems like some famous human," Rosemary mused, glancing at both the crowd and Hikaru.
By now, Bastion had recovered his composure, wiping off his lovestruck expression. Scanning the three newcomers, he could tell, they weren't like the others who had been here before. His mood lightened a bit.
"Well then... as per tradition, challengers, you must guess my race. Only those who answer correctly can earn the right to challenge me to a Twelve-Star Duel. You have ten seconds to think.
"No discussing amongst yourselves, and once you speak, give a specific race."
'Ugh…'
Hikaru felt a twinge of regret.
'So... no discussing, huh?'
The students and Pro Duelists nearby watched eagerly, as though certain Hikaru's group would get it wrong and face Rosemary's signature punishment.
"Spellcaster!"
"Spellcaster."
"Plant."
After Bastion and Celina answered, they immediately turned to stare wide-eyed at Hikaru.
"?" Even more students gawked at him.
They'd expected to enjoy watching Hikaru fail... and instead, he answered correctly right away!
Plenty of students here had needed days to figure out Rosemary's real race. Who would look at a cute girl with a staff and guess "Plant" right off the bat!?
'Seriously? How'd he know!?' Rosemary pressed her fingers over her mouth in surprise.
"If it's Fusion-related... I always know."
"F-Fusion..." Rosemary looked utterly confused.
'How did that connect at all!? I am not related to Fusion at all!'
As she remained baffled, another figure stepped out from behind the curtain. Rosemary rushed over excitedly, pointing toward Hikaru, "Marjoram Onee-sama, he guessed it!"
"I heard, Rosemary." That sacred voice once again echoed through the forest.
Then... a black-clad magician emerged from the curtain.
Unlike the younger, girlish Rosemary, this woman had a far more mature figure, wearing an elegant gray dress and black-patterned heels that revealed her shapely thighs. At the tip of her black staff, a faint golden light shimmered.
Aromage Marjoram... The Elder Sister.
Proudly pinned to her chest: the "GX" emblem, signaling her status as one of the Twelve-Star Duelists. A Six-Star Duelist... Marjoram!
At her entrance, even those already present, let alone Bastion, found their eyes glazing over in awe.
True, part of it was due to their innate "aroma-based" charm... but even so, Hikaru couldn't help feeling exasperated at the scene.
"Greetings, human warrior." Compared to the younger Rosemary, she spoke with composure, an air of sanctity wrapping around her words, making them linger in one's ears like a gentle caress.
Hikaru figured... this was why the boys were so hopelessly smitten.
Beautiful, sweet-voiced, fragrant... and with natural charisma. Viewed simply as a human woman, she was a top-tier beauty.
"Miss Marjoram!!"
"Marjoram, I love you!!"
A tired look crossed Marjoram's elegant face. No matter how kind-hearted, after days of this... even she was weary.
Still, she forced herself to push down the irritation.
After all, as a Spirit collaborating with KaibaCorp, she did receive a salary. Compared to that, this minor annoyance was trivial.
"Greetings, Miss Marjoram." Hikaru calmly pressed the button on his Duel Disk and gave a slight nod. "I'm Amaki Hikaru, second-year Duelist from Duel Academy Main Campus and the President of the Fusion Club!"
A human warrior utterly unaffected by her presence.
Marjoram gave Hikaru a measured look.
As for that "Fusion Club"... She noticed the nearby boys flinching or eyeing Hikaru with suspicion at those words.
Seemed like he was connected to the recent human-world turmoil.
"Be careful, Miss Marjoram!"
"Miss Marjoram, that guy's an evil Fusionist!"
"He's terrifying, Miss Marjoram! The Fusion Army invaded the X-Dimension and killed tons of people!"
"If he's still using Fusion even now... doesn't that mean he's got evil intentions!?"
Celina rolled up her sleeves again.
"Watch your words!" Hikaru flicked his left hand, and with a satisfying click, his Duel Disk activated. "I'm a Fusion Duelist, President of the Fusion Club, Amagi Hikaru! To me... Fusion is Fusion!
"And likewise, the Fusion Army has nothing to do with the Fusion Club! Don't pin any blame on us! Don't you dare despise or discriminate against anyone who loves Fusion!
"Fusion is not a crime!
"If you look down on or hate someone just for using Fusion, then YOU are the real evil!"
Hikaru's title and his commanding Fusion-user presence left the others speechless. They dared not argue, only stumbling backward repeatedly.
Rosemary blinked in shock.
'Wait, wait... What?'
'People... died?'
'That aura... so fierce.'
'Are we about to fight!?'
"B-B-B-Badbadbadbadbad..." Rosemary stammered.
The Marjoram slowly spoke: "Calm yourself, Rosemary. As long as they pass the sacred Duel Ceremony, warriors' hearts will connect... and the truth will emerge."
She tapped her staff, and under the golden light, it transformed like intertwining branches, becoming a wooden Duel Disk that wrapped around her left arm.
"Come, human warrior."
"Then, pardon me, Miss Marjoram!"
"Duel!" x2
[Aromage Marjoram, LP: 4000]
[Amagi Hikaru, LP: 4000]