"This is… the Dogmatika Maximus!"
Arriving at the scene, Arnold and Lishia immediately recognized the truth of the Old Dominator Pope's identity at first glance from his attire.
Yet their instinctive caution kept them from blurting it out on the spot.
"Why would Maximus become the Pope of the Old Dominators?" Lishia whispered.
"Is this really the Maximus?" Arnold analyzed carefully. "The attire's the same, but Maximus always appears in a mask. Could it be an impostor…"
"Impossible," Lishia said. "Only the priest's mark cannot lie."
"Then that means…"
"Big Sister Lise guessed right. It's probably because of me that this city was attacked. Because of me, the seniors got hurt…"
"If that's true, what are you going to do, Lishia?"
"I don't know. If I could leave, I'd like to. At least find a way to leave this city for now."
…
After the battle with the Wicked God ended, of course, Aisha Carlos had become the hero of the city.
This time, there was no way to peacefully hide her achievements like with Yog-Tos.
She had defeated the Wicked God, suppressed the Abyss, and saved the academy town under everyone's eyes.
Aisha had now completely become a superstar of the town.
After saving the Royal Capital, she had saved the Academy City. The name of the Royal Knight once again resounded across the Kingdom of Livorden.
The result was that when Aisha walked the streets, she felt even more enthusiasm than in the Carlos family's town of Lukao.
No matter where she went, the residents stuffed her with piles of delicious food and fun things.
Many shops even openly declared everything free for Aisha Carlos, just to properly entertain the hero who had saved the town.
Of course, Aisha could never shamelessly enjoy such treatment in peace.
The one who truly defeated the strongest Wicked God, who defeated the Old Dominators, should have been Miles.
All she'd done was provide her body, Deck, and Mokey Mokey.
"Relax, Aisha. Mokey Mokey might have been the key play."
"I can't relax at all, Mr. Miles!"
Only a hero under such intense focus could truly feel the pressure of being a hero.
So, to temporarily avoid the townspeople's skyrocketing enthusiasm, Aisha hadn't dared to step outside Fusion Academy for two days.
Three days later, in the Academy infirmary…
"That should do it!"
Miss Misaki, the school nurse, wiped the sweat from her white forehead after finishing Kevin's final delicate bandage.
"You really are a spirited young man. Such serious injuries, yet you've made it through safely. What a nice body you've got~"
Her flirtatious teasing about his body made the just-awakened Kevin shudder.
This black-haired beauty of Eastern heritage was rumored to have had plenty of scandalous rumors with students.
It was said that in this very infirmary, innocent students could take the fastest steps toward adulthood.
"Thank goodness, thank goodness…"
Finally relieved, Kaima sighed, murmuring repeatedly at Kevin's bedside.
No matter how busy Seth's family affairs were, Kaima had stayed at the Academy, in the infirmary, for three days waiting for Kevin to awake.
"Big sister, that's enough. Everyone's still here."
Opening his eyes to see himself surrounded by companions, Kevin didn't know how to express his feelings.
"It's fine. We're all just happy to see you awake." Aisha added, "I'm sure Mr. Miles thinks the same."
"Miles… saved me again this time."
Like Kaima, Kevin's soul had been seized by the Wicked God, and he had also experienced the final turn's duel firsthand.
He'd felt Mokey Mokey's twenty-hit combo.
Ren said, "Since you're awake now, Kevin, you should be able to make it to the exchange study program in two weeks. Though counting now, there's only a week and a half left."
Fusion Academy's lineup for this exchange to Synchron Academy:
Third-year leader Irena, second-years Aisha, Kevin, and Ren.
As one of the Academy's main forces, Kevin was nearly impossible to replace at his current strength.
"No way!"
At Ren's words, Miss Misaki immediately crossed her arms in a big X over her ample chest.
"No matter how robust Kevin-kun's body is, such serious injuries can't be shrugged off. As the school nurse, it's my duty to prevent dangerous behavior."
"Miss Misaki, I can…"
Upon hearing he might not go to Synchron Academy, Kevin himself became the most anxious.
Suddenly, his sudden movement tugged at the wound in his abdomen, making it hard to continue speaking.
"A month," Miss Misaki emphasized.
"With such serious injuries, if you don't stay in bed and recuperate carefully for a month, I won't let you go anywhere."
"A month… that's a problem." Irena frowned.
The exchange study will start in two weeks and last for two weeks. If Kevin had to lie in bed for a month, it was basically goodbye to this Academy expedition.
Even so, this concerned Kevin's health. As captain, Irena knew which mattered more.
"We'll have to find a replacement."
The Academy's exchange team had to be at least four people.
With Lord Kaiser and Kaima unable to participate, finding someone to fill Kevin Seth's role in such a short time was the toughest challenge for Irena.
"What if!" Enduring the pain, Kevin gritted his teeth to speak.
"What if I recover faster than you think, Miss Misaki? Can I go then?"
"Less than two weeks till the exchange. I don't believe you can make it, Kevin-kun. Even with your toughness, three weeks would already be a miracle."
"That's enough!" Kevin declared firmly. "Three weeks then. I'll heal by then. Even if I can't leave with you, I'll catch up. I want to fight with everyone from the Academy to the very end!"
"Kevin…"
No one had expected Kevin's resolve to be so strong.
Recovering from such severe injuries in three weeks and joining high-intensity duels midway at Synchron Academy was a challenge of sheer willpower and physical limits.
Lying back, Kevin closed his eyes slightly, steadying his breathing.
"I'm happy you all came to see me, but from now on, I'm going to rest with all my might. That's my way of fighting."
Miles sighed. "Resting with all your might counts as fighting too? As expected of my destined rival. I have to admit, you're cooler right now."
As his friend, Miles also looked forward to seeing Kevin at Synchron Academy, riding his D-Wheel with his resurrected Black Dragon, charging into battle at the critical moment.
Regardless, for now, it was best to let him rest.
Everyone left the infirmary.
Although Kevin insisted he would recover in time, before actually heading to Synchron Academy, Aisha and the others still had to solve the problem of the last slot.
It wasn't that they didn't trust Kevin, but the exchange study team needed at least four members.
According to the rules, substitutes like Kevin could join later since the number was 4–5.
Yes, 4–5 people. So if Fusion Academy's team left with only three, it wouldn't be allowed.
"Should we go by credit ranking?"
Irena thought of the initial selection method.
If they had to pick another person, third-year student Rovik, ranked fourth in credits, was the best choice.
Albeit with two third-years leading, the team would be majority third-year and second-year, breaking Vice Principal Raiden's intent to show off the younger students to the other Academies before the Spirit Sanctuary Ranking War.
"Then should we look among the second-years?"
To be honest, Irena had watched Kevin and Miles's destined duel all the way to the end during the second year's practical duel test that day.
Even among the second-years, they'd only just entered the grade, and the gap in strength was too large.
Forget replacing Kevin's power; taking other second-years to face Synchron or XYZ Academy's third-years would basically be feeding them.
After thinking all day without a result, Irena decided to discuss it with Vice Principal Raiden tomorrow.
"Aisha Carlos, you have a delivery."
Back at the dorm, Miss Lily, the dorm supervisor, called out and shoved a large box into Aisha's arms.
"A delivery? I don't think I ordered anything."
On the Spirit Continent of swords and magic, the unique long-distance shopping method:
Sending the item number and payment from the latest "Livorden Shopping Magazine," then about a week later, receiving the 'online order.'
The delivery was fully handled by the Kingdom's Griffin Knights, guaranteed safe, and always delivered.
This was how the Griffin Knights, once meant for the battlefield before Duel Monsters replaced mainstream warfare, had found reemployment.
Carrying the not-too-heavy box back to the dorm, Aisha immediately drew Lishia's intense curiosity.
"Is it food, Aisha-senpai! Did you bring more tasty stuff?"
Lishia nearly drooled as she hopped over.
"I don't know. Looks like it's from my hometown, maybe food."
The sender was Lukao town, so it was probably from her sister Alice.
Two days ago, Aisha had left a message with Alice through Beaconbug about going to the Axet Republic for two weeks at Synchron Academy.
Her sister was probably worried since Aisha had never been abroad, so she sent some necessities.
Albeit, what even counts as 'necessities' for going abroad?
Clumsily opening the box, the first thing Aisha saw was—
A box of radishes?
…Why radishes?
Although Aisha was puzzled, Lishia was thrilled. With Aisha's permission, she grabbed the biggest radish and started munching.
"(???) So tasty! This is the crispiest, most delicious radish I've ever eaten!"
"Well, it's kind of a Lukao specialty."
Maybe it was just a radish harvest—a local specialty with no hidden meaning.
Thinking that, Aisha picked up a small one and took a bite.
'Mm, definitely the taste of home.'
While munching radishes and rummaging through the box, Aisha finally found at the bottom a letter bearing the family crest.
As she guessed, it was from Alice, full of reminders about how to take care of herself abroad.
Inside the envelope was also some pocket money from her sister to use during the exchange program.
It was clear that since the Carlos family's rank had risen, their finances were improving, and Aisha no longer had to live so frugally.
"What's this?"
To make sure she'd taken out all the money, Aisha shook the envelope.
Out fell a card.
A card with a blank face.
At the end of the letter, Alice had indeed mentioned the card.
"It's a blank card from a shrine, a charm for me to carry. What kind of shrine even gives out blank cards? Amazing."
Since it was her sister's goodwill, Aisha carefully placed the blank card, as a protective charm, into the Side Deck of her thigh card case.
"Sigh, if only Kevin could go too."
Rarely did her sister prepare pocket money for going abroad. If everyone could go, it would surely be a precious memory.
"Kevin-senpai can't go?" Lishia asked curiously, gnawing her radish like a hamster.
It wasn't a secret. Aisha told her about Kevin's injuries, the treatment he needed, how he might miss the exchange, and that they lacked the last member.
"Short a person!"
Suddenly stopping her rapid radish munching, Lishia's golden eyes behind her glasses locked onto Aisha.
"Senpai!"
The next second, dropping her radish, Lishia lunged at Aisha.
"Li-Lishia? What's wrong with you?"
Caught off guard and pinned to the floor by her cute kouhai, Aisha was flustered.
"Senpai, take me with you, Senpai! Please, take me with you!"
...
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