When I woke up, it was already the afternoon.
Yugen got up, yawned, and after lingering on the bed for a while, he finally jumped off.
Turning around, he saw the Silent Magician hovering nearby, seated in mid-air, still engrossed in her reading. On the other side, the Chaos Warrior stood with eyes closed in a corner of the room, looking somewhat like a bodyguard with a sword.
At first, waking up to find people around him was a bit unsettling for Yugen, but now he had gotten used to it.
"Morning."
Casually greeting them with a good morning, Yugen jumped off the bed and prepared to wash up. The Chaos Warrior remained unresponsive with eyes closed, but the Silent Magician glanced up at him from her Magic Scripture.
It seemed to silently convey a message, suggesting that with the sun nearly setting, it was hardly early at all...
His stomach was already starting to feel a bit hungry. Yugen got up to rinse his mouth, then, filled with curiosity, he moved behind Silent Magician to see what she was reading.
Hmm, as expected, he couldn't understand it.
It seemed that the idea of a Duelist self-studying to become a Mage was indeed unrealistic; he should just focus on playing cards.
Silent Magician, feeling uneasy as he stared at her back for a while, drifted aside and awkwardly tilted her head to look at him after putting down her book.
As if asking, what are you doing?
Yugen shrugged, indicating it was nothing, just casually looking.
Then he turned around and went to wash his face.
Having slept half the day, he was quite hungry by now. Yugen went to the Yellow Dormitory cafeteria and ordered a royal chicken curry, a pumpkin curry soup, and a curry vegetable platter.
The variety of curries in the Yellow Dormitory cafeteria was indeed plentiful, and the taste was really good as well. The dormitory chief, often called the Curry Demon, had such an enthusiasm for curry that it even extended into Duel gameplay, with unique insights into various uses of curry.
In fact, according to the original work, Yugen initially thought the Academy's academic department would want to storm in today and call him to account. Because in the animation, after Judai and the others snuck into the abandoned dorm at night, the academic department came knocking first thing the next morning to hold them accountable.
Then, under Professor Chronos's suggestion, a team duel was arranged, with the penalty for losing the duel being expulsion from the school.
But now, with most of the day gone and no sign of action, Yugen wasn't sure if they had only sought out Judai and the others without troubling him—this wasn't impossible. Or perhaps, because of the changes in the world line, having gone to the Elf Realm made the situation more serious than in the animation, leaving the academic department undecided on how to proceed.
Yet Yugen didn't mind, since expulsion wasn't going to fall on him anyway. While eating, he habitually pulled out his student terminal, routinely checking if any new cards had been added to the library.
Then he received a new message from Professor Chronos on the terminal.
"There's a duel, Yugen, are you free?"
Yugen raised an eyebrow.
What a straightforward question.
Simplified, it was essentially saying: there's a card game, come quickly.
...
...
Professor Chronos's office.
"Shark is really impressive."
Professor Chronos, with his fingers interlocked under his chin, beamed at the tall young man wearing the "Obelisk Blue" uniform, known as Shark.
"Consistently placing in various major competitions, with three championship medals, and leaving a remarkable track record from his time as a student at Duel Academy..."
Chronos was flipping through a resume in his hand.
"You were a member of the Student Union before, correct?"
"Yes, I did quite a bit with the Student Union." Shark offered a polite smile.
"I see. A very impressive resume indeed, with flawless results in the job entrance evaluations so far."
Chronos praised him.
"You're too kind, Professor Chronos."
Shark pushed up the frame of his glasses on the bridge of his nose, bowing slightly with respect.
"So, if I pass the final practical evaluation, I'll pass my final assessment and be a Duel Academy teacher next year, won't I?"
"Precisely, Nonne. To be a teacher at the Academy, one must be exceptional, Nonne."
Chronos leaned back in his chair, smiling as he spoke.
"The rules are tailored to select the elite among elites; the final duel must be completed. Then, next year, you can become an official teacher."
"Yes, Professor. I will not let you down."
Shark bowed his head again but inwardly snickered.
Indeed, I will not let you down, Professor... for now.
Returning to his alma mater to teach at Duel Academy was merely the first step in his future plans.
His goal was to enter the Academy and, one day, step over Chronos, the current leading expert in practical combat.
Duel Academy is at the pinnacle of schools today, producing top-notch elites as its graduates. Shark believes that reaching a high position in this school will grant him abundant resources and significant influence outside in the future.
If he manages it correctly, he might even train capable assistants among the students he educates, potentially manipulating various industries according to his plans down the line.
The more he thought about it, the more pleased Shark became, as if he had already transformed into a higher-up in his imagination, looking down upon Chronos.
Ha, your days of being above the rest are numbered. Humbling myself before you is merely until I reach the upper echelons of this Academy.
His goal was clear from the beginning.
He aimed to push this Professor Strong Desire down and occupy that position himself.
"So, Professor, who will my final opponent be?"
With plans churning in his mind, Shark remained outwardly humble and bowed as he inquired.
"A teacher from the Academy? Or... are you going to instruct me personally, Professor?"
"No, no, no, Nonne."
Chronos beamed.
"I've specially arranged an examination opponent for you; your entrance examination opponent will be chosen from among the current students at the Academy, Nonne."
Shark was taken aback, "A student?"
"Yes, a first-year student who just enrolled this year, Nonne. After all, as a Duel Academy teacher, the focus will ultimately be on students. At the very least, one must prove in a duel that they are superior to the elite among current students to be considered practically qualified, Nonne."
Chronos, leaning back in his chair, chuckled as he said this.
But he seemed to have completely forgotten the time during his entrance examination when he was soundly defeated by a tail-end student nicknamed Jellyfish Head.
"I see, that makes sense. Being recognized by the students through a duel will surely be beneficial for my work after joining."
Shark worked hard to suppress the laughter threatening to bubble up, maintaining his usual humble and composed demeanor.
Ha, just my luck.
Choosing a student as my examination opponent, and a first-year at that.
Isn't that practically a giveaway?
I might as well start celebrating early and open the champagne tonight.
"So, Professor, may I ask who my opponent will be?"
Professor Chronos smiled mysteriously.
"His name is Fujiki Yugen."