Chapter 159: Hospital Interior

"Sanze got injured?"

Returning from the World of 【Dashan】, Tenjo Hikari and Tenjou Chiyuki had intended to share their new experiences with their companions, but found only a few people left in the Club Room, waiting for them.

"Yes, Master. I heard that during an expedition to another dimension, he was attacked by a spirit and hit his forehead." Serena pointed to her own forehead. "Everyone went to visit them—I stayed behind to wait for you."

Tenjo Hikari and Chiyuki exchanged a glance and said nothing more; they quickly followed two classmates to the school infirmary.

Inside the infirmary, one room was completely blocked off by a large crowd of students, jostling and pressing against each other, asking about Sanze's condition.

On one hand, they cared for their classmate; on the other, this appeared to be the first "interdimensional blood incident" of the year. Though they had no chance to enter the interdimensional realm themselves, the second-year students would soon be required to participate in interdimensional internships, so they wanted to know exactly what had happened.

Among them, Tenjo Hikari even spotted students from non-Fusion Department classes, also gathering to gawk.

"Alright, alright, what are you all doing? Crowding like this will disturb the student's rest—details can wait until he recovers, or pick a representative!" Teacher Narukawa took a deep breath and loudly shooed the students away. The students had no ill intent, and they dared not defy their teacher, so they gradually dispersed—until only a few Fusion Department students who were close to Sanze, along with Tenjo Hikari and his group, remained.

Tenjo Hikari waved goodbye to the departing Fusion Department students, then entered the private room and glanced at Sanze.

Overall, Sanze Daichi didn't seem seriously hurt; his complexion was relatively rosy. He had likely suffered a head injury, treated by the school nurse with bandages or similar materials—apparently already tended to.

He sat on the bed, covered by a blanket, looking slightly embarrassed.

Beside Sanze, Asuka was idly peeling an apple, while Wan Wan Zhangmu raised his hand, discussing something with Judai.

"Tenjo-kun, Onii-chan, you're here?" Asuka was the first to notice Tenjo Hikari and Chiyuki. After slicing the apple, she placed the pieces on a plate, added a fork, and turned to them. At her voice, the others in the room also looked over.

She stood up, ran over to Chiyuki, and examined him briefly. "Didn't you two encounter any danger over there?"

She still seemed deeply worried about Chiyuki.

After all, Chiyuki had only recently returned from being missing—half a year as a normal student, still less time than he'd been gone. Now that Sanze was injured, she naturally feared for Chiyuki.

"Hahaha, Asuka, you wouldn't believe it—we chased after a whole flock of birds and dragons in the sky over 【Dashan】! If we'd been unlucky, we'd have fallen straight from the heavens!"

"What?!"

"Then we could've enjoyed the thick cushion of Heaven's Thunder Dragon's flesh—hmm, Hikari, now that I think about it, we might've missed out. Next time we go to 【Dashan】, the guardian might've changed." He tilted his head teasingly.

"Onii-chan!!" Asuka couldn't help but punch him in the waist.

"Ow! Ouch, ow! Asuka!" Chiyuki cracked a joke.

The others noticed their arrival and, seeing they were unharmed, finally relaxed.

"What happened?" Tenjo Hikari asked curiously.

Before Judai could explain, Sanze Daichi spoke up: "I don't know. After our duel with the spirit ended, suddenly one of the spirits went berserk and charged at Judai."

"Sanze pushed me out of the way and got hit on the forehead." Judai looked deeply downcast.

"How could this happen?" Tenjo Hikari didn't continue staring at them; instead, he turned his head slightly.

In his sight, he saw Gold Captain, Winged One, Blazing Lady, and Bubble Man standing guard in the infirmary. All four spirits looked troubled; Winged Chestnut Ball clung to Judai's side, comforting him.

His words were directed at Judai and the others—but also expressed doubt.

With you all here, how could he get hurt so easily?

"At the time, that spirit launched an attack for no reason," Gold Captain spoke up. "I… was lost in the joy of reuniting with my companions, and didn't pay attention. It went berserk and injured Lord Sanze."

Tenjo Hikari withdrew his gaze.

Could this really happen?

After all, these spirits were all 【Heroes】.

Never mind anything else—protecting others was their specialty. Even if they weren't paying attention, it shouldn't have been this easy, right?

He looked at Wan Wan Zhangmu.

Wan Wan Zhangmu thought for a moment and said: "Personally, I think there are some suspicious points."

He rubbed his chin, muttering: "Judai said he saw a ball of white light at the time—that the spirit looked different from how it originally appeared. I suspect it might've been some kind of… thing from the Spirit World."

"A ball of white light?" Tenjo Hikari blinked. "Judai, are you sure you didn't missee it?"

"Well, I can't be certain either," he groaned, clutching his head. "My mind went blank—I was too nervous. I can't remember what I actually saw. Afterward, the spirit was taken away by the local spirits, and I never saw it again."

"Hmm, come to think of it, when we left that dimension, we also heard some strange noise—but when I asked Sanze, he said he didn't hear anything."

"What? You heard something too?" Wan Wan Zhangmu immediately grew annoyed, grabbing Judai's head. "You idiot, think harder! Use that brain of yours that you never bother to use!"

"But Sanze said he didn't hear anything!"

"So what kind of noise was it?"

"I don't know. I just felt a voice—it felt incredibly familiar—but I couldn't hear it—" As Wan Wan Zhangmu held his head, Judai froze, staring blankly ahead, ignoring Wan Wan Zhangmu's grip, lost in his own thoughts.

"I see…" Tenjo Hikari nodded gently.

It seems… it really is 【Yu Beier】.

A powerful spirit tied to Judai, capable of harming those around him—and even influencing spirits' minds.

In the original story, the spirit that had always "protected" Judai—the one that indiscriminately attacked anyone who made Judai sad—【Yu Beier】.

In the original story, Judai launched it into space using Kaiba Corporation's rocket.

But in this world, Judai never did that—he sent his cards and his own drawn cards drifting randomly into the Interdimensional Gate.

It seems that due to different events, Judai may have encountered spirits influenced by 【Yu Beier】 during his dimensional travels—and 【Yu Beier】's appearance might be drastically accelerated?

That's quite bad.

I don't know what state 【Yu Beier】 is in now.

But since there's already a "ball of light," it must already be possessed by the Light of Annihilation.

Tenjo Hikari looked out the window, at the massive Combined Department activity building, and sighed inwardly.

What a calamity-ridden world.

More importantly, according to the school's curriculum, even ordinary students will be required to participate in "interdimensional" internships starting in second year.

That's even more dangerous than the original story—【Yu Beier】 will harm everyone around Judai equally, just to gain Judai's exclusive affection.

But aloud, he still tried to lighten the mood: "Ghost King, you should be grateful. Normally, someone as invisible as you would never attract so much attention from classmates! Today, you're practically glowing with presence!"

"Hey!!" Sanze Daichi rolled his eyes. "I'm the injured one here!"

"Just admit you're secretly enjoying this—"

"Hmm…" He actually began to think about it.

That made Tenjo Hikari almost lose his composure.

In memory, didn't Sanze Daichi once appear in the original story, giving up victory and deliberately losing to someone from the White Sect to join the White Sect?

"Daichi, don't take it seriously—I was just joking!"

"Huh? Ahem—hahaha, I was just pretending too!"

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(End of Chapter)