Chapter 17: Will We Win?

The human world differs from other dimensions; spirits have no physical form here. Although Tenjou Hikari possesses the power boost of Super Fusion, he can barely hear the spirits' voices and cannot see them directly like Judai Yuki or Daichi Misawa.

However, even being able to hear their voices is quite good, because in the original story, Edo Phoenix, the Destiny Hero user who also has spirits, cannot even hear them.

After stepping through the Dimension Gate, Tenjou Hikari resumed attending classes normally.

He wasn't sure if it was his imagination, but during class, Professor Daitokuji frequently asked him questions proactively.

Previously, the professor had always just recited scriptures alone on the podium while the students below either withdrew into themselves or slept.

But when teaching Tenjou Hikari, Daitokuji was always exceptionally enthusiastic, often asking Hikari for his thoughts after finishing a segment of the lesson.

Could he really think I'm very interested in Alchemy?

Tenjou Hikari felt somewhat bewildered.

In this world, Alchemy truly exists. As a supreme alchemist who had actually synthesized the "Philosopher's Stone," a top-tier alchemist who had achieved true "immortality," it was not strange that Daitokuji wanted to find a successor.

After all, his entire talent had no one to inherit it. In the original story, upon discovering that the anime protagonist, Judai Yuki, possessed extraordinary "Fusion" talent, he bestowed the crystal of his life's work upon Judai before his "death"—the "Philosopher's Stone," a card considered the strongest fake card in the anime!

It could transform into any card based on the duelist's thoughts!

The card was left behind, but Daitokuji's "knowledge" and "techniques"... those had no one to inherit them.

If Judai knew how to hand-craft a Philosopher's Stone like Daitokuji, who would even be worthy of dueling him later on?

Putting that aside, Tenjou Hikari originally intended to study hard and take exams, striving for a high ranking to earn a scholarship and improve his impoverished life.

Now, noticing that Daitokuji was willing to teach him, he naturally did not hesitate; he gathered his focus and studied seriously. Perhaps because he had visited another dimension, gained two spirit assistants, or because the power of Super Fusion had further recovered, the Alchemy that he couldn't grasp at all during the initial period after transmigrating now gradually began to make sense, and he could even truly keep up with Daitokuji's explanations!

As his knowledge of Alchemy improved, he gradually discovered something—he had slightly enhanced his "control" over Super Fusion!

For instance, on the day he first transmigrated, he could only fuse an eraser and a pencil, but now, he could already fuse a ballpoint pen!

This was an incredible improvement!

"You seem very interested in Alchemy?" After the Alchemy class ended that day, Tenjou Hikari was still writing notes furiously. Only after he finished did he notice someone in a yellow uniform standing beside him; the person politely greeted him once Hikari finished writing.

"Who are you?" Tenjou Hikari looked at the passerby with confusion.

"Ahem—" The passerby coughed twice, seeming quite surprised by Tenjou Hikari's response. He hesitated for a moment before continuing, "Uh, I heard that you and Judai went to another dimension?"

"Did that big-mouth Judai go around bragging again? Or was it Sho Marufuji?" Tenjou Hikari organized the items on his desk, dismissing the topic casually. "Eh, that did happen, but it doesn't matter. We just went to play cards; nothing new."

He acted very impatient.

On one hand, many students had recently asked him about such things, so he was indeed somewhat impatient.

On the other hand, this approach could effectively prevent further questioning and stop himself from accidentally slipping up.

Promises made to others must be kept properly.

"Uh..."

"Is there anything else?"

"... Did you know? The Yellow Academy also has a Dimension Gate."

Oh—

"Who are you?"

"It's been this long, and you still haven't remembered my name?" The boy was speechless. He coughed once and said, "I am Daichi Misawa."

"Oh oh oh—It's Four Rules Sky!"

"Daichi Misawa!"

Tenjou Hikari certainly hadn't remembered incorrectly.

Actually, in the original story, this character was roughly positioned as the third male lead, the top freshman of the Yellow Academy, but because he completely lost presence in the later stages, people often made jokes about his name.

But to Tenjou Hikari, he was actually a "great enemy"!

Because he was the "top of the grade," an academic expert. If Tenjou Hikari wanted to win a scholarship to improve his life rather than eating dry bread every day, Daichi Misawa was an obstacle he absolutely had to overcome!

After a brief conversation, Tenjou Hikari learned Daichi Misawa's purpose.

Every year, the Duel Academy holds a friendly match with the North Academy. This year, for some reason, Professor Cronos recommended Daichi as the representative.

"Oh—I've heard about that. Judai was recommended as the freshman representative by that Ryo Marufuji, right?" Tenjou remembered this plot point and said casually, "Ah, I get it! So you want to settle a score with him, but since you're unclear about what cards he obtained in the other dimension, you want to fish for information from me? Using next month's Yellow Academy Dimension Gate usage rights as compensation?

I didn't expect it, student Misawa, you're quite sinister."

"Uh—" Daichi Misawa broke out in a cold sweat. "What are you talking about? Why do you think so darkly?"

"Eh? Isn't that it? I was actually prepared to tell you." Tenjou Hikari sounded very surprised.

"Ah... uh... um..." Daichi Misawa struggled hard for a while before finally taking a deep breath. "It's not like that. Rather... the school suddenly changed its policy."

"Why?" Another plot deviation from the original story; Tenjou Hikari was very curious.

"It's like this: North Academy has offered an extra prize this time. Rumor has it it's the coordinates of a newly explored dimension, said to contain undiscovered Spellcaster-type monster cards. The winner of this academy match can go explore it."

Spellcaster-type monsters, huh? This development fits the logic of this world quite well.

"But what does this have to do with me?" Tenjou Hikari remained confused.

"Do you really not know, or are you pretending not to?" Daichi Misawa was truly somewhat speechless. He rubbed his hair and said with slight entanglement, "Professor Reito Akama of the Fusion Department recommended you!"

????

Damn it—

I haven't even met him!

What is this bald egg up to?

There's a conspiracy!

Tenjou Hikari immediately realized that the old thing definitely had bad intentions.

Otherwise, why would he recommend someone like me, whom he has never met? That guy is definitely not the type of "good teacher"!

Speaking of which...

In the original story, the final "prize" for this duel was "Auntie Tami's" kiss. Simply put, the principals of both academies had been pursuing Auntie Tami from the Welfare Department, so both were very invested in this.

Actually, it meant nothing to the academy students.

That was why Tenjou Hikari had never paid attention to it before.

But if an additional reward of a Dimension Gate challenge was added, then Tenjou Hikari would be interested.

"However, a three-person battle is definitely not allowed," Daichi Misawa continued explaining. "Therefore, Professor Reito Akama also nominated a second-year student, saying it serves as a test of your qualification. If you lose, you will lose your qualification. If you win, you can duel against me."

"Against you?" Tenjou Hikari raised an eyebrow and sized up Daichi Misawa.

A confident smile appeared on Daichi Misawa's face: "I will definitely win against Judai."

Tenjou Hikari gasped sharply.

Will win?

Against that Judai?

You?

"By the way, Professor Kabayama said that this duel is also the second selection for the Yellow Academy's top student." Daichi Misawa looked at Tenjou with shining eyes.

Kabayama was the responsible teacher of the Yellow Academy, a teacher with almost no presence.

"Top student, huh..." Tenjou Hikari pondered thoughtfully.

"I will not yield the position of top student to you," Daichi Misawa stated bluntly with his arms crossed.

"Thank you, Five Rules Ocean, thank you for coming to tell me these things; you're actually a pretty good person." Tenjou Hikari sighed with emotion, then looked at Daichi Misawa with determined eyes. "By the way, whether it's the top student or the top of the grade, I'm taking both!"

Fire burned in Tenjou Hikari's eyes: "I must secure that scholarship!"

Otherwise, eating bread for a year is truly unbearable!

"It's Daichi Misawa!" Daichi Misawa shouted angrily.

"Just wait! After I defeat Judai, I will definitely make you remember my name profoundly!"

Can I win? I will win!

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(End of Chapter)