Chapter 26: Fleeting Moment

"The winner. Tenjou Hikari!"

"Hehehe, it seems our academy has won again this year!"

"Damn it, just you wait; next year, I will definitely get my revenge!"

Tenjou Hikari was still somewhat confused; he stood on the duel field, his eyes filled with bewilderment.

Is... is it over?

By the time he came to his senses, the two academy principals, who had been squabbling over Aunt Dori, had finished arguing, and the final prize of the "Duel Academy Exchange Match"—Aunt Dori's kiss—had already been planted on Principal Samejima's face.

It was only at this moment that Tenjou Hikari remembered what had just happened.

His opponent was someone he didn't know, leaving no impression whatsoever, so initially, Tenjou Hikari had been very nervous.

After all, unknown duelists could use any kind of deck; if they used something like Magic Formula or cards that ban Fusion, Trap Cards, he actually couldn't guarantee victory.

However, the opponent summoned an Armed Dragon LV3 with 1200 ATK points and then ended their turn.

They didn't even set any cards!

Tenjou Hikari patted his face to wake himself up.

Although his deck contained a large number of super-era Fusion cards, honestly, since he had to find and assemble both his low-level monsters and Extra Deck monsters himself, he didn't actually feel like he was playing high-tech against savages; when dueling well-known characters, he was always carefully calculating and planning.

Today was the first time he hadn't even thought, simply crushing his opponent directly with cards like Future Fusion and Super Future Fusion.

Even the spectating students couldn't help but complain.

"What's going on?"

"Seriously, what I wanted to see was a passionate duel, like the ones from a few days ago!"

Many students in the audience who had come to watch the duel felt somewhat disappointed, while Judai and other acquaintances and friends of Tenjou Hikari breathed a sigh of relief and congratulated him.

However...

"Hahaha, so weak! Is this what the branch school is like?!"

"I said it early on; the branch school is no good!"

Tenjou Hikari noticed some senior students from the Fusion Department mocking the branch school.

He frowned.

The problems within the Fusion Department were truly serious!

Originally, he had thought his opponent would be "Chazz Princeton"; in the anime's plot, after dueling Judai and Daichi Misawa, Chazz Princeton was expelled for having unclean hands, forced to go to the Northern Branch School alone, where he became its "King," returning to Duel Academy as the Northern Branch's representative...

Although Chazz Princeton, this second male lead, always performed quite averagely in the anime, with his screen time repeatedly stolen by Ryo Marufuji, Aster Phoenix, and Johan, his positioning was indeed that of Judai's rival, and at this time, he was a duelist on the same level as Judai; therefore, Tenjou Hikari believed dueling him should also yield a considerable amount of energy.

Who would have expected—in this world, Chazz never went to the Northern Branch School at all!

He pinched the bridge of his nose.

Until yesterday, he had assumed his opponent was Chazz, completely unaware that in this world, because Kaiba Seto was constantly pursuing the "Other Dimension," the Chazz Group had an opportunity to get involved, investing in various attempts by Kaiba Corporation, forcibly stuffing Chazz into Kaiba Corporation, allowing Chazz to actually achieve what only the manga version of him had accomplished—becoming Kaiba's disciple!

Of course, the anime version of him also paid homage to Kaiba in many ways, but he simply didn't have this relationship.

According to Sho Marufuji, after losing to Judai, Chazz's pride suffered a severe blow, so he returned to Kaiba Corporation to train seriously, determined to return to the academy during the midterms to face Judai once more.

It seemed... the time was about right.

In that case, Tenjou Hikari could only wish him good luck... in his hazy memories, Chazz seemed to have never once beaten Judai.

"Hahaha, Student Tenjou, excellently done!" Principal Samejima was so happy he couldn't close his mouth, constantly praising Tenjou Hikari, adding, "Professor Cronos taught so well!"

"Eh, um, yes, yes, right..." Professor Cronos beside him was sweating profusely.

"Ah, right, Student Tenjou Hikari, here are the coordinates for that stable dimension discovered by the Northern Academy." The principal cheerfully took out a card and handed it to Tenjou Hikari for safekeeping.

Tenjou Hikari took the card; it bore only an image of a blurry three-dimensional cube. Tenjou Hikari could only sigh that this was indeed the world of Yu-Gi-Oh, where even spatial coordinates could be marked on a card.

"Afterward, let the Obelisk Blue..."

"Mr. Principal!" Just as the principal was smiling broadly, a student standing straight as a ramrod on the side, wearing a purple uniform and looking more like a soldier than a student, suddenly spoke up.

"Eh? You are?" Seeing a student interrupt him, Principal Samejima wasn't angry, merely looking at the student with confusion.

"Mr. Principal. I am Kanbayashi Kaname, third year of the Fusion Department!" he told the principal.

"The Fusion Department..." Principal Samejima frowned slightly.

Come to think of it, since a student from the Fusion Department was competing as the representative, why hadn't Professor Akama come to the scene to watch?

Honestly, he didn't know much about Akama Reio; he only knew that Akama Reio was a professor personally hired by the board of directors, someone even he, the principal, couldn't really command. In previous years, aside from grade exams, he never saw Akama Reio; this time, Akama Reio actually recommended a student as a representative, so he had thought Akama Reio was finally preparing to socialize with them, these teachers and professors, only to find he was still so reclusive.

"Mr. Principal. The professor said that as members of our Fusion Department, being able to obtain the qualification of representative and defeat the Northern Academy as the academy's representative is an honor for Student Tenjou and for our Fusion Department!" Kanbayashi Kaname continued speaking expressionlessly. "For a student who has achieved such merit, we must not only grant credit rewards but also make a gesture from our Fusion Department; only then can we ensure all students study and duel with enthusiasm!"

"Professor Akama actually thinks this way!" Surprise appeared on the principal's face, followed by involuntary gratification.

Standing nearby, Tenjou Hikari couldn't help but roll his eyes.

No wonder Professor Cronos caused so much trouble in the early stages of the original work without you reacting, Principal; you are truly too kind...

He understood clearly in his heart—this was aimed at him!

"Our Fusion Department also has a Dimension Gate; there is no need to waste the energy allocated monthly to Obelisk Blue. We can completely use our Fusion Department's Dimension Gate to send Student Tenjou. That way, in the future, Student Tenjou can still ride Obelisk Blue's Dimension Gate to explore other dimensions!"

"How thoughtful, Professor Akama..." Principal Samejima nodded repeatedly, then looked at Tenjou Hikari. "So... Student Tenjou, what do you think?"

"Of course!" Tenjou Hikari answered without hesitation.

He had never understood what that marinated egg wanted to do; now was precisely the opportunity!

"Hmm... after all, it is an unknown Other Dimension; although the Northern Academy has guaranteed that dimension poses no safety issues, we cannot simply let our guard down..." Principal Samejima did not make the decision directly but continued, "Then let us follow tradition: a pair of two, one responsible for exploration, one responsible for safety, so that at a critical moment, they can use the equipment to escape the Other Dimension directly."

The student from the Fusion Department hesitated slightly but still nodded.

"Good. Then, Student Tenjou, what do you think? Do you have any friends to recommend?" After the principal finished speaking, among the several students eavesdropping, many immediately stood up.

Apart from some Fusion Department students attracted by Tenjou Hikari's duel, Judai and Oceanus raised their hands without hesitation, shouting Tenjou Hikari's name while urging him to look over.

"Uh... if it is for the sake of ensuring safety... I'd like to ask, can Professor Cronos come?"

"Mamma mia, me!?" The professor let out a shriek, pointing at himself; then, noticing the principal's suspicious gaze, he quickly and decisively put on a reliable expression, his face solemn, acting every bit the master, and nodded. "Re-rest assured, Principal! I absolutely guarantee Student Tenjou's safety!"

Seeking recommendations, seeking monthly tickets

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(End of Chapter)