Chapter 44: Vampire, Appear!

"Tenjo-kun, I'm truly delighted to see you back in class, my dear."

On this new day, Professor Professor Dadesi saw Tenjo Hikari return to the classroom and smiled warmly: "Are you feeling better?"

"Ah, I'm fine, Master!" Tenjo Hikari responded cheerfully.

"Then, no time to waste—come on, Tenjo-kun," Professor Professor Dadesi pointed to the stage. "Today's experiment is pulverization. You'll handle it yourself."

In front of all the students, Professor Professor Dadesi altered the original plan, putting Tenjo Hikari on stage and personally guiding his operations, giving him special tutoring.

One of the core principles of Alchemy is destruction and regeneration: thoroughly pulverizing raw materials, then distilling or grinding them into new substances—that is the goal of Alchemy.

The other students had long grown accustomed to this scene; while Sanze Sanze Dadi still stubbornly memorized every detail, many had already given up on learning Alchemy.

Watching Professor Professor Dadesi and Tenjo-kun conduct some bizarre chemical experiment was far more entertaining than trying to learn Alchemy.

School life seemed unchanged as ever; the fear Ten Dai had—that classmates and friends would vanish due to Dark Duels—had not come to pass.

Or rather, it hadn't happened yet.

After all, even in the original story, the gradual appearance of the Seven Stars took considerable time, with no fixed interval between each one's arrival.

During class, Tenjo Hikari sought out Professor Kuronos and requested another Ancient Mechanical Giant, citing the same reason he'd thought of before: "My Mechanical Giant somehow became the Ultimate Giant."

Before this, Professor Kuronos had never believed in anything unscientific or supernatural—but after the Gem Knights attacked the Xyz Dimension, after learning of the Three Phantom Demons from the Principal, and after hearing from Asuka about the previous Dark Duels…

Now, hearing it again, he was willing to reluctantly believe it.

Besides, he'd gained considerable support from the Principal thanks to Tenjo Hikari's "prestige"—he was more than happy to oblige.

After all, since the discovery of the Ancient Mechanical's Xyz Dimension, the number of Ancient Mechanical Giant cards on campus had steadily increased; taking one and awarding it to a student through the normal "Outstanding Student" process was perfectly acceptable.

Of course, Tenjo Hikari didn't just take cards for free; in return for Kuronos granting him such broad access, Tenjo planned to ask him to become the Responsible Professor for the new Fusion Department—and as a gesture of goodwill, he handed Kuronos an Ancient Mechanical Fusion card.

This was perhaps the most natural progression of a card game: exchanging and collecting.

That day.

"Did you hear? Did you hear?" A student enthusiastically discussed the latest news: "For some reason, a Western-style mansion suddenly appeared on the lake to the west of the island!"

"What? A mansion?"

"Yes! No one knows when—it might've appeared overnight—but rumors say students are already planning to explore it!"

"Maybe there's a vampire nobleman inside!"

"Don't be ridiculous—I heard several students have been collapsing lately…"

Perhaps due to the recent popularity of such TV dramas, several girls were chatting excitedly.

"Wait—" Ten Dai, passing by, instantly realized something: "Don't do that!"

Since Tenjo Hikari's hospitalization, he'd developed a deep wariness of Dark Duels; now sensing this might be a new enemy, he rushed to the Principal's office with his two friends.

In the Principal's office, the Principal and the Key Holders discussed the matter and all came to the same realization.

A new enemy has arrived!

The group rushed to the lake's edge—when they arrived, thick fog had already risen over the water, and a massive, shapeless Western mansion stood alone at its center.

As they approached, a long red carpet inexplicably rolled out from the mansion, stretching across the lake's surface to the shore.

"Is this an invitation?" The students stood before the carpet, grim-faced, staring at it.

Tenjo Hikari instinctively stepped onto the carpet—next moment, Ten Dai grabbed him by the arm: "Wait, A-Guang! Your body just recovered—how can you join this duel?"

"Yes, Tenjo-kun," Asuka chimed in, "Let me—"

As the two spoke, a sharp *click* echoed—Professor Kuronos had somehow already stepped onto the red carpet.

The students stared in shock at Professor Kuronos.

As the only teacher present, he straightened his posture, cleared his throat: "Hmph. As the sole instructor, I shall be the one to duel!"

"Professor!" Sanze Sanze Dadi and Wan Wan Zhangmu stared at him in disbelief.

Even Marufuji Ryo looked surprised.

Professor Kuronos? This kind of person?

Wasn't he usually sleazy and cowardly?

"No wonder Professor Kuronos!" "Truly leading by example!" "The perfect teacher!"

"Of course!" Kuronos turned, cleared his throat again, then stood tall and solemn: "The red carpet is the path of gentlemen—of which I, the last descendant of proud nobility, am the rightful tread!"

"Besides, I will not allow some mysterious fools to harm my students on this campus!"

Tenjo Hikari clapped enthusiastically from the side.

Lately, many students had been collapsing from vampire attacks—so for the professor to say this, even to volunteer first, was perfectly understandable.

Then again—

This building looked just as he remembered.

Meaning this enemy was the Seven Stars' "Vampire Camula"—in the original story, Camula easily defeated Kuronos by peeking at his deck and hand.

Moreover, Camula possessed a card called "Phantom Demon's Gate," which could directly control another's soul and destroy all their monsters—but whoever lost the duel would have their soul sacrificed to the Phantom Demon.

In the original story, Camula used his vampire powers to control Marufuji Xiang, making him his "scapegoat"; under these circumstances, Marufuji Ryo had no choice but to forfeit the duel and was turned into a doll.

Thinking of this, Tenjo Hikari felt a flicker of excitement.

Sneaky tactics are perfect—when the time comes, I'll just use my Super Fusion to crush it, forcibly making the Fusion absorb the energy—no discomfort for me, and I'll get the Fusion card too.

As he thought this, several figures emerged from the red carpet—each bore similar faces: pale skin, bat-like wings, dressed either as butlers or maids, bowing respectfully to Tenjo Hikari and the others.

Behind them, a beautiful woman with green hair stepped forward with elegant grace.

"You are the Key Keepers?"

"Ah, yes!" Professor Kuronos stood rigidly. "You're the one behind the recent incidents on campus, aren't you?!"

"You're the one who wants to duel?" The green-haired woman frowned, ignoring his question, turning to Marufuji Ryo and Tenjo Hikari: "At least make it look decent."

"Huh?"

"No—absolutely not. You're not fit to sully the Young Lady's eyes—"

Young Lady??

"I am Vampire Camula," she suddenly convulsed, her face swelling grotesquely, tongue slithering like a snake as she snarled: "Come, human! If you dare disturb the Young Lady's slumber, defeat me first!"

"If you lose, you'll willingly let the handsome one come to the island. If I lose, I'll awaken all those humans bitten into comas!"

"Hmph! I couldn't agree more!"

Without further words, they unfolded their Duel Disks before all the students and began dueling at once.

Tenjo Hikari stood to the side, utterly baffled.

This Camula… isn't one of the Seven Stars?!

Tomorrow is the Mid-Autumn Festival—Wishing everyone a joyful holiday!

Please recommend and vote for monthly tickets~





(End of Chapter)