Chapter 842: No matter how beautiful a 2D Card Character is, it's still fake
With the appearance of Jesse Anderson and Raphael, Pegasus put away his manuscript and observed Raphael.
This wasn't Pegasus's first time meeting Raphael; in fact, they had interacted before. That was when Hayato joined Doma. To prevent Pegasus, the Father of Duel Monsters, from receiving aid from Duel Monster Spirits and creating problematic cards, Dartz sent the Doma Three Knights to eliminate Pegasus, and Hayato accompanied them.
At that time, Alister still harbored resentment towards Kaiba, and Rex had no intention of attacking Pegasus due to Mai Valentine's presence. Thus, Raphael and Hayato became responsible for eliminating Pegasus. Because Raphael didn't fully trust Hayato then, Pegasus became Hayato's "loyalty test" and had his Soul Sealed by Hayato. Afterward, Hayato even dueled Joey and Yugi on the top floor of Industrial Illusions.
Although the Duel with Hayato alone had left Pegasus exhausted and unable to focus on other matters, Raphael, who was standing nearby, had left a certain impression on Pegasus. Meeting him again now made Pegasus recall that he had indeed met this person before.
Due to the change in their respective positions, Raphael, now before Pegasus, was no longer an enemy. This allowed Pegasus to observe and appraise Raphael more objectively. In Pegasus's left eye, a faint light shone from his artificial eye, which was merely a pure golden replica, similar in style to the Millennium Eye.
Before coming to Egypt, Pegasus had inexplicably lost the Magical Energy that had lingered in his body from the Millennium Eye. However, after Hayato and Atem defeated Dark Bakura's Soul and Zorc Necrophades in the Tablet of Lost Memories, that lost residual Power mysteriously returned to Pegasus. At this moment, he was observing Raphael using the Power of the Millennium Eye.
This was a small habit Pegasus had when he still possessed the Millennium Eye. He believed that a person's heart was far more reliable and trustworthy than spoken words or superficial appearances, and also more direct and convenient.
Raphael's heart was open to Pegasus. Smoothly, Pegasus "saw through" Raphael from the inside out. However, at the same moment Pegasus cast his gaze upon Raphael, Raphael, who was conversing with Atem, also seemed to sense it. He abruptly turned his head to look at Pegasus, whose gaze gave him a strange feeling.
And (Guardian Eatos) immediately left her Card and appeared beside Raphael, glaring at Pegasus with ill intent.
"What a keen sense, Mr. Raphael, and such a sharp gaze too." Pegasus hadn't expected Raphael to notice his movement so quickly, a movement that should have gone unnoticed. He offered a fake smile, trying to gloss it over, "me can see that you possess excellent Duelist talent, and also excellent Duel Monsters."
"(Guardian Eatos) is me's family," Raphael corrected him somewhat seriously. "Also, don't look at me with that kind of gaze again, Pegasus."
"Hehe, serves you right, Pegasus, for always using the Power of the Eye to look at others," Marik, standing beside Pegasus, immediately mocked. "My brother-in-law warned you several times before that looking at people with that kind of gaze is very easy to get hit. See, you were discovered right away, weren't you?"
"The Millennium Eye has been gone from you for so long. Although its Power still remains, no one knows how long it will last. You should try to get used to losing that Power, Pegasus," Atem said with a smile, looking at Pegasus's dejected expression.
At the same time, he couldn't help but recall what Shadi had said earlier.
Hayato paused his conversation with Jesse Anderson, glanced at Pegasus, and said, "Since you've already seen, why don't you tell him what you saw, right to the person's face?" As he spoke, Hayato also glanced at Raphael.
Seeing Jesse Anderson beside Hayato looking eager, Raphael frowned, silently thinking that he must talk to Jesse Anderson thoroughly when they get back: whatever he hears from Hayato today, he must forget it all and absolutely not pick up any bad habits from him. At the same time, he said to Pegasus, "A so-called analysis of the heart? Some people with something to hide might resist it greatly."
"However, I don't care."
Raphael had always been indifferent to such matters. Hearing Raphael's words, Pegasus spoke, "Actually, the first thing me saw when me looked at your heart, Mr. Raphael, was profound relief and ease."
"Although me doesn't know what heavy burdens and pressures you once carried, currently you seem to have come to terms with them, overcoming that obstacle and embracing a brand new state of mind like a new life," Pegasus said, nodding. "In such a state of mind, you can also display more than 1000% of your original strength in Duel Monsters."
"Beyond that, me also saw your introspection on your past actions and the hope you place in that Boy over there. But what captivated me most, as the Father of Duel Monsters, was your genuine love for Duel Monsters, Mr. Raphael."
"Even more so than Hayato boy, Yugi boy, and the others. Rather than seeing them as Partners, you view them as family that must be protected with your life. What a touching passion!"
Raphael said nothing upon hearing Pegasus's words. Noticing Atem's gaze, he nodded and said, "Yes, he's basically right. Earlier, when you and Atem defeated Dartz and his 'Orichalcos God,' I, whose Soul was freed from within, reunited with my parents who passed away years ago, as well as Julia Krystal and Sonia. After a proper farewell with them, I might have finally escaped the mists of the past that haunted me for years."
"However, although I've lost that part of the obsession that forced me forward, it doesn't mean I've become weaker. And I still believe in my current family, (Guardian Eatos) and the others, just like before," Raphael said, a smile appearing on his face. "So don't think I'm not the same person I used to be. If I were to Duel you again, I might still win."
Atem returned the smile, "You're quite bold, Raphael. While your feelings for the Guardians are admirable, my Combo with Aibo is invincible; I won't lose to you."
Atem and Raphael's gazes met, full of fighting spirit. Joey, however, noticed that Pegasus's expression was clearly hesitant, as if unsure whether to continue.
"What's wrong, Pegasus?"
"Hmm, actually, me'm not sure if me'm mistaken, but there's something me thought about and should tell you, Mr. Raphael," Pegasus paused, his gaze towards Raphael slightly peculiar. "Although (Guardian Eatos) by your side is indeed a humanoid Duel Monster with a very Divine and magnificent appearance, she is a Duel Monster after all..."
Raphael's eyelid twitched when he heard this, and he looked at Pegasus.
"While 2D Card Characters are very cute, you should still look at the 3D World more and not get lost in a fantasy world. Although you view her as family, Mr. Raphael, your feelings for (Guardian Eatos) seem to have somewhat changed in me's eyes. You two cannot be—"
"Shut up! I'm not like that at all!" Raphael was clearly flustered. Feeling the strange looks from those around him, he urgently told Pegasus, "You must have seen wrong! How could you see such an outrageous result?!"
"If you dare to talk nonsense again, I will correct you!"
"Ha, he's flustered." "Yeah, totally flustered, completely flustered now." Marik and Hayato, standing together, egged him on, eagerly anticipating Raphael and Pegasus getting into a fight.
Seeing Raphael's intense reaction, Pegasus quickly smiled and tried to appease him, "Hmm, it seems me was mistaken after all. Looking again now, Mr. Raphael, your feelings for (Guardian Eatos) are indeed pure familial affection."
This was a lie; Pegasus wasn't using the residual Power of the Millennium Eye at all, merely placating Raphael verbally. Hearing Pegasus say this to restore his innocent reputation (debatable), Raphael said no more and quieted down.
In his own Mind, Pegasus mentally checked off his previous judgment, certain that it was absolutely true. Looking at the disgruntled Raphael, Pegasus then said, "Although a small part of your heart, Mr. Raphael, that me saw, me 'misunderstood,' broadly speaking, me can still make a definitive judgment: that is, Mr. Raphael, you are an excellent Duelist."
"Then Me has decided. This set of Cards currently in production, although me doesn't know when it will be completed, me plans to give this set of Cards to you, Mr. Raphael, as a form of apology."
"Cards currently in production? Mr. Pegasus, are you making other Cards right now?" Bakura asked, looking at Pegasus strangely. He then saw Pegasus shake his head, and Bakura, instantly understanding, covered his mouth slightly with his hand in surprise. "Could it be (Crystal Beast) Cards? Mr. Pegasus, you plan to give the (Crystal Beast) Cards to Mr. Raphael?"
Hearing Bakura's words, Raphael immediately noticed the low-profile Bakura and narrowed his eyes. Was he mistaken? He felt like he had seen this person somewhere before. This young man seemed similar to the one with the bunny-ear hairstyle who had cooperated with him when he was one of the Doma Three Knights, but the difference in temperament was too great. It must be an illusion, right?
"Eh? But aren't the (Crystal Beast) Cards ones that Pegasus, you poured a lot of your heart into, and require using gems said to be Artifacts to create, making them Super Rare Cards?" Joey asked, looking at Pegasus in confusion. "I thought you'd keep them for yourself."
"What kind of image do you have of me in your eyes, Joey boy?" Pegasus sighed.
"A cunning Card Printing merchant." "A cheater who Prints powerful Cards for himself." "A conniving Bakura." "A peeping tom." "The one who designed the despicable Forbidden & Limited List."
Yugi, Hayato, Téa, and Tristan all unanimously stated their impressions of Pegasus.
"The rest me will accept, but didn't you, Hayato boy, suggest the Forbidden & Limited List to me and Kaiba boy?" Pegasus retorted, then became serious. "While me cannot deny that occasionally me does print powerful Cards that are one-of-a-kind in the world for myself, me is more of a Card designer than a Duelist."
"(Toon) represents the youthful years me cherished with Cecilia. (Relinquished) emerged from the darkness and despair within me's heart after losing Cecilia. But that is enough. me is not an explorer stepping towards the future like you, Hayato boy, Yugi boy. This alone has exhausted me's talent as a Duelist. More Cards, even if they remain in me's hand, would only gather dust."
Spreading his hands, Pegasus continued, "Just like a craftsman who forges Divine swords and weapons, they would never be content if their creations only gathered dust and rusted on a weapon rack. To see more interesting Cards appear in the hands of suitable people and radiate their ultimate light, that is the future me wants to see for Cards, the future of Duel Monsters."
Interesting Cards, huh? Fine, Ishizu already has Earth Fairies; don't let me see you Print Tearalaments.
Hayato muttered silently about Pegasus's words, then spoke, "So the question is, why did you only think of giving away Cards after seeing Raphael, Pegasus? Joey, Yugi, and I were all right beside you before."
Pegasus glanced at Hayato, then spread his hands, "Not everyone has as versatile a Dueling style as you, Hayato boy. Although me hasn't confirmed the design direction of the Cards yet, me can sense the applicable style for them. It definitely wouldn't be suitable for Yugi boy or Joey boy. What's needed is a user with a heart that will never abandon a Monster, treating them as something to protect."
"Listening to you, doesn't that make it even more suitable for me? After all, I'm the kindest person; there's no Duelist more loving than me," Hayato said confidently, patting his chest. However, not just Pegasus, but Joey, Yugi, and even Marik and Raphael all gave Hayato a helpless look.
Who would believe you when you say that? Protecting Monsters, they'd be lucky not to be Tributed by you.
However, as the recipient of the Cards, Raphael didn't even consider it, stating directly, "No need, I don't need your Cards. This isn't a challenge to the strength of the Cards given by you, Pegasus, the Father of Duel Monsters; it's simply because I only need the Guardians. Other Cards are not necessary for me."
"However, I think Jesse Anderson would be more suitable to receive that set of Cards."
As Raphael pointed at him, and everyone else turned their gaze to him, Jesse Anderson couldn't help but blink his clear eyes, "Huh?"
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