Though her plan had worked, actually pulling it off was far more nerve-wracking than she'd imagined. This was definitely the most stressful shopping trip Ren had ever taken.
"Miles, is there anything you'd like to eat?"
"No need, Ren. I'm just a soul—I don't need food."
…A date, but not exactly a date.
After finally tricking Miles into coming out, Ren had no idea what to do to hold his interest.
Go straight to see the D-Wheel? That'd be way too unromantic for a first date.
"If… if you want to eat, Miles, I can lend you my body!"
As soon as she said it, Ren's cheeks burned red. She felt like one of those shameless girls who offered up their bodies without a second thought.
"Ren, you don't have to worry about me so much. This is fine as it is."
Miles wasn't oblivious—he'd known Ren's feelings since she confessed back in the royal capital.
It was just that, given his current situation, responding to her now would only be irresponsible.
"Didn't think you were entirely a jerk, after all," Dark Aisha said in the Soul Room, for once sounding different from her usual tone.
"What do you mean entirely? I'm not one at all."
Although Miles said that, Ren wasn't ready to give up so easily.
Who knew when she'd get another chance to be alone with him?
She had to find a way to get closer.
A girl's thoughts can be complicated at times—and at other times, so very simple.
That little scheme to lure Miles out had already taken all of Ren's courage.
In her hand, she held the business card Alester had given her for the Glass Witch Workshop. It only listed a rough address; regardless, in a city like Axet, full of street signs, it wouldn't be hard to find.
Still, if they arrived too early, their time alone would end sooner.
So though she was usually a brisk walker, Ren's pace today turned unusually dainty and slow.
"Ren, are your legs hurting or something?"
"Idiot… huh? Wait, something smells really good!"
Sniffing the air as they walked down the streets of Axet, Ren caught a whiff of something sweet and fruity—an aroma she'd never smelled back in Livorden.
She wasn't as gluttonous as Lishia; even so, Ren did love good food. Otherwise, she wouldn't have gone all the way to the royal capital in the fog just to buy fried rice dumplings.
"Miles, um… may I?"
"If you want it, go ahead. We've got time to spare."
"Okay!"
For once, Ren picked up her pace—but instead of the D-Wheel shop, she ran toward a food stall.
"Hey there, pretty girl! Want a fruit crêpe?" the middle-aged vendor greeted warmly.
Ren had never heard of a crêpe before—it looked like a folded, uneven pancake filled with fruit. Sweet pancakes? Could that really taste good?
"You're such a cute little thing. What flavor do you want? I'll throw in some extra fruit for you."
"Then… strawberry, please."
If he was offering extra fruit, that was worth it even if it wasn't great. And it did smell amazing.
"Alrighty, that'll be 12 coins."
"Twelve coins… silver or copper?"
Ren took out her purse and dumped out a few random silver coins.
Having no clue about Axet's prices, she figured 12 copper was too cheap and 12 silver too much.
The vendor looked troubled. "Ah, a foreigner, huh? Sorry, miss, but I only take Axet Bitcoins."
"Huh? Livorden money doesn't work here?"
That was news to Ren.
"It can, but only big chain stores accept foreign currency. For small stalls like mine, exchanging it is a hassle."
"Ugh… then I can't buy it after all." Her disappointment was written all over her face.
"It's fine, boss. I'll pay for her," said a gentle, melodic voice.
A girl Ren had never seen before appeared beside the stall, holding a few Axet Bitcoins.
"Um, who are you?"
Ren was sure she'd remember someone this stunning if she'd ever met her before—there was no way she'd forget a face that pretty.
"I don't think we've met. Why treat me?"
"Hehe, because you looked like you really wanted one."
The stranger tilted her head with a smile that could melt hearts. Her crescent-shaped eyes gleamed with irresistible charm, and even Ren found herself drawn in.
"Besides, I just can't stand seeing cute girls looking sad. And helping others is my motto—one good deed a day!"
'Cute girls? You're the cute one here.'
"Even so, I can't just take it for free. How much are 12 Bitcoins in silver? I'll trade you."
Ren was the type who wouldn't accept charity, no matter how tempting.
"No need to be so serious! You really are earnest, huh?" The girl laughed softly. "If you insist on repaying me, then do me a favor later, okay?"
"What kind of favor?"
"It hasn't happened yet. Though in one minute, that old lady over there is going to have her purse stolen. When it happens, let's stop the thief together!"
She pointed to an elderly woman with snow-white hair shuffling along nearby.
Albeit something else in her words caught Ren's attention.
"Hasn't happened yet? One minute from now? How do you know that?"
"To tell you the truth, I have the ability to see the future. Thirty seconds left… twenty-nine…"
Seeing the future? Ren didn't believe that for a second.
Despite that, the girl's confident countdown was oddly convincing, and it made Ren tense up.
Could she really be right?
"Two seconds… one… there!"
Her timing was perfect.
Right as she finished, a man burst from the crowd, snatching the old woman's purse with practiced speed and sprinting off.
This was real street crime—pure Axet-style freedom, nothing like Aoyao's timid antics.
"It's true?!" Ren gasped.
And just as if she'd predicted the escape route, the thief's path ran right past the two girls.
To him, they probably looked harmless—two frail little girls, easy to brush aside.
He couldn't have been more wrong.
In perfect unison, Ren and the mysterious girl leapt forward.
A synchronized flying kick—
Double Rider Kick!
Their twin strikes landed square on the thief's face, leaving two distinct shoe prints and knocking him out cold on the spot.
The mysterious girl picked up the fallen purse and returned it to the bewildered old woman, who hadn't even processed what had just happened.
Adjusting her sleeves, she turned away without asking for thanks—just as she'd said, doing one good deed a day was her creed.
"I didn't expect you to be that good at fighting too!"
Back at the stall, the mysterious girl's eyes sparkled as she studied Ren closely.
"It's been ages since I met a girl I like this much! I'm Korys Diane—what's your name?"
"Ren. Ren Austin."
"Ren, huh? Even your name's cute. Say, can I touch your red hair? It's such a rare color."
Observing from a bit farther away, Miles thought, 'What's up with this girl?'
They'd only just met, yet she was already acting far too familiar.
And somehow, from the way she looked at Ren, Miles could sense something unusual… something that felt more than friendly.
Could it be this girl really meant it when she said she liked girls?
In any case, more importantly—
"Korys, about earlier… can you actually see the future?"
Ren asked the question Miles was most curious about.
"Sometimes, yeah."
Still stroking Ren's soft red ponytail, Korys wore a satisfied smile, further confirming Miles's suspicion.
"What, you can't see it too, Ren? I thought all Millennium Item holders could see the future."
"Millennium Items?!"
The key phrase changed everything. Ren's eyes widened.
The girl standing before her was also a holder of a Millennium Item.
"Did I say something wrong? That pendant you're wearing… It's the Millennium Puzzle, isn't it?"
As she spoke, Korys pointed to the golden ring hanging around her own pale neck. It bore an unmistakable mark—an Eye of Wdjat.
"Mine's the Millennium Necklace. I've heard that holders of the Millennium Items are naturally drawn to one another. Still, I didn't expect my destined encounter to be with another girl! How wonderful… fate really is mysterious."
Even Miles was surprised. He hadn't expected to run into the holder of the Millennium Necklace here.
However, what reassured him most was that Korys Diane didn't seem like a bad person.
The Pharaoh's ancient decree had been clear: the Millennium Items must not fall into evil hands.
And aside from her suspiciously strong interest in girls, Korys seemed mostly harmless.
The most awkward person now, though, was Ren.
Korys apparently believed she was the real holder of the Puzzle and was showing a bit too much enthusiasm.
Nonetheless, no matter what, even if she was wearing it, the Millennium Puzzle belonged to Aisha.
"Um, Korys, actually, I'm not—"
"No time for talk, Ren! Since fate brought us together, let's do something fun!"
"F-Fun?"
"Oh crap, she's into girls! Ren, be careful!"
"Korys, what kind of fun are you talking about?" Ren murmured, fidgeting with her head down. "The kind you can actually say out loud in public?"
"Of course!" Korys blinked innocently. "In fact, it's really popular here in Axet! A street duel—let's have a match, Millennium Item holder to Millennium Item holder!"
A public duel.
She wasn't wrong—that was a fun thing two people could do together.
"Korys, what I mean is… I'm not actually—"
Ren trailed off. Being challenged as a Millennium Item holder when she wasn't one left her unsure how to respond.
"Ren, let me handle this duel. I count as a Millennium Item holder too!"
"Miles?"
"Lend me your body and Deck for this match, will you?"
"O-of course you can!"
She'd spent all morning scheming for a way to get closer to him, and now it had happened—just not the way she expected.
How foolish. She'd been overthinking what would interest him.
What else besides dueling could ever interest Miles?
He loved duels—and she loved watching him duel with the HERO Deck.
Maybe this was their ideal version of a date.
"Then it's all yours, Miles—my HERO!"
Through Soul Exchange, using the Millennium Puzzle as the medium, Miles once again entered Ren's body.
"Ren, you've grown," he said instinctively.
"Of course, Miles! I've been training all break. My HERO Deck's stronger than ever!"
"Er, I wasn't talking about the Deck…"
Back then, the difference between her and Aisha had been slight—yet two months later, that gap seemed to have… expanded.
"Forget it. Time to duel, Ren—HERO style!"
As the Duel began under the glow of their Spirit Eyes, Korys looked thrilled, her excitement almost overflowing.
"I'm so excited, Ren… to duel such a beautiful girl!"
Miles wondered—would she still be this excited if she knew the beautiful girl she was facing had a man's soul inside?
"For SP Points—let's give it our all, Korys!"
Indeed, there was another perk to accepting this duel: earning SP Points.
If Livorden currency couldn't be used in Axet, then he'd just duel for the local duelist-only currency instead.
"Duel!"
Ren's Spirit Eye lit up first—she had the first move.
"My turn! Draw!"
Drawing her opening card, Miles could immediately feel the improvement in Ren's HERO Deck.
"I Normal Summon in Attack Position—[Elemental HERO Solid Soldier]!"
[Elemental HERO Solid Soldier] Level 4│EARTH│Warrior│1300 ATK / 1100 DEF
The newly forged HERO in heavy armor appeared, hammering the ground as it took form on the field.
"When [Elemental HERO Solid Soldier] is Summoned, its effect activates!"
[When this card is Normal Summoned: You can Special Summon 1 Level 4 or lower "HERO" monster from your hand.]
"I Special Summon [Elemental HERO Shadow Mist] in Defense Position!"
[Elemental HERO Shadow Mist] Level 4│DARK│Warrior│1000 ATK / 1500 DEF
A double HERO summon.
Emerging from a swirl of black mist, the female HERO—born from Ren's brother Ilon's Phantom HERO power—descended gracefully. Ren had earned her during her first Summoning Test.
Her effect was the backbone of any HERO Deck's search power.
[If this card is Special Summoned: You can add 1 "Change" Quick-Play Spell from your Deck to your hand.]
"Using Shadow Mist's effect, I add the Quick-Play Spell [Mask Change] from my Deck to my hand! Finally, I Set two cards and end my turn."
"A HERO Deck—so you're a HERO user too!"
Korys's violet eyes shone brighter. Seeing the HERO monsters appear, she almost bounced in excitement.
"Using a Deck full of justice and courage—we really are destined for each other, Ren! My turn! Draw!"
"A Deck of justice?"
Miles frowned slightly, curious what she meant.
As Korys drew her card, her first monster hit the field.
"I Normal Summon in Attack Position—[Exosister Elis]!"
...
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