"Viel the loli… yeah, no doubt about it—she's 100% a shameless merchant."
There's a saying: merchants aren't saints. It's all about making money—nothing to be embarrassed about.
And since Ren clearly looked like a total newbie who knew nothing about D-Wheels, in most shopkeepers' eyes, she was a fat sheep waiting to be fleeced—fleeced to the bone, even.
Viel was no exception.
Still, even if she was a fleece-happy huckster, she hadn't actually said anything egregiously false.
A custom D-Wheel? The workshop's D-Wheels were indeed custom-made.
Quality that "crushes" the standard market models? Also not wrong.
Given Viel's skills, using the exact same parts, the D-Wheel she produced would still outperform the average one on the market.
As for what counts as "crushing"… well, that depends on who's judging.
To Viel, a little better was "crushing," and a lot better was also "crushing."
As for Accel Synchro—that part was pure bluster.
The ultimate form of Synchro—the Clear Mind—was that something a Turbo Duel newbie could just stumble into?
In short, it was marketing.
For a 100 SP D-Wheel, after deducting the cost of parts, Viel had planned to "earn with tears in her eyes"… about 80.
Right up until Ren pulled out Alester's referral card…
'Tch. What a troublesome guy,' the shameless loli clicked her tongue inwardly.
If they had Alester's card and called him "senpai," then this girl had to be his junior from Fusion Academy.
Considering the exchange program was being hosted by Synchron Academy this year, Fusion students showing up in Axet made perfect sense.
If Alester sent his juniors to her shop for a D-Wheel, it meant he fully vouched for them.
And since Viel was one of Alester's few close friends—and still owed him for springing her from jail back in the capital—even a shameless loli had to show face.
The price hike wasn't to gouge a friend of a friend—it was because if she were going to go all out on a D-Wheel, she'd have to use the very best materials.
After all, this was Alester's request. If Fusion Academy lost to the other two academies on D-Wheel performance, she'd have no face left in front of an old friend.
"150 SP. Not a single point less."
"That's too much! Boss, you're just jacking up the price!"
Hearing that Alester's name made it more expensive, Ren panicked.
"Don't be hasty, customer. The price is higher, but in exchange, I'll build you the strongest D-Wheel. If you trust my friendship with Alester."
"The strongest… D-Wheel."
Ren really didn't want to believe this loli boss was the type to fleece acquaintances.
But for some reason, everything this cute-yet-shameless loli said felt… convincing.
"Even so, I really don't have enough money right now."
Ren pulled out the SP Points card she'd just earned from the duel.
"Seventeen SP… that's everything I have. If you can wait, I can try to get 30 more."
Those 30 points were, of course, on Aisha's SP card.
"No waiting. If I'm going to finish before sunset, I have to start now. As for the money…"
Frowning, the shameless loli made a hard choice.
"For Alester's sake, I'll put it on credit. We'll settle it later."
Fusion Academy students would be dueling a lot during the exchange at Synchron; they'd rack up plenty of SP by "powering up" through battles.
"You'll really let us buy on credit!?"
"Still, I'll need a down payment. Your 17 SP will do."
There was no helping it—if she didn't take a job soon, the workshop would truly go under.
Seventeen SP wasn't much; despite that, it was enough to keep this tiny, shabby shop afloat a little longer.
If not for the fact that, officially, she was still a convict locked up in a cell and couldn't earn SP herself, would the great Viel Sandrion have fallen this low?
"Please rest here for a bit, customer. I should be done by dusk."
With that, Viel gestured to Luca, who stood off to the side at a loss.
"Keep attending to the customer. Don't neglect her. And don't let anyone interrupt me until I'm finished."
Luca nodded silently.
"Done by dusk? That fast?"
By Ren's estimate, sunset was at most two hours away.
To build a top-tier custom D-Wheel in two hours—just who was this loli boss?
"Guess I'll have to go all out for the first time in a while!"
Viel rolled up her sleeves—pale, tiny arms bared—pumped up and oddly adorable.
"Good luck, boss."
She dove into the rearmost room of the dilapidated shop—the actual workshop.
After the iron door clanged shut and locked, it took less than two minutes for a cascade of sounds to pour out—hammering, roaring flames, shattering glass—ceaselessly intertwining.
With so many different sounds at such high frequency, it was hard to imagine Viel was working alone.
"Think she's got hidden little elves back there doing the work… like those old fairy tales?" Ren mused.
In any case, since Viel had made it clear they mustn't disturb her, Ren didn't push her luck—she just found a spot to sit and wait.
"Found a spot," meaning the lone chair behind the counter where Viel greeted customers.
Sitting there, Ren felt like she was the one minding the shop.
In a place like this, that had to be easy—there were no customers anyway.
"Please."
A little later, Luca brought over a cup of hot tea—and even managed a rare "please."
Apparently, Viel had taught her the basic phrases for customer service.
Dutiful as instructed, Luca continued to attend to Ren.
"Please."
Another "please," and Luca pulled a slightly stale piece of bread from who-knows-where.
Bread and tea—a simple afternoon snack.
Looking at this Luca Slint so different from the one in her memories, Ren couldn't help asking, "Luca, you really don't remember anything?"
Luca nodded.
"Do you… not want to know who you were before?"
Luca shook her head.
"Just this kind of life—is that enough for you?"
Luca nodded again.
"I see…"
Watching Luca in the shop, Ren felt like she should do something—though honestly, she hadn't known Luca all that well.
If Aisha were here, what would she say?
Miles said, "Ren, I think the best thing we can do is not tell anyone Luca's here."
"Sigh… not even Little Ai?"
"Especially not Aisha. With her personality, she'd just tie herself in knots over it."
To Miles, memory was the core of a person.
The original soul was gone, leaving only Luca Slint's body. With no memories and a completely new personality, this was a new person.
There was no reason to force her to bear the burdens of the Luca Slint who once was.
Living peacefully in a rundown back-alley workshop—doing chores, cooking, occasionally greeting a rare customer.
If that simple life satisfied her, there was no need to dredge up the past for the sake of a name.
"Do it as a favor to me, Ren. Let this be our secret—just between the two of us. Not even Aisha needs to know."
"A secret… just between me and Miles, not even Little Ai…"
Ren's imagination ran away with her, a blush blossoming across her pale cheeks.
Sharing a secret with the one you like… and Aisha not knowing it?
She knew it was a slightly twisted thing to feel happy about, but the smile tugging at her lips wouldn't be denied.
"Hehe… okay, Miles. I promise. I won't tell Little Ai. This is our secret."
"Smells like… love?"
Watching Ren's goofy, blissful grin, Luca suddenly blurted out.
Why on earth had Viel taught her that phrase? What did that shameless loli even do all day? Who raises a girl like this?
"Luca, have a seat."
…
As dusk approached, the clamor in the workshop finally died down.
"Finished—!"
With an excited cry in that childish voice, the top-tier D-Wheel was born.
"She really finished before sunset…"
Even Ren, skeptical until the end, was completely won over by Viel's skill.
Miles said, "That's… insanely cool!"
Parked inside the workshop, the D-Wheel looked unlike most Ren had seen.
Transparent crystal layered with pure white metal formed the body of the bike. Under the evening light, it glittered brilliantly—fashion at max, even at rest.
It was the perfect realization of Miles's Turbo Duel dreams.
"Take her for a spin," Viel said, patting the frame with her tiny palm.
"As my finest work, the performance is top-tier. That said, since you're the customer—feel it for yourself."
"A t-test ride…"
At the phrase, Ren's ruby eyes blinked awkwardly.
She'd suddenly realized a very important problem.
"Miles, what do I do? I… I can't ride a bike!"
She'd never touched a D-Wheel—of course, she couldn't ride.
Sure, D-Wheels had autopilot; albeit, autopilot wouldn't showcase performance, and it certainly couldn't reach Accel Synchro.
Only by taking the handlebars yourself and entering that world of speed could you reach the pinnacle of a Turbo Duel.
Which meant—it was Miles's time to shine.
"Leave it to me, Ren!"
He flashed the "Motorcycle Driver's License" that had somehow appeared in his Soul Room, instantly earning admiring looks from Dark Aisha and Stardust-chan beside him.
They had no idea what it was—but it looked impressive.
"For a card nerd, riding a D-Wheel is a dream come true!"
"Th-then I'll leave it to you, Miles!"
The Millennium Puzzle flashed—and Miles swapped into Ren's body, vaulting onto the ultra-stylish D-Wheel.
Operating it wasn't fundamentally different from a normal motorcycle.
And thanks to the Spirit Eyes, there was no need to mount a Duel Disk on the D-Wheel—he could just slam cards down on the track.
"Oh? So that's how that artifact's used."
Viel glanced at the glinting Puzzle, pondered for a moment, then donned her business smile again.
"Well? Satisfied with this D-Wheel?"
"Mind if I run two laps?"
"By all means—enjoy the test drive."
"Let's go!"
With a roar, the engine came alive. Miles twisted the throttle—and the "top-tier" D-Wheel unleashed acceleration that stunned even him.
Launch acceleration was vital in Turbo Duels.
First turn was decided by which rider cleared the first corner first. Whoever did—took the initiative.
And with Speed Counters in play, the first move often meant advantage.
"This is a great D-Wheel," Miles couldn't help but praise.
Under the dusk glow, Ren's long red hair streamed in the wind, more vivid than ever.
Immersed in speed, Miles's mind grew crystal clear.
If only he could duel now—Synchro Summon now—he felt he could break his limits.
Faster and faster—the speed rose until even Viel was shocked.
"Wait—this speed… it isn't normal!"
Without the Field Spell [Speed World], a D-Wheel shouldn't reach that kind of velocity outside a Turbo Duel.
And yet, even without Speed World, Miles had clearly broken that limit.
In Viel's understanding, there was only one possibility.
"The Clear Mind? No way… reaching that on a first ride? Alester, what kind of monsters did you send me!?"¹
Only Duelists who entered that state could draw out a D-Wheel's full speed potential.
Accelerate, accelerate—ever faster—
And at the very limit—
Beyond even light!
"He vanished!?"
Viel's eyes went wide as Miles disappeared into the sunset.
"Hey—you haven't paid yet!"
***
¹ yugioh.fandom.com/wiki/Clear_Mind (Pretty interesting)
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