"Ah, open your mouth."
"Ah~"
"Is it good, Miss Ren?"
"Mmmph… it's tasty… Wait—how did it turn into this!?"
Sure, Axet's specialty strawberry crepes were delicious—anyway, why was Korys feeding her right now?
And what was with this "Miss Ren" thing? That was way too random!
"Miles! This isn't what we agreed on! You said you'd help me reject her properly!"
"(￣ー￣) Uh, I just handle the dueling part. Everything else? Not my department. Haha~"
"Don't copy Little Ai's tone just to dodge responsibility!"
It wasn't that Miles was shirking responsibility… it really had just escalated beyond his expectations.
That final arrow from the Goddess Bow must have struck Korys right in the heart, because now Ren was completely entangled with an Xyz-loving girl.
Turns out, the old saying that girls fall for the one who defeats them in a duel wasn't just a cliché—in the Spirit Continent, where dueling reigned supreme, it could actually happen.
In any case, that duel had earned Ren a solid 17 SP Points.
Only half of what she got in her Stardust vs. Red Dragon Archfiend match, though, considering the sheer energy output of that fight, 17 SPs was a decent haul.
At least this shopping trip wouldn't be limited by a lack of Axet Bitcoin.
"Maybe Synchro Summons are better suited for charging Magic Crystals?"
After two duels, Miles was already analyzing how to earn SP Points more efficiently.
After all, SP wasn't just currency—it was also tied to the crucial Turbo Spells used in Turbo Duels.
'...Damn it. Just mentioning Turbo Duels makes me think about D-Wheels.'
'And this woman… why is she still here? The duel's over, and she's still hanging around getting in the way.'
"Ren, think of a reason to get rid of her."
"But…" Ren looked troubled.
Korys didn't look like someone who could be brushed off easily. And since they were in a public city street, there wasn't much she could do if Korys insisted on walking beside them.
"Ren, I think I'd feel more comfortable if it were just the two of us together."
"!!!!"
"Just… the two of us… together…!"
The D-Wheel was key equipment for the upcoming inter-academy exchange duels, crafted by a workshop personally recommended by Alester—and Miles definitely didn't want this suspected Xyz Academy girl, Korys Diane, knowing about it.
"Korys, I've got something very important to take care of right now."
"That's okay, Miss Ren! You don't have to worry about me—I'll just wander around!"
'…By "wander around," you mean follow us, don't you?'
"If you keep sticking to me, I'll get angry!"
For Miles's sake, Ren finally mustered a bit of assertive energy and snapped back at Korys.
"Ah… w-well…"
Korys's cute pout returned—but that trick no longer worked on Ren. Knowing her personality, that wounded look wouldn't last long anyway.
"Korys! What are you doing out here for so long!?"
A man in a uniform similar to Korys's black academy outfit spotted her trailing behind Ren and jogged over, irritation written all over his face.
"Ah—Lloyd! What are you doing here?"
"What am I doing here? Did you forget we're supposed to regroup in twenty minutes!?"
"Eep! I—I totally forgot! I guess time flies when you're having fun!"
"Heh, 'fun,' huh? Just wait until Leon gets mad—you'll see what the price of skipping out is."
"Ugh, you guys are so stingy!"
With reluctance in her eyes, Korys tugged gently at Ren's finger.
"Miss Ren, it seems we have to part ways for now. That said, fate will surely guide us to meet again!"
"Even if it's not fate, I'm sure we'll meet again anyway," Lloyd interjected, his sharp gaze landing on Ren's uniform.
"You're from Fusion Academy, aren't you? Showing up here at this time must mean you're part of the exchange program too, right?"
"That's right," Ren said.
"Then tell me… what year are you in?" Lloyd pressed.
"Lloyd, what kind of stupid question is that?" Korys chimed in. "Everyone in the exchange program's a third-year! Of course, Miss Ren's a third-year too!"
"You're the stupid one, Korys. I just found out that Fusion Academy only sent one third-year this time. That bottom-ranked school had the nerve to pull that kind of stunt!"
Lloyd's tone grew more irritated.
"Wait—Miss Ren, you mean…" Korys's eyes widened in realization.
"That's right. I'm a second-year student at Fusion Academy."
"So that means… you're… little sister Ren!?"
Miles thought, 'That's what you took from that?'
"Time to go, Korys," Lloyd urged. "Quit with the 'Miss' and 'little sister' stuff. This girl's your next opponent. Honestly, your whole girl-crush thing is disgusting."
"I just don't have any interest in men, that's all."
She stuck her tongue out at his retreating back, then turned to Ren one last time.
"I'm sorry, Miss—uh, Ren…"
She was probably debating what honorific to use.
"Just call me Ren."
Whether it was "Miss" or "Little Sister," either way, it made her feel unbearably awkward.
"Okay. Sorry, Ren. I know strength has nothing to do with year level, though I guess Lloyd still can't accept that yet."
"It's fine. I'm sure once we duel, he'll come around."
In dueling, skill spoke louder than rank. Once she beat him fair and square, he wouldn't dare bring it up again.
"Heh, Ren, you're awfully confident. Still, Lloyd and Leon are both stronger than me—it won't be that easy to convince them."
After all, Xyz Academy had long dominated the Inter-Academy Rankings.
Even if they'd slipped this year, a giant was still a giant. One bad season didn't make them any less formidable.
"Then I'll see you at Synchron Academy, Ren. I can't wait for our official duel."
With a bright, innocent smile, Korys waved and turned to leave.
After a few steps, she looked back, waved again.
Then again.
And again—four, maybe five times… before finally disappearing from sight.
"Phew... Finally dealt with her." Ren let out a long sigh. "Why do I feel like dealing with girls is more exhausting than dueling, Miles?"
Miles' eyes widened. "You just realized that?"
Having shaken off Korys Diane, the clingy tail from Xyz Academy, Ren and Miles could finally focus on reaching the Witch Workshop Alester had mentioned.
It was supposedly located in a small town near Synchron Academy.
However, as they followed the signposts deeper in, Ren and Miles noticed fewer people around—and the buildings grew older and shabbier.
The area was so remote it seemed to have fallen out of Axet Republic's modern technological style entirely.
It looked more like a slum hidden behind the glitter of the city.
Given the conditions, Miles couldn't help but doubt whether a workshop here could really craft something as advanced as a D-Wheel.
"Ah, looks like the signposts end here."
Ren looked up, puzzled.
Well, not gone—more like torn down.
Only a half-ripped flyer remained where the street sign should've been.
"What now, Miles?"
"We should be close. Let's ask someone for directions."
"Ask for directions… right…"
Ren swallowed nervously.
As social as she was at Fusion Academy, this place was… different.
Every "local" they saw looked like trouble.
A burly man with one eye hidden under a black eyepatch, reeking of liquor.
A scar-faced uncle whose glare could kill—and probably had.
And an old man with gold teeth who'd been eyeing Ren up and down ever since they entered the area.
"...…"
A whole lineup of "colorful" characters… none of them approachable. How was she supposed to talk to any of them?
Just as Ren was hesitating, a girl completely out of place here skipped past her—holding a small basket of groceries, practically glowing compared to her surroundings.
Ren and Miles both shouted at once:
"That's—!"
Not because the girl was cute.
Not because she dared walk alone through such a dangerous area.
But because that figure was unmistakably familiar.
One black knee-high sock, one white; long golden hair; an angelic face with a light car running from her eye.
"Luca Slint!?"
Even if she turned to ash, Miles would never mistake her.
The same Luca who was supposed to have been burned—body and soul—by the divine flames of The Winged Dragon of Ra during the Battle of the Capital… was now walking through the slums of Axet City.
"Ren, follow her!"
"I know!"
The dead Luca appearing before them—something that shouldn't even be possible—was now real and right before their eyes.
No matter what, they had to find out the truth.
...
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