Drawing is a Serious Matter #2
“⋯⋯So, humanity’s pressing challenge is to find a way to overcome food shortages in response to our ever-growing population⋯⋯ Even now, starving people are dying every year in impoverished nations⋯⋯.”
In the midst of elderly Professor Gilbert’s social studies lecture, Adella—who, for once, wasn’t dozing off—poked my cheek and whispered.
“Ricardo, Ricardo~.”
“Yeah?”
“Y’know, I was thinking~. Yesterday was the day the new packs arrived, right~?”
“It was.”
I’d checked after morning roll call, but for some reason the shop was still closed, so I couldn’t buy any.
“Wanna go after class~?”
“⋯⋯I’m down, but can I ask why first?”
From the context, it didn’t feel like just “let’s grab some new cards ’cause I’m curious.”
And sure enough, my hunch was spot on.
“’Cause that rumored weirdo might’ve stolen some packs~. We can check while we’re at it~.”
Which one’s the side quest here?
It was probably just one of those urban legends you find at any school anyway, like I’d said earlier.
⋯⋯Or at least, it had to be.
For one thing, I really hoped there wasn’t some lunatic nearby who’d crawl into bug-infested mountains—especially mosquito hellholes—just to train their draw skills.
And for another, I hoped our security wasn’t so pathetic that said lunatic could waltz right into the academy!
“⋯⋯Eh, let’s go.”
But I nodded anyway. Weirdo or not, I bought new packs whenever my wallet allowed. It strengthened my deck, sure, but more than that, it was just fun.
Anyone who cracked open card packs as a kid would get it. Stickers alone were a blast just from the ripping!
Even if it wasn’t some powerhouse card, pulling a rare with that shiny foil made you grin like an idiot.
Online card games and gachas were great, but nothing beat tearing into a physical pack.
The new card smell, the texture—it got your heart racing.
One perk of reincarnating here? No side-eye for binging packs. In my past life, Mom would’ve yelled, You’re too old for that card crap! But now? I could say with pride: I’m boosting my social specs!
“Hm-hm~ It’s a promise~?”
“Yeah.”
“Yay~.”
Having wrangled my agreement, Adella beamed like a puppy and stuck out her pinky.
“Oh ho, a promise, is it? I’m intrigued myself.”
If Professor Gilbert’s voice hadn’t cut in, I could’ve smiled back and hooked it.
“What manner of vow demands pinkies during this sacred lesson? Miss Belluna, Mr. Bardi.”
“Eep~.”
Professor Gilbert, with his impeccably trimmed goatee, fixed us with owl-like, piercing eyes.
I promptly bowed my head.
“Sorry, sir!”
When in doubt, lead with the forehead.
§
After class ended—probably thanks to the new packs—the hallway to the shop was swarming with students.
Outliers like me or high nobles with full Origin card pools from family training were less desperate, but kids from modest houses or commoners clearly needed strong Support cards to fill gaps.
“Whoa~ So many people~.”
Adella drawled her dismay, her perpetually sleepy face gone pale as a ghost. Impressive, in a way.
“Yeah, makes sense.”
“Hmph! As royalty, yielding to the masses is virtuous! But as a Magic & Creature player, I cannot yield! This is dire!”
“If you get that, why not head back to class like a good boy, Alexander? Your bulk’s making this cramped hall even tighter.”
“Eek!”
Not just Adella—my classmates Eden, Alexander, and Princess Alessia were here too. Beatrice had tagged along after Alessia, as if it were obvious.
“Hahaha! I shan’t, Alessia! You’re here too!”
“I’m here for smoother classmate relations.”
“Not to beg Ricardo Bardi for a duel?”
“⋯⋯.”
“Whoops.”
Alessia’s eyes—glowing crimson like a cradled lotus flame—pinned Alexander. Without this world’s rules, her hands would’ve been around his throat by now!
“Ack!”
“Incoming!”
“Hey, no pushing!”
Then murmurs rippled through the crowd. On tiptoes, I spotted uniformed folks striding through the academy gates.
Wrinkle-free suits, slick faces—like sharp salarymen. Each wore a different badge on their chest, likely their trading company’s emblem.
“Promo team.”
Eden muttered. Right on—reps from Support card makers, here to pitch to students.
No TV or internet here, so footwork was key in this cutthroat market.
⋯⋯Kinda weird when it’s promo for new sticker packs, though!
“And now! We begin sales of the new Support card packs⋯⋯but first, introductions.”
The lead man spoke with elegant cheer. His badge: a blazing phoenix.
“I am Alberto Borromeo, vice president of Phoenix Trading Company, the Ardia Kingdom’s largest merchant house. Delighted to meet you juniors!”
Borromeo? Diego’s second brother?
Alberto scanned the crowd, his gaze lingering on me—frowning ever so slightly.
He knew my face.
“─Our Phoenix pack’s theme is fire! Blazing crimson lotus! Inside, you’ll find⋯⋯.”
But he didn’t show it, diving into his pitch with gusto. Glancing at Alessia now and then. From the name and vibe, probably packed with cards she’d love.
“⋯⋯Hmph.”
“Eep⋯⋯!”
Alessia let out a discomforted grunt. Beatrice, ever watchful of her princess, predictably yelped.
Phoenix wrapped up, then other companies took the stage.
The students buzzed like they were on fire.
“⋯⋯That concludes our promotions! Reach out for your brighter future!”
Woooah!
Alberto’s finale as MC unleashed the horde—like starving buffalo charging the shop.
We hung at the tail end and snagged one pack each.
Carefully peeling mine—no damage to the cards—a parade of plain normals led to the fifth, face-down.
⋯⋯Oh ho, our territory packs didn’t have this gimmick. Fancy academy shipments even had flair.
Heart pounding, I checked the fifth.
“Ooh.”
The art shimmered before I even read it. Grin crept up. Shiny.
“Ugh~ Bust~.”
“Hm, one pack’s a stretch. But some might be usable with tweaks.”
“Grr⋯⋯! Lightning elemental creature? My sea warriors’d get charred!”
“Hmm⋯⋯.”
“Eep!”
Others struck out. Risky—bragging rights incoming.
“How’d you do, Ricardo~? Whoa~!?”
Adella’s eyes went wide at my subtly held card’s gleam.
“Rare~? Lemme see~?”
“Sure.”
“Where~? Magic circle card~? Grave-Robbing Mage - Heretu~?”
She whispered, careful not to leak info.
“Steals magic circles from opponent’s grave⋯⋯. Ooh~, neat effect~.”
“Right? Looks fun.”
“Putting it in your deck~?”
“Not always, but if needed.”
“Hehe~ Congrats, Ricardo~.”
“Nice one, Bardi.”
“Enviable!”
“Congratulations, young Lord Bardi.”
“C-Congrats to you too⋯⋯!”
The kids cheered genuinely. I flushed a bit, thanked them plainly, and mentally smashed the trash-talk troll poking its head out.
As we geeked over pulls, an odd convo drifted over.
“Weird, right? One pack’s missing?”
“Huh? You miscounted? With this crowd⋯⋯.”
“No, I track ledgers tight. One’s empty for sure.”
“Lemme see. ⋯⋯Whoa, for real? What gives?”
“You skim it?”
“Hey! Don’t even joke!”
“Sorry, but seriously?”
⋯⋯A missing pack? Ominous.
“Gasp~!”
And cue Adella gulping. She’d donned a detective hat from who-knows-where atop her pink hair.
“A case~!”
“Hrm! So the forest weirdo’s real!”
Alexander flexed his bronze muscles in agreement. Alessia and Eden’s eyes sharpened too, though they stayed quiet.
“Nah, probably a mix-up⋯⋯.”
I mutter-rebelled. I saw the forest trip trajectory—no bug hell for me!
“Hahaha! Fear not, Ricardo Bardi! I, Alexander Wales Belluraca, shall fell the fiend! No burden on thee alone!”
No, duels fine—but bugs? Mountains now meant mosquito apocalypse!
Military bug-slaying mastery didn’t mean I liked bites, damn it!
But time slipped. Next I knew—
“Alright~! Let’s hunt the forest fiend~!”
“Ooh!”
“Well, technically, students out past curfew or in Bewitching Forest breaks rules⋯⋯.”
“Too late⋯⋯ Er, Eden~! This is noble Nicola class upholding academy peace—vigilante duty~!”
“⋯⋯Fair point.”
“As royalty, I can’t ignore card thief rumors.”
“Eep!”
Somehow, midnight. Me and the crew at Bewitching Forest’s edge.
“Ah.”
You guys just wanted the thrill, weirdo’s an excuse? Teens!
I squeezed my eyes shut.