Draws Are a Serious Matter #3
Yeah, we're talking prime seventeen-year-old youth here.
In a world without TV or the internet, the keyword "forest weirdo" is enough to ignite even the most dormant sense of adventure.
But that sure as hell doesn't mean you should crawl into a goddamn bug-infested field on your own two feet!
"Ah~, let me cast some magic first~."
"⋯⋯Magic?"
"Yep~ There'll probably be a ton of mosquitoes and stuff~."
But magic was magnificent.
Adella drew up her mana and gave a little wave of her hand, and a clear, refreshing fragrance swirled between us.
"There~. No more bug worries now~."
"Oh ho, an elf's secret spell?"
"Ehehe~. That's right, Lady Alessia~. Even elves hate bugs, you know~."
And elves were even more magnificent. No wonder they built an empire that lords over the entire continent!
I swallowed back tears of gratitude as I watched the bugs fleeing from Adella's magic.
It didn't even smell as harsh as mosquito repellent, yet the effect was incredible. On Earth, Adella would've snagged a Nobel Peace Prize or something!
Alright, if it's like this, I'm game. As a mature adult, tagging along on these kids' adventure for a bit? Piece of cake!
"Ah~ Ricardo's perked up~."
She must've noticed the shift, because Adella beamed and poked my cheek. Feeling awkwardly embarrassed, I changed the subject.
"But seriously, how do we find a weirdo we don't even know exists?"
They weren't planning to comb the whole forest at night, right? ⋯⋯Nah, they wouldn't.
"Hmm~ Good point~."
"Uahaha! We just search the forest, of course!"
No, you lunatic. I shot Alexander—that musclehead whose brain seemed buried under his own bulk—a cold glare. Couldn't exactly curse out a foreign prince, but damn, it was frustrating!
"Do you have any idea how vast this forest is? What a foolish notion."
"Eek!"
"One wrong step, and we'll be the ones lost, not finding any weirdo."
Thank goodness we had some sensible folks in the group. Alessia and Eden had never looked more reliable!
"Ahem! So what do we do, then?"
Alexander grumbled, his face instantly souring. His crossed arms flexed with bulging muscles.
"Searching from here would be tough, so let's lure him to us."
"Lure him?"
"You have a method, Rogers?"
"Of course."
Eden adjusted his glasses with index and middle finger. His lenses flashed white for a split second, as if showcasing his intellect. Beyond them, his face seemed to say, 'You came all this way with zero prep?' and 'Good thing I showed up.'
⋯⋯Reliable as ever. If we were electing a class rep, I'd nominate Eden without hesitation!
Unaware he'd gained a supporter, Eden summoned his mana. A bird with a funnel-shaped beak materialized from his power.
"Chatterbox Flicker?"
"Yes."
"Ah~ I know this card too~."
Chatterbox Flicker
A fairly common Support Creature card in Magic & Creature. It let you check the top three cards of your opponent's deck and rearrange them in any order you wanted.
"Not the most versatile creature, but in reality, I can make it repeat whatever phrase I want."
"Oh ho, any phrase?"
"Yes, I use this one as an alarm clock."
"⋯⋯Alarm clock?"
"Even with a rigid routine, sometimes your condition keeps you from waking at the set time."
Who doesn't oversleep now and then? But Eden's face was dead serious. I quietly shut my mouth.
⋯⋯Adella, poster child for sleeping in, stared at him like he'd grown a second head, her sleepy features paling in horror!
Regardless, Eden summoned three more Chatterbox Flickers and imprinted the phrase on them.
"If you want to check the results of your training, confirm it through a duel—not petty pack theft."
-Confirm it!
-Confirm it!
-Confirm it!
-Confirm it!
The Chatterbox Flickers echoed Eden's words. They looked perfect for protests, not alarm clocks. Those beaks were vividly red!
They spread their wings and flew off into the Bewitching Forest, endlessly chanting the phrase Eden fed them. Their raucous voices echoed dully through the trees.
"Now, we wait a moment⋯⋯."
A──── Ahhhhhh────.
Before Eden could finish, a booming voice roared from afar.
It sounded like an ape's howl at first, closing in fast. Thud!
"Whoa, he came~!"
"The forest weirdo!"
"Eek!"
A musclebound mass rivaling Alexander burst from the shadows.
"Who's calling me a weirdo!"
The guy—who was obviously a weirdo—bellowed thunderously.
His waist-length black hair was a tangled mess of twigs and leaves. Beneath it, his pitch-black eyes gleamed like a beast's, piercing the night.
His bare upper body rippled with muscle, covered in minor scratches and bug bites.
He jabbed a thick, callus-covered finger at Eden.
"And you! Judging by the mana, you're the one who summoned those Chatterbox Flickers. Who're you calling a thief?!"
"Not denying it?"
"Of course! I paid properly!"
"The shop staff said there's no record."
"Obviously! I snuck in at night, left the money, and took the packs!"
He'd even infiltrated the academy proper. Legendary security bypass.
"⋯⋯For real? If you wanted cards, why not come during the day and buy them openly?"
Eden said skeptically. Solid logic.
"Couldn't help it! I'd reek right now!"
"⋯⋯Pardon?"
"I bathe as best I can, but living wild has its limits! I don't smell anything, but I can't inflict that on others! Hahaha!"
⋯⋯What an ambiguously upstanding guy!
He's a trespasser, but "upstanding"? Even I'm confused saying it.
"Uh, um⋯⋯."
"Ah~. Eden's glitched out~."
"Must be the shock of encountering someone beyond common sense."
Eden fumbled for a moment, adjusted his glasses, and bowed.
"My apologies. I insulted you based on circumstances alone. Please accept them if you can."
"Fine! Apology accepted, you're forgiven!"
The mystery muscleman grinned and nodded. What a straightforward dude.
"Hoo⋯⋯."
Alexander, hand on chin, eyed him intently—then bared his teeth in a grin.
"Impressive muscles! Must be the result of rigorous training!"
⋯⋯He was just checking out the gains!
"Hm? Who're you?!"
"My manners! I am Alexander Wales Belluraca!"
"Belluraca⋯⋯? Royalty?"
"Indeed!"
"That's intriguing! I'm Pollux! No family name!"
The two beefcakes bellowed their chat. It was deafening—like bandits and pirates arguing over who's tougher.
⋯⋯I only thought it, of course—no way I'd say that to a prince!
"You look exactly like a bandit and a pirate."
But Princess Alessia—who outranked him—blurted her honest take!
Nod, nod, nod.
Even timid Beatrice was nodding vigorously!
"So, rumor has it you entered this forest to train your draws?"
"Eh? That's gossip now? Embarrassing! Hahaha!"
"It's true, then! Hey, wanna test your training results!?"
"Oh ho, sounds like you're volunteering to check!"
"Uahaha! Your ears work fine!"
"Hahaha! Perfect! A royal makes a fine opponent!"
Ignoring the rest, the muscle duo had swiftly agreed to a duel.
No Battle Table in sight, though. Who'd stash magitech masterpieces in a deserted forest?
Heading back to the academy? Guards would love that.
"Let's begin!"
Pollux slammed his rhino-thick legs into the ground.
Rumble⋯⋯.
The earth cracked open, and a Battle Table rose from below.
"⋯⋯."
What a mad world.