Chapter 43: The Climbing Serpent #2
“Huh...?”
The monkey cried out.
It wasn't the creature opening its mouth and rolling its tongue. The magitech device strapped to its head lit up with intricate magic circles, emitting the voice.
If you won't back down! It's a duel!
“Huuuh...?”
Whether it interpreted Diego's stunned, frozen stance as defiance, the monkey irritably raised its left arm.
The moment its will transmitted, the Battle Arc activated automatically. Strangely, the Battle Arc attached to Diego's left arm began moving in sync.
“What the...?”
Diego muttered in a dazed voice. His face was more vacant than ever.
“—Ah, there you are! How in the world did you bypass the security protocols...?”
At that moment, a man emerged from the bushes beyond. Dull blond hair as unkempt as the monkey's fur. Pale skin suggesting long days without sunlight. Dark fatigue hung beneath eyes framed by round glasses.
Dressed like the mages from the mage towers, he immediately drew up his mana. The monkey's magitech device reacted at once. It clutched its head in agony, twisting its body, then froze in place like a stuffed specimen.
“Hic— Hic—.”
But the pain didn't vanish; endless sobs leaked from the stationary monkey's mouth.
“Eee...? Who...?”
The man nodded in apparent relief, then blankly muttered upon seeing Diego.
“An academy student...? Huh, this area's off-limits, though... Ah, hehehe, I see. A midnight escapade? Something like that?”
“...Who the hell are you?”
Diego asked, masking his tension with haughty arrogance—like a hedgehog bristling its spines.
He almost jutted his chin out instinctively but stopped short, realizing it mimicked his half-brother.
“As you can see, I'm a mage from the Gray Mage Tower... Hehehe, our project's kept me so swamped lately... Regrettable to meet you in such shabby attire...”
“Project?”
Diego sensed it tied directly to the monkey before him.
...But a Gray Mage Tower mage?
The Gray Mage Tower researched and produced card accessories.
Card protectors, deck cases, Battle Table tech, and so on... The Battle Arc itself was their invention.
Diego had no direct ties, but his half-brother Alberto's Phoenix Merchant Guild was their biggest patron, so he knew the basics.
Why would they suddenly monkey around—with a literal monkey?
“Yes... Hm, no harm in telling you, I suppose...”
The mage glanced at the Battle Arc on Diego's arm, then muttered after a moment's thought.
“As you know, nurturing elite Magic & Creature players is a common goal across the continent's nations. The mouths to feed grow daily, demanding more fertile land... Which requires stronger players...”
“...So? You're seriously saying you're making monkeys duel?”
Diego pressed, the absurdity fueling his demand. The mage stepped back slightly.
“Well, why not...? Worth a shot. You know magical beasts can generate Origin Cards and play Magic & Creature too? This monkey's no beast, but among animals, it's smart—viable as manpower filler...”
“...Manpower?”
“Yes, though it needs aids like the device on its head to guide thoughts and select optimal judgments... Without it, thoughts scatter everywhere, you see?”
Diego barely heard the rest.
Just that word: resource.
An earful from his father, Marquis Borromeo, all his life. Diego's brow twitched. Dangerous fury flickered in his eyes.
“What bullshit. A beast playing Magic & Creature? This is idiotic!”
His gaze flicked to the monkey. Its will utterly ignored, suppressed in torment. Perhaps Diego felt a kinship there.
“Idiotic...? Hm, troublesome... Dismissing our efforts like that...”
“Efforts? Don't make me laugh.”
If this man was truly from the Gray Mage Tower, antagonizing him could spell trouble later.
But Diego couldn't—no, wouldn't—suppress the impulse burning inside.
“You got a deck, right? Prove your words with cards! Duel—right now!”
Diego declared, slotting his main deck into the Battle Arc.
The self-proclaimed Gray Mage Tower mage replied with a troubled yet sly expression.
“That's a problem... Sadly, I don't have a deck on me. Mage tower schedules are brutal, as you know.”
“What?”
“But here's the real issue... That Battle Arc attached to you. Portable by design, but also for subduing criminals... Can't hunt fugitives with full Battle Tables everywhere, right? 'Bind 'em with a duel!' Hehehehe.”
“...”
“Meaning, no duel, no release... It's a prototype mid-development, after all. Oh dear, what to do...?”
...Fine, putting a prototype on a monkey made sense. It was an experiment for proxy-playing Magic & Creature.
But why two Battle Arcs? The one that hit Diego earlier—wasn't it from the monkey too?
No, something odder.
If this was legit Gray Mage Tower work, why test in this forest? The Bewitching Forest encircling Federico Academy?
...Diego sensed the hidden intent in it all.
“You... did this on purpose...?”
“No idea what you mean... How could I predict some student crawling into these woods...?”
The mage smirked.
“But since it's come to this, one proposal... Duel this test subject, AS-1023. Win or lose, I'll release your Battle Arc.”
Win or lose. The words stoked Diego's inferiority complex. Implying he might lose—even to a monkey?
“Ah, and I'll overlook your midnight dorm escape and trespassing... No report to the academy...”
“Ha!”
Diego bellowed, voice bubbling with rage.
“You think a monkey can beat me? Fine! If I win, you scrap this stupid experiment!”
“If you win...?”
The mage latched onto it with a creepy tone.
“You don't sound confident.”
He grinned unpleasantly, muttering loud enough to be heard.
“Would've been nice if it was a skilled student.”
Grind...
The teeth-gnashing echoed thickly. Source: Diego, glaring like a wounded beast.
“What did you say...?”
“Ah, sorry... No insult intended. Just...”
The mage shrugged theatrically.
“Researcher's regret, let's say. Yes, that fits.”
“Regret...?”
“Yes, we crave superior samples.”
His alcohol-shake fingers pointed at the monkey—AS-1023.
“For real-world viability, we need duel data against aces. Obvious, right?”
Bloodshot eyes rolled toward Diego with a near-audible rumble.
“Your look screams Nicola Class—had some hopes. Age aside, they're usually solid.”
But—the mage trailed off. Every gesture scraped Diego's nerves.
“You seem lacking, that's all. Sorry if misunderstood?”
Diego clenched his fist. Nails bit flesh—vivid, ignored.
“Me, lacking confidence...?”
“Yes, Magic & Creature tests mental fortitude. Studies show it shows in actions—like speech habits.”
The mage tapped his protruding tongue.
“...”
“A truly confident student wouldn't say 'if I win' before dueling a monkey. They'd know victory—beast or not.”
“Keep yapping like you're hot shit... But I said it.”
Diego raised his left arm's Battle Arc, voice boiling.
“Prove it with cards if you're right!”
The mage's lips curled. He nodded readily.
“Fine. It'll make decent data... Begin, AS-1023. Magic & Creature Duel #197. Academy rules.”
The cold command triggered beeps from both Battle Arcs. Displays showed mutual Soul Points.
Beast vs. human. Test subject vs. student.
Two voices crossed the forest.
—Duel!
Diego drew four cards fluidly. AS-1023 awkwardly reached furry fingers to its deck.
Beep. Battle Arcs acknowledged initial hands with mechanical beeps. Squishy orb-like displays showed dice icons.
Roll. Dice sounds played—poor quality. Diego's: 5. AS-1023's: 6.
My turn! Draw card!
“Kieeeek!”
The device's toneless voice followed the monkey's shrill cry.
AS-1023 studied its five cards intently. Monkey essence demanded more think-time than humans.
I summon Wilderness Wolf!
AS-1023 slammed the creature card into the slot roughly. Battle Arc computed, manifesting a wolf on-field.
—Awooooo—!
★1 / Earth / Beast
Stats: 1,000
A shaggy-furred beast howling under moonlight. Diego's eyes narrowed.
Wilderness Wolf. Low rank, low stats—basic support creature. No special abilities, mass-produced; kids had dusty copies from packs.
Hasn't reached Origin Card generation yet?
He'd wondered about beast Origins. Apparently not that far.
So, beat me with support cards alone...?
Humiliation sparked in Diego's eyes.
Turn end!
“Then my turn!”
Diego drew without hesitation. The display clinked, adding one Mana Crystal.
“My card! Snake Sorceress - Gorgon Witch!”
Card slotted, pale purple mist seeped from the earth.
A ghostly woman emerged, piping suspiciously. Her exposed curves seductive, but serpentine eyes under the hood chilled desire.
★2 / Darkness / Snake, Mage
Stats: 1,500
“And deploy magic circle, Venom Call!”
Diego drew the new card post-Ricardo duel, slotting it.