Decided It That Way From Today
"Ah...."
The creatures faded away quietly, and the Soul Points stamped into the ground.
In response, the four-man team let out heavy sighs all at once.
Then, without anyone leading the way, they all flopped down onto the dirt.
Still, their faces didn't show that signature panic I'd seen from everyone else I'd beaten before.
It was more like, I knew it would end this way.
"We lost, we lost. Total surrender...."
"Surrender's something you do before you lose, you idiot...."
"Ugh, I thought we had something else up our sleeves."
"...What else were you gonna do besides Drunken Hair, you lunatic?!"
"Ah, no! That's not what I meant! I was just saying it's our first time using it today!"
"Shut up, both of you—get away from me!"
That's why they could chat like that. I chuckled softly.
In the midst of it, the 'vanguard' stood up, brushed the dirt off his butt, and approached me, holding out four Rank Chips.
"Here, take 'em. Dragon user."
"You're handing them over more readily than I expected, vanguard."
"...Vanguard? What're you—hey! My name's Marco! Marco Flynn!"
"I wouldn't know. You jumped me in a gang-up without even introducing yourself."
At my deadpan fact-check, the vanguard—no, Marco—winced like he'd been stabbed, then scratched the back of his head awkwardly.
"Well, yeah... We figured we had zero shot otherwise. Didn't expect it to be this hopeless, though."
"I see."
"Heh heh heh~."
Adella Rain Belluna grinned triumphantly. Marco's face flushed a bit as he watched her, but he cleared his throat with a ahem under my steady gaze.
"A-anyway! Take these!"
"Got 'em. Thanks, Adella."
"Yay~."
I handed half of the four Rank Chips I'd received to Adella. She giggled, raised her right hand high, and I flashed a grin back, slapping a hearty high-five.
"Nice play~ Ricardo~."
"You too, Adella."
Now we both had three Rank Chips each. Halfway there. Just three more, and the path to Levitera would open.
"Heh heh, damn...."
As I slotted the Rank Chips into the pre-issued gauntlet, Marco watched us with a wry chuckle.
Picture-perfect sage time!
"Let's go.... We're out anyway—might as well crash in bed and sleep it off.... Oh, bury Raging Boar for me, Kowalski."
"Sniff!"
"Wait, hold up."
"Yeah?"
I casually draped an arm over the vanguard's—no, Marco's—shoulder. His eyes twitched at the unexpected pressure.
Anyone watching might think I was some delinquent, but I stood tall. This was legitimate questioning... or rather, intel gathering!
"Got a question for you, buddy."
"Wh-when did we become buddies...? N-no, sure. Yeah. If we've enjoyed Magic & Creature together, we're buddies, right? Haha, that's why I've got so many friends! Academy forever!"
Marco caught on quick. The moment I stared him down, he admitted we were pals on his own!
"You said earlier you got the Bottle of Greedy from someone."
"Uh, well. Ahem."
"Who was it?"
"No, I mean, what're you—"
"Think a rematch duel might jog your memory?"
"No, I'll tell you, please don't kill me!"
And just like that, he overreacted hard. As if I'd actually kill him!
But good things stay good, so I listened intently as Marco spilled everything.
"Wooow~ Ricardo, you're good at interrogations too.... Hmm~? Why're you covering my eyes, Isabella~?"
"I thought the young master would prefer Lady Belluna keep her innocence intact."
"Ehhh~?"
Thanks as always, Isabella. I focused on Marco's words while quietly giving her a thumbs-up.
§
"Well now.... That fella's ridiculously strong...."
Meanwhile, atop a tree overlooking the duel, there was a figure: a chubby second-year student, Berizin Mulderin.
The jewelry wrapped around his body like coils glittered dazzlingly, even in the shade of the leaves.
"So that's the rumored Dragon card.... Hmm, it's a tad different from the stories, but still...."
His hand, adorned with rings embedded in every finger, stroked his round chin.
"Still, those young'uns put up a decent fight."
His yellow eyes scanned the four-man team of Costanzo, Fabio, and the others. Like he'd had zero expectations, but they'd somehow delivered results.
"They seemed like cheap hires just for the numbers, but this? Plenty of profit left in 'em still."
He chuckled slyly. Then his gaze shifted to Adella.
"That elf girl's got some chops too. Figured she was worthless since she got kidnapped, but elves are elves, eh? Hmm? Now what to do...."
"You look deep in thought, friend."
"Aye, that I am.... Huh?"
Berizin froze at the voice right beside him. He rolled only his yellow eyes to check the source.
Gray hair fluttering in the forest breeze. Eyes gleaming deep crimson even in the shadows, like blood itself.
It was Ricardo, who'd just been chatting intimately with Marco moments ago.
"Spill it to me too. Sharing worries makes 'em lighter, right?"
"H-h-how're you here...."
"Ah, but treetops aren't my thing. Butt's sore already. Wanna climb down and talk?"
"Eh? No, this spot's fine by me.... Gah!"
Ricardo grabbed Berizin's collar from behind and leaped off the branch.
Wind whipping his chubby face, the ground rushing up. As Berizin squeezed his eyes shut—
Thudududu....
A rusty propeller whirred, and gravity eased as something caught them.
Berizin peeked open his eyes to see a [Terraforming Drone] summoned on Ricardo's free arm, lowering them gently to the ground.
"Gueh...."
Of course, the shock didn't vanish. Berizin collapsed face-first, dry-heaving.
Ricardo patted his back.
"Aw, still seasick? Want some water?"
"Y-yeah, if ya could...."
"Lemme see... Need a water bottle.... Ah, this'll do."
Ricardo pulled a card from his pocket: [Bottle of Greedy]. The one Berizin had given the four-man team.
"Here, drink up."
He even poured water from his own bottle into the manifested card and offered it.
"Then let's chat nice and slow."
Berizin's eyes rolled up to meet Ricardo's. In the forest's gloom, those red eyes shone unnaturally bright.
"Why target me, even hiring those guys. And...."
Tap. Tap. Tap.
Ricardo patted his back rhythmically.
"What business do you have with Adella."
Berizin was a second-year at the academy, but also a shrewd merchant.
"Sorryplease don't kill medon't want money? I'll give it all!"
He slammed his head down in perfect prostration. Even to Ricardo, ex-South Korean Army, it was flawless textbook form!
Ricardo almost crossed his legs on reflex. A two-hour rant starting with 'Sorry doesn't end your service life—' bubbled up but he swallowed it.
He hadn't been the type to chew out juniors in his past life, but his squadmate Choi Taewon had been a master, so it'd stuck naturally.
Not that he'd wanted it to!
Ricardo glanced skyward, eyes distant.
What a piece of work that guy was.
His lips twitched upward just a bit.
Discharge was coming anyway—time to vent a little! Rank aside, Ricardo had more rice served under his belt!
§
"So you were only after me from the start?"
"Yes, sirree!"
"Nothing shady planned for Adella?"
"Well, mighta tried a lil' deal maybe. Like, subtle trolling in a tag battle or somesuch...."
"Boo~ That's sneaky~ Adella wouldn't do that~ Boo~."
Adella, dozing with her head nodding beside me, perked up at Berizin's words and thumbs-downed him with a jeer.
Her sleepy face now sported pink brows arched a good fifteen degrees steeper than usual.
"Aw, but slip 'em enough coin and eyes glaze right over...."
"Oh ho."
"No wait sorrypleasesparemedon't want it? Take it all!"
I casually drew a card from my pocket, and Berizin shut up, slamming his head down again.
The form was perfection every time. Had to be from days—no, weeks—of practice.
"So why target me?"
"'Cause you're big game, boss."
Who's boss? I'm a first-year. You're second.
Sure, past life included, I was way older!
"Don't even need to take you down myself—if my hires snag the Dragon user who beat 'those' Seven's Finger goons, that's value sky-high! 'Student backed by Mulderin takes down the Dragon slayer!' Kyah, even I'd bite. Dump sponsorship cash into my firm, I make bank, hires make bank. Win-win, right?"
"And I take the L?"
"Hence the forehead to dirt. Heh heh."
Tongue as slick as they come. True heir to a mega-trading house that even looked down on Phoenix Traders.
Hmm, but this was getting murky. I'd been on guard for Seven's Finger execs infiltrating Battle Island—felt eyes on the ship even. Perfect chance to shake down a 'greed' type like this, but... klutz much?
I met Isabella's eyes. She'd spotted Berizin watching us earlier.
But even she blinked three slow times—our signal for 'judgment pending'.
"Ricardo, Ricardo~."
Then Adella tapped my arm and whispered in my ear.
Had she noticed something? Elf senses or whatever?
"Tell me that signal too~ Keeping secrets is unfair~."
Nope, just Adella being Adella. I chuckled and patted her head a couple times.
"...Boss? Boss? Gettin' heavy now, strength's fadin'. How 'bout a comfy chat, eh? Boss? Hear me? Boss!?"
Berizin kept yapping in perfect prostration, but I tuned him out.
Too busy petting Isabella, who'd subtly offered her head too.
"Boss—!?"
And above all...
I was younger than Berizin.
Decided it that way from today.
No 'boss' here—so no reason to reply!
§
"Heh heh heh...."
A bit away from Ricardo's group.
A student with shimmering pink irises and sly, fox-like eyes smiled meaningfully.
He—or she—stroked their chin with a flirtatious grace.
"What're you doing? Your turn!"
A male student watching, swallowing hard, yelled louder than needed. Desperate to draw even a sliver of attention.
The ambiguous student nodded languidly.
"Fine. Time to put you to sleep."
A sticky sound soaked the forest clearly.