The Viper's Camouflage

Alessia had said as much, but she was deeply displeased.

Of course, that anger wasn't directed at Ricardo. The princess's wrath was reserved solely for Diego.

His words and actions trampled the banner of equality left by the academy's founder, the progenitor archmage. His transparent advances were obvious, and he'd even dared to sabotage the duel she'd long anticipated.

"Eek…"

The moment the duel with Ricardo had been decided, Alessia had struggled to contain her joy. If there hadn't been onlookers—if she weren't a princess of a nation—she would've jumped for joy on the spot! But to ruin that duel!

"Eek…!" "Beatrice, you've been noisy for a while now. Someone might think I'm the one tormenting you."

"Eek! S-Sorry, Your Highness… I-it just slips out…"

"Then hold it in."

"Y-Yes, ma'am!"

Alessia shot a glance at Beatrice, who clutched her old amulet in one hand and clamped her mouth shut with the other, then crossed her arms and sank into her chair. Beneath her delicate brows, her crimson eyes blazed fiercely, fueled by fury toward Diego and anticipation for what Ricardo would show in this duel.

"Erhun, that was an intriguing tactic. The power in each creature is modest, but you made good use of their traits."

"…Yes, sir."

With the twenty teams' duels concluded, Professor Georgia continued his flat assessment to Erhun standing before him.

"That said, keep in mind the lack of a decisive blow. Your Origin Cards won't evolve overnight, but there are plenty of support cards on the market that can boost firepower without ruining your deck's balance. Check them out—the library has relevant materials."

"Yes, sir."

"Good. Well done. Next."

Erhun, her face like she was suppressing something fiercely, trudged away. Diego followed, scowling, and stood defiantly before the professor.

"Diego Borromeo."

"Yes, Professor."

"Get your head in the game."

"Pardon?"

Professor Georgia swept back his long, unkempt hair and stared Diego down.

"Your play in that last duel was a mess. You weren't even properly watching your opponent to begin with."

"…What do you mean by that?"

"Distracted by someone else, figuring the opponent was just some commoner. You thought you could slack off. That's why you missed chances and got dragged around by Erhun."

"I won!"

"Do you really think you won? ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Your own face says otherwise."

"Kuh…"

The professor's bloodshot, dead-fish eyes flashed as his blunt barbs stabbed like spearpoints. Diego faltered under the intensity for a moment, but soon bristled defiantly.

"I'm a scion of the Borromeo marquisate. No need to go all out against some commoner…!"

"Hey."

Georgia's voice dropped chillingly cold. Diego, mid-rebuttal, clamped his mouth shut.

"You think this is your family's backyard?"

"What…"

"Using your status as a shield? That's not ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠tolerated here at the academy. Yes, nobles start ahead of commoners, but who reaches the goal first isn't set in stone. Remember that."

"…"

"This isn't your fancy house, and I'm not your nanny—I'm your professor. Erhun isn't 'just' a commoner; she's a prodigy who made it into Nicola Class despite her disadvantages. And you? With better conditions, you can't even show your true skill and get distracted by irrelevancies."

The professor let out a deep sigh before continuing.

"If you can't even recognize the person right in front of you, you'll never move forward. That's what I mean by get your head in the game."

Diego's fists trembled under the professor's razor-sharp words. In a strangled voice, he asked,

"…So, if I dueled the one who distracted me, things might be different?"

"What?"

Diego whipped his head around. Just then, that very opponent was walking toward him.

"In that case, duel me, Ricardo Bardi!"

"What a coincidence. I was thinking the same."

Ricardo calmly parried the hostile tone. His red eyes turned to Professor Georgia.

"Professor, I'd like to duel Marquis Borromeo's son. Lady Alessia has consented."

"You know he just dueled, right?"

"Of course. We can take a break if needed…"

Ricardo glanced at Diego's twisted smirk, shrugged, and added,

"But it doesn't seem necessary."

"Haa…"

Professor Georgia scratched his head roughly, as if this freshman class had been a headache since day one. After a moment's thought, he spoke.

"…Fine. Proceed."

"Thank you."

"This generation's full of troublemakers… Let's see, Alessia."

"Yes, Professor."

"You… hmm…"

"Hahaha! Professor! I'm still fresh as ever! If it's a problem, I'll take him on!"

"Right, Alexander. You do it. And use proper honorifics."

"Noted!"

Alexander Wales Belluraca, with perfect timing, grinned at Ricardo. For a bear of a man, he had a sly, fox-like side.

My duel with Diego commenced immediately. After apologizing to the teams whose turns we'd delayed, I stood calmly across from him.

"I've been waiting for this, Ricardo Bardi."

"Is that so."

"I don't know how a backwater count's son manifested a dragon creature, but I'll expose your true bottom."

"Are you deaf?"

"What?"

"The professor just chewed you out for that status crap, and you're still on about it? Quit flapping your gums and use cards if you've got something to say."

I shot back with a bored expression, and Diego's face was a sight to behold. His lips quivering in rage, he yanked his deck from his pocket and slammed it onto the battle table.

"Fine! I'll show you my venom melting your scrap heaps to nothing!"

"Sure you will."

No more words needed. Our mouths opened in unison.

Medici Knight's die, already on the battle table, began dancing on its own.

Diego rolled ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠a 5. I got an 8. I had first turn.

"My turn."

I drew a card at the start. Five cards in hand. No Zone Cards, unfortunately.

But I'd manage without.

"I summon Cursed Wooden Doll."

The battle table hummed, reading out the card's info. Soon, the [Wooden Doll] appeared on the field. Diego sneered at its crude form.

"Cursed Wooden Doll… That again! Trying the same tired tactic on me?"

"I set two magic circles and end my turn."

I ignored his taunt, did what I needed, and passed. He gnashed his teeth and drew.

"My turn! I summon Serpent Sorceress - Gorgon Witch!"

With his declaration, pale purple mist seeped onto the battle field. From the thickening haze emerged a ghostly woman, piping a sinister tune.

Her revealing attire marked her human, but the eyes gleaming coldly from her hood's shadow were slit like a serpent's.

"And I activate the magic circle, Serpent's Camouflage that Squeezes Out Grudges! When a Serpent creature in my zone defeats an opponent, once per turn, I can equip that card to my creature!"

"Hmm."

"Then, two turns later, send the equipped card to the opponent's graveyard and stack a Venom Gauge on this circle!"

It felt tailor-made to snipe my [Cursed Wooden Doll]. The Doll's revival triggers only when defeated by an opponent. If equipped via the Camouflage effect and sent to the grave, no revival.

"Continuing, Gorgon Witch attacks the Wooden Doll! Call Viper!!"

The woman's pipe erupted in a ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠frenzied melody. The purple mist writhed, birthing a viper that crunched into the [Wooden Doll].

Black magic or not, the toy-like Doll shattered and vanished into the serpent's camouflage.

"If you thought that trash would work on me, you were mistaken! Turn end! Hahaha!"

Diego crowed triumphantly. But aren't you forgetting something?

Alexander, who'd suffered from the Doll before, was glaring at you with extreme displeasure.