Chapter 281: Is That So?
Chapter 281: Is That So?
This year's Duel Academy tournament garnered unprecedented attention, markedly different from previous years.
The main reason for this was, of course, the involvement of the Manjometh Corporation. With their extensive connections and financial prowess, they had secured a live television broadcast. Their pre-event publicity campaigns had also generated significant hype, piquing the interest of many in this elite academy duel.
As a result, quite a number of people were tuning in to watch the duel on television.
However, regardless of whether they were casual duelists observing with a learning mindset, office workers killing time, or seasoned professionals turning on the TV with a critical eye towards the young newcomers from the academy, they were all soon captivated by the duel—
—because it was genuinely entertaining.
Especially that contestant called You Xuan; he immediately captured the attention of everyone watching the duel on their television screens.
It was impossible not to remember him, as his deck was simply too entertaining. Especially when he gifted his opponent three ugly tokens and then suddenly played an Ice Blade to freeze Manjometh's entire field, the spectators simultaneously gasped and cheered in excitement.
But Manjometh, in this dire situation, managed to draw a card that turned the tables, and he, too, earned quite a few accolades. Even some professional duelists were taken aback by his move.
Have the students of Duel Academy reached such a high level?
And, reportedly, this year's representatives are all first-year freshmen?
Whichever one of these two you pick would undoubtedly have the skills to go pro, right?
Even the staff in the TV station's control room were thoroughly enjoying the duel, pointing and commenting on the duel as it unfolded on the screens. The entire room was filled with a cheerful atmosphere.
Until You Xuan played a D2 Shield, boosting King of Chaos' defense to 6000, and Manjometh, in despair, watched as his Light and Darkness Dragon with 4000 attack points crashed into it.
"Oh, a 6000 defense King of Chaos!" exclaimed one of the staff members excitedly.
"Hahaha, what an interesting kid. He actually managed to beat that incredible dragon with a lowly King of Chaos throughout the entire duel," another staff member chimed in.
Just then, the roar of the person in charge reverberated through the control room: "What are you all laughing about?! Cut! Cut it now!"
Your sponsor is about to lose, and you're all sitting there laughing and having a grand old time? Do you all want to lose your jobs?!
And so, in the very instant when the Light and Darkness Dragon's dragon breath was about to collide with the King of Chaos, all the television screens abruptly turned into a mess of colorful snow. In the blink of an eye, a beautiful hostess appeared on the screens, smiling as she said, "We interrupt this program for a weather update. Today's weather and tomorrow's weather will both be clear and sunny."
". . ."
"Hah?!
Viewers across the nation were flabbergasted.
Are you freaking kidding me? Cutting the feed at such a crucial moment?!
The feeling was akin to having your pants down, only to realize that your grandma was watching, and then some.
Of course, with the duel's outcome abruptly cut off, everyone could guess what had happened, and the act of cutting the live feed was proof enough of the result. The only reason to do so was to spare the loser from embarrassment and give them a way to save face.
". . ."
Manjometh knelt on the ground, his hair and clothes disheveled in the wind.
He had lost, again.
Stranger still, in the moment his LP reached zero, he was surprised to find that he didn't feel as disappointed as he thought he would.
In fact, it almost felt like this outcome was inevitable.
Why?
Had his subconscious already accepted the notion that "I can't possibly win against this guy?"
This realization left Manjometh utterly devastated.
More terrifying than losing was the realization that he had already become accustomed to defeat.
"It was a good duel, Manjometh," You Xuan said.
Remarkable progress? Kneeling on the ground, Manjometh raised his eyes to look up at Yu Xuan, feeling even smaller under the arena's lights, as if the gap between them had only widened despite all his efforts.
Or perhaps it had always been like this, and he had just been too dull to notice.
Even after everything he had been through and all the strength he had gained, the distance between them didn't seem to have lessened at all.
Perhaps, from the very beginning, they had never been on the same level.
Perhaps, from the start, he had never stood a chance against this guy.
"Disturb."
Manjometh bitterly smiled.
Was he saying that even with such a common deck, he was still completely outclassed?
"What are you doing, Manjo?"
The Manjometh brothers descended the stairs, the older one demanding an explanation.
"Do you understand what you've done?"
"Do you think this duel only concerns yourself?" Manjometh's older brother continued. "This is a matter of our family's honor. Do you know how much we've invested in this duel, and the negative impact it will have on our group afterward?"
Manjometh hung his head. "I'm sorry."
"Stop!"
A passionate young man, Yuuki Juudai, leaped into the arena.
"Jaden, you already did your best with your duel. In fact, everyone here can see that you fought with everything you had," Juudai said.
Manjometh's older brother glanced at Juudai's jellyfish hair disapprovingly.
"The process doesn't matter," the older brother said coldly. "We only care about the result. And the result is that you lost, causing all our investments to go down the drain. That's all there is to it. A duel without victory is meaningless."
"That's not right!" Juudai argued. "A duel is about more than just winning or losing. It's about gaining something important from the experience!"
The Manjometh brothers frowned at the intruder.
Who is this guy? Someone close to Manjo?
What right does he have to meddle in our family affairs?
"Manjometh has been dueling while carrying the weight of your ridiculous expectations," Juudai continued. "Even though it caused him pain, he still persevered and fought hard. The real obstacle for Manjometh in this duel wasn't Yu Xuan, but the two of you!"
"What?" The older brother furrowed his brow.
The younger brother added, "But regardless, the fact is that he lost to such a scrub deck, isn't it?"
Manjometh: "..."
Now that he thought about it, Manjometh realized that both Armed Dragon and Light and Darkness Dragon were powerful ultra-rare cards, typically used by elite duelists.
In contrast, Yu Xuan had used what seemed like common cards for most of the duel, the type anyone could buy from a card shop on the street.
The realization only made him feel worse.
"That's not true," Juudai interrupted. "Yu Xuan has many decks, and he had a lot of choices. But for this important representative duel against Manjometh, he chose this particular deck. Manjometh, do you know why?"
Manjometh was taken aback.
Why?
Because... he's a sadist who enjoys seeing his opponents suffer?
"Because this deck carries a message that Yu Xuan wanted to convey to you through this duel!" Juudai exclaimed.
Manjometh: "?"
Huh?
Is that true?
(End of Chapter)
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