Chapter 303: Why Are You All Staring at Me?
Chapter 303: Why Are You All Staring at Me?
Profession?
You Xuan's interest was piqued upon hearing this. He had limited exposure to the professional scene in this world. The only direct interaction he had with a professional player was with the Zishu player he faced in the previous link system, although one could argue that it was a semi-professional encounter and not a fully sanctioned event.
In fact, if he had to be honest, that encounter might not even qualify as semi-professional anymore. He had heard that the guy withdrew from the tournament before his debut for unknown reasons. The media speculated that he might have experienced overwhelming psychological pressure from dueling, possibly due to some external factor, and was unable to cope with the stress of competition, leading to his abrupt withdrawal.
You Xuan was perplexed when he heard this news. Why would such a promising newcomer withdraw? He had faced him before and believed that he was actually quite skilled. You Xuan couldn't help but feel that duelists nowadays lacked mental fortitude. So what if he got ganked by a combination of Poke Balls and a Magmar? That was hardly a big deal.
It was bewildering that someone would feel pressured by something like that. Nevertheless, that encounter was not with a sanctioned professional. You Xuan remained curious about the professional scene and thought that perhaps in the future, he might even enter a league and win a world championship to earn some extra cash.
Of course, not all experts in this world pursued professional careers, and the title of "World Champion" here did not hold the same prestige as the "Duel King" in the game.
For example, the original tomb-guarding trio, the Doma three musketeers, and legendary duelists like the game city insider chose not to enter the professional circuit. Hence, there was a saying, "There are hidden masters among the people," suggesting that while the professional circuit undoubtedly represented the upper echelon of dueling, it might not encompass all the very best.
The truly top-tier masters might not frequently participate in tournaments.
Led by the 10th generation, You Xuan made his way to the venue, which was already packed. After all, it was already the winter holiday season, and the students were done with their classes, waiting only for their return voyage. With no lectures to attend and little else to do, almost everyone had made their way to the venue, except for those who opted to sleep in their dormitories.
A significant portion of the students in this academy aspired to break into the professional dueling scene one day, so a lecture by an active professional duelist was naturally intriguing.
By the time they arrived, all the seats were taken, and You Xuan could only join the 10th generation and the others in standing at the back of the venue, peering towards the stage.
"Oh wow, is that a professional duelist?" The 10th generation's eyes lit up.
On stage was a man dressed elegantly. He wore a black tailored tuxedo, with sleek lines and a black bowtie. His features were distinct, and he sported a meticulously trimmed goatee, exuding an air of elegance and composure.
However, rather than giving off the vibe of a duelist, his appearance resembled more that of a bartender.
"Hmm, he doesn't really give off the vibe of a professional," the 10th generation said, perplexed.
"Tsk, you really are blind, 10th generation," came a voice from behind them.
It was Manjome, with his arms crossed. "This is Sommelier Parker, a top-notch duelist who ranked eighth in last season's professional league."
"Huh? This uncle?" The 10th generation exclaimed in surprise.
Perhaps because they were standing a bit too close to the front row, their conversation caught the attention of the professional on stage. However, he didn't seem bothered by the 10th generation's slight. He merely turned his head slightly to glance at the spiky-haired student and then smiled gracefully.
"How rude. I'm a bit too young to be called an 'uncle,'" Sommelier said with a smile. "But like fine wine, duelists only get better with age. All of you students from the Duel Academy undoubtedly possess extraordinary talent, but you still need time to mature and refine your skills.
"Hahaha, the world of dueling is all-encompassing," Sommelier Parker chuckled. "Lessons about dueling can be derived from everything in the world."
"As for me, I have dedicated myself to the way of 'wine'. My dueling style is akin to winemaking. It requires discernment in selecting the finest ingredients, reverence for the crafting process, and most importantly, respect for time."
"Ingredients are the foundation of winemaking," he continued. "Just as a carefully selected deck paves the way to victory, so too does choosing the best grains, fruits, and water sources for wine.
"The crafting process is critical to producing fine wine. Just as a superior deck is useless without a skilled duelist to wield it, so too are the processes of saccharification, fermentation, and distillation, which require meticulous control.
"And finally, the most crucial element..."
A slight smile played on his lips as he picked up a wine glass filled with a crimson liquid. He swirled the liquid gently, causing it to dance in the light.
"...is time. Fine wine needs time to age and mature, just as life needs the sharpening and tempering of years. A duelist who hasn't endured enough trials will never be able to stand alone."
"This is why I, Sommelier Parker, have risen to my current position in the professional dueling circuit."
You Xuan, upon hearing the man's voice, furrowed his brows, feeling that he had heard it somewhere before.
He pondered for a moment before realization struck him.
"Damn, isn't this Madara?"
This man, known as the 8th-ranked professional, had only a minor cameo in the GX anime, but his voice actor was the same as the famous Madara from the Hidden Leaf Village in the Naruto series.
As You Xuan listened to him expound on the secrets of dueling and winemaking, his mind couldn't help but conjure images of "Dancing Madara.JPG".
Now he remembered. This so-called professional duelist had made an appearance in the anime, easily defeating Asuka's good friends, Junko and Hiroko, before promptly getting trounced by Asuka, who was under the dark influence of Saiou at the time, or perhaps it was more accurate to say that she had been "whitened".
In essence, he was a background character, albeit a high-profile one with the title of "8th-ranked Professional".
This man was clearly a wine enthusiast, reminiscent of a traditional martial arts master who loved both wine and the sword, integrating the way of wine into his swordsmanship. His deck was also a "Wine" deck, mostly comprised of anime-original cards that had never been physically released.
"Of course, mere words can be hollow and difficult to comprehend," Sommelier smiled. "But not to worry."
He picked up a Duel Disk from the podium and strapped it to his arm.
"Today, I'm feeling generous, so I'll make a special exception and provide a hands-on lesson for the students of Duel Academy."
His eyes scanned the audience. "Now, who here desires a special lesson from the 8th-ranked professional?"
". "
There were indeed quite a few students who were eager to give it a shot, as dueling against a professional was a rare opportunity.
However, it was also an opportunity to embarrass themselves in front of the entire school, so many students hesitated, weighing their chances. After all, the duel would also represent Duel Academy, and a crushing defeat would reflect poorly on everyone.
When it came to a duelist who was both acknowledged as skilled and entertaining to watch...
". "
After a few seconds of silence, You Xuan looked around, exasperated.
"Why are you all staring at me?"
(End of Chapter)
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