That senior just now had a rather commendable professionalism; his performance was convincing enough, successfully stoking the customers' urge to spend.
And these models, rushed out in a mere half-month, were nonetheless exquisite enough.
Even if what one drew wasn't a rare item, it still wouldn't give people the feeling of "not worth it."
—They were genuinely exquisite, on a completely different tier from certain shoddily-made figurines.
Dark, while marveling at the craftsman's spirit of St. Marian's Academy, browsed through the catalog.
On the whole, the academy had drafted its plans according to his suggestions.
The catalog not only marked the star rating of each Magic Guide Spirit, but also graded them according to the Magic Guide Spirits' popularity.
Once the sales of these model eggs spread out in the future, a popularity vote would also be created, and the popularity tiers would be reset based on the voting.
At present there were only five popularity tiers, marked respectively as A, B, C, D, and E.
For example, the "Skyvault White Dragon" and the "Crimson-Ridge Black Dragon" were both popularity-A Magic Guide Spirits.
Their rarity was also extremely high; currently only three of each had been produced.
Among them, the models that could move like Magic Guide Chess pieces were called "Magic Guide Models," and were even rarer.
As for the S tier above A grade (super-popular), and the F tier below E grade (failing), those were part of an existing plan but had not yet been rolled out.
The S tier would most likely be adjusted upward from A grade later on, while the F tier would be selected from among the E grades.
Living up to their names.
In addition...
Every region had its own region-specific Magic Guide Spirit models, which could only be bought within that region.
There were also festival-limited Magic Guide Spirits, which could only be bought during special festivals.
For this Easter, there was a Human Species Magic Guide Spirit named the "Spirit Light Priest," whose popularity was exceedingly high.
"This is..."
Dark's eyes suddenly lit up, and he stood the catalog upright to show it to DemiDevimon.
"Look what I found."
Perched on Dark's shoulder like an owl, DemiDevimon looked at that model catalog with a face full of confusion.
But after a moment, its eyes went wide.
For there, upon that catalog, was a "DemiDevimon," plain as day!
Probably because it had made an appearance in a match, the academy had included it—originally a familiar—within the category of ordinary Magic Guide Spirits.
Besides DemiDevimon, Gatomon's model was among them too.
But DemiDevimon quickly puffed out its cheeks, because its popularity tier was actually E!
Whereas Gatomon's popularity tier was D!
Two Magic Guide Spirits that had both appeared only once in official matches—why was one's popularity tier high and the other's low?
DemiDevimon refused to accept it!
...
In its indignation, it pressed close to Dark's ear and chittered away.
Dark couldn't help being startled: "You're sure?"
DemiDevimon nodded hard.
Dark then said helplessly: "Then pick one yourself."
So DemiDevimon hopped down from his shoulder, landed on the edge of the table, and began picking through those rows upon rows of Easter eggs.
—It wanted to get a model of itself to enshrine!
"Hey!"
Diana's little head poked out from under Dark's arm, watching DemiDevimon with great interest.
"Want to buy eggs? Two hundred credits can buy twenty of them!"
DemiDevimon turned to glare at her, its gaze growing all the sharper.
It scrutinized the Easter eggs on the stall with painstaking care.
In just that short while, the Easter eggs laid out on the tabletop had already dwindled by more than half.
Some eggs were bought away; others were cracked open right then and there.
The Magic Guide Spirit models the students drew were all sorts, but most were D grade and E grade, with only a single one drawing a C grade.
As for a B-grade Magic Guide Spirit like the "Fortune Koi," there was none at all.
Upon noticing this, DemiDevimon actually felt reassured.
There weren't really that many types of Magic Guide Spirits in that catalog—only about fifty or sixty—and its own model was merely the E grade, the most numerous of all, so in theory it should be very easy to draw.
After a good while, DemiDevimon, with a solemn expression, pointed the tip of its wing at one of the eggs.
It was just like the egg from when it had drawn the credit voucher—an egg with black as its main color.
It believed that "black" was its lucky color!
...
"This one, then?" Dark asked again.
DemiDevimon nodded gravely.
So Dark paid 10 credits, then took out that egg and set it before DemiDevimon.
DemiDevimon stood upright on one foot, grabbed the little hammer with its other claw, and struck hard at the top of the egg.
"Crack!"
The shell of the egg split apart inch by inch.
A brand-new model appeared before everyone.
"This is..."
"Congratulations! Felicitations!"
Just as everyone was dumbstruck, that boss abruptly yanked a lever, and at once ribbons and confetti shot out from above, showering DemiDevimon all over.
DemiDevimon looked with a face full of disgust at the ribbons hanging off its wings, and shook them off forcefully.
But when the other students looked at it, they all wore envious gazes.
A C-grade Magic Guide Spirit—the "Troll"!
As a top-tier existence among the three-star Magic Guide Spirits, the "Troll," though ugly and brainless, did indeed possess a certain popularity.
That was popularity accumulated by countless "Trolls" over an extremely long time—naturally not something a "DemiDevimon" or "Gatomon" that had appeared only once could compare with.
Come to think of it, for "Gatomon" to earn a popularity rating of D after appearing only once was already no small feat.
It had probably benefited from the reflected glory of "Bastemon."
As for why "DemiDevimon," which was likewise one of the [Fusion] materials for "Bastemon," hadn't basked in that glory?
That was a matter of differing opinions.
...
Dark took the "Troll" model out from the shattered shell and tucked it into his bag with a smile.
In any case, DemiDevimon definitely wouldn't want this thing; once the model eggs caught on, he could take the "Troll" and sell it to Virt, and he'd surely recoup his cost.
Might even turn a small profit.
In short, Dark Demon had made a little discovery today—DemiDevimon's luck of the draw seemed quite good!
...
Having "failed" on its first egg, DemiDevimon merely gritted its teeth and began picking out a second egg.
The students gathered around the stall watched this expressive little Magic Guide Spirit with some curiosity, and even those who had originally intended to buy eggs stopped, all focusing their gazes on DemiDevimon.
Under everyone's watchful eyes, DemiDevimon once again selected an egg.
It was an egg with a strange pattern, one side of the shell looking exactly like a "comical" expression.
In any case, Dark paid 10 credits as usual and placed that egg before DemiDevimon.
DemiDevimon took a deep breath; this time it didn't even use the little hammer—it simply pressed down with a single claw, instantly crushing the shell on the top of the egg.
Then it pried the shell apart, revealing the model inside.
An A-grade Magic Guide Spirit—the "Pure White Dragon Princess"!
"This is..."
"Isn't this the Silver Dragon Maiden's second-tier mainstay?"
"Dual Light-and-Dragon typing, Demi-human Species, a pure-white and aloof ice beauty—the extremely rare Pure White Dragon Princess!"
"Its popularity isn't much lower than the 'Skyvault White Dragon's'!"
"Wait, I remember the catalog showed its popularity as A grade... So an A-grade Magic Guide Spirit can be drawn this easily? Boss, give me an egg too!"
But that boss blinked, rubbed the corners of his eyes hard, and was so astonished that he even forgot to pull the lever for the celebration.
"What in the world? Drawing a C-grade model in one shot is already plenty lucky, isn't it? And this second shot is straight-up A grade? How am I supposed to keep running this business?"
While ranting wildly in his heart, he hadn't forgotten to collect the money, though.
That "Pure White Dragon Princess" model, still in its shell, was indeed exquisite.
It bore dragon horns atop its head, its countenance cold and stern, and the white-based battle robe clinging to its graceful, dainty figure showed off its silhouette to perfection.
A long spear slung diagonally across its back gleamed with a blood-like cherry-red.
Radiating a piercing battle intent!
Although it was not a "Magic Guide Model," the value of this "Pure White Dragon Princess" could be displayed very intuitively from its very appearance.
Dark actually had a rather deep impression of this "Pure White Dragon Princess."
Senior Pandora had danced with it at the Halloween evening party.
And later, in the experiment refining the "[Fusion]" card, she had also summoned the "Pure White Dragon Princess."
Dark had always felt that its spirituality was higher than that of ordinary Magic Guide Spirits.
Its intelligence level, even if it wasn't 3.0, probably reached a 2.5 comparable to a familiar.
Able to recognize this popularity-A model, Dark was of course extremely delighted.
Watching DemiDevimon's look of disgust, Dark once again tucked the "Pure White Dragon Princess" into his own bag with a smile.
"Want to buy another egg?"
Dark asked of his own accord, his attitude considerably more enthusiastic.
But DemiDevimon stared fixedly at the eggs on the stall, by now deeply doubting whether its own model was even in here at all.
It had already spent one-tenth of the two hundred credits, and felt a bit of a pang.
If the next one still didn't draw it, then get the one after? And the one after that?
Who would foot the bill for all those credits spent?
It, DemiDevimon, had no channel for credits coming in—spend a little, and there was a little less.
So DemiDevimon came to an enlightenment.
It shook its head hard, and then thought of a clever scheme.
...
And so, ten-odd minutes later, Dark purchased from the hands of a senior girl a "DemiDevimon" model with a popularity tier of merely E, and not the least bit cute.
It cost only 10 credits.
Having obtained its own model, DemiDevimon instantly beamed with joy.
It wanted to enshrine this model atop the bookshelf in the bedroom, to let those Magic Guide Spirits who showed no respect at all for their senior learn the meaning of "envy, jealousy, and resentment"!
In this single campaign...
DemiDevimon spent 30 credits, gaining one E-grade model, "DemiDevimon," with a balance of 170 credits remaining.
Dark Demon spent 0 credits, gaining one C-grade model "Troll" and one A-grade model "Pure White Dragon Princess"—a grand victory!
...
After this.
Although Diana had a bit of interest in the model eggs too, because she'd spent too much today and her purse was light, she bought nothing.
Rose, on the other hand, did buy an egg, purely as a memento of Easter.
She put the model egg she'd bought into her bag, hung it over her forearm, and was in no hurry to open it.
Afterward the three of them strolled around Traveler Street for a while, then, timing it carefully, returned to the academy.
...
Eight o'clock sharp in the morning.
Most of St. Marian's students had gathered and entered the St. Marian Open-air Dueling Arena.
This colossal structure, like a Roman Colosseum, was as though a savage beast crouching upon the earth, exuding a ferocious, untamed aura.
But once one passed through that gigantic gate that resembled a bloody maw, that ferocious, savage aura abruptly weakened a great deal.
The breath of humanity diluted the wildness lingering from time immemorial.
Only the desire for battle carved into the very marrow of living beings remained unchanged through the ages!
It was not the first time the three of them had come to this Dueling Arena, but upon entering, they still felt their blood boil.
Located not far inside the gate, the Dueling Club staff had erected a notice board in the very center.
The club president William and vice-president Enia also took part in person; they were responsible for guiding the spectators toward the left-hand passage, while the contestants were to head to the right.
Because this Easter Dueling Festival featured the unprecedented qualifier battle-royale format, with no requirements whatsoever for entry, the number of participants far exceeded that of the past.
Nearly half the academy's students wanted to have a bit of fun in the qualifier battle royale; a rough count came to nearly three hundred people.
Given the size of the Dueling Arena's grounds, it could naturally accommodate these three hundred people, but maintaining stable order was no easy matter.
"Remember to save me a spot!" Diana clasped Rose's hand and urged once again.
Rose lifted the egg in her bag and pushed her hand away: "All right, hurry on over—maybe you'll qualify."
"As if that's possible." Diana glanced at the right-hand passage.
The people taking part in the competition were packed densely together, and among them were quite a few very famous seniors.
If one carelessly provoked them in the qualifier battle royale, one could only accept the fate of a swift exit.
Conversely, if one's luck was good enough, it really was possible to avoid those people, swiftly hunt down ten Magic Guide Spirits, and thereby qualify outright.
But far too many people had come this time.
The rule of qualifying at ten points would very likely change as a result.
The specific rules would probably only be announced at eight-thirty, after the number of participating contestants had been tallied.
This included the points needed to qualify, the exact number who would qualify... and so on.
In short, although Diana said with her mouth that she was "just experiencing it," deep down she of course very much wanted to qualify too.
Even if she got eliminated in the first round after qualifying, it would still be a precious chance to cross blades with the second- and third-year duelists.
The people around her were sprinting ahead every minute and every second.
To catch up with him, one always had to pay some price.
Diana didn't want to be left too far behind.
"Wait for me, Dark!"
...
Dark waited until Diana came back before walking into the contestants' passage together with her.
Looking at the contestants around him gathered in little clusters of threes and fives, he pondered how the academy would solve the problem of "forming teams off the field"?
Since it was a battle royale, if it wasn't chaotic, then what kind of battle royale would it be?
"They'll probably assign positions at random and scatter everyone. But it's also possible they didn't notice this issue—after all, it's the first time trying this format, so loopholes appearing is perfectly normal."
Dark shook his head.
As troops come, a general blocks them; as water comes, earth dams it.
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