"My Noble Phantasm constructs a Deck based on a person's past experiences and future possibilities. In other words, since Beryl is a significant part of your life, what he did to you must also... Are you even listening?"
At that moment, Fairy Tristan was staring blankly at a particular Card, a goofy smile plastered on her face. Jiang You could guess who it was without even trying.
"If these Cards can summon their corresponding individuals, will Mother be angry if I summon her casually?"
Having calmed down, Fairy Tristan was once again plagued by anxiety. She craved Morgan's attention but feared disrupting her normal duties.
"You needn't worry about that. Even if a Card is in your Deck, the original owner won't accept a summon if they don't acknowledge you. This manifests as being unable to draw that Card from your Deck."
Of course, searching could forcibly pull a Card out of the Deck against the owner's will. But let's not spoil the mood with such details.
"Is that so? I take back what I said earlier—you're somewhat useful after all."
Fairy Tristan spoke these words, but Jiang You's earlier accusations against Beryl still rankled in her mind. "But you're still only marginally better than those useless Jurassic pests."
"So, have you looked at the Cards related to you and Beryl?"
Jiang You reminded Fairy Tristan that she had already been shaken to her core, unconsciously avoiding the truth.
"Take a look, then tell me what you think."
Fairy Tristan's face darkened. The cards almost exclusively depicted future events, like prophecies. She finally understood why Morgan was so fixated on the Child of Prophecy. Once you knew such things, it was like having a sharp sword hanging over your neck, drawing closer with each passing moment until it sliced through your throat—a suffocating dread.
True to her "never give up until you see the Yellow River" attitude, Fairy Tristan declared, "I want to meet Beryl right here."
"Then let's duel. This is an exhibition duel, but don't expect me to hold back."
Fairy Tristan's hostility toward Jiang You was palpable. He worried that the moment he entered his Weakened State, she would pounce on him and end him, leading to a Bad End.
"Whatever. I just want to talk to him. You can just watch from the side. This has nothing to do with you!"
Fairy Tristan's mind wasn't on winning or losing.
"Alright, alright, alright," Jiang You said dismissively, hoping she could maintain her current composure even after playing those cards. "Then you can go first."
Jiang You LP: 4000
Fairy Tristan LP: 4000
"I'll attack first!"
Fairy Tristan drew five cards from her Deck. Glancing at her hand, a faint smile crossed her lips.
"See? Beryl still cares about me—he's right in my starting hand! I Normal Summon Beryl!"
Beryl
Master, 4-Star, Attack Power: 1800
A dapper man in a gangster-style suit and glasses materialized on the field, his strikingly pointed, fairy-like ears immediately drawing attention.
"Hmm, isn't this that child's room? How did I get summoned here?" Beryl noticed Fairy Tristan behind him and grinned. "Good job! But Morgan will find out soon, and she'll take her anger out on you too. We should escape while we can. From now on, it's just you and me."
"Too bad you're getting your hopes up for nothing. Didn't you notice your limited range of movement?"
Once Beryl left the field, he would return to his prison cell. Jiang You kindly reminded him that his Noble Phantasms couldn't help him break free.
"This is... a Noble Phantasm?"
Only then did Beryl turn his attention to Jiang You. Dressed in casual modern clothes that clashed sharply with the surroundings, Jiang You's relaxed demeanor betrayed no hint of his status as a Heroic Spirit. "So, this is your Noble Phantasm," Beryl remarked. "But isn't this place hostile to servants from Pan-Human History?"
"Ha ha, don't worry about my identity," Jiang You shrugged. "I'm just an ordinary scribe passing through. Morgan sent me to take your place."
Jiang You shrugged, knowing Beryl was destined to become a stepping stone on Fairy Tristan's path to maturity. It was unfortunate, though, that after these events, Fairy Tristan would no longer trust him so easily. This would likely result in a debuff of around -30% to his Affection.
Once her Affection reaches a suitable level, I'll use a Shadow Game again to establish a pact, Jiang You thought. I'm practically becoming a Contract Superman at this point.
"Beryl, don't listen to this guy's nonsense! Mother probably gave you that order because he manipulated her!" Fairy Tristan still clung to hope for Beryl. "Just prove yourself!"
"A card that imprints the past and the future?"
Beryl could only hope that his future self had failed. As long as that sorcery hadn't been successfully activated, there was still a chance to reverse things.
"When Beryl is successfully summoned, add one Morgan to your Hand Card."
This was the root of everything, the most significant act in Beryl's life, inevitably recorded in the card's effect.
"See? Beryl is quite important to Mother after all."
Beryl could only force a dry laugh. In truth, Morgan had always taken a hands-off approach to him. Logically, this "Morgan" should be the Morgan from Pan-Human History he had summoned back then, not the current queen of the Faerie Realm.
"I activate the effect of Morgan from my Hand Card! By sending one Knights of the Round Table (Fairy Knights can be treated as cards with the same name) from my Hand Card to the Graveyard, I Special Summon Mother onto the field!"
The white-haired beauty on the throne opened her eyes and slowly rose to her feet.
Morgan: Attack Power 3000.
"Mother!"
Seeing Morgan respond, Fairy Tristan couldn't contain her joy.
"So, it has come to this after all."
Morgan shook her head, already foreseeing that she would be summoned in this manner frequently in the future.
"Using a Duel to demonstrate the future is far more convenient and persuasive than me simply narrating it."
Fairy Tristan's feelings for Beryl had been accumulating for years; Jiang You couldn't possibly resolve them with mere words. "Besides, are you really not going to tell her directly? If you just said it outright, I wouldn't have to worry about this. You're making my job harder! I demand a raise!"
"As my Blessed Heir, she can't rely on me for everything."
Morgan's educational philosophy emphasized "figuring things out on your own," leaving her child's development entirely to chance. "She needs to come to her own conclusions."
"Spare me the act! You were just asking me to pave the way for her earlier. You're not even half as cold-hearted as you pretend to be..."
"Shut up!"
Morgan cut Jiang You off sharply, though her eyes betrayed more embarrassment than anger. Since becoming queen, almost no one had dared to speak to her like this. Moreover, Jiang You had used his Noble Phantasms to bind himself, proving his sincerity.
Beryl felt a sense of foreboding. Jiang You's tone when addressing Morgan was almost equal, leaving him wondering how this man had earned her trust. He could only pray that his future self's plans would fail; otherwise, his own future would be lost.