"Hello, I have an appointment."
Hikaru and Tierra arrived at the general guild hall in Witchcrafter Alley. Near the alley, there was a continuous stream of bustling customers.
This was Witchcrafter Alley, a famous "equipment manufacturing alley." Before the Spirit World Dimension split, it was already well-known. After the split, due to its unique characteristics, this dimension became a central hub similar to Spellbook Academy.
Unlike Spellbook Academy, which was a dimension where Spellcasters exchanged skills, and unlike the Magician Academy, which was a super-large training institution, Witchcrafter Alley was straightforward.
You paid, then bought or ordered robes, weapons, and dolls crafted by the Witchcrafters, and then worked toward a certain goal.
At first glance, ordinary people might be confused seeing a Spellcaster faction selling weapons and accessories, thinking that Spellcasters didn't need weapons, so why would such a strange faction exist.
But in fact, that line of thinking was too simplistic.
Duel spirits were very peculiar creatures. As long as they strived in a certain way, they could potentially transform into other spirits.
Naturally, this also included their "appearance."
For example, Chazz's XYZ-Dragon Cannon and A-to-Z-Dragon Buster Cannon looked completely identical at first glance, both having cannons, dragon heads, and tracks. However, A-to-Z-Dragon Buster Cannon's design was much more modern and advanced.
Similarly, the same logic applied to Flame Swordsman and Flame Swordsman of Neo.
Larger armor, a wider sword, stronger flames.
These were all ways for spirits to evolve.
What Witchcrafter Alley provided was a similar type of accessory. Not only that, they also sold a specific "accessory" that allowed buyers to "lock" their state, preventing them from evolving in a certain direction.
For instance, some Warrior spirits might have accumulated enough experience and seemed ready to evolve, but didn't want to become other Warrior monsters. They could customize items here to lock their evolution path, preventing that transformation.
This was why Witchcrafter Alley was famous in the Spirit World.
Precisely because of this, there were many interdimensional travelers here.
Not only Hikaru, but many other dimensional travelers were present. The only difference was that they were spirits, and Hikaru was human.
The front desk was handled by a Witch of the Black Forest. She checked the records, looked up at Hikaru, whispered two exclamations, and then hesitated.
"Let me speak."
Just as she didn't know how to begin, a female spirit interrupted her hesitation and walked over.
Hikaru looked over and immediately knew he had found the right person.
The spirit wore a black tight leather outfit, leather skirt, and high-heeled leather boots so long they almost looked like pants. She had an outstanding appearance, with a slight blue highlight in her hair. It was Witchcrafter Haine, the Witchcrafter artisan and seamstress.
She was also Witchcrafter Alley's acting leader.
Her appearance meant that Hikaru's trip was at least not in vain.
"I'm very sorry, Hikaru-sama." Haine bowed slightly in apology, then said with a hint of helplessness. "We had an agreement to introduce you to Madame Verre today, but I apologize. Although she has returned, we haven't seen her. In fact, we're looking for her right now.
You can wait here for a while. We will definitely find her for you today."
Hmm...
Not surprising, was it?
Hikaru was not at all surprised that something like this would happen.
No wonder today's front desk was a Witch of the Black Forest. Previously, it was always a Witchcrafter member. It seemed she'd been called in temporarily to help.
Hikaru didn't mind waiting. After all, he had waited this long; a few more minutes wouldn't hurt. But he clearly overestimated Madame Verre's reliability. He waited for a full hour until Tierra became impatient and wanted to help the Witchcrafters directly capture their "Witchcrafter Master." Finally, a Witch in a splendid purple dress approached Hikaru and told him they had found Madame Verre.
They could prepare the trial duel for him immediately.
Upon hearing that a trial duel was about to begin, and that Madame Verre, one of the top Spellcaster spirits who had never appeared publicly in Witchcrafter Alley, was going to personally duel someone, the spirits browsing the Alley immediately became excited and gathered at the Crystal Plaza.
It was a pure white duel field, surrounded by transparent crystals on all sides. Several Witchcrafters were talking to a sleepy-eyed "little girl." They spoke very quickly, complaining about her being a hands-off manager while also saying they were all extremely busy and she was still sleeping soundly.
The "little girl" listened, occasionally "nodding," until she suddenly jolted awake. She flipped in the air, slightly startled, then yawned. "Oh dear, oh dear! Master is very busy! I've had so many things lately. I finally came home, and this is how you welcome me?"
"What are you busy with?!"
"Exactly!"
"Tell us!"
Three high-level spirits gritted their teeth beside her.
"Uh, is that Madame Verre?"
"One of the founders of Spellbook Academy, a member of the Three Sages? She looks unremarkable."
"She seems to have no fighting spirit at all."
The spirits who came to watch observed for a moment and didn't sense much powerful Duel Energy, immediately feeling confused.
Madame Verre yawned, ignoring what the other spirits were saying. "There are many people who come to us for entry into the Magician Domain. Why be so serious?
Besides, didn't I entrust all these matters to you?"
"Madame Verre, this is different!" Haine retorted from the side.
Hikaru was different!
"What's different?" Madame Verre yawned again, looking at Hikaru and Tierra beside him. "Midrash, huh. That's quite impressive."
She gently raised her hand, and from the countless transparent crystals nearby, several suddenly flew out and landed in front of her. Then, with a snap, they shattered, transforming into a Duel Disk.
She gently drew with her finger, and cards were born at her fingertips, finally forming her deck.
"No matter what, a duel will suffice." Madame Verre looked at Hikaru. "So, let's duel. If you can win, I will give you the Three Sages' authentication, allowing you the opportunity to visit the Magician Domain."
Hikaru nodded, thanked her, and his Duel Disk automatically activated.
Witchcrafter Madame Verre LP: 4000
Hikaru LP: 4000
Madame Verre took the first turn. She casually tapped the Duel Disk, and a card automatically flew from her deck.
"Eh, who is that person dueling Madame Verre?"
"He looks somewhat familiar. I feel like I've seen him somewhere."
"Strange. I haven't seen humans many times, so why do I feel this human looks familiar?"
Occasionally, a few passing spirits couldn't help but murmur.
To them, humans generally looked similar most of the time, but if a person left an impression on them, they could distinguish one.
They seemed to vaguely have memories of Hikaru, yet surprisingly, seemed to have never actually met him.
This was very strange.
"My turn." Madame Verre casually placed a Spell Card on the Duel Disk. "I activate the Spell Card, Witchcrafter Creation.
Add one Witchcrafter monster from my Deck to my hand."
As the duel began, a line of Witchcrafter members had already gathered behind Madame Verre. Besides Haine, there were many others. Roughly looking, most of them had several duplicates of the same spirit.
Even Witchcrafter Edel, a high-level spirit, had two copies present.
"I add Witchcrafter Schmietta to my hand."
Witchcrafter Schmietta, an energetic red-haired Witch carrying a giant mechanical wrench.
"Normal Summon Schmietta. Then activate her effect: during either player's Main Phase, I can Tribute this card and discard one Spell Card from my hand to Special Summon one Witchcrafter monster from my Deck, except Schmietta."
She shattered a transparent crystal in front of her with a snap and spoke softly.
"Special Summon myself."
In the sky, a white transparent sofa slowly emerged. She leaned back on the sofa, leisurely looking ahead.
Witchcrafter Madame Verre Level 8, LIGHT, Spellcaster, DEF 2800
"The effect of Schmietta in the Graveyard: banish her to send one Witchcrafter card from my Deck to the Graveyard, except Schmietta. I send Witchcrafter Edel to the Graveyard."
Behind her, two Edel copies showed embarrassed expressions.
Apparently, having grown into a high-level Spellcaster spirit, she was still a bit embarrassed by that name.
"Activate Continuous Spell, Witchcrafter Bystreet."
The transparent crystals around them changed colors, and in a short while, they reflected the scene of the alley outside, not only replicating the buildings vividly but also making the pedestrians on the road lifelike.
"This card allows a Witchcrafter monster once per turn to not be destroyed by battle or card effects." She generously explained the effect.
She yawned. "That's how it ends."
"It ends just like that?"
Several spirits were a bit surprised.
They had expected to see some astonishing duel, but it turned out to be just two monsters placed on the field, and then it ended.
It wasn't that the two weren't strong, but it just didn't feel like it matched the prestige of the Three Sages.
But soon, they discovered it was actually far from that simple.
"At the moment the turn ends, the effect of the Spell Card in the Graveyard activates. The effect of Witchcrafter Collaboration, discarded for Schmietta's cost: if a Witchcrafter monster exists on your field during your End Phase, this card returns to your hand. Unfortunately, they can only activate one of two effects per turn, so Creation cannot be recovered."
!?
A crystal card slowly re-condensed and flew back into Madame Verre's hand.
This... that meant in at most two turns, Madame Verre could repeat this same procedure, following the same steps as this turn?
Looking at it that way, wasn't it almost equivalent to a Special Summon with virtually no cost?
Perhaps even Witchcrafter Bystreet operated in the same way.
As expected of one of the highest-ranking Spellcasters. Her application of magic was truly remarkable.