He jumped out of bed and saw Carly sleeping on the table in the living room, but he didn't pay any attention to her.
Carly Nagisa was an "upper-class person." Although just an ordinary citizen, compared to those in the Lower City Area, she was unimaginably wealthy. So easily, he found a disguise set that could cover his face, like a hat and glasses, and left Carly's house.
Now, he was very confused.
The last duel with Kaiba Seto made him realize his own shortcomings, so afterward, he returned the Stardust Dragon to Yusei and admitted his mistake.
However, after losing to Yusei in the Fortune Cup, he fell into confusion.
That was, does he, this "King," really have any meaning of existence?
Climbing up, climbing up... but after getting up there, what is there?
The so-called "King" is nothing but a clown, the Upper Area is forever in the hands of the Nobles, and even Goodwin couldn't change it.
"Seriously, you just rested for one night, and you're out here aimlessly?"
A voice sounded, he turned around and saw the same nurse from yesterday—no, it didn't look like a nurse now.
At this moment, she was rubbing her eyes, looking sleepy and lacking energy.
Jack didn't waste words and turned away directly, without engaging in much conversation with her.
"Hey, Jack—"
Carly followed, but Jack didn't respond. Carly sighed and didn't insist on catching up, just followed simply from a distance.
Jack came to a store and watched on the screen as it played recordings of him losing to Kaiba Seto and Fudou Yusei. He clenched his fists, snorted coldly, then turned his head and walked away.
Yusei had already become the city's new "symbol." Perhaps now, he should focus on finding the "Dark Signer," while also searching for Yusei.
Since that duel ended, Yusei had disappeared, and no one could find him. If they didn't have the common enemy of the "Dark Signer," occasionally seeing Yusei, he would have thought Yusei had vanished.
But even so, Yusei didn't explain where he had been during this time.
Carly followed behind Jack, watching his fluctuating emotions without rushing up to disturb him.
During this time, because Jack lost to Yusei, the opinion of him in the Upper City Area suddenly became polarized. Many Nobles even started to pretentiously claim, "I always knew that Jack was useless," "I said Lower City people are good for nothing," and other malicious words. Even Jack's statues and slogans in the amusement parks frequented by children were moved away, leaving a mess.
Jack sat on a bench in the park, staring blankly at the setting sun.
He wandered aimlessly in the Upper City, everywhere talking about Yusei's victory over him, making him involuntarily recall what Kaiba Seto had said during their duel.
His duel was not pure enough, his soul not pure enough.
He thought that by giving up some "advantages," just dueling Yusei with the Red Dragon Archfiend, he might go further, but in the end, it was Yusei who advanced, and he was the one who lost.
Sigh...
His eyes were vacant.
At this moment, a child suddenly spotted him.
Despite his disguise, his golden hair and impressive physique and height were unmistakable. The child immediately recognized Jack, excitedly running over and waving at Jack: "KING!"
Jack came to his senses and looked at the child.
"KING!" the child cheered, simply because Jack looked at him.
Carly gently tapped the child's shoulder from behind with her hand, and when the child looked back, she said, "Jack is doing a secret job, don't let anyone know! Only you and we know~"
The child instantly covered his mouth with his hands, nodding excitedly, lowering his voice as much as possible, "I'm a loyal fan of Jack's. Everyone says Jack is a big liar, but I don't believe it. I will always support you!"
— Despite Jack hearing that this child's parents, the Noble, were speaking ill of him, the child showed no bit of dislike, instead full of excitement.
The child truly regarded Jack as an idol, as a bridge connecting the lower and upper levels, a great Hero—Jack knew many such children in the Lower City Area. The two little ones following Yusei also viewed him as an idol...
Despite it all...
Despite the fact that the reason he became "KING" was largely because of the Stardust Dragon he snatched from Yusei.
But children are the purest, the most genuine.
Jack looked at him, reached out to pat his head, then walked away expressionlessly.
"Jack, you must become KING!" the child added.
Carly continued to follow Jack, until he reached the top of a tower, gazing out toward the sea.
Carly gazed as well; the sunset appeared particularly beautiful on the horizon.
Normally, one might think Jack came to enjoy the scenery and relax.
But...
"You can't see the Lower City from here." she suddenly said.
Jack's pupils contracted sharply, surprised that this woman had guessed his thoughts.
"Are you a reporter here to interview me? Report my matters however you like."
"I won't report things that defame a Duelist."
Even though she was well-born, Carly always felt the world shouldn't be like this, which is why she chose a small newspaper rather than aiming for fame and fortune.