He spotted Yugen passing through the crowd and hurried over. "How was your rest yesterday?"
"Not bad."
"We are going fishing next. Want to come?" Judai Yuki asked warmly.
"Eh? I did not hear about that, big bro," Sho Marufuji protested.
"I need to organize my class notes, so I will head back first," Yugen declined.
Both Judai Yuki and Sho Marufuji looked shocked. "Huh? You even take notes?"
A voice sounded from the side. "That really is your style, treating every class with the same seriousness."
The three turned and saw Asuka Tenjoin standing there with her arms folded and a bright smile.
"I heard a rumor," Asuka Tenjoin said to Yugen. "You were chosen to be the opponent for the new teacher Longya's entry Duel. Is that true?"
"You are well informed. Yes, that is right."
Judai Yuki looked amazed. "You get to Duel a teacher during his assessment? As expected of Yugen, I am so jealous."
"Be careful," Asuka Tenjoin said in a lower voice. "There are some bad rumors about Longya. People say he likes to use Duel to take his opponent's Rare Card. If it is him, he will probably suggest betting cards. Of course, Duel Academy does not allow that openly, so it would be done in private."
Yugen's eyes lit up.
So there was such a good thing?
It sounded like the same type of Duelist as him. Of course, he had never taken someone's Deck unless it was from villains using dangerous cards, and he had never actively asked for a bet. When he removed a Deck, it was to confiscate tools of wrongdoing in the name of justice.
Yes, that was how it was.
But if the other party sincerely made the request, it would be rude to refuse.
Seeing his indifferent attitude, Asuka Tenjoin frowned. "Take it seriously. Longya is strong. He was a member of the Duel Academy Student Council when he studied at Duel Academy, and his record in tournaments is impressive."
"Got it. Thanks for the reminder, Asuka Tenjoin," Yugen said with a smile.
He remembered the character now. Teacher Longya had appeared in the GX manga.
In the manga, he was a petty man who abused his position as a trainee teacher to force students into card bets, then proudly claimed the cards would be happier in the hands of someone stronger. When things went badly, he even used special electromagnetic interference to disrupt his opponent's Duel Disk so they could not activate Spell Card.
Back then, the requirement for promotion was fifty wins against students. It was hard to believe he had used such tricks more than once without being exposed, and most opponents just assumed their Duel Disk had malfunctioned.
Since events were not exactly the same as the manga, Yugen was not sure whether those tricks would appear. To be safe, he called Mokuba Kaiba to confirm.
The answer was reassuring. His current Duel Disk was the latest intelligent model on the market and could not be disrupted that way. Even so, he felt he could probably win without relying on Spell Card at all.
The next day, at the appointed time, Yugen arrived at the Duel Academy Duel arena at Professor Chronos de Medici's invitation. Many students who had heard the news gathered to watch.
Several of his companions from Yellow Dormitory were especially vocal. "Nani?!? The new teacher is assigned to Duel a student? And it is him?"
"The new teacher is unlucky."
"Do not say that. Maybe the teacher is secretly strong."
Soon both sides stood face to face and began the shuffle and cut according to the rules.
"You are Yugen, right? Professor Chronos de Medici speaks very highly of you," Longya said with a light smile.
"You flatter me."
Yugen maintained a polite and respectful attitude. He could roughly guess why Professor Chronos de Medici had chosen him as the test opponent.
On one hand, it was similar to how the professor often called on him in class, giving him chances to perform and earn credits. If he won this match, the reward in credits would be far greater than answering a single question, and the professor had already assured him of that. Even if he lost, it would not harm him.
On the other hand, Professor Chronos de Medici himself was curious about his true strength. As a key student under training, more matches against strong opponents would both temper him and reveal his real level.
So far, the most serious public Duel he had shown was during the stage test against Daichi Misawa. Daichi Misawa had thoroughly analyzed his usual tactics and prepared counters, yet still lost as Yugen handled everything with ease. To outside observers, Daichi Misawa had not forced him to reveal his full power.
Professor Chronos de Medici stood with his hands behind his back, watching from above with a smile. "Yugen, let me see just how far your strength has reached."
While shuffling, Longya narrowed his eyes. "Since the professor says you are special, how about we make this more interesting?"
Yugen looked at him. "You mean?"
"We bet our Rare Card." He adjusted his glasses and lowered his voice. "The winner chooses one card from the loser. What do you say?"
He saw a polite, outstanding student in front of him, someone clearly valued by Professor Chronos de Medici. Such a student must have access to excellent resources and valuable cards.
Yugen showed a troubled expression. "Is that appropriate?"
"What, are you afraid?" Longya smirked.
"No, I just mean… only one card?" Yugen blinked. "Would that not be a bit too mild?"
"Duel!" x2
Yugen, LP 4000 Longya, LP 4000
"Looks like I go first. Card Draw."
Yugen drew, then immediately played a card from his hand. "I Summon Elemental HERO Bubbleman in Defense Position!"
Elemental HERO Bubbleman, DEF 1200
From the sidelines, Judai Yuki blinked. "Huh? Is Yugen using Elemental HERO like me today?"
That was not quite true. Yugen included it for the Card Draw effect of Greedman, and since Greedman was also WATER, it could serve as ammunition for Abyss Soldier's Bounce Effect when needed.
"When Elemental HERO Bubbleman is Summoned and I control no other cards, I draw two cards from my Deck."
"Next, I activate the Spell Card Graceful Charity. I draw three cards from my Deck, then discard two." Yugen Do continued, "I set two cards and end my turn."
"Then My Turn!!"
Longya drew and narrowed his eyes at the Elemental HERO Bubbleman crouching in Defense in Yugen's Front Row.
A standard Elemental HERO build. But since Professor Chronos de Medici personally recommended this freshman as an opponent, he must have something special.
"I Summon Phantasmal Shell Dragon!"
A dark and elegant Different Dimension dragon appeared. Though Level 4, it had 2000 ATK, and as a high attack monster without drawback, it was a valuable Rare Card.
Phantasmal Shell Dragon, ATK 2000
"Let me see what you are planning!" Longya shouted. "Battle! Phantasmal Shell Dragon attacks Elemental HERO Bubbleman!"
Yugen flipped his Back Row card at once. "I activate my Continuous Trap Card Gravity Bind! All monsters Level 4 or higher on the field cannot declare attacks!"
A crushing force spread from the trap. Phantasmal Shell Dragon froze before it could move, pinned down by the immense gravity.
"Gravity Bind?" Longya frowned.
A stall strategy? Combined with Elemental HERO? That was unusual.
"I set one card and end my turn."
"My Turn!, Card Draw."