"It's broken..."
"It's really broken..."
The Puppet Elf named Alice sat duck-legged on the ground, somewhat dazedly looking at her cards scattered all over, unable to regain her senses for a while.
Her card deck was scattered haphazardly, especially since she used Puppet Part cards. So now they were strewn everywhere, with a puppet arm here, a puppet leg there, and several puppet heads mixed in between. The whole scene felt as if she had been disassembled by her opponent...
"Too much, it's really too much."
Alice accused in her heart.
Honestly, she had come today with the task of "making her opponent fall into a deep abyss of despair," to make a powerful Duelist lose their faith in dueling, possibly even quit their card addiction, and say no to dueling forever.
But now it seemed as if she, the Elf, was the one about to quit card addiction...
Alice rubbed her eyes, the small figure looking like she had been punched, slumped on the ground about to cry.
Summoning something as difficult as Puppet Chimera required Alice plus four Mortal Bone parts to create. It wasn't easy that she did it in one turn, yet not only did she not receive any praise, but was also blown up five times in one turn by the opponent, leaving not even a speck of dust...
At that moment, Alice felt for a moment that she seemed a bit stupid for using all her strength to summon this big monster.
Then, when the opponent casually brought out an alchemy giant with an attack power of over 8000 after the explosion, Alice was certain.
She wasn't just seemingly stupid.
She really was a bit stupid.
Dueling is the most annoying thing after all!
Is this the legendary abyss of despair for Duelists, where one never wants to duel again?
She had now personally experienced it.
"Your card deck is very interesting."
Yugen said with a smile.
"Nice play. Summoning such a difficult Puppet Chimera, at least you managed to summon it, which is quite impressive."
Alice looked up, her eyes red as she looked at him.
She herself thought it was impressive, but hearing it from him sounded like sarcasm...
"Keep it up, come again next time." Yugen smiled, "You're always welcome to send me to the land of despair again."
Alice shivered instinctively at his words, clutching her little skirt and quickly retreating.
No more, no more, never coming again.
I already went in advance.
"I'm sorry!"
Alice knelt down, bowing.
Yugen was taken aback.
"What?"
He couldn't react for a moment. Sorry for what?
Sorry for this level, failing to satisfy me?
"I now... now I remember!" Alice apologized with her head lowered, "I was originally not supposed to be like this."
"I was clearly an Elf meant to protect, existing to guard the heart of Duelists. I should bring happiness to everyone, enabling everyone to duel happily."
"But I was so unsteady, allowing myself to be stained by a heart of darkness, giving birth to such wicked thoughts."
"But now I've understood."
Alice knelt on the ground, her face full of regret.
"You wanted to make me realize through a duel the painful scenery of being deprived of a dueling heart, stripped of the light of hope in dueling, right?"
"I really shouldn't harbor resentment, nor should I attempt to impose such pain on others. Now I've completely awakened and remembered my original identity. So...
...I'm sorry!"
Her head hung even lower.
Yugen: "......"
Huh? Is this for real?
The original Alice from the work indeed remembered her identity at the end of the duel and recalled her duty to protect. But that was due to being inspired by Judai's passionate dueling, awakened by the unique strong influence of Judai, that hot-blooded protagonist.
However, to wake up from a beating, this was truly unexpected for Yugen.
Yugen stroked his chin in thought.
Could it be that his power has been increasing daily, and his dueling skills combined with the extraordinary level, have such influence even without deliberately pushing the power?
"Well, no need for such guilt." Yugen said, "Regardless of the situation, it was indeed wrong of the duelist to rip the cards. Punishment is warranted.
But misdirecting your anger, attempting to harm innocent individuals unrelated to the matter, that's where you were wrong."
Alice didn't dare to make a sound.
"Well, since you've woken up, that's good. But just letting you go back is also dangerous; after all, there's no guarantee you won't come out looking for other prey again..."
Alice looked at him pitifully with wide eyes.
"Then... then what do you suggest I do?"
Yugen fell into thought.
...
...
The next morning.
"Excuse me..."
Judai, who came to Yugen's dormitory, froze as he entered, suspecting he might have walked into the wrong dormitory.
Because as soon as he entered, he saw a small girl, cute like a doll, wearing a maid outfit, standing on tiptoes on the window sill, diligently cleaning the windows.
"Eh?" Judai was baffled, "Who are you..."
Seeing someone enter, Alice quickly set aside her task and bowed to him.
"Hello. I'm Alice-chan, the new maid of Winged Dragon of Ra, pleased to meet you."
"Maid?" Judai was even more puzzled, "Does the Academy have maids?"
"Normally, it doesn't." Alice explained earnestly, "But Lord Yugen said I'm currently a convicted individual. This is called labor... labor..."
"Labor reform."
Yugen reminded as he walked out of the room.
"Yes, that's it."
Alice maintained a serious expression as she solemnly confronted the window in front of her, then stood back on the sill and began to clean it diligently.
Judai: "?"
He frowned, "Wait a minute, why do I feel like I've seen this girl somewhere before..."
"She's Auntie Tami's puppet from the store." Yugen said, "Originally an Elf meant to guard Duelists, but turned into a dangerous Elf due to a darkened heart.
Although she seems to have returned to normal after dueling with me, it still can't be completely ruled out, so she's still under observation."
"I see." Judai nodded.
Having dueled with Yugen... well, it's imaginable; any evil corruption should have reverted to normal.
The two sat down to chat. After a while, Alice came in with a silver tray.
"These are snacks and tea I made myself." She gently put down the tray, "Please enjoy."
After speaking, she retreated and began to busy herself again.
Judai took a bite, and his eyes immediately lit up.
"Oh, this is delicious!" Judai looked satisfied, "It would be great if Red Dormitory also had such a puppet..."
"Let's not talk about that now, how's your situation?"
Yugen got straight to the point.
"Situation? What situation?" Judai tilted his head.
"The Overlord, he's currently inside you, right?" Yugen observed him, "Do you feel anything amiss?"