Chapter 117: Card of Demise
Completely unbound, not fake cards either. An entire usable Malefic deck—just how terrifying was its value?
Especially in Eden's environment that pursued high-ATK monsters, where battles leaned toward axe-king slugfests.
This deck that casually slapped down 4000-ATK ultimate axe-kings—extremely high power level while also absolutely pursued by wealthy players.
Not to mention the individual components that could be separated from the deck.
Skill Drain and Card of Demise.
These two cards' value, especially the latter, was beyond Amano Rei's ability to estimate.
You had to know that Pot of Greed could sell for tens of millions in Eden. So if Card of Demise appeared at an upper-district auction, wouldn't it directly break a hundred million?
But should he really sell it?
If Pot of Greed was every duelist's dream pot, then Card of Demise with its anime effect was simply unattainable even in dreams—the white moonlight from anime childhood that could be encountered but never sought.
If he sold this card, in Eden where acquisition channels were completely unknown, he'd very likely never have a chance to encounter a second copy in this lifetime.
Wait, what was he doing?
Had he fallen into money-blindness?
Just examining the deck and he was already considering whether to sell cards.
It must be because tonight he'd been polluted by these wealthy people!
First fifty million annual salary, then five hundred million baby formula money. Making Amano Rei, whose pockets together totaled just four digits, feel somewhat financially anxious.
Besides, currently this deck's ownership still belonged to Nanki'in Yukki, and the Dark Game had been won by three people together.
By reason and sentiment, the deck's fate should be decided by Muramasa as great-uncle.
"Oh, young friend Amano, interested in this deck?"
Muramasa also noticed Amano and Sakuya's side, curiously examining the deck Onikiri had used.
"This is—completely unbound? Truly dangerous stuff!"
"Dangerous?" Amano Rei questioned.
Whether cards were dangerous should depend on the user, right?
"Powerful cards often come with enormous prices. I've said this, and so has Onikiri, haven't we, young friend Amano?"
"Ah, wasn't that referring to Card of Demise's drawback?"
Hearing Amano Rei's words, Muramasa startled briefly, then couldn't help laughing while looking up.
"Hahaha! Never expected young friend Amano's dueling strength to be so powerful, yet your understanding of drawbacks so wonderfully unique! Discarding cards after 5 turns—how could that be called enormous?"
So you guys knew too?
Amano Rei thought they were memeing, going on about Card of Demise's drawback.
True, discarding all cards after your own fifth Standby Phase—if you had to count, that was ten turns.
Drawing five cards directly—ten turns was enough to kill you how many times over?
"Actions speak louder than words." Muramasa activated his Eva Terminal, projecting the Millennium Scale data onto the table while letting the deck contact the scale.
Instantly, the scale's left pan dropped to its limit as if loaded with a massive weight.
"Just as I thought—what Onikiri used was a deck of the deceased."
"Deck of the deceased?"
"Powerful cards that occasionally appear at upper-district auctions. These powerful cards appear at auctions mostly because their original users died. I just never imagined Onikiri would forcibly assemble an entire deck using this method."
"All cards are relics of the deceased?"
"Just holding them in hand, you might not feel anything abnormal. But when you try putting them in your deck, you must bear the deceased's will. So using too many cards of the deceased will greatly affect a duelist's mental state. You saw Onikiri's condition, didn't you, young friend Amano?"
Truly quite deranged. By the duel's end, her twisted expressions had reached Yu-Gi-Oh! anime boss levels.
Amano Rei originally thought this was the confidence unique to those using Malefic decks—the 1v3 swagger. But now it seemed Onikiri's mental state had actually been influenced by this entire deck of the deceased.
"I won't let Yukki continue using these cards. Young friend Amano, if you're interested, you can keep them. If it's you, young friend Amano, you might be able to control this power. But I don't recommend using them frequently."
"Then I'll keep them."
Amano Rei didn't hesitate for a second. Even one more second would disrespect the anime treasure draw spell.
Now ownership was officially transferred to him.
If not recommended to use them frequently, he could temporarily keep the other Malefic cards on hand without putting them in his deck.
Just taking Skill Drain and Card of Demise—with his willpower, he shouldn't be too deeply affected.
However, just like with Finesse last time when she prepared to give him Mask Change II, currently Amano Rei's body wasn't here.
Finesse, who hadn't come along, had arbitrarily carried his body to the car's back seat, having Uncle Gong drive back to the dorms first.
Anyway, once time was up, his soul would automatically return to his body.
But to obtain the cards, he'd probably have to wait until tomorrow at school, transferred through Sakuya's hands.
[Hacker Invasion] [Duration Remaining: 1 minute]
"Time's up. Sakuya, Great Elder, I'm heading back now."
"Leaving already, young friend Amano?" Muramasa truly felt like he'd met Amano too late, even having something he hadn't managed to entrust yet.
But thinking how Amano was currently inhabiting his granddaughter's body, this state really wasn't suitable for casual chatting. It felt rather awkward.
"Well then, young friend Amano, I'll find time to visit you."
Sakuya: "See you at school tomorrow, Amano."
This was the second farewell tonight between Amano and Sakuya.
Waiting for Amano Rei's soul to leave her body, Nanki'in Sakuya finally regained control of her own body.
Though tonight was Nanki'in Sakuya's first time experiencing her body being controlled by a background spirit, due to the Millennium Key, Amano Rei's soul had separated once in the middle.
One entry, one exit—actually the same number of times as Finesse being invaded by the background spirit.
That indescribable wonderful feeling didn't come from the body, but from that resonance of souls merging.
At this moment, Nanki'in Sakuya seemed to somewhat understand why Finesse could act so confident during the showdown earlier.
Turned out it was because of this special relationship existing beyond physical connection.
Nanki'in Sakuya stretched out her hand and clenched her fist. These white, slender fingers—the previous minute, they'd been filled with Amano Rei's soul.
Probably even Sakuya herself hadn't noticed her cheeks were already starting to burn.
So this was the feeling of being controlled by a background spirit—her own soul unable to move, yet able to achieve undefeated dueling.
Plus that unique sensation when entering and exiting, when souls intertwined and collided, when the body was dominantly occupied.
Not good—this could get addictive.
If she kept relying on Amano's ability, she might end up becoming a useless person.
As expected, at least during exams, she couldn't rely on this.
"Sakuya, you're back?" Seeing his granddaughter staring blankly at her hand, Muramasa inquired tentatively.
"Mm, Grandfather."
"Earlier there wasn't enough time. I still have something I didn't entrust. When you go to school tomorrow, help Grandfather deliver it."
"Deliver what?"
Speaking, Nanki'in Muramasa unlocked the Millennium Scale data in his terminal.
"Give this to young friend Amano."
"But the Millennium Scale—isn't that Grandfather's..."
This was what Nanki'in Muramasa had spent half his life searching for to counter darkness.
"I no longer need it. The darkness surrounding me disappeared tonight. From now on, the battles belong to you young people."
Besides, during tonight's Dark Game duel, Nanki'in Muramasa had explicitly said he'd give the Millennium Scale as Sakuya's dowry.
Hmph, if you accept the Millennium Scale, it's equivalent to accepting the dowry.
At that point, you won't be able to go back on it.
On the other side, when Amano Rei reopened his eyes, his soul had finally returned to his familiar body.
What immediately followed was the soft sensation of thighs at the back of his head, and a young girl's shampoo fragrance.
Lying on Finesse's lap pillow, Amano Rei discovered the surrounding environment was especially dim.
The back seat of the young miss's Maybach.
Except Uncle Gong had already left the driver's seat, and the car lights weren't on, making the atmosphere dark and hazy.
Noticing Amano Rei's eyes open, a flash of easily detectable panic crossed Finesse's eyes. Her expression looked like she'd done something bad and nearly been discovered—guilty conscience.
"Y-you're back, Amano? Don't feel anything strange, right?"
"Nothing strange particularly."
Aside from the usual stiffness after fainting for two hours, currently no other discomfort.
"Th-that's only natural. After all, I took very good care of you. And to avoid letting Kikawayu and little Shio see you unconscious and worry, I specifically sat in the back seat waiting a full hour for you to wake up. Even—even Uncle Gong went back already."
The young miss's consideration was quite thorough.
If she'd carried his unconscious self back, being seen by Kikawayu or Shio would mean even more troublesome explanations.
"A-alright, we should head back too. Get up, Amano—I'm kind of embarrassed like this."
Finesse gently pushed Amano Rei up from her thighs.
Wasn't this your voluntary lap pillow?
Earlier Amano Rei had said to just put him anywhere, but she'd chosen to place him on her own thighs.
Except Finesse's tone from start to finish revealed nothing but guilty conscience and panic—truly didn't seem like the degree of embarrassment from just a lap pillow.
Tonight when she stuffed the used soup spoon in his mouth, he hadn't seen her show any sense of shame.
Wait, mouth?
Thinking this, Amano Rei suddenly felt his lips tingling and even a bit painful.
"Finesse, I'm asking you..."
"I didn't do anything! I'm heading back first! See you tomorrow, Amano!"
Finesse speed-opened the car door and jogged back to the dorm building. Leaving only Amano Rei sitting alone in the Maybach's back seat, contemplating one thing.
Holding his unconscious body, waiting alone in the back seat for a full hour—the young miss did nothing.
If this story got out, would the police believe it?