"Duel? Hoshino-nee, what nonsense are you spouting? Are you trying to brush this off with some random excuse…?"
Akasha looked extremely suspicious—especially since the little red-haired girl next to them was nodding along as if everything made perfect sense. That only made it more suspicious.
"Akasha, just listen to me first! Doesn't the name 'Uria' sound familiar to you?"
"Not familiar at all."
Her attempt was blocked right from the start. Hoshino's confident smile stiffened awkwardly.
"Uh…. Actually, 'Uria' is from Uria, Lord of Searing Flames. You should understand the situation now, right?"
"o(ﾟДﾟ)っ! Uria? No way…!"
"That's exactly the 'no way' you're thinking of!" Puffing out her tiny chest proudly, the girl calling herself Uria wore a smug expression. "Correct! I am one of the Three Sacred Beasts—the one who embodies the divine flames and divine light… Uria, Lord of Searing Flames~!"
Even though she had already guessed it, hearing Uria confirm it herself still left Hoshino with mixed feelings.
Why do all these legendary Duel Monsters like turning into little girl forms? Even that so-called strongest Evil God that looked like a big black sphere did it too…
"(・_・)ヾ Are you kidding me?" Akasha doubted again. "How could that ugly monster ever become such a cute little girl? You need proof when you say things like that."
"Guuh!"
Akasha's verbal critical hit shattered Uria's smugness instantly.
"Y-You… you actually called me ugly…"
Lowering her red twin-tailed head, Uria's small body trembled, as if that single sentence had dealt fatal emotional damage.
"Akasha, Duel Monster aesthetics aren't the same as ours, you know. Maybe Uria looks super cool in the eyes of other monsters."
Hoshino quickly stepped in to comfort her. If a legendary Sacred Beast threw a tantrum inside a hot spring inn, the consequences would be… troublesome.
Besides, from what Hoshino knew, even the Evil God once complained that the other two terrifying Evil Gods looked "way cuter" than her. Maybe this was just a matter of cultural difference…
"Did I really say something bad?" Feeling the temperature around Uria steadily rise, Akasha grew nervous as well.
"o(////▽////) So this is what it feels like to be insulted… It's… kind of addictive!"
A blush even deeper than before spread across Uria's cheeks. Her trembling body radiated heat as she drowned in an uncontrollable wave of… pleasure.
"M-More… Say more mean things about me! Insult ugly Uria as much as you want~"
This is… bad. Very bad.
Remembering last night's duel, Hoshino suddenly realized—
This little girl is a full-blown masochist!!
"No, no—don't get dragged into her rhythm. I need to figure out the current situation first."
Forcing herself to calm down, Hoshino addressed the girl who was still lost in the "euphoria of being insulted."
"So Uria, why exactly are you here?"
After defeating Nightshroud yesterday, Hoshino had thoroughly checked Atticus's Deck. As expected, neither Illusion Gate nor Uria, Lord of Searing Flames were inside.
"It's all your fault, Hoshino~"
Still soaking in that euphoria, Uria's crimson eyes shimmered with hazy emotion.
"That attack was so intense… It was the first time I ever felt something like that. Now my body can't live without you anymore~"
They weren't even remotely on the same wavelength…
Communication was impossible. Hoshino had no idea what expression or attitude to use toward this masochistic Sacred Beast girl. With no better option, she cut straight to the point.
"So, the Three Sacred Beasts—meaning the card that is your true body—should still be sealed under the Academy, right? Then how are you here?"
Uria's excitement faded. Her expression turned serious.
"Hoshino wants the answer? Then you'll have to pay a price~"
"A price?"
Hoshino frowned slightly. That soul-hungry Evil God loved saying the same thing…
Was her body some kind of magnet for god-tier Duel Monsters?!
"⁄(⁄⁄•⁄⁄•⁄⁄)⁄ The price is… smack me as hard as you can~"
Hoshino: "==?"
Akasha: "==?"
Ah. This masochistic Beast might truly be beyond saving.
"Pleaseee~ Just once is fine! Let me taste Hoshino's full-power slap!"
SMAACK —!!
Jaden next door: "Hm? Fireworks this early in the morning?"
Uria collapsed weakly onto the floor, her cheek bright red, her flat chest rising and falling rapidly with each breath.
"Amazing… just as I thought, a punishment that strikes the soul itself! From now on, Uria belongs to you!"
SMAACK —!!
"That's the free extra hit. Now answer my question."
Maybe she had been influenced by Uria's overwhelming masochist aura, but Hoshino seemed even more S than usual.
Slapping a Sacred Beast while interrogating her coldly—Akasha could only stare, speechless.
"('ロ') …Just a little bit jealous. I kinda want to know what it feels like to get slapped by Hoshino-nee too."
"No wonder you're the one I've set my eyes on—at critical moments, you never hold back on your 'rewards.'"
Clearly satisfied with Hoshino's consecutive slaps, Uria continued excitedly, "As promised, I'll now tell you everything I know about the Shadow Rider and the Three Sacred Beasts."
"As of now, the only Sacred Beast able to partially break its seal and manifest some of its power is me—Uria. As for the other two… how should I put it? Rather than being 'sealed,' it's more like they're just too lazy to move."
"L-Lazy… too lazy to move…"
That answer made Hoshino feel like everything she had fought for up until now had been completely pointless.
"If the Sacred Beasts can casually break their seals, what's even the point of giving them two layers of seals?"
"A human-made seal, no matter how many layers you stack, can never completely imprison a god."
Uria scratched her head and smiled with the purest, most innocent expression—while saying the most arrogant thing imaginable.
"The main purpose of these human seals is just to keep humans out."
She continued, "Just like this time—someone coveted the Sacred Beasts' ability to grant immortality, so they created the Shadow Rider organization. Although most of its members aren't even human, the mastermind behind them definitely is."
After hearing Uria's explanation, Hoshino fell into deep thought.
"The mastermind… definitely human, huh… I thought they were all basically mythological monsters. I didn't expect the final boss to be human after all."
Uria emphasized, "The darkness that can grow inside a human heart far surpasses any monster from a horror story. You, of all people, should know that well, Hoshino."
Hoshino resonated deeply with those words. Thinking back—Pegasus, Marik, Paradox, all the way to Nightshroud and the Orichalcos—they were all reflections of darkness and threats born from human hearts.
"Humans really are hopeless—always repeating the same mistakes."
With her crimson eyes narrowing mischievously, Uria stared at Hoshino with interest. "But at least you're different, Hoshino. And I'm talking about the human aspect, of course~"
"I'd rather believe in the light and potential within people, not the darkness."
She wasn't trying to preach—but she had witnessed countless horrors, and just as many hopes. Otherwise, she wouldn't still be here as Duel Academy's Headmaster.
"So, Uria—does your presence here mean you've broken free of your seal?"
Uria shook her head honestly. "I just said that a seal can't completely contain a Sacred Beast's power. With special methods, it's possible to forcibly extract some of our power from the seal."
"That leaked Sacred Beast energy was taken advantage of by the mastermind, and that's how I appeared here. Once the seal truly breaks and the cards are stolen… this version of me will probably vanish."
"Vanish…" Even though they had only met once—during a life-or-death duel no less—Hoshino still couldn't help feeling troubled at the idea that this cute (masochistic) little girl would disappear once her card was taken.
['There you go again, aibo. It's because you're always like this that all sorts of weird people gather around you.']
"What's wrong with that? Cuteness is justice." Hoshino pouted.
"And most importantly—I absolutely won't let the mastermind break the seal and steal the Sacred Beasts' cards. On that point, our interests should be the same, right?"
"Exactly!" Uria threw her arms around Hoshino and laughed. "That's why I'm by your side today. My sealed true body can't help you in battle… but this physical form can serve as your outlet for daily 'desires.' You can ravage me anytime you want~!"
"We don't need that!" Hoshino and Akasha said in perfect sync.
"I'm not some hardcore sadist. Why would I need to 'vent' by abusing someone?"
"Yeah, yeah!" Akasha nodded vigorously. "Besides, you already have me, Hoshino-nee! If you need to vent, it should be on me! I want Hoshino-nee to slap me too!"
She finally said it—her newly awakened desire bursting out.
"What does it mean to be slapped by senpai?" Alexis asked as she gently pushed open the door—just in time to hear Akasha's lust-filled plea. "It sounds fun… I want senpai to slap me too!"
Why were they all lining up for this?! Did getting slapped by her increase one's lifespan?!
"Um, who's this cute little girl? A child staying at the inn?"
"Uria is Hoshino's slave—mmph!"
Hoshino quickly slapped a hand over Uria's mouth before she could spout any more indecent nonsense, then looked at Alexis.
"Just treat her as a child from the inn. Since you're here, does that mean Atticus has woken up?"
Hoshino had told Alexis to notify her immediately when her brother woke up, so she already had a good idea.
"Yes. My brother woke up just now. I told him a summary of what happened yesterday, and then he…" Alexis scratched her cheek awkwardly. "Senpai, you should go yourself."
Adjusting her bathrobe, Hoshino stood. "I know his personality. Alright, I'll go check on him."
.
..
...
Hot spring inn — Atticus's private room.
"Oh, my angel!"
Atticus dramatically dropped to one knee, took Hoshino's hand, and declared emotionally:
"To think that in my moment of greatest peril, it was you who risked everything to save me! I knew it! You truly are the angel destined for me!"
Alexis flushed red. "Brother, get up! This is embarrassing!"
The proprietress chuckled behind her hand. "Ah, youth truly is a wonderful thing. Still, judging from his vigor, this handsome young man seems fully recovered."
Before entering the room, Hoshino had made sure to send Uria away—otherwise, the proprietress might charge her extra for another guest.
"Sorry, senpai… I mean, Headmistress," Alexis corrected herself awkwardly. "My brother's been like this ever since he woke up."
"This is the Academy's King?" Akasha, disappointed after imagining someone cool and powerful, squinted suspiciously. "Did Nightshroud break his brain or something?"
"No, Atticus-kun has always been like this." Hoshino sighed deeply.
After knowing him for two years, she was very familiar with his playboy, flamboyant personality. Practically every girl in the Academy had been flirted with by him. But since he was handsome, most didn't complain—if anything, he had a fanbase of love-struck admirers.
Atticus turned his attention to Akasha, flashing a charming smile. "Oh? I've never seen this beautiful blonde girl before. You must be Alexis's classmate—Miss Akasha~"
Then, letting go of Hoshino's hand, he immediately took Akasha's.
A violent shiver ran down her spine. Unable to tolerate people like Atticus on a biological level, Akasha instinctively kicked him straight into the corner of the room.
"Gross! Don't touch me!"
"(´ཀ`」∠) Ahh… what an impactful first greeting… No wonder she's Alexis's love rival…"
"Aaaaah! Don't say things like that!" Alexis shrieked, embarrassed, and kicked him too for good measure.
The Academy King, Alexis's brother, having been awake for less than half an hour…
fell unconscious again.