Kexi left, and in the end, Yuui still did not say whether he would join the King's Faction, nor did Kexi press the matter.
However, right before he left, he still said one more thing to Yuui.
"The Prince previously ordered his subordinates to bring Neos back within half a month. Five days have already passed, so there are ten days left. They will definitely send stronger people to seize your spirit.
"So during this period, try not to go to places where there are few people. No matter what, they won't dare take things too far, nor will they openly declare in public that they want your spirit.
"As for this, I have a suggestion for you: try talking more with the two transfer students in your class. Don't think of them merely as transfer students; they were also given to us by the Academy as an opportunity for duelists not suited for Fusion Summoning to learn other summoning methods.
"And because of their transfer student status, the Prince's Faction definitely does not want scandals from their country to be known by foreign nations.
"Also, if you're confused as to why Lord Aleister is helping you, then go ask him yourself!
"Anyway, I can tell you this… he has never harmed his own students, though he does act like a villain sometimes!"
After saying this, Kexi left, and Yuui returned Alicia's body to her.
Watching Kexi's departing figure, the girl asked worriedly, "Yuui-san, are we really going to ask the Headmaster why he's helping us?"
"...Let's go ask. Staying in the dark forever isn't a solution."
And so, though she had originally planned to return to the dormitory, Alicia once again had to carry a stack of books toward the Academy's Administration Building.
It was already after school, but the teachers inside were still busy with work.
Along the way, Alicia encountered many of her instructors—the Alchemy teacher, Mathematics teacher, Magic teacher, History teacher, and even her homeroom teacher, Professor White.
The other teachers simply greeted this powerful student with nods and brief pleasantries, but Professor White, upon seeing Alicia appear in the building, asked with some confusion, "Alicia, why are you here? Are you looking for a teacher to answer questions?"
Such a question was reasonable, given that Alicia was holding several books. Students usually came to the Administration Building with books to seek help from teachers.
"No, Professor White," Alicia shook her head. "I'm going to see the Headmaster. There are some things I need to ask him."
"The Headmaster!?" White froze, instinctively looking upward. Then he thought for a moment and said, "I see. Well, I also need to see the Headmaster, so I'll go with you."
"Eh!? Th-then… alright…"
Alicia didn't know how to refuse, so she walked alongside Professor White, who was holding a stack of documents, toward the rooftop of the building.
A few minutes later, Professor White knocked on the Headmaster's office door. Soon, Aleister's strong and resonant voice came from inside.
"Come in, Professor White, and you as well, Alicia."
Alicia was surprised that the Headmaster knew they had arrived, but White did not seem to mind. The door opened, and the familiar room once again entered Alicia's sight.
Aleister was sitting in his chair, enjoying a cup of coffee, while the black-and-white creature with the big ears—cute like a fox—was lying on the desk, yawning.
Upon seeing White, one of the creature's ears perked up and gave him a small wave.
"Long time no see, White. So, have you found a girlfriend yet?"
Hearing this, Professor White showed a strained smile.
"Please don't tease me, Professor Chorozo. I am not planning to marry anytime soon."
"But for a human, you're not that young anymore. If you still don't find a suitable partner to marry and produce offspring, you might not be able to anymore," the spirit Chorozo said lazily, tilting its head in a relaxed posture.
"Hahaha… I'll do my best…"
Professor White looked thoroughly embarrassed. Being urged to get married by a spirit in front of his student… his dignity as a teacher was probably being ground into the floor.
"So, what brings you here this time, little girl?" Spirit Chorozo turned to look at Alicia behind him.
Hearing Chorozo call her, Alicia flinched a little and answered in a small voice, "I'm here to see the Headmaster and ask him some questions."
"I see." Chorozo tilted its head and called out louder, "Hey, Aleister, they're both here for you! Hurry up and get to work!"
"Alright, alright." Aleister set down his cup of coffee, and Professor White stepped forward to place the documents on the Headmaster's desk.
"Headmaster, we teachers have selected the representatives for the first, second, and third-year students for the inter-year match. When would you like us to arrange the event?"
"Inter-year match?" A question mark popped up in Alicia's mind.
"They probably mean choosing the strongest students from each year to duel each other," Yuui explained beside her.
"Oh, I see…" Alicia nodded slowly. Then, she suddenly noticed that the Headmaster, sitting behind the desk, seemed to be looking in her direction.
No… that gaze wasn't aimed at her, but at Yuui beside her.
As expected, the Headmaster could see Yuui.
In that moment, Alicia suddenly felt a sense of fear.
After all, Yuui's identity was far too sensitive in this world. If it were ever exposed, who knew how many people would come for his life?
However, the Headmaster merely glanced at Yuui before withdrawing his gaze. He turned to Professor White and said, "Then let's schedule it for ten days from now. That will coincide with the Star-Creation Festival. While the students celebrate, it will also be a good chance to see how much their strength has grown over these past few months."
"Ten days later, hm?" Professor White thought for a moment, then nodded. "Alright, I'll go arrange it with the other teachers."
"Good. You may go." Aleister then looked toward Alicia. "I have some matters to discuss with Miss Alicia. She likely won't be leaving with you."
Professor White stiffened. He looked at Aleister, then at Alicia, before nodding. "Understood, Headmaster."
After Professor White left, Spirit Chorozo climbed up from the desk, poured a fresh cup of coffee, then lay back down to continue dozing.
Aleister picked up his own coffee again and gazed out at the darkening sky outside the window. "Sit down and have a cup. We'll talk as we drink."
Alicia gave Yuui a quick glance. Seeing him nod, she sat down in front of the desk, picked up the cup, and slowly savored it.
The last time she drank Chorozo's coffee, she had been far too nervous and overwhelmed by the Three Sacred Beasts incident to taste anything. However, this time, she finally sensed the difference.
A rich fragrance rose from the cup. The slightly bitter liquid entered her mouth, and beyond the bitterness, she gradually tasted a light sweetness.
The warm coffee traveled down her throat and into her stomach, and a gentle warmth spread through her entire body. In that moment, the mental and physical fatigue she had accumulated over recent days melted away. Even the faint furrow between her brows finally eased.
"Someone once told me… though coffee is bitter, it relaxes the mind and dispels fatigue. It's better than alcohol." Aleister set his cup down and looked at Alicia—this time, only at Alicia.
"Well, little one, feeling more relaxed?"
"Yes… I feel like all my exhaustion, both mental and physical, has disappeared. Thank you for the coffee, Headmaster!" Alicia bowed.
"Hey, I was the one who brewed it, girl! If you want to thank someone, thank me!" Chorozo raised a tiny paw in protest from the desk.
"Ah!" Alicia froze, then hurriedly apologized. "Sorry, Chorozo… sensei. And thank you for the coffee!"
"Mm. You are forgiven." Chorozo lowered his paw and resumed dozing.
"Hehehe, alright, let's move on." Aleister now looked at both of them. "You two came to see me. What is it you wanted to ask?"
"You two," not "you." Aleister had openly acknowledged Yuui's existence.
Yuui immediately asked the question he had always known the answer to, yet had never dared confirm.
"From the moment we enrolled… you've been able to see me, haven't you?"
"Of course," Aleister replied with a strange gleam in his eyes. "Perhaps your existence is invisible to others. That said, once one becomes a Great Sage, and when one's domain reaches the realm of the divine, one gains eyes that see through all illusions."
As he spoke, Aleister pointed to his own light-brown eyes. In the next instant, a fuzzy blue light flashed within them.
In that instant, both Yuui and Alicia felt as though their entire beings had been fully laid bare.
The sensation was extremely unpleasant. Shortly after, the blue light faded, and with it, the discomfort.
Even so, both still felt shaken.
Aleister, unfazed by their expressions, continued, "You didn't come here just to ask whether I can see you, did you?"
Alicia glanced at Yuui, bit her lip. Yuui nodded gently. "I'll say it."
He looked back at Aleister. "We want to know why you're helping us. Why do you trust us so much? And what are your intentions?"
"Three questions, hm? I'll answer the first two together." Aleister took a sip of his coffee and answered calmly. "The reason I help you and trust you is simple: because I know you are not bad people, and because I know you will inevitably be dragged into many events.
"Setting Alicia aside for the moment—you, Albaz Yuui, as the creator of Duel Monster Cards, a creation that changed the laws of this entire world… even if your identity is never exposed, even if your power has diminished to something incomparable to what it once was…"
He paused.
"As long as you live, as long as you walk this world, you will naturally draw countless events to you."
Yuui did not show panic at his identity being exposed, while Alicia clenched her fists.
"And your greatest sin as the creator of Duel Cards… is that you lost your original power. And that your former power brought calamity upon this world."
...
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