"Senior Kexi, what are you doing here!?" Alicia seized up for a moment as the boy who had suddenly appeared before her.
His ash-brown long hair was still tied back with a single headband. The purple school uniform fit him neatly; a faint smile rested on his handsome face, completely different from the aggressive, arrogant demeanor he'd shown the first time they met.
Alicia still remembered the duel between Yuui-san and Kexi; although back then, their decks were still weak, Yuui-san managed to win through a series of clever "traps" and the bond with his deck (his touch), and that duel became the most important one in their lives.
If they hadn't won that duel, neither she nor Yuui-san would have been able to enter Saint Fusion Academy, nor enjoy the worry-free (?) life they did now.
So in a way, Kexi could be counted as a turning point on the path of their lives.
"Surprised to see me in the library?"
Kexi smiled as he sat down, teasing, "Alicia, you've been doing pretty well lately! I've heard many of the second-years talking about you: brand-new HERO monsters, the Three Sacred Beasts incident, one of the academy's saviors—you even defeated two of the recent transfer students in a single duel. You're quite the figure at the academy now, aren't you?"
To be called a participant in those events and to receive that kind of glory made the little girl feel somewhat undeserving.
"Uh…it probably isn't that exaggerated!" Alicia scratched her cheek awkwardly. There were things she simply couldn't explain.
"Heh, modesty is a fine virtue, but too much of it isn't good!" Kexi smiled helplessly, then his expression changed. "And some of that glory has brought trouble your way."
"Trouble?" A question mark appeared above Alicia's head. "I shouldn't have done anything bad, right!?"
"You didn't do anything wrong. Many of the things you've done since enrolling brought honor to the academy! But…"
Kexi's tone shifted; his voice grew several degrees colder. "Some things may be good for the academy but not for you. You're originally isolated and vulnerable, and since you've gained so much glory, naturally, someone will take notice.
"And now you've caught the attention of one of this country's greatest powers—the Prince's faction!"
"Prince's faction!?" Alicia was stunned. Hadn't she already driven those people off before? They had returned?
"That's right." Kexi nodded. "I know you previously dueled Emily Valentine of the Prince's faction within the academy and defeated her.
"However, that woman was just an insignificant member of the Prince's faction. This time it's not her—this time it's His Highness the First Prince himself, Zack Bredt, who's taken an interest in you!"
"Aah!!! (゜Д゜ノ)ノ!!"
Alicia jumped to her feet in shock, drawing the attention of others in the library.
Seeing the curious gazes, she quickly sat down in embarrassment and in asked in a whisper, "Senior Kexi, why would His Highness the First Prince be interested in me? I'm just an ordinary person—there's nothing special about me!"
"You… an ordinary person?" Kexi looked at Alicia with an oddly strange gaze that made her uncomfortable. She forced out an embarrassed reply: "Uh… well, not exactly ordinary, but I don't think I've reached the level to attract someone like the First Prince!"
"It's not you personally—they're interested in your spirit."
"My spirit!?" Alicia was taken aback.
Kexi nodded. "That's right. I've received intel that His Highness is seeking the Three Sacred Beasts to strengthen his position in the succession dispute.
"So far, aside from the Headmaster, only you—or rather, your spirit—seems to have a link to the Three Sacred Beasts.
"After all, the Headmaster publicly said your spirit detected the Three Sacred Beasts, and you informed him of that information for the academy's safety.
"Now the First Prince wishes to acquire the Three Sacred Beasts, and he can't get them through the Headmaster—so he's come to you."
Alicia was bewildered. One sentence from the Headmaster at the end of the Three Sacred Beasts incident had brought her such trouble. Dark Duelists had already attacked her before; now even the First Prince was seeking her out.
Why was school so troublesome!?
With that thought, Alicia pressed her forehead and let out a weary sigh. At that moment, Yuui said from the side, "Alicia, leave it to me."
Everything.
At Yuui's words, Alicia agreed without a second thought—she wasn't good at this kind of scheming, and usually left such matters to Yuui, who would arrange the soul transfers for her.
Kexi looked at Alicia, still holding her forehead, not realizing that the girl before him was no longer the bunny-like child he'd known, but rather an old fox who had lived for thousands of years.
He continued: "That said, you needn't worry, Alicia. Even the First Prince won't try to forcibly seize your spirit. The intel I received says they intend to offer benefits in exchange for the spirit that can sense the Three Sacred Beasts.
"We hope you will not accept any exchange."
Yuui looked up and asked, "Senior Kexi, I'm curious… since you seem to know so much about the First Prince, who's backing you?"
Kexi paused; the girl before him seemed to change into someone different—calm, as she had been during their duel.
Yet, Kexi didn't overthink it and instead smiled softly. "My family is the Marquis Arce family—one of the kingdom's five great marquisates. We support only one person: His Majesty the King."
"So that means the King's faction has planted many nails in the First Prince's camp. To be able to sniff out the First Prince's secret plan to seek the Three Sacred Beasts—impressive!"
Kexi smiled and declined to answer directly. "Our royal supporters hope you will not hand over your spirit, and personally, I hope you will not trade your spirit for any benefit.
"After all, to me, you are a true duelist, and duelists never treat their comrades as tools to be measured in terms of profit, so I—
"Spare the rhetoric, Senior Kexi!"
Yuui placed a hand beneath his chin, expressionless—neither pleased nor displeased—staring at Kexi like an emperor.
"Tell us something practical! If we help you, what do we get?"
...
If you want to support, please consider Patreon, and read advanced chapters! Your support keeps this series going! [Patreon.com/RedZTL]