"Tell me something...through a duel?"
Judai's words left Chazz feeling stunned.
Is there such a thing? I didn't sense it at all.
Chazz furrowed his brows and pondered carefully.
If he must say he gained something from this duel, it felt more like pain and frustration. No matter what big monster he summoned or what stunningly flashy moves he used, the opponent remained calm throughout, as if merely waving a hand would dismantle all his efforts.
If there was something conveyed to him through this process, Chazz could only feel one message—
—You're genuinely weak.
I haven't even exerted myself, but you're already down.
"Chazz, this time when you returned from Northern Academy, you gained not only new cards but new companions too, right?" Judai said.
Chazz was taken aback.
His first reaction was that Judai was referring to his new classmates at Northern Academy, but considering it was Judai speaking, he quickly realized something else.
Judai was referring to the Elf.
"Yeah, yeah, like me, the most reliable companion!"
Ojama Yellow Elf sprang up again, wobbling its butt in bright red shorts on Chazz's shoulder.
At this moment, already experiencing a psychological shadow, Chazz felt his anger rise at the sight of this character.
Damn, should I just tear this guy apart to vent...
"Exactly. During the duel, I noticed it several times." Judai laughed, "Chazz isn't that what a precious card Elf companion you have."
"Precious? Companion?"
Chazz looked at Ojama Yellow with disgust.
What, this thing?
Ojama Yellow, eyes welling with tears: "Boss, have you forgotten our vows and promises at sea and mountains? Or is it that with a new love, you start dismissing me..."
"Get lost, I never remember making any commitments with you." Chazz said angrily.
"So Chazz, clearly you have the power of the Elf, but it feels like you haven't added it to your card deck, right?" Judai asked curiously, "Why is that?"
"Isn't that obvious?" Chazz said coldly, "In such an important duel, how could I let such a worthless thing appear..."
"But Yugen used the Ojama deck quite spectacularly, didn't he?"
Chazz: "..."
"There's no such thing as a useless card, they're just waiting for an opportunity to unleash their potential." Judai smiled, "Chazz has already become quite strong, but even still, you're chasing after duels filled with power.
But I think duels solely with power might not be enough. Yugen intentionally chose such a deck and such a way to duel with you, surely to express this point."
He said, looking jokingly at Yugen.
"Right, Yugen?"
"Ah? Oh...yes, that's it." Yugen nodded seriously, "That's more or less it."
Well, since Judai put it like that, let's go with it.
I can't just say I simply thought it'd be hilarious using an Ojama deck to pound down someone who currently looks down on Ojama like Chazz...
"Yes, yes, that's it boss!"
Ojama Yellow gestured excitedly, with eyes watering again looking at Judai and Yugen, filled with gratitude, as if thinking these people were rare gems among humans.
"Even I have a use!"
Ojama Yellow said.
"You see, that Lord Yugen used the strength of us brothers to beat you, Boss, to a pulp, leaving you in pieces, with smoke coming from your seven orifices..."
The Chazz, whose emotions had just started calming, had his forehead marked by a tic-tac-toe line.
He thought maybe he'd rather just tear up this ridiculous Ojama...
"But Chazz, you've already fought beautifully."
Judai stepped back, hands on hips, looking towards the audience.
"See, everyone thinks so too."
The crowd of students from Northern Academy shouted in unison.
"Lightning! Lightning! Chazz Lightning!!"
The shout echoed, forming a wave as if it would flip the roof.
Chazz was stunned.
"All of you...but why?" he asked blankly, "I clearly lost..."
"Because everyone has seen Chazz's strength and effort, I guess."
Judai laughed.
"Sometimes, in a duel, the process is also important."
Chazz: "..."
"What a joke." Chazz Nagasaku stepped forward, "Losing is losing, our dreams..."
"To march Chazz into the Duel Monsters Realm, expand influence to establish the Chazz Empire, right?" Yugen interjected with a smile.
Chazz's siblings glanced at him.
"Indeed, you're quite right. Duel is a thing where sometimes the result is more important than the process; victory is everything." Yugen said.
Judai looked at him unexpectedly: "Yugen..."
"But, dueling is absolutely not just a tool for decision-making, or as a springboard for fame acquisition." Yugen said, "In your eyes, Chazz is just such a tool.
Duel is nothing more than a way to earn fame, resources, and status. It's precisely this mindset of yours, the pressure you exert, that makes it hard for him to advance."
Chazz: "..."
At this moment, as he looked at Judai, looked at Yugen, his gaze slightly changed.
Chazz Shoji stepped forward, about to say something more, but was stopped by his brother Nagasaku.
Nagasaku shook his head, so Shoji swallowed back his words, only giving Chazz one last glance.
The two turned and left.
The Chazz Group and media left the island one after the other, leading to the time for both Academies to separate.
"Now, it's time for the award ceremony of the competition between the main Academy and Northern Academy!"
Professor Chronos held a microphone, standing on the temporarily built podium.
"Now please welcome, Miss Duel Academy to the stage!"
The crowd below was momentarily dumbfounded.
Miss Duel Academy...?
Such a person exists?
The newcomers were then dumbfounded, seeing Auntie Tami wearing a backless dress, adorned with heavy makeup and bright lipstick...
"Huh!???"
The newcomers felt their eyes had (metaphorically) received heavy injury.
"Now, please, the principal of the winning side, come up on stage to receive the award!"
Professor Chronos waved a hand.
Principal Jiaodao stepped up beaming, Auntie Tami leaned forward to plant a kiss on the principal's cheek with lips painted like ripe summer cherries. Principal Jiaodao was visibly satisfied, displaying a smile of happiness...
Meanwhile, Principal Ichinose from Northern Academy seemed finally breaching his limit, turning away unable to watch, and collapsed onto Chazz's shoulder, crying bitterly.
"Lightning! You must become stronger next year, must be stronger!"
Principal Ichinose was crying inconsolably.
"Next year, you must win back! Tami, bear with that bastard Jiaodao temporarily, you must wait for me ah blubber ah ah ah––"
Witnessing the principal crying inconsolably, Chazz hesitated, also feeling a bit awkward.
"Um...Principal, sorry about this." Chazz scratched his head, "I've thought it over and decided...that it's still best I remain at the main Academy in the future."
"Eh!?"
Principal Ichinose instantly petrified.
"Well, that's that." Chazz said, "Because I still have unfinished business here."
Principal Ichinose: "......"
So the implication is, not only did they lose the kiss from Tami this year, but their top commander is also defecting?
Is this the legendary losing the lady and the army along with it?