Jesse Anderson did not show up right away.
As Adrian had said, the boy was like a ghost. Five people had come to the Duel Academy this time, and he was the only one who had yet to appear before the others.
But the reason wasn't that he was aloof or mysterious. It was simply that Jesse… was hopeless with directions.
Yep, he got lost like Zoro.
Not that it mattered much. After the chancellor spent a few awkward seconds smiling on stage, the legendary Jesse Anderson finally appeared at the doorway, panting, drenched in sweat as he hurried up to the podium.
"Ahahaha, I'm so sorry. I didn't expect the main campus to be this big. I couldn't find the auditorium for a bit, ahaha."
The chancellor cleared his throat and let it pass.
The last to be introduced was Professor Viper.
He had a downright vicious face, and his tone was even harsher. He took the mic and said bluntly, "Today was supposed to be about greetings and building rapport, but saying all that won't make anyone stronger.
So let's skip the boring pleasantries and go straight to live combat. That's my teaching policy!
We'll implement it right now: an inter-campus exhibition duel!"
At that, even the chancellor and the instructors on stage looked at him in shock.
Huh?
This was on the agenda?
No one said anything about that.
Just deciding this on his own…
"The duelists will be chosen by me."
Though he was a visiting professor, Viper spoke as willfully as if he were the chancellor himself.
Viper narrowed his eyes.
The student he was most interested in here, of course, was—
"Jaden Yuki!"
In the stands, Jaden pointed at himself, bewildered. "Huh? Me?"
Professor Viper didn't answer. He then pointed at Jesse, who had only just made it on stage.
"Jesse Anderson!"
He'd tried to gather Jaden Yuki's data before and failed. Since the indirect approach hadn't worked, he'd do it the straightforward way—use his authority as exchange professor to arrange a duel.
He glanced at Chancellor Sheppard behind him. "No problem, Headmaster?"
Sheppard frowned, then decided to give the guest professor some face. "Well, practical combat is indeed best. I have no objection."
Viper nodded, satisfied. "Excellent. Then it's decided—"
"Hold on a second."
Someone cut in.
Viper looked toward the student seats and frowned at the person standing up.
The students started buzzing.
The Lord of the Yellow Dorm!
"Mr. Kira!" Jesse, who already knew Kira, waved energetically.
Axel and Jim, who were seeing him for the first time, couldn't help but look over as well.
"So that's the living legend of Duel Academy, the Duel King…"
Jim rubbed his hands. "What I wanted most on this trip was to try my hand against the legend, after all. Right, Shirley?"
The crocodile named Shirley on his back growled excitedly twice.
"You're Fujiki Kira, right?" Professor Viper frowned. "Do you have a problem with my policy?"
He couldn't help griping inside. He'd heard the rumors: nominally Sheppard was the chancellor here, but in reality this guy called the shots. Viper had figured that no matter what, he was still a student and would give the chancellor face…
Yet even after the chancellor nodded, this student objected. Did everyone really accept that this academy is run by this student?
"No, no, no objection." Kira smiled. "I just think that since it's an exhibition duel, we should showcase the highest level possible. It would be more valuable than student exchanges for the strongest professor to demonstrate in front of all the students, don't you think?"
"Oh?" Professor Viper frowned. "So what you mean is—"
"I heard before that Professor Viper is a duelist from the military, who came to teach here with rich real-combat experience.
Since this is a rare opportunity, how about the professor give me some instruction and show everyone what a top-level duel looks like?"
Viper's expression darkened… though that was his usual look, so it was hard to tell the difference.
He looked over at Sheppard.
"What do you think, Chancellor Sheppard?"
"Uh, Kira has a point," Sheppard said, rubbing his shiny bald head. "Why don't we do that?"
Behind him, the two highest-ranking professors at Duel Academy, Crowler and Professor Jean-Louis Bonaparte, both nodded repeatedly.
Professor Crowler: "Kira-kun is right, no ne."
Head Professor Jean-Louis Bonaparte: "Let's do as Kira-kun says, de aru."
These two had their quirks—one's catchphrase was "no ne," the other's was "de aru."
Colorful people; most of the time they felt more like comedians than professors.
Last term, Professor Crowler had been promoted to acting chancellor, and Professor Jean-Louis Bonaparte to head professor, which had been Crowler's previous post.
Now that the chancellor had returned, Crowler was back to being an instructor—but Jean-Louis Bonaparte was already in that role, so things were a bit awkward. They were rivals and hadn't gotten along.
Professor Viper curled his lip slightly.
What is wrong with this school's chancellor and leadership? They really don't bother to hide that they're taking this kid's lead…
This threw off his plan.
"…Fine."
Viper nodded.
"Then an exhibition duel it is. I'd heard of Duel King already anyway. This is a good chance to see for myself."
He paused, then said:
"But I'm not prepared for a sudden duel. Let's set it… for two days from now."
He looked to Chancellor Sheppard.
"The evening two days from now is a school-wide banquet, yes?"
Sheppard blinked, then nodded. "Yes—both to welcome new students and our exchange colleagues."
"Then we'll do it then."
Professor Viper nodded.
"Conveniently, I also have a subsequent teaching activity to announce to all students at that time."
Kira sneered inwardly.
Teaching activity likely meant hosting a school-wide duel event, like the GX tournament—letting all students duel freely across the academy island's open map, tallying standings and points.
He claimed it was training through real combat, but his true aim was to siphon off the energy generated during the students' matches to revive Yubel. The process would leave students drained, fainting, bedridden—and depending on their constitution, possibly worse.
"Is that acceptable, Fujiki Kira?"
Professor Viper looked at Kira.
"Of course."
Kira smiled, as if to say: I'm just a student; what opinion could I possibly have?
"I'll leave it to the professor."