Chapter 2

The duel city was constantly enveloped in some ruckus or another. Even at night, there was always some kind of activity, and because of this, the lights in the southern sightseeing and northern artisan districts never went out, and the silence of night was often broken by the clash of steel.

Despite this, as a courtesy, the eastern residential district maintained a relative quiet, and the block for the human tribe was the furthest from the noise.

“Uwaaaaaaaaaaah! I overslept!!”

Not that this mattered to Athena, whose scream resounded far and wide across the sleepy townscape.

As the noise pierced her ears, Fram irksomely rubbed her sleepy eyes.

“What’s wrong... What are you shouting for?”

“Wake up, wake up, Fram! I have work today!”

“I’m off duty. You can go on your own. You’re a big girl...”

“Get out of bed! I don’t want to be alone when my brother gets angry at me!”

Athena forcefully yanked away the cover Fram pulled over her head.

It wasn’t long before Yuri frantically stampeded in to see what the commotion was.

“Wh-What happened!? I heard a really loud scream!”

“I have to go to—wait, Yuri, you went somewhere?”

“Me? Yes. I make it a habit to move my body every morning.”

At some point, Yuri had changed out of his travel clothes into light training equipment. He also had a towel wrapped around his neck.

With an absentminded glance at his attire, Athena snapped back to her senses.

“You went out alone!? You didn’t get lost without Big Sis’s help!?”

“Ah, no, I was perfectly fine. I had Ms. Mirka tag along.”

“Yuri, going out alone with Mirka is suicidal!”

“Hey Athena. How about you say that somewhere I can’t hear you?”

Popping her head out from behind Yuri, Mirka casually picked up a cup and began pouring coffee from the enchanted boiling pot.

“So Athena, why were you screaming, my dear?”

“I have work today! Today’s the day my brother gets back from restocking!!” she curtly answered while hurriedly readying herself.

The word “work” made Yuri tilt his head.

“Err, by work, do you mean a duel?”

“No, no. The work Athena is talking about is an obligation in the dueling city. Yuri, do you remember the creed of Babel?”

“Yes. It was, ‘Let’s all enjoy our fights,’ right?”

“Yes, yes. In order to preserve that ideal, duelists are tasked with two obligations.” Mirka slowly lifted two fingers to bolster her explanation. “First, they have to duel at least five times per month. This stands to reason, being a duelist and all.”

“Yeah, you can’t really call yourself a duelist if you don’t duel.”

“And the second is to maintain public order and take care of other necessary work so that everyone can have fun fighting together. This is an indispensable duty. By entrusting this to the duelists, we maintain a duel city that everyone can enjoy.”

Non-duelists rarely ever left their own continent. While there were those who aimed to rake in a profit setting up shop in the duel city, that still left an overwhelming shortage of hands. Even if Babel was far smaller than the other continents, it required a considerable amount of manpower to maintain.

So to ensure an environment that everyone could “enjoy,” the duelists were put to work and taught that they were the ones who built and maintained their own utopia.

By the time Yuri’s thoughts had reached that point, a sour look had formed on his face.

“I don’t have much confidence in anything apart from fighting...”

“Yeaaah, but labor is an obligation. Even the popular ones who earn a good share of fight money and the ones with sponsors from the other continents still work, more or less.” Mirka mercilessly informed him.

“What sort of work do you think I can do...?” he cautiously asked.

“Hmm... Well what exactly can you do?”

“I can survive anywhere with one knife!”

“A fine survival skill. Then a hunting or harvesting job in the purgatory district might work, but the earnings are good, so the job market is harsh...”

“I’m confident in my strength and stamina!”

“Stevedoring and other stamina-intensive jobs are usually filled by beastmen and dragon-kin. Demons and spirits dominate enchanting, angels have a foothold in medicine and therapy, and dwarves have a monopoly on mechanical jobs.”

“...So what do I do if I can’t find a job?”

“The town center will issue appropriate work to make sure you can fulfill your obligation, but neither your income nor your livelihood will be stable, and you’ll spend each day anxious for what’s to come.”

“I’d really like to avoid that...!”

Yuri was a bit dim on the general jobs of the world. He had lived on the human continent, on one of its furthest outskirts, and rarely had the chance to interact with anyone apart from his master. It was quite a high hurdle to suddenly put him to work.

While he contemplated this unanticipated danger to his life as a duelist, Athena, who had stood a sleepy-eyed Fram on her feet, called out.

“Ah, then how about you work in my brother’s shop?”

“Your brother owns a shop?”

“Yeah, yeah! It’s a formal café, but there are lots of odd jobs to do apart from serving customers and cooking. We occasionally go to the purgatory district to pick ingredients too. With so much to do, he might have a job for you!”

“But I can’t ask you to do so much for me...”

“It’s fine, perfectly fine! I’m pretty sure your master is my brother’s friend, and he’ll be delighted to hear about him!”

“But still... Hmmm...?”

Yuri was undeniably grateful for the proposal, but the girls had shown him around, offered him a place to stay, and at this point he mulled over whether he could with clear conscience ask them to take care of anything else for him.

Perhaps reading his mind, Athena giggled.

“...At our shop, you can duel as a job.”

“Please let me do it!”

“Yaay! I’ll be working with Yuri!”

“...Yuri, you’re pretty easy to convince when it comes to duels,” Mirka sighed as she watched the two of them link arms and celebrate.

To Yuri, fighting far outweighed any anxiety he had about work. “I’ll do my best in work and duel!” he declared while enthusiastically clenching his fist.

◇

The sightseeing district was the most prosperous locale of the duel city. Night or day, there was no scarcity of customers, and some shop somewhere would always be open.

In a corner of this district was a café decorated with a sign that read “Argent.”

After inspecting its old-style exterior, Yuri turned to Athena and asked, “Your brother is a really strong person, isn’t he?”

“Yep, yep! He’s stronger than me, and his rank is Adamant! Second from the top!”

“I get to meet someone that strong!?”

“He is strong, but Athena’s brother is also famous for another reason. In the Babel Roulette ten years ago, his team lasted into the top eight, and he put up a good fight against an Administrator,” said Fram.

“Ten years ago... Then maybe I saw him when I was watching my master’s duel.”

“Perhaps. Whatever the case, I do think you’ll be able to get some substantial information out of him.”

After Fram said that, Athena, at the lead, forcefully threw open the door.

“Heeey, Eli! I’m sorry for being late!”

Inside, a single man appeared from the kitchen.

“...Athena. How many times must I tell you? Enter the shop from the back door.”

His tone was sharp and cold as a blade. Long, flowing silver hair and pointed fox ears. A handsomely arranged face and a slender body.

His scathing glare pierced Athena as she stood in the doorway.

“And to repeat myself again, open the door gently. You’re going to break it.”

“Yes sir! Sorry sir!”

“An enthusiastic apology, but how about you show some effort to improve?”

He painstakingly closed his eyes as he exchanged a back and forth with Athena.

Upon seeing him, Yuri’s eyes opened wide. He recalled a tale, a story of the only friend his master ever spoke of. A master who would otherwise never tell old tales.

“Mr. Elias... You’re my master’s dear friend, Mr. Elias, aren’t you!?”

As Yuri’s eyes sparkled in excitement, Elias slowly turned toward him.

“Athena, who is this boy?”

“Well, you know! He’s Yuri!”

“Aizberg, her description is strikingly lacking. Please supplement.”

“He’s a duelist who only just registered yesterday, and Athena took a liking to him.”

“I see. I understand.”

After calmly nodding at Fram, Elias turned back to Athena.

“Athena, put him back where you found him.”

“Yuri isn’t a stray dog!”

“You’ve always had a habit of picking up strange things, but nabbing a human will get you arrested.”

“No way! Yuri is going to be my little brother!”

“I get it. As you are the youngest child, I understand why you always wanted a younger sibling, but if you want to make this boy your younger brother, please understand there is a proper process to follow. First, you need to discuss the matter with our parents, go through the adoption proceedings, and—”

“Would the Crossford siblings please get the conversation back on track? If we get sidetracked anymore, the shop will open late,” Fram interrupted, fed up with the exchange, before explaining Yuri’s identity again.

“This child says his master is Reilly Malbork. Does that ring any bells?”

The moment he heard the name, Elias turned to Yuri in surprise.

“Boy, is it true that Reilly’s your master?”

“Yes! My amazing master!”

Elias furrowed his brow and narrowed his eyes. And then he smiled.

“I see... So that’s the path that Reilly chose.” he quietly muttered, before calmly ordering Athena to get to work. “Athena, change and get ready. I will talk with the boy.”

“Right on it! Then Fram, you change too, and let’s get to work!”

“I just tagged along, I don’t have a shift today...”

“Aizberg, if you work, I will offer a free serving of today’s dessert.”

“...What’s the menu?”

“Milk agar pudding. With seasonal fruit and sauce.”

“You’d better have enough for seconds.”

“You will get an extra serving of fruit.”

Once the terms were settled, Athena and Fram disappeared into the back of the shop.

“Boy, please tell me a bit about Reilly. Are you alright with coffee?”

“Yes, by all means! Thank you so very much!”

“There is no need to be so formal. Especially when you’re that person’s disciple.” Elias heartily nodded and began grinding the beans to brew coffee. He only spoke again once he had presented Yuri with a steaming cup. “And so...is Reilly doing well?”

“Yes! Very...to a troublesome degree, I’d say...”

“By your reaction, I’d say nothing has changed. Just as the moniker, the Iron-blood, implied, Reilly was always the sort to never accept compromise, to always carry everything to its very limit.” Elias spoke as if speaking of an old friend.

Seeing the nostalgia in his eyes, Yuri decided to ask about his own master.

“Mr. Elias, how long did you know my master?”

“We only knew one another for a few years at most, but we registered around the same time, so I guess we shared a sense of kinship. We pushed one another to new heights, and ten years ago, we took part in the Babel Roulette on the same team.”

Yuri inadvertently leaned in. “Right, the Babel Roulette! I was there, I saw it when I was still a kid!”

“Hmm. Does that mean you came ten years later to take part in the next one?”

“No, I was just a kid, so I don’t even really remember what it was!”

“...I see. Certainly, a child would only recognize that the duelists were in a festive mood. I can’t blame you for not knowing the specifics.” With a wry smile, Elias offered an explanation. “The Babel Roulette is a team battle that takes place once every decade.”

“A team battle... But duels are one-on-one, aren’t they?”

“That’s right. But while the Babel Roulette is taking place, a special team-battle format is added.” Elias took a swig of his own coffee. “The duels we usually fight in are one-on-one battles, no one is allowed to interfere in any way. But during the event period, members of your team are able to freely participate in your duels.”

“By freely, does that mean that one person can fight multiple opponents?”

“Apart from that, they can fight in duos or trios. Eight is the maximum for a team, and large battles of eight against eight do break out at times. Those are the festivities I spoke of.”

“So many duelists can fight at once...!?”

“Indeed they can. You have to be mindful of allies you usually wouldn’t worry about, and implement tactics you couldn’t pull off alone. Purposely using small teams is also a valid strategy.”

“Just listening is getting me pumped up!”

“Your excitement is not misplaced. My own heart was dancing when I took part ten years ago.” Not a duelist for nothing, Elias’s expression softened when he spoke about duels.

“But the greatest event of the Babel Roulette—is the chance to fight the Administrators.”

Elias brought up a name known to all. The eight tribes of the world were unified and controlled by a certain group of people who each boasted overwhelming power, the transcendent beings tasked with supervising the new order. They were called Administrators, the eight entities that stood at the summit of each tribe.

“To win against the Administrators, who have been crowned as the strongest of each race... That is the greatest honor for any duelist.”

In Elias’s words, Yuri could see the spirit of a man aiming for the summit of battle. He found himself nodding again and again.

“I totally get it! A duelist really should set their sights on the top, right!?”

“Hmm, when I talk to my comrades on these matters, they call me a ‘battle maniac.’”

“I’m a battle maniac too!”

“I see. Then I feel you wouldn’t be too interested in the reward that comes after beating the Administrators.”

“A reward... Do they give out a boatload of money, or something?”

“No, the reward is to have a wish granted by the creator,” Elias plainly stated as he glanced out the window at the tower that reached to the heavens. “At the very top of Babel Tower, the symbol of the city, lives the creator who built this world. And those who defeat the Administrators are allowed to set foot on the tower’s top floor. The creator shall grant any wish to honor your achievements.”

Even if it was a wish that would bend the very fabric of the world, the wish would be granted. Duelists set their sights on the heavens, to make what otherwise could never be.

“When you really get down to it, I could count the number of duelists who’ve defeated the Administrators on one hand. While the reward definitely exists, it’s half a rumor, and quite close to an urban legend. Therefore, I value a duelist’s pride over such nonsense.”

Elias’s words spurred something in Yuri, and he decided to speak his own mind.

“I’m a similar story myself. Ten years ago...I saw my master’s battle with the Administrator and wanted to have a battle like that one day. That’s why I became a duelist.”

The words were so natural to Yuri, he could say them as if they held no weight at all. But they were words that caused Elias to narrow his eyes.

“That duel moved your heart?”

“Err... It did. Why do you ask?”

“...I mean no harm to you, boy, but it feels rather strange to hear that. If you were there, watching the duel, you should remember how the spectators reacted.”

Yuri reflected on an old memory... The Human Tribe Administrator Velt Helrik who continued to stand completely unperturbed. The Iron-blood Reilly Malbork who continued to face him, wounded all over.

As they watched the spectacle, the spectators’ vilification was endless.

“You think we want to see such a boring battle?”

“Just stay down already, weakling.”

“Quit it with your pointless struggle; give up and end this farce already.”

Such heartless words flew about the hall. Yuri knew why. He knew all too well.

“Boy, do you know what it means to be a mix-blood?”

“...Yes. My master told me too many times to forget.”

Among the eight tribes, the Human Tribe was the only one able to have children with other races. The child born from this union was a mix-blood and could exhibit traits of the non-human tribe. They looked no different from humans, but they inherited some special foreign properties.

However, to duelists, mix-blood carried a different meaning.

“A mix-blood is the weakest thing a duelist can be... That’s what I was told.”

“That’s right. Not only are a mix-blood’s tribal traits a far cry from the original, they cannot even use the Human Tribe’s Armament Skill.”

In duels, the Human Tribe would wield equipment compatible with their Armament Tribe Skill. These items were embedded with special gemstones, which a human could pour mana into to draw out various abilities, raising physical prowess and magic capabilities, among other things. This was a powerful Tribe Skill that allowed them to compete with the other tribes.

However, the gemstones used for Armament would only accept the mana of a pure-blood human. A mix-blood whose magic was tainted with the blood of other bloodlines couldn’t use the skill—and a Human Tribe member who couldn’t use Armament was, on all fronts, weaker than every other tribe.

“A mix-blood’s physical capabilities and mana level are equal to the rest of the Human Tribe. However, their heritage prevents them from using Armament, and the skill gained by virtue of being a mix-blood is too weak to compete. They are an entity that falls short of not only the other races, but even their kin.”

That was why duelists would speak of mix-blood as synonymous with weakest.

“Mr. Elias... Do you also think of mix-blood duelists as weak?”

“Naturally. In a duel, Tribe Skills are an absolute advantage. The Human Tribe’s Armament is no different, and without it, a mix-blood has no hopes of moving up,” he said, but for some reason his expression softened. “But...Reilly, Reilly was different. Maximizing technique, researching the weaknesses of each tribe, training the physical body to its absolute limit. With a heart that would never fold, Reilly climbed into the top rankings despite being a mix-blood.”

Reilly had continued pressing forward, never yielding to innate adversity. That was precisely why Elias could speak straight from the heart.

“After the duel with the Administrator, Reilly left the city without a word...but I’m proud to think of Reilly Malbork as a dear friend and fellow duelist.”

Yuri quietly took in Elias’s words.

“You have a great master. Hold your head high.”

“Yes. I owe my life to my master.” Hearing his dear teacher praised, Yuri sincerely returned Elias’s smile. “That being the case, I want to join in on the Babel Roulette! When does it begin!?”

“Calm down, boy. The Babel Roulette opens once every ten years. One of the Administrators should make the declaration soon. Until then, concentrate on raising your rank.”

“Err, by rank, you mean this Proof thing, right?”

Yuri looked at the bluish-gray Iron gemstone embedded in the bracelet on his arm.

“Only Beryl and higher can participate. Raise the rank of your Proof to be accepted as a first-rate duelist.”

Yuri gazed at his Proof and gripped his fist.

“Got it! I’ll hurry up and become first rate!”

“That’s the spirit. Incidentally, how did you come to know Reilly?”

“Yes, well, I entered the waiting room when Mr. Velt and Master were having a talk, and then—”

As the conversation over a shared friend livened, the door in the back opened, and Athena pranced her way out.

“Hey, Elias! We finished changing!”

“I’m ready for the dessert.”

The two of them waved their skirts. Long, black one-piece dresses with frilled, pure white aprons. Athena wore a headdress made for her ears while Fram wore a rather large maid cap. With one wearing a ribbon over her chest and the other a tie, there was a peculiar gap between them.

“Umm... Why are they dressed like that?” Yuri asked.

Elias promptly replied. “It’s the shop uniform.”

“Are they going to serve customers like that?”

“No. Athena not only gets orders wrong, she also forgets them entirely. And, as a member of the Spirit Tribe, Aizberg gets extremely fatigued from moving around. So neither of them are fit to serve customers whatsoever.”

“Then why did they have to change?”

Elias crossed his arms as he answered with a completely straight face. “To attract customers, and as a service to our patrons.”

Completely irrelevant to their conversation, Athena twirled toward them as if she had only just remembered.

“Ah, that’s right, Eli! Yuri doesn’t have a job yet, so can he work here?”

“Alright, get the boy into the uniform.”

“You want me to wear that? Are you insane!?”

“You’ll be fine,” Fram chimed in. “Yuri, you can definitely pull off women’s clothing.”

“I don’t want to!”

Seeing Yuri hectically shaking his head, Elias let out a slight sigh.

“Then just watch for today. I’ll put in a new order for a male uniform.”

“Are there people who make clothes like that in the duel city...?”

“All the uniforms in this shop were hand-made by Mirka Stein.”

“My apologies. I’m starting to understand how these things work...”

While Yuri dejectedly hung his head, Athena and Fram were on their way out of the store.

“C’mon now!” shouted Athena, “If you’re going to watch, you need to come with us!”

“What exactly am I supposed to watch?”

“You’ll know when you see it. It won’t be a bad deal for you,” said Fram.

And, pulled by both their hands, Yuri was dragged out of the shop.

The streets were already as lively as any, and all races walked down the sightseeing district’s main street. After taking her position—Athena lifted her weapon, her giant straight sword, over her shoulder.

“Righty-ho Fram, let’s get to work!”

“I’ll put in some moderate effort, so the onus is on you.”

“Okay! Leave it to Big Sis!!”

Athena gazed at the passing people—

“—Release.”

After a quiet murmur, the change came. Red seeped into her turquoise eyes. Nine silver tails spread wide out behind her like a lotus. This was Release, the tribal skill of the Beast Tribe.

And right after she took a swing with her large sword, a white flame danced through the air, tracing the lines her blade had drawn.

“Righty-ho—let’s kick things off with a big one!”

With a bouncy tone, Athena shot a white inferno into the air. The boom it made as it burst resounded through the streets, causing passersby to look to the sky, wondering what had just happened.

She fired off a few more infernal fireworks before stabbing her straight sword into the ground.

“Come one, come all! Café Argent is open for business! We have food for all tribes! Lunch and dinner, perfect for an afternoon break!”

Declaring the shop’s opening, Athena raised her voice even higher, her wide grin filled with confidence.

“And that’s not all—if any of you duelists can defeat either one of us, you can eat all you want for free! Think you can do it? Then you’ve come to the right place!!”

At her strong proclamation, an energy suddenly spread across the pedestrian traffic. A number of duelists stepped out from the crowd.

“Alright! I’m not gonna lose today, Athena missy!!”

“Oh, Mr. Vander! Is your shop going to be alright without you?”

The dwarven man named Vander lifted up a poleaxe with a hearty laugh. “I can’t get my head in the game without a match and a meal!”

Curiously watching this exchange, a passing angel came to a stop.

“Hmm... So it’s free if you win? Are you going to fight too, Madam Spirit?”

“Yes. But if you lose, not only will I take your rate, you’ll also have to place an order at the shop. Do you mind?”

“I see, so that’s the price of the match. That’s not much of a problem, but... I’m going at it to win, don’t cry if you lose.”

Confronting the Angel Tribe man, Fram’s lips curled into an elegant smile. “Of course. You will be the one crying, after all.”

Yes, confronting their challengers, they both smiled fearlessly—holding their left arms with their Proofs high to the heavens. The duels commenced. A blinding flash came from their bracelets as they and the challengers were transferred to the Field.

While the surrounding rubberneckers cheered, Yuri looked on incredulously.

“This is the service our humble shop offers, boy.”

“Err... You mean a free meal if you can win a duel?”

“That’s right. Those uniforms draw a lot of attention on the main street, so they’re a good fit for pulling in customers.”

“I-I see... But is the shop going to be financially stable like that?”

“Naturally. Those two are strong enough for me to acknowledge them.”

An Adamant Rank who had once confronted an Administrator, Elias recognized their strength.

Following his line of sight, Yuri stared at the duels.

“— Ah, for crying out loud! If you’re not going to attack, I’ll have to do things my way!!” Athena shouted, her sword clad in white flames.

She swung around the weapon taller than she was with one hand as she leaped from place to place with the lightest of steps. At a glance, her movements seemed crude and directionless, but her sword strokes showed a clear and accurate grasp of her opponent’s movements.

It was no simple feat to block the power of a giant sword swung with such ease, and while her opponent had managed to put up a defense against her relentless offense, he was clearly being cornered.

But, more than anything, it was the power of her white flames that caught Yuri’s eyes.

“Wow... Are those white flames an attribute of the Beast Tribe?”

“Correct, but that girl is a little special. Under normal circumstances, the Beast Tribe’s skill is exceedingly simple: all it does is greatly boost our already high physical capabilities.”

The Beast Tribe’s Release Skill often consisted of pure physical strengthening. They were unable to produce fire and ice like the Spirit Tribe; they were unable to turn into dragons that breathed fire and ice like the Dragon Tribe—however, there were times when this physical augmentation reached ungodly heights.

Feet graced with speeds the eye could never hope to follow; fists that pulverized everything that stood before them; eyes that saw with such clarity they could look into the future. This was the strength of the Beast Tribe, and their strongest trump card.

That being said, Athena’s white flame seemed to be something else entirely.

“The Beast Tribe’s Release is a sacred art that draws upon the strength of one’s ancestors. The power that girl is drawing upon...harkens back to the ancient days of the Great Solar Fox, a monster fox who embodied the power of the sun itself.”

A flame that blazed as brilliantly as the sun. Athena, who beamed in all her glory within it, truly did deserve to be called a sun of her own.

“It is rare for the Beast Tribe to draw out those sorts of powers, and these exceptions are more difficult to deal with the more experienced one is at fighting the Beast Tribe. Even if you do grow accustomed to fending off the white flames—it is not so easy to surpass the girl’s talent for battle.”

Athena manipulated her flames as if they were her own limbs, using them to cut off her opponent’s vision to inhibit his attacks, positioning herself with skillful swordsmanship, and completely controlling the flow of battle.

A God-given talent that understood battle by wild intuition.

“If you keep blocking—have a hot one!!”

With that, Athena took a conspicuously large swing with her large sword. The white flames enveloping her blazed up to massive proportions. They swelled and swallowed up her opponent as a massive wave. With their field of vision completely cut off, Athena delivered a rending blow.

Understanding her own abilities on instinct, she fought while fully utilizing her power. But while Yuri was entranced by the battle, a large cheer rose from elsewhere.

“It does seem like Aizberg has settled her battle as well.”

When he looked her way, Fram was confronting the Angel Tribe man. She had not moved a single step from her initial position. She had suppressed her opponent so one-sidedly she had no need to move.

“...See? You really are the one crying.”

Her indifferent tone never crumbling, Fram elegantly brandished the gauntlet encasing her right hand.

“—Ice Prison.”

Hail danced around her foe with a will of its own.

Creation, the Spirit Tribe’s skill. Its power allowed the user to create individualized magics in line with their own elemental attribute. A power permitted only to the Spirit Tribe, whose bodies were comprised of vast wells of magical energy.

Faced with such power, her opponent was frozen solid in a torrent of hail.

“That’s amazing! A perfect victory for Fram!”

“Hmm, you have good eyes, boy.”

In the duel he’d missed seeing, Fram had won with complete control over the enemy from start to finish.

“One hit from her magic, and the opponent can’t avoid taking lethal damage. Even if her magic is avoided, Aizberg has the next move ready. Her control of a match and her view of the big picture is a cut above the rest.”

Numerous clumps of ice were embedded in the pavement. Those thick ice shards restricted her opponent’s evasive actions, and even if he were to weave his way through them, Fram would use that very opportunity to hammer in a far more powerful magic.

Not only did the ice restrict enemy movements, it prevented any attack from reaching Fram, stealing away any opportunity to get a hit in on her. She had intentionally created a perfect scenario where the opponent could neither attack nor avoid. Her calculated use of magic controlled her foe until she could reliably take him out.

It was not that her pure output was anything extraordinary, it was that she had full knowledge of her own powers and a deep understanding of what influence they would have on her enemy.

And—right before ice shards could impale her foe, the colors returned to her. The Field was dispelled, the duel’s victor was determined.

“Huh... She didn’t have to land the last blow?”

“The angel had no chance of winning if things continued. There is no physical death in a duel, but being slain is followed by excruciating pain. Additionally, if a match is settled in death, the amount of rate exchanged increases. What I’m trying to say is that the man surrendered.”

Hearing those words, Yuri’s expression clouded ever so slightly.

“You never know... You should still fight to the end.”

“That spirit is important for a duelist, but not knowing when to give up is simply foolish. To a duelist, his rate is akin to his life. It’s important to know when to pull out.”

During their exchange, Athena also announced the end of her duel. The moment she and her foe were both back in color, she happily bounced up and down.

“Yaaay! I win!!”

“Waaaah! Another loss for the record!!”

“Hmhmm! You’d better not learn your lesson! Please come again!”

“’Course I will! Athena missy, when’s your next shift!?”

“No idea!!”

“Saw that coming! I’ll ask your boss over my meal!!”

“Woohoo! Thank you for your service!”

Athena saw him off with a wave of her hand and her tail, and the dwarf man headed into the store.

“Yes! Then, will the next challenger please step up! I’ll take on as many as I have to, so keep ’em coming!”

As Athena energetically raised her voice, an overwhelming cheer rose with her.

“Thank you, thank you! I’ll take you on one at a time, why don’t you have a good meal while you wait!!? Get the okay from the shop-keeper, and you can jump right to the front of the line!!”

Those who wished to fight formed a line as if they were accustomed to all this. A few of them went into the store to book a seat.

“So this is what she meant when she said I could duel for work.”

“It’s a duelist’s way of advertising. This is how Athena and Aizberg piled up enough duels to climb to Silver. They’ve gained considerable strength in the process.”

Without relying on talent, they had gained unshakable strength simply by stacking up countless matches each day. Yuri quietly gazed at them.

“And they were far more suited for this than working in the shop.”

“So they’re no good at customer service...”

“I was honestly holding my head when those girls broke around half of the tableware I owned.”

Just as Elias turned to him with bitter cynicism, Fram lazily trudged her way up.

“Elias. I worked, give me dessert.”

“Wait, you only fought a single battle.”

“I’m off-duty. You know the drill. If a child works hard, you must give them a reward.”

“I don’t know any four-hundred-year-old children. If you don’t get in there, Athena won’t be able to handle them all.”

“Then just put Yuri up to it.”

Yuri abruptly snapped toward her at the sudden mention of his name.

“You mean me?”

“You’ve been restless this whole time. You want to duel, don’t you?”

“I really, really want to fight!”

“You heard him, Elias. He’s all up for it.”

“Hm... Fine. It’s not a bad idea. He’ll need at least around three hundred thousand rate to make Beryl. If he wants to take part in the Babel Roulette, he’ll have to take every chance he can get.”

Nodding along to Fram’s proposal, Elias turned back to Yuri.

“Boy, what’s your current rate?”

“Err, my rate is...”

As he took a look at his current rate value, Yuri tilted his head.

“...One hundred and sixty thousand?”

“Boy...how many duels did you fight in one day?”

“N-None at all! I only had one duel yesterday!”

He had only just arrived then, and after that, he was under close surveillance by Athena and the others, so his only duel was with Haring. According to Mirka, the rate wagered by Silver was a hundred thousand, but even if he took that into consideration, the extra fifty thousand was a mystery.

As he pondered over his own status, Fram raised her face, only now recalling.

“Oh, come to think of it, you killed Haring yesterday. If you settle a match with death, the loser pays an extra fifty percent of their bet.”

“Oh, I see...” replied Yuri, “Rather, kill is quite a harsh way to put it.”

“It’s not wrong. The Field’s in another dimension, but there’s no changing the fact you killed him.”

“Aizberg’s right. In a duel, the intent to kill an opponent has a great influence on both a technical and psychological side. An awareness of death changes how you conduct yourself, and subsequently, your acquisition of rate.”

The two of them spoke like this was terribly obvious. Even if it was just entertainment to the spectators and outsiders, it was a real life-and-death battle to those involved, where mercy and compassion could influence the fight.

In a duel, the slightest hesitation could determine the outcome.

“While you can earn far more rate against stronger opponents, not only is it difficult to win, the risk of death is higher. That’s why it’s a general rule to fight people around your own level,” Fram explained.

“Eeeh...but it’s a lot more fun to fight strong people, isn’t it?”

“You’ve only just become a duelist, there’s no need to rush. It’s important to experience things as they come.”

While Yuri looked quite dissatisfied, Fram lightly patted him on the head.

Meanwhile, Elias was putting a hand to his chin in thought. Eventually, he raised his head and looked at Yuri.

“...Very well. Boy, you fight in Aizberg’s place.”

“Is that really alright!?”

“If you not only won against a Silver in your first match but won by killing, you should be skilled enough. What’s more, if you’re Reilly’s apprentice, I want to see your skills up close.”

“I’ll do it, I’ll do it! I want to fight!”

Seeing Yuri’s expression brighten, Elias broke into a wry smile.

“Then fight to your heart’s content. I’ll overlook a loss or two.”

“Alright, I definitely won’t lose!”

Now that he had the permission, Yuri gleefully took off toward Athena.

“Athena! I’m going to fight in Fram’s place!”

“Oh! And here we have our rising rookie!” she shouted in her sales pitch voice, “The kid only became a duelist yesterday, but don’t think you’ll win so easily. Challenge him with the utmost caution!!”

The moment Athena introduced him, the surrounding crowd began to measure him up.

“If he’s a new duelist, isn’t he easy picking?”

“No, wait, he could be that rookie that beat Haring yesterday.”

“That’s right! I saw it on the city bulletin, Haring’s opponent was a black haired shrimp from the Human Tribe!”

“I mean, if he beat a Silver in his first fight, this should be promising.”

And while the onlookers leaked their impression of Yuri, a single demon stepped forward.

“Umm... I’m next in line, but...will you really be alright...?”

“Yes! I’m looking forward to it!”

Not shying back in the slightest, Yuri drew his sword with a smile. They both raised their Proofs and were quickly whisked away to the Field.

◇

It had only been an hour since Yuri stepped up to the plate, but the clientele of Café Argent was ablaze with heated enthusiasm.

“Whooooah! You’re on fire, rookie!!”

“If he cleans up here, that will be a seven-win sweep!”

The spectators shouted eagerly, gazing at Yuri’s duel. However, that wasn’t the only reason for their excitement.

“Is he going to kill the seventh too!?”

“Wouldn’t surprise me. That rookie’s out for blood!”

Taking into consideration that Yuri was new to the business, Elias had restricted his opponents to the lower ranks—Iron, Beryl, and Chrome. Even so, it was certainly abnormal for an inexperienced duelist to achieve so many consecutive victories on top of killing all of his opponents.

Fram watched the fights from the terrace in front of the shop. Having gotten everyone seated, Elias joined her outside.

“How does it look? Is the boy still winning?”

“Yes. He’s even stronger than I thought, and his stamina is extraordinary.”

“So it seems. Incidentally, Aizberg, how many plates of dessert are you planning on packing in?”

“That child is my proxy. I get to eat as many times as he wins.”

“Then save the seventh plate for after he’s finished.”

“He’s practically won already. Does it really matter?”

Stabbing at her agar jelly with her spoon, Fram flapped her feet as she sat in her chair. The seventh battle was already approaching its end; his opponent was splashing sweat like a waterfall, fully focused on dodging and blocking.

In contrast, Yuri swung his black sword, his smile undying.

“Such a simple fake-out—isn’t going to catch me!!”

Reading the enemy’s evasion path and flourishing his sword, Yuri used the momentary lapse he created to crumble his opponent’s defenses and shave away at their energy. It was only a matter of time until he won.

“See? I was right. He’s an interesting child, isn’t he?”

“Perhaps. He fights with no fear, and he never lets his mental strain diminish his ability. If we keep him in this position, he’ll become an even stronger duelist,” Elias assessed, before bringing up something that had been bothering him. “Come to think of it, I never did ask for the details. The boy beat a Silver Ranker, did he?”

“Correct. What’s more, it was a complete and utter victory through death. Yuri defeated a Dragonified opponent with pure technique.”

“I see... That’s something he must have learned from his teacher.”

“Are you talking about that mix-blood?”

“Yeah. As a mix-blood, Reilly didn’t have any tribal traits, instead focusing on using the opponent’s own strength and attacks against them, taking every opportunity to end a battle in one decisive blow.”

Elias watched, nostalgically, overlaying Yuri’s movements with those of his dear friend. He watched the boy choke the grip of his sword, gleefully swinging it as he enjoyed the battle to its fullest. And—all of a sudden, Elias felt something was off.

“Aizberg... Have you ever seen the boy use the skill in his sword?”

“You mean using Armament? Not as far as I’ve seen.”

Fram held her spoon to her mouth, perplexedly tilting her head.

“That’s not particularly strange, is it? Armament’s main strength is the wide breadth of tactics that become possible when in use, but use them too much, and people will start to see how to counter it.”

“Right. And so, some people do hide their skills to use as a trump card later—but that is only among fighters who use multiple Armament gems, and seasoned veterans who are so used to fighting that knowing their abilities and habits would turn the tables on them,” Elias answered, his expression taking a grim turn.

Soon, the flash of bracelets faded, and Yuri held his sword high through the cheers.

“Whooooah! You really are something, rookie!!”

“He won again without even using Armament!!”

“And that’s another death on the pile!”

“How about you show some consideration for me, eh!? The dead don’t just move themselves!”

The surrounding crowd hailed his victory, but Yuri entered his next duel without a moment to spare. Even when he won again, Elias’s expression only darkened.

“Elias?”

“...They’re the same,” he sullenly muttered. “The way the boy fights...is exactly the same as Reilly.”

“They’re master and student. Isn’t it only natural that their sword styles and strategies are reminiscent?”

“They aren’t reminiscent, they’re the same. There isn’t the slightest difference. Using the opponent’s strength to aim for a certain kill—and even down to not using the Armament skill.”

The black sword Yuri fought with... At first, Elias just thought he was using an Armament that looked similar to Reilly’s sword. It stood to reason that the boy would admire his master and choose a weapon that looked similar. That was what he thought.

“I can’t use Armament, so instead, I had them make a weapon that would never break.”

He recalled an old friend laughing while showing off a black sword. The weapon was not equipped with any of its original functions.

“Gem slots? It doesn’t have any. This is a weapon just for me.”

Not for anyone else, a weapon made specifically for a mix-blood fighter. That very same weapon was now being swung by another—

“Aizberg. Tell our guests I’m canceling their reservations.”

“Gladly, but...what are you intending to do?”

Ignoring a dubious Fram, Elias returned to the depths of his store. Around the same time, the cheers were rising again.

“Alright! That’s win number eight for the rising rookie!”

“Whoever’s up next! You won’t win if you don’t get serious! Have at him!”

“Anyone think they can do it!? Bring in some higher-ranking duelists, why don’t ya!”

While the spectators exchanged all sorts of words, Athena bounded over to him.

“Mnnn! You really are strong, Yuri! You make your Big Sis proud!”

“Wah!? Th-Thank you!” Yuri bashfully smiled in her embrace. He showed no signs of fatigue, looking as if every fiber of his being was sincerely enjoying his battles. Athena understood the feeling well and returned the same cheery look.

“Now, now! Who’s going to fight my little protégé next!?” she said, throwing her voice to the crowd.

“—I’ll take you on, boy.”

Elias nominated himself as the next duelist, his voice sharp as a knife. With a large, curved sword taller than he was slung across his back, he calmly walked toward Yuri.

“Huh? Eh? Eli?”

“Athena. That’s all for today. We’re closed,” he informed a confused Athena, and the crowd, as he stood before Yuri.

“Boy, do you want to fight me?”

“Fight...you, Mr. Elias?”

“That’s right. No holds barred, show me all you’ve got.”

Elias was clad in a dignified air, but despite his rank and authority, he approached Yuri as a single duelist. As an equal.

Seeing the two combatants, the spectators began to exchange words of unrest.

“Hey... Decapitating Elias is gonna duel.”

“No way. I heard he only accepts duels from folks his own rank.”

“But he’s the one who issued the challenge. This is gonna be interesting.”

The two exchanged looks, as if they couldn’t hear the surrounding clamor. Eventually, Yuri’s expression brightened and he clenched his left fist.

“I’ll do it! I would love to fight you!”

“Very well. I’ll teach you the difference between your little play fights and a real duel.”

“...Play?”

The moment he heard that word, the air around Yuri changed. His expression dimmed as his eyes seethed with fighting spirit.

“I always fight with all my might,” Yuri added quietly while glaring at Elias.

But Elias calmly shook his head. “No...what you’re doing is just a game.”

Immediately after he said this, they both raised their Proofs high. No one needed to initiate, there was no further prompting required. The world melded into sepia tones, shutting out everything apart from the clear colors of the fighters.

“I told you to show me what you’ve got, but—”

The moment Elias opened his mouth to speak, a black line bisected the air in front of him. Yuri had closed in the instant the battle began. Experiencing the boy’s speed first-hand, he indifferently offered his appraisal.

“Immediately aiming at the neck to kill. Your movements are splendid for a human.”

“Well, thanks for that!!”

Not letting up on his offense, Yuri rotated his body and unleashed a kick. However, Elias blocked his blow without so much as a twitch. He unsheathed his sword, and using the back of the blade, he perfectly caught Yuri’s foot.

“Not a bad decision. A duel isn’t just a clash of weapons.”

“...!”

Yuri immediately used Elias’s sword’s body as a foothold, regaining his stance and swinging his own sword again. A single slash at the windpipe. If he could sever it, he could reliably land a lethal strike. Even if the opponent didn’t die immediately, a wound to the neck hindered breathing, and if he could dull the enemy’s movements, his next blow could connect.

That was why Yuri made his choice—

“You’re far too slow.”

—Only to be anticipated as Elias turned the sword’s body to block.

The speed of Yuri’s weapon neared the best the Human Tribe had to offer. Had he been on level footing, his slash would have reached the realm of master-class.

However—it would not get through to a duelist like Elias.

“You have talent in the sword. You’ve been blessed with a number of boons for a duelist.”

Yuri was indeed gifted with numerous talents. The academic ability to soak up the techniques taught to him. The resourcefulness to apply what he learned in tactics and battle. What’s more, without letting himself be pampered by natural talent, he had heightened his technique with steady diligence.

Just from his swordplay and movement, it was clear that Yuri was overflowing with skill. And that was precisely why—

“It hurts to watch.”

Elias had to think this way, strictly because he had once seen a human like Yuri.

Seeing the compassion and pity in Elias’s eyes, Yuri strangled the grip of his weapon.

“You don’t get to decide my strength!”

He swung his black sword with pure brute force, smacking it strongly against the large blade. And yet...Elias’s sword did not move.

“No, that is your full strength...and your limit.”

Silver swayed behind Elias. His tail split into nine. His eyes glowed with the red of blood.

“There is—a wall you will never be able to cross.”

And with a stifled voice, Elias unleashed a sharp kick.

“Kaaah!!”

His foot stabbed into Yuri’s torso and forced all the air from his lungs. Sharp and heavy, a kick with enough force to bring death. Elias could feel the bones break. He could feel the internal organs rupture. And right after he felt these sensations, his expression warped.

“...So you’re similar to your master here too.”

The kick set Yuri’s body quivering in agony. Even so, Yuri stood. His shoulders bobbed up and down with each breath, but he kept on his feet.

“...I don’t plan on losing to anyone.”

Sweat streamed down his brow like a river, but his fighting spirit hadn’t shattered. He would not fold no matter who he was up against.

Witness to this pathetic display, Elias gritted his back teeth. “Why...was a human like you chosen?”

Yuri boasted a rare talent for the blade, he carried a strong spirit that would never fold, and he shouldered a will to better himself to the very limit. The same held true for the old friend who had once fought beside Elias.

And that was precisely what made it such a wretched sight to behold.

“You can’t do it,” he muttered, as he pulled back his sword. Eyes filled with pity, he calmly focused on Yuri’s neck.

A bizarre air surrounded him. It carried with it an instinctive fear of impending death.

“You have no future as a duelist.”

And with words brimming with deep sadness, Elias took his first swing with his sword. Just one arc, and Yuri’s eyes flew wide open. His head floated through the air and thumped as it hit the ground. The same moment his head rolled along the floor, his decapitated body crumpled like a doll.

A single slice honed to the fastest reality would permit. This was the reason Elias was known as the Decapitator. With a slash that had reached the realm of the gods, he would sever the opponent’s neck in one fell swoop.

It was his speed that once brought him to chip blades with an Administrator.

“This is...the unvarnished truth.”

With Elias’s final murmur, the surroundings regained color. The duel was settled, sending both fighters back to reality.

And...right before Elias’s eyes, Yuri collapsed to the ground. His severed head was back in place, his body completely unharmed, but—

“...Khh...hah...!!”

Yuri writhed as he haphazardly took in air. The agony brought by death.

All at once, he was struck with an instinctual fear of a lifeform that had just died of decapitation, as well as the penalty for death: an unbearable pain to his mind and body. He convulsed, his eyes open wide.

Athena was the first to run up.

“Yuri! Yuri, get a grip!!”

She held him up, a little teary as she shook his body. But Yuri did not react. Perhaps knocked out by the pain, he simply hung his head limply in Athena’s arms.

“There was...no need to kill him like that!” Athena angrily yelled at Elias. “If you just wanted to see his skill level, you didn’t have to do any of that! To kill him in such a way as if to mock him and show everyone just how weak he is!!”

She held Yuri’s body, shedding tears as she condemned Elias’s actions.

But Elias looked down over the two with cold eyes.

“...I share Athena’s opinion on this one.” Fram, who had taken a back seat, slowly walked up. “You told your opponent to give it his all, only to toy with him and deride him... As a friend, I won’t feel at ease unless you can explain yourself.”

Her red eyes tinted with anger, she glared at Elias.

“...Very well. Then I’ll explain it so you can understand.”

“Do...n’t...” A withered voice caused everyone to turn. A shaking hand, reaching out for Elias.

“Yuri!? You can’t move yet!!”

“You... Why can you move when—”

Disregarding their surprise, Yuri desperately grasped at thin air. Trying to fight against something. Trying to move beyond something.

But Elias spoke his next statement as if to trample over these emotions.

“The boy—is a mix-blood.”

Startled as she was, Athena immediately shook her head. “There’s...there’s no way that’s true! Yuri is strong! He won against Haring yesterday, and today he didn’t lose to any of the other duelists!” Her tears flowed as she shook her head again and again to deny this reality.

“I’m sure the boy can win against the likes of Silver and Bronze. His master Reilly could overcome opponents on that level,” Elias plainly informed his sister.

His dear friend once carried inexhaustible ambition and enthusiasm. Despite being a mix-blood, his friend continued to fight, never conceding to anything.

And yet—even Reilly could never reach beyond that.

“An inability to use Tribe Skills is a fatal defect for a duelist. Similar to the talent one is born with, it can never be filled in with effort or knowledge.”

No matter how talented he was at the sword, no matter how inexhaustible his ambition, even if he worked harder than anyone, the difference of his birth could never be overcome.

“At the very moment he was born a mix-blood, his limits as a duelist were set. No matter how hard he struggles, it will only whittle away at his spirit...until, one day, he leaves the city in pain and despair. Never to return.”

Vexingly gritting his molars, Elias finally spelled it out.

“You...should never have become a duelist.”

Undeterred by those words, Yuri continued to reach out like his life depended on it. Even though he’d collapsed, he made every effort to persevere, to move forward.

However, that hand would not reach Elias—only when he completely lost consciousness did Yuri’s hand powerlessly slump to the ground.

◇

After Yuri’s first experience with death, Athena carried him back to Mirka’s room.

“...Well I’ll be, this is quite the conundrum.”

After the boy was put to bed, and once she had heard the story, Mirka made quite the sour face. No one reacted to her words. Athena crouched on the floor, hugging her knees, while Fram lay down on the sofa.

“But I get where Elias is coming from. He used to compete with Reilly the mix-blood, after all. I’m sure he’s followed the path of a mix-blood duelist closer than anyone.”

“...Mirka, you’ve been in this city for a long time, haven’t you?”

“Yes. Not only longer than you two, I’ve been here a lot longer than a majority of the duelists here.”

“Then...do you know what’s become of the mix-blood duelists so far?” Fram questioned in a downcast tone.

For a short while, Mirka fell into silence, mulling over whether she should answer or not. Eventually, she quietly nodded.

“Without a single exception, the mix-bloods all end up leaving the duel city. Some lose all their rate without a single win, and some grow sick and tired of their unproductive days, chased around by work and losing more often than not. Some despair at their own powerlessness...and some hit a wall they can never surpass.”

And, after such a serious answer, Mirka was back to her usual self.

“When you really get down to it, inherent factors play a large part in strength in a duel, you know. Tribal traits suited for combat, inborn battle sense...they’re gaps that can’t be closed with knowledge and technique.”

There was a divide that couldn’t be resolved between the haves and have-nots. A person who started out with talent could just as well acquire knowledge and technique, putting in the same effort, and the gap would simply grow. There was nothing to be done about it.

That was the difference between a mix-blood and a normal duelist.

“...But a mix-blood still has tribal traits, don’t they?” Athena sullenly mumbled as she squeezed her knees.

But Mirka shook her head. “As a general rule, the tribal traits of a mix-blood aren’t at a level to use in battle. They’re only strong enough to be a little convenient in daily life.”

“...There could be an Armament even a mix-blood can use.”

“That’s impossible. The magic circuits of the gemstones that activate skills are too complex. Only pure Human Tribe mana can operate them, and a mix-blood with the mana of other tribes mixed in can’t draw anything out.”

With each answer from Mirka, Athena’s ears drooped lower and she clenched her knees harder.

“...Yuri was having a lot of fun fighting,” she quietly muttered as she thought back to his form in battle. “No matter who he was up against...he had the time of his life. With a look on his face like he loved to fight so much he didn’t know what to do with himself, he fought having more fun than anyone.”

And yet, Yuri had no future as a duelist. He couldn’t climb up, he couldn’t reach beyond, he couldn’t move forward. He would mull and anguish and eventually despair.

“That’s...not fun at all.” Little by little, her voice was touched by tears.

Fram breathed a deep sigh. “...Right. When he has more fun fighting than anyone, I can’t accept that the child is the only one excluded from the creed, ‘Let’s All Enjoy our Fights.’”

After endorsing Athena, Fram slowly lifted herself up.

“Mirka, is it really impossible for a mix-blood duelist to climb the ranks?”

“As far as I know, at least. Reilly reached the higher tiers of Silver, and that’s the highest any mix-blood has ever gotten.”

Reilly Malbork boasted abnormal strength for a mix-blood. Even so, the path would not open up. That simple fact weighed heavier than all else.

“Truth be told, Yuri would be perfect if he wasn’t a mix-blood. From what I could tell from his fight with Haring, his skills don’t fall short of Reilly’s.”

But that just meant he would tread the same path as his master. Falling into despair at his own limits, leaving the duel city in regret. That was precisely why Elias had to make it clear. So Yuri wouldn’t have to hurt, exhaust, and anguish himself. To make him give up on a duelist’s path early.

“...Yuri won’t give up on being a duelist, will he?” Athena’s shaking voice posed the question to no one in particular. “He’s going to keep dueling with that smile on his face, isn’t he?” She hung her head as sobs mingled with her words.

It was none other than her own brother who denied him his future. She was the one who brought them together, and these facts made her excessively condemn herself.

Seeing Athena like that, Fram reached out and pulled on her pudgy cheeks.

“...Yow.”

“Don’t arbitrarily grow pessimistic. Wipe your tears.”

She tugged at Athena’s tear-drenched face a few more times.

“Whether Yuri quits as a duelist or not, why that’s for him to decide.” Fram remonstrated her with a calm and charming curl of her lips. “So don’t get pessimistic over his circumstances and arbitrarily pity him. That would be an insult, a denial of the work the child has put in.”

Athena finally lifted her face. “...It’s like Fram took the Big Sis role from me.”

“Naturally. I’m four-hundred-something years old.”

Athena roughly rubbed at her eyes. “...Right! Instead of worrying over stupid stuff, let’s find what we can do for Yuri!”

“First, you should blow your nose. You’re dripping snot.”

“Mnn! A Big Sis with a runny nose won’t do!” And after wiping her nose on the tissue Fram held out, Athena energetically stood. “I’m going to tell Yuri we’ll help out!”

“He’s still asleep. It’s his first death.”

“Then I’ll pray for him! My thoughts will reach him, I just know it!”

“How terribly bothersome of you.”

But fed up as she seemed, Fram’s eyes earnestly followed Athena as she took off toward the bedroom.

The fox girl noisily threw the door open with a bang. “Yuri! Your Big Sis will do her best, let’s work hard toge—”

Her yell was cut off part-way through. She looked at the bed where Yuri had been resting a moment ago. A bed which was absent of any Yuri.

Despite looking everywhere, she couldn’t find him. The sight of a swaying curtain sent shivers down Athena’s spine.

“Y-Yuri’s gone...!?”

“...No way.”

“Wh-Wwwwhat do we do!? Don’t tell me he really left!? He left because Big Sis was too late to cheer him up!?”

“C-Calm down! The ferry already departed today! He’s not going to swim across the ocean!”

It wasn’t just Athena, even Fram moved around in a hot panic.

“Mirkaaaaaaa! Yuri’s goooone!”

“Oh dear, Athena, your nose is dripping again...” Mirka replied.

“Mirka, you’re a staff officer, aren’t you!? Can’t you use your management Proof to locate him?”

“Why Fram, you’re quite precise even while panicking. I can look into it, but I’ll need some time.”

“If you find him, get in touch! Athena, he can’t have gone far yet, let’s hurry and search for him.” Fram jumped onto Athena’s shoulders and urgently patted her back.

“Aaaah! Fram finally let me carry her!”

“Cry or rejoice, choose one! Now go, go, go!”

Watching the two leave the room with all due haste, Mirka offered a sardonic smirk.

“...Dear me, they sure are kind,” she lazily muttered before taking a big stretch. “Now then, let’s do a bit of digging... Hm?”

Just when she was about to take her Staff Proof out of her breast pocket, she felt something was off and tilted her head. The vibration of an incoming transmission. But it wasn’t coming from the jewel that identified her as a staff member.

It was coming from a bracelet...no different from the ones used by duelists. She took out the Proof and gave it a light tap to connect.

“Hello? Did you need something?”

“Wassup! How ya doin’!?”

Mirka cut the call the moment she heard that bewildering greeting. Another came soon after.

“Why didja hang up!?”

“I heard a pervy middle-aged male voice and just kinda, you know...”

“I ain’t middle aged! I’m immortal, I stopped aging at thirty!”

“Thirty is still pretty middle-aged. So, did you need something?”

“Not really! I’m about to arrive at the duel city, just thought I’d tell you!”

“...Today’s ferry already came and went.”

“Right, about that! I’m swimming full force right now!”

“Thank you for the idiotic report.”

And just as she was about to hang up again, she recalled a certain something.

“Oh, yes, Reilly’s apprentice came to Babel.”

“Really!? You mean the mix-blood brat, right!?”

“Yes, yes. He’s simply adorable...ehehe.”

“Both your opinion and your laugh are creepy.”

“Oh, shut up. Come to think of it, the letter I got from Reilly contained some questionable information. I hear the selection process was left to you.”

“Right you are, Reilly left everything to me!”

She had intended it as criticism, but the man replied as if he’d taken it as a compliment. Mirka sighed deeply.

“...Now listen here, the candidate selection for each race is supposed to be left to us. That’s the rule. If anyone else heard about this, they’d be pretty angry.”

“You think so? What does it matter? Doesn’t change the fact I chose the brat, and doesn’t it get a lot more heated when the final exam is to beat your own master?”

“That’s not what I’m talking about. The problem is that someone apart from you used the Field technology on another continent—no, it’s a pain. Let’s just forget about it.”

No matter what she said, it would be pointless, and thus Mirka opted to give up.

“So anyway, how’s the brat? If he’s at the duel city, that means he beat Reilly, so he’s gotta be strong, right!?”

“If you’ll let me have my say, he’s as strong as Reilly...but hasn’t taken a step beyond that.”

The man on the other end of the line fell silent for a moment.

“Alright, got it. Send the brat’s location to my Proof! I’ll be there soon, but I’m a bit preoccupied at the moment!”

“Well of course you’re busy, swimming across the ocean.”

“Not that part! I’m working hard smacking down this pack of sharks that keeps following me!”

“Get eaten for all I care.”

“I ain’t gonna get chomped by the likes of sharks! I’m the strongest in the world, I—”

The conversation had become a pain, so Mirka hung up without another word. She gazed out at the evening sun.

“Now then, now then... What sort of duelist is he going to become?” Mirka mused with a beaming smile, eagerly awaiting the fights she had yet to see.

◇

Yuri could vividly remember the day he first came to the duel city. He remembered the day he saw his first-ever duel.

Ten years ago, the last match of the duel city’s Babel Roulette. On one side, the Human Tribe Administrator, Velt Helrik. On the other, the mix-blooded duelist, Iron-blood Reilly Malbork.

Under normal circumstances, this would be where their enthusiasm reached its peak. But—the battle was cruelly one-sided.

“—Sorry I gotta do this to ya, Reilly.”

His scraggly black hair fluttering in the wind, Velt easily lifted a massive sword over his shoulder. Despite being from the Human Tribe, he had tempered his muscle to the limit, the armor formed by his sheer bulk harder than steel.

In contrast, the human facing him couldn’t be any more different.

“...Hahah. I thought I could do a little better than this.”

Glossy black hair cut at the shoulders. An orderly, refined face on top of a slender body. But by this point, that body had been notched with countless wounds. Torn clothing revealed pale skin that oozed a deep red, the flow of blood staining black clothes a darker pitch before forming blotches on the ground.

Even so, Reilly stood, never crumbling. Heavily wounded all over, the Iron-blood Duelist never let go of a black sword, glaring at Velt the whole time.

Taking note of this, Velt smiled, satisfied.

“Well I’ll be, you may be a brat, but you’ve got more backbone than most of the opponents I’ve faced. Most of them lose their nerves just because they’re facing me.”

“Hahah... Of course they do. They’re facing the strongest opponent.”

Spitting an unorderly breath, Reilly refused to unhand the sword. The murderous intent and fighting spirit released by every fiber of the duelist’s being would never falter .

“That’s why...I don’t want to let it end yet.”

With quivering hands, Reilly remained in fighting position. Even faced with such a tremendous foe, the duelist would never fold.

Fully aware of the weakness of a mix-blood, Reilly continued to fight.

“Because I’m—a duelist.”

Hearing those words, Velt made a gentle face. “I can’t say I hate that part of you.”

“You think so... That’s a bit troublesome...”

“Hey, don’t be like that. But regardless... It’s about time to close the curtains.”

He could hear the voices of the spectators. The ear-piercing, angry screams and jeers. Their words clearly displeased Velt, but the show had to go on.

“...I didn’t want to have to end it like this.”

No sooner had he finished his words than the ground began to shake and warp. Born from the distortions, countless swords—a ludicrous number—sprouted from the ground as if to form a mountain. The oversized blades gathered around Velt, waiting upon their king.

“—Since I recognize you as a duelist, I’ll have to go all out.”

The summit of the Human Tribe, Velt, confronted Reilly with the utmost respect.

Yuri didn’t really remember much about how it ended. Velt had used Armament, and Reilly had lost. Young as he was, he could at least understand that much.

However, there was one thing he simply couldn’t comprehend.

“Hey, Papi. Why is everyone shouting that old man’s name?”

Voices boiled over from the hall, each and every one of them singing high praise to the victor, Velt Helrik.

The boy’s question caused his father to tilt his head curiously. “That’s because the person who won is the Administrator, the strongest human in the world.”

“Not at all! The pretty one was stronger, wasn’t he!?”

Seeing Yuri vehemently shake his head, his mother replied with the beautiful, kind look only a mother could give. “I see, Yuri. You like his opponent, the mix-blood person better, do you?”

“Yeah! If he’s mix-blood, that means he’s like me, right!?”

With a gentle smile, his mother showed him her pointed elf-tribe ears. “That’s right. Just like you, he has the blood of another race running through his veins.”

An existence born between the Human Tribe and another. But a mix-blood could also be called a sudden and temporary aberration. Their appearance was no different from the Human Tribe, and their physical abilities weren’t that different either.

His parents hadn’t explained it at the time, but his master would fill him in on the details afterward. Among the eight greater tribes, the Human Tribe boasted the sole dominant gene. That was why mix-bloods came in Human Tribe form, and should a mix-blood have children with a pure human, the genes of the other tribe would be lost and the bloodline would return to being purely human.

However, Yuri’s home... The Eniastar house was stubbornly fixated on remaining mix-bloods. Its precepts regulated marriages with other tribes, and they had been honored for a great many years.

That Yuri Eniastar would be born as a mix-blood was a fact that was determined from the moment the Eniastar House decided to preserve its mix-blood heritage.

His inability to become a duelist had been determined long, long before he was born. But Yuri was still a child, and no one had told him this.

“I’m gonna go meet that person!!”

“Eh? Meet—Hey wait, Yuri!?”

Shaking off his mother’s grasp, Yuri sprinted off. There was something he needed to ask Reilly no matter what.

Running through the venue, dodging security guards, Yuri slipped into the hall of waiting rooms for participants. And it was there that he heard a certain conversation.

“—I’m sorry, that’s the only way you can continue to fight.”

Velt’s low, heavy voice came from one of the rooms.

“Reilly, the way you are now, you won’t win no matter how hard you struggle. It ain’t just me, you won’t be able to beat those guys from the other races, and you won’t be able to climb any higher.”

There was a weight to the words he spoke with pity. But as the Human Tribe Administrator, he informed Reilly of the bitter truth.

“If you keep going the way you are—you won’t be able to continue on as a duelist.”

“...I see,” Reilly finally replied. “I’m thankful to you, Velt. You went out of your way to waste your time looking into it for someone as flawed as a mix-blood duelist like me.”

“...Don’t say that about yourself.”

“But I’m not wrong, am I?”

Velt found himself met with a powerless smile filled with resignation.

“That method is impossible for us humans. At the very least, I don’t think I can do it.” With a tone that could sink no lower, Reilly unveiled the thoughts that became the culmination of a long and sad journey.

“A mix-blood could never be a duelist, I knew that. But...if I did my best, I thought I’d be able to fight like everyone else.”

Reilly had put in more effort than anyone, never giving in, piling up technique, knowledge and calculations. Working hard enough to earn the name Iron-blood.

That was precisely why—

“—I thought I could fight...!”

Reilly cursed through gritted teeth. Sneered at the sheer gall of embracing such short-lived dreams despite being born as the weakest entity. Every little piece that made up the duelist known as Reilly Malbork crumbled without a sound.

And as feeble sobs permeated the waiting room—Yuri forcefully slammed open the door. Ignoring the startled look on their faces, he cheerfully smiled and raised his voice.

“Hello! Good day! Is Reilly here!?”

“Hah!? Hey, kid, how did you get in here!?”

“I ran away from the scary men!”

“Ran... Hey wait, aren’t you—”

Before Velt could say anything, Reilly walked up to Yuri and stooped down to match his eye level.

“I’m Reilly. What’s your name?”

“I’m Yuri!”

“Then Yuri, were you looking for me?”

“Yeah! There’s something I wanted to ask you!”

“...What would that be?”

With stars in his eyes, Yuri looked straight at Reilly’s quizzically cocked head and posed his question.

“Do you think I can become a duelist like you!?”

Reilly’s eyes opened wide, only to be immediately replaced with a forced calm.

“...Why are you asking me that?”

“Papi and all the adults told me, Mister. You’re a mix-blood like me!”

“I see... So you’re like me.”

The moment the words left Yuri’s mouth, Reilly’s eyes turned cold.

“You can’t do it. A mix-blood human can’t become a duelist.”

“...Oi, Reilly, he’s still a kid.”

“That’s precisely why we ought to break it to him fast. Rather than showing him unreachable dreams, he’d be better off giving up from the start,” Reilly replied in a frigid tone.

Even if it destroyed the dreams of a young child, even if it denied everything Reilly had built, if it would prevent someone else from walking the same path, the duelist would speak the plain truth.

“And kid, you can’t try to be a duelist like me.”

“Why not? What’s wrong with being like you?”

“I mean, you wouldn’t want to be so weak and uncool, would you?”

“Yep! I don’t want to be weak and uncool!”

“You’re surprisingly blunt...”

“I mean, no one likes to lose!” Yuri grinned without a care in the world as he replied. “It’s always irritating to lose. But it’s really fun when you win! That’s why the duelist people all try their very hardest to win!”

Young and oblivious, but pure and straightforward words.

“And Mister, you tried harder than everyone else not to lose! You stood no matter how hurt you were, your drive to win got to me... It was really cool!”

Yuri spoke his thoughts with an innocent laugh. “That’s why, Mister, I want to be a duelist like you!”

These were the naive words of a child who didn’t know a thing. But the Iron-blood duelist quietly wept.

“...Is that how I looked to you?”

The tears fell, drop by drop. To think someone would actually affirm Reilly’s hard-fought life. The dark shadow that had haunted the duelist’s face faded.

“...I worked really hard, because it was so fun to win.”

“Yeah! Having fun is the best!”

“...But it’s not like we can always win, you know.”

“Then work hard so you can always win!”

“No matter how hard you work...you’ll reach your limit someday.”

“Then work hard so you don’t lose to the limit!”

Yuri continued to counter, only for Reilly to lock his body in a tight embrace.

“...Mister?”

“You’re...going to be a better duelist than me, someday. I’m sure of it.”

“Really!? Can I be the strongest duelist!?”

“You’ll have to work really hard, or it won’t happen.”

“That’s okay! I’ll do anything to get stronger!!”

“I see... How reliable.”

After gently stroking Yuri’s head, Reilly wiped away the deluge of tears.

“Velt, I think I really am going to resign as a duelist.”

“...I see. If that’s your choice, I ain’t gonna stop you.”

“Thank you. But I think I found something I can do.”

And with a pat to Yuri’s head, Reilly turned back to the strongest human alive.

“I want to give it all I’ve got—to grant this kid’s wish.” The words came with a clear smile, as if the devil had departed. “If this kid wants to surpass the wall of mix-blood, I want to lend him a hand.”

The absolute wall a mix-blood could never cross. No one had ever seen what lay beyond it. Not even Reilly.

That was precisely why...the Iron-blood duelist chose to devote their everything to teaching.

“I think I’ll do fine as the kid’s master. I can teach him how a mix-blood fights, and I won’t show any mercy or pity no matter how much he cries or begs.”

“You say some morbid things with that cute face of yours...”

“Why, of course. They don’t call me the Iron-blood for nothing.”

And seeing Reilly’s revived optimism, Velt scratched his head all around. “...Fine. If you’re his master, I’m sure old Eniastar will agree.”

“Eniastar... You mean that mix-blood clan?”

“That’s right. So I’m sure he’ll fulfill your dreams.”

While the two of them carried on their conversation, Yuri’s innocent eyes glimmered.

“Hey, hey! Are you going to teach me how to fight, Mister?”

“I will. So how about you start calling me master?”

“Why? Is Mister no good?”

“Well... In the first place, I’m not really a mister.”

Awkwardly scratching her face, Reilly held a hand out to Yuri. “The name’s Reilly, the mix-blood duelist who’s going to teach you how to fight.”

Yuri gripped the hand back and introduced himself.

“I’m Yuri Eniastar! A mix-blood just like master, and—” Smiling as he imagined the fun days to come, “—I want to be the strongest duelist!”

◇

Athena and Fram hurried to the location they had received from Mirka. The place was around the eastern edge of the residential district.

“Hey, hey! Is Yuri really in a place like this!?”

“...At the very least, that’s where his Proof says he is. There’s no mistaking that.” Riding on Athena’s back, Fram restlessly took in her surroundings.

A coastline spread out right before their eyes, a forest behind, and nothing else of note.

They had strayed quite far from where the houses ended. With no human presence around, only the crash of the waves and the rustle of the leaves reached their ears.

Athena noisily sniffed around and shifted her ears. “Uuuuurgh... All I can smell and hear is the sea, I just don’t know...!”

“Stop acting like a dog, and start searching seriously.”

“I’m a fox, I shouldn’t be too far off—ah, I picked up Yuri’s scent!”

“...Fine, then dog it is.”

Ignoring Fram’s off-hand remarks, Athena scampered toward the coast. Her eyes soon locked onto Yuri’s form, sitting on the sandy beach, his black hair swaying in the salty sea breeze.

“Yuriiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii!! Found yoooooooooooooooouuuuu!!”

“Hm? Athena—wait, waaaaaaaaaah!?”

Her sudden lunge pushed him down into the sand. His entire body became covered in grit, and he lightly shook his head to remove some of the sticking sand grains.

“Hac, hac! Wh-What’s gotten into you!?” he cried.

“...That should be my line.” Fram, who had been flung face-first into the beach, spat up sand and glared at Athena before turning back to Yuri. “You suddenly disappeared... We were quite worried.”

“That’s right! We thought you were going to quit as a duelist!”

“Err, why would I have to give up as a duelist?”

“I mean...my brother said terrible things to you.”

Her ears apologetically drooped. However, the mention of Elias only caused Yuri to shoot up.

“Right, Mr. Elias! He was really strong! The Beast Tribe’s Release is strong in its simplicity, just like Master taught me! To actually see it up close was a good experience!”

Seeing Yuri’s eyes sparkle as he sung Elias’s praise, Athena and Fram exchanged a look and tilted their heads.

“Umm... Yuri, weren’t you depressed because you lost?” Fram asked.

“It’s extremely irritating, but I’m feeling motivated now! When I was lying on the bed, I was thinking of nothing but how to beat Elias, and I just couldn’t sit still anymore!!”

“...Then what did you come here to do?”

“I wanted to train and see how my body was holding up.”

He swung around his arms and flexed his biceps.

“Death is pretty amazing, isn’t it!? It hurts like my body is being torn apart, and I’m filled with this sensation like nothing in the world matters, and I just hate everything!”

“Yes, well...when you die, it normally takes three days before you can move again...?”

“Does it really? Don’t tell me there’s an even stronger super-death out there!?”

“I-I don’t think so...?”

As Yuri closed in with glee, Athena pulled back ever so slightly. It didn’t look like he was bluffing. He had lost to Elias, but his will to fight hadn’t been crushed.

“I lost this time...but I’ll definitely beat Mr. Elias in the next duel! No matter how harsh it is, I’ll never give up until I win!” he proudly proclaimed, even having seen the overwhelming gap in strength.

His will would never bend. However, his sentiment only invited a bitter look from Fram.

“...But you’re a mix-blood.”

Tribe Skills were an absolute power in duels. Without that power on his side, Yuri would surely meet his limit.

“You should understand that better than anyone.”

Surely Yuri knew he could never reach beyond it. But Yuri shook his head.

“I understand it, but I don’t accept it!”

“...What do you mean?”

“I mean, who’s the one who decided a mix-blood can’t win?” Yuri asked back with unwavering eyes. “The other duelists? The people who watch them? Don’t tell me it’s god? Just because they haven’t gotten results so far, a mix-blood absolutely has to fall behind all the other duelists?”

Yuri continued to line up infantile words. And yet, his eyes were overflowing with confidence and conviction.

“This is the Duel City Babel—where battle is everything. No matter what others say, no matter how wrong they say I am, I just have to win to set things right.”

This was the absolute rule of the duel city. This was why Yuri had obtained his power.

“The physical capabilities of the Beast Tribe; the endurance of the Dragon Tribe; the technique of the Elf Tribe; the technology of the Dwarf Tribe; the resourcefulness of the Demon Tribe; the faith of the Angel Tribe; the magic of the Spirit Tribe... I just have to surpass all of them, and even I can win!”

It was idiotic idealism. So, in order to make that hopeless ideal a reality, he had tried out all sorts of means under his master. He had built up the Human Tribe’s feeble body, and put in the effort to exceed his limits.

“Whether I win or not—is up to me to decide!”

His words were simple to no end. But, in their sheer simplicity, they expressed the root of Yuri Eniastar as a human being. It’s fun to win and irritating to lose. That was why he wouldn’t spare any effort to win, and he would carefully study so as not to lose.

Despite understanding the impossibility, he continued moving forward to surpass it. And by this point—it had reached the realm of madness. The pure and utter insanity within Yuri forced his body and soul to move.

“Just knowing how fun it will be to win the next fight, there’s nothing I can’t do!”

And those words were presumably from the heart. Yuri would do anything to win and enjoy a battle. Every part of his being gave off that feeling.

Before either of the girls could respond, a giant pillar of water rose from the sea. The tower of white foam climbed high into the sky, causing the three to turn to face it.

“—Da ha hah! See? There’s no way the strongest is gonna lose to some sharks!!”

The large man who appeared from the pillar approached with a grand laugh. After shaking his head to snap off any excess moisture, his black hair began to sway in the wind.

“It’s been ten years, mix-blood brat.”

He lobbed the giant shark he held under his arm onto the beach and directed his words at Yuri.

There wasn’t a duelist who didn’t know him. A man who had slaughtered countless challengers at the Babel Roulette. The strongest of the Human Tribe—

Administrator Velt Helrik gave a toothy grin. “I came all the way out here to meet Reilly’s stupid apprentice!!”