Long and silky hair of silver thread swaying in the sea breeze, round turquoise eyes brimming with energy. And—flapping, pointed ears and tail.
“Big Sis definitely doesn’t approve of bullying the weak!” With those words, the Beast Tribe girl raced up, angrily swinging around a large sword. The moment he saw her, Haring let out a long, heavy sigh.
“Goddammit... Of all people, it just had to be the stupid Flame Deva Fox...”
“I don’t wanna be called stupid by a guy who’s got croissants growing outta his head!”
“Don’t you mock a Dragon Tribe’s horns! Then what about those dog ears of yours!?”
“I’m not a dog! I’m a fox! The nerve!” she said, her large tail swishing back and forth. “So anyway, Haring—if you’re doing mean things to a newbie again, you’re really in for it.”
Such spirit and malice unthinkable of such a young woman hit Haring head-on.
“Tsk...” he tutted again, “Can it. Bloody brainless fox.”
And, with that parting line, he went on his way, his large body swaying. After making doubly sure he was gone, the girl shuffled over to Yuri.
“Are you okay? Did he do anything to you?”
“Oh, no! I’m perfectly fine!”
As she suddenly peered straight into his face point blank, Yuri lurched back in surprise. Determining that he was fine, the girl gave a vibrant, lighthearted smile.
“That’s great! It wouldn’t be fun if you got injured or traumatized right off the bat!” She ruffled up Yuri’s hair before proudly thrusting out her chest to introduce herself.
“I’m Athena Crossford! What’s your name?”
“It’s Yuri Eniastar! Are you a duelist, Athena!?”
“’Course I am! I’m a pretty strong one too!”
Voila, she turned her chest away as she held her left hand at his eye level. Glimmering on her left wrist—a bracelet embedded with a silvery-white gemstone. This was the Proof that displayed a duelist’s strength and rank.
“The fact that your jewel is white means...you’re Silver Rank!?”
“Mmhmm... And I’m crazy strong for a Silver too! I’m nearly up to Gold, and I’m peerless with my Silver peers, the young up and coming—”
Her words were interrupted by a cold voice from behind. “—Calling yourself peerless just makes you sound weak. You should give up on that one.”
A girl whose hair was a shade reminiscent of the depths of the ocean. While she was young in appearance, her calm demeanor carried a peculiar dignity and wisdom.
“Athena, quit playing around, and get to seeing if there are any other registrants.”
“I’m not playing! I’m teaching Yuri how amazing I am!”
“Even when you just lost to me?”
“I didn’t lose! I got the audience on my side, so it all evens out!”
“Fine, then we’re even. You still owe me a dessert,” came her indifferent reply before she swept back her two blue tails of hair. “So, did you come to this city to register?”
“Yes! Yuri Eniastar, I want to be a duelist!”
“I am Fram Aizberg. Athena and I were entrusted with guiding any lost registrants,” the girl said as she held out a small hand.
“Err... Fram, you’re from the Spirit Tribe, correct?”
“That’s right. I’m probably somewhere around four hundred years old.”
“That sounds rather arbitrary...”
“When you live long enough, it just becomes a pain to keep counting.”
The members of the Spirit Tribe were beings formed from an immense amount of magical energy. Their appearance and physical abilities weren’t much different from humans, but their bodies of mana were close to immortal, eternal. They could live a thousand years without changing in appearance.
In order to decrease mana expenditure, they tended to take on smaller, younger forms, and this could be considered a characteristic of the tribe.
“Now then...it doesn’t look like there are any other potential registrants around. Athena, lead this child to the registration office.”
“Leave it to me. What about you, Fram? Want me to piggyback you?”
“You shake too violently, I’ll have the child carry me.”
“Y-You want me? I think my backpack will get in the way...”
“I don’t care if I have to be over the bag. For us spirits, even the lightest exercise chips away at our mana and tires us out, so I refrain from walking on my own feet as much as possible.”
Without waiting for Yuri’s reply, Fram took a light leap and mounted the rucksack. Perhaps he should have expected it from her young appearance, but her body was so light he couldn’t even feel the difference.
“Fram! I’ll drive safely next time, please come back to your Big Sis!”
“What is this seventeen-year-old whelp mouthing on about?”
“The Beast Tribe considers ten an adult, meaning seventeen makes me a Super-Big Sis!”
“Yes, please come again when you’re an adult mentally.”
As Athena closed in on her, Fram flapped her legs to ward her away.
“For the time being, what am I supposed to do...?” Yuri asked.
“Right. Do you see that tower over there? That is our destination.”
He followed Fram’s outstretched finger and found his gaze back on the tower that rose high into the heavens.
“That tower...Babel Tower isn’t only the symbol of the city. It’s also an office where the duel city’s management, duelist registration, and other necessary civil duties for our daily lives are carried out. You want to hurry up and duel, don’t you?”
“Yes! I want to duel ASAP!”
“Oh, you’re quite the spirited child.”
“I mean, I came to this city because I wanted to fight!” Yuri proclaimed, his eyes sparkling brighter than the stars at night. “I want to fight a lot of people...and win a lot!”
He spoke his mind with sincere eyes. Seeing that, the two girls exchanged a look and laughed.
“You’re quite an interesting child.”
“Yep, yep! Your Big Sis welcomes kids who love to fight!”
“Right! Well then, as his guides, shall we do the line?”
They both nodded before saying in unison, “Welcome to Duel City Babel! We always await new battles!!”