“...I see, so you’re one of those kids.”
“Err, what did my master say?”
“Oh, no, the letter simply contained your personal information. I will be able to fill in the appropriate documents based on this info, so I’ll save you the trouble of filling out any forms.”
She smiled as she did some further fiddling with the gem in the counter. Soon after...the gemstone let off a faint light, and countless lines of letters and numbers streamed out, only to be sucked into and carved into Yuri’s Proof.
“And that concludes your registration. Please make sure you equip and carry your Proof with you at all times.”
“Got it! Thank you!”
After gazing at the radiant blue-gray Proof on his wrist, Yuri triumphantly nodded. “This means I can duel now, right!”
“Yes. Next, let’s go and find a duel, so I can explain how—”
Mirka tried to continue her explanation, only to be interrupted by the sound of breaking ceramics resounding across the hall.
This was soon followed by the angry yell of a man, causing them to reflexively turn in that direction. A certain individual, leaned over the counter, was raising his voice in rage.
“—Quit screwing with me!”
“P-Please calm down, Mr. Haring!”
“Can it! What do you mean they didn’t send a reward!?” His large frame, conspicuous even from afar, was topped off by the characteristic curved horns of a dragon-kin.
“Look into it again! If this is your mistake, you won’t hear the end of it!!”
Each time Haring screamed, the receptionist dealing with him leaked a short shriek.
“...Whoa, we ran into Haring again. Bad luck,” said Athena.
“That stupid dragon-kin really never learns,” added Fram.
“Are the two of you knowledgeable about Mr. Haring?” Yuri had to ask.
“Well, Haring’s the same Silver Rank as us, see,” Athena explained, “So I know a bit, and I’ve fought him before, but...since he’s like that, he’s always standing out, and not in a good way...”
“He is the sort of misunderstanding ruffian you can find on any street corner. The sort who misunderstands rank and rate as some sort of social status,” Fram flatly stated.
“Hmm... I see.” In the midst of their description of him, Yuri ended up directing all his attention on a single point. “If he’s Silver, that means he’s strong, doesn’t it?”
“His behavior aside, his skills are quite up there, I would say. While I hear he fell to Bronze for a while, he has returned to Silver.”
After taking in Fram’s explanation, Yuri gave a satisfied nod. “I see, and thank you!”
He turned to Haring and raced at him, waving his hand.
“Mr. Haring! I must thank you for what you did for me back there!”
While Haring experienced a brief window of surprise the moment he saw Yuri running up to him with a full smile on his face, he immediately sent him a look of disgust.
“You’re...that brat I met at the pier.”
“Yes! I just became a duelist!” Yuri brandished the Proof on his left hand, proudly showing it off. “And so, please fight me!”
“......Huh?”
“I mean, back at the pier, you told me to choose between fighting you and paying money! That’s why I’ve come to request the fight!”
Faced with Yuri’s beaming smile, Haring tutted intentionally loud enough for everyone to hear. “Tsk... What an incorrigible brat. Yer the least of my worries right now. Get lost.”
“Don’t want to!!”
“Why are you the one refusing with all yer might!?”
When the brunt of Haring’s anger began to point at Yuri, Athena and Fram rushed to his aid.
“Yuri! You can’t just go off on your own!”
“That’s right. If you hang around Haring too long, you’ll catch his idiocy.”
“...So this time, you don’t just got the stupid Flame Deva, you’ve got the shrimp Ice Jailer with you too.”
He acknowledged the two who came up, his disgust and repugnance only thickening.
“Oi, just take the brat and get lost already.”
“We were going to do so without your instruction. It would be rather troublesome if you had a negative influence on the newbie.”
“Also your breath stinks, stay away!” Athena added as she glared at Haring.
“Can it! At least let up on the psychological attacks!”
“Yes, excuse me! What do Flame Deva and Ice Jailer mean!?” Yuri inquisitively cut in.
“And you need to consider the situation before you start asking questions! Flame Deva and Ice Jailer are the sorta nicknames those folks who watch the broadcasts arbitrarily tack onto ya!!”
Indignant as he was, Haring provided an honest answer to Yuri’s question. He presumably thought things would only become more troublesome if he stayed silent.
“Aah, dammit... I got involved with a bothersome brat...”
“If it’s that much of a bother, then we really must settle this with a duel, right? Right!”
“I wasn’t talking to you! Stupid fox, shrimp spirit, how about you talk some sense into him!!”
“Point taken. Yuri, you don’t stand a chance, so give up.” Fram tugged at his sleeve as she shook her head to the side. “The color of a Proof is a proof of one’s strength. A newcomer won’t be able to win.”
“But my best bet is to fight strong people, right?”
“Even if that’s the case, you shouldn’t take on fights you’ll definitely lose. No matter how confident you are in your skills, these duels aren’t so charitable for you to win on your first—”
“—We won’t know until we try.”
Cutting Fram off, Yuri drew the sword hung at his hip.
A black one-handed sword. Both its body and grip were short, making it closer to a dagger than a sword. But in a boy’s hands it was surely a sword. Its pitch-black blade let off a peculiar dull glimmer, as if a remnant of light had been sucked into its void, and its center was colored with a single line the color of fresh blood.
And the moment Yuri drew his sword, the air around Haring changed.
“Pull a sword on me...and we won’t be joking and jeering no more.” His expression distorted as his voice lowered in tone; his eyes, turned to Yuri, filled with anger and murderous intent. “Right, if yer gonna be like that, I’ll kill you so hard you’ll never try it again.”
Haring held his left hand high as if to show off his white Silver Proof. After silently gazing at the bracelet a while—
“—Ah, do I need to do something specific to start a duel!? Are there any special words!?”
“Brat, are you really saying that here and now!?”
“I’m sorry! I haven’t been taught yet!”
“Oi, do your job properly, receptionist lady!”
After an angry complaint at Mirka, Haring reluctantly turned back to Yuri.
“Fine, listen up. First, you gotta point the jewel in yer Proof at yer opponent, right? And once our Proofs have recognized one another, our bodies are sent off to the Field. There’s no manners or magic words to it. If yer opponent’s up for it, you can just silently point your Proof and that’s that.”
“I see! Thank you so much!”
“Fer god’s sake... Why am I teaching a newbie...”
Seeing Yuri gratefully lower his head, Haring irksomely sighed.
This time was for real. Both parties confronted one another, their eyes locked.
“Well then—here’s to a good fight!!”
The instant Yuri proudly raised his Proof—a flash of static noise ran across his field of vision. Every person in sight was dyed sepia. This was different than reality, a dimension that existed on a separate phase. In such a muted world, only a single entity retained its color.
“Rookie, if nothing else, I’ll praise your pluck for picking a fight with me.” Haring smirked as he hit his gauntlets together. He stood in Yuri’s path, the opponent he would now have to fight.
At that moment, Yuri heard voices from outside the Field.
“Quit trying to look cool, croissant! Your head’s just right for a balanced breakfast!’”
“Rather than Yuri picking a fight, it’s more like Haring is a walking provocation.”
Subject to the relentless heckling from the girls, Haring’s body shook, and a vein surfaced on his brow.
“Can it, peanut gallery! Just because you’re outside, you think you can—”
The moment Haring lost his composure and took his eyes off of Yuri—Yuri’s flying kick slammed straight into his face.
“Koh—!?”
Though Haring raised a farcical cry, Yuri did not hesitate to swing his foot. A blow without the slightest bit of mercy. What’s more, the attack caught him by complete surprise, sending Haring’s body forcefully tumbling across the floor.