20 A Chuunibyou loli-type character who acts like they know everything
“Please don’t make it sound so dramatic!”
The strongest fighters of the Dark Card Agency have been discussed at length. Among them are Yato-chan, Code name: Yatogami, and his older sister and superior, Haku-san, Code name: Shirotsuki. And there’s one more…
Her name is… Suiren.
To me, she was an acquaintance even before I met Yato.
She’s actually a regular customer at the shop.
Though she doesn’t show her face often.
This Suiren is quite the eccentric character,
even among the quirky regular customers.
The reason being…
“Tonight! Suiren has descended from the heavenly realm! Rejoice, people! The earth embodiment Suiren is here!”
Upon entering the shop, the young girl made this proclamation right off the bat.
A blonde girl.
Her height is not much different from the hot-blooded boy’s.
The girl, dressed entirely in black gothic lolita fashion, has a smile on her lips that even hints at a cruel streak.
Covering one eye with an eyepatch, the girl’s eccentric behavior allows her unique personality to shine through fully.
In other words, she has chuunibyou! (delusions of grandeur)
The first time I met her, I was struck speechless by her over-the-top appearance.
That said, her actual strength is the real deal.
If the conditions are right, she could fight on par with me or Daia, I suppose you can imagine.
Well, considering she holds the top position in the organization, anything less would be problematic.
That aside…
“Ren-san, it’s daytime now, and you really shouldn’t be saying your code name so openly.”
“It matters not. Code names are but temporary monikers, revealing them changes nothing.”
“And yet you always introduce yourself by the code name…by the way, what exactly are these ‘Heavenly-People’ you speak of?”
The ‘Heavenly-People’ seems to refer to me.
Basically, she calls others things like ‘ _ -Person’ based on their characteristics.
Like Daia would be the ‘King-People’, and Erea the ‘Vision-people’ –
the latter referring to her exceptional eyesight as a scout.
“A double meaning of ‘heaven’ and the shop. Quite the clever name I came up with, yes indeed.”
TLNOTE: Shop = 店 = Ten = 天 = heaven
“I get the shop part, but where did the heaven bit come from…? Anyway, welcome. What brings you here today?”
“It is decided…I shall participate in the banquet held in the realm of the Heavenly-People!”
“Ah yes, the shop tournament. Let me jot down your name then.”
With an energetic nod, Ren-san wrote her name on the paper.
“Suiren”…Or maybe not, I kinda think that’s not quite right…ah whatever, it’s always like this.
And Ren-san’s real name is just “Ren.”
Taking “Ren” and adding the “Sui” related to her deck makes “Suiren.”
Apparently Yato chan and Haku san are similar cases.
Meaning their real names are just “Yato” and “Haku” as well.
“Now then, who shall become my sacrifice today…? I’ll have a little taste before the tournament begins.”
“A…taste?”
Saying that, Ren-san headed towards the free duel tables.
Not many participants had gathered yet before the start.
Just a few familiar customers…and one rather unusual participant I recognized.
“Oh? If it isn’t the Detective-People! Long time no see!”
“Woah! If it isn’t the lady Ren…never thought I’d run into you here.”
Detective-san, whose real name is Kusakabe.
An agent of Neo Card Police.
In other words, Ren-san and Detective-san are colleagues of sorts.
While one is from a secret organization and the other public,
they are nonetheless acquainted through their work.
That said, neither Ren-san nor Detective-san come to the shop very often.
Simply because they’re too busy.
Especially Detective-san participating in tournaments – that’s an extreme rarity.
Rarer than a rare card, maybe.
But in a way, it was fate that these two would meet here.
There exists a force of destiny tied to cards in this world.
It’s not so strange that it would manifest in an encounter like this.
“Hrmm…chances to duel the Detective-People are few and far between. How about it, care for a quick bout?”
“Well the tournament hasn’t started yet, and I did come here for a warm-up duel…”
Despite this fateful encounter (rather dramatic phrasing),
Detective-san didn’t seem too keen on the duel proposal.
I get where he’s coming from though.
“Fuh…are you scared then?”
“Whether I’m scared or not, of course I’m scared? You’re one of the strongest duelists in this city.”
“Hmph! Preposterous!”
Ren – or Suiren – is indeed among the absolute strongest duelists in this city, if not the strongest outright.
Or rather, she possesses world-class dueling strength.
Compared to her, even a seasoned detective like him can’t measure up.
So it’s understandable he’d be intimidated, but…
“Is that any way for a detective to act? A detective is supposed to solve cases hard-boiledly, then drink at night bars while puffing on cigarettes. Can a softie like you really call yourself a detective?”
“…Well, you got a point there.”
“I merely state the facts. Hmph, if cowering before a magnificent embodiment of earth like myself is what detectives do, then you need to reevaluate.”
As expected, those words struck a nerve with the ever-in-character hardboiled detective pro.
Well, duelists like him are just battle junkies who’ll readily accept any provocation to start a duel anyway.
“Alright then, you’re on Lady Ren.”
“Bring it on, Detective-People….Heavenly-People!”
“Me?”
Suddenly addressing me in the middle of the conversation, Ren-san said:
“That duel field, it’s open right now isn’t it?”
“Yeah, just opened up with hardly any customers yet, so no wait times.”
“Then we shall use that field to duel. I shall instruct this feeble detective in the ways of the strong!”
And so it was decided they would use the duel field.
As I accepted the fee for using the field from the two of them,
I stood by to watch the outcome of the duel.
“”Ignition!””
With their rallying cry, the duel began.
“Gah!”
And just minutes later, Ren-san was defeated.
As expected.
“Well, that’s that.”
“Oh, did…did I actually win?”
The confused one was the victorious Detective-san.
Like, he didn’t even feel any resistance.
Well, no wonder.
“The truth is, Ren-san’s strength is limited in scope.”
“Is that so?”
I explain
as Ren-san lies slumped on the ground like she got caught in an explosion,
soon to be retrieved by the arriving Erea.
Is she planning on using her as a dress-up doll or something? Her face looked pretty messed up.
So about Ren-san…
“Ren-san is only strong when she’s doing a Dark Duel.”
“Ah…so her strength fluctuates based on her mentality, that type.”
Those unfamiliar with the usual Ren-san, like Detective-san, wouldn’t know – but outside of Dark Duels, she’s not that strong.
At best, around the same level as the hot blooded boy.
Definitely strong, but Detective-san could put up a decent fight against the likes of hot blooded Necca or Crow.
And as he pointed out, the reason is her strength fluctuating with her mental state/tension.
Duelists have their accessible destined force, and therefore strength, shift based on their dueling mindset.
Specifically, against small fry I employ sealing battle tactics, but in public duels I can’t properly utilize those sealing tactics.
Ren-san is an extreme example of this phenomenon.
“…So then why did she issue that overconfident challenge?”
“It’s just her personality…I guess.”
Ren-san is the type to get overconfident and totally flop as a result.
Give her a serious Dark Duel setting and she’s nigh unstoppable,
but put her in a normal situation and she commits these ridiculous overestimations of her abilities.
She’s an odd one…
Ah, Detective-san probably doesn’t know that side of her either.
If he doesn’t regularly interact with the normal Ren-san.
Just as I was about to fill him in,
Necca the passionate young hot blooded came bursting energetically through the door.
“Yo, what’s up!”
“Well don’t you look lively.”
“I’m always lively, Manager! Woah! Detective-san!? You’re one to show up around here.”
“If it ain’t hot blooded brat. You haven’t been getting into anymore stupid trouble have you?”
“N-No way, I haven’t!”
After greeting me, Necca immediately struck up a conversation with Detective-san.
Those two strong duelists know each other from Necca’s penchant for sticking his nose into incidents.
Well, it’s that kind of city and they’re both among the capable duelists around.
Scanning the shop interior, hot blooded then noticed Ren-san in the corner getting her hair styled by Erea.
Looks like she’s enjoying it at least.
“Oh, Ren’s here too?”
“Ho! The Passion-Person! What a coincidence to encounter you on this day off!”
“Well duh, of course I’d be here at my home base shop.”
Even as Erea played with her hair in a way that seemed to please Ren-san, judging by her squinting eyes, Necca greeted her.
Seems these two know each other as well.
“So the brat knows Lady Ren too, huh?”
“Hah? Well duh I do–“
In response to Detective-san’s inquiry,
“Ren’s in my class.”
Necca answered
Huh? Detective-san shot me a quizzical look.
That’s right –
this girl Ren is clearly no ordinary person, yet her outward appearance matches her actual age.
In other words, she was an elementary school student.
Like the boy Necca, she attended an elementary school in this town.
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