“So Ren, you’ve been the guardian protecting this mansion.”
“Yes, that’s right.”
“But you can’t keep doing this forever, right?”
“……Indeed.”
This mansion will remain even after Ren is gone.
After all, ghosts continue existing unless they pass on.
Human lifespans are finite, but ghosts are not.
Especially these ghost-type monsters residing here.
So what would happen to them if Ren could no longer be their guardian?
Well, the passing the torch issue isn’t unique to fictional realms…but places like this do tend to persist more in this world,
which is why agents like Boundary Guide exist.
“The easiest solution would be…entrusting their protection to the Boundary Guide.”
“Of course, that would be the eventual solution, but the Boundary Guide aim to harmoniously integrate hidden realms into this world. If left to them, preserving this mansion as-is would be impossible.”
“Moving forward is important, but…”
“I understand.”
Ren nods, burying her face in my back.
This mansion will indeed continue existing even after Ren is gone.
However, maintaining it in its exact current state is impossible.
Everything is subject to constant change and impermanence.
That is the nature of things.
Forcibly trying to stop that with human hands is generally called stagnation.
The Boundary Guide help hidden realms naturally assimilate into this world.
That’s why the samurai realm “Kenpucho” where Fuutarou lives has modern home appliances installed.
Therefore, if they managed a mansion with only monsters remaining,
the monsters would gradually revert to their proper card forms, and the mansion would be dismantled.
Leaving potentially violent monsters as-is cannot be allowed.
“Still…I’m fond of this place. Dreadful, melancholic, yet pleasant…they dwell here. This is one of the original points in my life.”
“I see…”
“This is…the first place I subdued by my own hand.”
Ren is the noble scion tasked with protecting this world.
The head of that lineage, to be precise.
She was destined from birth to live in service of safeguarding the world.
So for Ren, the first place she discovered, investigated, and stabilized –
The first incident she resolved, one could say.
“I dislike the idea of such a place simply disappearing.”
“Ren…”
“I won’t be so selfish as to insist on preserving it forever. But at the very least…
at the very least,
I want to leave behind…something.”
Silence fills the air.
Only my footsteps echo through the mansion as Ren buries her face in my back.
I wonder if the ghosts are listening to this conversation?
I don’t really know much about them,
so I can’t read what they might be thinking.
“The easiest way would be bonding them to a Fighter.”
“…Indeed.”
“Find a Fighter compatible with them, bring that person here, and bond the ghosts to them. That way they get integrated into that Fighter’s deck and remain as cards.”
“……Yes.”
At that point, I stopped walking.
The previously quiet Ren fell even more silent.
The biggest issue with this method is –
“Say, Heavenly-People…”
“What is it, Ren?”
She mutters softly.
“Why is it…that I cannot bond with them myself…..”
It was a line that conveyed Ren’s feelings
all too well.
“I’ve brought many Fighters here to test their compatibility. But none could bond with them.”
“……..”
“Moreover, the ghosts have been acting up more frequently lately. It’s clear their limit is approaching.”
Ren prompts me to let her off my back.
She plants her feet firmly and gazes up at the ceiling.
“I wonder…what should I do?”
Hearing those words, I nod in realization.
She brought me here seeking a solution.
She surely didn’t expect me to have good compatibility to bond with the ghosts.
Fundamentally, powerful Fighters tend to have excellent compatibility with the cards they’re already bonded with.
That’s true for me as well –
Fighters and cards are bound by a fateful encounter.
Even if it was one of his original starting points, if Ren had already bonded with other cards before meeting these ghosts and had poor compatibility, bonding wouldn’t be possible.
“Then Ren – let’s fight a duel, you and I.”
“A duel…with you?”
“Yes, exactly. Let’s have the most incredible duel we can right here in this place.”
If that’s the case,
what I should do is simple.
“Until now, you’ve subdued the ghosts by dueling them, right Ren?”
“Of course, they’re on the verge of rampaging due to their loneliness. To suppress that…a duel with them is the only way.”
“Which is why I thought I’d change things up a bit.”
In other words:
“Instead of subduing them through duels against them, let’s have them calm down by watching our duel against each other.”
“Change things up, you say?”
“Exactly. They’ve only ever dueled against Fighters who came here before. So watching a duel between two such Fighters may be a completely new experience for them, don’t you think?”
If they experience a novel sense of satisfaction from that,
it could change their emotional state too.
Basically –
“This might help break them out of their routine a little.”
“Rou…tine…”
For once, Ren shows a genuinely bewildered expression at my phrasing.
I probably could have said that better…but this is just how I am usually.
She’ll have to get used to it.
“However…I suppose you make a point. Very well then, let’s give it a try.”
“Based on my personal assessment…by dueling here now, you should be able to unleash power very close to your full strength, Ren.”
“Oh?”
We ready our Ignis boards as he responds approvingly.
“That’s good to hear. It means the time has finally come for me to thoroughly trounce the Heavenly-People who has Trounce and pulverized me so many times before.”
“Trounce and pulverize, huh?”
Couldn’t you put that in a more dramatic, chuuni sort of way?
In any case, we’re ready.
Exchanging grins, we –
“IGNITION!”
Set our fighting spirits ablaze.
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As I expected, Ren was able to unleash power very close to her full strength.
This must be an important place for her.
Her excitement seems to be nearing its peak.
And so, our duel progressed not as an even match, but with Ren overwhelming me—
“Now, if you cannot do anything this turn, you lose, Heavenly-People!”
Yes, Ren declares this.
On her field is one set Counter effect and one monster.
“Before my Gaiastra – Ouroboros, you have no choice but to fall in defeat!”
“As expected, Ren’s ace monster is formidable…this won’t be easy.”
Gaiastra – Ouroboros.
The final ace monster of Ren’s “Gaiastra” deck.
“Gaiastra” is a word combining “Gaia” and “Astraur.”
It refers to the planet Earth – the star of the Earth.
The monsters that make up the deck are all Dragon-Type EARTH monsters.
This is why Ren calls herself the “Embodiment of the Earth.”
This Ouroboros currently has its ATK increased by the effect of the set Counter effect.
On my field are Ex-Metatron and Prometheus.
Ex Metatron can increase its ATK and change the attack target during battle…but that’s not enough to surpass Ouroboros’ ATK.
The ATK increase and redirection effects are one effect, but the ATK increase can also be applied separately.
“Then I’ll activate the effect of Prometheus!”
“Hmph, what can you do?!”
“It’s simple, I activate Metatron’s effect! Negating Prometheus’ effect and—”
“What!?”
“Returning it to the hand!!”
And using the returned Prometheus as the cost—
“I activate the Counter effect Rebirth of the Unchanging Past! With this effect, I can Summon monsters from the Deck and Graveyard!”
“What…then Metatron’s ATK increase…!”
By purposely returning Prometheus to the hand to pay its cost, I was able to activate the Counter effect I couldn’t otherwise.
“Ren. You said you wanted to leave them behind.”
“…Yes.”
“Then you don’t need to worry about that. Because they’ve already entrusted something to you.”
“And what is that…?”
In this world, the only thing that doesn’t change is the “present.”
The past and future are always changing.
But while the future can change endlessly…changes to the past depend on the feelings of those who remember it.
What has happened will never change.
So for Ren—
“You’ve been entrusted with memories.”
With those words, I attack Ouroboros with Metatron.
Thanks to its ATK increase effect, Metatron is victorious.
And Ren’s Life Points are depleted by my two remaining “Ancient Sacred Divinity” monsters.
I won.
“…Ugh.”
“……..”
Ren lets out a groan.
Usually one to have an overly dramatic reaction when losing, this time Ren simply stood there quietly.
Then, slowly exhaling before looking up at me.
“…My complete defeat.”
“It was a great duel, Ren.”
“Yours as well. …The Heavenly-People truly is powerful.”
With a somewhat resentful, yet proud smile.
“—More so than anyone I know.”
She declares.
“I feel a bit envious.”
“Then be proud, for I, the Emerald Lotus, the Embodiment of the Earth, acknowledge you!”
“Of course, I understand. It’s an honor.”
“Fufun, take more pride in it. That will make me prouder as well.”
As we exchange words, Ren gradually returns to her usual self.
Humble yet bold –
that’s one of Ren’s good points.
A gloomy, dejected Ren is unbecoming.
As I think this, suddenly—a knocking sound begins.
“This is…”
“The Poltergeists! It seems they got quite excited during our duel!”
“That’s a good thing, isn’t it?”
“Indeed!”
It seems to be their way of applauding.
Well, since they’re essentially formless ghosts, expressing emotion this way is probably easiest for them to understand.
There’s no need to concentrate and check –
their intentions came across clearly enough.
“By the way, with all these Poltergeist phenomena happening, are you okay Ren?”
“Stop, don’t point it out! I’m getting scared.”
“Ah, I guess you can’t handle it…”
You’re just enduring it with willpower since this is a haunted place.
Sorry for bringing it up.
……And, I take that opportunity
to ask Ren something else I’d been wondering:
“Come to think of it—have you ever brought Crow here?”
“Hm? The Azure Crow?”
Crow is the cool young “Azure” monster user among us.
Among us, he’s the most familiar with the undead.
While his connection to the ghosts here may be tenuous as an Undead duelist, I think it’s worth a try.
However, Ren says:
“I’ve never brought him here.”
“Really, why not?”
I express my puzzlement.
He’s already an accomplished duelist, and despite using Undead, his ties to the “Azure” are strong.
Well, going on vacation and letting friendships lapse is one thing.
“……Because if these beings happened to be friends with those flippant ‘Azure’ bunch, I’d hate that.”
While I can understand the feelings, I still try to persuade Ren that we should give it a shot…
Needless to say, Crow and the ghosts here ended up bonding, and they joined Crow’s deck as new “Azure” monsters.
All the various issues were neatly resolved.
“Th-this doesn’t sit right with me!”
…Except for Ren’s unsettled feelings.
TLNOTE: Volume 2 When I Reincarnated Into a World Doomed by Card Games and Opened a Card Shop, Everyone Thought I Was the Protagonist of the Last Story (LN) English Translation will begin when green bar above reached 100%
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