"So... we actually knew all along that this guy named Kobra wasn't a good person?"
The eyes widened in surprise, asking in a rather curious manner.
"Yeah, we knew."
Yugen nodded as he walked.
"He plans to hold a duel tournament for all the students in this Academy, and he aims to steal the students' life energy through the duels. The goal is to resurrect an evil elf returning from the cosmos."
"Oh, and he's also targeting Yuki Judai because that evil elf has a deep connection with Judai. But I suppose, aside from Judai, he'd have no qualms making anyone else a sacrifice to achieve his goals."
The eyes blinked several times, trying to process the information.
Then came a look of shock.
"What? Doesn't that sound pretty serious?"
"Small stuff, don't always get so flustered." Thousand Gold said nonchalantly, "If you knew what the master had gone through before, you'd know this is nothing worth fussing over."
The eyes squinted, "Why do I feel like I'm being looked down upon..."
"Haha, Thousand Gold isn't wrong. Indeed, compared to before, this is nothing much. But we still can't let our guard down.
After all, we've weathered many storms before, if we were to be caught off guard by an opponent of this level and get capsized, wouldn't that be too ridiculous..."
About three to five hundred meters away from the Yellow Dormitory, Yugen suddenly stopped and didn't move forward anymore, only turning his head to look behind him.
"Isn't that right, Teacher Sato?"
A moment later, a figure dressed in a blue uniform appeared behind him. The man had a pale complexion, looking rather frail and weak.
"As rumored, you're truly sharp, Yugen..."
The man coughed twice, a strained smile on his pale face.
"But the legendary King... truly a hard person to catch sight of." He coughed again, steadied his breath, and looked at Yugen with a smile, "For an insignificant teacher like me to meet the King... should I feel flattered?"
Yugen knew him, or rather, he had his eye on him since shortly after entering the first grade. This was Teacher Sato, a teacher at Duel Academy.
The Academy had many teachers, but most were passersby, essentially background characters in the story. But Teacher Sato left a deep impression on Yugen, who was a viewer back then.
Not that this teacher was some hidden boss like Daichi with astonishing power. Instead, the storyline of the entire GX seemed to take a sharp turn starting from Teacher Sato's appearance, shifting from a cheerful campus story to a dark route, spiraling straight into the climax.
"Haha, Teacher, you're flattering me." Yugen said, "I'm just a student at Duel Academy."
"Yes, but you are a student with the name of King."
Teacher Sato said calmly.
"Your brilliance is so dazzling that even just existing there naturally attracts everyone like moths to a flame."
"Or maybe, one could say your darkness is so deep that everyone is drawn to the gravity like a Black Hole leading to a hellish abyss?"
Yugen: "......"
He pondered for two seconds and said, "Teacher, the way you put it makes me sound like a villain..."
But Sato didn't respond to that, continuing on his own, "If you were merely outstanding, it might be nothing. But as a King, everyone unconsciously gravitates towards you, and instinctively imitates you.
They all want to walk the same path as you, wanting to shine as brightly as you do. But what they find is only endless darkness."
Yugen fell silent for a moment and said, "So, Teacher, what you're saying is, you think I'm misleading the students, leading all of them astray?"
He suddenly realized that he might have inadvertently overshadowed Judai's role once again...
Teacher Sato was a pivotal figure in Judai's transformation later in the story. He accused Judai of being the big brother at Academy, a hero who defeated the Three Phantom Demons and saved the world — yet skipped classes, didn't listen to lectures, and failed exams by sleeping through class.
So, all the students started following his example, and the atmosphere got worse, with students straying further from the right path.
But the reason he took all of this out on Judai was based on the premise that Judai was the big brother and the role model everyone in school looked up to.
So, since that role of big brother had been overshadowed, all his dissatisfaction seemed to naturally shift to the one who took his place...
"But my grades in each subject are basically full marks." Yugen said helplessly, "Also, I've never skipped a class. The school allows me..."
"To choose only the courses you deem useful, right?"
Teacher Sato sighed softly.
"That's precisely the problem. You're excellent, you're a genius in dueling... no, even saying that is an understatement, you're a prodigy in the Dueling Realm.
But when you choose which courses are 'useful' to you, and which are 'useless,' you're simultaneously setting an example for everyone.
Do you know what the result of that is?"
He took a deep breath and sighed.
"I was once a Professional Duelist... a very talented duelist. I bore countless expectations, almost as heavy as shackles.
But my body... could no longer handle such heavy battles, and couldn't support me in continuing in the professional circle. So, I had to give up.
But I believed that the experiences I had gathered from countless battles could make a significant impact in the teaching field. I could guide young duelists, nurture them into talent, and pass on all I've learned in my lifetime; I could still make a difference."
He squinted, his eyes appeared a bit grim in the reflection of his glasses.
"But do you know how it is now?"
"No one comes to my classes anymore."
His tone grew heavy, almost sounding like an accusation.
"All those students, they aren't interested in these precious experiences, the essence I've spent half my life summarizing. They don't want to know, don't have the interest to listen, absorb, and learn.
All of this is because of one person, entirely because of you, Fujiki Yugen."
"Because you are the noble 'King,' you unilaterally decided that this lecture was without value, so everyone believed it was without value."
"You denied me, so naturally, everyone would follow suit in denying me, without a hint of hesitation, without even a trace of their own thought."
"All because you are the supreme 'King'!"
By the time he finished, he was so emotionally charged that he was almost out of breath.
And Yugen just listened silently.
After a long moment, he slowly opened his mouth.
"Alright, I think I understand. Teacher, you're angry because you feel I denied you, closing off your opportunity to prove your value in the latter half of your life."
"You think I made everything you fought for your whole life seem worthless."
He sighed, his expression somewhat regretful.
Teacher Sato frowned, "What?"
"No, it's nothing. I just think... it's a bit cruel."
Teacher Sato gave a heavy snort, adjusted his glasses, and said coldly.
"What's already happened, what's the use of regret and guilt? I won't accept..."
"No, no, Teacher, you've misunderstood. I'm not talking about my past choices or the adverse effects caused to you being cruel."
Yugen corrected.
"I mean, what I'm reluctantly about to tell you is cruel."
Sato was taken aback, feeling a bit puzzled.
Yugen lifted his head, revealing a sunny smile.
"What I want to tell you is that, Teacher, your class... is truly rubbish."