Pushing open the glass door with a red paper sign reading "Dueling Above All," a rich aroma of beef tallow and Sichuan pepper instantly enveloped the two of them.
The smell was almost identical to the one from their original world, down to that sharp kick that made people want to sneeze.
However, the atmosphere inside the shop was different.
Where there used to be a banner reading "Free Meal for Those Who Can Handle the Spiciest," there was now a massive holographic screen, with glaring red text:
[Duel the Boss! Win and Eat for Free!]
"Well, damn."
Raku found a seat in the corner. Just as he lifted Rikka's floor-length coat to keep it from getting stained with oil, a hearty burst of laughter came from the Duel platform nearby.
"Hahahaha! This is the power of Volcano! Let your soul burn to ashes!"
A middle-aged man wearing a grease-stained apron stood on the Duel platform. Though his belly was round, the force behind his arm swing was no less imposing than the Cyber Style coach from earlier in the park.
On his field, a blazing [Volcanic Hammerer] smashed the challenger's monster into pieces.
Boom!
As the sound effect of Life Points hitting zero echoed out, the customer walked off the platform dejectedly and obediently pulled out his phone to pay.
"Who's next! Anyone who wants a free meal, come on up! Today's tripe is fresh!"
The owner waved a still-glowing [Blaze Accelerator], looking like he was enjoying the Duel more than any pro player.
Raku shrank his neck and picked up the menu.
"What? Not going to give it a try, big bro?"
Rikka leaned closer, pointing at the glowing holographic screen. "If you win, it's free! And you'd build your reputation too, right?"
"I'll pass."
Raku checked off "Extra Spicy Beef Tallow Pot" on the menu, his tone carrying a trace of subtle resistance. "The shop runs this kind of event to liven things up.
"To create a fun atmosphere.
"Look at that guy. Win or lose, he's smiling. Everyone's just here for a good time."
He glanced at the card case resting at the corner of the table.
If he actually went up there and pulled out that full Trap burn strategy of his, setting aside whether he'd win or not, just those few turns alone would be pure torture…
[Chain Strike], [Jar of Greed], [Gift Card]…
If those blood-pressure-spiking, absolutely miserable cards came out, this lively hot pot restaurant would probably go dead silent in an instant. At that point, the way the owner looked at him would definitely change, and as for what kind of seasoning might end up in the broth… well, that would be anyone's guess.
Worst case, it'd turn into a bowl of "Custom Duelist killer" chili oil.
"This really is a world where everyone duels."
Watching the people around him casually discussing a misplay from the earlier challenger while dipping duck intestines into the pot, Raku couldn't help but sigh.
This feeling of integrating card games into every corner of life, even turning it into a kind of social currency, was both absurd and strangely exhilarating.
"I'll get this… and this!"
Rikka didn't insist further, quickly checking off several desserts and meat dishes on the menu, ignoring the green vegetables altogether.
The hot pot was served soon after, the red broth boiling vigorously as white steam filled the air.
Raku no longer paid attention to the Duel on the other side, focusing instead on flipping over the slices of meat that took longer to cook.
"Eat more. You need to grow."
He placed some cooked beef into Rikka's bowl. "That coat of yours looks cool, but if you can't fill it out, you'll just look like a kid wearing adult clothes."
"Not true!"
Rikka puffed out her cheeks, stuffing the meat into her mouth as she retorted, "It's aura—mmph! Aura, get it? Even if the president were an elementary schooler, wearing that would still establish dominance over the whole place!"
"Yeah, yeah. Aura."
The two chatted back and forth like this until even the last plate of shrimp paste was finished.
Raku grabbed a napkin to wipe his mouth, just about to go pay, when he saw Rikka suddenly set down her chopsticks and spring to her feet.
Her black coat flared backward with the motion, even stirring up a small gust of wind.
"What's wrong? Still hungry?"
Raku looked at her in confusion.
Rikka didn't answer. Instead, she calmly put on the Duel Disk resting on the table. In her azure eyes now flickered a light he found all too familiar; a mix of chuunibyou spirit and some inexplicable sense of mission.
"Big bro."
She turned and looked toward the owner on the Duel platform, who was still shouting about how no one could stop a volcanic eruption.
"Since you don't want to ruin the atmosphere, I'll protect this lively mood, and at the same time…"
She placed her hand on her Deck, the corner of her lips curling into a perfectly imitated smile; thirty percent arrogance, seventy percent cuteness.
"…win us that free meal back! Indomitable! Invincible! The strongest!"
With that, she strode toward the Duel platform with exaggerated, over-the-top steps.
Raku watched that small, slender back, along with that stubborn ahoge still standing tall despite the greasy fumes, and withdrew the hand he had been reaching toward his wallet.
"Alright then."
He leaned back in his chair in a more comfortable position, watching his sister who had already started exchanging bold words with the owner.
"Then let me see what kind of 'strongest' dragon you're talking about."
The Volcanic Deck was known for its unique burn damage and field-clearing capabilities.
Sitting below the platform, Raku picked up a slice of tripe still dripping with oil using his chopsticks, narrowing his eyes as he observed the situation on the Duel stage.
He knew very well that the core killing moves of the Volcanic Deck often relied on Continuous Spells and Continuous Trap Cards. Once those cards left the field, their terrifying effects would vanish like a kite with its string cut.
Meanwhile, the Starry Knight Deck happened to excel at dealing with backrow and Special Summoning.
If Rikka played it correctly, she held a considerable advantage in this Duel.
"My turn! Little miss, let me show you the strength of this shop owner!
"Here it comes, Volcanic Blast!"
The owner's voice rang out like a bell, his sweat-covered face brimming with fanatic passion for flames. He suddenly drew a card from his Deck, the motion as if pulling a red-hot iron from molten lava.
"I send [Blaze Accelerator] from my Deck to the Graveyard, and from my hand, I activate this—[Tri-Blaze Accelerator]!"
As the card slammed onto the Duel Disk, the air behind the owner seemed to distort, and a massive cannon dripping with molten lava materialized.
"I activate its second effect: Once per turn, during my Main Phase, I can Special Summon 1 'Volcanic' monster from my hand!"
"Come out! My ace—[Volcanic Hammerer]!"
With a thunderous crash, a blazing monster slammed onto the field. Its 2400 Attack shimmered in the hologram with a terrifying crimson glow.
"Then I Normal Summon [Volcanic Blade], and activate its effect—inflict 500 damage to your Life Points! My turn ends!"
As another monster, wielding a flaming blade, appeared, a tongue of fire licked across Rikka's body. Though it was only a hologram, the realistic heat made people instinctively step back.
"Oh my god!"
The surrounding diners, still eating hot pot, cried out in surprise. "He summoned a 2400 Attack Volcanic Hammerer in a single turn? And even dealt burn damage right away? The boss is incredible!"
In an environment where most people were still trading blows with beatdown decks or using simple Fusion plays, such a setup, high attack presence combined with effect damage, was indeed enough to intimidate the entire room.
However, Rikka, standing on the opposite side, showed no sign of panic.
"My turn—draw!"
She shouted, her right hand slicing through the air. Her oversized black coat billowed behind her as if caught in a strong gust, fluttering even without wind.
Raku nearly dropped the tripe from his mouth.
He stared blankly at his sister's back, which looked as if the King of Games himself had possessed her. He had thought that in this world, their normal hairstyles already made them stand out… but apparently, having a normal hairstyle didn't mean there weren't other ways to boost one's style.
So that coat wasn't just for hiding her figure… it was also for moments like this, to amplify her presence?
In this world, style really was an important form of combat power.
Rikka held the card she had just drawn between her fingers, a confident, almost arrogant, smile curling at her lips.
"I activate the Continuous Spell Card—[Starry Knight Ceremony]!"
As the card was placed into the Spell/Trap Zone, the shop, once filled with hot pot steam and noisy chatter, suddenly dimmed.
The ceiling seemed to vanish, replaced by a vast and dazzling starry sky. Countless stars shimmered overhead, and that sacred, tranquil atmosphere suppressed the restless heat of the volcano.
"I use the first effect of my Continuous Spell!"
Rikka's voice rang out, clear and resolute, echoing beneath the artificial night sky.
"During my Main Phase, I can reveal 1 LIGHT Fairy monster in my hand; add 1 Level 7 LIGHT Dragon monster from my Deck to my hand. Right after, place the revealed monster on the bottom of the Deck!"
She revealed a card from her hand to the owner: a Fairy monster radiating gentle light.
"I reveal [Starry Knight Rayel] from my hand, and…"
Rikka took a deep breath, her deliberately imitated tone returning, filled with devotion and pride.
"I add my soul card, [Starry Night, Starry Dragon], to my hand!"
The Deck automatically presented that core ace card, which she grasped tightly.
"Next, I return the revealed Rayel to the bottom of the Deck.
"Normal Summon—[Starry Knight Rayel]!"
A knight clad in silver armor, wielding a holy sword, stepped onto the battlefield under starlight. Though it only had 1800 Attack, beneath the vast starry sky, it appeared sacred and untouchable.
"I activate Rayel's first effect: When this card is Normal Summoned, I can add 1 'Starry Knight' Spell or Trap from my Deck to my hand!"
Rikka's fingers swiftly brushed across the Deck, precisely drawing out a card.
"I add the Field Spell—[Starry Knight Sky]—to my hand, and activate it!"
The already dazzling starry sky suddenly became even brighter.
Countless shooting stars streaked across the night, leaving long trails of light, as if paving the way for the descending dragon. The entire hot pot restaurant was enveloped in this dreamlike brilliance, even suppressing the owner's fiery volcanic aura.
...
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