Yu-Gi-Oh! The Pitfall Hero

Youxing: “…”

Well, the topic has come full circle and we're back to where we started.

So you're really determined to get the Three Phantom Demons, right?

"Anyway, that's it..."

Having explained his thoughts, Anasis continued his previous explanation: "Next... I will activate the effect of [Sea Dragon God - Leviathan] once per turn, during my Main Phase. I can add one [Sea], [Sea Dragon God] Spell/Trap Card, or [Dive into the Sea] Spell/Trap Card from my Deck to my hand."

"The card I chose to add to my hand is the trap card [Darkrock Sea Dragon God]."

The indicator light on the Duel Disk flashed, and a card popped out on its own.

Holding the card in his hand, Anasis smirked and immediately placed it in his back row. Then... he added two more cards to his hand: "I've placed three cards in ambush. End of turn!"

"It's my turn, draw a card."

Raising his Duel Disk, Yusei calmly drew a card, glanced at the writhing Sea Dragon God, and then, facing Anasis, asked, "Uncle, you're clearly not a Dark Duelist, so why are you so eager for the Three Phantom Demons cards? These monsters... don't really fit into your WATER deck, do they?"

The three Phantom Demons, namely "Uria the Divine Flame Emperor", "Hamon the Thunder Emperor", and "Rabiel the Phantom Demon Emperor", share the common characteristic that they cannot be normally summoned and require specific conditions to be Special Summoned.

Among them, "Uria the Divine Flame Emperor" requires sending three face-up Continuous Trap Cards on your field to the Graveyard, "Hamon the Thunder Emperor" requires sending three face-up Continuous Spell Cards on your field to the Graveyard, and "Rabiel the Phantom Emperor" requires sending three Fiend-Type monsters on your field to the Graveyard in order to be Special Summoned.

No matter which phantom demon it is, the conditions for summoning it are not easy.

Moreover, even if a huge price is paid to summon them, the benefits they bring are only so-so.

Furthermore, while using the Phantom Demon Card, you must constantly bear the risk of the resulting backlash...

Is this thing really worth the rush to buy?

“Yusei, you are someone I admire. Since you asked, I will tell you honestly…” Clearing his throat, Anasis continued, “I have a dream…”

"...That is, to build a brand new dueling academy on the seabed!"

"Nani...establishing an academy?" Upon hearing Anasis's words, everyone's faces showed surprise.

Just like the ultimate goal of working is to pass the civil service exam, do wealthy people all aspire to build their own academies?

President Kaiba was like that, the Manjoume brothers were like that... and Anasis now... is like that too.

After acquiring inexhaustible wealth, they all thought about leaving a trace of their existence and experiencing the sense of accomplishment of having students all over the world.

"Since we're planning to establish an academy, we'll need to prepare some symbolic cards..."

With a wistful expression, Anasis couldn't help but sigh, "I know that Obelisk the Tormentor and Seraphim the Sky Dragon are in the hands of Seto Kaiba and Yugi Muto respectively, but neither of them are easy to deal with... If I want the God Cards, I can only try to get the remaining Winged Dragon of Ra..."

"But! As for the God Cards... I dare not even think about it. Those are cards that only the chosen ones can use. If others try to forcibly touch and use them, they will only incur the wrath of the gods..."

Anasis didn't want to repeat the magnificent scene of "Death in the City" because of the Winged Dragon's wrath!

"...Since the Three Phantom Gods are out of the question, we can only settle for second best and try to take a look at the Three Phantom Demons."

"I see……"

Listening to Anasis's explanation, Yusei nodded in agreement.

Although the Three Phantom Demons are relatively difficult to use, they still have a certain prestige and are qualified to be used as symbolic treasures of the academy.

"Not only that, besides the three Phantom Demons... I have another purpose."

Changing the subject, Anasis pointed at Yusei's body: "Yusei... I've taken a liking to you. Come and become mine!"

"...Ouch! Ouch! Ouch! Ouch! Ouch!!!"

"...Huh? This old man wants Yusei to become his person???"

"Hey! What he said...couldn't mean what I'm thinking?"

"Yusei... has been targeted by a guy???"

Hearing Anasis's earth-shattering statement, everyone couldn't help but gasp in surprise, while Yusei on the other side showed an expression of utter astonishment.

"……I reject!"

Without a second thought, Yusei immediately rejected Anasis's proposal.

Damn it! They're all eyeing my good looks!

A pretty girl might be able to accept it, but what are you, a grown man, doing here?

I'm already taken, you know that? If you know what's good for you, get lost now, or I'll start swearing!

It's one thing for Miss Jie to have disguised herself as a man back then, but I was just blind to notice...

But you, Anasis, no matter how you look at it, are just a rough, middle-aged man, aren't you? The hair on the back of your hands is almost big enough to make a bird's nest...

You want me to become your person, your possession... Are you dreaming?

Or... are you treating this underwater duel like a grand banquet?

"Cough cough cough... You've all misunderstood! That's not what I meant!"

Seeing everyone's astonished reaction, Anasis, looking puzzled, quickly spoke up to explain after realizing that her words might have contained some ambiguity: "...Actually, I also watched Yusei's duel with the representative from Northern Academy! I was particularly impressed by that invincible Ice Sword Dragon and his outstanding performance, so I hope to recruit him to become the ace of my soon-to-be-established new academy! It's not that I have any strange interest in Yusei himself... You have to believe me!"

"……Really?"

Yusei took a small half-step back, placing his arms horizontally in front of him, maintaining a vigilant posture.

In this world of King of Gamblers, boys must remember to protect themselves when they go out.

You never know, you might be walking down the street when a strange old man suddenly appears, smiling, and leads you into a dark alley to see goldfish...

“…Really, really!!! I swear on all my possessions! If I’m lying, may I go bankrupt!” Anasis raised his arm toward the sky and wiped the sweat from his forehead with his other free hand.

What are young people thinking these days?!

Uncle here... loves making money the most!

How could I possibly be distracted by cultivating these strange hobbies!

"Then I'll... believe you for now..."

Looking at the other party involved in the previous duel—Manjoume, who was now awkwardly turning his head away, and the disc and key hanging on his chest, Yusei finally felt relieved.

If that old man intends to force me to submit, then don't blame me for using the power of dark tools to resist!

"So... how much money would it take for you to switch jobs?" Anasis asked tentatively, a look of anticipation on his face. "One million, ten million, one hundred million, one billion...?"

"A billion... Holy crap... How long would I have to work to earn that!"

Even Yuki Judai, a hidden rich kid, couldn't help but show a look of surprise as he counted on his fingers.

With that much money, you could probably buy a whole school, right?

"Youxing..."

Looking at Yusei on the field, Asuka couldn't help but show a worried expression.

If Yusei really agrees to this deal, then... wouldn't it be very difficult for me to see him again?

I don't want this to happen...

"Hmph! A mere ten billion... Yusei, if you really agree to that, then I'll truly look down on you!"

As the third son of the Manjoume Group, Manjoume Lightning's mindset is clearly different from that of normal people.

What might seem like an astronomical sum to others was, in his view, just within an acceptable range.

One billion yen... I, Mr. Manjoume, can produce that myself!

You think you can bribe Yusei with such a small amount of money? Who do you think you are?

...It costs more!

"Although this proposal is very appealing, please allow me to decline."

Even after the misunderstanding was cleared up, Yusei still gave a rejection.

"Why? Why are you refusing me? Are you not satisfied with this amount... do you think it's too little? What I just mentioned was all in US dollars! If you think it's not enough, we can discuss it further! I have more money than I can spend!"

Join me, and you'll reap huge benefits!

Isn't this a million times better than you being a guardian hero in this lousy school?

With money, what kind of happiness can't you buy?

__【"

You could even acquire Duel Academy and become its principal or a board member... that wouldn't be out of the question!

Why can't you understand?

Anasis was deeply puzzled by Yusei's stubborn answer.

"What?! A billion... US dollars?!" Upon hearing Anasis's words, Manjou's eyebrows twitched involuntarily.

Based on the exchange rate, its value would be nearly a hundred times greater than before...

This enormous sum was something even he couldn't easily come up with, unless... he asked his brothers for help...

“It’s not about money…” Yusei shook his head slightly and explained calmly, “The reason I chose to stay at Duel Academy and in the Osiris Red Dormitory is purely out of my own will.”

Money is something you can never earn enough of.

For Yuxing, enough money is enough. Among the spoils he seized from Titan was his savings and rare cards accumulated over the years.

With all of this, Yu Xing could already announce his early retirement and achieve financial freedom.

The same applies to other aspects besides money.

In fact, Yusei has many opportunities to ascend to Obelisk Blue and become part of the "elite".

He also still possesses a promise that Tiangong Jie had secured for him, allowing him to make a request to Principal Samejima that is within his power.

But... Yusei remained in Osiris Red, and even after obtaining a dormitory in Obelisk Blue, he only used it as a temporary storage space...

At first, he may have thought about climbing to higher levels, but after adapting to life in Osiris Red, getting in touch with the main characters, and forming deep bonds, he actually felt a little reluctant to leave.

Among the boys in Obelisk Blue, besides Caesar, Manjoume, and the returned Tenjōin Fubuki, there are basically no normal people...

Being in that kind of environment, Yusei worried that he, without realizing it, would also transform from a dragon-slaying hero into the very dragon he once hated...

As for the girls, things are fine. Apart from Asuka, her two best friends, Junko and Momoe, are also very kind to her.