Chapter 29 - Duelist

The differences between a Duelist of rank A or above to a Duelist of the lower ranks is astronomical, and anyone who has ever lived in conditions similar to Kaito's would not be bothered by the possibility of ascending socially so quickly, even more so by receiving such an exclusive title.

However, Kaito is no idiot and knows better than most how rotten society is.

If someone like him, a nobody from the Forgotten Zone of Safe Area Z4 were to suddenly become such an acclaimed Duelist, making noise all over the Alliance, two very likely and very bad scenarios would be practically inevitable for him.

The first scenario would be that he would immediately gain a lot of fame and notoriety, meaning a lot of money and consequently everything he wanted, but also all these luxuries would come with the various responsibilities of a high rank Duelist, which would go beyond entering portals of absurdly higher force levels than he is currently capable of, but he would also have political responsibilities. In other words, one way or another Kaito would end up covered in trouble or, at worst, dead within a short time.

The second case, and the most likely to happen to him, would be that the rich would not like someone like Kaito at all growing up in life, regardless of how beneficial he could be to humanity in the fight against the portals. So Kaito would end up in some Alliance laboratory, or worse, his corpse would end up in some ditch in the Celestial Abode or inside a rank S portal

Thinking about these possible scenarios, Kaito is extremely happy with the final result of the test. Surely he will have a longer journey to get where he wants to go, but when the day comes that the great ones notice him, Kaito believes that he will already be strong enough to take care of himself.

So, after leaving Mr. Fisher's meeting room, Kaito follows the receptionist through the halls of the association's office headquarters while almost bouncing with happiness.

As they walk, the receptionist, who is now acting much more friendly, begins to explain what it means to be a Duelist and the responsibilities that this position entails. She mentions that Duelists are recognized by the Alliance and are allowed to use their powers for the sake of protection and justice, meaning that they are the only Awakened who have official permission to use their powers, in public or not. Furthermore, she states that it is mandatory for all Duelists to go to the Celestial Abode at least once a month or that they ask for prior permission for a month-long sabbatical.

"Being a Duelist is an honor, but it also comes with challenges and responsibilities. Never forget that." says the receptionist. "You are now an important member of society, and your power will be a valuable resource in facing threats... However, you will also have to follow the guidelines and rules set for Duelists. So don't forget to try to get stronger to be able to handle your assignments in the best way possible. Many can't evolve their powers in intensity, but make up for it in robotic enhancements, martial arts, or control or sharpening techniques."

Kaito listens intently as they reach another room. The receptionist seems very wise, unlike what she showed herself to be the first time they talked.

In the room, she takes the form he filled out earlier and confirms his data in the association's system.

Seeing that everything is correct, she is a little surprised that Kaito has not lied in any of the fields, but nothing is able to surprise her more than her manager interrupting her lunch break to let her know that the boy she attended to was tremendously special, a Rank A or S.

"There you go, Kaito. You are now officially recognized as a Rank D Duelist." she says, smiling and handing him a card. "Congratulations, once again! Your next steps involve integration with other Duelists and to the Celestial Abode, only before that you will need to return to your Mandatory Teaching Academy."

Upon hearing the last condition of his integration, Kaito arches his eyebrows, surprised. "Come back? Wait, is that serious?"

The receptionist nods. Understanding Kaito's surprise, she explains:

"Yes, it is one of the Alliance's guidelines for all of us, and even stricter when it comes to Awakened Ones. All Awakened Ones, regardless of whether they will be Duelists or not, are required to continue their formal education and mandatory training at a licensed academy. This measure is to ensure that the Awakened Ones also develop academically and have a solid foundation of knowledge in martial arts."

Kaito is a bit disheartened at the thought of returning to his old school. After all, it has been a year and a half since he left it and he definitely doesn't miss it.

However, that decision is out of his hands, as it is a requirement for all Awakened Ones.

"I know it can be a little disappointing to have to return to your old school even though you have become an Awakened..." says the receptionist, noticing Kaito's expression. "But believe me, this is an opportunity for you to excel even more. Your experience as a Duelist will give you a unique perspective. Besides, if you follow a simple schedule of classes, it won't get in the way of your trips to the Celestial Abode or forays into the portals at all."

Kaito ponders over the receptionist's words and realizes that she is right, although she hasn't realized that the reason for his fear of returning to the Mandatory Teaching Academy is not about having a double life, but about reliving past traumas.

Anyway, Kaito thinks that maybe returning to his school could be a chance to show himself that he has grown up and thus face his own fears.

"All right," says Kaito, resignedly. "If that's one of the rules, then I'll go back to my old school."

The receptionist smiles, satisfied with Kaito's positive attitude. Finally, she gives him some final guidelines about the process of returning to school and warns him that the Association has an obligation to keep his Awakened status secret, except to the Alliance, because there is a trustworthiness agreement between citizen and government. This sounds like advice to Kaito to keep his identity as a Duelist a secret and not to get into trouble.

As Kaito says goodbye to the receptionist and leaves the room, he feels a mixture of emotions. He is relieved that his being an Awakened from the Forgotten Zone will not get out in the media, excited for his first trip to the Celestial Abode, but also aware of the challenges he will face when he returns to school.