Chapter 11: Let's play cards!

Yuyu immediately recognized the blond boy walking towards the door as Katsuya Jonouchi, one of the protagonists of Yu-Gi-Oh DM. The group of protagonists in the Duel Monsters game had become famous throughout the later stages of the game.

The people who followed Jonouchi into the store were his inseparable friends: Yugi Muto, Kyoko Masaki, and Hiroto Honda. Muto, in particular, with his distinct starfish-like hairstyle that could rival Super Saiyans, was very noticeable.

Yuyu recalled that in the animated series, some of them had visited a card shop owned by a rare card hunter to purchase duel discs. It seemed that the release of Haima's new duel discs that had only begun a week after the opening of the Duel City, attracted them, this also means there is still three weeks remaining before the game...

But considering that this was a connection to another world, slight deviations from the animated storyline might be possible.

"Ah, welcome," China greeted from behind the counter. "We also have duel discs available in our store. According to Haima Company's requirements, duelist ratings of level 5 and above are eligible to receive a new type of duel disc and qualify for the Duel Contest for free."

"Huh?" Muto displayed a surprised expression from the sudden supply of information.

"Ratings levels... I see. So this ensures the effective skill level of the duelists." Muto says.

"Can you please provide me with your names?" China asked.

"My name is Yugi Muto."

"Yugi... Moto..."

China murmured as she typed on the large desktop computer resting on the counter. Suddenly, she paused, displaying a somewhat surprised expression as she looked up. "Are you Yugi Moto, the Duel King?"

The game had recently won the championship in the Duel Kingdom game and defeated Maximillion Pegasus, the founder of the Duel Monsters. Pegasus had acknowledged his skills and awarded him the title of the King of Dueling. This was an achievement known to almost everyone.

"Um... uh, yes, that's me," Moto replied, slightly embarrassed.

According to Haima Company's duelist rating system, the highest level seemed to be 8. Yuyu vaguely remembered that in the original animation, Yugi's rating by Haima was 8...

"Really?" China expressed surprise after retrieving the duel information on the computer.

"What's wrong?" Moto asked, leaning forward to see the content on the screen.

"Well... technically, the highest duelist level should only be 8th level..."

Reluctantly, China turned the computer screen to show them.

Muto name appeared on the screen, accompanied by his ID photo with the Millennium Puzzle hanging next to him. The trump card displayed on the left was the famous "Dark Magician," and below it was the duelist level...

...It was level 10.

"This is amazing!" Jonouchi exclaimed, unable to contain his excitement as he started ruffling the game's starfish-like hair. "Since you're the Duel King, maybe your level is exceptional! Haha, that Seahorse guy can't match up!(Seto Kaiba)

China nodded in agreement. "A duelist at the tenth level... it seems that Yugi Muto is the only one."

Yuyu couldn't help but feel speechless. I could almost imagine President Seto smugly boasting, "This is the only way to be worthy of my old adversary".

China remained silent, but her gaze shifted from the Moto's fierce and confident ID photo on the screen to the person standing in front of her, innocently rubbing his head...

...There was an undeniable feeling of the picture not matching the reality.

Muto seemed slightly different from the Duel King she had envisioned.

Of course, it was just a passing thought.

Meanwhile, Yuyu, with a nod of agreement, had already fetched a brand-new duel disc from the back warehouse and handed it over to Muto. He accepted the box with joy and caution, politely bowing his head and saying, "Thank you!"

"What about me? What about me?" Jonouchi eagerly squeezed forward. "My name is Jonouchi, and I was the runner-up in the Duel Kingdom!"

"Alright, just a moment," China replied, entering the name with utmost seriousness. However, a strange "Huh" escaped her lips, similar to her reaction when she checked the game's level earlier.

"What's the matter? Am I also a level 10 like Moto?" Jonouchi's eyes lit up.

"Eh, well..." China glanced at the screen, seemingly unsure of how to articulate her words.

Yuyu stepped forward, coughing lightly. "Well, you seem to have only two levels, and below that... it says 'Fan Bone.'"

Jonouchi's expression turned blank as he blinked, his brain seemingly experiencing a temporary crash for a few seconds.

"...Huh!? fan bones... What the hell is that?"

In an instant, Jonouchi's hair seemed to stand on end, and he looked as if he were desperately searching for seahorse.

"What does that damn Seahorse mean by 'fan bones'? I competed for the runner-up in the Duel Kingdom!"

Honda hurriedly intervened, "Alright, calm down, Jonouchi. You're scaring the lady behind the counter..."

"Yeah... but this is really strange." China muttered to herself, chin in hand. "Jonouchi... I remember he should be the Duel Kingdom's runner-up. Only having two stars is indeed peculiar..."

"Yes... that's right!" Jonouchi seemed to spot a glimmer of hope as he leaned closer to the counter. China subconsciously took a step back, startled.

"But... but these are Haima's regulations. Even if we question it, we can't change it."

"Damn it..." Jonouchi gritted his teeth in frustration.

However, Yuyu, who had been observing the situation with amusement, spoke up. "But there might be another way."

"Huh? What do you mean?" Jonouchi asked.

"Challenge me to a duel," Yuyu suggested with a smile. "If you can defeat me, we can turn a blind eye and let you purchase the new duel disc."

According to Haima Company's current regulations, duel discs were not available for purchase until the Duel City tournament, and only recognized duelists could receive them for free. However, selling one wouldn't hurt.

Yuyu proposed this not because of a card addiction or a desire to find opponents but because...

...this was an opportunity for real-life experience!

Jonouchi was already a legendary duelist in the DM world (although not currently). If Yuyu could defeat him, the experience gained would be comparable to weeks of intense dueling in the venue.

Furthermore, playing cards with the protagonist team would help trigger special quests and potentially participate in the main Yu-Gi-Oh storyline. In the linked world, there were always countless players wanting to duel the protagonist group.

However, the chance to play cards with the protagonists was rare and hard. The system didn't allow players to directly approach the original protagonists and challenge them to a duel. Only when specific conditions were met in specific situations could players get a chance to duel the protagonists.

China turned her head, surprised, and looked at Yuyu. "Are you sure about this?"

Although she didn't doubt Yuyu's skills, given that Jonouchi was the Duel Kingdom's runner-up, it should be a duel on par with the Muto.

"It's no problem," Yuyu reassured her with a smile. "Don't look at me like that; I'm quite formidable."

...

[Friendship Level +8]

Yuyu: "..."

Note: Mc's name is the same, pronunciation wise, just the spelling has been changed, I think is more appropriate.