The villainous young master just wants to live a Buddhist-like life.

　Even Mike Owen and Stuart Fern, both third-year students in the Noble House, had nothing to say.

　As for Winnie Skadi, the senior student at the Magic Academy, she simply pulled out a palm-sized book, leaned against the wall, and started reading.

　They were racing against time, not stopping for a moment.

　Dark was actually quite curious about what she was reading. After all, a book this small, like the size of a palm, was unlikely to be anything serious, but he suppressed his curiosity.

　In contrast, the third-year Knight Academy senior seemed quite approachable.

　But as expected, Senior Sister Ma Li is much easier to talk to.

　So Dark asked, "Senior, what's the next step?"

　"Wait." Senior Ma Li held up one finger, a smirk playing on her lips.

　Helpless, Dark continued, "So what exactly are we waiting for?"

　Mary then smiled and said, "What are we waiting for? We're going to go on stage. Next, Judy will draw two numbers from the box, and the two who draw the numbers will go up and duel. We'll start with our lower grades, which is why we're waiting here. I really hope you and I are the next ones drawn, so I can win easily."

　Dark's face darkened, and he said, "I hope so."

　Of course, he knew that Senior Ma Li was joking.

　Once he understood the situation, Dak was able to begin estimating the time.

　In the preliminary rounds, he only used one card, "Arrogance 3", and he used it right from the start.

　By now, the cooldown of about an hour has clearly improved.

　Then all the magic cards in his hand would be usable.

　"The limited number of Sin Cards is indeed inconvenient. The early match intervals are long, so there's no need to worry. But it gets a bit dangerous when there aren't many players left later on."

　He frowned slightly, and began to think.

　Across from him, Mike Irwin actually wanted to say hello. However, with Stuart Fowne, a fellow member of the Society for the Study of Aristocratic History, present, it was not convenient for him to get close to Dark.

　Mike Owen didn't really care much about this Easter Duel Festival; his reason for participating was... to relax.

　He just hadn't expected that Angus Jeffrey hadn't given up on making trouble for Dark, which put him in a difficult position.

　But since things had come to this, he could only adapt to the situation.

　"Why don't we just accept defeat?"

　Mike Irwin racked his brains.

　"The faster you lose, the less you have to worry about running into him. Bingo! That's it!"

　……

　On stage, the host, Judy, did not produce a black box containing number plates as Marie had predicted.

　She waved behind her, and the staff immediately brought out a table with eight neatly arranged Easter eggs on it.

　Judy smiled and walked to the table, picked up a small hammer, and said to the audience, "Next, I will choose two of these eight Easter eggs, crack them open, and take out the number plates inside to determine the two fighters in the first duel. Are you all ready?"

　After giving the audience a little time to react, Judy picked up the small hammer, shook it, and randomly picked an Easter egg to smash it hard.

　"Snapped!"

　The Easter egg broke apart from top to bottom, revealing a large number plate inside.

　Judy picked up the number and turned it towards the audience.

　I also took a stroll towards the players' passage.

　……

　"Number 129...it's me?"

　Mike Irving instantly perked up.

　Next, if he loses quickly enough, he can become a spectator and watch the game from the ring track.

　Maggie was still waiting for him downstairs.

　"It's a pity I couldn't resist during the preliminary rounds."

　Mike Irwin continued to look at the podium, waiting for Judy to smash the second Easter egg.

　……

　"Contestant number 129 is Mike Owen, a third-year student from the Noble Academy. It seems he will be the first contestant to appear in this main event. Now, let's reveal the second contestant."

　Judy picked up the small hammer again and gave one of the Easter eggs in the corner a hard tap.

　"Snapped!"

　As the Easter egg shattered, she asked the audience, "So, who will be the next contestant? Let me see..."

　Judy was visibly surprised when she picked up the number this time, glancing back at the entrance to the passage. She then suddenly raised her voice, announcing, "The first match of the lower grades' main tournament at this Easter Duel Festival will be between third-year aristocratic student Mike Owen and first-year aristocratic student Dark Dimon!"

　"Gan!"

　Inside the contestants' platform aisle.

　Mike Irwin was startled and abruptly looked up at Dark across from him.

　Almost simultaneously, Dark also turned to look at him.

　Their eyes met.

　Dak was quite kind.

　Mike Irwin suddenly sighed.

　He had already sensed Stuart Fern's sinister presence.

　Yu's gaze.

　Is this what they call "when it rains, it pours"?

　Even if I don't go all out in this duel, I can't slack off anymore.

　Unless he really doesn't want to continue working at the Society for the Study of Aristocratic History.

　Given his past status, he had offended almost all the major organizations when he was at the Institute of Aristocratic History.

　Once he leaves the company, he will have nowhere to go.

　"There's no other way but to bite the bullet and go for it."

　Mike Irwin nodded to Darke and walked out of the passage first.

　At that time, his silhouette looked strangely heroic.

　Like... a general going on a campaign.

　A question mark appeared in Dark's mind, filled with doubt about Mike Irving's actions.

　Why are you putting on a show for Easter?

　Are they really treating today as April Fool's Day?

　Oh, it's April Fool's Day too, then it's fine.

　Dak adjusted his collar and strode toward the entrance of the passage.

　……

　As the two contestants took to the stage one after the other, the atmosphere in the audience rose again.

　Although Dak doesn't have much yet

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　Popularity, but Mike Irving is surprisingly popular.

　The two athletes walked out of the passage and, guided by staff, headed to either side of the arena.

　Since Irving was the first player selected, he was on the red team, while Darko was on the blue team.

　The audience's attention also shifted as the two contestants separated.

　Mike Irving has fans.

　However, casual fans clearly prefer the organizer of this duel festival.

　For most viewers, it would be a very welcome sight to see a planner who should be behind the scenes personally step onto the stage for the duel.

　In short, many people gave this "mastermind" freshman a very enthusiastic round of applause.

　Amid applause, Darko walked down to the bottom of the blue team's platform and stepped up the stairs.

　This was only the second time he had stepped onto the stairs leading to this competition platform. But once he took a step, it felt quite familiar, without any awkwardness.

　When he stepped onto the contestant's platform, he subconsciously turned his head towards the spot where he had last seen Pandora, and was surprised to find her sitting quietly.

　Today, because she had two "little pigs" with her, the atmosphere around her seemed much more relaxed, and there weren't many empty seats.

　When Pandora saw him turn his head, she raised her hand slightly to her chest and waved it gently.

　Dak couldn't help but smile.

　When he looked away, his smile widened.

　Because he was lucky enough to see Ylvette and Claire sitting in the front row of the audience.

　Dak was quite surprised by the arrival of his mother and teacher.

　He had initially thought that an Easter-themed competition like this wouldn't attract them, but it seems that's not the case now.

　"Did they know I would be there? Or is it for some other reason?"

　Dark's mind raced, and he raised his hand and waved it forcefully in that direction!

　Arvit responded excitedly immediately.

　This time, without the eldest princess holding her hand, she could finally wave freely.

　Seeing his mother's face again warmed Dak's heart.

　He vividly remembered the last time his mother didn't respond at all, which left him feeling disappointed for a long time.

　However much you may cherish it, it's impossible to express it on this contestant's stage.

　After waving, Dak turned back and looked at Mike Owen, who was sitting directly opposite him.

　He turned his attention back to the duel, raised his hand and pressed it against the card table, channeling his magic.

　Once the card table is activated, the loudspeaker is turned on.

　Dark smiled slightly and said, "Senior Ou Wenxue, it's been a long time."

　……

　Mike Irwin wanted to have a chat with him, but the circumstances didn't allow it.

　So he simply replied politely, "Long time no see, Dimon. I didn't expect to run into you in the very first game."

　Dark shrugged: "I never expected to meet you, senior, in my first official competition. I learned a lot from the last street duel."

　"You really know how to rub salt in the wound..."

　Mike Irwin covered his head and turned his gaze to a certain spot on the ring road.

　Angus Jeffrey clasped his hands together, interlacing his fingers, and stared intently at them.

　Mike Irving sighed inwardly, then straightened his expression and composed himself.

　He then said to Dark, "This can be considered our second duel. I hope you understand that the person standing before you is Mike Owen, a third-year student in the Academy of Noble Families."

　This is practically tantamount to a formal declaration of war.

　Dark narrowed his eyes slightly and said, "Senior, please give it your all."

　After that, the two sides stopped communicating.

　Dark took out a pre-arranged deck from his card pack, a total of forty magic cards, which felt quite heavy in his hand.

　It’s different in the past.

　When he returned to the player's platform, the strength of his deck was vastly different.

　But the duelist opposite him was no longer Elsie Kevin, a second-year student, but Mike Owen, a third-year honor student.

　In the street duel between the characters, Dark was the ultimate victor.