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

　He subconsciously moved to the side, and Judy suddenly teleported to his side, her rich yet pleasant fragrance wafting over him.

　Dak was somewhat allergic to the scent, so he quickly pretended to cough and covered his nose.

　The index is under heavy pressure recently, so we can't add any more.

　……

　Judy glanced at Darke and smiled, "Don't rush, this is the post-match interview. Because the schedule is tight, we only have three minutes."

　Dark nodded and said, "Three minutes, right here?"

　That's long enough; the match itself didn't even last three minutes.

　Judy replied, "Yes. I've always felt that wrestler interviews should take place on the wrestler's platform. For duelists, the wrestler's platform is the battlefield."

　Then she changed the subject, saying coquettishly, "I just recently created a magical spirit with the ability to teleport, and I want to try it out."

　Dark asked curiously, "Where?"

　Senior Judy blinked: "Guess?"

　Dark glanced at the scars that made her appear thinner despite her clothes, and shook his head, saying, "I can't guess, and I don't want to. Let's move on to the interview. What do you want to ask?"

　Senior Judy then raised the microphone and asked the audience, "Ladies and gentlemen, the first winner of this year's 'Silver Cup' is asking you questions. What would you like to ask?"

　The spectators outside the stadium immediately started shouting.

　The shouts and applause were so loud that it was impossible to hear anything inside the stadium.

　But Judy pretended to listen attentively, then, as if she had truly heard him, she pointed the microphone at Dark and asked, "It seems the audience is very curious. What are your thoughts on this year's 'Silver Cup'?"

　Ah this?

　Dark instinctively felt this wasn't a question a student should answer, but still said, "The Silver Cup is great, the Silver Cup. It provides a fantastic stage for us second-year students to showcase our talents. I think there will definitely be hardworking and diligent people who will stand out in this competition and gain more recognition."

　Senior Judy asked, "Is this also your wish?"

　Dark glanced at her, then shook his head and said, "I don't need it."

　Senior Judy couldn't help but smile. "I think so too. So, could you talk about your goals for this year's 'Silver Cup'? I mean, top eight, runner-up, champion, or something like that?"

　Dark thought for a moment and said, "Isn't it too early to talk about these things now? The timing of the match can change in many ways, and neither you nor I can predict it."

　Senior Judy asked curiously, "Which variables specifically?"

　Dark said calmly, "Maybe one day I won't want to participate anymore."

　Senior Judy was taken aback for a moment, then immediately asked, "Are you planning to focus on the 'Golden Cup'?"

　Dark glanced at Judy again, then turned to the audience and said, "No, for us second-year students, the 'Golden Cup' is merely an opportunity to experience high-level duels. This year isn't my year."

　Judy blinked and said, "So, you're sure you want to participate in the 'Golden Cup'?"

　"Participating in the 'Golden Cup' was an assignment given by the professor," Dark said.

　Judy immediately announced loudly, "It seems we really have a chance to see Dark Dimon's amazing performance on the 'Golden Cup' stage. I truly hope he can go all the way and become a legend who makes history! Well then, that concludes the winner's interview. Please welcome the next group of contestants!"

　……

　Dark slowly walked down from the contestant's platform.

　He didn't mind talking more during the interview, and he had no objection to Judy's remarks as a way to warm up the audience.

　But this "silver cup"...

　To be honest, he might not necessarily make it to the end.

　In the upcoming qualifying rounds, he will probably only complete the minimum standard of ten matches.

　According to the competition rules, it's normal to be overtaken later on.

　He would only consider competing for the championship if he was lucky enough to make it to the quarterfinals.

　As for the "Golden Cup," of course we'll participate.

　……

　As they entered the players' tunnel, Dark found Witt leaning against the wall, deep in thought.

　He thought for a moment, then walked over and asked, "Witt, when did you create your Blood-Burning Orc?"

　Witt looked up, his expression having calmed down considerably; it seemed the defeat had only temporarily dampened his spirits.

　Upon seeing that it was Dark, he said, "During my vacation. I spent some time as an adventurer during my vacation, and I had good luck."

　"Adventurers?" Dark pointed ahead, indicating that he would talk as they walked. "How are the adventures outside different from those in the academy?"

　Witt said, "Well, outside of the academy, mages are very rare. If you show value, the companions you meet on your adventures will take good care of you. Of course, there will also be those who have ulterior motives. But I have a pretty good eye for people."

　Dark looked up and said, “The worst thing in the world is the human heart. Although there will be disputes in the academy, they are all classmates after all, and there are bottom lines. People outside may not be so. But that’s the fun of life. As long as you live long enough, you will always meet all kinds of people. Actually, I have thought about going out and traveling alone, but I can’t settle down for the time being.”

　Witt asked curiously, "Do you have worries too?"

　Dark nodded slightly and said, "I am human too."

　Witt sensed something was off about the conversation, but didn't dwell on it.

　After discovering that Dark also had his troubles, he suddenly felt much better.

　So much so that during a casual chat, he even asked, "By the way, did I cause you any trouble during the duel just now? I mean, did I give you the impression that this person was also troublesome?"

　what?

　Dark opened his mouth, then racked his brains and said, "Yes, when your 'Blood-Burning Orc' suddenly teleported to my magic orb, it really startled me!"

　Witt left satisfied.

　Dark shook his head and walked in another direction.

　His next match is the eleventh. Considering that there are interviews with the winners after each match, it will be quite a long time before he has to stay in the players' waiting room.

　When he returned to the stands in the circular area, Pistan had already taken his spot and moved next to Doron.

　Darke sat down in Pistan's seat and asked, "Has the match started?"

　“Just came on stage.” Pistan pointed to the center of the arena.

　On the two contestants' stages, the two contestants have taken the stage one after the other.

　Diana Gretby is on the red team.

　Located on the blue side is Vanessa Bolt, the prefect of the second-year Fools' House!

　Vanessa has an ordinary appearance, with common brown eyes and hair, but her overall temperament is quite gentle and pleasing to the eye.

　After she stepped onto the contestant's platform, she didn't react in any particular way, simply greeting Diana casually.

　But Diana has always been a very outgoing person, and she started chattering away enthusiastically as soon as she opened her mouth.

　The atmosphere between the two girls was much better than that between the two boys in the first round.

　Since Vanessa was from the House of Fools, there wasn't much for the commentator to say, and the atmosphere wasn't very enthusiastic.

　However, the roars of lions could be heard from the audience outside the stadium, which was frightening.

　……

　Despite the uneventful start, the duel turned out to be surprisingly intense!

　Dark was initially just casually replenishing the magic of the magical spirits while watching, but later he couldn't help but start watching more seriously.

　Vanessa's deck is very conventional, but it is small yet complete, containing almost every type of magic card.

　Diana, on the other hand, continued to focus on the "Bear" series from her first year. However, she added a large number of weapon cards and equipment cards... and in the end, she even pulled out an armor card!

　Although the weapon card completely drained the magic power of the magical spirit shortly after it appeared, it produced an extraordinary effect.

　It can only be said that Diana was also working hard in places that Dark hadn't been paying attention to.

　However, considering that Diana is not yet proficient in magical languages, she may have a unique method for crafting weapons or armor.

　Dak couldn't help but become very interested.

　But he quickly suppressed this inappropriate interest.

　Although he felt that as long as he asked, he would definitely get an answer.

　Diana's mouth couldn't close at all.

　But if you actually do that, you'll cross the line.

　He couldn't possibly use that to pry into her secrets.

　……

　Diana and Vanessa fought fiercely for a long time, and in the end Diana won by a slight advantage.

　And the audience finally got their fill of watching.

　After all, while a duel that ends in three rounds is exciting, it's nowhere near as satisfying to watch as a duel that ends in thirty rounds.

　Audiences prefer to see duels that are both exciting and lengthy.

　After the competition, there will be an interview with the winner.

　But when Judy asked Diana a question, Diana kept praising Vanessa for how amazing she was, making her heart pound with nervousness and saying that she almost lost.

　The atmosphere at the scene was very warm.

　……

　After Diana left the arena, Dark continued to replenish the magic of the magical spirits before focusing on watching the match.

　The match between Diana and Vanessa made him realize that even the Silver Cup has lessons to be learned.

　No duelist should be underestimated.

　……

　Before we knew it, it was time for the seventh game.

　Heidi Euphemia, the prefect of the Magic Academy.

　Chapter Seven of the Knights' Academy, Justin Wayne.

　They took to the contestant's stage one after another!

　Justin Wayne had a good reputation and a good name within the Knights House.

　Heidi Euphemia was originally just a follower of Sarah Swati. But after becoming a prefect, she began to show her talent and gained some fame.

　The two are remarkably similar in both their academic performance and their current positions.

　However, for the audience outside the venue, both of them were very new faces.

　Commentator Zach Wilson gave them a fairly long introduction, gradually introducing the two men to the audience.

　Their duel was so exciting that it did not disappoint the audience.

　Dark had been paying close attention from the beginning, but was distracted at the middle because Teddy Doron next to him was too noisy.

　"You're a class monitor now, can't you be a little more composed?" he couldn't help but scold.

　Doron blushed and said shyly, "I was just cheering for the Knights' Academy's rival..."

　Pistan also looked like he should say so: "The Knights' Academy's opponents are our friends!"

　Dark: "However, our biggest rival this year is the Magic Academy."

　Pistan paused for a moment, then pondered, "It seems so."

　Doron chuckled dryly, pretending to continue watching the game intently.

　Dak couldn't help but laugh.

　Perhaps this is what youth is all about.

　After youth fades, people always want to return to their childhood.

　But now, standing on this stage that should be brimming with youthful energy, he finds it difficult to make a move.

　Of course, his problem is rather unique, but it also shows that... memories and reality are indeed two different things.

　Memories are always more beautiful.

　The truth is always hard to reach.

　Think about it.