“Material composition analysis failed.”

Saya removed an Armed Card from the machine, looking disappointed.

“Magic formula analysis failed.”

Saya looked even more disappointed.

“Why can’t it analyze any of them?”

With a helpless look on her face, Saya sat down in a huff and watched Yu Ge, who was sitting off to the side, bored out of his mind. She couldn’t stop wondering about it.

Just how were these cards made? The formulas in the Magic Cards couldn’t be broken down at all. And when an Armed Card summoned a weapon, there was no way to analyze what it was made of. But it wasn’t realistic to call them fake, either—the powerful aura coming off them couldn’t possibly be concealed.

“Um, Yu Ge, could you come over here for a moment?”

Saya took a deep breath and decided she’d better call Yu Ge over and ask him about it.

“Aw, don’t call me ‘classmate.’ That’s so formal. Just call me Yu Ge.”

Yu Ge had been daydreaming about the lovely Miss Luna, but the moment he heard Saya’s voice, he snapped back to attention. Grinning, he hurried over—and only then noticed that Saya was wearing a white lab coat, the kind researchers wore. Her silvery-white hair was tied up, making her look even more feminine.

“Yu Ge, I wanted to ask you something. Were you there when your master made cards?”

Saya readily went along with Yu Ge’s suggestion and changed how she addressed him. It was just a name, after all; she didn’t really care about that. What she cared about was how these cards were made.

“Uh, no.”

At Saya’s question, Yu Ge froze for a moment. He wondered what she was getting at. To keep his identity from being exposed, he decided it was best to just say he didn’t know.

“I see. Then what did you study under your master?”

Saya nodded thoughtfully.

“What else? Making cards.”

Yu Ge shrugged as if it were obvious.

“Th-then what rank of cards can you make now?”

Saya’s face lit up with excitement. If his master was that amazing, surely the apprentice couldn’t be too bad, either.

“Uh, A-rank, I guess.”

Yu Ge thought it over. He’d better not mention that he could already make cards beyond S-rank. He’d probably scare the girl if he told her.

“A-rank? Isn’t that insanely impressive?”

Saya blinked, then couldn’t help exclaiming in admiration. There were practically no S-rank Card Makers anywhere in the World. Becoming an A-rank Card Maker already made someone a master, practically an honored guest of every empire. And this boy in front of her, who looked about her age, was an A-rank Card Maker?

“Mm.”

Yu Ge was at a loss. He hadn’t expected A-rank to be that high, or that rare, in this World. Then why couldn’t he sell the cards he’d made before? That made no sense.

“Yu Ge, is anyone else in the academy aware that you’re a Card Maker?”

Saya seemed lost in thought for a moment, then suddenly asked him.

“I think you’re the only one.”

Yu Ge thought about it. As far as he could remember, he’d only met Saya and Luna so far.

“Then remember this: don’t tell anyone you’re a Card Maker. Got it?”

Saya held a finger to her lips in a shushing gesture, looking rather tense.

“Oh, that’s no problem.”

Yu Ge nodded. Keeping it secret was no big deal. He had no intention of letting the matter slip, anyway. He knew well enough that having a treasure could be a crime in itself.

“Mm. Th-then that’s good.”

Saya was very pleased with Yu Ge’s answer.

“Anything else? If not, I’ll head back to class.”

Saya had been quiet for a while, seeming lost in thought, so Yu Ge tentatively asked. Practical training was coming up, and it’d be a great chance to get closer to the lovely Miss Luna. He couldn’t wait to see her.

“Ah—ah, that’s all.”

Saya seemed distracted.

“Oh, right. I still haven’t thanked you for recommending me to the academy. Pick any one of those cards from earlier. I’ll give it to you.”

Just as Yu Ge was leaving the classroom, he suddenly remembered something. He turned around and said it to Saya.

“Huh?”

Saya froze, as if she couldn’t believe her ears.

“Yu Ge, wh-what did you just say?”

Saya’s body began to tremble despite herself. What did it mean for Yu Ge to own Magic Cards? Any one of them could rock the World; every single card was priceless. He’d sold them to her for two gold coins apiece before because he hadn’t understood how important they were. But surely he understood by now just how far beyond ordinary imagination these cards were.

And yet this boy was saying he’d give her one?

There was no way Saya could stay calm. People might lose themselves after gaining power, but who wouldn’t want cards this powerful? Just one could take you to the top of the World and put you above everyone else. With any one of these cards, winning the Tianhua Magic Festival would be a piece of cake. Maybe her teacher’s dream could even come true.

“I said I could give you a card to thank you for recommending me to the academy.”

Yu Ge thought Saya hadn’t heard him, so he repeated himself. He left out the next part: “Otherwise, I’d never have met someone as pretty, cute, kind, and gentle as Luna.”

“Y-you mean it…?”

Saya could no longer hold back her excitement. Tears of joy welled in her eyes, and she quickly wiped them away so Yu Ge wouldn’t notice.

“Of course I mean it.”

As he spoke, Yu Ge took his Magic Cards and Armed Cards out of his pocket and fanned them in his hand like a deck of playing cards. There were more than a dozen of them. He held them out to Saya so she could choose.

Saya covered her mouth and held her breath as she looked over the cards. Some could wipe out all of an opponent’s monsters in one move; others were godlike weapons that ignored every defense. After looking through them, Saya felt a little dazzled.

But Saya found it strange. These were all god-tier cards that could decide the outcome of a battle, yet none of them stirred her heart. For some reason, she felt like she could pick any one of them and be just as happy.

Was she being too picky?

“Looks like you don’t like any of them.”

But as Saya asked herself that, Yu Ge assumed she hadn’t chosen because she didn’t like any of the cards. So he put them away.

“Mm.”

Saya regretted it more than ever. If only she’d chosen one sooner! Now Yu Ge thought she was too picky and didn’t want any of them. Saya, Saya, what were you hesitating for? This was what she got for it.

Still, even though Saya was terribly disappointed, she also felt she had no right to accept a card like that. She’d recommended Yu Ge to the academy not only to repay him for saving her life, but also because she wanted to bring him into her team. He was the one who’d saved her, and yet she’d threatened him with a card before. That had been completely wrong of her. She’d gotten carried away.

“How about this? I can make you a custom card. Just tell me what you want it to do and what you want it to look like.”

Just as Saya lowered her head, looking utterly dejected, and prepared to turn away and find somewhere private to have a good cry, Yu Ge’s voice suddenly came from above her.

“Huh?”