“I never thought that girl would want a magic card like this.”

After parting ways with Cecilia, Yu Ge headed toward the boys’ dormitory. It was already dusk, and dinner time was just around the corner.

That was Yu Ge’s plan: head back to the dorm, change into something fresh, then invite Luna to dinner and get a little closer to her. And if he could turn dinner into a date, even better.

Yu Ge strolled along, thoroughly pleased with himself, completely unaware that he’d already walked into someone’s trap.

“Magic Projection: Sloth’s Prison!”

Just then, a familiar-sounding voice came from behind Yu Ge. One after another, black barriers rose around him, enclosing him inside.

“Who’s there?”

Yu Ge spun around on instinct. A boy stood not far in front of him. He was hidden in the darkness, so Yu Ge couldn’t see his face, but his uniform marked him as a first-year student from Class A.

“No way. Another one from Class A?”

Yu Ge couldn’t help grumbling to himself. Cecilia had only just been following him, and now there was another guy on his tail. This time, though, the newcomer looked ready for a fight. Yu Ge could feel the powerful killing intent coming off him.

“Hello, Yu Ge. You’re the transfer student, right?”

The figure in the darkness slowly stepped out. Under the streetlights, Yu Ge finally got a clear look at his face: short brown hair, a fierce gaze, and freckles across his nose. The person who’d been following him was Inzack, the first-year Class A student he’d fought that afternoon.

“Inzack?”

Yu Ge stared at him in surprise. Hadn’t this defeated loser gone all-out by making the Blade Queen unleash her full power, only for Yu Ge to forcibly redirect her attack back at him? He’d ended up badly injured and hospitalized. How had he gotten out so quickly?

“You sure looked impressive this afternoon, winning with that cheap trick and making a fool of me.”

Inzack looked completely at ease. You’d never guess he’d been seriously injured just that afternoon.

“What are you trying to say?”

Yu Ge rolled his eyes. You’d picked the fight yourself, and you’d tried to kill me by unlocking the Blade Queen’s full power. You brought this on yourself, so how was any of it his fault?

“I’m saying I want you dead.”

Inzack pulled a magic card from his pocket and slashed it through the air in front of him. Lightning sparked at his fingertip, then shot toward Yu Ge in a flash.

“What, can’t take a loss?”

Yu Ge had sensed the attack coming. His body instinctively dodged to the side, barely avoiding the bolt of lightning. It struck a tree behind him and charred the entire thing.

Yu Ge glanced at the scorched tree, then fixed his eyes on Inzack and narrowed them. As he spoke, he slipped his right hand into his pocket, ready to use a magic card.

“I can take a loss. But guys like you, who got into Class S through connections, really piss me off. And you did it with some clownish magic card, making me lose face. I won’t be satisfied until I teach you a proper lesson.”

Inzack snorted dismissively. Did this guy still not know what he’d done? He was even smug about what had happened earlier. Just another backdoor entry, with a few amateur tricks and no real strength to speak of.

People like him didn’t deserve to live in this World.

Inzack swept both hands outward, activating the magic card floating in front of him once more. Two bolts of lightning shot toward Yu Ge, one from each side, leaving him no room to dodge.

But Yu Ge had no intention of dodging. Magic of this level was nothing. He could handle it easily with a single defensive magic card.

“What’s going on?”

But as Yu Ge prepared to project his magic, he saw that his magic card had turned gray. He swiped it through the air in front of him twice, but nothing happened. It was as if the card had run out of power.

“Bang!”

Just as the two bolts were about to hit Yu Ge, they suddenly veered off course, passing on either side of him before exploding against the ground.

“Tch. I actually missed.”

Inzack let out an annoyed snort when the lightning failed to hit Yu Ge. That guy was way too lucky. But no matter how lucky he was, he was still going to die.

Forbidden Magic: Sloth’s Prison “Zero” — When this card is activated, all magic, armament, and monster effects activated within a certain range of the caster are nullified, except for the caster’s own.

The Mysterious Figure had given Inzack this card earlier. After seeing it, Inzack had decided to go straight after Yu Ge for revenge. It was only a copy of the original card and could be used just once, but one use was all he needed to get back at Yu Ge.

Inzack didn’t know why that guy was helping him. But as long as he could make the detestable transfer student disappear from this World, he didn’t care where the guy came from. All that mattered was getting what he wanted.

“I get it. You activated a magic card just now, didn’t you?”

Yu Ge realized that he couldn’t use any of his magic or armament cards. Thinking back to what had just happened, he figured it was probably connected to the card the other guy had activated. Its effect was likely to nullify all magic.

“You’re pretty sharp, Yu Ge. You guessed right. It’s the Forbidden Magic Card: Sloth’s Prison. It can seal away the activation of all magic. In other words, I’m the only one who can use magic now. You’re just an ordinary person.”

Inzack’s lips slowly curled upward. Didn’t see this coming, did you? Now it was going to be a one-sided slaughter. You’d made him suffer and taken what belonged to him. Don’t worry—he wasn’t going to let you die that easily. He’d torture you to death, nice and slow.

“I see. Looks like I should make a Solemn Judgment card for next time.”

Yu Ge helplessly spread his hands. So, besides attack cards, he really should make some counter cards as backups.

“What’s a Solemn Judgment?”

Inzack looked completely baffled.

“Never mind. You wouldn’t understand.”

Yu Ge smiled faintly.

“Hmph. You’ll find out what pain feels like soon enough. You’re all clever tricks and no substance. Without your magic cards, you’re no better than trash.”

Inzack reached a hand forward, activating the magic card before him again. This time, four bolts of lightning appeared.

“B+ Rank Magic Card: Lightning Spear Spikes! It creates lightning-element spear spikes, and each activation doubles the number summoned. Let’s see you dodge this!”

Inzack thrust both hands forward. The four lightning spear spikes shot toward Yu Ge at blinding speed, but Yu Ge stood perfectly still, making no attempt to dodge.

Hmph. Given up because he thinks he’s as good as dead? You’re nothing special after all.

Inzack could already picture Yu Ge’s body, charred black from the lightning. A smug grin spread across his face—until he saw the four spear spikes, which had been locked onto Yu Ge, veer off course just before impact. The grin slowly froze.

“How is that possible?!”

Inzack stared in disbelief. Why had his attacks missed three times in a row, with more projectiles each time? That guy couldn’t use magic cards anymore. What on earth had he done…?

“Your magic card can only seal the activation of magic, armament, and monster card effects, right?”

Yu Ge shrugged as if it were no big deal.

Inzack said nothing, waiting for Yu Ge to continue.

“Then magic that’s already been activated still works just fine.”

With a smile, Yu Ge took a glowing golden magic card from his pocket and held it out so Inzack, standing some distance away, could read its effect.

“Continuous Magic: Deus Ex Machina. When this card is activated, its holder can’t be targeted by physical or magic attacks. All magic, monster, and armament card effects that target its holder are nullified and reflected back at the caster…”

After reading the card’s effect, Inzack looked horrified and instinctively took two steps backward. How could a magic card with an effect like this even exist?!

“So I can still beat you without using magic cards. It’ll just hurt a little.”

Yu Ge loosened up, swung his fist, and charged at Inzack.