Who Let Him Play Yu-Gi-Oh!-Chương 637 Hanoi’s Trap

Chương 637: Chapter 637: Hanoi's Trap

October's sea wind drove waves crashing against the rocks lining Duel Academy's coast. A massive ship broke through the surf as it drew alongside, packed with first-years, eyes wide with curiosity.

It was the start of Duel Academy's school year.

This ship carried the incoming freshmen. Word had it this year's intake wasn't shabby; the entrance exams were said to be fiercely competitive.

The main reason was likely that last year the Academy produced a reigning Duel King from among its current students, a publicity coup of immense impact. The dueling world was abuzz; more young people than ever were desperate to get in.

Some wanted to train at the school that had produced a Duel King and become stronger; others simply wanted to glimpse the legend.

From the first day off the boat, it became the hot topic. Almost every new student disembarking immediately asked around for stories about the legend.

This was the moment for the Ra Yellow dorm to bask in glory.

They pulled the newcomers aside and boasted about "back in the day"—the rise of the Lord of Yellow last year, how they themselves had once crossed blades with the Lord of Yellow…

The newbies listened, eyes shining.

Especially when they heard Ra Yellow held a dorm exchange battle every year to break the ice through duels—many freshmen were itching to go.

Did that mean a chance to duel the fabled King? 3

In some top-tier events, even the champion might only then earn a shot at facing the Duel King. Such an opportunity was priceless.

This year, there were already more students than usual vying for Ra Yellow. After hearing this, even more could hardly hold back.

It was one thing that Slifer Red students didn't have the grades for it. But this year, there were even many Obelisk Blue assignees trying to transfer to Ra Yellow.

Unprecedented since Duel Academy's founding. Obelisk Blue, intended from the start as the most prestigious dorm, now, for the first time ever, seemed in danger of being overshadowed by Yellow.

Ra's dorm head, Sartyr was grinning ear to ear; he even doubled the curry for this year's welcome dinner.

Obelisk Blue's dorm head, Professor Crowler, should have felt the pressure—but he had his hands full.

That's because Chancellor Sheppard had officially entered his long-term "on business trip" hermit mode this year, handing the acting chancellor's duties to Professor Crowler.

Crowler was delighted—he saw it as a huge opportunity—but he was also swamped. Especially during orientation season, the pile of matters needing the chancellor's stamp was mountainous. The Pot of Greed Professor pulled multiple all-nighters, sporting twin dark circles and looking even more comical than before.

After working till past three a.m., he came early that morning to personally welcome the new students.

In past years the chancellor would never show for orientation. Crowler was so enthusiastic partly because he was newly acting chancellor and wanted to make a good impression.

The second reason: this year there was an extraordinary freshman.

Aster Phoenix, a top young prodigy from the pro circuit.

If he could recruit a star while the chancellor was away, then score some impressive results, maybe he could drop the "acting" from his title…

Of course, dreams are pretty.

But after Crowler dragged the chubby Vice-Chancellor Jean-Louis Bonaparte to the shore and they waited the whole day, the guy never showed.

"Seriously? You didn't mess up, did you, Acting Chancellor Crowler?" Jean-Louis Bonaparte couldn't help asking. "The freshmen are almost all through and he's still not here. Could it be a namesake?"

"No…"

Crowler looked dazed.

"I definitely contacted his agent."

"Come to think of it, we haven't seen Kira either," Jean-Louis Bonaparte muttered.

"Kira… uh… busy with affairs, I suppose. We'll leave it to fate."

"So, are we still waiting?" Jean-Louis Bonaparte glanced at him.

"…Let's wait a little longer. We're already here."

Crowler pulled his coat tighter.

The cold wind blew in over the sea. The tall-and-short pair of professors huddled together until sunset.

They didn't know it, but although they hadn't come to the Academy, the new and old students they were pining for had already started their exchange.

Just not in the way they expected.

…

Aster Phoenix was standing at the entrance of a club.

This is the place.

Reportedly one of the first clubs Revolver paid a visit to when he went around challenging, and later one of the earliest Knights of Hanoi bases.

Yes, Aster had heard of the Knights of Hanoi. Though he'd never been involved with the Society of Light, he'd spent time around Sartorius and was a pro duelist—so he'd picked up the odd rumor.

He'd just never imagined the Knights of Hanoi would be connected to the Ultimate D he'd been chasing all this time.

The Ultimate D was the last card his father made, and his best lead. It was such a cold case that even the police had essentially given up, but he wouldn't.

He would find that person, no matter the cost.

Aster pushed the club door open.

Darkness.

The vast club was quiet, empty of people. The shadows felt packed with ghosts; it was as if malign gazes were measuring the foolhardy intruder.

Aster frowned, unafraid, and walked further in.

No sign of anyone.

Was my intel wrong? Has this place been abandoned for a long time?

Or did they get wind that someone was coming and clear out early?

Suspicious, but he didn't turn back. He moved on, alert.

Then he heard something.

Aster froze.

It happened fast. Before he could register what, there was a bang.

From beneath his feet.

The floor fell away. He lost balance and dropped.

A trap.

Aster's pupils shrank. Almost by instinct, his Duel Disk snapped open.

He didn't know how long he fell in the dark, but he only just managed to slap down the card for Doom Lord. Destiny HERO - Doom Lord materialized in the dark and grabbed his arm, shaving off the force of the fall.

They still crashed hard onto solid ground.

Aster pushed up on a knee, a bit disheveled, and took in his surroundings.

It took a few seconds for his eyes to adjust to the gloom. Then he started to see walls.

High walls, encircling him, woven into a complicated structure.

Like a maze.

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Chương 638: Chapter 638: The Maze 1

By the third time he returned to where he started, Aster was sure—this was a maze.

He couldn't be certain it was aimed at him specifically, but he had undeniably walked into a trap. A maze in the dark, tangled walls hemming him in like layered shackles.

He tried feeling his way for a while, only to lose his bearings completely. His patience wore thin.

"Come on! Destiny HERO - Malicious!" 1

A Destiny HERO answered his summon and appeared. Aster swept his arm, and the HERO drove a fist into the wall beside them. Raw power punched straight through, leaving a gaping hole.

Aster stepped through.

"I don't know who you are, or if you can hear me. But if you think an ambush of this level can deal with me, that's naive."

Aster said, voice cool.

"This trick won't work. You can show yourself."

His words sank into the darkness like a stone into the sea. No reply.

"Fine." He shrugged. "Looks like I'll have to drag you out myself."

He gestured again. Malicious roared and punched through another wall. The maze wall was breached again.

Crude but effective—if you can't find a way out, make one. Keep opening holes in one direction and you'll get out eventually.

A sound plan.

But after he'd smashed through who knew how many walls and stepped forward again, he froze.

What he saw beyond was nothing like he expected.

It was a workshop.

A bespectacled man sat at a desk, working intently. A silver-haired boy leaned on the desk's edge, staring at what the man held with shining anticipation.

"Alright, how about this?"

The man with glasses smiled and passed the drawing board to the boy beside him. The child reached out with small hands, and as he saw the tall, handsome hero on the board, his eyes seemed to light up—

"Dad…?"

Aster couldn't help taking two steps forward, voice trembling.

That was his father. Stepping into this room felt like stepping into a memory from years ago. His father's smile was so vivid—he could even feel the thrill from his younger self when receiving a hero designed by his father's own hand—

"No."

He snapped back, forcing himself to pull free before he drowned in the past, shaking his head hard.

"This isn't real. It can't be."

Aster spun around. The wall he'd just punched through was whole again. No trace of any hole.

He quickly realized the maze wasn't so simple.

Either he was seeing illusions, and none of this was real, or the maze itself was some kind of supernatural construct, like the barrier of a Shadow Game.

If it were a Shadow Duel, the way out would be to defeat the one who cast it.

If it was some other kind of dark game, the rules could vary.

Like that time in DM when the Pharaoh played the maze of the heart with Shadi, holder of the Millennium Items—the solution was to find the one real room.

Of course, Shadi never did find the real room, because even the Pharaoh himself didn't know the answer at the time…

"Knights of Hanoi, is it? I don't know what this trick is, but you picked the wrong target."

Aster's voice was ice.

"You think a maze can trap me?"

"You think this would make me panic?"

"You don't know a thing. You have no idea what I've been through!"

Boom!

Malicious smashed another wall.

"I'll find the exit. I'll drag you out," Aster said loudly. "And you'd better not let me find anything to do with the Ultimate D card, or—"

He stepped into the next room, and his words died. His pupils contracted.

It was a graveyard.

Rain poured.

The young Aster stood alone before his father's tombstone, his gaze lost and dazed.

A black umbrella appeared above his head.

Aster turned in surprise and saw a man who had come to his side without him noticing.

Sartorius.

"There's no rain that never stops," Sartorius said softly. "Even the strongest storm has a moment when it breaks."

Aster looked up at him in surprise.

"Just wait," Sartorius said gently. "The storm will pass."

Aster lowered his head.

"But… how long do I have to wait?"

"I don't know. But until then, I'll hold the umbrella for you."

That was his first meeting with Sartorius.

"What are you trying to say?"

Aster shouted.

"You're trying to claim you know everything about me, about Sartorius!?"

He said it, but he was shaken.

If this wasn't mental suggestion—if this wasn't just his brain showing him visions—and was truly some supernatural barrier…

Then how did they know such details?

This scene was from years ago; he was certain only he and Sartorius were there. How could anyone else know?

And what was the purpose of showing him this?

To flaunt the Knights of Hanoi' omniscience?

No—just a trick. Or maybe it really was only his mind conjuring illusions.

"Hrragh!"

Malicious roared and smashed another wall. Aster pushed forward, but his steps were starting to falter.

He burst out of the graveyard into a new scene. The black night flicked to a glaringly bright interior, so bright he could hardly see at first.

He steadied himself, squinting, and vaguely recognized another moment from long ago. His childhood self sat at a table. A much younger Sartorius sat across from him, flipping a Tarot card.

"The Devil, upright," Sartorius said. "Malice, injustice, temptation, bondage—those are its meanings. This is the fate I'm to meet, the ruin that awaits me. 1

Unfortunately, though I can foresee it, I have no idea what exactly will happen."

Little Aster listened, bewildered, half understanding.

Then he clenched a tiny fist.

"Then… then if one day you run into a storm, Sartorius—this time, I'll be the one to hold the umbrella."

"A big one!"

Sartorius smiled faintly.

"I'll count on you then, Aster."

"…"

Aster shook his head hard, banishing the thoughts.

"Why are you showing me this?"

"Come out!"

"Afraid to face me!?"

A voice rose from the dark.

"No need to be dramatic."

The Knights of Hanoi' leader, Revolver, stepped out from somewhere in the gloom, walking at an unhurried pace.

"Just reminding you: Sartorius—the friend you promised to lend a hand to—he's in need right now."