The Spell Card [Exchange] was, in Miles's experience, practically never used in serious competitive Duels.
Its effect was to reveal each player's hand, then each player selects 1 card from the opponent's hand and adds it to their own.
Although it looked like a 1-for-1 trade, when calculated carefully, the one who activated [Exchange] still lost a card overall.
"So, what made you decide to craft this card, Aisha?" Miles asked with interest.
Drooping her head and looking listless, Aisha's ahoge flopped as she nervously said:
"Because my monsters are too weak, Mr. Miles. If I could swap one of mine for a stronger one in the opponent's hand, wouldn't that be a good deal? But… maybe that was a naive idea."
It was clear Aisha lacked confidence.
"Don't worry, I'm not blaming you. We're in the same boat now. If you get expelled, it won't do me any good either."
If his host, Aisha, got expelled from Fusion Academy, Miles would lose access to the continent's top Duelist network.
Moreover, though Miles had brushed it off earlier, the loli goddess before he crossed over had mentioned something important:
("This world has magic. If you want a body, figure out how to summon one yourself.")
He wasn't sure how serious she had been, but if there really was hope, rising into the elite class of this world alongside Aisha was the way to get there.
Helping Aisha use Duel Monsters to revive the Carlos family was the necessary first step.
"Besides, the strategy behind [Exchange] isn't bad. It shows that you've thought seriously about Dueling."
"..."
Hearing that, Aisha suddenly went quiet. Then slowly, her big, cute eyes began to well with tears.
"What is it? Did I say something wrong? We can talk it out—please don't cry."
Miles hated seeing girls cry, likely thanks to his older sister's influence.
Besides, making your host cry on the very first day after transmigrating was not the best start to a trusting relationship.
"No, it's not your fault, Mr. Miles..."
Even as she bit her lip to hold it in, Aisha's large, clear teardrops still fell despite her efforts.
"Waaah... It's just... this is the first time since I enrolled that someone praised me for anything Duel-related. I got too emotional... I'm sorry, I'm sorry for showing you such a disgraceful side."
No matter how hard she worked, there was never any reward.
Only constant failure, pressing down on her again and again—That sense of suffocating despair, like drowning in a deep ocean, had weighed on Aisha all semester.
Today was the first time she had someone to share those feelings with, and that person acknowledged her.
"Thank you... Thank you, Mr. Miles..."
As she wiped her tears, Aisha naturally attracted the attention of other students in the library.
Among them was the second-year librarian, Senior Irena.
"Poor Aisha," Irena said sympathetically. "The last Duelist of the Carlos family, yet still unable to escape expulsion. Fate is really mocking them."
Aisha's struggles and her family's decline were well-known "secrets" at Fusion Academy.
Not just Irena—other students who heard her crying instinctively assumed the worst and cast sympathetic glances her way.
Despite the rule of silence, no one reminded or scolded Aisha.
Maybe, after tomorrow, her voice would never be heard in Fusion Academy again.
"Sniff~" About five minutes later, Aisha finally stopped crying.
"Sorry, Mr. Miles. I didn't mean to make it seem like you were bullying me."
"It's fine. I understand how you feel," Miles said gently. "It's hard when no one recognizes your efforts. It feels like drifting alone on a boundless sea—the uncertainty is overwhelming."
"Have you ever felt that way, too, Mr. Miles?"
"Nope. I'm amazing, so I've never experienced that."
"Mr. Miles, you're so mean... hehe, hahaha."
Aisha suddenly burst into laughter.
"Was it that funny?"
"I just felt like... if I can have such an interesting soul like you by my side, maybe it doesn't matter if I get expelled."
Watching from nearby, Irena frowned with concern.
"She cried so tragically, and now she's laughing for no reason... is Aisha Carlos having a breakdown?"
"I said, I won't let you get expelled. Don't say such defeatist things. We're here to find a path to victory, aren't we?"
"Right. Then let's convert today's midterm credits into Magic Points first."
Aisha reached out her pale finger and tapped the Magic Directory. Magical energy shimmered through the book.
She had earned the lowest score on the midterm: 2 credits.
Converting 1:1, that meant 2 Magic Points.
Luckily, those 2 points completed the crafting progress for [Exchange].
[D-rank Spell Card "Exchange"]
[Crafting Progress (10/10)]
With a faint glow of magic, the [Exchange] Spell Card emerged from the Magic Directory and materialized before Aisha.
Miles said, "Alright. We've got our first Spell Card. Time to challenge Kevin Seth."
"That sounds impossible, Mr. Miles!"
"Just kidding. Of course, I know it's not enough. Right now, our top priority is finding more Magic Points."
Even a master duelist like Miles couldn't win using a deck full of fodder monsters without any Spell or Trap Card support.
While scanning the Magic Directory through Aisha's shared vision, Miles noticed a curious note in the lower-right corner.
[Current Debt: 0]
"Aisha, what does this 'debt' mean?"
"Oh, that. It's a service the academy offers where students can borrow Magic Points in advance. But hardly anyone uses it—the daily 10% interest is way too steep. If you can't repay, they deduct it from your future credits. And if you still can't pay, it keeps snowballing. Super scary!"
"10% daily interest? That's beyond predatory. Even capitalists would cry."
Still, despite the absurd interest, borrowing Magic Points might be Aisha's last hope.
"Just curious—how many Magic Points can you borrow right now, Aisha?"
"I don't know. Before borrowing, a librarian has to evaluate your reputation and conduct to set the loan limit. I think the librarian on duty today is Senior Irena."
Just as she spoke, Aisha's eyes wandered—and locked with Irena's, who had been secretly watching her all along.
***
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