Chronos de Medici, of Italian descent.
A professor at Duel Academy, and quite a unique teacher. Known for his habit of ending every sentence with "Nonne" and often saying "Mamma mia"… as well as his resemblance to the Pot of Greed.
However, he is also the highest authority in the practical department of Duel Academy.
In other words, he is basically the most skilled in dueling among the teachers at Duel Academy.
In the early stages of the animation, he's portrayed as an antagonist, depicted as a narrow-minded teacher who constantly targets Judai. But later on, it's revealed that his elite education mindset runs deep, as he dislikes underperforming students but greatly favors good students.
As the story progresses, he grows and changes along with the students, eventually showing he is essentially a good teacher.
At this moment, Professor Chronos was sitting in the examiner's seat on the viewing stand, deep in thought after watching Yugen's assessment duel.
Chronos has always focused on the top-ranked freshman each year. From the entrance assessment, he observes the student's card deck and tactics, and designs a tailored development plan to help them improve quickly.
But this year's top-ranked student, well...
It's not that he isn't strong, it's just that he has his own unique understanding of dueling.
"Professor, as per your request, we have retrieved the card deck information of that candidate," said an examiner next to him.
Chronos nodded slightly and opened the Duel Academy faculty terminal to check the card deck information.
Let me take a look at what this deck is...
Almost got blinded at first sight by the long row of red pits below.
"Mamma mia!" Chronos was shocked.
What on earth is this?
This time, Yugen had used a deck mainly composed of the Mage Race, with just a few monsters, including those he just summoned in the duel.
What's the rest of it?
A bunch of cards like Pot of Greed and Angel's Charity for fast draws, followed by mind game cards like Mischievous Twin Fairies, Detention, and Strongly Summoned Soldiers that he used in the duel.
The rest is a sea of red, even just looking at it on the screen sends chills down your spine.
"This, this, this…" The examiner next to him was dumbfounded, "What the hell is this?"
Teacher Megumi, who had registered at the entrance earlier, curiously came over and was also startled at the sight of this deck.
Thinking back to the polite, well-mannered boy who seemed so bright when he entered...
...Is this really his deck?
It's not like she has any bias against the deck itself.
However, anyone who saw this deck for the first time might think, is this person not here to win but has a grudge against the opponent…
Chronos also fell into silence.
According to their basic understanding and theoretical knowledge of dueling, this is undoubtedly a deck construction that does not conform to the textbook standards. If a Duel Academy student submitted such a construction as a course design project, he might mercilessly give it a failing grade.
Yet looking at the slightly disheveled examiner returning to his seat, with veins faintly visible on his forehead...
...Did he win or not?
Chronos pondered for a moment.
Hmm, since the examiners use exam-specific decks, not their own decks, it naturally feels uncomfortable and their strength is limited.
This student can't be said to lack ideas, or rather his unconventional creativity actually demonstrated quite a unique talent.
But to the teachers at the academy, who have long established a complete dueling system, this is clearly considered a side door. It can't be said to yield no achievements, but it veers off from orthodox paths. There's limited achievement potential, and facing true masters in the future would be challenging.
But for an incoming freshman, Chronos was quite satisfied with this Yugen.
This is good, having ideas and the courage to innovate is a good thing, and with his many years of teaching experience, he could tell at a glance that this student had an extraordinary potential destined to achieve greatness.
Chronos silently made up his mind to add Yugen's name to this year's list of key students for development. At the start of the semester, he would apply for a "top-notch cultivation" program slot from the academy, where selected students would receive additional funding for card deck upgrades every quarter and higher priority for rare card opportunities compared to other students in the same year.
He intended to guide this misguided genius back onto the right path using the academy's orthodox, bright educational philosophy and principles, and he was confident about it.
Next, he observed the examination of this year's second-ranked student, Mitsuzawa Earth. Chronos nodded in satisfaction.
This Mitsuzawa also demonstrated remarkable strength in the duel, evidently a type skilled in gaining an advantage through calculation and setup.
This is much more normal.
Chronos felt that he had found another outstanding bright prospect this year, and was in a good mood.
Just then, a staff member quickly approached him, bent down, and whispered something in his ear.
Chronos raised an eyebrow: "Hmm? Late for the exam? Train delay? What's the candidate's admission number?"
"110," the staff member said.
Over a hundred? Isn't that near the bottom?
Chronos immediately lost interest and waved his hand: "Being late for such an important exam shows he doesn't care about it at all. After all, our school doesn't need underperforming students..."
A white-haired examiner next to him adjusted his reading glasses: "That's not right, Professor. After all, the exam isn't over yet, shouldn't we at least give a chance..."
"No, no way, NO, absolutely not," Chronos waved his hand.
Yeah right, he had issues with students with exam numbers over a hundred, didn't even want to admit them. And being late, well, that's just the icing on the cake.
However, his phone rang shortly after.
Chronos answered: "Hmm? Principal? You say, you say..."
He listened silently for a while, and his expression gradually turned sour.
"Yes, yes, that's true, a candidate was late. But... um... alright, okay... yes, Principal."
Chronos hung up the phone, looking sullen.
Damn it, not only were his written scores at the bottom, but he was late for the test, and also, damn it, he had connections.
Who knows what kind of backing this student had, to make the principal personally call and instruct him...
As they say, those with higher authority get their way. The principal's orders couldn't be ignored even by him, the top official here.
But the principal only instructed him to give that student a chance at the test, didn't say he had to pass it.
With this thought in mind, Chronos suddenly stood up, snorted.
"Alright then, what's the student's name?"
"Yuki... Yuki Judai," an examiner said.
"Okay, I'll personally handle this student," Chronos swished his robes in a masterful gesture.
"Huh?"
The examiners were all taken aback. It was rare for the head examiner to take matters into his own hands.
"P-Please wait a moment!" The examiner beside hurriedly handed him the exam's special briefcase, "Then please select a test card deck..."
"I don't need that kind of thing."
Chronos maintained a sullen face, ignored them, and turned to leave.
For this exam, he decided to use his own card deck, the one renowned among all students and teachers, and his pride and joy, the super rare level card series, [Ancient Mechanism].
He wanted to show this clueless underachiever what the harsh reality of society was.
"..."
...
...
The sunglasses examiner sat back down.
It had been ten minutes or so, yet recalling the duel still left him more and more upset.
Especially recalling how before the duel started, that student even asked him if the examiner's red face would affect their score. Didn't think much then, but now that he thought about it, that seemingly polite face felt like a slap of sarcasm...
The upset sunglasses examiner subconsciously looked up, and saw Professor Chronos in the field below, dueling with a jellyfish head underachiever.
"...With Skyscraper's effect, my 'Elemental Hero Flame Wingman' gains 1000 attack points when facing a monster with higher attack power, surpassing your 'Ancient Mechanical Giant'!
Also, when Flame Wingman destroys an opponent's monster in battle, it inflicts damage equal to the destroyed monster's attack power to the opponent!
Go, Flame Shot!"
Chronos: "Mamma mia!!!"
A huge explosion boomed, and to everyone's shock, Professor Chronos held his head and fell to the ground, crushed into debris by his collapsing Ancient Mechanical Giant.
[Chronos, LP 0]
The whole field was in shock.
The academy's top professor, the head of practical exams, Chronos, actually... lost?
And he lost using his legendary [Ancient Mechanism] to an underachieving bottom-of-the-pack?
And that's not all.
The bottom-feeder jellyfish head even jumped ahead, mockingly gesturing at the teacher lying on the ground, smiling as he said.
"I won! It was a really fun duel, teacher!"
Chronos: "......"
For some reason.
Seeing the head examiner beaten into submission, lying on the ground, the sunglasses examiner's lips curled into a smile.
Suddenly, he didn't feel so angry anymore.
Indeed, Judai was right.
Dueling really can bring happiness.