It all began with a single card.
One afternoon, while I was idling away in the customer-less general store as usual, I happened to notice a card sitting on the counter.
"Alice? What’s this card?"
"Oh? Dear me, I must have left that behind when I was building my deck."
"Deck?"
"Yes, that card is for Trinia Battle Card, or TBC for short. To put it simply, it’s a card game."
"Heh, I didn't know card games existed in this world too."
Card games... Back on Earth, they were a pastime that drove many people into a frenzy. I had dabbled in them a bit myself. Well, they were too expensive, and since I was a loner, I never had anyone to play against, so I eventually gave it up.
"In TBC, there are three types of cards: Monsters, Magic, and Traps. You use them to fight, and the first person to reduce their opponent's HP to zero wins. Monsters have levels, and high-level monsters require Tributes. Levels range from 1 to 13. Level 5 or higher monsters require one Tribute, Level 8 or higher require two, and Level 10 or higher require three. There are also things like Special Summons, of course."
"Wait, that sounds very familiar."
"A deck consists of 50 cards, the starting hand is 5 cards, and you draw one card per turn. You probably didn't know this, Kaito-san, but this game is incredibly popular in this world. You can challenge almost anyone to a match just by saying, 'Hey, let's duel!'"
"I didn't know it, yet I feel like I know it perfectly."
That was definitely it. It was that world-famous card game from my world, the one in the Guinness World Records. I wondered if a past Hero-role had introduced it. It was a strange sensation; even though it was my first time hearing about this specific game, I felt like I could play it without even reading the manual.
"The defining feature is this! The Blank Card that always comes with a card pack."
"I don't recognize that part. Is it a special card?"
"Actually, it contains a fragment of a Magic Crystal. If you trace the edge twice, it automatically generates a unique card based on that person. The effects and stats are determined by the user's essence. Those with higher-quality magic power tend to produce stronger cards."
"That's incredible."
Alice took out a white card and stroked its edge twice. The blank surface shimmered, and an image of Alice appeared as the card transformed into its final state. It was a feat only possible through magic, completely transcending common sense.
General Store Owner Alice Level 13 | ATK 2500 | DEF 2500 Effect: This card cannot be targeted by, and is unaffected by, the opponent's Magic, Trap, or Monster effects. While this card is on the field, the controller may draw two cards from their deck once per turn.
"It’s a card unique to the individual. By the way, since I can alter the quality of my magic power, the card changes to match my state."
"I see... I mean, look at this effect. Even as a total novice, I can tell this is a total cheat."
"Well, I am one of the Six Kings, after all. For example, if I use the magic power from my No Face persona, it looks like this."
"That's even more of a phony card..."
Phantasm King No Face Level 13 | ATK 4000 | DEF 4000 Effect: This card cannot be Normal Summoned. It can only be Special Summoned by Tributing three Darkness-attribute monsters on the field. The opponent cannot activate Magic, Trap, or Monster effects in response to this card's Summoning. This card cannot be targeted by, and is unaffected by, the opponent's Magic, Trap, or Monster effects. While this card is on the field, the controller may summon any number of Level 4 or lower monsters from their hand, deck, or graveyard once per turn. As long as this card remains on the field, the opponent must play with their hand revealed.
"Mine are quite powerful, but the cards for any of the Six Kings or Supreme Gods are similarly overwhelming. Because of that, many people covet them, so a specific rule was established."
"A rule?"
"If you can defeat the person in a card battle, you can receive their card. This applies to general players as well. Since Blank Cards are in every pack, a person can make as many copies of themselves as they need."
"I see. But wouldn't they be swamped by a massive number of challengers?"
"Yes, so you can only challenge a Six King or Supreme God once a year. Furthermore, to earn the right to challenge them, you have to win a five-match gauntlet against their subordinates—well, excluding Isis-san. Besides, meeting the Six Kings or Supreme Gods is difficult enough as it is, so most people only get the chance during the Hero Festival."
It made sense. You could collect cards from general players to strengthen your deck and eventually work your way up to challenging the Six Kings or Supreme Gods. It sounded like fun.
"Kaito-san, they’d probably just give you their cards if you asked, but wouldn't you rather collect them through official means?"
"Well, put that way..."
"A pack of five cards plus a Blank Card is only 3R. I'll give you a discount if you buy a whole box."
"So that was the goal... Hmm. Honestly, I'm interested. Alice, I'll buy them. Teach me the rules."
"You got it! If you can beat me, I'll give you my General Store Owner Alice card. If you want to challenge me as a Six King, you'll have to deal with my subordinates first, but you can battle the shopkeeper version of me as many times as you like!"
And so, I dove headfirst into the world of TBC.
"Now then, Kaito-san, let's make your card. Go ahead."
"Alright... Like this? Wait, what?"
"Kaito-san... You complained about my cards being cheats, but yours is just as ridiculous."
"Yeah, you're not wrong..."
Miyama Kaito Level 1 | ATK 10 | DEF 10 Effect: The Summoning of this card cannot be negated. During the End Phase of a turn in which this card was destroyed by an opponent's card, return this card to your hand. By returning this card from the field to your hand, you may Special Summon one Monster Card from your hand, ignoring all Summoning conditions and restrictions. This effect can only be used once per turn.
At the time, I didn't yet grasp the scale of it all. The Six Kings, the Supreme Gods... and finally, the Creator God, whom you could only challenge by defeating everyone else. I hadn't yet realized the sheer, staggering power I would face.
"It's my turn! I Tribute the Magic Power Tokens on my field to summon myself!"
"Guh..."
"Kaito-kun, you're incredible. To think you defeated Ein and the others to reach me... but you still aren't ready to beat me!"
Underworld King Kuromueina Level 13 | ATK 5000 | DEF 5000 Effect: This card cannot be Normal Summoned. It can only be Special Summoned by Tributing three monsters on the field. The opponent cannot activate Magic, Trap, or Monster effects in response to this card's Summoning. This card cannot be targeted by, and is unaffected by, any Magic, Trap, or Monster effects other than its own. Once per turn, the controller may add any Magic Card from their deck or graveyard to their hand. This card gains 1000 ATK/DEF for every Magic Card in the controller's graveyard. When this card leaves the field, destroy all cards on the opponent's side of the field.
Kuro's card manifested on the field. Its abilities were nothing short of breathtaking. Absolute resistance, astronomical stats, an effect that allowed the infinite recycling of Magic Cards... and even if it was removed, a devastating counterattack would follow.
I had nothing in my hand that could stop the attack of Kuro's card. Was it over? Looking back, challenging Kuro on a whim was a mistake. She definitely shouldn't have been the first of the Six Kings I went after.
"Dammit... I really wanted Kuro's card, but this is impossible..."
"Do you really want my card that much?"
"What? Oh, yeah... I mean, it's the card of the Kuro I love, so of course I wanted it. I'll just have to try again next year. Go ahead, take me out!"
The current attack power of Kuro's card was 15,000. Even with full health, I’d be finished in one blow. My monster was in attack position. It was my loss.
"I understand! I use the effect of Underworld King Kuromueina to... launch a direct attack on myself!"
"Wait, what?"
Indeed, that single card was the beginning of everything. After word spread that I had "defeated" the previously unbeaten Kuro, I was swept into challenging the other Six Kings.
From the Creator God constantly demanding that I reach her level, to the God of Earth who specifically learned the rules just to come and play against me, I had many headaches ahead. My long battle was only just beginning.