Duel in a Sword & Magic World: Elf Girls Spirit Duelist

"Ai-chan, don't you think it's about time you told me the truth? Otherwise, I will resort to force."

"N-No, you can't, Ren! As a human being, you can't do something like this!"

Aisha's smooth, pale underarms were exposed to the air as she was pinned to the bed in a deeply humiliating position by Irene.

And in Irene's hand was a dreaded magical artifact—the Phoenix Feather, said to be a molted feather from the mythical beast Phoenix, shed during its molting cycle.

Legend has it that a Phoenix, whose lifespan exceeds ten thousand years, must molt every century—otherwise, the itch becomes so unbearable it drives the creature mad, even suicidal.

Yes, even a Phoenix would wish for death from that torment. Which meant the Phoenix's molting phase was akin to a heavenly tribulation for high-level magical beasts.

A feather shed during that critical period naturally inherited the divine magical power—and effect—of the mythical godbeast.

The feather's effect, one even a Phoenix couldn't withstand, required no explanation.

Said to induce hysterical laughter even in the most stoic human, should it touch bare skin. Worse, prolonged use could cause mental breakdowns, tongue-lolling, and white-eyed ahegao expressions—straight out of a doujin.

Thus, Phoenix Feather was ranked among the most dangerous magic tools.

Aisha didn't know where Irene had obtained such a dangerous artifact. 

It could be a fake, sure, but even in the worst-case scenario—if it were real—letting something that tormented a Phoenix touch her most sensitive underarm skin would absolutely break her. She'd laugh herself unconscious.

Then Irene could interrogate her all she wanted—and Aisha wouldn't be able to stop herself from answering.

Irene smirked wickedly, giving the crimson feather a sensual lick. "Still not talking, Ai-chan? This is your last chance."

"I'm sorry, Mr. Miles… I don't think I can hold out…"

Overwhelmed with guilt, Aisha betrayed Miles's existence just to save herself.

However, sometimes, survival and destruction are only a breath apart. Surely letting her childhood friend know wouldn't be that bad.

Miles thought, 'Ugh… this girl's hopeless. Irene licked the feather. Obviously, it's a fake.'

Still, Miles didn't stop Aisha. With someone as perceptive as Irene, the truth was bound to come out eventually.

Better a short pain than a long one. Rather than let Irene keep stalking and suspecting her, it was easier to just be honest.

"Miles? Another soul? Soul Exchange?"

Even though Irene had mentally prepared herself for the truth, once Aisha confessed everything about Miles's existence, she was stunned.

"You're messing with me."

"Not messing. I am Miles."

To explain more clearly, Aisha immediately switched bodies with Miles.

Now it was Miles—body-swapped into Aisha—who was pinned in that same humiliating position on the bed.

"You…"

Irene could feel it.

The appearance hadn't changed. The voice was still Aisha's.

But the Aisha Yuna Carlos in front of her now felt exactly like the one she faced during Duels.

That aura…That sense that even if she pinned Aisha down now, she might get reversed and countered the next second.

…It all matched the Duel aura perfectly.

"So you really are the soul residing in the Millennium Puzzle?"

Irene shifted her gaze to Aisha's chest—the origin of all this: the Millennium Puzzle.

"More accurately, my soul was shoved into the Puzzle by some main god."

Just a casual add-on. He figured Irene wouldn't care how his soul got there anyway. Plus, Miles himself wasn't sure how best to explain things to Irene.

After a short stare-down, Irene asked, "So, Miles—you're the one who helped Ai-chan beat Kevin?"

"You could say that. I was the one using Aisha's body during that Duel."

"..."

Irene fell silent. Then bit her glossy red lip with pristine white teeth.

"...Thanks."

After a long pause, Irene finally choked out the words.

"Thank you… for protecting Aisha, for helping her avoid expulsion."

"Uh… that was just the right thing to do. My responsibility."

"Still, that doesn't mean… I accept you!"

She'd softened for about a second—just long enough for Miles to think this girl was actually kind of adorable when gentle—before snapping back into full intensity.

"Why?"

"You're seriously asking me why? You just show up out of nowhere and hijack a girl's body? Even with your Duel skills, that's extremely sketchy! Ai-chan's too naive, she doesn't have any guard up. But don't expect me to trust you so easily!"

'...Valid.'

So valid that Miles didn't know how to argue back. He even wanted to give her a thumbs-up.

This was the normal reaction someone should have when encountering a soul-traveling weirdo like him. That he ended up paired with the naive and trusting Aisha Carlos… was honestly just good luck.

Not only did he have good draw luck, but he also lucked out with his host.

"One more thing! Next Duel, I'm not losing to you again."

"Heh, I'll be waiting."

"One more thing!"

"There's more?"

"Give Ai-chan's body back already."

"Oh."

—Soul Exchange.

Though her appearance didn't change at all, the moment the Millennium Puzzle flashed with light, Irene could tell the girl before her was once again the Ai-chan she knew best.

"It's me, Ren-chan!"

"Idiot Ai-chan." Irene knocked her on the head. "With your personality, you'll probably get scammed and thank the guy afterward."

"Miles would never scam me! He doesn't talk much outside of Duels, but I know he's a good person!"

"And how exactly do you know that?"

"Uhh..."

Confronted by Irene's question, Aisha wavered.

"With my… with my… I'll guarantee it with my purity!"

"Your purity?! Just how far have you two gone—wait, no!"

Suddenly jolted, Irene remembered Aisha's weird behavior last night while bathing.

Now it all made perfect sense.

And if her memory was right, after her own bath last night, she'd been walking around naked…

"Bring Miles back out. I dare him not to get beat down."

Obviously, Miles wasn't dumb enough to show up again right now.

Even if Irene was still hostile toward him, as long as his soul remained bound to Aisha, she had no way to act on it.

All in all, the childhood friend arc was resolved—for now.

But over in the land of confusion, Kevin Seth was about to face the most difficult challenge of his academic career yet.

...

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