Who Let Him Play Yu-Gi-Oh! novel Chapter 4

Chapter 4 - 4: Duelists Are Forbidden from Hitting Each Other

A true duelist should possess the composure of a mountain collapsing before them without batting an eye. No matter what the situation, they must remain unflustered and never let impulse override rational judgment.

Currently, Sato Koji had his eyes closed, taking deep breaths, repeatedly drilling this into himself—

—It is against the rules to hit people.

Because it was really hard to remember this rule when facing the brat in front of him.

With only two cards left in his hand and nothing he could do, Sato Koji could only grit his teeth and declare the end of his turn. Then it was Kira's turn again, and the fun times resumed.

"Draw." Kira drew a card from his deck.

At this point, Sato Koji's field, both front and back, was empty—like a little cute girl in the night tempting someone to commit a crime. In this era of Duel Monsters, before the widespread menace of hand traps, an empty field meant streaking; the kind of situation where you could be taken down without a care in the world.

So Kira didn't waste words, directly playing the monster card he'd just drawn.

"Attack position summon: Don Zaloog!"

A world-weary, one-eyed warrior appeared on Kira's field, one eye covered by an eyepatch.

[Don Zaloog, ATK 1400]

Kira commanded, "Don Zaloog, attack the player directly."

The warrior obeyed, drawing two revolvers and firing away like a gunslinger. A stream of projected bullets passed right through Koji, the virtual impact making him stagger a half step back.

In Kaiba Corp's latest Duel System, summoned monsters weren't just 3D projections—they also had feedback devices to simulate physical impact. It wouldn't truly harm duelists but provided realistic shock and a bit of pain to enhance immersion.

[Koji, LP 4000 → LP 2600]

Taking the direct hit, he took a deep breath.

Thankfully, it was just a measly 1400-attack monster—he could still handle it.

But then Kira smiled: "Don Zaloog's effect activates. When this card inflicts battle damage, I can choose one of two effects.

First, your opponent discards a random card from their hand.

Second, send the top two cards of your opponent's deck to the graveyard."

Koji's eyelid twitched violently.

"Wait, don't tell me you're... you're going to..."

His face twisted, panic creeping in, his body instinctively backing away.

"Correct, I choose the first effect," Kira said. "Erase another card from your hand."

As he spoke, Don Zaloog raised his revolver.

Bang!

One of Koji's last two cards in hand now had a projected hole in it.

Gritting his teeth, Koji sent another card to the graveyard, his eyes nearly bulging out.

Now he only had one card left...

It wasn't the only duel he'd ever lost in his life, nor was his opponent the strongest he'd ever faced.

But it was the duel where he most wanted to hit someone.

He hadn't been able to play a single card—could you believe it?

"Set two cards face-down. Turn end."

Kira set two more cards in his back row.

This time, when Koji saw those two abyssal face-down cards, his attitude changed completely from earlier contempt—he could barely breathe.

Again? Please, no!

I'm begging you, just let me play a card... _{frёeweɓηovel.coɱ}

Even the spectators were surprised by how things were unfolding. The students on both sides looked at each other, all with faces of utter confusion.

What kind of duel was this?

It just felt weird. Really weird.

Looking for fast-paced offense and defense, a clash of power? Nope, only a guy out to mess with his opponent's head.

Hoping for flashy summons and big monsters? Nope—just the satisfaction of totally tilting the opponent.

Up to now, one side hadn't managed to play a single card, so there was no strategy to analyze.

This bastard hadn't summoned a single monster at first, and wasn't even attacking for damage—his every move seemed to silently declare: I don't have to win, but you're not playing Duel Monsters today.

"Kouhai, this isn't how you duel."

Koji tried to maintain the image of a gentle upperclassman, but his twitching facial muscles and trembling voice betrayed him.

Kira just smiled politely, gesturing, "Please, it's your turn to play Duel Monsters."

But as everyone knows, Yu-Gi-Oh! is a cruel game—so long as one side can play, that's enough.

Reluctantly, Koji raised his Duel Disk again.

"Then, it's my turn..."

He clenched his teeth.

Only one card left in hand—and it was an equip spell. He couldn't even summon a monster. Useless.

This was the draw that would decide his fate.

But a true duelist would never back down. As the legendary Duel King Yugi Muto once said: Believe in your deck, and your deck will respond.