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Chapter 717: The Gatekeepers Are Just for Show, the Important Figures Above Wouldn't Understand
"What bad luck, why is it our turn to be on gate duty today?"
"It's the first time I've caught the Pharaoh's Ascension day, and the first time as a Royal Palace guard I'm qualified to watch the dance at the banquet. These two firsts combined should have made for such a happy time, but why is it like this?"
Listening to his companion's complaints, the other guard beside him, with his hand on the weapon at his waist, said dismissively, "Isn't it because, even though today is a great day because it's the new Pharaoh's Coronation Ceremony, the important figures in the Royal Palace also demanded increased security everywhere?"
"That's to prevent any intruders from breaking into the Royal Palace and attacking the Pharaoh." As he spoke, the complaining soldier idly picked at the dirt under his fingernails, "But ultimately, we soldiers who guard the gate are just for show. Those important figures above wouldn't understand."
"Sigh, what bad luck~" X2
Looking at each other, the two soldiers said in unison.
But no sooner had they finished speaking than one of them, sharp-eyed, spotted a tree branch trembling in the bush not far from them, as if something was about to emerge from it.
"Who's there!" Although the two guards had a somewhat negative attitude, they weren't slacking off. They assumed a stance of vigilance, both placing their hands on the hilts of the sickle swords at their waists, ready to draw their weapons at the slightest disturbance.
Under their watch, a person walked out from the bush. Their figure was neither tall nor short, but overall quite well-proportioned, and accentuated by the women's robe they wore, they had a somewhat curvy figure. In one hand, they carried a clay basket, which seemed to contain two bottles of beverages.
Just looking at the lower half, the guards might have thought the "Woman" before them was a maid who had gone out. But when their line of sight moved up, they were stunned, because they saw a heavily made-up face on a rugged, masculine face, giving a strong sense of bizarre incongruity.
"Excuse me, sirs. I brought two bottles of beer, can I pass?"
The "Woman," who would have been a handsome guy if not for the thick makeup on their face, struck several charming poses, seemingly "seducing" the two guards. But the two guards just stared at the "Woman" with dead fish eyes.
Seeing this, the "Woman" became even more enthusiastic, making a fist with one hand and bringing it to their cheek, sticking out half their tongue and winking playfully.
Unexpectedly, this action had the opposite effect. The two guards, with expressions of disgust, simultaneously drew the sickle swords they were wearing and pointed at the "Woman," shouting, "Hands up!"
"Move again and we won't be so polite!"
"Ah?! Why?!" Cooperating with the two guards' actions, the "Woman" also showed a look of panic, while took out the two pottery bottles of beer from the clay basket and held them in their hands, as if to reveal they weren't carrying any dangerous items and could be inspected by the opponent. They subtly took two steps closer to the two guards, closing the distance. "What's suddenly wrong?"
However, the two guards also noticed this and exchanged glances before communicating loudly, "His behavior is strange!"
"Let's move!"
As they spoke, they were about to attack the "Woman."
"Ah! Don't kill me!" Facing the threat of the sharp blade, the "Woman" stopped approaching, raising the hands holding the two bottles of beer above their head in a surrender gesture, finally daring not to move an inch, just as the two guards had said. "I, I understand, I won't move!"
Seeing that the "Woman" didn't continue to act, the two guards also stopped swinging the weapons in their hands, but continued to maintain their stance of vigilance. One after the other, they approached the "Woman," intending to subdue them and hand them over to the important figures above for punishment. Incidentally, maybe they could go to the banquet and watch the dancers perform.
The "Woman" turned their head with an annoyed expression and said, "Damn it, as expected of the Royal Palace guards, they actually saw through my perfect disguise!"
Looking closely at the "Woman's" appearance again, who else could it be but Hayato?
"Idiot! It was obvious at a glance!" The guard walking in front said to Hayato with a disgusted expression, "How disgusting!"
The guard walking behind also chimed in with a rant, "What kind of woman in the world has hands full of muscles and a face that rugged? Idiot!"
"Can't you look at yourself objectively? Idiot!"
The two guards' back-and-forth seemed to enrage Hayato. He glared at the two guards, "What did you say?!"
With an angry look, Hayato suddenly threw the two bottles of beer he was holding high in his hands at the guard in front of him. The guard standing in front, being closer to Hayato, noticed the small movement in his hand and dodged Hayato's attack.
But the other guard behind him wasn't so lucky. Because his companion blocked his line of sight, his face was directly hit by the bottoms of the two thick pottery bottles, and he immediately fell unconscious.
---In fact, before Hayato got these two bottles of beer, he didn't expect that even three thousand years ago, Ancient Egypt's pottery technology could create pottery bottles with such good hardness.
"Hey, are you okay!?" Unexpectedly, dodging the beer bottles resulted in his companion being defeated. The guard subconsciously glanced at his companion, then immediately nervously swung the sickle sword in his hand, slashing at Hayato, who dared to attack the two of them.
However, the sharp blade didn't even have time to move an inch. Hayato, who had thrown the beer bottles, wasn't just standing there foolishly doing nothing. Before the guard could attack him, a punch mark appeared on the guard's chin.
"Ora!"
Accompanied by a battle cry, the guard fell in response.
"Although the original plan was to sneak through with my perfect disguise, luckily I had an extra plan B. My secret ace card is this pair of strong fists."
Although the boy named Meriamun was young, Hayato, using this body, felt the great power contained within it from the very beginning. This could be seen just from the well-built biceps and the chest muscles even larger than Rebecca's, and there was even an "Egyptian booty."
Hayato even felt like he could learn from a certain dolphin enthusiast and be able to Ora adults at the age of eight.
"This punch, twenty years of skill, how can you block it!" Hayato shouted at the two fallen guards.
Seeing Hayato deal with the guards, Nefertari, who had lent her clothes to Hayato and put on Hayato's clothes, also walked out from the bush. "But, I remember Meriamun, aren't you only eight years old this year? Huh? Or was it nine? I can't quite remember."
"This is eight years old?" Hayato glanced at the muscles on his arm, arguing, "Although I'm only eight years old this year, I have extraordinary talent. One year of training is worth a hundred years of someone else's training. The advantage is with me."
As he spoke, Hayato squatted down to deal with the two guards he had knocked unconscious. Besides confirming the guard he directly knocked out with a punch, the other one he knocked out with the beer bottles seemed to show signs of waking up when Hayato moved his body. Hayato immediately gave him another punch to refresh the duration of the coma buff.
"These two bastards, they really hurt my self-esteem. I clearly thought my disguise was quite good," After stripping off their slightly long clothes and putting them on himself, Hayato didn't hesitate to throw the two guards into the bush to hide them. "But now that I've changed into guard clothes, I surely won't be exposed again, right?"
"Huh?! Meriamun, are you going to infiltrate the Royal Palace?" Realizing later, Nefertari didn't react to Hayato's plan until she saw him change into the guards' clothes and wear their weapons. "I was wondering why you were looking for a more hidden entrance before."
Hayato said helplessly, "Why are you so slow to react in a place like this, Nefertari? But speaking of which, didn't I tell you before not to follow me and just hide in the jungle? That way, even if something goes wrong with my action, it won't implicate you."
"Although I don't quite understand Ancient Egypt's law, the crime of attacking a Royal Palace guard can't be low, right? It wouldn't be good if you were considered an accomplice because you acted with me."
Hearing this, Nefertari smiled at Hayato. "Hehehe, Meriamun, are you worried about me? But it's okay, if I'm with you, I won't be afraid of any danger, even death, I'll stay with you."
As she spoke, Nefertari imitated the action Hayato had made before, making a playful expression. As cringeworthy as the action Hayato made before was, the action Nefertari made now was just as cute.
But Hayato was unmoved, reaching out and gently tapping Nefertari on the head.
"Ouch, that hurts." Covering her forehead, Nefertari looked at Hayato in confusion.
"Now isn't the time to say such touching things, and that kind of flag makes it sound like I'm going to my death." Hayato put his hands on his waist and said quite seriously, "Next, I'm going to enter the Royal Palace. Nefertari, you absolutely cannot continue to follow me. Alright, hurry back. Hmm, help me prepare some beer or something. I was thinking of trying the so-called 'Gift of the Nile' before, but I ended up wasted it on those two guards."
"Huh~ Meriamun, how can you drink at such a young age?" Nefertari looked at Hayato's serious expression and said helplessly, "Okay, I'll prepare it for you. Be sure to come back early, and be careful in the Royal Palace."
----Minors are not allowed to drink alcohol----
"Clang~"
"Clang~~"
Accompanied by the striking of a huge golden gong, Dark Yugi was led by the short man into the interior of the palace. Everywhere he looked along the path was a scene of splendor, and on both sides of Dark Yugi's path were devoutly kneeling servants.
"Pharaoh, please, please go to your throne," the short man said beside Dark Yugi. For some reason, at first, there was just a subtle feeling, but as the time of contact grew longer, Dark Yugi felt an increasingly special sense of familiarity from this short man, as if he had been in contact with the opponent for a long time.
This was too strange. He clearly knew that there wasn't even a single trace of memory from three thousand years ago in his mind right now. The only memories were just those few years of life in the present. How could he feel familiar with someone who lived three thousand years ago?
Dark Yugi temporarily attributed this familiarity to the opponent's appearance. Just from the golden priest's hat inlaid with gold on the short man's head, one could tell his identity was not low. Perhaps he had left his name in history, and that's why he felt familiar?
Dark Yugi, with a restless mood, walked among the kneeling servants on both sides of the path, ascending the stairs step by step, and arrived before the empty throne. He somewhat awkwardly straightened the knee-length cape he was wearing and sat on the throne, placing his hands on the two handrails, stroking the snake relief on the golden throne's handrails, trying to put on a dignified appearance worthy of the Pharaoh's name.
'Is this the world from my memories?'
Thinking this, Dark Yugi saw the short man standing not far in front of him, waving a hand at the many kneeling attendants and declaring, "Everyone, raise your heads, the new Pharaoh has appeared before you!"
Being able to command the officials before the Pharaoh further proved that the short man's identity was indeed not low. As he retreated to the right hand side of Dark Yugi's throne and moved aside so as not to block the Pharaoh's line of sight, the priests close to the throne and the attendants in the distance all raised their previously lowered heads and looked towards their new Pharaoh.
Dark Yugi also glanced at them, but this one glance surprised him again, because he actually saw acquaintances appearing in this Ancient Egyptian Royal Palace from three thousand years ago.
"Miss Ishizu, Kaiba!?" The appearance of a man and a woman among the priests was exactly the same as Kaiba Seto and Ishizu Ishtar, whom Dark Yugi knew, with absolutely no difference. Incidentally, Dark Yugi also suddenly recalled that their appearance seemed extremely similar to the golden statue where the Millennium Items were placed, which he had seen in the Underground Secret Room of the Tomb Keepers' Clan Territory before.
Shocked, Dark Yugi subconsciously turned his head, only to see the short man, who had been covering his face with a black cloth, taking off the cloth from his face, revealing a very familiar face with a beard. "Grandpa!?"
"G-Grandpa?!" Dark Yugi's title made "Solomon Muto" beside him widen his eyes. He couldn't understand why the Pharaoh would call him that and was quite helpless.
"Hmm?" Seeing this, the priest among the kneeling priests who looked like Kaiba Seto spoke with an accent almost identical to the Kaiba in Dark Yugi's impression, "Lord Shimon, is the Pharaoh too tired?"
And when Dark Yugi heard that "Kaiba" would actually use honorifics towards someone else, he also realized his mistake and knew that this priest who looked exactly like Kaiba Seto was definitely not Kaiba, and the others were not the acquaintances he knew. He shook his head and said, "No, I'm fine, continue."
"Yes, Pharaoh." Nodding, "Kaiba Seto" stood up, his right hand emerging from his wide cape. Dark Yugi saw the very familiar Millennium Rod was now being held by "Kaiba Seto." Walking to the front of the priests, "Kaiba" raised both hands, looking down at the countless servants before him and ordered, "Only a grand banquet can display the strength of the dynasty and the wealth of the Pharaoh."
"Everyone, continue the music, continue the dance!"
In the next few chapters, there won't be any dueling plot in the short term, but will there be dueling in the Egypt Arc after all?
Before. Will there be? I am also looking for the answer to the question.
(End of Chapter)
"What bad luck, why is it our turn to be on gate duty today?"
"It's the first time I've caught the Pharaoh's Ascension day, and the first time as a Royal Palace guard I'm qualified to watch the dance at the banquet. These two firsts combined should have made for such a happy time, but why is it like this?"
Listening to his companion's complaints, the other guard beside him, with his hand on the weapon at his waist, said dismissively, "Isn't it because, even though today is a great day because it's the new Pharaoh's Coronation Ceremony, the important figures in the Royal Palace also demanded increased security everywhere?"
"That's to prevent any intruders from breaking into the Royal Palace and attacking the Pharaoh." As he spoke, the complaining soldier idly picked at the dirt under his fingernails, "But ultimately, we soldiers who guard the gate are just for show. Those important figures above wouldn't understand."
"Sigh, what bad luck~" X2
Looking at each other, the two soldiers said in unison.
But no sooner had they finished speaking than one of them, sharp-eyed, spotted a tree branch trembling in the bush not far from them, as if something was about to emerge from it.
"Who's there!" Although the two guards had a somewhat negative attitude, they weren't slacking off. They assumed a stance of vigilance, both placing their hands on the hilts of the sickle swords at their waists, ready to draw their weapons at the slightest disturbance.
Under their watch, a person walked out from the bush. Their figure was neither tall nor short, but overall quite well-proportioned, and accentuated by the women's robe they wore, they had a somewhat curvy figure. In one hand, they carried a clay basket, which seemed to contain two bottles of beverages.
Just looking at the lower half, the guards might have thought the "Woman" before them was a maid who had gone out. But when their line of sight moved up, they were stunned, because they saw a heavily made-up face on a rugged, masculine face, giving a strong sense of bizarre incongruity.
"Excuse me, sirs. I brought two bottles of beer, can I pass?"
The "Woman," who would have been a handsome guy if not for the thick makeup on their face, struck several charming poses, seemingly "seducing" the two guards. But the two guards just stared at the "Woman" with dead fish eyes.
Seeing this, the "Woman" became even more enthusiastic, making a fist with one hand and bringing it to their cheek, sticking out half their tongue and winking playfully.
Unexpectedly, this action had the opposite effect. The two guards, with expressions of disgust, simultaneously drew the sickle swords they were wearing and pointed at the "Woman," shouting, "Hands up!"
"Move again and we won't be so polite!"
"Ah?! Why?!" Cooperating with the two guards' actions, the "Woman" also showed a look of panic, while took out the two pottery bottles of beer from the clay basket and held them in their hands, as if to reveal they weren't carrying any dangerous items and could be inspected by the opponent. They subtly took two steps closer to the two guards, closing the distance. "What's suddenly wrong?"
However, the two guards also noticed this and exchanged glances before communicating loudly, "His behavior is strange!"
"Let's move!"
As they spoke, they were about to attack the "Woman."
"Ah! Don't kill me!" Facing the threat of the sharp blade, the "Woman" stopped approaching, raising the hands holding the two bottles of beer above their head in a surrender gesture, finally daring not to move an inch, just as the two guards had said. "I, I understand, I won't move!"
Seeing that the "Woman" didn't continue to act, the two guards also stopped swinging the weapons in their hands, but continued to maintain their stance of vigilance. One after the other, they approached the "Woman," intending to subdue them and hand them over to the important figures above for punishment. Incidentally, maybe they could go to the banquet and watch the dancers perform.
The "Woman" turned their head with an annoyed expression and said, "Damn it, as expected of the Royal Palace guards, they actually saw through my perfect disguise!"
Looking closely at the "Woman's" appearance again, who else could it be but Hayato?
"Idiot! It was obvious at a glance!" The guard walking in front said to Hayato with a disgusted expression, "How disgusting!"
The guard walking behind also chimed in with a rant, "What kind of woman in the world has hands full of muscles and a face that rugged? Idiot!"
"Can't you look at yourself objectively? Idiot!"
The two guards' back-and-forth seemed to enrage Hayato. He glared at the two guards, "What did you say?!"
With an angry look, Hayato suddenly threw the two bottles of beer he was holding high in his hands at the guard in front of him. The guard standing in front, being closer to Hayato, noticed the small movement in his hand and dodged Hayato's attack.
But the other guard behind him wasn't so lucky. Because his companion blocked his line of sight, his face was directly hit by the bottoms of the two thick pottery bottles, and he immediately fell unconscious.
---In fact, before Hayato got these two bottles of beer, he didn't expect that even three thousand years ago, Ancient Egypt's pottery technology could create pottery bottles with such good hardness.
"Hey, are you okay!?" Unexpectedly, dodging the beer bottles resulted in his companion being defeated. The guard subconsciously glanced at his companion, then immediately nervously swung the sickle sword in his hand, slashing at Hayato, who dared to attack the two of them.
However, the sharp blade didn't even have time to move an inch. Hayato, who had thrown the beer bottles, wasn't just standing there foolishly doing nothing. Before the guard could attack him, a punch mark appeared on the guard's chin.
"Ora!"
Accompanied by a battle cry, the guard fell in response.
"Although the original plan was to sneak through with my perfect disguise, luckily I had an extra plan B. My secret ace card is this pair of strong fists."
Although the boy named Meriamun was young, Hayato, using this body, felt the great power contained within it from the very beginning. This could be seen just from the well-built biceps and the chest muscles even larger than Rebecca's, and there was even an "Egyptian booty."
Hayato even felt like he could learn from a certain dolphin enthusiast and be able to Ora adults at the age of eight.
"This punch, twenty years of skill, how can you block it!" Hayato shouted at the two fallen guards.
Seeing Hayato deal with the guards, Nefertari, who had lent her clothes to Hayato and put on Hayato's clothes, also walked out from the bush. "But, I remember Meriamun, aren't you only eight years old this year? Huh? Or was it nine? I can't quite remember."
"This is eight years old?" Hayato glanced at the muscles on his arm, arguing, "Although I'm only eight years old this year, I have extraordinary talent. One year of training is worth a hundred years of someone else's training. The advantage is with me."
As he spoke, Hayato squatted down to deal with the two guards he had knocked unconscious. Besides confirming the guard he directly knocked out with a punch, the other one he knocked out with the beer bottles seemed to show signs of waking up when Hayato moved his body. Hayato immediately gave him another punch to refresh the duration of the coma buff.
"These two bastards, they really hurt my self-esteem. I clearly thought my disguise was quite good," After stripping off their slightly long clothes and putting them on himself, Hayato didn't hesitate to throw the two guards into the bush to hide them. "But now that I've changed into guard clothes, I surely won't be exposed again, right?"
"Huh?! Meriamun, are you going to infiltrate the Royal Palace?" Realizing later, Nefertari didn't react to Hayato's plan until she saw him change into the guards' clothes and wear their weapons. "I was wondering why you were looking for a more hidden entrance before."
Hayato said helplessly, "Why are you so slow to react in a place like this, Nefertari? But speaking of which, didn't I tell you before not to follow me and just hide in the jungle? That way, even if something goes wrong with my action, it won't implicate you."
"Although I don't quite understand Ancient Egypt's law, the crime of attacking a Royal Palace guard can't be low, right? It wouldn't be good if you were considered an accomplice because you acted with me."
Hearing this, Nefertari smiled at Hayato. "Hehehe, Meriamun, are you worried about me? But it's okay, if I'm with you, I won't be afraid of any danger, even death, I'll stay with you."
As she spoke, Nefertari imitated the action Hayato had made before, making a playful expression. As cringeworthy as the action Hayato made before was, the action Nefertari made now was just as cute.
But Hayato was unmoved, reaching out and gently tapping Nefertari on the head.
"Ouch, that hurts." Covering her forehead, Nefertari looked at Hayato in confusion.
"Now isn't the time to say such touching things, and that kind of flag makes it sound like I'm going to my death." Hayato put his hands on his waist and said quite seriously, "Next, I'm going to enter the Royal Palace. Nefertari, you absolutely cannot continue to follow me. Alright, hurry back. Hmm, help me prepare some beer or something. I was thinking of trying the so-called 'Gift of the Nile' before, but I ended up wasted it on those two guards."
"Huh~ Meriamun, how can you drink at such a young age?" Nefertari looked at Hayato's serious expression and said helplessly, "Okay, I'll prepare it for you. Be sure to come back early, and be careful in the Royal Palace."
----Minors are not allowed to drink alcohol----
"Clang~"
"Clang~~"
Accompanied by the striking of a huge golden gong, Dark Yugi was led by the short man into the interior of the palace. Everywhere he looked along the path was a scene of splendor, and on both sides of Dark Yugi's path were devoutly kneeling servants.
"Pharaoh, please, please go to your throne," the short man said beside Dark Yugi. For some reason, at first, there was just a subtle feeling, but as the time of contact grew longer, Dark Yugi felt an increasingly special sense of familiarity from this short man, as if he had been in contact with the opponent for a long time.
This was too strange. He clearly knew that there wasn't even a single trace of memory from three thousand years ago in his mind right now. The only memories were just those few years of life in the present. How could he feel familiar with someone who lived three thousand years ago?
Dark Yugi temporarily attributed this familiarity to the opponent's appearance. Just from the golden priest's hat inlaid with gold on the short man's head, one could tell his identity was not low. Perhaps he had left his name in history, and that's why he felt familiar?
Dark Yugi, with a restless mood, walked among the kneeling servants on both sides of the path, ascending the stairs step by step, and arrived before the empty throne. He somewhat awkwardly straightened the knee-length cape he was wearing and sat on the throne, placing his hands on the two handrails, stroking the snake relief on the golden throne's handrails, trying to put on a dignified appearance worthy of the Pharaoh's name.
'Is this the world from my memories?'
Thinking this, Dark Yugi saw the short man standing not far in front of him, waving a hand at the many kneeling attendants and declaring, "Everyone, raise your heads, the new Pharaoh has appeared before you!"
Being able to command the officials before the Pharaoh further proved that the short man's identity was indeed not low. As he retreated to the right hand side of Dark Yugi's throne and moved aside so as not to block the Pharaoh's line of sight, the priests close to the throne and the attendants in the distance all raised their previously lowered heads and looked towards their new Pharaoh.
Dark Yugi also glanced at them, but this one glance surprised him again, because he actually saw acquaintances appearing in this Ancient Egyptian Royal Palace from three thousand years ago.
"Miss Ishizu, Kaiba!?" The appearance of a man and a woman among the priests was exactly the same as Kaiba Seto and Ishizu Ishtar, whom Dark Yugi knew, with absolutely no difference. Incidentally, Dark Yugi also suddenly recalled that their appearance seemed extremely similar to the golden statue where the Millennium Items were placed, which he had seen in the Underground Secret Room of the Tomb Keepers' Clan Territory before.
Shocked, Dark Yugi subconsciously turned his head, only to see the short man, who had been covering his face with a black cloth, taking off the cloth from his face, revealing a very familiar face with a beard. "Grandpa!?"
"G-Grandpa?!" Dark Yugi's title made "Solomon Muto" beside him widen his eyes. He couldn't understand why the Pharaoh would call him that and was quite helpless.
"Hmm?" Seeing this, the priest among the kneeling priests who looked like Kaiba Seto spoke with an accent almost identical to the Kaiba in Dark Yugi's impression, "Lord Shimon, is the Pharaoh too tired?"
And when Dark Yugi heard that "Kaiba" would actually use honorifics towards someone else, he also realized his mistake and knew that this priest who looked exactly like Kaiba Seto was definitely not Kaiba, and the others were not the acquaintances he knew. He shook his head and said, "No, I'm fine, continue."
"Yes, Pharaoh." Nodding, "Kaiba Seto" stood up, his right hand emerging from his wide cape. Dark Yugi saw the very familiar Millennium Rod was now being held by "Kaiba Seto." Walking to the front of the priests, "Kaiba" raised both hands, looking down at the countless servants before him and ordered, "Only a grand banquet can display the strength of the dynasty and the wealth of the Pharaoh."
"Everyone, continue the music, continue the dance!"
In the next few chapters, there won't be any dueling plot in the short term, but will there be dueling in the Egypt Arc after all?
Before. Will there be? I am also looking for the answer to the question.
(End of Chapter)
