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Chapter 747: Substitutes Are Really Useful
"Moring, morning, morning, morning~"
"Touch touch, is Jo there~"
Humming a strange tune, Hayato sat at the dining table enjoying his breakfast. Although he didn't start out with a large group of Pharaoh's Subordinate like Yugi, Hayato, or rather, "Meriamun," was quite wealthy. While not exactly rolling in money, his life was prosperous and free from worry about food and clothing.
Using a pair of wooden sticks he had carved himself as chopsticks, Hayato picked up the last piece of fish and put it in his mouth. He picked up the napkin from the side to wipe his mouth, ending his meal.
Just then, a knock sounded outside Hayato's door. After glancing in the door's direction, he didn't get up or make any movements, yet the house door opened by itself, and someone walked in from outside.
"Ta-da! Meriamun, did you guess it was me?" An excited Nefertari walked in from outside, her gaze fixed on the doorway. She had expected to see Hayato opening the door for her there, but found nothing behind the door. Hayato was still sitting at the dining table wiping his mouth.
"Huh? Didn't you open the door for me, Meriamun?"
With a confused expression, Nefertari was very puzzled. She didn't see a phantom that looked exactly like Hayato letting go of the doorknob and walking past her, returning to Hayato's seat. It sat down and merged into Hayato's body as it overlapped with his body.
So, the substitute is really useful.
Thinking this in his inner thoughts, Hayato selectively forgot that the so-called "substitute" was actually a Card Spirit that had undergone awakening within his **Psychic Ectoplasm**. Since Nefertari herself seemed unable to see the existence of spirits, Hayato didn't explain the specific reason to her.
"Is there something you need me for, Nefertari?"
Hearing Hayato's words, Nefertari put aside the things she didn't understand and said to Hayato, "Oh right, I came to see you, Meriamun, because I have something important."
As she spoke, Nefertari casually closed the door and walked towards the dining table where Hayato was sitting. She reached behind her waist and took out a parchment scroll, holding it in her hand. She shook it at Hayato to reveal it, showing a mysterious smile.
Then, she abruptly unfolded the parchment scroll, revealing some lines and difficult-to-understand drawings drawn on it. "Ta-da! It's this! Do you want to guess what this is, Meriamun?"
"Uh, the rug in your house?"
"Who would use parchment scroll as a rug? And it has patterns on it! You need to pay attention to these patterns."
"Then it's a drawing you drew yourself?"
"Are the drawings I draw that bad in your eyes?"
After exchanging a couple of jokes, Hayato didn't continue teasing the seemingly anxious Nefertari. He stated the answer he had guessed at first glance: "Could it be... a treasure map?"
"You finally guessed right! That's right, this is a treasure map!" Hearing Hayato finally say the answer, Nefertari finally showed a proud smile. "After I got this treasure map, I came to find you immediately. So let's hurry and set off to find the treasure!"
Hearing Nefertari's words, Hayato raised an eyebrow. "But I still have serious work to do, Nefertari."
"Meriamun, even if you talk like an adult, it doesn't change the Reality that you're only eight years old right now." Nefertari showed a helpless expression and teased, "And when you say 'serious work', are you talking about That Person who attacked the Royal Palace before and took me as a Hostage?"
"Although you said he would attack the Royal Palace again last night, based on the present result, the opponent fundamentally didn't come, right?"
Hearing Nefertari's words, Hayato didn't know how to answer.
In his memory, yesterday was the day Priest Seto and Priest Shada received the Pharaoh's order to take over the duties of the deceased Mahad and began to be responsible for the Royal City's security work. Then, Seto would take this opportunity to seize the chance to unfold his plan, using the power of the **Millennium Key** in Shada's hand to search among the people for existences hosting powerful spirits, and cultivate powerful spirits through the Gu Method to obtain greater strength.
However, due to Hayato's existence, Seto's plan was stopped before it could be implemented.
Hayato had originally thought that such a change wouldn't influence too many subsequent events. At least after he himself underwent spirit awakening yesterday, it should have been Seto's turn to experience spirit awakening. However, at that time, a large number of people gathered in the distant Market, causing a commotion. Seto, who was responsible for the City's security and security work, had to first go and resolve matters related to his work.
And from a glimpse of white hair in the crowd, Hayato could guess who was causing the commotion among the people. Although he didn't carry out the action of collecting the spirits in the people's hearts, Seto still encountered the one who was destined to be his Destiny, just like in the original plot.
But what Hayato didn't expect was that regarding Seto's matter, things indeed followed the original development from three thousand years ago. Because of this, he also planned to follow the original trajectory of Destiny and wait on the Main Road leading out of the Royal City. Because it was on this very day, Hayato remembered that Bakura would utilize the "transparent" ability provided by Mahad's **Shadow Ghoul** to return to the Royal Palace again.
His goal was to inject the malice from the **Wheel of Wisdom** into Aknadin's body, causing him to fall and be used by him. At the same time, he would seize the opportunity to lure the Pharaoh, Dark Yugi, out of the Royal City for a decisive battle. He would also utilize Aknadin to break the tablets of the Three Egyptian Gods in Dark Yugi's Stone Tablet Temple, calculating to take the opportunity to kill Dark Yugi.
And Hayato naturally wouldn't let Bakura have his way so smoothly. He had set an ambush on the Main Road in advance, specifically so that when Bakura was escaping and luring Dark Yugi out of the City, he could jump out and give the opponent a "Surprise-Mather-fOck".
What, calling me a schemer? Who spread that rumor? Let me clarify here, I'm not old at all.
However, plan can never keep up with change. Hayato had considered the possibility that Bakura might escape via a different approach, or that Bakura had changed his target of calculation. But he never expected that Bakura fundamentally didn't appear last night at all. He stayed up all night and almost got bitten to death by mosquitoes. Fortunately, he had the **Psychic Ectoplasm** at his disposal.
So, the substitute is really useful.
Later, unable to wait any longer, Hayato could only sheepishly go home to sleep. After waking up this morning, he still hadn't heard rumors like "The Pharaoh is dead," so he could only attribute Bakura's reason for not breaking into the Royal City again to the fact that besides Yugi, there was also himself, a battle power that needed to be dealt with, so Bakura didn't dare to come.
Bakura, you weren't in the Royal Palace at all! If this era had a network, Hayato would definitely upload a video to properly curse that bastard Bakura.
"I didn't want that to happen either. But although there's no evidence, I still think that Bakura, who attacked the Royal Palace before, will come back to cause trouble again." Spreading his hands, Hayato said with some helplessness, as he couldn't reveal his memory as evidence.
But to Hayato's surprise, Nefertari actually nodded. "Mm, I believe you, Meriamun."
"Because you've never lied to me, and you never do things you don't have confidence in," Nefertari said with a smile. She paused, then continued, "Even if that person named Bakura comes, you'll definitely defeat the opponent, right, Meriamun?"
"Mm, of course." Hearing this, Hayato nodded with confidence. "Bakura escaped before, but this time, as long as there are no accidents, if he dares to come here again, he will absolutely be left here forever."
Hearing Hayato's words, Nefertari smiled playfully. "Hehe, if that's the case, then Meriamun, aren't you even more free to go treasure hunting with me? Anyway, you have the confidence to defeat the opponent, so there's no need to keep waiting for them. Why not get some good rest to face the battle in a better state, hmm!"
"Do you think walking a long way according to a mysterious treasure map to find some unknown treasure counts as 'rest'?" Hayato ranted, glancing at the treasure map Nefertari had unfolded. "Also, why do I feel like this treasure map is still a bit wet, as if it was just drawn and hasn't dried at all? Isn't that too suspicious?"
Nothing was marked on this treasure map except for simple lines and a few brief symbols. However, Hayato could still barely make out that the starting point of the treasure map seems like the City they were currently in. Starting from the City, a dotted line meandered outwards, finally ending at a location that appeared to represent a Valley, where a circle was drawn.
Hearing Hayato's words, Nefertari couldn't help but show a slightly disappointed expression. But just as she thought Hayato didn't want to go treasure hunting with her, she heard Hayato continue:
"However, looking at the treasure location on this map, it seems like it's not very far from the Royal City. If something happens, there should be enough time to rush back..." With a thoughtful expression, Hayato rested his chin in his hand and considered for a moment. He said, "Alright, then I'll accompany you on this wild goose chase... I mean, treasure hunt, today."
"Yay!"
Nefertari said excitedly, reaching behind her waist again and pulling out two moderately sized packages. "Hehe, I knew you'd accompany me, Meriamun. I've prepared your package too!"
"I'm more curious about how you fit so many things behind your waist. Is that perhaps a passage to the Fourth Dimension?"
Despite his rant, Hayato still took the package Nefertari handed him and held it in his hand. Without allowing Nefertari to refuse, he also carried her package. Led by the excited Nefertari, the two left Hayato's house and walked towards Outside the City.
Although Hayato stayed up quite late last night, even he was a little surprised by how full of vitality he felt. He woke up as soon as the sun rose and wasn't tired at all, and he didn't feel tired carrying both their packages.
Actually, even if he were tired, it wouldn't matter. Hayato still had his substitute... which is the **Psychic Ectoplasm**, that he could use.
So, the substitute is really useful.
And Nefertari, who seemed like a quiet Little Girl, wasn't far behind Hayato. Perhaps with the extra boost from her excited mood, she was full of vitality the entire way. It seemed she was full of curiosity and anticipation about what was buried at the treasure map's final destination.
However, although the two of them set off quite early, there were still people in the City who woke up even earlier than them. Among them was the Merchant doing agricultural trade. Morning was the time when the Kitchen Managers who needed to purchase the ingredients for the day were out and about. Missing this time meant it wouldn't be as easy to make profit.
Although Ancient Egypt received extremely abundant supplies thanks to the favor of the Nile River, one point has been universal from ancient times to the present: just like the Pyramid, resources will always gather towards the upper strata. The biggest beneficiaries of the fertile land brought by the Nile River were always the Royalty and Nobility. The greatest profit gained by the Lower Class People was, at most, not easily starving to death. But if they weren't diligent, they would still inevitably fall into poverty.
And in Ancient Egypt, this feudal society, there were no poverty alleviation benefits as good as in modern times.
Walking through the Commercial District and avoiding the women focused on haggling with the merchants, Hayato kept feeling that something seemed a little strange, but he couldn't quite place it. Soon after, he had also followed behind Nefertari and left the Commercial District. That awkward sense of incongruity disappeared with it, and he didn't continue to think about it further.
After Priest Seto and Priest Shada took over responsibility for the City's security and vigilance, the Sentry Post at the City Gate became much stricter. The inspection of outside personnel was also far more rigorous than before, all to prevent incidents like Bakura's attack on the Royal Palace from happening again.
However, this didn't have much influence on people leaving the City. Especially since some of the leading Soldier guarding the City Gate seemed to recognize that Hayato had chatted happily with their superior, Priest Seto, yesterday. They had even less reason to obstruct Hayato and let Hayato and Nefertari out of the City very easily.
However, after Hayato casually said something to the Soldier guarding the City, the soldier's single answer left Hayato somewhat stunned. It took him a while to recover before he left the Royal City.
"Meriamun, were you just now saying something to that Soldier?" Walking out of the City Gate, Hayato saw Nefertari holding the parchment scroll treasure map above her head, shielding herself from the rising sunshine, and waiting for him.
Hayato nodded with his usual expression. "Nothing, just asked if he had eaten, just saying hello. We still have to continue our journey, let's go."
Saying "Oh," Nefertari didn't ask any more questions and continued walking ahead of Hayato.
Following behind Nefertari, Hayato looked at the Little Girl's back and couldn't help but recall what happened yesterday during his spirit awakening.
At that time, under the illumination of the **Millennium Key**, he had a fight with a guy who called himself Pharaoh, whose name he still didn't know. Although he had the confidence to secure the final victory, it was an undeniable fact that both players were evenly matched before Seto's interruption of their duel. This proved that the guy who gave Hayato a sense of rejection from the bottom of his heart was by no means an ordinary existence.
The reason Hayato thought of that guy was precisely because before their duel, the opponent seemed to have mentioned that the reason he wanted to give Hayato a lesson was that Hayato had put Nefertari in danger. This meant that the guy knew Nefertari and cared greatly about her existence.
But just now, when Hayato said to the Soldier, "Please also make it easy for the Little Girl who came with me," the Soldier's answer was—
"You mentioned the Little Girl who came with you, but besides you, we didn't see anyone else?"
(End of Chapter)
"Moring, morning, morning, morning~"
"Touch touch, is Jo there~"
Humming a strange tune, Hayato sat at the dining table enjoying his breakfast. Although he didn't start out with a large group of Pharaoh's Subordinate like Yugi, Hayato, or rather, "Meriamun," was quite wealthy. While not exactly rolling in money, his life was prosperous and free from worry about food and clothing.
Using a pair of wooden sticks he had carved himself as chopsticks, Hayato picked up the last piece of fish and put it in his mouth. He picked up the napkin from the side to wipe his mouth, ending his meal.
Just then, a knock sounded outside Hayato's door. After glancing in the door's direction, he didn't get up or make any movements, yet the house door opened by itself, and someone walked in from outside.
"Ta-da! Meriamun, did you guess it was me?" An excited Nefertari walked in from outside, her gaze fixed on the doorway. She had expected to see Hayato opening the door for her there, but found nothing behind the door. Hayato was still sitting at the dining table wiping his mouth.
"Huh? Didn't you open the door for me, Meriamun?"
With a confused expression, Nefertari was very puzzled. She didn't see a phantom that looked exactly like Hayato letting go of the doorknob and walking past her, returning to Hayato's seat. It sat down and merged into Hayato's body as it overlapped with his body.
So, the substitute is really useful.
Thinking this in his inner thoughts, Hayato selectively forgot that the so-called "substitute" was actually a Card Spirit that had undergone awakening within his **Psychic Ectoplasm**. Since Nefertari herself seemed unable to see the existence of spirits, Hayato didn't explain the specific reason to her.
"Is there something you need me for, Nefertari?"
Hearing Hayato's words, Nefertari put aside the things she didn't understand and said to Hayato, "Oh right, I came to see you, Meriamun, because I have something important."
As she spoke, Nefertari casually closed the door and walked towards the dining table where Hayato was sitting. She reached behind her waist and took out a parchment scroll, holding it in her hand. She shook it at Hayato to reveal it, showing a mysterious smile.
Then, she abruptly unfolded the parchment scroll, revealing some lines and difficult-to-understand drawings drawn on it. "Ta-da! It's this! Do you want to guess what this is, Meriamun?"
"Uh, the rug in your house?"
"Who would use parchment scroll as a rug? And it has patterns on it! You need to pay attention to these patterns."
"Then it's a drawing you drew yourself?"
"Are the drawings I draw that bad in your eyes?"
After exchanging a couple of jokes, Hayato didn't continue teasing the seemingly anxious Nefertari. He stated the answer he had guessed at first glance: "Could it be... a treasure map?"
"You finally guessed right! That's right, this is a treasure map!" Hearing Hayato finally say the answer, Nefertari finally showed a proud smile. "After I got this treasure map, I came to find you immediately. So let's hurry and set off to find the treasure!"
Hearing Nefertari's words, Hayato raised an eyebrow. "But I still have serious work to do, Nefertari."
"Meriamun, even if you talk like an adult, it doesn't change the Reality that you're only eight years old right now." Nefertari showed a helpless expression and teased, "And when you say 'serious work', are you talking about That Person who attacked the Royal Palace before and took me as a Hostage?"
"Although you said he would attack the Royal Palace again last night, based on the present result, the opponent fundamentally didn't come, right?"
Hearing Nefertari's words, Hayato didn't know how to answer.
In his memory, yesterday was the day Priest Seto and Priest Shada received the Pharaoh's order to take over the duties of the deceased Mahad and began to be responsible for the Royal City's security work. Then, Seto would take this opportunity to seize the chance to unfold his plan, using the power of the **Millennium Key** in Shada's hand to search among the people for existences hosting powerful spirits, and cultivate powerful spirits through the Gu Method to obtain greater strength.
However, due to Hayato's existence, Seto's plan was stopped before it could be implemented.
Hayato had originally thought that such a change wouldn't influence too many subsequent events. At least after he himself underwent spirit awakening yesterday, it should have been Seto's turn to experience spirit awakening. However, at that time, a large number of people gathered in the distant Market, causing a commotion. Seto, who was responsible for the City's security and security work, had to first go and resolve matters related to his work.
And from a glimpse of white hair in the crowd, Hayato could guess who was causing the commotion among the people. Although he didn't carry out the action of collecting the spirits in the people's hearts, Seto still encountered the one who was destined to be his Destiny, just like in the original plot.
But what Hayato didn't expect was that regarding Seto's matter, things indeed followed the original development from three thousand years ago. Because of this, he also planned to follow the original trajectory of Destiny and wait on the Main Road leading out of the Royal City. Because it was on this very day, Hayato remembered that Bakura would utilize the "transparent" ability provided by Mahad's **Shadow Ghoul** to return to the Royal Palace again.
His goal was to inject the malice from the **Wheel of Wisdom** into Aknadin's body, causing him to fall and be used by him. At the same time, he would seize the opportunity to lure the Pharaoh, Dark Yugi, out of the Royal City for a decisive battle. He would also utilize Aknadin to break the tablets of the Three Egyptian Gods in Dark Yugi's Stone Tablet Temple, calculating to take the opportunity to kill Dark Yugi.
And Hayato naturally wouldn't let Bakura have his way so smoothly. He had set an ambush on the Main Road in advance, specifically so that when Bakura was escaping and luring Dark Yugi out of the City, he could jump out and give the opponent a "Surprise-Mather-fOck".
What, calling me a schemer? Who spread that rumor? Let me clarify here, I'm not old at all.
However, plan can never keep up with change. Hayato had considered the possibility that Bakura might escape via a different approach, or that Bakura had changed his target of calculation. But he never expected that Bakura fundamentally didn't appear last night at all. He stayed up all night and almost got bitten to death by mosquitoes. Fortunately, he had the **Psychic Ectoplasm** at his disposal.
So, the substitute is really useful.
Later, unable to wait any longer, Hayato could only sheepishly go home to sleep. After waking up this morning, he still hadn't heard rumors like "The Pharaoh is dead," so he could only attribute Bakura's reason for not breaking into the Royal City again to the fact that besides Yugi, there was also himself, a battle power that needed to be dealt with, so Bakura didn't dare to come.
Bakura, you weren't in the Royal Palace at all! If this era had a network, Hayato would definitely upload a video to properly curse that bastard Bakura.
"I didn't want that to happen either. But although there's no evidence, I still think that Bakura, who attacked the Royal Palace before, will come back to cause trouble again." Spreading his hands, Hayato said with some helplessness, as he couldn't reveal his memory as evidence.
But to Hayato's surprise, Nefertari actually nodded. "Mm, I believe you, Meriamun."
"Because you've never lied to me, and you never do things you don't have confidence in," Nefertari said with a smile. She paused, then continued, "Even if that person named Bakura comes, you'll definitely defeat the opponent, right, Meriamun?"
"Mm, of course." Hearing this, Hayato nodded with confidence. "Bakura escaped before, but this time, as long as there are no accidents, if he dares to come here again, he will absolutely be left here forever."
Hearing Hayato's words, Nefertari smiled playfully. "Hehe, if that's the case, then Meriamun, aren't you even more free to go treasure hunting with me? Anyway, you have the confidence to defeat the opponent, so there's no need to keep waiting for them. Why not get some good rest to face the battle in a better state, hmm!"
"Do you think walking a long way according to a mysterious treasure map to find some unknown treasure counts as 'rest'?" Hayato ranted, glancing at the treasure map Nefertari had unfolded. "Also, why do I feel like this treasure map is still a bit wet, as if it was just drawn and hasn't dried at all? Isn't that too suspicious?"
Nothing was marked on this treasure map except for simple lines and a few brief symbols. However, Hayato could still barely make out that the starting point of the treasure map seems like the City they were currently in. Starting from the City, a dotted line meandered outwards, finally ending at a location that appeared to represent a Valley, where a circle was drawn.
Hearing Hayato's words, Nefertari couldn't help but show a slightly disappointed expression. But just as she thought Hayato didn't want to go treasure hunting with her, she heard Hayato continue:
"However, looking at the treasure location on this map, it seems like it's not very far from the Royal City. If something happens, there should be enough time to rush back..." With a thoughtful expression, Hayato rested his chin in his hand and considered for a moment. He said, "Alright, then I'll accompany you on this wild goose chase... I mean, treasure hunt, today."
"Yay!"
Nefertari said excitedly, reaching behind her waist again and pulling out two moderately sized packages. "Hehe, I knew you'd accompany me, Meriamun. I've prepared your package too!"
"I'm more curious about how you fit so many things behind your waist. Is that perhaps a passage to the Fourth Dimension?"
Despite his rant, Hayato still took the package Nefertari handed him and held it in his hand. Without allowing Nefertari to refuse, he also carried her package. Led by the excited Nefertari, the two left Hayato's house and walked towards Outside the City.
Although Hayato stayed up quite late last night, even he was a little surprised by how full of vitality he felt. He woke up as soon as the sun rose and wasn't tired at all, and he didn't feel tired carrying both their packages.
Actually, even if he were tired, it wouldn't matter. Hayato still had his substitute... which is the **Psychic Ectoplasm**, that he could use.
So, the substitute is really useful.
And Nefertari, who seemed like a quiet Little Girl, wasn't far behind Hayato. Perhaps with the extra boost from her excited mood, she was full of vitality the entire way. It seemed she was full of curiosity and anticipation about what was buried at the treasure map's final destination.
However, although the two of them set off quite early, there were still people in the City who woke up even earlier than them. Among them was the Merchant doing agricultural trade. Morning was the time when the Kitchen Managers who needed to purchase the ingredients for the day were out and about. Missing this time meant it wouldn't be as easy to make profit.
Although Ancient Egypt received extremely abundant supplies thanks to the favor of the Nile River, one point has been universal from ancient times to the present: just like the Pyramid, resources will always gather towards the upper strata. The biggest beneficiaries of the fertile land brought by the Nile River were always the Royalty and Nobility. The greatest profit gained by the Lower Class People was, at most, not easily starving to death. But if they weren't diligent, they would still inevitably fall into poverty.
And in Ancient Egypt, this feudal society, there were no poverty alleviation benefits as good as in modern times.
Walking through the Commercial District and avoiding the women focused on haggling with the merchants, Hayato kept feeling that something seemed a little strange, but he couldn't quite place it. Soon after, he had also followed behind Nefertari and left the Commercial District. That awkward sense of incongruity disappeared with it, and he didn't continue to think about it further.
After Priest Seto and Priest Shada took over responsibility for the City's security and vigilance, the Sentry Post at the City Gate became much stricter. The inspection of outside personnel was also far more rigorous than before, all to prevent incidents like Bakura's attack on the Royal Palace from happening again.
However, this didn't have much influence on people leaving the City. Especially since some of the leading Soldier guarding the City Gate seemed to recognize that Hayato had chatted happily with their superior, Priest Seto, yesterday. They had even less reason to obstruct Hayato and let Hayato and Nefertari out of the City very easily.
However, after Hayato casually said something to the Soldier guarding the City, the soldier's single answer left Hayato somewhat stunned. It took him a while to recover before he left the Royal City.
"Meriamun, were you just now saying something to that Soldier?" Walking out of the City Gate, Hayato saw Nefertari holding the parchment scroll treasure map above her head, shielding herself from the rising sunshine, and waiting for him.
Hayato nodded with his usual expression. "Nothing, just asked if he had eaten, just saying hello. We still have to continue our journey, let's go."
Saying "Oh," Nefertari didn't ask any more questions and continued walking ahead of Hayato.
Following behind Nefertari, Hayato looked at the Little Girl's back and couldn't help but recall what happened yesterday during his spirit awakening.
At that time, under the illumination of the **Millennium Key**, he had a fight with a guy who called himself Pharaoh, whose name he still didn't know. Although he had the confidence to secure the final victory, it was an undeniable fact that both players were evenly matched before Seto's interruption of their duel. This proved that the guy who gave Hayato a sense of rejection from the bottom of his heart was by no means an ordinary existence.
The reason Hayato thought of that guy was precisely because before their duel, the opponent seemed to have mentioned that the reason he wanted to give Hayato a lesson was that Hayato had put Nefertari in danger. This meant that the guy knew Nefertari and cared greatly about her existence.
But just now, when Hayato said to the Soldier, "Please also make it easy for the Little Girl who came with me," the Soldier's answer was—
"You mentioned the Little Girl who came with you, but besides you, we didn't see anyone else?"
(End of Chapter)
