The concept of magazines was still new to the people of this other world.

While the appeal of having various works compiled into a single publication was immediately understood, questions arose about what would happen once a series concluded.

Just then, a new work appeared that perfectly answered these questions.

"I thought there’d be only five stories left when White Wasteland ended, but it seems they’re just adding new ones as they go."

As always, on the release day of Manafia, crowds gathered around anyone who had already bought the magazine, eagerly reading together.

And, without exception, the first thing they opened to was none other than White Wasteland.

Since the epic adventure of a boy’s journey to find his father had finally reached its grand conclusion, readers rushed to the section with White Wasteland.

"Look! Only the first page of White Wasteland is in color!"

To commemorate the finale, the typically black-and-white magazine included a special color page, immediately catching readers' attention.

"I kind of want to cut it out and keep it," someone said.

"Right? The black and white is great, but seeing the blue ocean and the white whale in color—it’s awe-inspiring."

"Wait, there’s something at the end of the magazine!"

As people marveled at the color page, contemplating whether to cut it out even if it meant damaging their magazines, someone shouted about the very last page.

"A special illustration!!!"

"That color page is enlarged like a postcard here at the back!"

"Damn it! Urien Trading Company, you think you can just give this away for free?!"

It was as if they had predicted readers’ fascination with the color page; a special illustration was included in postcard form, igniting excitement among the crowd.

Of course, seeing this reaction, the company staff could only smile with satisfaction.

‘Raising the magazine’s price a little seems to have paid off with just one illustration.’

Indeed, now that the magazine’s popularity was on track, Urien Trading Company had quietly raised the price by 10%.

But before complaints could arise, they had diverted attention with the color pages and special illustration, leaving the staff privately pleased.

After all, if this diversion hadn’t worked, they would have been the ones facing discontent right then and there.

"By the way, is this Rupert’s new work, The King of Cards?"

"Quick, let’s check it out!"

"What could this manga possibly be about…?"

Rupert’s new works were always hard to predict.

Sometimes he released stories that appealed to young girls, only to switch to tragic or adventurous tales on a whim.

From adventurous pieces like Iron-Blooded Alchemist to intense action manga like Van Helsing.

It was impossible to guess the genre.

However, based on the title The King of Cards, they speculated it might involve cards.

『"The duel begins now."

Yugi, who had been a simple country boy just this morning, wore a suddenly sharp expression.

"Hahaha! You still think you can beg me to return the card?"

But Kaito was unfazed by Yugi’s change.

"Look here! The White-Eyed Blue Dragon is now mine!"

Kaito had stolen the White-Eyed Blue Dragon card Yugi had received from his grandfather and now flaunted it.

The legendary card, said to have only four copies in existence, the White-Eyed Blue Dragon.

"Kaito, you really believe you can control this card?"

"Of course! Cards are meant to be controlled! Don’t you get it?"

Kaito was now unafraid of dueling.

In his mind, someone like Yugi, possessing a rare card like the White-Eyed Blue Dragon, was like a pig wearing pearls.

Kaito was convinced that only he could truly wield this card.

"Then let me show you what a true duelist looks like!"

With Yugi’s shout, the duel began.』

"A card game?"

"Not a game—a duel, apparently."

"Interesting. And look at those cards. They’re completely different from the usual ones."

This world did have cards resembling Earth’s playing cards.

And since games like poker were based on them, card games weren’t unfamiliar.

However, the new card game introduced in The King of Cards, called a duel, was unlike anything they’d seen.

"Cards modeled after stone tablets that sealed ancient empire monsters?"

"It’s not just monsters! There are magic and trap cards, too!"

"And look at that White-Eyed Blue Dragon card—it’s just an illustration, but it looks incredible."

Rupert understood more than anyone that for people to quickly grasp this new type of card game, he needed to keep the rules simple and depict them clearly in his manga.

Thus, he streamlined the early storyline to focus entirely on the card game.

This approach worked; readers easily grasped the world of The King of Cards.

People quickly became engrossed in the concept of the card game, “duel,” as it was introduced in The King of Cards.

They were swiftly drawn into the world of dueling.

 

Two months later.

『"I believe in the power of my friends!"

Yugi looked at his cheering friends, then drew a card from his deck.

"Haha, no matter what card you draw, you’re finished, Yugi! Now that the seal is broken, I’ll end this with the three White-Eyed Blue Dragons!"

Despite being cornered by Kaito’s White-Eyed Blue Dragon card, Yugi skillfully used magic and trap cards to avoid total defeat.

But Yugi still had one last trick up his sleeve.

"At last, they’ve gathered. Kaito, do you know about this card?"

In a desperate situation, Yugi checked his final card, smirking as he asked Kaito.

"Th-that’s…!"

Kaito’s face twisted in disbelief as he saw Yugi’s final card.

"Oh ancient guardian of the empire and destroyer of all, I summon the Phantom Demon!"

On the duel table, Yugi’s Phantom Demon finally appeared.

Chained at the arms and legs, its image was so overwhelming that even in illustration, it exuded a formidable presence.

And as it destroyed the ultimate White-Eyed Blue Dragon with a single punch, readers could only gasp in awe.

The biggest difference between Rupert and other manga creators lay in his expressive and detailed artwork.

Even ordinary scenes became memorable, and the intense highlights of the story were so well-rendered that readers found themselves holding their breath.

His drawing skills were already superb, but now, free from previous physical limitations, Rupert’s detailed illustrations captivated everyone.

"This is it!!!"

"I was on the edge of my seat wondering how he’d win, and then he summons the Phantom Demon!"

"So satisfying! Watching that schemer Kaito’s expression twist like that!"

With The King of Cards gaining popularity over time, the story finally reached the climactic showdown between Yugi and his first major rival, Kaito.

Readers were entirely absorbed in the card game world.

The scene where Yugi, cornered and seemingly on the brink of defeat, used various cards to turn the tables and face Kaito gave readers a sense of catharsis.

And for those wondering how he’d defeat Kaito’s strongest card, the “Ultimate White-Eyed Blue Dragon,” the appearance of the new card, the “Phantom Demon,” perfectly met their expectations.

"The cards look incredible, but the summoned images are spectacular!"

"Kaito’s Ultimate White-Eyed Blue Dragon was impressive, too."

"But nothing compares to Yugi’s Phantom Demon."

The moment when the illustrated card appeared on the table was perfectly captured by Rupert’s phenomenal artistry.

As a result, readers felt as though they were dueling in real life, making them even more engrossed in the story.

"I really want the cards from this manga…"

After finishing Yugi and Kaito’s intense duel, readers naturally wished to play this card game themselves.

Just as Iron-Blooded Alchemist had inspired people to take up alchemy…

And Van Helsing had led kids to enroll in swordsmanship academies…

Manga had a way of sparking people’s desires, and now readers found themselves wanting to play the card game from this story.

"Do you think they’ll release these as merchandise?"

"Definitely! Maybe even the main character’s puzzle necklace."

"They’ll release both! I don’t care how much it costs; I have to get that White-Eyed Blue Dragon!"

Readers were already used to Somerset’s merchandise tactics.

Anytime a reader felt they wanted something from a story, it would eventually appear at Somerset’s goods store.

So, it wasn’t hard to guess that the cards from The King of Cards, along with other notable items, would soon be released.

"Sigh… but I want it right now."

"Should I try drawing it myself?"

With everyone certain it would take some time, someone suggested creating their own cards to satisfy the immediate urge to duel.

"It’s out!!!"

Someone’s shout echoed through the streets.

"What’s out?"

"The Somerset goods store just released The King of Cards merchandise!!!"

"What?! Already?!"

The news that The King of Cards merchandise was now on sale at the Somerset store instantly drew everyone’s attention.

"What are we waiting for? Let’s go buy some!"

"Wait! White-Eyed Blue Dragon, you’re mine!"

"If I buy the cards, I need to try dueling right away!"

Throngs of people eagerly ran to the Somerset store to buy the cards.

But,

"The cards are randomly packed…."

Hearing the final, low comment from the person who announced the sale, everyone realized:

Their wallets would be empty by the end of the month.