Who Let Him Play Yu-Gi-Oh!? [4]

A true duelist should maintain their calm even if Mount Tai collapsed in front of them. No matter the situation, they had to stay composed, never letting impulse cloud their judgment.

Kōji Satō had his eyes shut, breathing deeply, hammering this point into his mind…

Punching someone meant instant defeat.

But with this little shit in front of him, it was genuinely difficult to keep that in mind.

With only two cards left in hand and nothing he could do, Kōji Satō could only grit his teeth and declare the end of his turn. Then it was Yūgen’s turn again, and the torment began anew.

“Draw.” Yūgen drew a card from his Deck.

Kōji Satō’s field was now spotless—no monsters, no backrow—so wide open it practically invited crime. In an era before hand traps were everywhere, having an empty field was like running around naked, the kind of vulnerability where you could pin someone down and go to town without guilt.

Yūgen wasted no words. He immediately summoned the monster he’d just drawn.

“I Summon [DON ZALOOG] in Attack Position!”

A weathered warrior with an eyepatch appeared on Yūgen’s field.

DON ZALOOG | DARK | LEVEL 4
MONSTER | WARRIOR/EFFECT
When this card inflicts battle damage to your opponent: You can activate 1 of these effects;
● Discard 1 random card from their hand.
● Send the top 2 cards of their Deck to the GY.
1400 ATK | 1500 DEF

“Battle.” Yūgen commanded. “Don Zaloog, direct attack!”

Responding, the warrior whipped out two revolvers and unleashed rapid fire. Holographic bullets pierced through Kōji’s body, causing him to stagger back half a step.

KaibaCorp’s latest dueling system didn’t just project holograms—it included haptic feedback. It wouldn’t cause real injury but simulated a realistic shock and minor pain to enhance immersion.

[Kōji Satō | LP 4000→LP 2600]

Taking that direct damage, Kōji inhaled sharply.

It’s fine. Just 1400 ATK—he could handle it.

Then Yūgen smiled. “Don Zaloog’s effect activates. When this card inflicts battle damage, I choose one of two effects.”

“One: discard a random card from your hand.”

“Two: send the top two cards of your Deck to the Graveyard.”

Kōji’s eyelid twitched violently.

“Wait—don’t tell me you’re going to… you’re really going to…”

His face twisted in terror, instinctively stepping back.

“Correct. I choose the first effect,” Yūgen said calmly. “Discard another card.”

With those words, Don Zaloog raised a revolver. BANG—one of the two remaining cards in Kōji’s hand gained a holographic bullet hole.

Kōji clenched his teeth, eyes bloodshot, tossing another card to the Graveyard.

Now only one card remained in his hand.

This wasn’t the first duel he’d ever lost, and Yūgen wasn’t the strongest opponent he’d faced.

But it was absolutely the duel that most made him want to punch someone.

Can you believe it?

He hadn’t managed to play a single card this whole time!

“I Set two cards and end my turn.”

Two face-down cards appeared in Yūgen’s backrow.

Seeing those dark, ominous sets now, Kōji no longer felt disdain—his breath caught in his throat.

Again? No—please don’t do this.

Just let me play one card.

Even the spectators found this duel beyond expectations. The trainees exchanged bewildered glances.

How to describe this duel?

It felt weird. Really weird.

Fast-paced dueling and intense clashes of power? Nope—just a freak out to ruin your day.

Flashy, high-speed summons and giant monsters? Still nope—just a freak taking pleasure in mental torment.

At this point, Kōji’s field was entirely empty, front and back—shamelessly exposed like some little girl tempting you to commit a crime. Before hand traps flooded the game, an empty field was practically streaking naked through the street, begging you to pin it down and go to town without remorse.

This wasn’t the first duel he’d ever lost, nor was Yūgen the toughest opponent he’d faced.

But this duel unquestionably made him want to hit someone the most.

Could you believe it? Up to now, he hadn’t gotten a single card to stay on the field!

At this point, one side hadn’t established a single play, leaving nothing to analyze. As for the side making moves, every card and every action seemed woven around one thought:

Revenge on society.

Yes, revenge on society.

This bastard opened without even summoning a monster, not bothering to touch his opponent’s LP. Everything he did silently declared:

I can lose, but today you absolutely won’t get to play Yu-Gi-Oh.

If that wasn’t revenge on society, then what was?

“Yūgen-san, the way you’re dueling is wrong…”

Kōji strained to preserve his gentle senior persona, but the twitching muscles on his face and the tremor in his voice made his impending breakdown clear.

Yūgen simply smiled in silence. Politely, he made a gentle “please” gesture, reminding Kōji it was his turn to play Yu-Gi-Oh.

Sure, he said that—but every card nerd knew Yu-Gi-Oh was a cruel game. As long as one player was having fun, that was enough.

Only then did Kōji reluctantly lift his Duel Disk again.

“Then… my turn…”

He clenched his teeth.

He had one card left in hand, an Equip Spell. Without a monster, it was utterly useless.

This draw would decide his fate.

But a true duelist never backed down. Like the legendary King of Games, Yūgi Mutō, had said: Believe in your Deck, and your Deck will answer you.

He believed in the bond he shared with his Deck!

Kōji Satō placed his fingers on top of his Deck. Taking a deep breath, he silently prayed to himself.

Please. I’m begging you. Give me a Level 4 monster!

He drew with all his soul, the card tracing a graceful arc in the air.

The instant he opened his eyes and saw the card, Kōji’s pupils practically trembled—he nearly burst into triumphant laughter.

It’s here!

Not only was it a monster he could Summon—it was Gagagigo, Level 4, 1850 ATK. Compared to the popular 1800 ATK beaters currently dominating the meta, it was mockingly stronger by exactly fifty points, as if taunting them. It was the strongest low-level monster in his Deck.

His Deck really had answered him!

But just as the corner of Kōji’s mouth rose, about to sound the horn of his counterattack—

When his gaze landed on a face-down card in Yūgen’s backrow, already flipped face-up at some unknown moment, his smile froze instantly.

DROP OFF
TRAP CARD
When your opponent draws for their normal draw in their Draw Phase: Your opponent discards 1 card they just drew.

Kōji Satō: “…”

“With Drop Off’s effect,” Yūgen announced, impeccably polite, “please discard that card too.”

Kōji nearly bit his lip bloody. Face contorted, he reluctantly tossed his comeback’s key card—Gagagigo—into the Graveyard. Looking down at his hand, he realized he was left with just that lonely Equip Spell.

“I end… end my turn,” Kōji said miserably.

“My turn, then. Draw.”

Yūgen glanced at his new card—another Trap.

His hand was overflowing with Traps, yet his opponent clearly had no cards left to trigger them. Adding it casually to his hand, Yūgen waved again, saying, “Don Zaloog, direct attack.”

[Kōji Satō | LP 2600→LP 1200]

“Don Zaloog’s effect activates again. Of course, I’ll choose the first effect.”

Yūgen pointed at Kōji’s last card.

“Throw that away, too.”

Watching his final hand card disappear into the Graveyard, Kōji suddenly realized he probably should’ve Set it last turn. It wouldn’t have made much difference, but at least he’d have kept it.

His mental state had collapsed so thoroughly, he’d forgotten that option existed.

Though, realistically, it wouldn’t have changed much anyway.

“End my turn.”

“Then it’s my turn—draw.”

Kōji drew this time but didn’t even glance at the card. Instead, he stared directly at Yūgen’s backrow.

His gaze silently asked: No Traps, right?

Am I really drawing?

I’m really drawing.

Yūgen smiled, cheerfully signaling him to continue.

Having finally crawled past the Draw Phase and into his Standby Phase, Kōji was almost moved to tears.

Before today, he’d never imagined that simply drawing a card… could bring such profound happiness.

Then he saw the card, and his mood instantly soared.

MALICE DOLL OF DEMISE | DARK | LEVEL 4
MONSTER | FIEND/EFFECT
During your next Standby Phase after this card was sent from the field to the Graveyard by the effect of a Continuous Spell Card: Special Summon this card from the Graveyard.
1600 ATK | 1700 DEF

Normally, it was just a plain, ordinary monster. But at this moment, that 1600 ATK was lifesaving. Don Zaloog’s effect might be disgusting, but its ATK was only 1400.

He could finally crush that damned card-discarding pest!

Kōji eagerly cried out, “I Summon [MALICE DOLL OF DEMISE] in Attack Position! Attack Don Zaloog! SMASH HIM! DIE, DIE—”

“Hey man, take it easy. Calm down,” Yūgen reminded him, grinning. “Dueling’s meant to be enjoyed with a smile.”

“Besides, don’t rush. Before that—we’re not even in the Battle Phase yet. Because with your Summon, I activate a Trap Card.”

He indicated the rising backrow card.

“Trap Card—[COMPULSARY EVACUATION DEVICE]. Force one monster on the field back into its owner’s hand.”

“I return Malice Doll of Demise to your hand.”

The Trap resolved. The cursed doll, axe in hand, had barely stabilized on the field before it vanished in a flash of golden light, returning instantly to Kōji’s hand.

Kōji Satō: “…”

That was now his only card.

And he’d already used his one Normal Summon for the turn.

Obviously, he had nothing left to play again.

What would happen next was painfully clear. He’d have to end his turn helplessly, and that damned Don Zaloog would shoot him again, forcing him to discard this last card, too.

No—wait. It wouldn’t even come to that. His LP had already dropped to 1200. One more direct hit, and he was finished.

But Yūgen never got the chance to reduce Kōji Satō’s LP to zero.

Because before the next turn even arrived—

Kōji Satō lunged forward, trying to physically attack the opposing duelist mid-duel. Onlookers rushed in, quickly restraining him. He was immediately disqualified, officially losing the duel on the spot.

—

T/N: heuheuheu im Kōji Satō :sob: i never get to play even now duels are running in the background just waiting for my opponent to finish their combo…

heres the new cards used in order!

This is a fan translation of 谁让他玩游戏王的！by 名称被占用 Rights to the original work belong to the creator. Please support them by exploring their original work or sharing it with others if you can. Thank you for reading and supporting my efforts to bring this story to a wider audience!