I heard you want to enter the Lotus Cup? 」
A lord, someone who has to fulfil his duty as a public servant, the Duke’s residency is truly only somewhere to sleep for Duke Nyrestia . Just as he stopped by between his work, he heard a wish from a mercenary who is an instructor for his daughter . It was that he wanted to enter the Lotus Cup that is held by the army .
「Yes, I will have to enlist Duke’s help for that . 」
「But why the Lotus Cup? It’s not like there’s anything for you to gain there . 」
For the Duke, Ardis and Moore are the benefactors that had brought his daughter back from missing after a year . Of course, he was suspicious of Ardis and Moore at first but, after his own thorough investigations and Minerva’s story, he had already confirmed that they’re innocent .
Now only his gratitude for the two as a father remained . And a wish coming from Ardis, he would agree to it if it’s not anything excessive . But Ardis who wanted to enter the Lotus Cup was unexpected even for the Duke .
He couldn’t grasp Ardis’s intentions at all .
「I have heard that it is the best show stage for those of Marquis Holguin’s faction . 」
But his questions soon dissolved .
He managed to connect the dots between Marquis Holguin that Ardis mentioned, and the Lotus Cup .
「……I see, that’s your intention huh . 」
The Duke understood without Ardis needing to explain any further . Marquis Holguin is the perpetrator regarding the incident with his precious daughter .
Of course, as a Duke, he had pulled as many strings as possible to retaliate within the rules but, without proper evidence, he couldn’t have him judged in the light . Although he’s still unsatisfied, it’s not like he could do anything more .
Luckily, Minerva had returned without any injuries, so he probably has no choice but to soon put an end to the incident . It was an opportunity given thinking about that .
For Marquis Holguin, the Lotus Cup is the best stage for showing off his power . In reality, the Lotus Cup is only a stage for Marquis Holguin and his men to display their prowess .
And if someone hailing under Duke Nyrestia’s banner, who is seen as their enemy, what would happen if Ardis managed to place well . On top of that, the participant is albeit famous in the capital, is not any more than a 『Magician』 .
Marquis Holguin’s public face would probably be crushed into nothingness . But, that’s a story only if Ardis can advance in the Lotus Cup .
「Thanks for your thoughts . I understand your intentions . But isn’t the Lotus Cup a martial arts tournament? And of course, the use of any magic or arts will be forbidden . 」
「I know . 」
Ardis had replied plainly at the Duke’s confirmation .
「Then don’t take this personally, it’s not like your swordsmanship isn’t up to par, but the participants are all talented martial artists chosen from the army . There’re many top fighters chosen from the army, and also many from mercenaries and explorers . 」
「I have known that as well . 」
「Then――」
「I already know . 」
It was rude, considering a mercenary had just overwhelmed a Duke’s speech . The servant beside him frowned, but the Duke raised his hand to stop him .
「――So what about it? 」
And then, the words that Ardis spoke can be even considered arrogance .
「Are those martial artists you speak of have the ability to even deal with even one of the 『Three Great Demons』? 」
After a short period of silence, the Duke’s voice reanimated the room .
「Of course not . But aren’t them opponents you can defeat only by using sword magic? 」
「If it’s just about a 『Bell Chaser』, then a sword is enough . 」
Hearing that, the Duke lost his words . But he is also one of the residents of the higher society . Without showing surprise on his face, he only muttered .
「Just about a 『Bell Chaser』, huh……」
Even with subjugation squads sortied by the Kingdom, a strong demonic being that couldn’t be subjugated . To refer something like that as 『Just about』, it can only be self-confidence, or plainly arrogance .
「Fine . If you’re going that far, then for your participation in Lotus Cup, I will do something about it . 」
After sighing deeply in a way that wouldn’t be noticed, he agreed to Ardis’s wish . Of course, he didn’t forget to add on a condition .
「But I will be troubled if you’re going down in just one or two rounds with my name . Do you understand that as well? 」
Since he was to use the Duke’s name, of course, he must not show a pathetic sight .
「Don’t worry, or would you like to test my capabilities? If you gathered maybe ten elites from the escorts in the residency……」
Ardis mentioned so plainly . Of course, the Duke is not against the idea of Ardis proving his strength .
If he can fight on the same footing with the elites in the residency, then winning and advancing in the Lotus Cup is not impossible . And the Duke can rest easy recommending him .
「Are you going to show that you can best ten of my men? 」
「I’m saying that I can best all ten of them at the same time . 」
Although the Duke thought he was challenging Ardis, it seems like it was the opposite . And so, immediately, the Duke had given orders to the servant beside to gather the people to verify Ardis’s strength .
Heading towards the training grounds where Minerva would practice under Ardis’s guidance while the people are getting gathered .
「Is something interesting happening? 」
What wind did he catch .
It was none other than Moore who was offloading in the Duke’s residency that called out to Ardis .
「Whether if it’s going to be interesting depends on the opponents . 」
「Ooh, Jack and Cain, and Andrei . Quite the members is gathering huh . 」
After naming out the escorts that were gathered, Ardis asked Moore in a just in case manner .
「Are they strong? 」
「They are . Though, not anywhere close to you . 」
「If it’s you, how many can you go up against at once? 」
「How many at the same time, huh . Unn…… . Three…… I think it would be about even then . If it’s against two, then I should win eight or nine out of ten times . Four of them would be difficult, just not losing will take my all . But if it’s somewhere narrower than here, maybe in a forest or a building, then I guess there’s some chance . 」
They are all either strong former mercenaries or former soldiers that had gathered . Just managing against two or three of them at once is already impressive .
Even in the army, it’s not far-fetched to say that less than ten can do that . But conversely speaking, even someone as strong as Moore couldn’t win if it’s against four of them at once .
And against them, if it’s just defeating all ten of them in a row, finding someone capable of that in the Kingdom will be difficult . While Ardis only replied 「Is that so」 at Moore’s answer, he swung the sword with a sharp edge handed over by a servant in a manner to familiarize with it .
「If you’re asking me that, then how many of them are you planning to take on at the same time? 」
「It’s annoying, so all of them . 」
「Eeh!? That’s too much even if……」
At Ardis’s unexpected answer, Moore’s eyes became round . But his expression immediately changed after, and said in a bitter smile .
「……No, I guess it’s easy for you huh . 」
As one of the servants messaged the Duke that the preparation is completed, the Duke signaled the servant that is acting as the judge .
「The swordplay test will now commence . Take front, both sides . 」
Prompted by the judge, under the eyes of the Duke, eleven people gathered at the center of the training grounds . On one hand, there’s Ardis with a composed expression, and on the other, the escorts are all grumpy .
It’s natural . After all, they’re mercenaries or explorers or soldiers that had lived so far thanks to their own strength .
Even if it’s an order from the Duke, a fight of ten against one, and even against a magician that had declared that he wouldn’t use any magic, of course they would be displeased .
But the escorts would’ve never guessed something more outrageous is awaiting them .
「It will be ten matches in a row . Are there no objections? 」
The judge who had thought that it would naturally be ten matches was called out by Ardis .
「It’s not like there’s a need to have ten matches right? Why not all ten of them at once? 」
「What……! 」
The escorts’ faces became darker . They must be feeling humiliation . Although the Duke had heard of his intentions already, he asked again to reconfirm .
「Is that fine? There’s no going back on your words? 」
「No problem . Actually, it’s fine even if Commander Greystar wants to join . 」
As for that, it was once again more than what the Duke had expected . Not just ten on one, he had now said that eleven on one with Moore joining wouldn’t be a problem . The Duke wordlessly sent a gaze to Moore .
Responding to that, Moore’s answer was simple .
「There’s no meaning . 」
Although that answer was enough for the Duke, he asked for the others to understand .
「Meaning? 」
「The result won’t change even adding one or two more people, is what I meant . 」
「What about the result? 」
「Ardis is going to win . 」
It was the escorts that is going to be Ardis’s opponents that reacted most to that . Impossible, is what their faces wrote .
「Fumu . 」
His swordplay, is well known in Gran . Moore that is once strong enough to have his name known, although indirectly, he acknowledged that Ardis isn’t someone he can win against .
Moore’s judgement on Ardis is as such .
「Well, fine . If you can win against ten of them――at the same time, then it’s enough to earn the right to participate in the Lotus Cup . Begin . 」
The Duke signaled the servant .
With that much information given, even the escorts wouldn’t underestimate Ardis as just a magician . Anyone who still underestimate their opponent despite knowing so much have no rights to be eating the residency’s rice .
At the same time, Ardis is serious on taking on ten of them . It’s a situation where both sides can’t spare to be careless .
It’s a fine chance to discern his strength, as the Duke smiled in his mind .
「Yessir . The test will now start . Are both sides ready? 」
After calling out to both sides, the judge raised his right hand straight to the sky .
「Begin! 」
Just as the judge’s arm swung down, the eleven people started moving .
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