Chapter 179

It’s your turn next . When is it again? 」

Moore returned from his first match and asked Ardis .

「The eleventh match . 」

「Then there’s still a lot of time left . Wanna return to the spectating room? 」

Looking away from Moore’s suggestion, Ardis’s gaze was on the noble’s seatings .

「What’s the matter? 」

Similarly, as Moore looked at where Ardis was looking, he became 「Oh my」 .

「That’s quite a glare . 」

Not even looking anywhere close to the arena where the 3rd match is currently ongoing, there was a middle-aged man who had been glaring at Moore ever since the end of the Moore’s match .

He was a thin person with a flimsy impression . His appearance didn’t seem dignified at all .

But since he’s sitting in the noble’s seatings and wearing good clothes, he must be some high ranking noble .

「Someone you know? 」

「Rather, that’s the Marquis Holguin in question . Well, he must be thinking of us as pesky bugs . Have you not seen him before? 」

He is the perpetrator and the reason behind why Minerva was targeted and Ardis and Moore missing from this world for an entire year .

「That’s the Marquis huh……」

「Since someone not under him like me won, he must be really irritated . I mean, your turn to get that glare is not far from now but……, well, it’s too late to say anything now right? 」

「Yeah . 」

Replying simply to Moore’s word of warning, Ardis switched his gaze onto the fight happening on the arena . The match between the mercenary and the explorer are still undecided, the spectators are even more fired up than when Moore’s match was easily decided .

***

It was about past noon when Ardis’s turn finally came . After being sent off by Moore, Ardis had chosen a sword about the same size as 『Skies of Myriad Colors』 and headed off to the arena .

His opponent is a mercenary active in the capital . With leather armor covering himself, he’s holding a slightly longer sword .

Seeing the handle and even the blade is several parts longer, Ardis thought that it must be a sword intended for two-handed use rather than one .

「I know of your stories . Having the strength to subjugate the Three Great Demons by yourself . But sorry, is this a joke or what? This is a martial arts tournament . Why a magician like you is here? 」

The opposing mercenary was appraising Ardis .

「Why huh……, it’s a simple reason . To win . 」

Since he would be making troubles for the Duke if he said his real purpose, he had no choice to make one up .

「Even if the weapon are blunt, it will still kill someone if hit the wrong spot . And having no protective gear, are you stupid or what? 」

Unlike the mercenary who had armor, Ardis can be said totally naked . Not even a shield in his hand, he only had clothes that looked like a robe befitting a magician .

It’s too uncertain to even refer something like that as wearing defensive gear . Even a blunt weapon could easily shatter bones with its weight .

It’s natural why the mercenary was pointing that out .

「Defensive gear is only useful when you actually take a hit though . 」

「……I gave my warning . 」

The mercenary’s brows quivered at Ardis arrogant words, and showed that he wouldn’t care any more and turned around . Similarly, Ardis took distance, and as if their timing matched, both of them turned back towards each other at the same time .

「Ready, begin! 」

The judge declared the start .

The first to move is the mercenary .

But as expected, he didn’t underestimate Ardis to not have any countermeasures against himself rushing, so he’s approaching very carefully .

「I don’t know how a magician like you plan to fight but―― 」

The mercenary took his sword with both hand and swung .

「Don’t underestimate a swordsman too much . 」

The target of the sword was Ardis’s wrist . It seems that he plans to disarm Ardis with a strong blow and win by that .

「Who’s the one though . 」

Ardis had a bitter smile as he was underestimated . Perhaps he was suspicious of a magician participating in such a martial arts tournament, so he approached carefully, but still he must’ve underestimated Ardis somehow .

The moment when he thought he can end the match in just one move without even a feint showed his misjudgment in Ardis’s strength . Ardis tilted the blade of his sword, and redirected the blow that came for his wrist .

「I see, so you’re not a total amateur huh? 」

The mercenary took distance while a little impressed . After breathing once, the mercenary dashed in once again .

Three continuos slashes .

The horizontal slash for his right flank was avoided with a backstep, the diagonal slash coming at his shoulder was parried, and the last aiming for his abdomen was dodged with a sidestep .

「I will have to acknowledge that you’re not just a magician . 」

It was a combo that would’ve finished anyone not on par easily . Having dodged all of them easily, the mercenary renewed his appraisal on Ardis .

「I’m going serious now . 」

「Suit yourself . 」

The mercenary’s attack became even more furious than before . It seems like he had decided to go all out having recognized Ardis as a worthy foe, but for Ardis, it’s not something he cared anyways .

The countless times when his sword was swung, Ardis sometimes dodged, sometimes parried, and sometimes redirected them .

It would appear that Ardis is disadvantageous at first glance since Ardis is only on the defensive side . But even the spectators could probably notice that Ardis is easily dealing with all the attacks without breaking a sweat .

At the very least, the opposing mercenary had realized that .

「Why are you not attacking? 」

「I don’t want them to think I won by chance you see . 」

「How easygoing . 」

「At the very least, I’m intending to not let my guard down . 」

A short exchange while their sword didn’t stop .

On one hand, the expression is becoming a little anxious, and on the other hand, the expression is still completely calm .

「It’s about time for me to go . 」

About five minutes had passed since the match started . It wasn’t a long time by any means .

But having defended against his opponent’s sword for that long, the spectators would recognize that Ardis has considerable experience in close quarters combat . Though, it might look like he’s barely holding onto the match defending against the offensive mercenary .

In any case, that ends here too . Ardis switched his defense into offense . Parrying the mercenary’s sword up into the air strongly, Ardis stepped in seeing a gap .

「What! 」

Although the mercenary tried to retreat seeing Ardis approached him suddenly, Ardis wouldn’t easily let him go .

Another blow towards the mercenary’s sword that is one beat later than the retreating mercenary .

「Kuh! 」

If it’s an actual battle, if the mercenary had a spare weapon, he wouldn’t have to forcefully grip the sword even with an uncertain stance . But in this match, losing his weapon would basically spell defeat .

And of course, knowingly it’s a bad move, the mercenary did not let go of his sword, causing his stance to collapse . Although Ardis added on a kick onto the mercenary’s leg, he’s still a warrior who had trained in actual battles .

Seeing through Ardis’s intentions in a moment’s notice, he let Ardis’s kick boost him and take distance .

「That’s not how a magician moves . 」

The mercenary look surprised .

「Is that so? 」

Ardis stepped forward while acting oblivious . Ardis swung towards the mercenary left shoulder from his right leg .

「What! 」

Although managed to block it, the mercenary looked surprised . After all, he almost fell because of Ardis’s unrestrained blow .

Panickily taking few steps backwards, he firmed his grip on the two-handed sword .

「Was that strengthened with magic? 」

Although the mercenary suspected it, Ardis simply denied it .

「No way that’s the case though . I think this armband is supposed to prevent that? 」

「But……」

The armband that the participants need to wear are for the reason of preventing any outside interference with magic . The effect is very simple .

Within a radius of three meters of the wearer, all mana is disabled . The same mechanism is present on the shackles for criminals, slaves, or cast-away people .

It was the same pattern on the 『Circlet of cast-away people』 that he saw on Fillia and Riana when they first met . The only difference being that Ardis can easily remove it at will .

It’s different from the shackles that would cause immense pain if removed forcefully .

「We both can’t use magic . But it’s not like physical strength is sealed too right? 」

Although under the same conditions, the mercenary was easily overpowered by Ardis . In other words, without magic, Ardis’s raw strength is on par with the mercenary, or much greater .

「……」

The mercenary looked speechless .

He must’ve realized Ardis’s strength after exchanging swords .

「Well, let’s resume? 」

Without waiting for an answer, Ardis stepped forward . His legs kicked against the ground, and easily closed the distance to the mercenary in a moment .

「Fast!? 」

Delivering a punch into the guts of the mercenary who swung his sword by reflex, Ardis like flowing water circled around to his opponent’s back .

Although the mercenary struggled to counterattack towards his back, something like that wouldn’t work of course . Before the blade even reached, the mercenary’s wrist was held firmly with one of Ardis’s hands .

「It’s the end . 」

Saying that, Ardis’s sword was touching the mercenary’s neck . Seeing Ardis suddenly turned around the fight in just a few moves, the whole of the spectators went up in cheers .

「Match! 」

The judged declared Ardis’s victory . Just as Ardis heard the judge, he withdrew the sword and his grip on the mercenary’s wrist .

「Ahh――, a loss . A complete loss . 」

The mercenary who accepted his defeat massaged at his neck where Ardis’s sword was touching just now .

「A magician with that kind of moves, it’s plain cheating . 」

While delivering a grumble to Ardis .

For the mercenary, all he could do is curse at his bad luck for encountering Ardis at the first match .

In the public eyes, if the news of him losing against a magician in the tournament spreads, it would hinder his future work . Of course, Ardis understood why he was grumbling .

「Though I don’t recall having named myself a magician before . 」

「What? Aren’t you the 『Sword Magic User』? Isn’t it because of it that you can subjugate the Three Great Demons? 」

The mercenary tilted at Ardis’s unexpected words .

「It’s true that I can use magic, too, but I never said that’s the only thing I can do . 」

Hearing that answer, the mercenary looked convinced .

「……it’s something like that huh . 」

「Something like that it is . 」

Losing in a sword fight with a magician would mean his reputation will reach rock bottom . But if Ardis is not just a magician, then it’s a different story .

「Then, at least win your second match . If you go down after this match, I will be even worse than a clown . 」

「Don’t worry . I will make sure you won’t be ashamed of losing to me . 」

Ardis’s purpose in the Lotus Cup is not to smear the reputation of his opponents, but Marquis Holguin’s .

Even more so since the mercenary is an outsider as well .

Leaving aside if Ardis didn’t personally like him, Ardis didn’t intend to make enemies out of anyone .

「Seriously……, the world is wide huh . 」

Saying that, the mercenary hit Ardis’s shoulder lightly, before going down the stage to the waiting room .