I thought there was a slight chance of winning at least.

　After the decision was made, Moore blurted out as he walked alongside Ardis, who was about to leave the arena.

It's a good thing that we have a lot of good reasons for this. It's not a good idea.

　It's a good idea to have a good time with them.
　I'm sure you have no regrets because of the loss, but I'm sure you have no regrets because you fought to the best of your ability and were not able to match it.

"We've been fighting on the battlefield for nearly twenty years with allies and enemies like animals. We can't lose easily.

　A word of concern is directed at him, which is unusual for Aldis, who is almost indifferent to the opponents he usually fights.
　That's because he recognizes Moore's ability.

'I can't even imagine someone you'd describe as a buckethead. It's not hard to imagine a world where demons like that are walking around in the middle of nowhere.

　Perhaps it reminded him of Neduro and the dark blue water demons he had encountered in the other world.
　With a stunned expression, Moore's shoulders slumped.

　It's not that he's weak.
　It's not that I'm not a fan of the idea.
　It's a good thing that you're not going to have to worry about the fact that you're not going to have to worry about the fact that you're not going to have to worry about the fact that you're not going to have to worry about the fact that you're not going to have to worry about the fact that you're not going to have to worry about the fact that you're not going to have to worry about it.

　But there is a fundamental difference in the strength of living beings between this world and the other.
　I'm sure you'll be able to find a way to make a name for yourself as a warrior if you come from the other world, even if you're a mere merchant who doesn't make a living fighting for a living.
　So Ardis, in his own words, applauds Moore's efforts.

"If you were born and raised in the other world, you'd be a lot stronger than I am," he says. "If you were born and raised in the other world, you'd be much stronger and more of a monster than I am. I'm sure the Duke has the ability to recognize your strength, and he won't be dismayed to see you win. The rest of the time, you can just sit back and watch from the high ground. The rest is just like a trial run for the rest.

　Semifinals and finals. Moore looked at Aldis, who described his battle with the elite of the winning Lotus Cup as a digestible affair, as if to say that his fight with Moore was in fact the final of the Fuyo Cup.
　It's practically like saying the battle with Moore was the final of the Fuyo Cup," he said.

'I'd have thought he'd be a man who had no connection to ...... that kind of concern.

Really?　I'm nice to my friends, I am.

'Yes, yes, I hope I don't turn against you.

　Aldis left the arena with a shrug of the shoulders and a frightened Moore.





　In one corner of the VIP section, a man sat in an extravagant chair, staring at the arena without stooping.
　His expression shows his displeasure, and his nervous face is even more rugged.

　He was the Marquis Olguin himself, the military stalwart who was practically in charge of the Fuyo Cup (Lotus Cup).

''Are you dissatisfied, sir?''

　It is the white-haired old man who speaks to his master from behind.
　It's clear from his appearance that he is a servant of the nobleman.

"Isn't this exactly what we had planned?

　He had been the hands and feet of the Marquis for more than forty years, and he was naturally one of the few people who knew both the front and back of his master's face.
　He knew that the Marquis of Olguin had manipulated the combination of the tournament to bring the two contestants into conflict with each other at the behest of the Duke of Nilesteria, and he knew the plan.
　I'm sure you'll be happy to know that the Marquis is not happy with the way he's acting, even though he has eliminated one of them as he intended.

'As planned ....... Yes, that's right. The plan to sift through just one of the two that had to be welcomed as contestants at the duke's insistence, while the other was still in play, worked. But ......

What's the matter?

　The marquis was stunned.

What did you think when you saw that battle?

That's true. I don't enjoy swords, so I can only speak from a layman's point of view: ......, but it wasn't a very classy fight, was it?

'...... Right. It's not exactly classy.

　Despite agreeing with the old side servant's opinion, the Marquis's voice was filled with disappointment.
　After three breaths of silence, the Marquis opened his mouth again.

'But strong.'

　The words were spat out in frustration.

''It was certainly enough for His Excellency the Duke to recommend it, but is it enough to bother the Master?''

'You may not understand, but that thing is dangerous. I had heard about Moore Greystar's abilities, but I didn't think he was such a good user. If he was bad, he could have even made it to the finals. In that sense, it's fortunate that I was able to sift through them. However, the problem is with the 'Magician of a Thousand Swords' who won. In the forbidden martial arts tournament of magic, no matter how much fame you made in the earlier battles, you were still careless about what a sorcerer could do. ...... That's dangerous.

　The Marquis repeats the same expression and mentions the danger of it.

'Not so much?'

　Although the Marquis has already reached the age of primogeniture and no longer takes the field of battle, he has commanded soldiers and thrown himself into battles against the Empire when he was young.
　Although the Marquis himself cannot be said to be flattered by his military prowess, as a commander, he must have seen many strong men as military leaders after he retired from the front lines.
　As long as that marquis even piles on the words to describe him as dangerous, there is no doubt that that young sorcerer is a more troublesome opponent than the old side servant thinks.

''Oh. I'm sure you'll be able to find a way to make the most of your time in the city. That's the same kind of person. I don't know if we can win at Kamrang or not. ......

"How dare that sorcerer defeat Kamran?

　The winner of this competition. When the name of the deputy commander of the third division, the strongest in Marquis Olguin's faction, comes out of the Marquis' mouth, the old side servant shouts in surprise.

''Not good. Not good. ......

　The marquis's impatience fell out of his mouth.

I'm not going to let my daughter's abomination be shown to His Majesty and His Royal Highnesses at this critical time when she's about to be crowned the next Crown Princess. ......

　Having strong influence within the military and having numerous handlers within the faction was the source of power for Marquis Olguin.
　It was based on the achievements accumulated by the faction's officers in the annual Fuyo Cup (Lotus Cup), where they continued to dominate the top results.

　However, if an out-of-faction mercenary, and even a sorcerer, were to snatch the championship here, the Marquis' face would be ruined.
　To him, that would be nothing more than a nightmare.
　Then, to avoid that nightmare, the Marquis needed to take all the necessary steps.

''We have no choice but to ask you to resign(──) from the semifinals?

　As if he had seen through the Lord's mind, the old side servant makes a suggestion.

'...... Well, let's ask him to decline. But your opponent is a tough one. A half-hearted messenger could get you beaten back.

Yes. I'll send one of my best men to do it for you.

You can be a little forceful, and I'll take care of the people around me even if they get hurt. Be generous with your money. Tell them not to neglect the quality and the number of things, and never underestimate them.

Yes, sir.

　The old sidekeeper bowed reverently and left, leaving the place to another sidekeeper.





　A few blocks away from where the Marquis of Olguin was, in the noble seat.
　Minerva, the Duchess of Nilesteria, who had been watching the battle between Aldis and Moore, exhaled deeply.

''That was as good as it gets.''

　The Duke spoke briefly to his daughter, who finally relaxed her clenched fist.

''Yes, you two were both excellent swordsmen.

　The answering daughter's words were filled with reverence for them.
　The look of exuberance on her face showed that it was a genuine feeling that emanated from the bottom of her heart.

''Even though you lost, Moore's sword was still brilliant. If we had fought the first combination, we might have made it to the finals. Indeed, the Marquis of Olguin is going too far.

　So there was a pause, and the Duke took a glass of wine from the side table and moistened his mouth.

''However, Aldis-kun's swordsmanship was beyond that. Even though you've done it once, it's still a waste of power to leave it as a sorcerer.

''Naturally. There's no one else who can stand up to Master's sword skills.

　Following the duke's words, Minerva showed a look of strength as if it was her own matter.

''Sword magic is an extension of swordsmanship.''

Hmm?　What's that?

　The duke questioned the words that his daughter had suddenly uttered.

''Those are the words my master mentioned. Sword magic is only one of the many sword arts, fundamentally no more or less than sword arts. He said that at the root, it's sword art, and the essence of sword magic is to supplement it with magic power.

I see. So a first-rate sword martial art is only as good as the first-rate sword martial art.

'Yes. I've just seen my master's sword and I've realized that it is the truth.

　The current Minerva could understand why Aldis wanted to tap into the swordsmanship first, when she wished herself to be taught sword magic.

　Aldis was a swordsman from the beginning, and he is still a swordsman.
　Even when he was sent to the other world and in this Fuyo Cup (Lotus Cup), Aldis did not use a single sword magic.
　His strength, the root of his strength, is probably not in sword magic, but in swordsmanship.

　He refined his swordsmanship and mastered the art of swordsmanship, and one of the techniques in this process was sword magic.
　Finally, Minerva understood that it was a misguided attempt to learn sword magic from the beginning.

　Ardis would surely continue to teach Minerva swordsmanship in the future.
　And in the midst of it all, as one of the many sword skills, there will surely come a time when she will be taught sword magic one day.

　That's why--''

''The first thing you must attain is a first-rate swordsman.

　Minerva's determination was spun out of her little mouth as she saw no mistaking the goal she needed to reach.