The last day of the Fuyo Cup (Lotus Cup).
　Aldis appeared in the arena as a contestant on the day when there was only one more match left in the exciting battle that had been going on day after day.

　The bleachers were filled with citizens, and there were even standing-room-only spectators.
　This is the big event that comes along once a year.
　The fact that this was the final match, and the fact that a non-military person could advance to the final match, added to the spectators' enthusiasm.

　His opponent in the final is a man named Kamran, who is the Deputy Commander of the Third Division.
　He had never won the Fuyo Cup, but he had made it to the final twice in the past Fuyo Cup (Lotus Cup).
　This time, he is the favorite to win the Fuyo Cup, and he has the ability to make it to the finals with his undaunted fighting style, just like his reputation.

''You're the magician of a thousand swords who is said to have kicked out foreign troops in the imperial battle.

What then?

　Ardis advanced to the center of the arena and his opponent approached him.

'If you've seen your fights so far, you'll know you're not just a magician. You didn't come here as a joke or a prank, and you didn't come out to mock us.

　No, I'm out to mock you guys and embarrass you,' Aldis thought inwardly, but remained silent.

It's a very good idea to have a good idea. I know it's bad, but--

　For a moment, Kamran's words were cut off and his expression clouded over.
　However, he immediately tightened his face and turned his strong gaze towards Ardis and said, ''You can't lose.

''We can't afford to lose.

Of course. I'm not fighting to lose, you know.

　Despite being somewhat caught up in Kamran's way of saying it, Aldis returned the words without interruption.

'Both sides are ready to go, aren't they?'

　The referee gives a final check to the two men who are about to make a decision.

　The judges were different from the ones in the semi-finals.
　After receiving so much criticism from the audience, they probably couldn't go to the final stage.
　If the referee had been there, the crowd would have booed him, and it would have been out of the question.
　It was a wise decision to replace him with a different referee.

　Of course, the referee who took his place this time is probably also at the mercy of Marquis Olguin.
　There was no changing the fact that you can't let your guard down.

　Aldis observed his opponent, Kamran.

　From the looks of it, he was in his mid-thirties. This is the age when he is at his prime as a warrior.
　He is about half a head taller than Aldis, and his muscles wrap around his toned body like armor.
　He is not too thick to sacrifice speed, but not too thin to lack physical strength.
　For someone who puts himself in the middle of a fight, his physique looks well-balanced.

　His gain (e-mono) was a bastard sword that could be held in one or both hands.
　The small shield fixed to his left arm was large enough to wield the sword in both hands and not get in the way.

　The armor he wears is leather armor that prioritizes ease of movement.
　It covered the minimum range so as not to compromise agility, while focusing on protecting joints and vital points.

　Judging from his equipment, he might have been more of a speed-conscious fighter.
　At the very least, he didn't seem to be the type to push with power.

''Then, both sides are in position.''

　At the judge's signal, Aldis takes five steps down to move away from his opponent.

'Well, what do you think he's going to do about it?

　Aldis was jostled alone by no one.

　The day before the semi-finals, he was sent an assassin, and in the match, there was an unfair decision by the judges.
　The fact is that even after the semi-finals, a group of unsettling characters almost surrounded them, but it was too much trouble to deal with them, so they quickly left the capital and scattered them on their way back to the forest.

　I'm not sure that the Marquis of Olguin, who has been interfering with Ardis one after another, is just going to be watching with his fingers crossed now.
　There must be something in his hands.

　The alert Aldis heard the judge's signal in his ears.

'Begin!'

　Aldis and Kamran begin to move at the same time.

　But their movements are slow as they probe each other's way out.
　Aldis takes half a step forward, and Kamran closes the distance by half a step to match it.

　It was Kamran who caught his opponent in time first.

　The moment Kamran's arm moved, Aldis also moved into evasive action.

　A blow from the side cleave, released from almost no preliminary movement, strikes Ardis.
　It's a good idea to be able to have a good idea of what you're looking for when you're ready to buy.

''T.''

　With a light voice, Aldis sinks down and attempts to dive straight into Kamran's bosom.

　But as expected of the leading contender.
　Kamran's bastard sword changed its trajectory and chased Aldis further.

　Giving up on the attack, Ardis uses his own sword as a shield to escape the bastard sword, and turns away in the opposite direction.
　The sword that failed to catch Ardis cut through the sky.

　Once again, the distance between them closes, and this time Ardis takes the lead.
　After one feint, Kamran parries an attack aimed at the leg with his sword.

　After three rounds of sword strikes, both sides got away from each other without either side.

''It would be a shame to leave them as sorcerers.

Thank you for that.

　It's a good idea to be able to have a good time with them.

　It's a very good idea to have a good idea of what you're looking for.

　Kamran held the bastard sword in both hands.
　After confirming Ardis's strength, it's probably time to turn into a full-fledged offensive.

　The same was true for Aldis, who was measuring the opponent's strength.
　It's true that he is considered a candidate to win the Fuyo Cup (Lotus Cup), and his strength is even greater than the assault squadron leader who fought in the semi-finals.
　But even so, he is not a threat to Ardis, and he has come to the conclusion that he is not a threat to Ardis.
　It's a good match with Moore, who fought in the third round, and Ted, the leader of "Byakuya no Meisei".

　Ardis also holds his sword in line with Kamran.
　Will he decide the match early, or will he take his time to show the audience the difference in his abilities?
　Just as he was wondering how he would be able to damage the Marquis of Olguin, Aldis' eyes catch something incredible.

''What?''

　The reason for this is because there was a magic power in Kamran's sword that should not normally be seen in the battle for the Fuyo Cup (Lotus Cup).

　But how many people other than Aldis in the arena had noticed it?
　In this world, there are few people who can see magic power.
　What is commonplace in the world Aldis grew up in is accepted as an insane ability in this world.

　The only people who can perceive the flow of magic power in this world are, as far as Aldis knows, himself and Nere.
　Probably most or all of the people in this arena, including those in the audience, will not be able to check the presence or absence of magic power with their own eyes.
　That's why the Lotus Cup, which forbids magic, has a bracelet on each contestant's arm to block out the magic so that everyone can see it.

But the bracelets are available at ......

　Without a doubt, Kamran was also wearing the same shaped bracelet as Ardis.
　I'm sure you'll be able to see the flow of magic power into the bracelet as well.

　I'm sure you'll be able to see more magic power flowing through Ardis' eyes as she wonders what is going on.
　It's not just a matter of time before you get to the point where you'll be able to get your hands on it.
　I'm sure you'll be able to find a lot of people who are interested in this.

　Kamran's bracelet remained silent for the time being - no, silent was not an accurate description.
　It was because the bracelet itself also showed a movement of magic power.

　It's a very good idea to have a good idea of what you're looking for.

　So that's how it is, Aldis understands.
　I don't know what kind of function the bracelets worn by Kamran are doing, but the enemy's aim is now clear.

　It pits Ardis, who is forbidden to use magic at all, against Kamran, who is supported and strengthened by magic power.
　That must be Marquis Olguin's plan.

''Haha ......''

　An uncharacteristic laugh was let out of Ardis's mouth the moment he realized what the Marquis of Olguin was trying to do.

　It was likely that what Kamran was wearing was a different one that resembled the bracelet Aldis was wearing.
　There is probably a sorcerer hiding somewhere in the arena casting support and strengthening magic on Kamran.

　If the bracelet is a false object, of course it has no power to block magic, and a person who can't see magic can't understand their dishonesty.

　I'm sure the bracelets that are given to Ardis have their original function.
　The bracelet blocks the magic power, and of course if you try to use magic by removing the bracelet, you are bound to be declared a foul loss in the blink of an eye.

　Although some doubts remain, it would mean that Ardis would have to fight Kamran, who received full magical support, with no magic power at all.

　With or without magic power, the abilities he could demonstrate would also vary greatly.
　Even if the improvement in physical ability alone creates a difference in power of nearly double, and if magic power is strengthened to weapons and armor, the side that uses magic power usually wins, even if there is a slight difference in ability.

　In fact, it can be said that the difference between a monster and a beast is whether or not it has a special attack method or not or whether or not it uses magic power to strengthen its body.
　It's because they use magic power that they are demons.
　If you were able to put the bracelet that Ardis wears on a demon, perhaps even a demon with terrifying power would be weakened to a degree no different than a mere ferocious carnivorous beast.

　To that extent, the presence or absence of magic power would affect strength.
　It's still a different story if the races are different, but if two people of the same race fought each other with only one of them not being able to use their magic power, victory or defeat was clearer than a flash in the pan.

''Haha......, hahahaha.''

　A dry laugh followed from Aldis's mouth.

'I see. So it comes. I know, right? You will, won't you?'

　Normally, no matter how you think about it, there is no way you can win the fight.
　From the audience's point of view, it looks like Aldis suddenly burst out laughing without warning.

　The only people who can understand what Ardis is saying are those who are able to perceive the flow of magic, or those who know what she's up to.
　The Marquis of Olguin himself, the people in the vicinity, the sorcerers who are providing magical support to Kamran from somewhere, and of course the judges, are all likely to be accomplices.

　Kamran himself had probably heard the story beforehand.
　Otherwise, he would have shown more or less confusion at the sudden casting of magic on him.
　The reason why Kamran said 'I know it's bad,' before the start of the game is because he had heard the plan beforehand.

'I see, it's true, under normal circumstances, there is no way I would win. Under normal circumstances.

　While saying so with her mouth, there was no impatience in Aldis' expression.
　On the contrary, there was even a smile on her face.

　It's not that I'm desperate.
　It's not that I've given up on winning.
　But the trembling that ran through his body awakened the heartbeat of battle, which he had forgotten.

　Normally, this would be a situation where there is no way to win.
　But even though there were fetters in place due to the presence or absence of magical power, Ardis still intended to win.

　It's not just a matter of time before you'll be able to get your hands on a new one.
　Only when he was at such a disadvantage was there a possibility of defeat for Ardis.

　Since I came to this world, I had a feeling of a decent fight that I hadn't felt in a long time.
　Sight, hearing, smell, and thought are becoming more and more acute as if they have shaken off a haze.

　It's true that your life is not at stake.
　But that single point, "We may lose," is what makes Ardis' heart soar.

　It's a good thing that you're not going to be able to find a way to make a difference.

I'm sure you'll be able to find it. I'll accept the challenge.