Chapter 175

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 .