Chapter 180

The second day of Lotus Cup . Sixteen matches were done in the first day, and sixteen participants were eliminated already .

Eight matches is planned for the second day . Ardis’s match will be the sixth . Moore who had already won in the first match of the day obligatorily sent out Ardis .

「Apparently, it’s the famous kid from the assault platoon . Since the assault platoon is set up by Marquis Holguin, they’re literally reared by the Marquis . Be careful since it’s certain they will target you . 」

「Don’t worry . I know . 」

Lightly brushing off Moore’s warning, Ardis stepped towards the arena .

The spectators that had been with cheers started murmuring .

It’s natural . Although Ardis is famous as a mercenary, that only amounts to his title of 『Countless Swords Sorcerer』 .

It’s already considered weird he would participate in the Lotus Cup despite magic is forbidden, on top of that, he had won in his first match . Most of the spectators must’ve seen the spectacle of Ardis’s match yesterday .

Despite that, they must’ve thought that it might’ve been a fluke . Rather than cheers, the murmurs indicated that the audience had not grasped on Ardis’s strength .

Like yesterday, Ardis brought a sword with dulled edge onto the arena . His opponent that entered from the opposite is a young man . His age looks to be in the early twenties .

Although his face wasn’t the prettiest nor the worst, his large eyes gave off a strong-willed impression . His weapon of choice is a short spear about as long as his height .

From his clothing which is the uniform of the Royal Army, it’s easy to guess that he’s affiliated with the army . The same explanation from the judge as the first match took place, and the match started with the both taking five steps away from each other .

The two took few steps towards each other in silence . Albeit short, the opponent holds a spear .

His reach is much longer than Ardis’s sword . As the distance between them closed within three meters, the soldier asked suddenly .

「I don’t know what tricks you used but, a magician treading on the glorious stage of the Lotus Cup…… . Stupidity has its limit . 」

The soldier that had been quiet so far was spiteful in the first sentence .

「Have you not seen the match yesterday? 」

Ardis had known from the start the people’s perception of him being a magician participating in the Lotus Cup . That is why Ardis had made it obvious in the first match .

It was not a victory by chance, anyone who had paid attention yesterday would’ve understood that .

「You might be able to get by doing deals under the table with another mercenary, but it won’t work against us from the army! 」

「Aah, there’s that thinking too huh……」

It seems like his first match was suspected to be just a show of backroom dealing . Since his opponent was another mercenary, he was suspected to be match-fixing .

I see, as Ardis was weirdly convinced . The murmurs from the spectators as well would make sense if they’re suspecting that too .

「I shall not let you defile the great Lotus Cup any longer . The Marquis had ordered directly to not show any mercy . If you have a grudge, blame it on your own arrogance to take part in a martial arts tournament! 」

It seems like the first match was not enough to overturn the perception on Ardis . Ardis shrugged inwardly as it seemed like the preconceived opinions on him was greater than he expected .

「That so . I won’t hold back either then . 」

He showed that he can easily defeat his opponent without using sword magic in the first match . He managed to defeat his opponent after receiving attacks from the mercenary .

But since it’s the second match, Ardis had no reason to put up a show just to appeal his strength . All that left is to fulfil his purpose .

It’s easy to win . But just winning won’t calm his irritation . After all, as well as the incident of targeting his pupil, Ardis intends to return his regards of getting separated from this world for an entire year forcefully .

Blowing away the short spear? No, that would decide the outcome instantly .

Beat his opponent with his sword? No . If it hits a critical spot, then the match is over, and even if any wasn’t hit, the match is over if he’s incapacitated as well .

Ardis’s choice was to break the opponent’s heart and force him to forfeit . Unlike the mercenary yesterday, he need not spare mercy for the soldier that is hostile towards him .

There’s no need to play along with him who had been disrespectful from the start . The next moment, Ardis kicked against the ground .

Closing the distance instantly, Ardis hit the short spear up in the air . Ardis who had suddenly closed in had a sword at the soldier’s throat .

The soldier swallowed his breath at the sudden attack . But that’s just a short moment . Ardis immediately withdrew his sword .

「What, are you not coming? 」

Ardis took a few steps back and provoked . Provoked by that, the soldier who already was full of fighting intent stabbed with his spear sharply .

It was not a shabby stab . Since he’s in the Lotus Cup, it is enough to be a sight . But his aim was too straight .

It’s a young stab, Ardis had a bad remark on him . Although it’s sharp, Ardis could read its obvious trajectory and redirect them easily . Stepping forward, while the sword in his right hand pinned down the blade of the spear, Ardis yanked the soldier by the arm and made him fall forcefully .

And within the flow, Ardis’s sword touched the opponent’s neck . But since it was such a short moment between the fast-paced movements, the judge nor any spectators managed to notice it .

「Second . 」

Ardis immediately released him and retreated before saying so . The soldier who understood the meaning behind that was filled with rage .

Regardless to whatever he was feeling, Ardis dashed in . Dodging the two spear attacks that came his way by swaying his body, Ardis hit on the spear handle towards the ground and dived deeper .

In a distance that the two almost crashed into each other, Ardis’s left hand stretched, grasped and released the soldier’s neck in only a moment . However, from the judge’s perspective, Ardis’s body was blocking that action .

「Third . 」

Ardis was counting the number of fatalities that the opponent would’ve suffered . That would mean he would’ve died three times over in an actual fight .

It’s exactly that the soldier understood that that his face looked like he swallowed dirt . But Ardis didn’t stop there .

Skillfully manipulating his position to not let the judge see the decisive hit, he would repeat touching the opponent’s neck either with his sword or his hand .

Of course, he never forgot to count each time it happened .

「Sixteen . 」

No matter how foolish his opponent might be, he would be forced to understand the difference in ability after getting shown that his vital spots can be hit that easily . The rage-filled face that was apparent in the beginning too had lost its color by the tenth time .

It had now surpassed white and in the blue territory . And of course, with that many exchanges repeated, there’re spectators that noticed the irregularity as well .

「Hey, wasn’t that on a vital spot? 」

「Really? The judge would’ve said something otherwise . 」

「Since the judge hadn’t said anything, then isn’t it a no count? 」

「But it looked like the sword stopped just at his neck or chest multiple times already though……」

「Yeah . They’re vital hits no matter how I see it . 」

The spectators started to murmur in a different meaning than in the beginning . Ardis had aimed for the vital spots only when the judge couldn’t see it from his angle .

But in other words, anyone who is looking other than from that angle saw it as bright as the day . For those who are familiar with martial arts or those who have good eyes, they must be starting to realize what’s happening .

The murmurs were heard by the soldier too . Even an amateur could tell Ardis is overwhelming him .

And of course, for those who lives by fighting, they must’ve noticed Ardis’s true abilities long by now .

It can be said that the soldier’s reputation is hitting rock bottom . What an untasteful personality I have, Ardis smiled bitterly inwardly .

But since he had participated with the purpose of humiliating Marquis Holguin, he wouldn’t show any mercy for those that are on his side .

「Seventeen . 」

Dodging the soldier’s attack and circling to his back, Ardis poked behind him where his heart would be . If that was a dagger, then it would’ve meant the soldier died instantly .

Although Ardis immediately retreated in preparation for his next move, did his opponent finally lose his will, he collapsed on the ground listlessly .

Even though the match will end if Ardis put a sword at his neck now, Ardis decided to stay back and watch .

An awkward silence ruled a few moments, then he declared .

「………………I forfeit . 」

The words that were wrung out were that the soldier admitted his own defeat . All his attacks were dodged, or invalidated, and the counter attacks that came for him easily reached for his vital spots .

The league is apparent, but his opponent didn’t seem like he wanted the match to end . His heart that would be shaved off whenever the count raised finally broke at the seventeenth time .

The humiliation of him forfeiting in the match, needless to say himself, the master of the faction, what would Marquis Holguin be feeling now .

「Of course, it’s not my intentions to stop at just this much . 」

Looking at the nobles seating where the Marquis is at, Ardis muttered the words that wouldn’t reach .

「Match! 」

Among the noisy murmurs of the spectators, the judge finally declared Ardis’s victory .