# 393
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393
“…the person I dealt with.”
Xian’s expression also became serious.
“He is really strong. “Just by meeting him in the stadium, I felt a different pressure from the monster.”
Alea’s eyebrows slightly lifted up. Sian added.
“I knew I couldn’t win no matter what I did. “It’s like I met a wizard stronger than me.”
There was silence between the two for a moment. Area’s eyes seemed to be thinking about something.
‘Maybe the only one among us who can deal with him is Helmut.’
Xian swallowed his words. It is said that wizards have lower interpersonal combat skills than swordsmen, but that is a common case. Because Area might be something different.
Above all, the person who taught her magic was Heike, the best when it comes to artifacts.
Area pointed out.
“He tried to kill you.”
The opponent must have gauged the difference in skill between Sian and himself. It was an excessive attack.
No matter how martial arts may be, intentional murder is not tolerated. You may be disqualified from participating.
Xian nodded with a dark expression.
“Yeah, I heard he hates wizards.”
The moment before I lost consciousness, I could vividly remember the sword strike that seemed to split my body in half.
What was contained in that sword was murderous intent like anger. A fierce and stubborn true intention that even contains a sense of duty to erase the existence of wizards from the face of the earth.
“They say they hate wizards…”
Area muttered. Sian realized that she was thinking the same thing as him.
“And… he was no ordinary swordsman. “What he uses is no ordinary bis.”
So I felt like I knew what that power was and who he was.
After finishing organizing things in her head, Area spoke to Xian.
“We’ll take care of the rest, so just get some rest. “You’ll have to stay in bed for a while.”
Sian was close to death and the shock must have damaged his mind. However, Sian tried to answer with a smile.
“Are you taking care of all my worries?”
“No worries. take good care.”
Area spat with a stern expression and turned her back. She did not admit that the other person misunderstood her feelings, even if she was a patient.
As I left the room, two men came into view.
Asuka was leaning awkwardly against the wall, as if showing her personality, and Helmut was standing upright, unlike her. It was clear they had heard the conversation.
“That golden-eyed bastard is real.”
Asuka’s expression was uncharacteristically serious. A chin full of strength, eyes that sparkle like a fire. He was seriously angry. It looks like he’s going to attack with his sword at any moment.
Area shook her head as if to dissuade him.
“It’s an accident that can easily happen in a martial arts club. There are countless people fighting for their lives. “It’s hard to say that an accident like this was intentional.”
Asuka, with a frown on her face, retorted.
“No, that bastard was strong. “I could have ended it by suppressing Xian.”
Area responded calmly.
“…I may have done my best without letting my guard down. “Is there a law that requires you to look into the situation?”
“No, that bastard tried to kill Xian. “It would have happened if I hadn’t stopped it in time.”
Asuka watched the game. Asuka clearly saw the skill of the man Xian was dealing with.
Asuka could tell because she saw him for a moment that he was thrilled by his skills. The killing intent contained in that sword.
“Because there are many swordsmen who hate wizards.”
Asuka immediately turned on the double wick.
“Are you on that bastard’s side? “Did you want Xian to die?”
“stop.”
Helmut, who was still, stopped him.
“Area doesn’t want you to start an unnecessary fight.”
“So Helmut, you too? Are you just going to tolerate it?”
Helmut, faced with an angry face, responded calmly.
“Just pay it back at the competition and that’s it. “He didn’t break any rules.”
“What are the rules…!”
Helmut warned Asuka, who was wheezing.
“Be aware of who you are. “You’re no longer Asuka, the crazy dog from the Kenjutsu Department, right?”
Heir to the Imperial Family, Archduke Farnese. He was secretly participating in a martial arts club. Shouldn’t we think of the Archduke’s face?
It was an intimidating gaze. In front of those eyes as dark as the abyss, Asuka’s momentum gradually subsided.
“Shit.”
Asuka accidentally hit the wall she was standing on and turned around.
As soon as he disappeared, Helmut turned his head towards Area. Area said after seeing his face.
“Asuka is not the only one who is angry.”
Although he was restrained, Helmut was not unharmed. The somber eyes were unusual.
Xian is also one of the people in Helmut’s domain. The fact that his life was threatened was no different from having the sword pointed directly at Helmut. Helmut muttered.
“Elaga was right.”
Elaga said she felt a strange sensation. As expected, his senses as a monster were accurate.
A swordsman sent from the temple. Since the temple cannot pretend to be a wizard, the only way to have it participate in the martial arts competition is to send a paladin.
A powerful paladin who can hide his divine power.
“I guess they couldn’t just quietly ignore this martial arts event that involved both the temple and the Wizards Association. It’s natural to want to ruin it. “If the temple wins the championship to show off, the martial arts competition held under the banner of the anti-Temple will become a stage to make the temple stand out.”
Area, who recited it as if it were someone else’s business, emphasized.
“What that means is that they must have sent all their strength that they believed could definitely win the championship.”
A cold light passed through Helmut’s eyes.
“Then I guess I’ll have to trample on their promising leader.”
This is Helmut, who has already dealt with a paladin.
Paladins possess only weak sacred power compared to high priests. His level as a prosecutor was not low.
However, I remember not feeling much difficulty dealing with them even back then when I was weaker than I am now.
It’s a martial arts competition where you have to win anyway. The motivation to climb further became stronger. Motivation comes from emotions. Some strong emotions. revenge. In the past and in the present.
“The bracket will be re-determined in the round of 32. “It would be nice to meet him in the finals.”
Helmut’s eyebrows slightly lifted. If you deal with a Paladin, there is a risk of your identity being discovered.
No matter how prepared you are. It would have to be the final stage to face him.
“He could be eliminated before then. Although the possibility is low. And you can meet me instead of you.”
Area laughed as if it was fun.
“But you know what? “You and I might meet before I meet him.”
Helmut flinched. There was no sign of reluctance about the situation at all in Alea’s clear eyes.
Area naturally changed the topic.
“As for him… I’ll take a look. ”
“I think it would be best to tell Charlotte. “I don’t think the organizers know either.”
If Charlotte had known, she would have told Helmut. Area nodded.
She noticed Helmut’s gaze turning towards the door.
“Xian will be fine. “Because he’s an optimistic guy.”
Suddenly, even breathing could be heard from inside.
Sleep helps with recovery. Whether the injury is mental or physical. It was too late to visit the hospital.
“He was eliminated anyway, so he won’t be in any more danger.”
Helmut came to an insensitive conclusion and left there with Area.
*
Among the numerous finalists, the number of participants was gradually narrowed down.
Except for Xian, all of them safely reached the round of 32 after going through the repechage match.
Asuka grumbled a little nervously ahead of the announcement of the bracket.
“It will become increasingly difficult in the future. “This can’t even be compared to the academy’s sword fighting competition.”
In the previous match, Asuka fought fiercely. The opponent was a seasoned mercenary.
He made a movement that seemed to indicate that he had already completed his investigation on Asuka.
The reason Asuka was able to beat him was because she hit him with a bis. Difference in absolute power.
But what if the opponent has similar skills to you, but knows everything about you?
Asuka was a genius, but this martial arts competition was not held at the academy.
There were quite a few swordsmen in the Imperial Knights who were older, more experienced, and even more skilled than him.
Asuka sighed.
“It seems like there are fewer people like us who just attend. “The type that rises by simply defeating the opponents you face.”
“Because the reward is so great.”
Helmut opened his mouth. Asuka stared at his face.
His unluckily aristocratic and handsome face did not show the slightest hint of tension.
He is so cool and calm that he is always static. The reason is simple. Because it is so strong that no variables can affect it.
In fact, as far as Asuka knew, Helmut never had any trouble until he reached the round of 32. As if I only met easy opponents.
Meow. Elaga appeared with a small sound, her tail wagging, and lightly pressed her body against Helmut’s leg.
Who would guess that this little cat is the strongest monster in Pahe Forest?
[You three might all make it before the finals. Are you looking forward to it?]
Front yard fights are the most fun. Elaga, who was a thorough spectator of the martial arts event, was relaxed.
“Rather than that, I’m more looking forward to who will catch up with him first…”
Asuka opened her mouth without thinking, but immediately swallowed her words as she received the gaze of Helmut and Area at the same time.
Elaga was completely unaware of the incident that almost led to Sian’s death. I thought I just lost and was eliminated.
It is a monster that already hates divine power. Because they did not know what kind of unexpected behavior Elaga would show, the fact that the Holy Knight was participating in the tournament was kept a secret.
[Who is he…?]
Elaga’s eyes narrowed. Area quickly changed the topic.
“I guess it’s not that I’m looking forward to it, but that I’m nervous.”
“You might be nervous. “And you?”
However, Area’s eyes, which met Asuka’s gaze, were indifferent.
Even though it was my first martial arts competition, I didn’t seem to be particularly impressed with my achievements.
Helmut and her case were different. It is not easy for a wizard with little experience in interpersonal combat to rise to this level in a martial arts club.
“Now that I think about it, I haven’t seen your game even once.”
Asuka tilted her head. Unfortunately, because the competition times were similar, I did not have the opportunity to watch Area play. I would have moved up because I won.
Area, no, Violet was the only wizard in the top 32.
Martial arts competitions are not thought to be a suitable event for wizards. There were many people who were reluctant to do so for fear of getting injured.
A high-ranking wizard already enjoys high status and wealth. There is no reason to participate in a martial arts competition at the risk of losing one’s reputation. In fact, it was the same for Area.
If Helmut hadn’t been there, there would have been no reason for her to attend.
And since she was in attendance, she had to win. It was an obsession that was ingrained in her, who had never once missed the top honors from Greta Academy entrance to graduation.
Perhaps even more important than her affection for Helmut.
And soon the bracket was announced.