# 399
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399
Area met an easier opponent than Helmut and successfully advanced to the semifinals.
It is the best achievement by a wizard in such a competition in history.
It wouldn’t have been easy if I had met someone like Helmut’s opponent this time, but Area had good luck throughout.
What was especially important was that, as a wizard, I did not encounter difficult opponents.
Those who have dealt with wizards before or are experienced enough to deal with any variables.
Moreover, although Area is a magician, she is a woman so beautiful that it makes your heart tremble. It almost feels like a sin to bring up a sword. It was not easy to launch a deliberate attack.
A moment’s hesitation was enough. Area, who shortened the magic startup time with an artifact, quickly paralyzed her eyesight and created an advantageous composition.
From the audience’s perspective, all they could see was darkness or fog falling on the stage, lights flashing brilliantly, and then the opponent falling down.
But even that was an exciting spectacle, like watching a magic show, so everyone couldn’t help but be enthusiastic.
‘Violet! Violet! Violet!’
Among the favorites who advanced to the semifinals, Area was the most popular.
“Congratulations on advancing to the semifinals.”
Helmut raised his eyebrows as he reluctantly said those words to Area, who had returned to the lodgings. Area smiled as if nothing had happened.
“Thank you too.”
The short silence that followed was filled with inexplicable tension rather than friendly communication. Area was the more relaxed one.
“Is this the long-awaited moment?”
Xian’s eyes lit up. As if it had been the last time he had collapsed covered in blood, he quickly recovered after some recovery time.
The healing wizard used in this martial arts event was top-notch.
There was only a bit of a fuss because the wizards of the Wizard Association who were in charge of his treatment found out that he was a rare, exclusive elemental wizard and Rodril.
Xian, who had been resting well for a while, actually gained weight, her cheeks became plump, and her cheeks even glowed.
It was a lively face that showed no signs of mental shock.
“No matter who it is, as long as it’s not that bastard who wins.”
On the other hand, Asuka, who was still holding a grudge, grumbled.
“Did you get scolded by your father for being eliminated?”
Asuka was immediately summoned to Archduke Farnese after being eliminated. He didn’t come back for a while.
He must have suffered because he used the martial arts club as an excuse to stay away from successor classes.
Asuka snorted.
“If my father had participated, I don’t know if he would have advanced to the finals.”
This martial arts competition was fierce from the preliminaries on because the rewards were enormous.
Archduke Farnese also had skills comparable to those of the Imperial Knights, but it had been a long time since he had had any real combat experience. What reason would an archduke wield a sword?
For Archduke Farnese, duty comes first and the sword is secondary. Asuka, a lively active soldier, was outstanding even in the Imperial Knights.
It is correct to say that he fell out of luck, not because he was lacking, but because he met a strong opponent.
“For your information, I will be rooting for Area. Aarea, you are the pride of a wizard! Win for me! Win, Violet! “Defeat, behold, witch!”
Xian shook his fist up and down and grunted. Area responded harshly to him.
“I don’t want to fight for the vicarious satisfaction of the loser. “A topic that was already eliminated.”
“Did you hear Helmut? Show that wicked woman a lesson! “Show me the power of darkness!”
It was a plan that changed posture quickly. Asuka muttered as if she was watching someone else’s business.
“Come to think of it, isn’t this the first time you two have fought? Helmut, are you yourself?”
Area’s eyes fell on Helmut. As if wondering what the answer would be.
Helmut’s body twitched slightly. Here you need to choose your answer carefully. If you make mistakes, you get tired.
If you answer that you are confident, Area will be upset, and if you answer that you are not confident, you will look weak.
Helmut ultimately chose to talk back.
“…the results will tell.”
Asuka raised her eyes in bewilderment.
“What are you looking at? “Do you really think we can fight on stage like this?”
“I see your future. The future of being caught. Come to your senses right now! “Then you will be caught like that for the rest of your life.”
Xian shook his head excitedly. While Helmut responded with silence, Area glared at the two with sharp eyes.
It’s like seeing bad boyfriends who need to be separated from each other.
“It’s noisy, so everyone be quiet.”
[When monsters pair up, the male often loses to the female.]
Elaga quietly approached me and added as if she understood.
Helmut had no choice but to respond with silence this time.
The quarterfinals, or semifinals, arrived quickly.
*
“I heard that Grand Duke Rinosa is scheduled to enter here by the end of today’s game. “You’re probably coming to watch the finals.”
On the morning of the semifinals, Asuka spoke vaguely to Helmut. Helmut nodded slowly.
The finals are just two days later. It was easy to get from Rinosa to this place by using magic, but the Grand Duke of Rinosa wasn’t there just to watch the finals.
“My father already arrived yesterday, and His Majesty the Emperor will also arrive here tomorrow.”
Their gathering together has a very important meaning in achieving the purpose of this martial arts association.
The rulers of both countries will watch the finals together, showing the world that the friendship between the Empire and Rinosa is strong.
And the temple dispatched their most powerful paladin to ruin it.
If you try to move backwards, you can catch them and give them an advantage, but there is nothing you can do when they attack from the temple head on like this.
To strengthen harmony between the two countries, a joint martial arts event will be held. It was a plausible idea, but no one expected that it would give Shinjeon a chance.
It was rare for that noble temple to move this much.
That meant that the temple felt a sense of crisis over the current situation of being driven out of the empire.
But another thing that the temple did not expect. Helmut’s existence. This is also the opportunity that Archduke Rinosa prepared for Helmut.
If he is fair like Charlotte said, Helmut will get what he wanted in return for winning. I’m not sure if that would be enough to satisfy Helmut.
‘Even if things don’t go as planned.’
A cold light appeared in Helmut’s black eyes. Already decided.
I won’t just collapse or disappear down the alley as a loser.
He will take the path that Darian did not take without hesitation. The heartless and difficult path of carrying oneself through with strength.
Even if the whole world points fingers and blood forms rivers and countless lives fall at our feet.
Unlike Darian, Helmut now had something to protect.
‘When did I hesitate to cut down my enemy?’
I only lived according to the teachings because the teacher wanted it. Helmut’s nature was close to that of a monster.
When cutting down an enemy again, it is neither weak nor soft enough to be bothered by the fact that it is a human.
He rose to the same level as his teacher and threw off his shackles. I’ve already fallen to the bottom.
Even after seeing what was in the deepest part of the swamp, I climbed up.
Lumen’s will to confine all demons in the Forest of Pahe could not surpass Helmut’s will.
Now no one could stop him. Only if I raise my sword towards the world will I not stop even for a single blow.
Asuka hesitated for a moment. But he soon spoke.
“It looks like Grand Duchess Linosa will also come with us.”
I couldn’t help but react to those words. An unknown sound arose in my heart. Something hot and pulsing.
mother. No, now we are just enemies.
A cold voice rang out.
“…What about Michael?”
Asuka answered in a harsh tone that, if Archduke Farnese had heard, would have put him in a harsh etiquette class.
“I’m not sure about that. Charlotte is the one who cleans up the poop that I made, so if she wanted to come clean up, she would come too. “Maybe it depends on his health.”
It seems that the body is still so weak that it feels like it has been cursed.
“It’s time to go.”
Helmut stood up. Asuka smiled mischievously at him and waved her hand.
“Yes, it is a difficult time. “I hope you overcome it well.”
From a bad guy’s point of view, it’s just entertainment.
*
“How do you feel?”
Area was smiling. A bright smile without any shadow. It’s a smile that only appears when you successfully complete important magic research.
Why does he have that kind of expression on his face right before a battle with himself?
‘It’s not fair at all.’
Helmut gave her a disgruntled look and then looked down at his sword.
I thought I was determined enough to come here, but no matter how hard I tried, my heart wavers helplessly when I see her.
As you have done so far, cut down or place your sword on a vital point and accept defeat.
That simple process, from the very premise of thrusting a sword, became a great hardship.
The experience of fighting a skilled wizard, which would normally have been considered interesting, became an ordeal for the name ‘Area’.
It was only after coming here and facing Area that Helmut realized it clearly again.
The sword that he believed could cut everything was faced with something impossible. That it is this woman.
“Helmut?”
“not good.” When he blurted out this, Area laughed out loud because it was so funny.
“Honest. “He’s a good kid.”
“…Why am I a child? “We are the same age.”
Helmut firmly pointed out the facts and listened. Area tilted her head.
“okay? “I was going to give him a reward because he was a good kid.”
‘Award… do you mean the championship award?’
Although this is a semifinal. It could have meant abstaining. Helmut, filled with hope, immediately asked.
“what?”
“I’d like to make an offer.”
It was a soft tone. It was before the competition started yet.
“This is a proposal to establish rules that will determine a winner that everyone can understand.”
Helmut’s eyes focused deeply on her.
This side isn’t that cold-blooded either. Area also had the same concerns he had.
Area knew that Helmut would hesitate to attack her more than any other opponent he had ever met.
Even if it wasn’t possible in a head-to-head confrontation, it didn’t mean that Area didn’t have a despicable and shady way to beat Helmut.
That method aside, even as Area, I was reluctant to pour attack magic on Helmut.
‘Anyway, we have to win.’
So this is how I thought about it. A way to determine victory or defeat without both sides getting hurt.
Alea’s lips opened.
