About 20 days have passed since the Duke of Fuyo promised to qualify for Aldis. In the meantime, the royal capital grew little by little and visitors from far away overflowed the main street more than usual. There are many colorful stalls bordering both sides of the big street, and the accommodation seems to be full of guests everywhere.
Fuyo Cup First day.
Booming This is the date of a major event that shows the Grand City like every year. The royal arena, the venue for the event, will be crowded with crowds, as the battle will soon be over.
Face "Hey, have you seen the contestants?"
Ax St. "Oh, I saw it. The army's deputy commander of the 3rd Division, the assault squadron and his rumored young man who were rumors of a treasured child. There was also a mercenary woman, who is a great member again. "
In the corner of the spectator seat, a few men are killing time, looking at the list of contestants in the distance. Next to the man who was excited to count among the well-known players, another man muttered his neck.
"Well, there's a name, Moore Greysta ..."
"Moore? Is Moore a former mercenary?"
When he hears the name, another man confirms the question.
"Does he come out? Even though he never came out before"
"Why now?"
No wonder they wonder. Fuyo Cup Moore was said to be one of the ten kingdoms in the Royal Army, but has never played in the Mercenary and Military eras.
"Most of the time, I can't hold myself loose, unlike the past. Rumors say that I lost my army for a year and fired my army."
Fuyo Cup "So why not give it a blast in a hurry? It's a very selfish story."
Men who do not know the scorn are motivated by selfish reasoning.
"But it's strong, isn't it? Even if the combination is good, why not go to the semifinals?"
Nevertheless, Moore's strength is known to the royal capital, and it seems that his expectations for his activity are the same, regardless of likes and dislikes. Yes, the other men nodded constantly.
"Than that ..."
A man opens his mouth to change the topic.
"what is it?"
"Who is that" Aldis "?"
A man who looked away from the contestant list noticed the name.
"Aldis? Did that happen?"
"Isn't that the" Sword Magician "?
The name of Aldis, who defeated the Three Great Demon Kingdoms, has spread throughout the royal capital. Fuyo Cup Although not men who do not know it, the prejudice that it can not be included in the list of competitors of the martial arts raises a question mark overhead. Suspicion One man has succeeded in linking Aldis's name with the name of a renowned sorcerer, but the people around him are just showing off.
Fuyo Cup "Huh? Why is the magician's name on the list of contestants?"
"I don't know if you ask me"
Fuyo Cup "Isn't magic prohibited?"
"Don't listen to the obvious."
Ask each other questions and complaints.
"Isn't it a number? Many warriors died in the war with the empire."
Indeed, in the war with the Empire, the Royal Army suffered catastrophic damage. At the same time, many influential members of the military have been lost. Fuyo Cup This is evident from the fact that the percentage of contestants, including non-military mercenaries and explorers, has increased this time since the previous event.
Strong "Why there's not enough people, so why do magicians come out again? If so, how many other guys would there be?"
However, there are many who should fill the gap just because the number of talents has decreased. Byakuya Ted, a leader in Noria who is active in Tria, is one of the representatives. I don't understand the meaning of having the magician sit in the contestant's seat until he pushes away the influential person who said that.
"That's right ..."
"Why a magician?"
After all, we can't come to a conclusion, and no one can tell you the right answer. All the men twisted their heads and silenced with unrelenting expressions.
The guest is a corner of the seat that overlooks the venue. The area allocated to the high nobility is like a semi-private room surrounded by walls on all three sides except the front. Only the front was opened to overlook the amphitheater, and the roof above was covered with sunlight and rain.
The Duke is a status worthy of such special treatment. Individuals below the Earl are not given individual space. If you want to watch a game, you have to sit in a corner surrounded by aristocratic seats with other nobles. Of course, you don't have to buy admission tickets, and you don't have to squeeze in with your neighbors like ordinary people, so it's a privilege.
On the other hand, those who hold the rank of the Marquis or higher are given such a spacious space, and are given the right to watch a game with their family while being guarded by escorts. That was a matter of course, as long as it was a status society.
Fuyo Cup This place is head of the Duke of Nilesteria, his daughter Minerva, two servants and five escorts. It was Aldis, the master and contestant of Minerva, and Moore, who stood next to him. Aside from Aldis, why Moore is not an escort here. That is the same factor that puzzles himself.
"Why are you going to get to me?"
Perhaps he is going to sneak into Aldis, who is next to him. However, the duke who picked up the ears quickly asked Moore.
"Is it dissatisfied?"
"Yes, no! I don't mean that."
Moore denied in a panic.
"Because it doesn't change much if you screw alone or two."
"Hah"
Moore responds with a casual reply to the duke who speaks easily.
Fuyo Cup Moore is confused because his name is on the list of contestants. Apparently, Minerva understood that the Duke had not passed on to himself and had completed the procedure.
Moore was originally enlisted to escort Minerva and was escorted to another world. Fortunately, Moore, who was able to return here, had already been lost in the royal capital after a year had passed, and was dismissed long ago. He had been removed from the military.
Both Minerva and the Duke know that Moore has no responsibility for missing a year. But I can't explain it to the nation or the army, and I don't know if I can believe it. As a result, Moore has been accused of being dismissed from the army after leaving office.
Both Minerva and the Duke hurt this. For Minerva, he was a benefactor who protected himself with Aldis, and for the Duke, he had a debt to help his daughter.
The duke seems to have taken this opportunity to regain Moore's honor. As Aldis screwed into the contestant's frame, another frame was reserved for Moore. Fuyo Cup It is said that he will be able to win to the point where he can be as good as he is.
The problem, however, is that he didn't tell it at all. Moore, who was invited to watch the game, was just informed of her participation. It's no wonder I can't catch up.
Fuyo Cup "Surely the minister did not mate with the faction of the Marquis Holguin, so I couldn't get out, even though I wanted to come out, and I'm very grateful to see you ..."
At the Fuyo Cup, only the faction of Marquis Holguin and his breathtaking martial artists can enter. Although ostensibly said that he could participate if he was a strong man regardless of his position, outsiders were eliminated by the intention of the Marquis, the effective organizer. Fuyo Cup Of course, Moore is known for his ability, but has never played before because he was not a member of the Marquis faction.
The duke tries to tell Moore who spoke the muddy.
"Please say"
"I thought I wanted to come out when Aldis wasn't playing."
The duke laughed happily as Moore uttered evil.
Clever "Hahahaha. That's what it is. But as long as I play, I don't want to be so bearish. I want you to show me the spirit to beat Aldis and win."
However, she immediately suppressed her expression and encouraged him, and Moore responded with a reduced expression.
"Of course I'll go for the win, and at least I'm not going to fight like a muddy face."
"I'm expecting"
The duke nodded happily with Moore's words.
"Now go to the waiting room, Aldis."
"Oh"
Contestants need to move to the waiting room in advance. Time will soon have to start moving.
Moore called out to Aldis and stopped as he remembered, "and before."
"You can't use your own weapons. It's awkward to keep them in the waiting room, and why don't you keep them in your Excellency?"
"... I see."
The Fuyo Cup prohibits the use of magical weapons and armor to ensure fairness. Heavy iron Although it is no problem if it is just a sword, the broad sword and short sword that Aldis uses regularly are not items that can be purchased at the storefront. It will not be allowed to be used in matches.
Today Aldis has only one Broadsword on his waist. Minerva digs into his memory to be sure it wasn't. When Ardis removes Ayaka Soten with her sheath, she tries to hand it to a servant standing against the wall, and Minerva comes forward.
"Oh, Master. Then I'll take care of it."
Aldis's movement stopped at a sudden offer.
His gaze is pointed at Minerva's father, Duke, and a silent question appears in his eyes. The Duke, on the other hand, utters no answer. Mouth corner Just pulling his chin slowly and nodding, he slightly collapsed and showed a bitter smile.
"Okay, I'll ask you."
Apparently, Aldis offered his sword to Minerva.
"Yes. I certainly took care of you. I will protect you even if you replace it."
"No, no, you don't have to deal with exaggerated swords like that ..."
Ardis smiled at the student who spoke aloud, and Aldis left Ayaka Soten in Minerva and headed for the waiting room.
"Let's keep it, young lady"
Relentlessly, after Aldis and Moore leave, one of the servants offers both hands to receive Ayaka Soten, but Minerva shook his head with his sword hugging his chest.
"No, this is an important thing I received from my teacher. I will keep it until I return it."
Fuyo Cup That means watching a game while holding a sword.
Minerva today is dressed up as a duke, not to be ashamed, unlike training. It would have never been imagined that a Duke would be holding a dingy sword in his dress. An annoyed servant asks the Duke for help.
"Husband ..."
"Huh ... let me like it."
What the Duke said with a bitter smile was a very thankful reply to Minerva.