Chapter 132: How Mercenaries Fight

“Finally, we’ve reached the Felker family!!”

“What’s with that cloak!?”

“Didn’t it absorb magic?!”

“That’s also a magic tool, right?? How many do they have!?”

“Weren’t their magic clashes evenly matched? What’s going on with the Klaufeldt House this year…”

The topics buzzing among the spectators mostly revolved around the Klaufeldt family, who continued their winning streak by unveiling new magic tools one after another and defeating the contenders.

On the stage, along with the medical team, members of the Klaufeldt family were helping the fallen members of the Felker House team get up.

“Ugh…”

“Oh, you’re awake?”

Felix noticed Framboise, who let out a small groan.

“What… happened to me…”

Although Framboise had regained consciousness, her memory seemed fuzzy as she covered her forehead with her right hand and shook her head slightly.

“Ah! Right, I was in the match… gah!”

Finally recalling, Framboise tried to jump up energetically, but winced in pain.

“Hey, don’t move suddenly! You were knocked out by an electric shock. We’ll take you to the infirmary, so please stay still.”

Seeing Framboise suddenly move, Felix instructed her calmly.

“To… the infirmary? What are you talking about… Ugh!! What are you doing!! Let go!! Put me down!!”

Finally realizing that Felix was carrying her, Framboise panicked.

“Wait! I told you not to move, right!?”

Felix panicked as Framboise suddenly struggled.

“Just put me down! I can walk on my own legs!!!”

“Haa… honestly. Why can’t you just stay still for a while…?”

Felix sighed heavily as he finally put her down on the ground.

“Shut up! Besides, aren’t we enemies?! You and I!”

While somewhat unsteady on her feet, Framboise pointed her finger at Felix as she walked, as she had declared earlier.

“Enemies? Well, we were opponents in the match, but since the match is over, I don’t think we’re enemies anymore, do you? Or do you consider us, the Knights of the Klaufeldt House, as enemies of the kingdom?”

Felix tilted his head.

“What?! N-No, I never meant that…”

Framboise couldn’t retort against Felix’s irrefutable logic.

“Sorry for the trouble.”

As the two exchanged words, they were suddenly interrupted.

“Samuel-sama!!”

“His excellency Felker-sama.”

Framboise and Felix hastily saluted.

The one who called out was none other than Marquis Samuel Felker.

Normally, the head of the house would line up with the others during the greetings before the match, but it was rare for the head to visit the stage after the match. Especially, it was very unusual for the losing head of the house to come.

“I only did what was natural. After the match, we are comrades who protect the kingdom together.”

After bowing, Felix stepped back.

“Comrades, huh. I’d like to think so.”

Samuel muttered to himself, but his words were drowned out by the ongoing cheers and went unheard by anyone.

“I’m sorry, Samuel-sama. For making a scene that might embarrass you…”

Framboise bowed deeply, apologizing.

“Hmm. We lost, but I don’t feel ashamed of the fight we put up. You fought well. That’s all there is to it. Right?”

Samuel spoke matter-of-factly, without a trace of sarcasm.

“Thank you so much for your kind words! I’ll work even harder in the future!!”

Framboise bowed deeply again.

“I look forward to it, Framboise. Oh, Captain of the Klaufeldt House, may I ask you something?”

This time, Samuel called out to Felix, who was about to leave.

“Yes. I’ll answer anything if I can.”

“The magic tools you used this time, were they made by Matsumoto-dono?”

“If you mean they were replicated, then they were made by Isamu-sama. They were excavated from the ruins of the Rocky Desert just recently.”

Without hesitation, Felix answered.

“I see, from the ruins of the Rocky Desert. You’ve found good magic tools.”

“Thank you very much.”

“Well then, excuse me.”

With that, Samuel turned on his heel and left the stage with Framboise.

“Hmm. He was quite a powerful wanderer. I need to reconsider various things.”

Samuel’s murmurs, preceding him as he left, once again went unheard by anyone.

“It’s finally the finals. So far, it’s been, well, smooth sailing, huh?”

Isamu praised the returning members in the waiting room.

“I wouldn’t say smooth sailing. It almost feels too easy, considering how we were until last year…”

Felix smiled wryly at Isamu’s words.

“Really? Although the influence of magic tools may have played a considerable role, I think the biggest factor is that everyone’s skills have improved significantly. Even with magic tools, they’re still just tools.”

Isamu smiled and chuckled.

“If we struggle a bit, it’ll probably be against the Count Eriksson’s House next… We’ve almost revealed their hand, so they’re likely to come up with some countermeasures.”

At the moment, the second semifinal match hadn’t started yet, but nobody on the team, including Isamu, doubted that the Erikson House would advance to the finals.

“That’s right. While the magic tools have extraordinary performance, they’re not perfect… Well, we’ll just have to wait and see.”

“Yeah. If it’s the first time they’ve seen them, they probably won’t be able to come up with countermeasures, and if they’re just average opponents, they’ll probably be similar after a few matches… The Erikson House is full of strong warriors.”

The members nodded seriously at Isamu’s words.

“However, there aren’t many effective countermeasures available. We’re still in a dominant position, so let’s not be too anxious. For now, let’s rest and focus on recovering our magic power and stamina.”

“””Understood!””””

With that, the Klaufeldt House team prioritized getting their conditions in order. There’s no point in getting restless now.

Some ate light meals, some took naps, and some went to watch the semifinals. Each of them relaxed and waited for the finals.

As Isamu and others predicted, the opponent in the finals was decided to be the Count Erikson’s House.

After about two hours of the third-place match and a break, the two sides finally appeared on the stage for the final match.

“Heh heh heh. Isamu, so you’ve made it to the finals after all. Your magic power was quite something, but you also had magic tools, huh. I’d like to fight you directly… but since I’m a lord, it’ll be unbecoming of me.”

Smiling happily, Eleanora, the head of the Erikson House, spoke to Isamu.

“…If Eleanora-san were in the match, you’d win all by yourself.”

Isamu could only wryly smile at Eleanora, who seemed genuinely eager to fight.

“I guess one person alone wouldn’t cut it. If I hadn’t been restricted from using high-level magic, I might have had a chance.”

“…That would cause too much collateral damage.”

The water tornado Eleanora unleashed to stop Chigor’s out-of-control magic, called the “Water Dragon Tornado,” was one of the top-tier water spell.

Even though it seemed she wasn’t going all out, if she did, the entire venue might have been swept away, and it would have been no joke.

“Haha, that’s true. In any case, I’m looking forward to this match. My trained mercenaries are a cut above ordinary knights, you know?”

Saying so, Eleanora winked playfully.

“Captain, please don’t say such things lightly… If we hit, we faint from the magic sword, if we attack, the shield absorbs it, and there’s even a cloak that cancels magic? Even without magic tools, skilled knights use them. If it were war, they’d be the type of opponent who wins without fighting.”

The captain of the Erikson team, who had remained silent until now, sighed grandly and complained.

“Heh heh heh, don’t say that, Gascoin. I wouldn’t fight in a war either, you know. Winning is everything in war. If I fought these guys, I might not lose, but the damage would be too great. That wouldn’t be winning a war. But today’s a match, a pure contest of strength. Let’s leave the victory or defeat to fate and enjoy it, okay?”

Eleanora slapped Gascoin, the captain, on the shoulder, enjoying herself.

Truly befitting mercenaries. Their approach was rational and pragmatic.

“Well then, let’s do our best.”

“Likewise, best regards.”

With that, Eleanora and Isamu shook hands and retreated to their respective starting lines.

Seeing both sides take their positions, the referee loudly announced the start of the final match.

“Now, let the final match begin!!”

“Uwaaahh!!”

Amidst the cheers, the curtain finally rose on the long-awaited final match of the noble tournament.

The first to move was the Erikson House team.

They had a balanced formation of three vanguard and three rearguards, but instead of splitting into front and back lines, they formed pairs with one member from each position, keeping a significant distance between pairs.

It seemed to be a tactic of acting in pairs.

“It has come to this… A tactic typical of mercenaries who prioritize individual strength.” 

Murmured Felix as he observed.

If knights excelled in group combat through discipline and training, mercenaries were adept at localized battles based on individual strength and adaptability.

Depending on the scale of the battlefield, mercenaries also engaged in group combat, and while knights also participated in localized battles, their fundamental approach differed.

“We’ll also split into three teams… Mizeroi and Ulysses, Tiramisu and Liddell, please team up. Marcella will be paired with me.”

“”Understood!””

Felix’s decision was quick.

Seeing the opponents, who had split into three teams, quickly disperse, they decided to split into three teams as well.

If they remained clustered together against fast opponents and attempted to stop their movement, they might be able to defeat one team, but in that opening, they could be flanked by separate units attacking from the rear or sides, leading to annihilation.

While the difference in numbers or individual strength might lead to different strategies, in this case, they judged it best to also take action.

“Hmm, so that’s how it is… They seem quite accustomed to fighting.”

Muttered Gascoin, who had been observing the opponent’s movements.

“I was thinking of attacking while they hesitated, but it seems it won’t be that easy. Let’s make the first move!”

“””Roger!”””

The battle began with the pair of Tiramisu and Liddell.

The opponent pair that had flanked to the right side made a slashing attack.

“Stone Hail!”

While running, a man who seemed to be the opponent’s rearguard chanted a spell.

“Blast Edge!”

In response, Liddell also chanted a defensive spell while moving.

The stone pellets that prioritized number and speed clashed with the wind blades that prioritized range and speed, scattering gravel as they collided.

“They defended with wind blades instead of a wall. Impressive…”

Even as gravel rained down on their side, the opponent’s vanguard charged forward, holding up a shield.

Goin!

Tiramisu intercepted a sideways slash from the opponent who didn’t have a sword with her shield.

“Tch, what’s with that shield, it feels disgusting!? Take this!”

Grimacing at the sensation of the physical defense shield, the opponent’s vanguard hastily stepped back, barely avoiding Tiramisu’s lightning sword.

“Quite fast.” 

Tiramisu muttered, cautiously readjusting her stance with sword and shield.

“It doesn’t matter if I miss. I won’t let something like that hit me!” 

The opponent’s vanguard takes a step forward with their swords ready while making a joke that sounds like something they’ve heard somewhere.

“Stone Hail!”

As Tiramisu stepped forward to attack, the opponent unleashed a barrage of stones from her right side.

At the same time, the opponent’s vanguard, leaning low to the left, moved around to the left side of Tiramisu.

Dodging the stones flying from the right, Tiramisu, who had stepped forward, was met with a thrust from the opponent’s vanguard from her side.

“Stone Wall!”

“Wha!?”

Just as the opponent lunged forward, Liddell created a small stone wall to intercept the attack.

While the opponent did not collide with the wall, the impact of thrusting the sword caused numbness in the opponent’s hand, and he grimaced in pain.

Seeing an opportunity, Liddell dashed towards the opponent while chanting a spell, and Tiramisu cast a spell towards the opponent’s rearguard to support her.

“Wind Cutter!”

Although Tiramisu had less magic power, she was still able to use magic.

The distracting effect of low-consumption magic spells had been thoroughly drilled into her by Isamu over the past few months.

“Stone Hail!”

While preparing her magic, the opponent’s team fell into a defensive position for the first time.

Seeing Liddell charging in from the corner of his vision, the opponent’s vanguard took cover behind the wall Liddell had created.

With the wall in place, they were protected from attacks from the sides or above, so they adopted a defensive stance until the numbness in their hand subsided.

However, Liddell’s actions deviated significantly from their expectations.

“Mud Madness!”

Activating her magic, Liddell forcefully slammed her left hand onto the wall she had created.

In that instant, the stone wall created by Liddell melted into mud and poured down forcefully onto the opponent’s side.

“What!?”

The opponent’s vanguard, taken aback by the sudden downpour of mud, let out a frantic cry.

Although it was a small wall, it was one meter wide and two meters high. Since it had all turned into mud, it was quite a significant amount.

Despite attempting to distance himself, he couldn’t escape in time and could only manage to avoid being completely covered by mud, barely protecting his entire body.

After activating her magic, Liddell quickly circled around to the side, approaching the opponent.

Although the opponent tried to evade, they were unable to move as they wished due to the mud clinging to their lower body, and inadvertently blocked a lightning sword strike with their shield.

**Crash!**

“Guah!!”

Lightning surged through, and the opponent collapsed to their knees.

Just to be sure, Liddell kicked away the sword the opponent was still holding to confirm their unconsciousness, then turned on her heel to assist Tiramisu.

“Darn it, it’s unfair to say it’s over if you get hit, isn’t it!?”

Despite their defensive movements, they were indeed mercenaries from the Erikson House. They skillfully evaded Tiramisu’s rapid sword strikes one after another.

“Tiramisu, switch! Hit them with that!”

As Liddell joined Tiramisu, she took over the role of the vanguard, while Tiramisu stepped back and began chanting a spell.

“Darn it, it’s two against one!”

Even though he was grumbling, he was still a first-class mercenary because he was always dodging with Liddell in between so as not to let his line of fire pass through.

However, Tiramisu’s magic, seeming to mock them, exploded.

“Brick Generation!”

“What!? Ohhh!!”

Two merciless blocks of stone appeared beneath the feet of the opponent’s rearguard, who was desperately dodging Liddell’s sword. Unable to anticipate the attack at their feet, they stumbled over the blocks and fell.

**Crash!**

“Guuh!!”

Seizing the opportunity, Liddell’s lightning sword harvested the opponent’s consciousness.

“Nice one, Tiramisu.”

“I’ve been beaten up by Isamu-sama so many times. I couldn’t help but learn it the hard way…”

Perhaps recalling those memories, Tiramisu said with a grim expression.

Thanks to dozens of bouts with Isamu, she had become the foremost user of the Brick Generation spell.

“It was good to have mock battles with Isamu-sama and the others. Their way of fighting was just like Isamu-sama’s.”

“Yeah. If we had just trained with the knights as usual, we would’ve been done for pretty quickly.”

“Yeah.” 

And so, victory in the tag match on the right wing went to the Klaufeldt House.

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