Chapter 314

Chapter 314

Sigh

Arriving at the center of the arena, Ming Hu bowed slightly to Viscount Kemble, who stood opposite him. Ming Hu bowed in return, and Viscount Kembel bowed in return.

“The rules of the duel are simple. If you admit defeat or leave the arena, you will be deemed to have lost. Also, if I deem the duel to be unwinnable, I will stop the duel and let the judges decide the winner.”

As they greeted each other, the driver explained the rules.

“And now, let’s begin the duel to determine the finalists!”

After explaining the rules, the knight then announced that the duel would begin and quickly made his way down the arena.

Swoosh!

As the knight dismounted, Viscount Kembel drew his sword.

Dada dada dada!

Ming Hu rushed forward just as Viscount Kembel drew his sword.

“Huh!”

Viscount Kembel swung his sword at the charging Ming Hu with a flourish. Viscount Kembel hadn’t gotten to the quarterfinals by luck. The sword flew too fast for Ming Hu to react.

Boom!

Viscount Kembel’s sword struck Ming Hu.

‘All.’

Ming Hu briefly marveled at Viscount Kembel’s attack, which was too fast for him to react, but that was all.

Sigh

It was unresponsive, but not threatening. Ming Hu continued to reach out toward Viscount Kembel.

“Hmph!”

But Viscount Kembel, who had seen how Ming Hu had ended matches before, quickly stepped back as Ming Hu’s hand flew out.

“Move Shadow.”

But Ming Hu was not to be denied. As Viscount Kembel dodged his hand, Ming Hu quickly moved behind him with a shadow move.

giggle

“Go.”

Moving behind Viscount Kembel and grabbing him, Ming Hu threw Viscount Kembel out of the arena like a discus thrower. He didn’t throw with all his strength, just enough.

Swoosh!

Of course, moderation was the name of the game.

“Ugh!”

Viscount Kembel fled the field at breakneck speed, and with him gone, Ming Hu turned around and began walking toward the center of the field.

“…”

“…”

The loud voices I’d heard earlier were no longer audible.

Dada dada dada dada!

When Ming Hu reached the center, Mabil, the host knight, who had left the arena, quickly returned to the arena. He ran to the center and shouted

“The winner is Count Ming Hu of the Helioca Empire, congratulations on reaching the finals!”

As Mabille’s shouting began, messages began to appear.

[You have won the dueling competition].

[Gains only 200k prestige].

[You’re in the finals].

[400,000 prestige].

[Increased rewards for the quest “For the Honor of the Empire”].

[Increased rewards for the quest “Journey to the Aman Empire”].

“Oh.

When Ming Hu saw the message, he let out a short exclamation.

‘I didn’t realize it was going to be reinforced by two.’

We already knew that the rewards for the quest “For the Honor of the Empire” from Revil would be enhanced, but we didn’t expect that the rewards for the quest “Travel to the Aman Empire” from Alkan would be enhanced as well.

“Please go down!”

Ming Hu was looking at the message when he heard Mabil’s shout and began to turn and walk back down the path.

Sigh

Ming Hu walked down to the waiting room and looked at the reactions of the users around him. They were staring at him blankly.

“That’s great.”

As Ming Hu walked downstairs to gauge the reactions of the users, he heard a voice from below and turned to see who it was.

‘Haputa…’

The voice was Haputa.

“I didn’t think Viscount Kembel would win like that.”

Haputa shrugged, as if he hadn’t expected that at all. Then, with an unpleasant smile, he said, “I’m sorry.

“Kwink, kwink, welcome to the finals anyway, see you in the finals.”

“…”

Jumbled

Ming Hu did not answer Haputa’s question. Ming Hu walked on, passing Haputa and thinking.

‘You have a lot of confidence.

Haputa was speaking as if it was a given that he would make it to the final.

“Please lose.

Ming Hu hoped to shatter Haputa’s confidence.

‘If you come up, you won’t get the elixir.’

If Haputa made it to the final, Ming Hu would win, even if it meant giving up the elixir.

‘Though the elixir is a waste.’

If he won, he wouldn’t get the elixir, but he didn’t want to give it to Haputa. When I weighed the self-satisfaction I’d get from the elixir against the way I’d feel if I forfeited, it made sense to give it up.

“Thank you for your service. We’ll escort you to the waiting room.”

Ming Hu was led to the waiting room by a waiting knight.

Sigh

Arriving at the waiting room, Ming Hu looked around the room. The waiting room was empty. Viscount Kembel was defeated, so he wouldn’t be here, and the other two were currently in the arena for the duel, so it was no wonder it was empty.

“And now, let’s begin the duel to determine the last finalist!”

As they took their seats, the duel began. Ming Hu looked out over the arena. In the arena, two nobles, Haputa and the Marquis of Yapdran, stood with their swords pointed at each other, watching each other closely.

“That’s amazing.”

Marquis Yadran said.

“Where did someone like you come from… An empire is an empire.”

Ta-da!

As he finished speaking, the Marquis of Yapdran moved, but Haputa remained motionless, watching him enter.

Swoosh!

Then the Marquis of Yapdran swung his sword.

Hijuk

And at that moment, Haputa laughed. At the same time, Haputa’s still sword moved.

Boom!

“Goodbye.”

Sword clashed with sword, and Haputa opened his mouth to speak.

Whoosh!

As soon as Haputa finished speaking, a gust of wind began to emanate from him. The gust of wind flew at the Marquis of Yapdran on his sword and blew him into the air.

“Huh.”

Ming Hu chuckled at the sight. Then he muttered to himself

“Count Yakuran said the same thing.”

After muttering, Ming Hu frowned slightly.

“The elixir is gone…huh”

Ming Hu let out a short sigh.

“The winner is Count Haputa of the Aman Empire, congratulations on reaching the finals!”

Then Mabille’s voice came through.

“In 30 minutes, we’ll move on to the finals.”

* * * * *

Amurat’s Oval Office.

“Hmmm.”

Having finalized all the paperwork, Amrat was currently relaxing with a cup of tea.

“Good.”

Is it the flavor of the tea? Or was it the long-awaited break? Amrat’s expression was one of great pleasure.

That was the moment.

Smart

“Your Majesty, this is Rivienne.”

There was a knock on the door and Rivienne’s voice echoed through the office.

“Hmmm.”

At the sound of Rivienne’s voice, Amurat savored the tea once more and set his teacup down. Then he opened his mouth to speak.

“Come in.”

Profit

No sooner had Amurat finished speaking than the door opened and Rivienne entered the office, bowing to Amurat before raising her head to look at him.

“What happened?”

Amurat asked Rivienne.

“As His Majesty expected, Count Haputa and Count Minghu are in the final.”

“Good.”

Amurat smirked at Rivienne’s answer.

Sigh

Amurat rose from his seat, walked over to the window, and looked out in the direction of the Great Square. Rivienne looked troubled at the sight of him. He opened his mouth to speak.

“Your Majesty, there is something I would like to ask you.”

Sigh

Amurat, who had been looking in the direction of the Great Square, turned his head to look at Rivienne at her words. When Amurat looked back at her, Rivienne continued.

“His Majesty told me the other day that a hero is being born today. Is that hero, by any chance, Count Haputa?”

“Aha. Is that what you were wondering?”

At Rivienne’s next question, Amurat nodded in understanding. Then he smiled and turned his head back to the window.

“You’ve heard of the Apostle of Amraxe?”

“…!”

Amurat’s words startled Rivienne.

“You mean the group that the Holy Empire has publicly proclaimed?”

Rivienne’s surprise was not unexpected; the apostles of Amraxe were a formidable group.

“Yes.”

Amurat nodded. Then, with a slightly sour expression, he continued.

“They’ll show up today.”