"Victory!"
In a corner of the VIP seats, a small figure cheered.
It was none other than Isaac.
Not only Isaac but even Mediste was present.
The siblings huddled together in the corner of the VIP seats, unnoticed by anyone as they witnessed the entire process of their family members fighting each other.
Initially, when Marilyn lost to Sefaz, these two siblings were somewhat worried that Yuri might also lose. However, Yuri reassured them in the most direct way possible that there was no need to worry.
Their elder sister effortlessly defeated their father!
Instead of feeling upset, this filled the two siblings with joy.
"Indeed, Elder Sister Yuri is the strongest! Whether it's Elder Brother or Father, none are Elder Sister Yuri's opponents!" Isaac shouted with excitement. "She is what I want to become! I really want to become a great magician like her!"
Mediste didn't say anything, but there was a longing and admiration in her eyes as she watched Yuri leave the center of the training field.
For young Mediste and Isaac, Yuri, who could directly defeat their fearsome father, was the most admirable figure.
Now that their elder sister had won, the two siblings felt only joy, no sadness. Moreover, they knew what promise their father would have to fulfill once she won.
It would be the best outcome if this could bring their mother and their eldest sister back home and reunite the family.
"The final round is up next..." Mediste muttered with a hint of anticipation in her eyes.
"The one who's going to compete is that guy, right?" Isaac's expression soured. "He better not mess up."
"He won't." Mediste shook her head. "Mr. Riezel is a Tactical-Class Magician. He shouldn't lose to those attendants and knights under Father's command."
"Who knows?" Isaac lightly snorted. "He can't use tactical-class magic in this War Festival, so who knows if he can win?"
At his words, Mediste's brows furrowed.
Apart from her, many others present had guessed who would be competing next.
"Next up should be Riezel Brynhart, right?"
The young nobleman from the royal capital showed a mixture of anticipation and curiosity.
"It should be him." The young nobleman's attendant replied. "Although Marquis Frenzel still has two Sword Master attendants, the one she sends out as the main act must be that Tactical-Class Magician."
Everyone believed that Yuri wouldn't consider Ain and Ian as the final acts.
After all, this was the last round, the decisive battle of the War Festival.
In such an important moment, she wouldn't send out her two female attendants weaker than herself and her maid. For this reason, the one who would come out last must be the Tactical-Class Magician, Riezel Brynhart.
"Is it because his combat-class magic proficiency is better than Yuri Frenzel's? Is that why he's placed last?"
"If that's the case, then his value is even greater than we imagined."
"Let's keep watching. If he truly has the strength, we'll spare no effort to bring him back to our country."
Many people with ulterior motives began to make such plans, preparing to take a good look at Riezel's strength.
Including the young nobleman, he was no exception.
Unaware of all this, Riezel, along with Marilyn, Ain, and Ian, greeted Yuri, who returned victorious.
"Well played, My Lady."
"I didn't expect My Lady to be so skilled with combat-class magic."
Ain and Ian were both somewhat surprised, looking as if they hadn't expected Yuri to easily defeat Alderman.
Marilyn, on the other hand, remained calm, evidently already aware of the outcome. Among those present, perhaps only this silent maid understood Yuri's combat strength best.
As for Riezel, though he hadn't seen Yuri demonstrate her strength, he was confident in her nonetheless, and as expected, she emerged victorious.
"Congratulations." Riezel offered a brief congratulation.
Yuri smiled gently at him but quickly suppressed it in the next second.
"Now it's your turn." Yuri stared straight at his face.
Riezel didn't respond, only giving a calm smile, everything was understood without words.
'It will be a showdown with that swordsman, right?'
His gaze began to fluctuate as he thought about the peculiar feeling the closed-eyed man had given him.
===
Meanwhile, on Alderman's side.
When Alderman returned with a messy appearance and complexion, everyone fell silent.
"My, my~ didn't expect to lose."
Only Sefaz, speaking casually as if it didn't concern him.
'That sister of mine... it's only been two years since she became a Strategic-Class Magician, but she already has this kind of power?' Sefaz cast his gaze toward Yuri's direction, his eyes serious.
His younger sister truly was a once-in-a-century super genius. Even if he went all out, he might not even be her match at all.
"Terrifying indeed..." Sefaz murmured, his meaning unclear.
Alderman paid his son no mind since he wasn't in the mood to deal with him now.
He had lost and lost so badly, really badly.
Though it was frustrating for him, what he cared about more was the outcome of the final round.
"Jill Dardis."
Alderman turned his gaze and called out the closed-eyed swordsman's name who had been by his side lately.
"...?"
The closed-eyed swordsman, Jill Dardis, didn't speak, only calmly raised his head. Although his eyes were closed, he seemed to be 'looking' at Alderman.
"Do you feel confident about winning?" Alderman asked solemnly. "Only three people on my daughter's side haven't competed yet. It's unlikely she'll choose Ain and Ian, but rather Riezel Brynhart. Are you confident you in defeating him?"
To be honest, Alderman himself was quite unsure.
Mainly because Yuri decided to place Riezel in the final round, he couldn't shake the feeling that this young man might have more ability than he imagined. Undoubtedly someone who was not easy to deal with.
On the other hand, he also had confidence in Jill; otherwise, he wouldn't have placed him in the final round. However, to say he knew much about Jill was hard to say since he had only met Jill not long ago.
At that time, Jill was surrounded by a group of monsters.
Monsters were creatures with magical energy similar to human swordsmen, honing bodies far superior to ordinary animals where some of them could even use supernatural powers like magicians.
Originally, they were just ordinary animals, but due to their inborn stronger magical energy, they gradually evolved their bodies and abilities in the wilderness and, as they continued to breed, formed tribes in various corners of the world.
The most talked-about monster was the legendary great dragon, known as the king of monsters, capable of spewing flames that could instantly destroy a city.
Four hundred years ago, the Dragon Sword Saint relied on his research on dragons to create the Holy Dragon Sword Style, becoming the strongest swordsman of the time.
Although what Jill encountered in the wilderness was not dragons but a group of wolf-like creatures the size of elephants, among them was a wolf king whose strength might be able to match that of a Sword Master.
However, despite being surrounded by such a group of monsters, they were unexpectedly slain in the blink of an eye by Jill who had been closing his eyes all along.
As he witnessed that scene, Alderman was astonished on the spot and immediately extended an olive branch to Jill, intending to recruit him as his attendant.
Unfortunately, Jill did not agree immediately.
"I'll just stick by your side for now."
At that moment, Jill simply uttered such a sentence and began to follow him everywhere.
Alderman assumed Jill was trying to see if he was worthy of being someone he could pledge loyalty to, so he gladly agreed, bringing Jill home and even keeping him by his side constantly to show his appreciation.
It wasn't until today that Alderman finally let him take action, handling the last round of the War Festival.
For this reason, Alderman wasn't sure if Jill could defeat Riezel since he didn't know the true strength of this closed-eyed swordsman.
However, instead of answering Alderman's question about whether he could defeat Riezel or not, Jill suddenly asked a strange question.
"Do you know what color his blood is?"
Upon hearing the unexpected and strange question, Alderman was confused.
"What?"
"Just curious..." Jill muttered indifferently as he walked away, lost in his own thoughts.
"What does he mean?" Alderman furrowed his brow, puzzled.
Only Sefaz, watching Jill's back, narrowed his eyes and pondered something unknown.
===
"The rounds of swordsmen and magicians have both ended!"
The War Festival's announcer declared to the audience.
"Both sides have one win and one loss, and this final round will directly determine the ultimate winner between them!"
"Now, please welcome the final participants—!"
""OOOOHHHHHHHH—!!!""
The announcer's voice elicited loud cheers from countless people in the audience seats.
Since the War Festival had reached its climax, they were excited and eagerly anticipating the upcoming round.
*Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap*
In this festive atmosphere, Riezel and Jill finally stepped onto the center of the training field.
Standing a distance apart, they fell into an indescribable silence.
"..."
The entire audience was also affected, gradually quieting down.
Until one second later.
"Begin!"
With the announcer's loud proclamation, someone suddenly disappeared from the scene.
It was none other than Jill.
*Whoosh—!*
In an instant, Jill surged forward at an astonishing speed, closing the distance between him and Riezel to zero.
*Swish—!*
In Jill's hand, a long and sharp sword, drawn seemingly out of nowhere, sliced through the air and aimed at Riezel's neck.
This slash was as fast as lightning.
This slash exuded a murderous intent.
No one could react.
No one could comprehend what had happened.
The closed-eyes swordsman suddenly launched an attack, aiming directly for Riezel's vital point, making it a killing move!
Yes!
He intended to kill Riezel!
However—
*DING!*
Sparks scattered as Jill's slash, full of murderous intent, was easily flicked away. It was intercepted by a bright silver short sword that came out of nowhere, deflecting it upwards.
"?!" Jill's complexion suddenly changed.
However, before he could react, Riezel, with an icy coldness in his eyes, swiftly counterattacked.
*Pu-chi!*
The bright silver short sword slashed extremely fast across Jill's chest, causing blood to spurt out.
In the next second, Jill collapsed in front of Riezel, covered in blood.
Witnessing this scene, the entire training field instantly fell into silent stillness.