Overpowered Archmage Doesn't Hide His Talent

Chapter 235 The Judith family is a family of magicians

Scarlet, the Knight of Flickering Flame, felt a somewhat mysterious emotion.

Despite having spent countless hours wielding her sword and cutting down numerous opponents… it had been a long time since her heart had pounded like this.

Yes, she even felt excited.

‘Flan.’

The spectators were unaware of her circumstances. Thus, they probably thought it was just an ordinary match between a Capital Knight and Flan.

However, to Scarlet, the significance of this moment was vastly different. It was a chance to prove what she had cultivated and achieved after a single defeat.

“It’s Scarlet.”

Flan quietly nodded in response. Instead of replying with words, he carefully observed Scarlet.

Thanks to this, Scarlet could also examine Flan.

‘You’re still the same.’

She couldn’t help but think so.

It might have seemed a bit petty. Even though it felt like there was nothing left to refine, Flan had become incomparably stronger than before.

He was as immense as a mountain and as tall as a tower. That was who he was.

Among the representatives of the Magic Department, not a single word of encouragement could be heard.

It wasn’t because they weren’t cheering. It was simply that none of them believed Flan would lose.

Scarlet slowly drew her sword.

“Flan.”

She called his name softly.

It was still vividly etched in her mind—the actions Flan had taken for her in the past.

Flan had lost his unique ability because of Scarlet. In other words, the Flan standing confidently before her now was purely a result of his effort and perseverance.

…A part of Scarlet’s heart ached as she watched him.

If it hadn’t been for him, Scarlet would never have gained her unique ability, Flickering Flame. No, more than that, she wouldn’t even be alive.

Therefore,

Scarlet slowly pointed her sword at Flan.

“I shall begin.”

Flan quietly nodded again.

Scarlet took a deep breath and gripped the sword hilt tightly.

There was a time when she was overconfident in her ability, Flickering Flame. She thought that flame was her identity, and she blamed herself for not reaching the level of Blazing Flame.

But now she knew that wasn’t the case. She had no intention of relying on it anymore.

Just a single sword.

She believed only in this long sword in her hand and herself.

And finally, the match began.

Boom!

Scarlet, kicking off the ground, dashed towards Flan like an arrow. With an ear-splitting roar, Scarlet’s sword and Flan’s magic clashed in mid-air.

Swoosh─!

Flan’s mana gathered and dispersed like mist. It was an achievement purely accomplished through Scarlet’s physical strength.

And when the mana scattered, Scarlet’s relentless strikes flew towards Flan.

“…You’ve improved quite a bit.”

Flan’s murmur was unusually clear.

But Flan wasn’t an easy opponent either.

While Scarlet tried to overpower him with sheer strength, Flan used speed to gain the upper hand. His movements were sharp, targeting only the vital points one by one.

*Cough!*

Mana-crafted needles aimed at Scarlet’s vital points.

“Hah!”

Even one hit could be fatal. Scarlet quickly deflected them.

Then, she swung her sword with all her might toward Flan.

*Boom!*

Flan stood firm, unshaken. His barrier clashed fiercely with Scarlet’s sword, both forces pushing against each other with immense power.

It was Scarlet’s arm that began to tremble first. Breaking a barrier reinforced with hundreds of layers of spells using pure physical strength alone was nearly impossible.

As the barrier advanced, her wrist trembled. Just as Scarlet was about to decide her next move,

*Boom!*

The entire barrier exploded like a bomb. Scarlet was flung back, rolling across the ground several times.

The audience gasped in awe at the incredible power. Scarlet quickly got back on her feet.

“Scarlet.”

Finally, Flan spoke, calling out to her.

He looked at her with indifferent eyes and said,

“You’re not using your unique ability.”

Scarlet smiled slightly, as if she’d been waiting for those words.

“That’s right.”

“What do you think I’m thinking?”

“Well, there’s something I’d like you to think.”

Taking a deep breath, Scarlet spoke calmly.

Since observing the past, there was something she had always genuinely wanted to say to Flan someday.

She spoke those words.

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“I hope you think that I haven’t wasted the time you gave me.”

“…I suppose so.”

Flan and Scarlet readied themselves again.

Scarlet quietly thought about her Flickering Flame.

‘It’s not that there aren’t moments when I want to rely on it.’

Was Flickering Flame a power she could just discard so indifferently? Definitely not. Even now, she wanted to wield it madly.

Each time she swung her sword with pure strength, and each time her strikes were blocked, she wondered.

Am I perhaps weaker than before? Maybe, as I am now, I’m not even worthy of being a Capital Knight.

While swinging her sword, Scarlet glanced at the Capital Knights’ camp. They all looked at her as if they couldn’t understand why she wasn’t using her unique ability.

‘They can’t understand me.’

But what could she do?

To Scarlet, this was what chivalry meant now.

Flan spoke in a low voice.

“Shall we finish this soon?”

Flan’s mighty mana began to envelop the arena.

It was vast beyond measure, and its height seemed infinite. Scarlet suddenly felt the weight on her shoulders.

Unlike her, who had somewhat fallen behind.

‘Fallen behind, huh.’

Scarlet’s body started to be surrounded by a certain energy.

She knew.

No matter how much she refined her Flickering Flame, she couldn’t reach the level of Blazing Flame.

The reason was simple.

It wasn’t her own power.

So she sought the power she had created herself.

Even if that power was weak….

‘…This is entirely mine.’

Even if it was a power vastly different from ‘flame,’ and even if it was weaker in comparison.

What she had cultivated, her own unique strength, would forever stay by her side.

“Haaap─!”

Furthermore, being weak was not a reason to give up. Rather, it was a reason to work even harder, wasn’t it?

Regret, regret, regret… she cast it all away in this moment.

‘Watch closely, Flan!’

Only by giving her all in this moment could she convey her true feelings to Flan.

The energy emanating from the tip of Scarlet’s sword was pure white. It seemed as delicate as a flower about to be crushed by a cart, yet it still bloomed proudly.

*Boom!*

Their attacks collided.

Suddenly, fleeting images flashed before Scarlet’s eyes. Flan saving her, transferring his unique ability to her, her tormenting Flan….

*Rumble!*

The amount of mana was overwhelming.

In contrast, Scarlet’s sword was far from beautiful. It lacked strength and was clumsy.

However.

‘Even if it’s pathetic, I will accept it!’

How much harder is it for someone who has realized their own inadequacies to strive again? In that regard, she was greater now than she was in the past.

*Crash!*

“…!”

The audience’s eyes widened in shock.

The torrent of mana tore off Scarlet’s entire left arm.

“Scarlet!”

“Lady Scarlet!”

Scarlet gritted her teeth quietly.

‘Weak.’

No matter what she thought of, her body couldn’t follow through. To others, it probably seemed like she had no chance of winning. It was undoubtedly a desperate situation.

*Thud!*

This time, the torrent she couldn’t block pierced her right eye like a needle. Her vision darkened instantly. Pain intense enough to blur her consciousness followed.

However. Even so.

Scarlet knew.

‘You must have had it harder.’

She knew that Flan had suffered far more than she was now.

So, swinging her sword now was nothing.

*Rumble!*

The white energy surrounding Scarlet began to bloom even more. Though it was still unrefined, a single flower was certainly in full bloom.

*Clack!*

She tightened her grip on the hilt.

‘Because you overcame it so proudly….’

Flan, because you overcame it so proudly for me.

‘I won’t give up even in this situation.’

Not giving up until the end was the only way to honor you!

Finally, she swung her sword.

*Slash!*

The pure white energy cut through the torrent of mana, but only for a moment. Soon, it engulfed Scarlet’s entire body.

“─!”

“─!”

Shouts could be heard from all around, but unfortunately, Scarlet’s ears couldn’t process any of it.

After the torrent had completely passed,

“….”

Scarlet, having lost an arm and an eye, stood there, covered in blood, panting heavily. Though she was still standing, it didn’t feel like she was truly upright.

“It seems the match is over.”

Flan murmured. Scarlet nodded in agreement.

Despite feeling like she could collapse at any moment, as if she could die right then and there, Scarlet strangely managed to keep standing. It was a curious yet unpleasant sensation.

It would be easier to just fall over, she thought.

Amidst all this, she heard Flan’s voice.

“You are admirable.”

Scarlet continued to pant heavily. Despite the ringing in her ears, she could hear Flan’s voice clearly.

“You created a unique ability, not relying on flame. I see that now.”

Scarlet slowly nodded. Even though she had been defeated miserably, hearing those words from Flan made her feel as if she had won.

Slowly, Scarlet approached Flan.

“Excuse me, Scarlet… Lady Scarlet?”

An imperial official rushed over, calling out to her, but Scarlet kept moving towards Flan. She extended her hand to the official.

“Uh, yes? What do you need…?”

“….”

Scarlet said nothing.

The imperial official realized she wanted a voice amplifier and handed it to her.

Scarlet nodded and brought the voice amplifier to her mouth. Then, she slowly began to speak.

“I, Scarlet, have lost this match fairly.”

The audience was as quiet as a mouse. Flan also watched Scarlet’s actions silently.

“And one more thing.”

Scarlet slowly took off her necklace. It was a necklace engraved with the emblem of the Judith family.

She considered putting it around Flan’s neck, but…

She only had one arm. With no other choice, she slowly placed it in Flan’s coat pocket.

“I hereby announce that the Judith family is a family of magicians, and Flan Judith is the head of the family.”

She thought it would be difficult to say these words.

But instead, Scarlet felt a sense of relief.