The Failed Swordmaster - Chapter 100
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 100 39. Keep Watch on Lumian Calard (2)
‘Does this make sense? The current situation?’
He couldn’t understand it.
As he had told Morghen a few days ago, his current abilities had transcended his previous life. His senses had also become incomparably sharper than right after his reincarnation.
Despite all this, he couldn’t identify who had been observing him.
‘This isn’t good…’
It wasn’t that he felt malice or hostility.
However, the fact that there was a strong person he didn’t know about.
Moreover, the fact that this being was secretly watching him was quite unpleasant. Lumian’s expression grew even darker.
‘I suppose I’ve gotten too comfortable with the peaceful life at the Academy.’
From now on, he would need to be more vigilant.
As he made this resolution inwardly, he felt the atmosphere around him change.
Everyone was looking at him.
‘Oh no, I made a mistake.’
Lumian made a sheepish expression.
If the previous gazes had shown interest in him, the current looks were filled with bewilderment.
The gazes of the Academy Director and Knight Department Head were even more stern.
They seemed to be thinking, ‘What is that boy doing at such an important occasion?’
Lumian explained the reason for his awkward glancing around with an embarrassed expression.
“I apologize. You are all such distinguished people that I couldn’t help myself…”
“Ahem, sorry…”
“Hahaha. That’s perfectly understandable. By any chance, are you Lumian Calard?”
The Knight Department Head was about to apologize on his behalf when John Mccart, the representative of the Jenas delegation, spoke up.
He didn’t seem displeased at all. The Knight Department Head, who had been reading the situation, closed his mouth, and Lumian spoke instead.
“Yes, that’s correct.”
“I thought so. Your eyes and aura are extraordinary… You’re truly worthy of being the next-generation talent who will lead Tarasan.”
The people from Tarasan Academy widened their eyes and stared at John Mccart.
The disposition of Jenas knights was mostly similar. Upright, steadfast, and they disliked pretense.
Therefore, what he had just said was hard to dismiss as mere lip service.
He truly held Lumian Calard in high regard. Much higher than they had thought.
‘He’s evaluating Lumian’s potential very highly.’
‘Well, the performance he showed during the Swordsmanship Competition was quite striking. A report must have reached Jenas as well.’
‘I heard that Lumian and several other second-year cadets broke through the Lower Gate after the Swordsmanship Competition. If they knew this fact, each delegation’s reaction would be much more intense.’
‘It’s unfortunate. To think the Swordsmanship Competition was only for third and fourth years… I don’t think there are any talents among the upperclassmen comparable to the second years…’
Each official continued their own thoughts.
They still didn’t know Lumian’s true abilities, nor did they know what intentions Jenas had in sending a goodwill delegation.
Naturally, they couldn’t understand Rhodesia’s thoughts either.
Therefore, they couldn’t help but show surprised reactions to what followed from Claire Cambahita, the Rhodesia representative.
“I too have heard much about Lumian Calard’s abilities. Sir Irene Curtis was full of praise. And she’s someone who’s stingy with compliments.”
“Not at all. You’re too kind.”
“There’s no need to be so modest. Ah, Lumian. Since we’ve met like this by fate, how about we shake hands?”
Claire Cambahita, one of the Seven Sword Masters of Rhodesia, was the first to request a handshake!
The Academy Director and other Tarasan officials stared at her with blank expressions. To think the interest in Lumian was this high!
However, Lumian could guess her intentions.
‘She must be curious about my abilities.’
In Lumian’s case, he could assess an opponent’s abilities without necessarily clasping hands.
Thanks to his extreme aura control abilities, he could manipulate energy from a distance to gauge them.
However, in most cases, this was impossible.
That’s why she wanted to shake hands with him, this lady.
‘There’s no reason I can’t do it.’
“It’s an honor.”
With a very excited expression, he extended his hand with a courteous attitude.
Claire Cambahita smiled and grasped his hand. Then she very carefully let her energy flow.
Her intention was to assess his abilities without Lumian noticing, but it didn’t work.
He moderately adjusted the aura accumulated in his dantian, leaving some behind, then concentrated the rest of his energy in his lower body to hide his true power.
‘If it became known that I’m not just an Expert but a Sword Master, it would become too troublesome.’
In fact, Irene Curtis had half-discovered his situation, but it was still somewhat burdensome to openly reveal his abilities.
While having these thoughts, Claire Cambahita’s energy swept through his dantian.
He could see a gleam appearing in her eyes.
Yes, even this much would be sufficiently surprising.
But Lumian didn’t reveal his thoughts outwardly.
He simply maintained a humble expression.
Thus the handshake ended. Cambahita spoke with an even deeper smile.
“I heard you’ll be personally guiding the apprentice knights around the Academy?”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
“I hope the children will learn a lot from seeing you, Lumian.”
“…!”
The Academy people were surprised once again.
The nuance suggested that Lumian Calard’s abilities were superior to those of the Rhodesia apprentice knights.
It was hard to keep their composure. The Academy Director stood there with a face that showed he didn’t know what expression to make.
But it didn’t end there.
Even John Mccart, the Jenas representative, requested a handshake with Lumian.
“I’d like to shake hands too. With Tarasan’s future, that is.”
“It’s an honor, Sir John Mccart, Sword Master.”
‘This guy probably knows my abilities roughly, so why is he doing this?’
He should have already received Buckal’s report, right?
He didn’t know. Lumian, muttering inwardly, repeated the same actions as before.
His expression also changed slightly. Seeing this, Lumian thought.
‘He probably thinks my aura reserves aren’t that impressive compared to my swordsmanship.’
Now it didn’t really matter anymore.
He was tired. He just wanted to go back and rest.
As he stepped back after finishing the handshake, this time Adam Harper, the representative of the Charlotte Kingdom, stepped forward to request a handshake.
Lumian inwardly sighed and manipulated his aura once again.
But this guy didn’t take any action at all.
Lumian’s eyes trembled slightly.
‘What is this guy doing?’
Adam Harper also looked at Lumian with a curious expression.
‘Why is everyone so eager to shake hands with this kid?’
He couldn’t understand.
From the beginning, the Charlotte Kingdom hadn’t participated here knowing anything about Tarasan or the second-year quartet including Lumian.
Their only purpose was to establish connections with Jenas and Rhodesia. From their perspective, Tarasan was just one of many small kingdoms.
Therefore, he hadn’t even thought to evaluate Lumian’s abilities. Adam Harper didn’t have that capability to begin with.
‘Strange. I don’t feel anything at all.’
Having finished the handshake, he returned to his place still with a puzzled face.
Adam Harper at this time had no idea.
That there would come a day when he would tell his son, grandson, and daughter-in-law about today’s events like heroic tales.
* * *
The next day.
Having finished his morning classes, Lumian was leading six peers around various parts of the Academy.
This was the Academy tour duty the Knight Department Head had mentioned. Behind him, sixteen and seventeen-year-old apprentice knights from other countries were following, chatting about various things.
‘It’s not as bothersome as I thought.’
I thought I’d have to introduce the entire Academy, but fortunately that wasn’t the case.
Except for a few truly important buildings and meaningful places, I only needed to go around places related to the Knight Department and that was it. Thanks to that, it took much less time than originally expected.
‘Well, I suppose they wouldn’t be curious about an academy from a small country like Tarasan either.’
Their kingdom’s facilities are probably much better, aren’t they?
At least Jenas was definitely good. So good that it felt unfair to compare.
Rodigia would probably be the same. I don’t know much about Charlotte, but since it’s a place with stronger national power than Tarasan, it would be similar.
With that thought, Lumian glanced back.
The faces of four men and two women came into view.
‘As expected, the knights from Rodigia are beautiful.’
Lumian smiled contentedly.
It was truly living up to its reputation. Befitting their fame for being full of beauties, both of them boasted exceptional beauty.
One of them in particular had outstanding looks.
She was tall with a refreshing figure, and her moderately tanned skin looked healthy. Her beautiful yet strong-looking appearance also caught Lumian’s attention.
‘Maybe I should have gone to Rodigia after all?’
No, let’s stop having regrets. Lumian shook his head slightly.
It would be ridiculous to go to Airin now and say ‘I want to go to Rodigia!’ And honestly, his heart wasn’t moved as much as when he had agonized over it before.
Having thought this far, he frowned.
Since he was in a position of carrying out official duties anyway, he couldn’t make any moves on them. If something went wrong, the aftermath would be no joke.
Lumian decided to change his train of thought. His eyes turned to a man who was looking at the statue in Academy Square.
‘This guy must be the next-generation prospect.’
Lucas Young.
He didn’t really want to remember the name of a man he’d only see for a few days, but he forced himself to memorize it just in case he got in trouble.
But this guy’s skills were quite impressive.
He seemed stronger than Teoro and Bumer, and even stronger than Cal Krone.
Though he couldn’t match the Knight King or his past self, he was at a level just below that.
Lumian smiled slightly.
He felt good because Jenas’s future still seemed bright.
‘However, he does seem to have quite a strong pride.’
This guy would probably be among the top of his peers even in Jenas, famous as a knight kingdom. He must have lived his whole life receiving the best treatment.
Nevertheless, he didn’t receive attention at yesterday’s meeting.
Because Lumian had taken all the attention.
As if that bothered him, the guy kept looking at him whenever he had the chance.
It was the same now. The back of his head felt hot.
‘It seems my information didn’t reach the apprentices.’
He didn’t particularly want to reveal it either.
He just wanted to quietly finish today’s work and return to his room to refine his senses.
Because what happened yesterday kept bothering him.
‘Next time I won’t miss it.’
Lumian’s expression became serious.
Whether the unidentified being would watch him again or just disappear, he couldn’t know yet.
But he had to be prepared.
If the same thing happened again, he would definitely catch it that time. After exposing the subordinate’s identity, he would find out exactly what intention it had for spying on him.
While he was lost in such thoughts, one of the guys behind him spoke up.
“Excuse me, Mr. Lumian Calard?”
It was an apprentice knight from Charlotte’s side.
The guy who kept snickering throughout the entire tour, as if something was dissatisfying him.
His name was Joel Cock. Lumian looked at him and asked.
“What is it? Mr. Joel Cock?”
“Oh, nothing. You were just standing there blankly.”
“Ah, I’m sorry. I was just thinking about where to go next for a moment…”
Lumian bowed his head and apologized.
But Joel Cock’s reaction was strange.
“Well, I suppose that could happen. The scale is a bit modest to introduce anything more…”
‘What’s with this bastard?’
It wasn’t an outright provocation, but it was definitely enough of a remark to feel bad about.
Wasn’t it like saying Tarasan Academy was small and insignificant?
‘Though that’s actually true.’
Still, it was definitely rude.
However, Lumian didn’t scrunch up his expression.
Instead, he just stared at Joel Cock without any reaction.
Then the guy’s eyes narrowed.
He seemed to think Lumian was picking a fight.
‘Strange bastard. He’s the one who made things awkward first.’
Fortunately, the uncomfortable silence didn’t last long.
The most lively-feeling person among those gathered here, a short apprentice knight from Rodigia, spoke up.
“Hmm. But I think we haven’t seen the most important place yet.”
“What do you mean?”
“We’re all people who hope to become proper knights, right? Then naturally you should introduce us to the training grounds, shouldn’t you?”
“Hmm…”
“That’s right. Sir Deiner’s words are correct.”
‘Sir my ass, they’re not even proper knights yet.’
Since one thing was annoying, everything seemed bothersome.
Looking at the Charlotte guy, Joel Cock, who was agreeing with the Rodigia apprentice knight’s words, Lumian nodded.
“Good. Then, let’s go to the training grounds.”
He took the lead. Then everyone followed behind Lumian as if agreeing.
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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