The Failed Swordmaster - Chapter 117
—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————
Chapter 117 45. I Knew It
It was an unfamiliar sight.
A handsome man and beautiful woman, both looking like they weren’t even twenty yet, walking through the red light district. Though it was morning rather than the bustling nighttime hours, it was still equally strange.
“What’s with those people?”
A waitstaff member cleaning in front of a store made a puzzled expression.
Walking down this street holding hands tightly from morning—what’s that about?
Young perverts perhaps?
After pondering briefly, he shook his head.
‘They probably took a wrong turn.’
Both had stiff expressions. The waitstaff soon lost interest and continued with his cleaning.
Others were the same.
Several people looked puzzled at the pair who didn’t fit the red light district at all, but quickly withdrew their interest and focused on their own tasks.
‘Thank goodness. They’re not paying much attention?’
Tania Eloise rapidly regained her composure.
The red light district during the day was less significant than she had imagined.
Until just 5 minutes ago, she had deeply regretted deciding to enter this place, but now that her tension had eased, she actually felt a strange enjoyment. The light excitement made her body feel both hot and cold.
It felt like returning to her mischievous childhood days.
‘I used to secretly catch bugs in the garden behind mother’s back, and smuggle piles of stones into my room claiming they were fascinating objects.’
Tania glanced at Lumian.
He was still stiff. Despite being a swordsman, his every movement was rigid, and his expression showed clear signs of tension like a mask made of stone.
He was cute. She wanted to tease him, to poke at him.
She spoke with a mischievous smile.
“You’re scared, aren’t you, little brother.”
“N-no. What are you talking about.”
“You collect plenty of naughty books but you’re quite innocent, aren’t you?”
“No, you have naughty books too…”
“Don’t be nervous, just hold my hand tight and follow me. Got it?”
Lumian made a displeased expression at her attitude of treating him like a child.
However, he didn’t let go of her hand.
Rather, he gripped it tighter as she had said. His slightly flushed face was looking in the other direction.
Then Tania’s face also turned red.
She too turned her gaze in the opposite direction from Lumian and walked down the street in silence.
An awkward but not unpleasant silence hung between the two.
A tout from one of the stores watching this made a displeased expression.
‘Damn it! Damn it!’
It was more disgusting to look at than the difficult customer from yesterday. Why the hell are they showing off their romance here?
However, the two didn’t care about such thoughts from the man. They didn’t have the leisure to care.
They simply felt each other’s hands and enjoyed the strange stimulation this unfamiliar place provided as they walked.
“Ah, looks like it’s over.”
“That’s right.”
After a while, the red light district came to an end.
It was obvious at a glance. From the next area onward, much more normal-feeling buildings were lined up. Lumian let go of Tania’s hand and wiped the sweat from his forehead.
“Haha, it’s over.”
“Hmm. Right.”
She let out a light breath. Like Lumian, her face showed signs of relief.
Nothing had happened, but it had still been quite a thrilling experience. The kind of experience that would surely appear when flipping through memory albums after graduating from the academy.
Was that why?
Tania didn’t want to end this feeling just like that.
‘I want to feel this tension just a little longer.’
This current transgression, which seemed both like wrongdoing and not, provided exactly the level of thrill she wanted. If she had been alone it might have been different, but having Lumian by her side gave her more courage.
Moreover, it was amusing that the very person giving her that courage was feeling burdened.
She wanted to tease him more. She wanted to watch him panic a bit longer, unlike when he was teaching her swordsmanship.
Tania felt like a seven-year-old child bullying a crush.
“Lumian.”
“Yes?”
“Should we go in there?”
“Uh… there?”
Lumian narrowed his eyes and looked at the building Tania was pointing to.
A place located at the end of the red light district, yet somehow feeling different from the other places.
On the surface, it felt like a general store. Still, it was curious that there was no sign.
“Do you know what that place is?”
“I don’t know.”
“But you want to go in?”
“It obviously doesn’t look like that kind of place, right? Aren’t you curious? What exactly they’re selling inside there.”
“Uh… um…”
As expected. Lumian made a troubled expression and looked around nervously. It was similar to when he first entered the red light district.
Seeing this, Tania became even more excited. She grabbed Lumian’s hand and pulled him along.
“Let’s go see. What could possibly happen?”
“You really want to go in?”
“Yeah. Well, if you’re scared, you can stay here. I’ll just go in quickly and come back.”
“What do you mean scared? It’s just rude to suddenly enter when we have no intention of buying… Ah, whatever! Let’s go!”
It was a childish provocation, but it worked.
Lumian, who had spoken boldly, took the lead toward the mysterious shop. Unlike when he gave her sword instruction, he looked completely unreliable.
Seeing this, Tania chuckled softly.
Recently she had always felt like she was being led around by him, but now she felt like she had gotten back at him a little.
In a good mood, she hummed and followed behind Lumian. Her head was full of thoughts about how to tease him more throughout the day.
But right after entering the store.
“…”
Tania could no longer think such thoughts.
No, not only that, she couldn’t think anything at all.
She looked at Lumian and said.
“This place…”
“…Yes. It seems to be that kind of place.”
It wasn’t a place that did those kinds of things like other buildings in the red light district.
This place merely sold tools needed for doing those kinds of things.
Gulp.
Gulp.
Of course, even just that was quite stimulating for the two novices.
However, they didn’t give up.
The two, who made eye contact once more, slowly began to step inside the store rather than outside.
* * *
‘There’s so much!’
Tania’s gaze moved here and there as she wandered around the store interior.
Fortunately, no store clerk was visible. They were probably doing other work or upstairs.
Moreover, since Lumian had moved to the other side and was wandering around alone, it was even more comfortable to look around. She took in various objects without being self-conscious.
‘Ah, that’s that thing! I know that one over there too…’
Though Tania had never even kissed, let alone made love, her knowledge was no less than others.
The books purchased from ‘Hit Me’ didn’t only feature men and women. The tools they used also appeared.
Therefore, she could adapt to the store at a rapid pace. She occasionally glanced at Lumian in the distance, and when familiar objects appeared, she exclaimed ‘Ah, that one!’ as she wandered around the interior.
‘…What’s this?’
A peculiar object caught Tania’s eye.
The appearance itself wasn’t particularly unusual.
A curved stick shape. Something mainly used by women rather than men, a regular fixture in lewd books.
‘But why is it so expensive?’
She couldn’t understand it. Why would a mere stick cost so much?
Could it possibly be a magic item?
‘No way, surely not.’
Tania let out a snicker.
It was too far-fetched a thought. No matter what, there was no way they’d imbue magical effects into a tool used for such purposes.
Neither a craftsman who would put such care into it, nor customers who would pay good money for it, made sense by her standards.
Shaking her head, she looked around and tried to move away from the spot. No matter what, she didn’t want Lumian to see her looking at such things.
But then, Tania’s eyes caught the product description.
‘What, it really was a magic item?’
She was surprised. And also dumbfounded.
To think they’d put this much effort into something used for such purposes, not even a weapon!
She clicked her tongue. People’s desires regarding sex were far greater than she had imagined.
‘What kind of magical effect could possibly be on it?’
Intrigued, Tania stealthily approached the item.
Fortunately, the waitstaff was still nowhere to be seen, and Lumian wasn’t looking in this direction either. He was currently staring intently at something.
‘Pervert. What’s he looking at so intently?’
Turning the tables, she picked up the sample item.
Her curiosity had risen to unbearable levels. With trembling heart, Tania read the usage instructions and pressed the button firmly as the manual instructed.
And immediately after.
“Kyaaah!”
The device began vibrating at tremendous speed.
Startled, Tania threw the magic item she was holding.
Crash bang clatter!
Clatter clatter clatter-!
“Huh?”
“What, what’s happening!”
Surprised, Lumian turned around. At the same time, the store owner from upstairs came down and looked toward Tania.
He spoke again.
“C-customer?”
“…Uh, well, you see, this is…”
Tania stood among the scattered items, mumbling.
Her face turned red as if it might burst at any moment. Tears were slightly welling up in her eyes.
“…I’ll compensate for the damaged items.”
Tania Eloise, 16 years old.
At a much younger age than expected, she suffered the humiliation of leaving the store carrying an armful of unthinkable items.
“…I’ll pay for half.”
“It’s fine. Don’t pity me…”
“Yes… Still, it’s a bit awkward to carry around, so let me put them in my subspace backpack.”
“Thanks. I’ll have to secretly throw them away later…”
Tania muttered with a dejected expression.
Watching her, Lumian thought to himself.
‘A normal date has gone out the window.’
* * *
After the terrible incident at the store in the red light district, Lumian and Tania continued their date.
Fortunately, no other incidents occurred after that.
They had lunch normally, drank tea normally. After watching a play normally, they had dinner and returned to the Academy to walk along the walkway.
It was really a series of mundane, unremarkable events, but it was enjoyable. The two spent a happy weekend laughing and chatting, losing track of time.
“Today was fun.”
“Me too. Even what happened before lunch, thinking about it now, was quite fun…”
“Be quiet. Keep that story to yourself until the grave.”
“Just with words?”
“…What. What do you want!”
“Hahaha.”
Lumian laughed loudly. Tania pouted her lips.
But soon she relaxed her expression and burst into laughter. Their voices mixed together, creating a bright atmosphere despite it being night.
“Well, I’ll go in.”
“Yes, senior.”
With a somewhat bland farewell, Tania entered the female dormitory. Lumian didn’t take his eyes off her. Until her figure completely disappeared.
‘It was pretty good.’
Compared to Bumer who had won love in an instant, it was much more bland and slow relationship progress.
But it was fine. As Teoro had said, there was no need to compare himself with others.
‘Her face was bright. It seems her worries have been resolved.’
Tania never did share her concerns with him until the end.
However, unlike before, there was no shadow on her face. Lumian could vaguely tell that it was thanks to him. That was enough.
He looked up at the night sky and smiled.
“Haha.”
A heartwarming atmosphere.
However, he couldn’t remain immersed in this forever.
Lumian soon hardened his expression and entered the space between buildings at the Academy. It was a secluded, remote place where no one would be watching.
Swish-
He took something fist-sized from his subspace backpack and put it in his pocket, then drew his magic sword.
An eerie aura began to swirl.
He muttered quietly.
“Come out now.”
“…”
“I’ve known since earlier.”
Finishing his words, Lumian stared intently at one spot.
After a moment.
Swish swish swish-
An elderly man flowed out from thin air like liquid.
—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————