The Failed Swordmaster - Chapter 141

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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 141 54. National Son Bragging (2)

‘Oh, what brings you here at the start of the new year, Sir Lumian Calard? Are you planning to convey New Year’s greetings to His Majesty?’

When Lumian Calard visited his professor’s office after a long time.

Until that moment, Buckal didn’t attach any particular significance to it. He simply thought it was just a courtesy visit for the new year.

But after the New Year’s greetings to His Majesty and various updates were finished and the main topic began, he couldn’t help but respond loudly in surprise.

‘What? A New Year’s party? You asked me to brag on your behalf?’

‘Ahem. Well, something like that. It would look unseemly to boast about myself at such a gathering. Regardless of how impressive I actually am.’

‘…That’s true, I suppose. So, when is it? This party.’

‘The day after tomorrow.’

‘…What? The day after tomorrow?’

‘Ah, no need to worry. It won’t take long if we ride Semu.’

‘Hello! Buckal! It’s been a while!’

‘Oh, uh…’

‘Sorry about the tight schedule. I’ll never forget this favor.’

After that, things proceeded at lightning speed.

When he came to his senses, Buckal found himself on Semu’s back. Not only that, but Mercenary King Morghen and Rhodesian knight Irene Curtis were with him too.

After flying for about 5 hours, they stayed overnight in a village near the Carayan Domain and waited, then made their surprise appearance at the appointed time.

‘Even thinking about it now, it’s absolutely absurd.’

Buckal let out a silent laugh.

It was ridiculous.

The fact that riding a legendary creature like a dragon was for the purpose of showing off in front of rural lords, and that Morghen and Airin weren’t flustered by such a request but found it interesting and made battle plans – it all felt surreal. Like wandering through a dream.

But the most surprising thing was Lumian Calard himself.

The Sir Lian Fromhart in his memory was a taciturn, blunt, and more serious knight than anyone.

It was unimaginable to see him say, ‘It would look unseemly if I did it myself, so please brag about me instead.’

‘His personality has changed a lot since his reincarnation, but to this extent…’

Bercal Garcia, finally learning Lumian’s true nature, was shocked beyond imagination.

However.

“I’m sorry about this, visiting so suddenly without an invitation. I hope we haven’t caused any trouble…”

“Not at all, Sir Bucal Garcia! It’s truly an honor to meet such renowned knights and Master Swordsman Morghen in person! But if I may ask, what brings you to this humble place…”

Once they sat down, all the sense of disconnect and bewilderment he had felt until now disappeared like smoke in the wind.

Instead, it began to become interesting. He felt like a carefree child playing and running around without a thought.

‘Half of these people openly disrespected Sir Lumian Calard, right?’

Buckal smiled.

Would they still show such reactions after the barrage of praise from himself, Morghen, and Irene Curtis ended?

Feeling anticipation and strange excitement, he opened his mouth.

“As you all know, young Lumian here is truly an outstanding talent. He possesses tremendous ability that will be responsible for the future of not only the Academy but the kingdom – no, someone who will leave his name in the history of the continent.”

“…!”

“After teaching such a genius for an entire semester and then seeing him leave, my heart felt so empty I couldn’t bear it. So I took the liberty of visiting Baron Calard’s estate, but unfortunately our paths crossed.”

“I, I see.”

“Of course, waiting a few days wouldn’t be difficult… No, let me correct that. Waiting was too painful. In my eagerness to see young Lumian even a day sooner, I ended up becoming an unwelcome guest. I apologize once again.”

“Oh, no! You don’t need to think that way at all!”

All the lords half-rose from their seats to stop Buckal. Even so, their eyes kept looking toward Lumian.

A genius who would leave his name in continental history.

To think he possessed such tremendous talent that a high-ranking knight of Jenas would personally come seeking him first!

Just how outstanding was his performance that a Jenas knight, famous for his patience, couldn’t wait a few days and moved himself here?

‘He’s not even alone. Even a member of Rhodesia’s Frost Storm Knight Order…’

‘Does this mean he’s receiving attention from knights of two great powers, Jenas and Rhodesia, simultaneously!’

They were breathless. The shock left them unable to speak properly.

To them, Morghen’s words were added.

“Haha, from my perspective, this is quite fortunate. I discovered young Lumian one step ahead of the Kingdom of Jenas and Kingdom of Rodigia. Though I’m an inadequate master compared to my disciple and have many worries, well, I must try my best within my capabilities. Hahaha.”

“Di, disciple? Did you say disciple?”

“Ah, didn’t you know? That’s right. Young Lumian Calard has been my disciple since last year.”

“Gasp…”

The lords’ expressions became even more dramatic.

They wondered why a Sword Master, of which there are fewer than 100 on the continent, had come all this way – and he was Lumian’s master!

Even his attitude toward his disciple was extraordinary.

His expression, both joyful and bitter, revealed the regretful feelings of a master who couldn’t keep up with his disciple’s insane talent.

‘This can’t be. Someone who reached the realm of Sword Master that only geniuses can attain… has talent so great that he reproaches himself!’

‘Then what Sir Bucal and Sir Airin said wasn’t empty words either.’

‘Haha, could it be that everything Baron Luno Calard said until now was all true?’

A storm raged in everyone’s minds.

Especially the expressions of the three lords who had been bragging about their sons until now were quite a sight.

One person looked like he was sitting on a bed of thorns, one person was completely out of it, and one person was trembling with anger and shame.

He liked it. Lumian, who was still maintaining a humble attitude, smiled slightly.

‘Good. Very good. I feel completely refreshed.’

At first, he wondered if it might be too much. He felt like he was making too excessive a request to resolve a personal matter.

But not now. He couldn’t be more satisfied.

His father, who was trying to look stern while his lips kept twitching, and his mother at another table whose shoulders were rising as she looked at him, made his heart joyful. Today’s events would likely be remembered for quite a long time.

‘It was good to bring Irene Curtis too.’

Though there was the burden of exposing Semu the dragon’s identity, since everyone already knew anyway, did it really matter much?

Rather, he was pleased that she performed beyond expectations. She very naturally created a competitive structure not between individual knights, but between Jenas and Rhodesia.

She created an atmosphere where the two kingdoms were competing over one talent.

“Oh my, is that so? Rhodesia Kingdom directly tried to recruit him?”

“Yes. But unfortunately, young Lumian refused. He said he could never abandon Tarasan. How could a knight serve two masters…”

Irene Curtis looked at Lumian. Her slightly moist eyes contained admiration and respect.

“Lumian is truly amazing. It’s not easy to have not only skill but also conviction as a knight and steel-like patriotism at such a young age.”

“…”

“The role of the lords here probably contributed greatly to Lumian growing into such an excellent knight, right? After all, it’s natural to be influenced by one’s surroundings.”

“Ah, ahem! Well, that’s…”

“Cough. Hahaha, how could it be because of us? It’s all because young Lumian and Baron Luno Calard have such excellent character…”

‘This woman is really amazing.’

Lumian looked impressed.

She wasn’t just praising him but everyone around him. While doing so, she turned what could have been an atmosphere of discord and anxiety into one of harmony. It was remarkable skill.

“I don’t know if Sir Bucal knows, but young Lumian was originally famous for his good character. You could say he was different from the start.”

“That’s right. I can vouch for that.”

“I thought he would soon distinguish himself at the Academy too. He has such a nature that spares no effort…”

The atmosphere completely changed.

Now not only Bucal, Morghen, and Airin, but everyone was praising Lumian. Those who had just been watching the son-bragging as spectators now wanted to compete to side with Baron Calard.

Of course, the three lords and their sons couldn’t do that.

Even forcing a smile was difficult. Inside them, anger hotter than lava was bubbling.

‘I have to find fault somehow!’

This was one lord’s inner thoughts.

Of course, it was absurd. Finding forced faults in this situation would only make the atmosphere awkward; it was impossible to go against the tide.

But he couldn’t think rationally. Half out of his mind, he concentrated all his nerves on finding something, and finally noticed that the brooch on Lumian’s chest was quite crude.

Yes, let’s mention even this.

Let’s somehow find a flaw. Let’s somehow throw cold water on this ridiculous atmosphere!

Just as he made his decision and was about to open his mouth.

Bercal Garcia beat him to it by bringing up the brooch first.

“Come to think of it, young Lumian?”

“Yes, Professor.”

“That brooch on your chest, by any chance… isn’t that a token indicating honorary membership in the Red Rose Knight Order?”

“Ah… that’s correct. A few days ago, I visited the capital of Rhodesia, and somehow…”

“What? An honorary member of the Red Rose Knight Order? What are you talking about?”

At Buckal’s words, one of the nobles asked in a shocked voice.

The other nobles, and even those sitting at other tables, all focused on these words.

The Red Rose Knight Order?

Wasn’t this one of the continent’s top three knight orders, rivaling Jenas’s Golden Lion Knights?

‘He became an honorary knight of such a place?’

‘How on earth?’

‘What is this about? Honorary membership is even harder than full membership, isn’t it?’

Once again, everyone’s gaze converged on one spot.

Now they truly had no strength left to be surprised. Lumian, who kept revealing new aspects like an onion, felt like a monster to them.

Lumian smiled shyly.

An innocent-looking expression. Of course, his inner thoughts were completely different.

‘This should be adequate for a finale.’

Having finished his thoughts, he infused aura into the brooch.

Then a red rose bloomed beautifully in the air of the banquet hall.

Right below it, the magical signature of Rhodesia’s strongest knight, Sinseeo Ainsworth, appeared in golden letters.

Perfect proof that no one could doubt.

Lumian opened his mouth.

“Undeservedly, it seems Golden Dawn Sinseeo Ainsworth looked favorably upon me.”

“…!”

The game was over.

Among the nobles showing more enthusiasm than all their previous reactions combined, Lumian secretly nodded to today’s helpers.

And he glanced toward his father and mother.

‘This should count as proper filial piety, right?’

It was undoubtedly filial piety.

At least for today, Lumian Calard was certainly the continent’s greatest filial son.

* * *

It had been 3 hours since the banquet began.

Everyone was patting their full bellies. A few who were quite drunk had already been helped back to their rooms.

Runo Calard was one of them. His mood soaring to the heavens, he disappeared while being led by servants, repeatedly saying “My son is the best!”

Of course, no one mocked his appearance.

Rather, it was the opposite. Looking at Runo Calard, today’s greatest winner, the nobles couldn’t hide their envious gazes.

‘Still, cutting steak with an Aura Sword might have been a bit much.’

Though the reaction was excellent, thinking about it now, he couldn’t shake the feeling that it was excessive.

‘Whatever. It was fun, so that’s what matters.’

Lumian thought with a smile. And he began preparing to leave.

Following his father, even his mother had already returned to the dormitory. He had stayed because the nobles kept holding him back, but now it really seemed time to get up.

However.

“Young Master.”

“Lady Calaran?”

“Could you spare some time to walk in the garden and talk with me?”

On his way to the dormitory, he encountered by chance.

No, because of Lili Calaran who was clearly waiting for him, he had no choice but to turn his steps in another direction.

‘…How can such a face exist?’

Lili Calaran’s appearance, which he faced after a long time, transcended imagination.

Even her previous magically altered appearance couldn’t compare.

Facing the tremendous effects of the succubus beauty potion, Lumian gulped.

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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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