The Failed Swordmaster - Chapter 153

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Chapter 153 59. What’s Needed to Become a Hero (2)

Lumian was flustered.

Despite hearing an answer to his question, even more questions had arisen. He slightly furrowed his brow.

‘What does officially becoming a hero have to do with my power growing stronger?’

‘Does the Deity bestow blessings? Is this a procedure for that?’

‘But if such a thing were possible, why has such grace never been bestowed until now?’

Lumian asked about this.

However, the Knight King didn’t know the details either.

“I don’t know everything either. I think it’s probably necessary for the procedure, but we’ll only know for certain once we arrive at the Headquarters of the Deity’s Order.”

“Hmm.”

“Ah, the Archbishop did say this. Just the fact that an official hero has been born will allow many people on the continent to live their daily lives with peace of mind.”

“That’s… certainly true.”

Lumian nodded.

Just as soldiers in war raise their morale by seeing a great general, the mere existence of a hero directly recognized by the Deity on the continent would give people a sense of security.

However, he wondered if he could properly fulfill such a weighty role.

The Knight King didn’t spare his encouragement for him.

“Sir Lumian has already defeated a Demon King single-handedly. If not you, who else could be called a hero? Moreover, from what I can sense, you seem much stronger than you were back then…”

“I’ve had some… achievements.”

“Hahaha, some? I can’t even begin to guess what level your power is at now with my abilities. Are you teasing me?”

“Th-that wasn’t my intention. I apologize, Your Majesty. But what does the Deity’s words about preparing for the Demon Clan’s invasion mean… Don’t tell me.”

Lumian changed the subject.

It was an attempt to escape from a tight spot. The Knight King didn’t nitpick about this and answered the question.

“It seems that once again, another Demon King has been born.”

“Huh… Really? For a new Demon King to be born so quickly…”

“It’s hard to believe. Moreover, this Demon King seems to possess power so strong that it’s unprecedented in history.”

Lumian’s expression hardened.

Could he become a splendid hero who meets everyone’s expectations, the Deity’s expectations?

If asked such a question, he wouldn’t be able to answer easily. He was just a lacking and insufficient human being.

However, to the question ‘Do you have confidence to stop the Demon Clan from invading the Human Realm?’, Lumian was ready to nod confidently.

‘Considering my current power, this is absolutely not overconfidence. I may not know about mindset, beliefs, or character, but in terms of martial prowess alone, I’m sufficiently qualified to be a hero.’

However, the Knight King’s words were giving him a sense of alarm.

Lumian answered.

“I see. A Demon King so strong that it can’t be compared to any Demon King we’ve encountered before…”

“But I’m not worried.”

The Knight King grasped his hand firmly.

Lumian looked at his former lord in surprise. He saw eyes filled with firm trust.

After a moment of silence, firm words flowed from Philip III’s mouth.

“While it’s true that the enemy we’ll face this time is mightier than any Demon King before, isn’t Sir Lumian Calard also more remarkable than any hero in history?”

“…”

“With your abilities, as the hero Lumian Calard who will become even stronger through the Deity’s grace, you’ll surely be able to overcome all trials.”

“…Your grace is overwhelming, Your Majesty.”

“Haha. I wasn’t looking to hear such formalities.”

The Knight King, who had released Lumian’s hand, took a sip of water.

His expression as he continued speaking contained sympathetic emotions.

“Rather, I feel great regret that the situation has turned out this way. It hasn’t even been a year since I told you to enjoy your current life to the fullest, yet I’m already asking for your help. If I had been more capable, there would have been no need to burden Sir Lumian with such excessive responsibility…”

“Your Majesty! How can you say such things! That’s absolutely wrong!”

Lumian said in surprise.

No matter how obsessed he currently was with women, sex, and romance, he wasn’t such a scoundrel that he couldn’t distinguish priorities.

He was still a knight.

And a more excellent knight than anyone else. Much more than he thought himself to be.

Because he was such a Lumian, he didn’t have even the slightest thought that the current situation was annoying.

He would move with the resolve to break his body. To protect the continent’s peace and uphold the Deity’s words.

“Haha, you’re putting my mind at ease. Good, now that we’ve discussed almost everything we needed to talk about, how about we have a drink for old times’ sake?”

Having finished speaking, the Knight King took out a bottle of alcohol from his spatial pocket. Lumian couldn’t dare refuse and shared drinks with him, spending time with various stories including each other’s recent situations.

The problem was that the alcohol Philip III brought had quite a high alcohol content.

And that Lumian’s alcohol tolerance was pathetically low compared to his previous life.

“My… Sir Lian Fromhart and Sir Lumian Calard have quite different alcohol tolerances.”

“Hehe… It’s fine. I’ve been staying quiet until now to enjoy the atmosphere, but if I put my mind to it, purifying alcohol toxins is nothing at all.”

“Oh, is that so?”

“Of course. I’ve easily purified even High Demons’ Demonic Stones. This much is a breeze.”

“Haha, but let’s delay purifying the alcohol toxins a bit longer. Sir Lumian’s current appearance is quite unfamiliar, so I’d like to see it a bit more.”

“Is that so? Hehe, hehehe…”

Lumian let out laughter. His completely reddened face gradually lowered. The Knight King watched this sight with an amused expression.

To think he’d see him, who was always composed in everything, drunk. He too smiled at this novel feeling.

However, completely unexpected words flowed from Lumian’s mouth.

“My friends…”

“Hmm?”

“My friends… what kind of feelings are they having right now…”

“…”

That’s when it started. When stories about his current life’s connections began coming from him.

The Knight King made a serious expression. And the thoroughly drunk Lumian, forgetting even where he was, began to pour out his worries.

How his friends would react to his true abilities finally being revealed.

Whether his identity might be exposed. Even if he managed to get past that part well, whether they would feel great loss, helplessness, and emptiness seeing him suddenly rush far ahead.

Such topics flowed out incoherently, in broken sentences.

Fortunately, the Knight King could understand Lumian’s words.

And he had stories that could comfort him.

Philip III, who had downed a drink, spoke with a gentle expression.

“What you’re worried about won’t happen. Questions about how Sir Lumian possesses such abilities? There won’t be any at all. You’re a hero directly appointed by the Deity. Before the Deity’s name, anything can be understood. People will probably think Sir Lumian has already received divine grace. Your friends too.”

“But the feelings they’ll have toward me, who suddenly went to an unreachable place…”

“You don’t need to worry about that either.”

“…?”

The Knight King spoke with a resolute expression.

Lumian, who raised his head to see this, felt puzzled.

How could he say such things so confidently?

While he was thinking this, another sentence flowed from Philip III’s mouth.

“Because Sir Lumian isn’t the only one chosen by the Deity.”

* * *

After the Knight King’s party arrived at the auditorium and everything was concluded, Tarasan Academy was truly in a festive mood.

It felt like rising from hell to heaven overnight. The Academy entered a three-day holiday, and excited people rushed out to the streets to share the stories they had heard.

However, there were people who couldn’t do that.

Namely, Lumian Calard’s three friends and his lover.

They wandered around the campus here and there, then like salmon returning home, found themselves at the Scholarship Student Training Ground without realizing it.

Of course, they weren’t in the mood to train.

Bumer did swing his sword fiercely alone, but that was just an action to relieve frustration. The rest occupied a bench each, making complicated expressions.

‘…Just how much further has he gone.’

Teoro Shutgarn sighed.

Of course, he had never thought of defeating Lumian before either.

Before he had even passed the first gateway of Expert, that guy was already an Expert. How could he surpass such a monster?

‘However, to continue remaining as a friend by his side…’

He thought he needed to at least be able to follow up to around his feet.

That was why. The reason he had been able to train without rest until now was because of Lumian.

But now, it seemed like it would be difficult.

‘Honestly, I can’t even bring myself to try.’

Today.

He had seen Lumian’s true abilities.

He had seen what kind of people were around Lumian.

He had also learned who was paying attention to Lumian’s talent.

A talent recognized not only by the Knight King and Golden Dawn, but even by the Patron Deity.

Seeing his friend who had become such an incredible existence, incomparably greater than himself, Teoro couldn’t help but feel terrible helplessness and inferiority.

And it was no different for Bumer Simpson and Cal Krone.

“….”

Tania Eloise’s case was slightly different.

She felt hurt that Lumian hadn’t told her anything. That emotion came much sooner than the helplessness and inferiority.

However, the more she thought about it, the more she understood his actions. Tania kicked a pebble at her feet as she thought.

‘Lumian must have known. How we would react if he showed us everything about himself.’

She looked around.

She could see the three men, who had always been full of confidence, now pathetically deflated. And she belatedly realized that her own state wasn’t much different from theirs.

Tania Eloise’s conclusion also flowed in a similar direction.

To stay by Lumian Calard’s side, she too had to become someone worthy of him.

She had to. If she couldn’t, whether they found him burdensome or Lumian found them burdensome, only an unpleasant future awaited.

‘To prevent that, I need to work much harder than now. But how should I….’

Sigh, a sigh similar to Teoro’s poured from her lips.

How could she catch up to Lumian Calard, who treated even Swordmaster Adolf Anner like a child? How could she follow her boyfriend who was so incredible that he even felt unfamiliar?

What exactly could she do?

It was while she was lost in such self-loathing.

An unexpected figure appeared in the training grounds where only they had been.

“Phew, so you were all here. That’s fortunate, I don’t need to search for you one by one.”

“Ah, Archbishop Abram Russo?”

“How did you come all the way here… Huh? On your head….”

“A, a dragon?”

“That’s right! I’m the young dragon Semu!”

Semu, who had been sitting on the Archbishop’s head, came down to the ground and returned to his original form.

And then Kuwaaa! He breathed out flames. Teoro, Bumer, and Cal Krone, who didn’t know about the dragon’s existence, wore dazed expressions.

However, Tania Eloise wasn’t flustered by Semu’s appearance. She had already had several experiences bickering with the creature.

Rather, she was much more curious about why the Archbishop of the Order of the Sovereign had come looking for them.

She asked in a cautious tone.

“Ar, Archbishop? Did you perhaps come looking for the four of us?”

“That’s right. But it wasn’t I who came looking.”

“…?”

“To be precise, it would be more accurate to say that the Patron Deity, not I, came looking for you.”

“…!”

Surprise appeared on everyone’s faces.

Especially in the eyes of the three quick-witted people—Tania, Teoro, and Cal Krone—there was also a hint of expectation.

Only Bumer looked at the Archbishop with an expression that said ‘What’s going on?’

Abram Russo smiled at him, then spoke with a solemn expression.

“As Abram Russo, faithful servant of the Patron Deity, delivers the oracle of Lady Allia, all of you kneel!”

“….”

“Four knight cadets armed with outstanding talent and burning passion, shining with brilliant potential greater than anyone else. Tania Eloise, Cal Krone, Teoro Shutgarn, Bumer Simpson. I appoint you as ‘Hero Candidates,’ so work diligently to ensure your potential doesn’t remain mere potential!”

Indescribable amazement and joy appeared on everyone’s faces.

Seeing this, Semu stretched out his front paws and said.

“Work diligently!”

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————