The Failed Swordmaster - Chapter 154

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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 154 59. What’s Needed to Become a Hero (3)

Clatter clatter-

In the carriage procession heading toward the Headquarters of the Order of the Sovereign, Lumian was feeling peaceful day by day.

The foreign new students who had suddenly increased, the scoundrel prince who had been mixed among them, and the King of Cairo who had aged disgracefully, nothing like his former self.

He had to run around frantically to resolve various chaotic situations. And in the process, he even had to reveal his own power, but ultimately everything worked out well.

He could still exist as Lumian Calard, and his precious connections didn’t think strangely of him either. It was truly fortunate.

“Oh my! I’m just saying this in case, but aren’t you the Hero, my lord?”

“…Stop it.”

Oh my, you really are the Hero, my lord? It’s an honor to meet you! I’m just a lowly person who’s merely a hero candidate…”

“This guy never gets tired of it.”

“Leave him be. Being clueless is that guy’s trademark.”

Bumer Simpson occasionally threw ridiculous jokes at him, and Teoro and Cal Krone teased him for it. Lumian also sighed as if he was fed up.

However, his friends’ reactions, their attitude toward him that wasn’t much different from before, made him deeply grateful.

‘Well, considering these guys’ abilities, it wouldn’t be strange if they were selected as hero candidates.’

His lover Tania Eloise became a Sword Expert at 16, and the other three were also geniuses who broke through the first gateway to Expert at 15. They had even all passed through the second gateway now.

Of course, being his acquaintances probably worked as a plus factor to some degree, but what did it matter.

Eventually, these people would acquire abilities befitting hero candidates.

No, they would acquire abilities befitting official heroes.

‘I’ll help them with all my strength.’

Having finished his thoughts, Lumian looked up at the sky.

The sky viewed from atop the carriage roof felt very refreshing.

As he felt the carriage’s vibration and blankly stared at the cloudless scenery, someone approached his side with a whoosh.

It was Tania Eloise.

Lumian spread his right arm with a smiling face, and she lay down using it as a pillow as if claiming her reserved spot.

The two spent a long time feeling the warm sunlight and the passing breeze like that. In silence.

Tania was the first to break that quietude.

Still keeping her gaze fixed toward the sky, she spoke quietly.

“Don’t hide things from me anymore.”

“Huh? What do you mean…”

Lumian made a perplexed expression.

Was she saying this knowing something?

Or was it just a casual remark?

Fortunately, it wasn’t the former. Tania’s words continued.

“Just. I don’t know about other people, but whatever kind of person you are, whatever abilities you’re hiding, whatever actions you’ve taken… whatever it is, I’ll accept it all and understand it all.”

“…”

“So you can speak comfortably. I’m unconditionally on your side… Ugh, this is so embarrassing right now.”

Tania looked toward Lumian. Not just turning her head, but completely turning her body toward him.

And she gave him a light kiss.

“Don’t make your girlfriend feel left out. I want to know everything about Lumian Calard.”

“…”

“Got it? If you’re doing this because you’re worried I’ll feel burdened, you really don’t need to worry about it at all? So from now on, confess everything to this senior of yours, junior.”

Tania giggled and lightly pinched his nose with her hand.

Then she returned to her place. Her figure slipping through the carriage window looked very nimble.

Lumian stared at the direction where she had disappeared for a long time with a stiff expression.

‘…She wants to know everything about Lumian Calard.’

He was grateful.

And he was sorry.

He didn’t yet have the courage to speak about the part concerning not ‘Lumian Calard’ but ‘Ryan Fromhart’.

He looked up at the sky again and muttered.

“I’ll try my best, senior.”

When he put his hand into his chest, he felt the texture of the Rhodesian ranch-style gift that Tania had given him.

Lumian fiddled with it for a long time.

Thus passed the day heading toward the Headquarters of the Order of the Sovereign.

* * *

What virtues are needed to become a hero?

There would be various things, but probably the most important would be ‘character’.

One would need a good heart willing to sacrifice oneself for the people of the continent, and an indomitable will to stand before countless demons.

‘Military power’ was also important. To face high demons that surpass even Sword Experts, and the Demon King who treats even Sword Masters like children, one needed the continent’s greatest swordsmanship skills.

But official Hero Lumian Calard, who had arrived at the Headquarters of the Order of the Sovereign.

The ability he needed most right now was none other than ‘acting skills’.

“That’s not how you do it. You need to lower your voice more and speak with strength in your abdomen.”

“Try following my expression. Nobility and regret simultaneously showing through, an expressiveness that captures the hearts of viewers…”

“In this scene, it’s better to angle your face like this. The pose should be like this… After checking with magical imaging, this posture suited you best, Hero.”

“Ah, yes.”

Lumian nodded.

Then he slightly pulled in his chin and turned his head to the left. He asked.

“Is this okay?”

“Good! Very good! I’m sorry, you might not understand, but when this is filmed with magical imaging, it sometimes comes out a bit different from reality.”

“No, I understand. You’re working hard, director.”

“Oh my, when the Hero says such things, I can only be deeply moved! Then, shall we stop here for today?”

“Let’s do that. Thank you again today.”

Lumian bowed his head, and the person who had been giving posture guidance bowed much more politely than him. Besides that, numerous people helping with the hero inauguration ceremony greeted him.

Lumian, who had greeted them all back with a smiling face, shook his head and slumped into a suitable chair.

That’s right. He was currently practicing for the ‘Hero Inauguration Ceremony’.

‘I heard we’d do the inauguration ceremony right after arriving, but I never thought it would be done this way…’

He had already heard from Archbishop Abram Russo. Despite the Demon King dying twice in the past 10 years, demonic energy was overflowing in the Human Realm. So situations where monsters appeared throughout the continent were occurring frequently.

This instilled anxiety and fear in people’s hearts, and such negative emotions served as catalysts for the spread of demonic energy.

Therefore, it was necessary to announce throughout the realm that ‘an official hero recognized by the Patron Deity has been born on the continent’, instilling courage and stability in people’s hearts.

‘The idea of creating the hero inauguration ceremony as a magical video and distributing it across the continent for that purpose… not bad. But…’

This was too different from the inauguration ceremony he had imagined.

He had only thought of kneeling inside the temple, in front of the Patron Deity’s symbol, saying some appropriately cool words, and having light descend from the sky as a result.

The current Lumian was practicing processes that seemed like something from a play: cutting down monsters created by illusion magic, being cornered, and ultimately overcoming everything in the name of god.

Shaking his head, he recalled the conversation he had with the Archbishop.

‘No matter what, isn’t this too excessive?’

‘Not at all. Rather, isn’t it interesting? Who would watch with interest a boring and stiff inauguration ceremony that they’ve probably seen hundreds of times during weekend services?’

‘Hmm…’

‘A hero fighting thrillingly against demons and then, when cornered, gaining new power through the Patron Deity’s blessing descending from heaven! Finally, after defeating all enemies, praying devoutly in golden grace! Aren’t you already excited? People’s reactions will be absolutely explosive!’

‘Well, that’s true, but…’

‘Besides, this isn’t just an idea the Pope and I had. The Patron Deity directly commanded us to do it this way.’

‘…The Patron Deity directly commanded it?’

‘Yes. He emphasized it tremendously. He said this is absolutely necessary work. He said it’s very closely related to Sir Lumian’s growth.’

‘To that extent…’

Further resistance was meaningless. After hearing the Archbishop’s words, Lumian began engaging in acting practice from then on.

But it was still unavoidably bothersome.

‘Plays, I liked watching them, but doing them myself isn’t really my thing…’

Of course, since the Patron Deity said it was necessary, he had no intention of doing it half-heartedly.

However, he thought that acting skills wouldn’t be the most important thing in this inauguration ceremony.

‘Ultimately, as long as I can capture people’s attention, it should be fine even if the detailed parts are lacking, right?’

Lumian subtly manifested his aura image.

Then his atmosphere changed dramatically. To a strong rock, to a swaying reed, and to an incomparably brilliant flower.

It changed so quickly that no one could recognize it, but his presence now was more outstanding than any other actor in this place.

The skills he had honed to gain popularity with women were shining brightly.

‘Of course, even doing this, I still can’t match that subordinate Cal Krone…’

Come to think of it, it was absurd.

How could that guy emit such presence when he wasn’t even using an aura image?

In any case, Lumian thought that to perform the appointment ceremony excellently, raising his presence was more important than paying attention to detailed acting movements.

He unconsciously muttered to himself.

“It would probably be better to learn from Cal Krone instead… Ah.”

The moment he finished speaking, Lumian looked ahead with a troubled expression.

He thought everyone had lost interest in him, but that wasn’t the case. One actor was staring intently at him.

It seemed like he had heard what he said. He offered words of apology.

Because it must have sounded like he was looking down on the other person’s profession and career.

“Ah, I’m sorry.”

“Not at all, really. You could think that way.”

He moved away from his spot with a smiling face as if he wasn’t offended at all.

Lumian sighed. Fortunately, it seemed he wasn’t too upset.

…That thought completely changed 180 degrees the moment he heard the muttering of an actor passing by in the distance.

“Tch. Even if he’s the hero, still, does acting look that ridiculous to him…”

“…”

‘Well, it was my mistake.’

That’s understandable. Lumian nodded his head and returned to his dormitory.

He was mentally too exhausted. It seemed like he should get plenty of sleep for once before the next acting lesson.

‘That person’s mood… will get better soon, right?’

It took exactly three days to realize that was a miscalculation.

* * *

“The hero, you know. He’s completely looking down on us.”

“That hero seems to have a worse personality than I thought. He completely looks down on actors…”

“Even so, how could he say that any Tom, Dick, or Harry could do that much in front of professional actors? Don’t you think so?”

‘That bastard…’

Veins bulged at Lumian’s temples.

At first, he let it slide. If someone had strong pride, his words could be unpleasant for a long time. He could fully tolerate some gossip once or twice.

But seeing him continuously badmouth him to people around without any intention of stopping, he thought he couldn’t just stay still.

And most of all.

‘To call Cal Krone any Tom, Dick, or Harry…!’

He couldn’t accept it.

He couldn’t tolerate it.

Among all the people he had seen in his over 60 years of life, he was the most amazing attention-seeker.

So outstanding that he was unrivaled even in this place where distinguished actors had gathered!

He couldn’t stand the attitude of disrespecting such a friend. That part made him angrier than being insulted himself.

Stomp stomp.

Lumian approached the actor who was still gossiping with large strides.

The gazes of those gathered focused on him. That actor also looked at him.

An expression of restlessness as if he had something to feel guilty about.

Seeing this, Lumian strongly used his aura image.

Kuwaaaaaa-!

Lumian Calard who bore the image of the sun!

His figure shone brightly. Not only the people around him, but also the directors who were chatting in the distance simultaneously focused on him.

They couldn’t help but look. People showed expressions of shock at his more intense presence than anyone else’s.

Confirming this, Lumian stopped using his aura image.

“…”

“…!”

It was as if a storm had passed.

The theater workers looked at Lumian with eyes that seemed to say ‘What on earth did I just see?’ There were even a few people who sat down on the floor from the overwhelming presence that destroyed common sense.

Lumian didn’t pay attention to them.

Instead, he approached the actor who had been gossiping about him and his friend, and spoke to that person.

“My friend, Cal Krone, is far more amazing than I am now.”

“…”

“I’ll show you. Let’s go.”

There was no way he could dare defy the hero’s words.

The designated actor followed behind Lumian with eyes half-mixed with fear and curiosity.

All the theater industry workers followed behind the two of them.

A presence even more amazing than that insane presence!

They absolutely couldn’t miss it.

People’s expressions were full of anticipation.

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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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