The Failed Swordmaster - Chapter 156

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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 156 60. Where Am I? Who Are You? (1)

“Will it start soon now?”

“Probably? It’s taking longer than expected though.”

“Well, filming magic footage from multiple angles would naturally take a long time.”

“I never imagined an appointment ceremony would proceed like this…”

Four people including Tania Eloise sat on a hill looking down at the plain.

There were an enormous number of people. Mage personnel to record the appointment ceremony on film, and professional directors to coordinate the process.

Inside the temporary tents, there would also be makeup staff. The hero couldn’t appear looking shabby after all.

Bumer said while picking up and eating snacks.

“But this is more interesting than I thought. It really seems ingenious. To think of filming a play with magic footage for promotion.”

“I heard this has already happened several times in Jenas Capital.”

Cal Krone also picked up snacks as he spoke. Bumer asked in surprise.

“Really?”

“Yeah. They film each scene of a play with magic footage, then arrange and edit them in proper order so people can watch continuously. What did they call it… ah, movies. They called them movies.”

“Movies…”

“They said it’s much faster-paced than plays, which is good. Well, as you can see, it requires an enormous amount of money and manpower, so it doesn’t seem commercially viable…”

“Then what we’re watching now is a sight that’s hard to see even with money?”

“That’s right. Opportunities to see something like this aren’t that common… he’s coming out.”

At Cal Krone’s words, Bumer turned his head. Teoro and Tania, who had been focused on their conversation, also concentrated their gaze toward the plain.

Then they could see Lumian emerging from the tent, armed in full plate armor.

Tania said disappointedly.

“Aw, won’t we see his face? He’s wearing a helmet?”

“Well, it might show in the middle. It’s not an ugly face, and Lumian’s face is pretty decent now…”

“Decent?”

“…He’s quite handsome, so there’s no reason not to show it.”

Cal Krone hastily changed his words. Though he had passed the second trial, it was difficult to handle the presence of Tania, who was an Expert.

Perhaps it would have been the same even if she were an ordinary person. He grumbled inwardly.

‘Since the couple are both monsters, I can’t say anything.’

“Now it’s really starting.”

Teoro’s words flowed through the chaotic atmosphere. All four simultaneously drew up their aura to enhance their eyesight.

They wouldn’t film just once anyway. They would go through the same process at least ten times, then splice together the best footage, so it would definitely become quite boring later.

But at least now, anticipation was sky-high. They looked down with serious expressions like people who had come to watch a famous play.

“Aaaahhh!”

“De, demons… it’s demons!”

“Oh God!”

The content itself was simple.

A peaceful village settled on the plain. And a group of demons that suddenly appeared before them.

People screamed God’s name and fled in panic, while some vigilantes resisted with farming tools to protect their families, but lacked the strength.

Then the hero, Lumian Calard, made a spectacular entrance.

An exclamation flowed from Bumer’s mouth.

“Ooh…”

Though it was an utterly clichéd situation, it was full of excitement, perhaps due to the high level of illusion magic and the actors’ acting skills.

Lumian’s appearance wasn’t bad either.

It wasn’t for non-professionals like them to judge how it looked on magic footage, but at least his sword-wielding appearance was perfect.

His movements were bold and magnificent. They looked flashy on the surface but didn’t feel disconnected from actual combat.

“That’s fortunate. If it had been swordsmanship that was all show, the riffraff would have torn him apart.”

“Come on, to someone wielding a complete Aura Sword…”

“Cynical people might think that’s a magic sword though? Well, they wouldn’t say it openly. It would be blasphemy… ah.”

“Aah!”

“Mmm.”

“Hup.”

At that moment, groans flowed simultaneously from all four mouths.

A scene of Lumian falling into crisis had appeared.

The Demon King who appeared late struck Lumian with a huge sword. Lumian, hit hard in the face, flew far away then struggled to get up.

Then, an atmosphere that stirred everyone’s heartstrings emanated from his body.

Bzzzuuuung-!

An indomitable will that would absolutely never break.

An attitude of self-sacrifice to protect people by burning his own body.

Like a giant rock standing firm, faith and stability that rose in one’s heart just by looking.

A mysterious feeling difficult to explain in one sentence spread in all directions. It was truly a presence befitting a hero.

His handsome face was the finishing touch. His hair, refined by experts’ hands, had a tragic charm while appearing disheveled, and a single streak of blood flowing down his smooth facial skin made his fighting spirit stand out even more.

From his mouth as he raised his sword, praise for the Patron Deity and vows as a hero began to flow.

“He could attack at that moment, but the Demon King is just watching.”

“Don’t nitpick every detail.”

“Yes. Sorry…”

Tania scolded Bumer. Perhaps having grown closer since the Snow Flower Festival, their conversation felt more friendly than before. They chuckled and focused on the appointment ceremony again.

However, Cal Krone couldn’t watch this scene comfortably.

Because he felt déjà vu from Lumian’s desperate yet unbreaking appearance.

‘That bastard, this looks exactly the same as what he showed in the Swordsmanship Competition finals, doesn’t it?’

At first he wasn’t sure.

But the more he watched, the more similar it seemed. The way he seemed about to collapse yet endured to the end, standing firm and blocking attacks, was chillingly similar.

Even drawing out more power than expected for the final strike was identical.

Cal Krone frowned as he watched the scene where the Demon King finally fell due to the hero’s power combined with the Patron Deity’s blessing in a lethal attack.

‘I’m certain. That bastard was paying more attention to his surroundings than to me even when fighting me!’

Of course, he had thought that Lumian had gone easy on him back then, but until now he hadn’t known why.

But now he seemed to understand.

He ground his teeth. He felt he should confront that guy as soon as the appointment ceremony ended.

“…Ahem.”

Teoro, who noticed Cal Krone’s change of mood, said nothing. In a way, he was also an accomplice.

“Huff, huff.”

Now the appointment ceremony was racing toward its climax.

Hero Lumian Calard, who despite becoming covered in blood, finally defeated all the demons and saved the people.

He stuck his sword in the ground and knelt.

Then he began praying to the Patron Deity.

His appearance as he recited praise for God and spoke of continental peace and everyone’s happiness was utterly reverent.

Just watching created resonance in one’s chest, and it seemed hot tears would pour from one’s eyes. Tania was actually shedding a few tears.

Bumer said.

“Wow, if it’s this impressive even from far away… it must be incredible watching up close through magic footage.”

“Right. This seems sufficient with just this one time, no need to do it multiple times… huh? Huh?”

A bewildered voice flowed from Cal Krone’s mouth. The others were similar. They widened their eyes in surprise.

Because Lumian Calard’s sword and his body were rising high into the sky.

Aaaaah-

Beautiful melody as if flowing from heaven, and a golden spotlight that seemed to purify all evil thoughts in one’s heart.

Watching Lumian Calard rising higher and higher on that spotlight, the four could only gape with their mouths open.

They came to their senses when Lumian’s figure disappeared above the clouds, completely vanishing from sight.

Teoro, who regained his senses first, muttered unconsciously.

“This is no joke…”

“Right.”

“It was good before too, but the ending was really…”

“Wow… so cool…”

The other three agreed with his words.

The atmosphere Lumian had shown before was excellent, but the ending was truly spectacular.

It felt as if the goddess herself had reached out her hand to bring the hero into her embrace.

They chatted for a long time about Lumian, the appointment ceremony, and the reactions of those who would watch future ceremonies.

It was enjoyable. Thinking about what kind of treatment their friend and lover would receive made their hearts flutter with excitement.

Then, Archbishop Abram Russo walked over from behind with Semu.

Seeing him, the four stood up and showed their respects.

“Good day, Archbishop.”

“Ah, yes. So you were watching from here.”

“Yes. The view was good… But is there something you need to tell us?”

Teoro asked, and the Archbishop nodded.

He opened his mouth with a slightly dark expression.

“There’s one piece of good news and one piece of news that’s neither good nor bad. Let me tell you the good news first.”

“…”

“Sir Sinseor Ainsworth has decided to give you all special guidance for the next six months.”

“Whoa!”

An exclamation burst from Bumer’s mouth. Teoro and Cal Krone also looked at the Archbishop with disbelieving expressions.

They had received guidance from the Knight King several times while staying at the Order headquarters.

However, that was only one-time instruction, different from receiving long-term guidance like this.

They smiled with moved expressions. It felt like something hot was swelling up in their chests.

However, Tania couldn’t do the same.

She was bothered by what the Archbishop might say next.

She looked at the Archbishop with an anxious expression, and he also glanced toward Tania.

The words that came out after a moment exceeded everyone’s expectations.

“And… Lumian Calard has been taken by Goddess Allia.”

“…?”

“What? The goddess did what?”

“I said the goddess has temporarily taken him.”

“…”

“So that he can face the powerful enemies he will encounter in the future, Lady Allia will personally train him – this divine oracle just came down.”

“W-wow!”

“The goddess will personally train him?”

“That’s amazing! Why is this neither good nor bad news? Isn’t this incredibly good news?”

Bumer asked as if it was strange.

From his perspective, he was so envious of Lumian he could barely stand it, so why use such a lukewarm expression?

The reason became clear soon after.

Tania asked a question.

“The… training period, how long will it be?”

“…At least 5 years.”

“…”

“Perhaps, it could even be… 10 years…”

“…”

Tania’s expression rapidly darkened.

Even the strength left her legs. Teoro, Bumer, and Cal Krone looked at her as she collapsed with a thud.

She looked like a widow who had lost her husband to war.

The Archbishop, watching her pitifully, added more words.

“…Well, if Lumian finishes his training quickly, he might come back sooner than that.”

“…”

It was no comfort at all.

Tania Eloise, who had been wearing a blank expression for a while, looked up at the sky where Lumian had disappeared and cried out inwardly.

‘How can you just take someone else’s boyfriend away!’

* * *

At that moment.

Lumian was also bewildered by the completely changed environment.

‘Until I was floating up into the air, I thought it was just magical staging.’

Though it hadn’t been discussed beforehand, he had accepted it. He thought some inspired director might have given urgent instructions.

But that wasn’t the case.

No matter how great the director and mages were, they couldn’t send him to a world above the sky.

Lumian walked across the ground filled with blue and pink clouds with an expression full of anxiety.

He didn’t know where this was or where he should go. He knew nothing, but he thought he should explore his surroundings first.

Then, clear bell sounds rang out from far away.

Ding- Ding-

Lumian didn’t just wait quietly. Quickly drawing up his aura, he moved toward where the bell sounds were coming from.

Then he saw a haughty woman riding in a palanquin carried by four men, and a shy woman following at a distance as if embarrassed.

What they had in common was that they were both stunningly beautiful.

He had thought there couldn’t be beauty beyond Lili Calaran, who had received the effects of beauty potions, but he was wrong.

Lumian asked with a dazed expression.

“W-who are you?”

“The kid has no sense. Who do you think I am?”

“…”

“Tsk. Hey, you explain it to him.”

“Yes.”

The woman who had made a somewhat displeased expression for some reason followed the palanquin woman’s words.

“This is the great god Allia, savior of all humanity and protector of the human realm from evil demons.”

“The epithets are a bit bland. Be more careful with your words from now on.”

“…Yes.”

Allia, now wearing a satisfied smile, took out a pipe.

Snapping her fingers to light it, she took a long draw, then exhaled smoke and spoke.

“Nice to meet you, Lumian Calard.”

“…”

“Or should I say Ryan Fromhart?”

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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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