The Failed Swordmaster - Chapter 161

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

Chapter 161 62. An Unexpected Being (1)

 

‘This is truly tremendous energy.’

 

Lumian, who had taken a meditation posture, gulped down his saliva.

 

It truly seemed as if it would fill the entire sky. No matter how much he had drawn upon the wishes and hopes of all the continent’s people, he had never dreamed in his wildest imagination that such an enormous amount would ascend to the Divine Realm.

 

It was incomparable to when he had consumed 30 Demonic Stones after his sparring match with the Knight King last year.

 

Of course, accepting that as his own power was a different matter entirely.

 

‘Focus, focus.’

 

Lumian slowly took a deep breath.

 

He could do it. He had spent decades in his previous life rushing about to protect the Human Realm, and in that process, he had seen countless people suffering because of demons.

 

He could understand. He could empathize.

 

Even the anxiety contained within the faith and wishes they sent – he could understand that too. Because he was undoubtedly an excellent knight.

 

Whooooooom-

 

Indeed, after some time passed and he became accustomed to the flow, Lumian instantly absorbed the energy from the lower realm.

 

It was like parched earth from a long drought absorbing rainwater.

 

It was only natural. Though he had completed the Aura of Earth , his Aura of People was only at the level of taking its first steps. There was more than enough space to accept the energy.

 

He steadily digested the hearts of the continent’s people that continuously flooded in.

 

One day, two days, three days.

 

When about a week had passed, Lumian’s divine form stirred slightly.

 

It meant he had reached his first target point.

 

‘I can feel tremendous power.’

 

A vast world unfolded in the mind of the closed-eyed Lumian.

 

The mountain ranges that had originally been endlessly vast, and the expansive lands spread between them, had become even more magnificent through his training in the Divine Realm.

 

Such foundation was now filled to the brim with the Aura of People. The energy containing the wishes and prayers of countless continent dwellers had made the land abundant.

 

‘With this much, I won’t fall into a state of exhaustion after using my power all at once like before.’

 

A smile of joy spread across Lumian’s lips.

 

However, there was no time to rest. He had to strive even harder.

 

The powerful enemy from the Demon Realm that would someday come?

 

Of course that was important too, but for the current him, the desire for growth – wanting to reach an even higher realm – was acting much more strongly than such concerns.

 

Therefore, Lumian did not settle for just one instance of growth.

 

‘Trust me more. Rely on me more. The anxiety and worry, fear and concern in all your hearts – I will bear them.’

 

I will become a great barrier, no, a high and thick castle wall that no one can dare to cross, and protect you all.

 

Having steeled his heart once again, Lumian absorbed the energy that still came flooding in like a tide.

 

But after 1 week, 2 weeks, 3 weeks passed, exactly one month after he had begun his Aura training.

 

He came to fully realize how absurd the thoughts he had harbored were.

 

‘…I am a human who falls far short of even a hero’s vessel, let alone being a god.’

 

Ryan Fromhart.

 

He was certainly an excellent knight.

 

Except for the occasional deviant behavior of raiding Gang Hideouts during mission execution, he was a person with no flaws whatsoever. A hero among heroes who had shed countless drops of sweat for his lord, people, and kingdom.

 

He even had a record of sacrificing his life for the peace and well-being of the continent, so he could proudly claim to be an existence worthy of the title ‘hero’ beyond just being a knight.

 

But what about his ‘current self’ living a new life as ‘Lumian Calard’?

 

Could he truly sacrifice his life for complete strangers even now?

 

‘…Right now, I cannot.’

 

Of course, his current self was also quite a decent person. He was prepared to bear many things for the peace of the continent.

 

Intense training to the point of vomiting, private life and personal time restricted in many aspects, unpleasant jealousy and criticism from unspecified masses, great responsibility that came with his position…

 

But compared to his previous life when he could sacrifice even his ‘life’ for others, his current self was certainly far from being a ‘hero’.

 

It was unavoidable.

 

His previous self had no future.

 

Unable to leave descendants or form a family, he was merely an existence ‘for the kingdom’ – belonging to the state and carrying out assigned duties day by day.

 

But now it was different.

 

His current self, who had his manhood, had a future.

 

Unlike his previous life where he had given up major parts of life, the current Lumian Calard was living not just as a ‘knight’ protecting the kingdom, but as a ‘human’ who also pursued personal happiness.

 

‘Can someone like me really deserve to receive the trust of so many people?’

 

The moment such doubt arose, Lumian’s growth began to stagnate.

 

His world, which seemed capable of embracing even the ocean, began to shake. It groaned that it was too difficult, that if he accepted any more, his existence would shatter and tear apart.

 

It wasn’t simply a warning level. When signs of cracks appeared in his energy center, Lumian was startled and blocked the external energy.

 

‘What, and you call yourself a hero!’

 

‘You’re not planning to protect us? Are you going to turn away from my misfortune too?’

 

‘Filthy bastard! You’re no different from the others, only looking out for yourself in the end!’

 

‘Protect me too! Sacrifice a little more, just a little more for my future!’

 

The wishes that had approached with hope were repelled, and immediately became curses and condemnation that pounded against Lumian.

 

It was agonizing. His breathing became labored and his heart began to race.

 

His body trembled like an aspen tree in the confusion during training that he was experiencing for the first time in his life.

 

At this rate, it seemed his body would be destroyed not by internal problems but by external pressure.

 

However, fortunately, such a thing did not happen.

 

The countless hearts of the Human Realm.

 

Among the tangled threads numbering far beyond hundreds of millions, one heart that emitted particularly strong light entered Lumian’s senses.

 

‘Your Majesty…!’

 

Knight King Philip III – his heart was very different from those of the continent’s many people.

 

It wasn’t the type that was packed full of one’s own wishes, wrapped in a bit of respect and envy. It was definitely not blind faith bordering on one-sided violence sent to an unknown hero.

 

Complex emotions mixing encouragement and concern sent because he understood the being called Lumian Calard, because he knew him as a human rather than just a hero.

 

Feeling this, Lumian felt his nose tingle and his head spin.

 

‘Ah…’

 

It wasn’t just the Knight King’s heart.

 

As his vision opened, he began to feel much more. Among the countless threads of energy, particularly shining hearts were gently caressing Lumian.

 

The heart of his beloved adopted brother Morghen, who had been steadfastly by his side from his previous life to his current one.

 

The hearts of his mother and father, which he had never felt once in his previous life as an orphan.

 

The hearts of Teoro Shutgarn, Bumer Simpson, and Cal Krone, who exchanged silly jokes with him daily but had now become closer than anyone.

 

And Tania Eloise’s heart.

 

Even though these were repelled and couldn’t enter Lumian’s interior, they didn’t blame him at all.

 

They simply embraced him warmly and affectionately, just as they always had.

 

A loud sound rang out in Lumian’s mind as he belatedly realized this.

 

Whooooooom-!

 

The blocked wall disappeared.

 

Then massive energies poured in once again. The hearts that had been condemning Lumian just moments before now praised the hero as if nothing had happened.

 

Lumian smiled faintly.

 

Though bitter, it wasn’t incomprehensible. He turned his gaze to gently caress the hearts of the precious connections that had made him open the door of his heart.

 

‘I don’t necessarily need to become a hero for everyone.’

 

His current self neither had the vessel for that nor the desire to do so.

 

But if it was to be a hero for his precious connections.

 

For their futures, which were as precious as his own future, Lumian was fully prepared to sacrifice himself.

 

Just as he had spared nothing for the Knight King 11 years ago.

 

Swoooosh-

 

The confusion that had briefly visited was cleared away. The energies that had been pouring in violently also found stability. It was because peace had come to Lumian’s heart.

 

Thus he suppressed his troubles in his own way and continued to accept the Aura.

 

Though it was somewhat irreverent thinking – protecting others as a bonus while guarding the foundation of his acquaintances…

 

‘What do I care.’

 

In the end, wasn’t it fine as long as the results were good?

 

Thinking about it again, he really was someone unsuited for broad social relationships.

 

So he was also a bit anxious.

 

The method he had realized now was certainly very different from what Goddess Allia had been thinking.

 

‘I wonder how Lady Allia will judge this…’

 

Would she praise him for trying his best?

 

Or would she scold him for falling to become an apostle?

 

He couldn’t tell.

 

However, what mattered was that this was the only way he could do it.

 

‘If this is the wrong path, then there’s nothing I can do. I’ll have no choice but to give up being a hero.’

 

It didn’t seem likely, but he was still a bit anxious.

 

With such thoughts, Lumian slowly opened his eyes. Since he had shown signs of finishing his cultivation, surely Goddess Allia and Archangel Armion would be standing right in front of him…

 

“Hm?”

 

Lumian’s face hardened stiffly.

 

A startled expression. He bolted upright from his position.

 

And quickly looked around his surroundings.

 

“What is this?”

 

The scenery had completely changed.

 

The colorful, fluffy-looking clouds and the golden apple trees growing here and there were nowhere to be seen. Instead, a cold and merciless-looking black stone chamber spread before his eyes.

 

‘When on earth did this…’

 

Was this Allia’s prank?

 

That seemed possible.

 

But he couldn’t rule out other possibilities, because the energy he felt in this place was far too different from what he had known of the Divine Realm.

 

A scene as if damp and filthy evil energy had been refined elegantly.

 

Just as the Divine Realm existed above the Human Realm, if the Demon Realm had its own heaven and Demon God’s Temple, it would probably look like this.

 

Then, an alien sensation flashed through Lumian’s mind.

 

Kiiiiing-!

 

An unpleasant sound like metal scraping against metal.

 

Sensing this, Lumian narrowed his eyes and looked into the distance.

 

A corridor extending from the stone chamber where he had been. Another room located at its end.

 

He could see someone sitting on the jade throne there.

 

Lumian’s form moved swiftly.

 

Paaang!

 

Speed incomparable to before.

 

As if he had teleported, his form appeared in a flash. The sound of air bursting followed behind.

 

However, the being in the room watching such a Lumian didn’t even blink an eye.

 

A body painted entirely in black.

 

The surface of his body, which seemed like jewel or metal, felt both mysterious and disgusting.

 

At his feet, Archangel Armion lay covered in blood, moaning.

 

“Ugh, uugh…”

 

Crack!

 

Splat!

 

And then it became quiet.

 

The black being had crushed her head with his foot.

 

“Nice to meet you, hero. My name is Sekaros.”

 

“…”

 

“You look very curious about how this situation came to be.”

 

As he waved his hand, Armion’s corpse crumbled to dust.

 

A table, teacups, and teapot that appeared out of nowhere. Her powder smoothly entered into it.

 

“I’m not sure if it’ll suit your taste, but how about we talk over a cup of tea…”

 

Kwaang!

 

Lumian disappeared. Only rough cracks remained on the floor where he had been.

 

Having approached right in front of Sekaros in an instant, he swung his sword with great force.

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