The Failed Swordmaster - Chapter 18

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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 18 9. The Price Needed for Learning (2)

Why did Bumer think he would like this?

Lumian didn’t bother to ask. He just silently received the books.

There was no way any adolescent boy wouldn’t be interested in such things. Even Teoro, who was famous for his expressionless face, was blushing and stealing glances at the covers.

“Good. Bumer, I’ll teach you too.”

“Alright.”

“Follow me. It’s better to practice aura training in a safe place.”

Lumian took the lead. Bumer followed with a confident expression, while Teoro followed with a somewhat bewildered look.

Shortly after, the two who entered Lumian’s room sat cross-legged.

This was the basic posture for aura cultivation. As they sat in position, Lumian’s voice reached their ears.

“You both seem to want to learn how to strengthen your body through aura infusion, but actually that’s not that important. It’s not like you can block a sword with your forearm or break someone’s weapon. It’s basically a lower version of aura sword anyway, right?”

“Hmm.”

“Then what?”

“I’ll just teach you aura utilization methods that suit each of you based on my experience. Starting with Teoro. From now on, I’ll infuse energy into you, so don’t resist and remember the flow.”

“Alright.”

Teoro nodded. Lumian immediately grasped his hand and channeled energy into him.

Lumian’s energy moved through his body in a very unfamiliar way.

It extended not only through commonly used pathways, but also through detailed channels that were rarely used.

Meticulously, as if flowing water into every corner of the body. And without any gaps.

After repeating this three times in succession, Lumian released Teoro’s hand and spoke.

“You’re basically well-balanced and versatile, so I focused on improving your overall abilities. If you concentrate on this feeling while swinging your sword, you should see quite good results.”

“…Really?”

The words ‘Just from this?’ rose to his throat, but Teoro didn’t voice them.

It didn’t feel like Lumian was lying.

“Yeah. You’ll be able to move more flexibly and smoothly, making defense and evasion easier, and it’ll be easier to find timing for counterattacks. It might be difficult for most people, but you can do it.”

“Hmm.”

When he put it that way, it was hard not to believe.

Teoro nodded with a stern face. Bumer interjected with an impatient voice.

“Me, do me next!”

“You’re impatient too. Yeah, this is perfect for you.”

Lumian grasped Bumer’s hand and channeled energy just like before.

However, the movement was completely different. Unlike with Teoro, where it felt like water seeping into dry earth, Lumian’s energy roughly and coarsely stirred through Bumer’s body.

It was like a wild horse racing down a highway. As if its tail was on fire, the path it passed through was dug up with dirt flying and stones scattered in chaos.

After repeating the same process three times, Lumian released his hand. Bumer let out a groan.

“What the hell, it hurts? Is this really okay?”

“It’s fine. Your natural physique is sturdy enough to handle this level of burden. Since this much is okay, try operating your aura more boldly than usual. This will probably suit your style best.”

“Really?”

“If you don’t want to believe it, then don’t.”

“I believe you, big brother.”

Bumer stood up and bowed politely. Ignoring this, Lumian looked at Teoro and said.

“Well, your method is more advanced, so it might be confusing right now. If you try it and don’t get the hang of it, let me know. I’ll explain it in more detail.”

“I’ll try it first, and if I really don’t understand, I’ll ask then.”

“That works too. Should we stop here?”

Lumian looked at Teoro and Bumer as he spoke. It was a dismissal.

In fact, his attention had been focused on the booklet Bumer had given him even before the lesson, so he wanted to send them away quickly somehow.

‘This guy is really eager.’

Teoro immediately saw through Lumian’s mind. He nodded and stood up.

But Bumer wasn’t as perceptive as Teoro. He scratched the back of his head and said to Lumian.

“Um, since the method you taught seems too intense, I’m worried, so could you check on me next week too? In case I have questions to ask…”

“I’ve taught you this much, isn’t that enough? You want me to teach you every week? No way.”

“Why not! You said you’d teach Teoro more separately!”

Bumer shouted as if he couldn’t understand.

Lumian made an annoyed expression.

“You’re not some pretty lady, so why should I take care of you every day? It’s annoying, so no.”

“Then why is Teoro getting special treatment! That bastard’s a guy too!”

“He’s my romance mentor. Unlike you, we have a give-and-take relationship.”

“I gave you books too! Three of them!”

“Hmm… That’s true too. Then I’ll check on you two more times. Since you gave me three books.”

‘This bastard!’

Bumer Simpson finally grasped Lumian’s intention and made an incredulous expression.

This guy wasn’t satisfied with three books and wanted more!

“Do you know how precious those are… They’re on a different level from the stuff by talentless artists!”

“So, is the value of those books as great as aura utilization methods?”

“That’s… if you put it that way, being a romance coach doesn’t really compare to aura utilization methods either…”

“That naturally compares.”

Lumian spoke with a solemn expression.

Bumer closed his mouth. Overwhelmed by his serious atmosphere, he swallowed nervously as Lumian continued speaking.

“Love and romance are that noble and great.”

‘What bullshit.’

Bumer wanted to curse him out, but he couldn’t because Lumian’s expression was so serious.

Of course, even if he had said it jokingly, he wouldn’t have been able to. In this situation, he was absolutely the weaker party.

But he couldn’t help letting out a hollow laugh.

Bumer shook his head and said.

“Why do you even need romance advice in the first place?”

“Huh? What do you mean?”

“I mean, with skills like yours, what useless worries are you having?”

“Huh?”

Lumian made a confused sound, and Teoro nodded thinking ‘That’s not wrong.’

Bumer looked back and forth between them and said emphatically.

“The top virtue of a popular knight cadet is naturally swordsmanship skill, isn’t it?”

* * *

“It’s been a while, cadets.”

The swordsmanship professor with a stylish mustache, Karin, looked at the Class E cadets and spoke.

Though he was past middle age and approaching old age, an undeniable sense of intimidation flowed from his body.

‘Maybe because it’s been 2 weeks since class, I’m more nervous.’

‘Professor Karin feels more burdensome than Arnold…’

‘I have to do my best not to get criticized!’

All the Class E cadets, even Teoro, watched Professor Karin with faces full of tension.

But even in that tense moment, there was someone having other thoughts.

‘Right… Bumer was right. Why was I forgetting the basics?’

It was Class E’s regular failing student, Lumian Calard.

Though he was looking at the professor like the other kids because he didn’t want to get in trouble, he was much more interested in the advice Bumer had given him than the class.

‘To make romance easy, you need to be popular, and for a knight cadet to be popular, you just need to be good with a sword. Well, your skills were terrible until last year, but… it’s different now, right? If you just show off those skills from now on, won’t there be carriages full of women running after you?’

‘Oh, oh? Now that I think about it, that’s right?’

‘Right. But I’m really curious, how did you get so strong so fast? Did you luckily meet a sword master and learn from them? Did you take some elixir? Or maybe you were hiding your skills since last year…’

The later conversation was useless, but at least the advice Bumer had given at first was good enough to snap Lumian to attention.

Actually, it was something he already knew. That excellent knights are popular – not just Bumer, but even country village kids know that.

He had just forgotten it for a moment.

‘I was too focused on how to approach women, how to naturally get along with them, and missed something important!’

Right, if it was hard for him to approach first, if it was hard for him to actively pursue women’s hearts.

Instead, he just needed to make women come to him. He just needed to be popular enough to make women want to work hard to win his heart.

And fortunately, Lumian had enough ability to attract popularity.

He nodded with a determined expression.

‘Let’s properly show my skills in today’s class.’

Let’s show all the women at the Academy that he was no longer last year’s failing student Lumian, that he was the top prospect reborn as a swordsmanship genius!

Tremendous enthusiasm was radiating from his entire body filled with desire.

‘His atmosphere has certainly changed a lot.’

Swordsmanship Professor Karin watched Lumian intently.

A much more developed physique compared to last year, confidence that didn’t shrink even when their eyes met.

Above all, that burning fighting spirit that seemed full of enthusiasm for the class!

It was a sight he had never seen before.

It was as if a different person’s soul had entered him.

‘The other professors’ praise was abundant, but I never thought he would change this much…’

He had scoffed that a perpetual failing student couldn’t possibly change, but it seemed he would have to admit his rashness.

‘Of course, swordsmanship skills are hard to improve rapidly…’

Still, he was looking forward to it.

Who knows?

Perhaps Lumian was a late-blooming talent who had finally awakened his abilities.

Thinking this way, he couldn’t bear waiting to check Lumian’s skills.

Having made his decision, he opened his mouth.

“Originally, I was going to have you do the most basic diagonal cuts in swordsmanship – from upper left to lower right, from upper right to lower left… a thousand times each while correcting your posture…”

“…”

“But personally, there’s a student I’m curious about. I’d like to check that child’s skills first.”

As soon as the professor finished speaking, all the children’s gazes turned to one place.

Needless to say, it was Lumian.

Seeing his eyes widen slightly, Professor Karin grinned and called out his name.

“It seems I’m not the only one curious. Lumian Calard! Come forward. It’s a sparring match!”

“Yes!”

Lumian answered crisply and stepped forward.

He felt good. If the diagonal cutting practice had proceeded as scheduled, it would have been difficult to show off his skills, but a good opportunity had presented itself.

How well he utilized this opportunity was now up to him.

‘Of course, the opponent should be decent too… I wonder who will come out.’

The professor wouldn’t suddenly call out Teoro, who competed for second place in the grade, but at least sparring with a top-tier student would be good for showing off his skills.

Lumian looked at the professor with some anticipation, and soon the opponent’s name was called from his mouth.

“Rack, come out.”

Flinch!

The Freckled Boy, who received the swordsmanship professor’s call, looked at Lumian with a tearful expression.

Lumian’s expression as he looked at the Freckled Boy wasn’t very good either.

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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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