The Failed Swordmaster - Chapter 190

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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 190 73. Epilogue 2 – The Academy Outcast (1)

Between summer and autumn, when warm sunlight poured down during the day and chilly winds blew at night. Tarasan Academy was filling with people due to the second semester that would soon begin. Buildings that had become incomparably larger and more magnificent than a few years ago looked down upon the students.

Among them, the most splendid place was undoubtedly the Knight Department.

It was only natural. A person who not only received official knight appointment from Goddess Allia but also ascended to the ends of heaven to receive teachings. And a person who appeared in the capital of the Cairo Kingdom with power transcending humanity and instantly conquered the Demon King’s Castle that had appeared there.

This was the very place where such a tremendous hero was born and raised. It was natural for the Academy’s reputation to spread beyond Tarasan to the entire continent, and despite already undergoing expansion after expansion for several years, it continued to grow in scale.

“Besides, it’s not just the Hero, right?”

“That’s right. Even excluding Lumian Calard, as many as four seniors reached Sword Expert before graduation…”

“Right. Tania Eloise, Teoro Shutgarn, Cal Krone, and one more… uh, what was the name?”

“Bumer Simpson!”

“Oh right, Bumer Simpson! I always forget Senior Simpson’s name.”

“Anyway, it’s really amazing. An achievement greater than combining all the geniuses of Jenas, Rodisia, and the Cairo Kingdom… Is the Academy’s location blessed? Or did exceptionally outstanding seniors just happen to gather here?”

“Well, does that matter? If the location is blessed, we benefit from the good place, and if the people were outstanding, we can inherit the spirit of those excellent seniors, right?”

“True, we can think of it however we want.”

“Ah, I hope I can become an Expert before turning twenty too.”

The fledgling knight cadets who had barely finished one semester chattered away. It was a grandiose dream that would have been dismissed as absurd in the past, but now there wasn’t a single person who would mock it.

This too was thanks to Tarasan Academy’s elevated status. The excellent seniors and the resulting surge in investment and professors instilled tremendous confidence in all students, and these positive influences were leading to actual results.

Indeed, even after Lumian Calard’s ‘golden generation,’ promising talents continued to emerge like awls, so there was absolutely no need to crush the spirits of children chattering with voices that hadn’t even reached puberty yet.

However, separate from this positive atmosphere, there was also a child with a shadowed face. A first-year student who entered as a scholarship recipient from commoner origins, Iremi was exactly that person.

“…”

The Young Man who confirmed that children from his same class were there startled and turned his body around. Then he hurriedly left the cafe.

He had come to a relatively less crowded place to ease his frustrated feelings about the semester that would soon begin, but unfortunately, the very people he least wanted to encounter were there. Iremi moved quickly, hoping those guys hadn’t spotted him.

“Hey! Iremi!”

“What, why are you leaving when you saw us? Come here, there’s a seat!”

“…”

“Come quickly, aren’t you coming?”

Caught. He let out a deep sigh, then slowly turned his body to look at the children who had called him. And he put on a foolish smile.

Seeing this, the Three Large Boys grinned wickedly. It was laughter filled with the uncalculated, and therefore more frightening, malice characteristic of young children.

‘Stay calm. It’s okay.’

He could feel sweat flowing down his back. But Iremi forcibly comforted himself that it was okay. Anyway, these were guys he’d have to face for nearly four months once the semester started the day after tomorrow. It was better to adapt early. No, maybe those guys had matured during the break. There was definitely that possibility too.

Of course, such hopeful expectations were shattered the moment the Young Man sat down in the chair.

“Have you been well? Your face looks a bit better?”

“Right, you’ve become more pretty. Did you grow taller?”

“I don’t think so? Maybe he’s already fully grown? Is it because his name sounds like a girl’s?”

The largest child strongly wrapped his arm around Iremi’s neck. It was an action that felt more condescending than friendly, and the other children’s responses also came across as uncomfortable and unpleasant. Under the table, the Young Man’s fist clenched tightly.

Act casually, more boldly. Don’t be intimidated and behave comfortably – no matter how many hundreds of times he resolved this in his heart, it didn’t work.

He just hated his appearance of grinning foolishly like a thoughtless person, enduring his peers’ subtle mockery without any pride, but today was the same. Iremi held his breath, hoping this time would pass quickly and that these guys’ malicious pranks would decrease this semester. Accordingly, the children’s sarcasm became even worse.

That’s when it happened.

Scrape-

Thud.

“…?”

“Who?”

Suddenly, an unidentified Man squeezed in and sat among them. The three First Year Students relaxed their slouching postures and sent wary glances.

The suspicious outfit of wearing a robe and mask was problematic, but what was more concerning was his physique. Despite wearing loose clothes, a solid and robust feeling showed through. The leader-like child’s expression hardened stiffly.

“Who am I, you ask?”

“…”

“I’m someone like an uncle to Iremi here?”

“…Really?”

“I don’t think so…”

The child to the Captain’s right spoke bluntly. His expression was full of dissatisfaction and suspicion. An emotion of ‘Oh?’ arose in the Robed Man’s eyes, and the Subordinate glared as if he wouldn’t back down either.

Though it was burdensome that the opponent was an adult male, and one with a trained body at that, he was a promising talent who had broken through fierce competition to enter Tarasan Academy’s Knight Department!

He couldn’t show such a frightened appearance. He was about to tense his stomach and say another word.

“Yes, understood. Since uncle has come, we’ll get up and leave now.”

“Huh? Maron?”

“Let’s go, let’s go.”

The two children showed bewildered expressions. Regardless, the largest child named Maron stood up from his seat, even bowed politely in greeting, then left the cafe.

It was because there were too many unsettling aspects. He thought with a serious expression.

‘This is someone who knows we’re Tarasan Academy cadets but shows no hesitation whatsoever.’

Upper-year students might be one thing, but the current lower-year students were a group where over 90 percent were children from noble families throughout the continent.

If someone could show such a relaxed attitude while clearly knowing this, it was better not to deal with them. Maron was about to open his mouth to tell the two children his thoughts.

But then, the Robed Man suddenly appeared in front of them. The Three Children were startled as if they had encountered a ghost.

Such amazing movement that even their eyes, trained in aura since childhood, couldn’t track!

It was unsettling beyond measure. Feeling sweat forming on his scalp, Maron spoke with a smiling face.

“Excuse me, do you perhaps have business with us too…”

“Business? Ah, I do.”

“Is there something you’d like to ask us?”

“Hmm, not really that. I just remembered old times.”

“Old times?”

“Right. Old times. Originally I was just going to let it pass…”

The Robed Man continued with a wicked grin.

“But there’s still a bit of trauma engraved in my body. I think beating you up moderately would clear my mind.”

“What, what? Beat us up?”

“This bastard, does he know who we…”

“Still, since you’re kids, I’ll just end it with knuckle taps.”

Laughter appeared in the Robed Man’s eyes. Seeing this, the children couldn’t contain their surging emotions and quickly rushed at him, while the commoner Student Iremi who had followed them out watched with an anxious heart.

And one minute later.

“Release the position exactly one hour later. Every time you cheat, 30 more minutes get added.”

“Yes!”

“Yes!”

“Understood!”

The Three Students, who had become docile sheep, ended up in a prone position using their heads instead of their hands.

The Robed Man, who chuckled, wrapped his arm around Iremi’s shoulder and said.

“Then, shall we have a separate talk just between us? Nephew?”

“…”

The Young Man with a still uncomfortable expression was led away by the unidentified Man.

* * *

“So that’s how it happened.”

“Yes, well…”

The two who had settled on a bench in the park within the Academy had a serious conversation for about 30 minutes.

Though it was called a conversation, it was mostly Iremi who spoke, while the Robed Man only performed the role of listener. At first, it was embarrassing and burdensome to tell his circumstances to a stranger, but after a warm energy briefly circulated, his heart became strangely comfortable, so the Young Man could freely pour out his inner thoughts.

Having his talent recognized and entering through the power of the Rodisia Scholarship Foundation.

Spending the first semester as a knight cadet with swollen dreams.

In that process, being ostracized and mocked because of all his own shortcomings. Before he knew it, far from chasing his brilliant dreams, even enduring day by day became too much, leading only to depressing thoughts.

“…I was going to not say this out of embarrassment, but actually when you punished Maron… those guys, I was scared too. No, I’m still scared now.”

“Why? Are you worried they’ll retaliate later?”

“Yes… I’m a commoner, but most of them are children of noble families… Especially that largest kid Maron is royalty from the Sharote Kingdom. An incomparably precious status compared to mine…”

“Hmm.”

“Besides, even apart from that, there’s no comparison with me. He’s much bigger than me physically, has good grades, is popular with both boys and girls… I’m grateful you helped, but probably the situation won’t be much different going forward. If I don’t want to be treated like this, ultimately I need to change, but in this state, it’s just impossible… Sigh. Father has such high expectations that I can’t even drop out…”

“…”

“Ah, aah! I’m sorry! You thought to help me but I’m just complaining like this… I’m really sorry. I’m truly sorry!”

Iremi, realizing his mistake, made an ‘oops!’ expression and apologized. While inwardly berating himself.

It was strange. Despite his introverted personality that rarely allowed him to speak his inner thoughts, at some point he had begun to confess everything. Of course, Iremi had no idea that this was due to the peculiar aura flowing from the robed man’s body.

Moreover, that wasn’t the only thing the young man was unaware of. The robed man cast a transparent gaze as if he could see right through his interior. Feeling burdened, Iremi shrank his neck again. After a moment, a voice filled with bewilderment flowed out.

“That’s strange.”

“…What is?”

“Well… I suppose if an incompetent person engages in self-deprecation, that could happen. Actually, I think there are hardly any people in the world who are that incompetent, but honestly speaking, it’s not like they don’t exist.”

“Yes…”

“But from what I can see, you don’t seem to be an incompetent person at all.”

“Huh?”

“You have more aura than that Merang? Melon? That guy from earlier, don’t you.”

“…”

Iremi closed his mouth and stared at the robed man.

His words were true. Though he was a young man who had been bullied all semester long without being able to stand up for himself, his talent was actually far from ordinary.

If he hadn’t been outstanding to begin with, the Rodisia Scholarship Foundation wouldn’t have sponsored him.

But despite the robed man’s words, Iremi’s voice still lacked confidence.

“…I only have a lot of aura.”

“This kid? Do you know how many knights are troubled because their aura won’t increase even if they shit themselves to death…”

“It’s true. I’m not that big in stature… and I’m too cowardly, and even when I try to spar instead of taking exams, I get so nervous that I can’t even swing my sword properly…”

Once again, Iremi’s self-deprecation continued.

The young man, pretending to have an objective perspective, crushed himself as cruelly and violently as possible. He didn’t mention a single notable major strength, while inflating every minor flaw as much as possible.

It wasn’t just in the areas of aura and swordsmanship. His lowly status, delicate appearance, small stature, even saying his own name sounded feminine and that he got teased more because of it – Iremi’s face was truly a sight to behold.

He looked like he would burst into tears at the slightest touch.

Watching this, the robed man, Lumian Calard, shook his head and said.

“This won’t do. Your confidence has completely hit rock bottom. I need to boost your self-esteem first before anything else can be done.”

“…”

“Hey kid, relax your expression. And just trust me. I’ll change this situation where you don’t even know your own worth and are drilling through the floor, overnight. No, in one night.”

“Wh-where are you going!”

Iremi was startled as he watched the man walking somewhere, his robe fluttering.

He felt inexplicably anxious. Raising rock-bottom self-esteem in just one night – what method could he possibly be planning to use?

To his question, Lumian Calard answered with a sly grin.

“Let’s go hunting.”

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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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