The Failed Swordmaster - Chapter 191

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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 191 73. Epilogue 2 – The Academy Outcast (2) (Main Story Complete)

‘What on earth is happening right now…’

Iremi let out a sigh as he walked out of the high-end clothing store he had never visited once in his life.

Today was truly a strange day.

Meeting Maron’s gang by chance at a cafe that was usually empty was something he could accept. Even the robed man he’d never seen before claiming to be his uncle and saving him from crisis was something he thought could happen. After the birth of Hero Lumian Calard, quite a few people had become intoxicated with heroic ideals.

But when that mysterious man, who was still hiding his identity without removing his mask, suddenly suggested they go pick up girls, he was truly speechless.

‘Not only does he give unsolicited advice, but now he wants to go pick up girls to boost my self-esteem… What kind of nonsense is this!’

At first he thought it was a joke. But the robed man was serious. He even spent his own money to gift him stylish clothes, shoes, and cologne. He even used a magic potion to change his hair color.

Iremi ran his fingers through his silver hair, completely different from his original black hair, and sighed again. Then he said.

“What are we even doing right now!”

“Why? If you’re going to pick up girls, you obviously need to prepare.”

“No, I mean why am I suddenly picking up girls…”

“I told you earlier. To build confidence, it’s important to be loved by others. And if you’re going to be loved, it’s much better to be loved by the opposite sex than the same sex, right?”

“…”

“Those guys who were bullying you earlier, they’re just big but their faces are nothing special – the unpopular type. I have a similar friend among my acquaintances, so I know well. To not be intimidated by guys like that, gaining experience in this area is the direct solution.”

“That may be true, but… Sigh. Who would like someone like me in the first place?”

Iremi said with his head down.

Well, the robed man’s words weren’t completely incomprehensible. Indeed, when he looked at classmates or seniors who were popular with the opposite sex, they were overflowing with confidence in everything.

Should he say they seemed to glow from their faces and every action? Since Iremi was also a man going through his turbulent adolescent period, it was true that he felt envious watching those accomplished people.

‘But I’m different from those people.’

Should he say they were different from the very seed?

If they were swans, he was like a duck with dirty wings flapping ungracefully. Short legs and unsightly. Waddling around being pointed at.

With his short stature and frail body, there was no way he could pick up girls.

However, the robed man refuted Iremi’s words with an incredulous voice as if asking what he was talking about.

“What are you saying? What’s wrong with you? You’re totally the type that would be really popular?”

“What? What do you mean… I’m short, have narrow shoulders… even my name sounds feminine…”

“What, do you think all women only like muscle-bound guys as big as mountains? Of course there are many like that, but you have a completely different weapon from that type.”

“What? A different weapon?”

“The cute and delicate young master style. The type you want to hug and hold hands with first… like that? Ah damn, but it’s a bit weird for a man to say this to another man.”

The robed man let out a groan as if his stomach was churning. And Iremi looked dazed as he mulled over what he had said.

He had never thought of it. That he was a popular type. That he had looks that would be quite popular with women.

It was just a few months ago that he was thoroughly mocked for being smaller than his male peers, not having a strong personality, and even having a feminine name. But this mysterious man was saying that those very aspects were actually his strengths.

It didn’t seem like empty words. Still can’t believe it, he said, frustrated to death as he beat his chest and brought a mirror. Then he said.

“Look, man. Isn’t this much better than before?”

“…”

“Before dressing up you were a weak and gloomy bookworm, but now you’re completely… Forget it. Let’s just stop talking.”

The robed man shook his head. Then he continued.

“No point explaining a hundred times. Let’s just go straight to practice.”

“What? Practice?”

“Right, practice. Unfortunately there’s no party or ball happening… but the street isn’t bad either. Let’s go to the town square, look around, and if there’s a decent woman, talk to her right away. Oh, that person looks good too.”

“No, no no no! How can I do something like that!”

Iremi jumped up from where he stood. His face turned red instantly and his expression was extremely urgent. It felt like being dragged to a slaughterhouse.

At that moment, a stream of energy flowed from the robed man’s fingertips.

Sharalarak-

A warm and cozy, mysterious energy that naturally calmed people’s hearts.

Of course, Iremi didn’t know this.

He just thought that the man’s settled eyes looking at him without wavering had calmed his anxiety.

“Want to make a bet with me?”

“Wh-what kind of bet?”

“Exactly six people. Try hitting on six people, and if your success rate is less than half, I’ll take responsibility for your academy life until you graduate.”

“Responsibility?”

“But if three or more show positive reactions, you have to admit it too. That you’re great. Don’t do that annoying self-deprecation like someone who’s already decided the answer. Got it?”

“…Fine.”

Iremi nodded and answered.

He didn’t know exactly how the man would take responsibility for his academy life, but the atmosphere made it impossible to refuse. He followed behind the man, constantly trying to steady his breathing and struggling to slow his pounding heart. When he went to talk to the first lady the robed man pointed out, he trembled as if his organs would burst out of his mouth.

And after about 30 minutes had passed.

“How about it. I was right, wasn’t I?”

“…”

“You’re popular enough to have confidence, right?”

Success rate 83.3 percent. 5 successes, 1 failure.

Even that one failure wasn’t because Iremi was inadequate. It was because the other person was already taken.

“…”

The young man looked at the robed man with a dazed expression after receiving the unbelievable results.

His lips trembled. But as if something was stuck, words didn’t come out easily.

The man didn’t rush Iremi. Rather, he waited patiently with even more comfortable eyes, and finally the young man who had come to his senses said carefully.

“Really, you were right, sir.”

“Right?”

“My confidence has also, not completely but it seems to have gone up a little…”

“Good.”

“It’s really completely unrelated, but even in front of Maron’s gang earlier… I feel like I could be more confident somehow. What is this, really what is this…”

“It’s because you didn’t just sit there collapsed, but took the first step.”

The two sitting on the town square bench continued talking after that.

This time, unlike before, Iremi listened and the robed man spoke. Actually, there wasn’t anything special. It was similar to advice many people who had passed by had given him. Words about believing in himself more, not being buried in his shortcomings but focusing on his strengths, not running away because he was scared, words about confronting things.

Words that there was no need to be intimidated at all.

But those ordinary words somehow struck deep in his heart today. Iremi couldn’t come to his senses at all. All the events of today felt like they had happened in a dream.

Of course it was reality. The robed man reminded him of this once again.

“So, what are you going to do?”

“What?”

“You made appointments with five people. Who are you going to meet?”

“Ah…?”

“You’re not going to meet all five, are you?”

“What are you saying!”

Iremi let out a shriek. The man who had been laughing “hahaha” suddenly became serious and said.

“I thought the fourth woman was good.”

“Why?”

“She had the biggest chest.”

“…”

“What, you don’t like women with big chests?”

“…That’s not it.”

Iremi said with a flushed face. Actually, that woman had been on his mind continuously too. She seemed to be three or four years older than him, but he felt soft enough that such things didn’t matter.

And really mysteriously, his worries about the second semester that had filled his head all vacation felt like nothing special.

That was right. The robed man’s seemingly nonsensical talk was actually true.

Picking up girls was a special remedy for boosting confidence. A faint smile appeared on the young man’s face.

“Good, now that you seem somewhat useful, I’ll be going.”

“Ah, yes! But, could I possibly know your name?”

Iremi asked belatedly after hearing the man’s words.

Come to think of it, he didn’t even know his name. What kind of rudeness was this toward someone who had helped him considerably, who could be called a benefactor?

However, he only smiled with his eyes once and never revealed his identity in the end.

“You’ll find out in two days.”

Flick-

Then he vanished in an instant.

“Huh! What!”

Iremi cried out in surprise.

It was absolutely bewildering. He had definitely been right in front of his eyes just moments ago, but disappeared as if by magic.

No, it was even more amazing than magic. He had never heard of a mage who could teleport so easily without the aid of magical tools.

“…Two days later?”

That’s the start of the semester, Iremi muttered quietly as he returned to the Academy Dormitory with a dazed expression.

It had truly been a strange and wondrous day. Today’s events would likely remain in his memory for life.

Of course, in a good way, not a bad one.

Iremi, who kept thinking about the identity of the Robed Man, finally managed to fall asleep only in the early hours of dawn.

And two days later.

The new semester at Tarasan Academy finally began.

* * *

“What? Who’s that?”

“Who? Huh… huh?”

“Iremi? Is that really Iremi?”

“Whoa…”

The Knight Department Class A First Year Students gathered in the auditorium showed expressions of complete shock.

And for good reason, as their commoner classmate Iremi, who had been ostracized throughout the first semester, had revealed a completely transformed appearance.

Stylishly managed hair.

A posture and face that was incredibly confident, unlike before.

The subtle elegant fragrance and somehow different atmosphere gave such a fresh feeling that his previous weak appearance couldn’t be recalled at all.

Even the children who had shown no interest in him until now, and even the ill-natured children who had been consistent in their mockery and ridicule, could only stare at Iremi with stunned expressions.

“You, you…”

“Hmm?”

“…”

It wasn’t just the ordinary children. Even Maron’s Gang, who usually took pleasure in tormenting Iremi, showed unfamiliar reactions to Iremi’s changed atmosphere.

It was strange. He was definitely the same guy who had been crushed under their feet, yet he didn’t seem like that guy.

In the past, just making eye contact would have made him cower in fear, shrinking his shoulders and lowering his head, but now he was looking back at them with unwavering eyes, almost glaring.

For a moment, it was intimidating enough to suppress their spirit.

‘What is this? What the hell?’

Did that uncle he met do something?

No, even so, could someone change a person this much in such a short time?

It didn’t make sense. And that feeling gradually, gradually began to turn into irritation.

When the Subordinate he thought had a gap with him looked straight back at him, his pride began to crack.

“Hey, you…”

“Everyone quiet!”

However, just as he was about to pick a fight with Iremi, the Knight Department Head appeared on the platform.

That wasn’t all. Starting with Jenas and the dispatched professors from the Kingdom of Rodisia, who rarely showed themselves except during class time, even the Academy Director showed his face. Maron and the other students, sensing the unusual atmosphere, swallowed nervously as they formed rows and columns.

And taking advantage of that gap, Iremi secretly caught his breath.

‘Phew, thank goodness!’

Actually, he had been scared.

Though he had forced himself to appear calm, he was still frightened. It couldn’t be helped. It was impossible to erase the trauma from opponents who had tormented him throughout the first semester in such a short time.

However, if asked whether the same daily routine as before would unfold, that also wasn’t the case. Rather, the thought that he could be more courageous with each passing day filled Iremi’s mind.

‘There’s nothing to be afraid of. Just like that man told me.’

He was definitely not inferior. No, he was excellent. At least he was a decent enough person to receive the love of the girlfriend he had started dating yesterday.

While his physique was lacking, his aura reserves were superior, and his swordsmanship skills were comparable. If he just didn’t get nervous, future duels wouldn’t be as one-sided as before.

The difference in background wasn’t much of a concern either. Regardless of being royalty or commoner, the man’s advice that he, who received direct support from the Kingdom of Rodisia, had nothing to be ashamed of was a great source of strength.

“Haha.”

Iremi let out a small laugh.

It was amazing. One by one, as he mentally refuted his anxious parts, the trembling stopped. The glares from Maron’s Gang sneaking looks at him weren’t scary at all.

Instead, he became more curious about why so many high-ranking officials had gathered in the auditorium.

‘For announcing the start of a semester, this is definitely excessive… Could some famous person be visiting?’

That guess was correct. But even so, Iremi couldn’t help but be shocked.

The figures who appeared late were beings that transcended his imagination.

“Wow, woooow!”

“Is it real? Is it really the Hero?”

“Lumian Calard! Next to him is Tania Eloise!”

“This can’t be! The Hero and Hero Candidate are visiting the Academy!”

The auditorium instantly became a cauldron of enthusiasm. Regardless of upperclassmen and underclassmen, regardless of students and professors, everyone couldn’t hide their excitement at the appearance of the two celebrities. Tears were falling from the eyes of some emotionally rich individuals.

However, even combining all their amazement couldn’t surpass the magnitude of emotion that Iremi was currently feeling.

And for good reason, the eyes of Hero Lumian Calard, who was looking directly at him and smiling…

‘Are exactly the same as the Robed Man I met the day before yesterday…!’

They were completely identical.

Iremi couldn’t help but have a completely soul-departed expression. He was so flustered that he couldn’t even bow his head to Lumian Calard’s smile.

“Hahaha.”

“What? Why are you suddenly laughing?”

Seeing this, Lumian burst into laughter, and Tania, who was standing next to him, asked a question.

But her appearance was incredibly beautiful. Breathtakingly so.

Lumian answered.

“Because you’re so pretty. You.”

“…Are you going to say such things even here?”

“No, I’m serious.”

“This is now…”

“Excuse me, Lumian Calard? And Tania Eloise…”

“Ah, I’m sorry.”

“…I apologize.”

Lumian, receiving a hint from the Academy Director, hastily apologized. Tania also followed with an apology, but her eyes glaring at her husband remained unchanged.

Lumian, who brushed this off with a shameless expression, looked toward a corner of the auditorium again.

He could see the face of one Young Man who was still stunned.

His smile deepened.

‘Cheer up, kid! Don’t waste that handsome face, spend your time joyfully and happily!’

And don’t just use your thing for peeing!

Got it?

Lumian, who sent an intense telepathy, stepped up onto the platform and introduced himself to all the knight cadets of Tarasan Academy.

“Nice to meet you. I am Lumian Calard.”

“Waaaaaaah!”

Thunderous cheers echoed throughout the hall.

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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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