The Failed Swordmaster - Chapter 192

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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 192 74. Side Story – Memories of a Past Life (1)

“Ugh, it’s finally all over.”

“I know, right.”

“This is surprisingly tiring…”

A luxurious room provided by the Tarasan Academy Director.

Tania Eloise, lying on the bed placed inside, spoke in a languid voice. Her face looked like she could fall asleep at any moment.

It was hard to see her as a knight who had long ago reached the realm of Sword Expert. However, Lumian Calard fully understood her fatigue.

‘Even if it’s not just a physical problem, there’s mental fatigue too.’

Including today, they had followed Tarasan Academy’s schedule for a full five days.

Giving splendid speeches for the knight cadets, observing their classes, sparring with some promising youngsters.

Spending time with former mentors who had taught them before, having separate meetings with high-ranking officials including the Academy Director and Knight Department Head.

Also chatting with figures who had flocked from various countries, maintaining a gentle atmosphere with appropriate expressions and appropriate words.

Such things caused much greater fatigue than simply moving one’s body.

Moreover, since Tania had a perfectionist personality when it came to such matters, it was inevitably more difficult for her. Lumian answered with a smiling face.

“Still, wasn’t it rewarding? I enjoyed it. Finding parts that changed from before was fun, and finding parts that remained the same was also fun.”

“That’s true. It was nice seeing Professor Karin after so long, and watching the cadets practice diligently was also interesting.”

“Enough to make you want to re-enroll right now?”

“Ahaha… That would probably be too tiring.”

Tania answered with an awkward laugh.

When Lumian came down after finishing his training in the divine realm, she had suggested that he re-enroll for even one semester to enjoy the academy romance he hadn’t properly experienced.

But participating in this event, such thoughts had flown far away.

“Thinking about it, it seems completely ridiculous.”

“Ridiculous?”

“Right? I’m twenty-two years old now, but 1st Year Students are at most only fourteen years old. Even graduating students are only seventeen… Ugh, so that means attending classes with kids who are at least five years younger… If that’s not ridiculous, what is?”

“…”

“Besides, the professors would obviously find us extremely uncomfortable. There are no friends left either… And also…”

Tania continued listing various reasons. All reasonable points. However, the moment Lumian heard her first reason, the rest no longer reached his ears.

‘…I got along well giggling with fifteen-year-olds when I was sixty.’

Of course, comparing his situation exactly to now wouldn’t be right. Though he had memories of his past life, Lumian Calard’s body was genuinely that of a fifteen-year-old. His mind and memories were also half that way. It wasn’t as if a complete old man had lived among children.

Of course, even thinking of such excuses, feeling embarrassed was unavoidable. Lumian cleared his throat with a cough, trying to half-heartedly agree with Tania’s words.

“…What, huh?”

But it was too late. Tania had long since gone to dreamland. Looking at her sleeping uncomfortably without even changing clothes, Lumian let out a chuckle.

‘When I first saw her, I thought she was strict, had no gaps… anyway, someone without this kind of cute charm.’

Of course, he didn’t dislike her current disheveled appearance at all. Rather, he liked that there were parts he could take care of.

So his wife could sleep comfortably, he considerately removed her outer clothes and covered her with a blanket.

It was definitely not a lecherous face. Though a slight smile appeared, that was purely because Tania was cute. There should be no misunderstanding.

With no one watching, Lumian had such various thoughts by himself and chuckled again as he brought a lukewarm wet towel. After gently wiping his wife’s face, he sat at the table by the window.

‘This brings back old memories.’

Over the past few days, Tania had brought up various things that happened during their academy days. Lumian also agreed with her words and brought up all sorts of stories.

The first time they met in the student cafeteria, eating together before leaving for their families after the first semester ended, helping with swordsmanship competition training, making a big mistake at the red-light district adult goods store, etc…

Despite the short time, there had been quite a lot of incidents. Lost in sentiment, he chuckled to himself while recalling those times, then felt something was missing and started drinking alcohol. It had been truly a long time.

“Hmm.”

But unlike before, he didn’t feel like he would get drunk at all. One glass, two glasses, even drinking straight from the bottle, there was no particular feeling.

‘Is it because my level has become too high? But I think I could still get drunk around the time we had trouble with the Cairo Kingdom.’

Of course, even then Lumian could purify the alcohol if he put his mind to it, but the situation was completely different from when he could get drunk if he wanted to and now.

It felt like he had become Ryan Fromhart’s body rather than Lumian Calard’s. His past life self was a heavy drinker who never got drunk no matter how much he drank.

‘No, but then and now can’t be compared. Back then I was a eunuch knight without even a pinky-sized thing.’

Lumian’s thoughts naturally flowed toward memories of his past life. Unlike his academy days, unpleasant incidents streamed through his mind. His expression also hardened unlike before.

However, once the thread of thought was connected, it couldn’t be severed.

The twenty-one-year-old young man Lumian Calard, after a truly long time, recalled his origins and picked up a new bottle of alcohol.

* * *

Lumian Calard’s, no, Ryan Fromhart’s life was unfortunate from the start. Due to a sudden demon attack, the entire city burned and he became an orphan. If Juesin’s religious order hadn’t taken him in, he probably would have met a similar end to others.

No, actually, Ryan Fromhart at that time was in such great pain that he despaired at the fact he hadn’t died.

‘He was in this condition when we found him.’

‘Fortunately, there was a bishop with tremendous divine power, so we could save his life, but… this child will never be able to have sexual relations for life. Since the thing is gone, it can’t be helped.’

‘Oh my, how can this be. How pitiful…’

The pity, consideration, and sympathy of kind-hearted priests poured endlessly onto the unfortunate child.

But even such attention came as pain to Ryan Fromhart. The mockery of ill-natured adults and children who were more cruel for their innocence came as even greater wounds.

What exactly did I do wrong?

It’s not like I wanted to become a eunuch! It happened because of those damn demons who deserve to be torn apart! I’m just a victim!

Why exactly must I live my entire life carrying such misfortune, enduring others’ mocking gazes, and swallowing my resentment!

Tremendous anger swirled in Ryan Fromhart’s chest. Of course, that didn’t bring back what was lost.

Fortunately, his anger didn’t lead him in the wrong direction.

‘What’s with that guy?’

‘Amazing, isn’t it? How can someone that age have such swordsmanship…’

‘Does he have a separate master or something?’

‘No, they say he just learned by watching mercenaries who stopped by for injury treatment swing their swords…’

‘Is that possible? Just how much talent does he have?’

If young Ryan Fromhart had no talent for swordsmanship, what future would have come to him?

It was unknowable. The blazing anger might have died out to lead an ash-like life, or far from dying out, it might have exploded to cause great trouble.

But fortunately, he poured all his resentment solely into sword training. To forget the pain, to forget the sadness, to forget the world.

As a result, Ryan could show steep growth to the point of being rumored as a prodigy even in the Knights Kingdom Jenas, and eventually gained enough skill for people to come directly from the royal palace.

Time flowed and flowed until he became twenty-nine years old.

He had become one of the strongest figures even among Jenas’s knights.

“Though I’m still just a eunuch knight.”

Haha, Ryan Fromhart let out a bitter laugh and kicked the innocent ground.

Of course, compared to the past, his current situation wasn’t bad.

Unlike ordinary retainers who returned home at night, as a eunuch knight he resided within the royal palace. Thanks to this, he could maintain much closer relationships with the royalty despite his status, which granted Ryan considerable influence.

But what use was all that!

What was the reason he could reside in the royal palace unlike other male retainers in the first place?

Wasn’t it because he was a eunuch?

What joy could there be in advancement and influence gained at the cost of his manhood!

“…Damn it.”

Ryan with a gloomy expression lamented his fate once again.

He had brilliant talent to become a Sword Expert in his teens. He had outstanding skill to become a knight of Jenas, the continent’s strongest nation. In addition, both Crown Prince Philip III, who would certainly become king someday, and Amelia, who had been chosen as queen early on, trusted him. A path to success that a commoner couldn’t even dream of was guaranteed.

But even combining all that happiness couldn’t overcome the pain of being a eunuch.

So he was sad.

So today too he drew his sword.

Intensely until no thoughts came. Just as Ryan Fromhart gritted his teeth and was about to start training.

A man in knight’s attire who appeared to be in his mid-to-late forties spoke to him.

“Hey there!”

“…?”

“You’re Ryan Fromhart, right? Well, you must be. A smooth face without beard marks, and swordsmanship skill amazing enough to be shocking for your age! No doubt about it!”

“…What do you want? Before that, who are you?”

Ryan showed a sharp reaction. He had to.

The fact that he wore a knight’s uniform but had an unfamiliar face was problematic, but more than that, his manner of speaking was more concerning. Mentioning beard marks to a eunuch knight. He could only think it was subtle provocation.

But it didn’t end there. The man who laughed heartily said something even worse.

“Haha, what! Why is your reaction so prickly? Don’t tell me it’s because of the beard marks comment? Huh?”

“…”

“Hey, if you glare like that over something like that, how will you live in this world? And well, it’s not like I said anything wrong…”

“I asked who you are.”

Whoooosh!

A terrifying aura poured out from Ryan Fromhart’s body.

An aura of a Sword Expert—no, far more impressive than what an ordinary Sword Expert could produce. The mysterious knight who was directly exposed to this took a step back.

However, his shameless expression remained unchanged. Spreading both hands and making a calming gesture, he laughed and said.

“Hahaha, sorry about that. But I really wasn’t trying to mock you. Really.”

“You still seem to be ridiculing me.”

“No, absolutely not. As proof, I’ll introduce myself now. First, my name is Ragan Gardner. I’m 46 years old and…”

Ragan Gardner’s words continued to flow. He had originally served as a knight under a margrave, but suffered severe injuries fighting demons and had been recuperating for the past five years. Fortunately, his treatment was successful and he could return to active duty, and he would now be working at Jenas Palace.

Finally.

“I also don’t have that thing, friend.”

“…”

“I suffered severe injuries fighting demons five years ago.”

At Ragan Gardner’s bitter confession, Ryan Fromhart’s frozen heart melted a little.

It was the day he gained an ally who could best understand his unfortunate life.

At least that’s what he thought until then.

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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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