The Failed Swordmaster - Chapter 195

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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 195 75. Side Story 2 – Junior, Loren Calard (1)

“It’s quite noisy.”

Twenty-three-year-old Teoro Shutgarn, who had completely shed his youthful appearance from his academy days, muttered quietly. He was right. Everyone gathered in the hall was enjoying refreshments and chatting with cheerful expressions. Since many people had come with their families, the chattering sounds of children could be heard here and there.

‘In the old days, I wouldn’t have liked this kind of atmosphere.’

While he could tolerate noisy situations, the old him hadn’t particularly liked young children.

They couldn’t communicate properly, would cause accidents if you took your eyes off them for a moment, and on top of that, they cried easily. Sure enough, as soon as he had that thought, crying could be heard from somewhere. It was a loud voice that drew everyone’s attention.

However.

“Oh my, what should we do. The baby is crying. They must have fallen.”

“Right. I hope they’re not badly hurt.”

“They’ll be fine. Oh, they look so cute.”

The current Teoro had built up enough tolerance for children to engage in such conversations.

It couldn’t be helped, since both his close friends Lumian Calard and Bumer Simpson had become fathers.

‘And I’ll soon be…’

Teoro looked at his wife, Lili Calaran, with an affectionate expression. His gaze traveled down her clear eyes, straight nose, and lively lips before stopping at her belly, which was swollen like a hill.

He said.

“Our child will be pretty too, right?”

“Of course! Sorry to say this, but they’ll be even prettier than today’s main character.”

Teoro burst into laughter. His spouse’s winking expression was unbearably adorable. The two lightly kissed and exchanged deep gazes. Then, a cough was heard from behind.

They turned around with slightly embarrassed expressions, and a handsome young man with brilliant golden hair that seemed made of real gold came into view. His appearance was absolutely not inferior to Lumian Calard and Cal Krone, who were considered the continent’s greatest beauties, or even to himself.

However, there was no trace of surprise on Teoro’s face. He knew the other’s identity. He quietly called the other’s name.

“Semu. When did you arrive?”

“I just arrived. Ah, nice to meet you, madam. We met once before, didn’t we?”

“Uh… Yes. Nice, nice to meet you.”

The dragon disguised in human form, Semu, politely offered a handshake. Lili Calaran accepted it with a bewildered expression. And she thought.

He definitely didn’t feel like this when I saw him at the beginning of last year.

Teoro whispered to her.

“He said he’s reached adult age by human standards and can’t act childish anymore… He’s been putting on airs for a while now.”

“Ah…”

“What are you whispering so secretively about?”

“Oh, sorry! The atmosphere has changed so much that I… You’ve become much more mature.”

“I can’t remain immature forever.”

He adjusted his glasses and smiled gracefully. Several women were captivated by his gentlemanly atmosphere and looked dazed.

However, from Teoro’s perspective, knowing Semu’s identity and past completely, it was just absurd. He secretly smiled and shook his head, thinking.

‘How did he become such an old soul overnight.’

It wasn’t that his current appearance was bad, but he still missed the cute and innocent look from before a little. Semu had changed too much, too drastically.

Of course, there were beings who needed to change.

Namely Cal Krone, the person who would host today’s first birthday party.

“Hello there, Lady?”

“Oh, hello? Are you perhaps…”

“Yes, that’s right. I’m Cal Krone, close friend of Hero Lumian Calard and hero candidate.”

“Ah…”

Watching his friend smoothly approach women, Teoro shook his head again.

That guy was truly hopeless. He knew his parents were pressuring him to get married since he was well past marriageable age, but he still showed no intention of giving up his playboy behavior.

“Tsk tsk, how can someone who came to host his friend’s first birthday party be acting like that.”

“Exactly, Sir Bumer Simpson.”

Bumer, who had appeared at some point, clicked his tongue, and Semu responded accordingly.

Lili and Teoro, who had been quietly watching, whispered softly.

“I still can’t get used to Semu.”

“Right.”

“Hello, hello! The continent’s greatest hero, Sir Lumian Calard, and the continent’s strongest being who has even that hero wrapped around her finger, Tania Eloise! And the little darling born with blessings between those two, Loren Calard! Distinguished guests in the hall who came to celebrate Loren Calard’s first birthday, welcome everyone!”

Everyone’s attention turned to the front at the voice that poured out with fast yet precise pronunciation. Cal Krone could be seen faithfully performing his role as host. Teoro muttered with an incredulous expression.

“That guy was just hitting on women until a moment ago, when did he get over there?”

“He’s always been thorough about separating business from personal matters, Sir Cal Krone.”

“Is that so? I’m not so sure.”

Looking around, Semu, Bumer, Deiner Selly, and even their daughter Tara Selly all had expressions of disbelief.

Regardless, Cal Krone skillfully proceeded with the first birthday party. Light jokes and witty banter suitable for the somewhat lighter atmosphere than a wedding delighted the people. Bumer and Teoro, who had been glaring with wide eyes to find fault with their friend, completely forgot their original purpose.

“It’s more fun than I thought?”

“Right. Should I have had a first birthday party too? I suddenly feel regretful.”

“Hmm. Should I have one… What do you think, honey?”

“I think it would be nice?”

Bumer, Teoro, and Lili Calaran were even having such conversations.

And shortly after, the doljabi, which could be called the highlight of the first birthday party, began.

“Now, you’ve waited long! From now on, we’ll begin the doljabi that everyone here has been waiting and waiting for!”

Waaaaaaah!

Along with Cal Krone’s voice, even more excited than before, a large table appeared. On it were various items neatly arranged: pen and paper, toy sword, magic wand, ball of thread, and others.

This was none other than a tradition unique to the Kingdom of Tarasan, containing the meaning that one could infer how the child would grow in the future based on which item the one-year-old child picked.

“If they grab the pen and paper, it’s scholarship, the toy sword would be knight, the wand is mage… What was the thread again?”

“Longevity and health.”

“Ah, right. The thread would be best.”

“Right. Health is definitely the best.”

Not to mention Bumer, who had been a father for over three years, even Teoro, who was an expectant father, hoped that Lumian’s son would grab the thread. It was natural for parents to wish for their child’s health.

Of course, that didn’t mean the other items were inferior.

It was a celebration after all. Whatever the child grabbed, they could just give the best interpretation accordingly. And Cal Krone had sufficient eloquence to do so.

However.

“Hmm? He’s not grabbing anything?”

“Right. He’s just standing there blankly.”

“Loren! Isn’t there anything interesting?”

“Try grabbing anything!”

When the child wasn’t grabbing anything, no amount of embellishment could help.

Lumian and Tania spoke to the child with flustered expressions, and the people attending the first birthday party also chimed in one by one.

But it was useless.

Perhaps frightened by the unfamiliar atmosphere, Loren Calard burst into loud tears instead of grabbing any of the doljabi items.

Waaaaaaah!

“Oh my, what should we do!”

“Should we comfort him?”

Of course, it wasn’t a serious situation. It was common for the baby protagonist to cry at first birthday parties. Moreover, the experienced host Cal Krone had somewhat anticipated such a situation.

“Haha, it seems our Loren has had many complaints about his parents lately. Or maybe he didn’t like the items?”

Hahahaha, laughter burst from people’s mouths. Cal Krone continued with a few more jokes with his comical expression.

While doing so, he gestured to a waiting maid with his eyes. Since the parents were too flustered to do anything, he told her to run over and comfort the child instead. If it seemed difficult, he told her to put the baby in Tania Eloise’s arms.

Fortunately, the maid immediately understood Cal Krone’s intention. She nodded and quickly approached Loren Calard, trying to hold and comfort the child. Peace finally returned to the faces of Lumian and Tania, who hadn’t known what to do.

The unexpected incident happened then.

Grab!

“Ahh… mmm.”

The child, who had been causing a commotion, flailed his arms and unintentionally grabbed one of the maid’s breasts.

The atmosphere in the hall instantly became awkward. And quiet.

“…”

“…”

The problem was that the maid’s chest was noticeably large.

Another problem was that the maid made a strange, suggestive moan that could be misunderstood by anyone who heard it.

But it was fine. Up to this point, it was within the range of something that could be passed off as just a happening, or glossed over as if nothing had occurred.

But here, one more problem was added. Cal Krone, who had been skillfully proceeding until now, threw out a joke that slightly crossed the line in his flustered state.

“Uh… is it because the child takes after his father? His hand skills are already exceptional… ah, I’m sorry.”

Kuoooooo!

Under the fierce aura pouring from Lumian Calard and Tania Eloise, Cal Krone wiped his sweat and cut off his words.

But there was no one who didn’t understand the meaning of his words.

Uhahahaha!

Hahahahaha!

Boisterous laughter swept through the hall.

It was fortunate. In the case of subtle jokes that walked the line, if one person put on a serious face, everyone else who was reading the mood might follow suit and make the atmosphere strange.

But since several people from the mercenary side, including Morghen, immediately burst into hearty laughter, the situation flowed in the opposite direction. Most people, except for children who had no knowledge in such matters and their parents, enjoyed the happening with pleasant expressions.

Of course, Bumer couldn’t enjoy this since he came with his young daughter. He said.

“I guess I’ll have to make sure that guy can’t get near my daughter.”

“That seems like what we should do.”

His wife Deiner nodded and answered. Their daughter Tara Selly was rolling her eyes with an expression of not understanding what was going on, and Teoro, who was watching all of this, let out a deep sigh.

After the incident was settled like that, the first birthday celebration was safely concluded.

Loren Calard, who had regained stability, simultaneously grabbed the thread representing longevity and the lucky pouch meaning happiness, pleasing his parents, and the people who participated in the first birthday celebration also sincerely congratulated him.

But what remained in people’s minds could only be the scene of him grabbing the maid’s chest.

The people who returned to their respective homes told the story of that time to those around them, and those who heard the story also enjoyed it with roaring laughter.

Thanks to this, Loren Calard, the son of Lumian Calard and Tania Eloise, became famous across the continent as a promising playboy from the time he had just passed his first birthday.

And a little over 10 years passed.

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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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