The Failed Swordmaster - Chapter 23

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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 23 11. Our Lumian Has Changed (3)

Although he had become the body of a 15-year-old aspiring knight, in his previous life he had been a knight of the Knights Kingdom Jenas.

And he wasn’t just any knight. Excluding Knight King Philip III, he was so exceptional that no one could match him—a Sword Master among Sword Masters.

Common sense didn’t apply to such a Lumian.

He quietly assumed the posture for aura cultivation and thought.

‘I’ve been too negligent with aura cultivation lately. I must reach the Expert level today without fail.’

Whooooooom!

Lumian concentrated his mind and began circulating energy according to his unique aura cultivation method. Energy as solid as rock began rolling through the pathways in his body, swelling like a snowball.

The energy that swelled in this way was gradually refined into Lumian’s own energy, Aura, and accumulated layer by layer in his dantian.

One hour, two hours, three hours.

Lumian maintained tremendous concentration and continued accumulating aura. The speed at which he absorbed energy was so fast that his clothes fluttered slightly.

After about 6 hours of cultivation, Lumian slowly opened his eyes.

With a calm expression, he checked his aura reserves and muttered to himself.

“This should be enough.”

To reach the level of Sword Expert—that is, the level where one can manifest an aura sword, albeit imperfectly—there was a necessary process.

It was the task of opening three blocked aura pathways in the body.

In the case of newborn humans, since they are close to their natural state, all pathways for accepting energy are open.

However, as time passes, impure energy from the world flows in and blocks various pathways, and these must be opened again to ascend to higher levels.

‘One in the upper section, one in the middle section, one in the lower section.’

Whether or not these three places are opened makes more than double the difference in aura operation efficiency.

Therefore, all knights do their best to open these blocked pathways in the upper, middle, and lower sections.

Some become crippled from attempting it recklessly, but it’s work worth taking such risks.

Of course, Lumian had no intention of taking such risks.

He closed his eyes again and calmly drew up his aura.

Kurururu…

Lumian gathered all the aura accumulated in his body and moved it toward the lower pathway.

It was a much smaller amount of aura than the average for knights challenging Expert level, but he didn’t mind.

A lacking amount could simply be solved with precise aura control.

Whiiiiiing-!

Lumian’s aura was on a different level from other knights’.

It wasn’t in the form of a solid sphere, a hammer, or a sharp sword.

A high-speed rotating spiral cone!

It advanced toward the lower pathway. And it shattered the impure energy all too easily.

Ziiiiiiiing-!

In less than 10 seconds, the lower pathway was opened.

What other knights could barely open after dozens of painful collisions, Lumian accomplished more easily than cleaning his ears.

Although about a quarter of his aura was consumed in the process, it was fine.

‘More than enough to open the middle and upper pathways.’

It was as Lumian thought. He moved his aura with a calm expression like meditation and attacked the middle pathway.

Ziiiing!

And he succeeded in opening it in just 15 seconds.

Usually after conquering two gates, one would take a brief rest and steel their resolve, but Lumian didn’t do that. It wasn’t difficult enough to require unifying his spirit.

He leisurely moved his aura as before and attacked the upper pathway.

Ziiiiiiiing!

He achieved results in about 20 seconds.

Just 1 minute after deciding to become a Sword Expert, he had ascended to that level.

“Hmm, my body definitely feels lighter.”

Lumian unfolded his cross-legged position, stood up, and threw a few punches into the air.

Pwong! Pong!

The sound of air bursting could be heard.

He was much faster and more powerful than before.

Moving aura through the opened pathways was incredibly comfortable. He could feel that energy waste had also decreased significantly.

Lumian smiled and walked toward the table.

He took a bite of the apple he had sliced before cultivation and picked up a fruit knife.

Then.

Whooooom-!

With a slight vibrating sound, aura began to coat the blade’s surface.

Like flames flowing along an oil-coated stick, it wavered without maintaining a fixed form.

It couldn’t compare to the complete aura sword that a Sword Master could manifest.

But it was more than enough to prove that he was a Sword Expert.

Lumian smiled with satisfaction.

‘Drawing out an imperfect aura sword at 15—even I think that’s an insane growth rate.’

Countless aspiring knights strive to become Experts, but the rate of reaching that level is barely 10 percent.

More than half of those 10 percent of knights reach the level in their 40s.

Those with talent reach it in their 30s, those called prodigies of the kingdom in their 20s.

And only those called heaven-sent geniuses can reach Expert level in their late teens.

Knight King Philip III of Jenas was such a case. He had drawn out an imperfect aura sword on a summer day at age 17.

‘All the retainers offered congratulations, saying it was talent unmatched on the continent.’

But he had reached Sword Expert level at the young age of 15.

And not just any Expert.

He had become an Expert with the practical experience of a truly veteran knight who had gone through countless battlefields.

‘Although my aura amount is quite lacking, this should be enough to defeat Professor Karin.’

Perhaps he could even defeat a knight commander level from the Kingdom of Tarasan. Since it was a country not as large in scale compared to the powerful nation of Jenas, the knights’ abilities weren’t particularly outstanding either.

But there was an even more important fact than that.

Lumian muttered with a serious expression.

“If I do well… becoming a Sword Master before age 20 might be possible?”

No, it wasn’t “might be possible.” It was definitely possible.

If he continued recovering his level at this pace, he would probably be able to draw out a perfect aura sword within at least 3 years.

When his thoughts reached that point, he got goosebumps.

Lumian muttered to himself again.

“A teenage Sword Master… wouldn’t that look incredibly cool?”

The one who reached Sword Master level at the youngest age in history, Lumian Calard!

The cheers from women directed at him! Attention! And love!

It was thrilling. Tremendous excitement flowed through his entire body.

His heartbeat seemed to echo throughout the room.

But such pleasant imagination didn’t last long.

No matter how he thought about it, the degree was too extreme.

‘At that level, I’d be more popular with those in power than with women.’

He might even be treated like a demon king in human disguise. Either way, it would definitely become troublesome.

This wasn’t what Lumian wanted.

‘Let’s do it moderately, moderately.’

He nodded and thought.

He decided to show only enough skill to moderately rank first in his grade.

Well, if that seemed a bit bland, first in the Academy would be fine too.

This also wasn’t a small scale at all, but Lumian had sufficient ability to realize this.

‘For now, let’s focus on the midterm evaluation.’

Focusing didn’t mean he would devote himself to training for good grades.

It was a resolution to be reborn as a cooler and more popular Lumian through the exchange battle.

To establish himself as a definite heartthrob among female students in his class, and to show his changed appearance to female students in Class B for an image transformation.

That was most important to him. Grades were a secondary factor.

‘I hope they pair me with a strong opponent.’

There was no point in performing well against weak opponents—it wouldn’t have much effect. He absolutely had to face strong opponents.

He hoped Professor Karin would pair him with a decent opponent.

After offering a silent prayer, Lumian finished the remaining apple and left the dormitory.

Dawn had already broken. It was time for physical training.

Something as trivial as lack of sleep couldn’t stop his passion for achieving a magnificent body.

* * *

A week had passed since Lumian became a Sword Expert.

He had lived extremely busy days during that time.

He solidified his model student concept by showing diligent training, maintained his wholesome image by guiding the enthusiastic Class E students.

Following Teoro’s guidance, he practiced facial expressions and practiced not getting nervous in front of the opposite sex.

Although the latter hadn’t shown noticeable results yet, the former was different.

Thanks to Lumian’s continued dedication, the Class E members who had been like scattered grains of sand began to unite as one.

“What, you’re doing more?”

“Of course. We need to train even a little longer if we want to beat those Class B guys.”

“Right! Let’s definitely win this time!”

“I should do more too. Let’s crush those bastards with our skills.”

Although it originated from impure intentions, Lumian’s actions had completely transformed Class E into a different group.

They became more cohesive, more diligent, and stronger. Everyone in Class E had grown and eagerly awaited the exchange match.

And finally, the day of the exchange match between Class B and Class E dawned.

Lumian smiled with the expression Teoro had taught him and spoke to the students.

“Let’s go crush Class B.”

Everyone nodded at his words.

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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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