The Failed Swordmaster - Chapter 26
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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 26 13. It’s a Misunderstanding (1)
After the midterm evaluation results were announced, there were only a few topics worth discussing among the second-year knight cadets.
Between Teoro Shutgarn and Bumer Simpson, who were competing for second place in their year, who had achieved better results?
Had Cal Krone, called the greatest talent in Tarasan Academy’s history, taken first place again?
Had Lumian Calard, the shame of the second years and the worst underachiever, come in last place again this time?
However, this time the situation was a little different.
As Bumer Simpson looked at the results board, he could hear the voices of female students around him.
“What? Isn’t this wrong? Like they wrote a name that should be at the bottom at the top or something…”
“No way. He really is first place.”
“Wow… What happened? That Lumian got first place? A bookworm who looks more frail than a philosophy major got first place in swordsmanship evaluation?”
“But I asked a kid from Class E, and they said he’s really changed a lot from last year.”
“What changed? His skills?”
His swordsmanship skills are obvious, but ah, that kid couldn’t explain it properly either… Anyway, the guy got much better. He looks more confident now?”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Ah, I don’t really know either. Anyway, he’s different from before, completely.”
“Now that you say that, I’m curious. Should we go take a look? Does he still go to the student cafeteria these days?”
While most reactions showed disbelief at Lumian’s success, some girls also showed interest.
There was clear favorability in their tone.
Bumer’s expression hardened as he felt Lumian’s changed status.
‘This actually works.’
He recalled the dating advice he had given him. That knight cadets only needed good swordsmanship skills. Then popularity and women would naturally follow.
Though he had spoken as if he were a dating expert, this wasn’t actually Bumer’s experience.
He had simply passed on exactly what his father and his older brother, who had already become a knight, had told him. In fact, Bumer had never dated a woman before.
That’s why the current Lumian seemed very fascinating to him. The moment he decided to show his skills, he instantly built up a good image, which felt unrealistic.
‘Even if not as much as Lumian, I’m pretty strong too.’
This time was the same. His evaluation result was tied for third place with Teoro.
He was positioned right below Lumian.
Nevertheless, he wasn’t popular.
‘Or am I? Aren’t I pretty decent now too?’
Bumer straightened his clothes and looked to the side. His eyes met with a rather pretty female student. He flashed her a gentle smile.
The female student’s face stiffened and she quickly left.
Bumer made a hmm sound and shook his head.
‘Well, once I become as strong as Lumian or Cal Krone, I’ll become popular too.’
Quickly discarding useless worries was Bumer’s strength. He spat and released his twisted feelings.
Then he smiled as he looked at the brown envelope in his hand.
This was a bribe. A bribe to offer to Lumian.
It was an erotic book.
‘I prepared something much spicier than before.’
The previous one was decent in its own way, but it wasn’t as excellent as this.
The moment he received this, Lumian would absolutely never be able to cast him aside.
He would swallow his saliva as he took the book, then pay more attention to teaching him than Teoro.
‘I absolutely have to stick close to that guy!’
After the midterm evaluation ended, Bumer could clearly understand how amazing the aura utilization method Lumian had taught him was.
It was like a custom-tailored suit prepared just for him. Through this seemingly extreme method, Bumer was able to grow rapidly and even received praise from his swordsmanship professor for the first time in a while.
The problem was that Teoro had also become as strong as him. The fact that he still had the same ranking as that guy proved it.
This wasn’t the end.
If that guy continued to learn swordsmanship from Lumian while he couldn’t…
‘No way! Me being below Teoro! That absolutely can’t happen!’
Bumer shook his head vigorously. After taking a breath, he made his decision.
Though these were very precious items, it couldn’t be helped.
This was sacrificing the small for the greater good. To become stronger, he couldn’t stop investing.
Rather, he had to work even harder from now on. He had to keep obtaining good items to satisfy that perverted Lumian.
Having finished his thoughts, he quickly turned around. It was to run to the place where Lumian was training.
But there was someone blocking his way.
Petite height, slim figure.
And beautiful looks that made all the women around her pale in comparison.
It was Tania Eloise.
‘Oh no!’
Bumer, who showed a startled expression, tried to quickly dodge.
However, he couldn’t overcome inertia. Both frowned and raised their arms, and a collision occurred.
Thud!
And Bumer Simpson fell on his bottom.
People around opened their mouths at that amazing sight.
A mountain-sized man and a slender woman collided, but the man was the one who got knocked back?
But the moment they confirmed the woman’s identity, people could only nod and understand.
‘She’s the third-year valedictorian.’
‘Then of course. Even if it’s Bumer, the difference in aura reserves is too great.’
‘Still, it’s fascinating. That huge guy got knocked back.’
Even Bumer himself showed an attitude of accepting that he had been pushed back.
Of course, it wasn’t out of courtesy toward a senior. Nor was it respect for the strong.
The reason he didn’t get angry was simply because Tania was beautiful.
In this aspect, Lumian and Bumer were very similar. Though neither would admit it.
“What? It’s Bumer?”
“Ah, Senior Eloise…”
“How can you suddenly turn around like that? It’s fortunate it was me, but if it had been someone else, they could have gotten hurt.”
“I, uh, I’m sorry.”
“Be careful next time.”
Tania brushed off her clothes a couple times and pouted.
Bumer Simpson. He was promising enough talent for her to remember his name, but he wasn’t someone she liked.
‘No manners, hot-tempered, and too short-sighted.’
She had no desire to get close to someone who would constantly cause trouble.
She tried to pass by Bumer to check the midterm evaluation results.
No, she tried to pass by. But she couldn’t.
Because the items that spilled from the brown envelope Bumer was holding caught her attention.
“…”
“Ah, um…”
Bumer hastily covered the book’s cover.
But it was too late. Tania had already seen everything.
She shook her head and said.
“A bit… excessive…”
“…”
To Tania, who looked down at him coldly as she passed by, Bumer couldn’t say anything.
He remained still for a while, clutching the envelope.
“…Well, it’s fine. It’s not like she’s going to date me anyway.”
As mentioned again, Bumer wasn’t the type to dwell on useless worries for long.
He got up and ran energetically.
It was to go meet another pervert just like himself.
* * *
‘How can he look at such things?’
Watching Bumer running away in the distance, Tania frowned.
He couldn’t deny that boys at their prime were interested in lewd things. Moreover, they were vigorous knight cadets, so he could fully understand.
But the booklet Bumer had was… crossing the line.
The cover was so extreme that he couldn’t help but look serious.
If he were to express the level of perversion in terms of nobility, it would probably be around marquis or duke level.
‘Lumian is much better in comparison.’
Yes, Lumian is better.
Tania nodded as she looked at the evaluation results bulletin board for the second years.
After experiencing that shocking incident at the ballroom, she had diligently looked into Lumian.
The results weren’t bad. He was showing excellence that matched his good first impression.
‘Good class attitude, diligent, and even looking after others…’
Since this was a compilation of what several Class E underclassmen had said, it was probably reliable.
She even heard that in the recent exchange competition, he didn’t just perform alone, but led the entire class to victory while looking after other cadets.
‘His individual skills seem much better than at the beginning of the semester, and he even has leadership that unites the class… His growth rate is incredibly fast. He’s a talent with an even more promising future.’
The more she looked, the more desirable a talent he was.
Except for that slip of the tongue back then.
‘No, that level of mistake can certainly be overlooked.’
Tania recalled the situation from that time.
She remembered how Lumian looked completely flustered after saying those words. It definitely wasn’t intentional harassment of a lady.
Yes, it was a mistake. Not exactly the kind anyone could make once… but still a mistake at an understandable level.
‘To turn away from a future excellent knight over just that level of mistake… that would be too much!’
Tania raised both hands and slapped her own cheeks.
Right. She could no longer delay this.
If she delayed further, some other guy might snatch him up. Before that happened, she had to establish a solid relationship first.
She let out a “Whew” and exhaled.
Lumian’s words “What beautiful breasts” kept circling in her head, but she shook her head to dismiss them. Then she put on a bright expression for business.
For connections, for advancement.
For her brilliant ambitions!
Having steeled her resolve, Tania moved with quick steps.
She already knew exactly where Lumian would be. At this time, he would be swinging his sword at the training grounds.
She headed to the training grounds without delay and was able to find Lumian as expected.
And she made a puzzled expression.
‘…Bumer is with him?’
Was Lumian close with Bumer?
This was news to her. She had heard he often hung out with Teoro, but she hadn’t thought he’d be with such a low-quality pervert.
‘Since they’re all top second years, maybe they’re sparring to improve their skills?’
Thinking of it that way, it wasn’t really a big flaw.
Actually, Bumer Simpson wasn’t complete trash either. His image had just gotten much worse because of what happened earlier.
It would be unreasonable to undervalue Lumian over this.
Tania tried to erase the prejudice that kept arising, smiled even more brightly, and approached Lumian.
Until she saw the brown envelope in his hands.
“…!”
Tania’s face turned red like a ripe apple.
Suddenly she became short of breath. Like someone betrayed by someone they trusted, she froze for a moment, staring at the envelope Lumian was holding.
And 5 seconds later, she turned around and quickly disappeared.
Thud thud thud thud thud!
Watching Tania hurriedly disappear, Lumian tilted his head.
“What? It seemed like she was coming to me.”
“Senior Eloise? Did you two know each other?”
Teoro asked. He had actually thought she came to see him, but since Lumian said that, he became interested.
The greatest beauty of the Knight Department approaching first – wasn’t Bumer’s advice showing some effect!
But Tania Eloise, who had run far away, didn’t come back.
Teoro, with question marks in his head, asked Lumian.
“What, she came to see you.”
“Right. I thought so too. She asked me to buy her a meal last time.”
“Really? What… did something urgent come up suddenly?”
“…”
Bumer Simpson was quietly listening to their conversation.
He seemed to know. Why Tania had suddenly looked serious and left the scene.
‘…Let’s stay quiet.’
Looking at the brown envelope he had handed to Lumian, Bumer managed his expression as if nothing happened.
This was absolutely something he must not tell.
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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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