The Failed Swordmaster - Chapter 28

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Chapter 28 13. It’s a Misunderstanding (3)

“They’re Cal Krone’s fans.”

“What? Fans?”

Lumian asked back with an expression as if he had misheard. Teoro answered again with a serious expression.

“Yeah. Fans.”

“They’re absolutely disgusting girls. They’ve gotten worse than last year, ugh.”

Bumer said while wrapping his arms around his body and shuddering.

That sight was even more disgusting, but Lumian didn’t bother to point this out.

Rather, he was more interested in the current conversation.

“No way, what’s so special about him that he even has fans? Is he a Knight King? Or is he a wandering knight with over ten songs of his own?”

“Well, it’s not like that, but… at least within Tarasan Academy, he holds that kind of position. No, looking at it now, it’s more severe if anything, not less.”

Teoro said with a sigh.

He too seemed to find what had just happened absurd.

Of course, the most dumbfounded was Lumian.

He closed his eyes to recall the original owner’s memories, and soon fragmentary information about Cal Krone surfaced.

‘Not as much as Teoro, but quite handsome, and unlike me, from the moment he enrolled there was a commotion everywhere calling him the greatest talent in Academy history…’

That was the limit. Nothing more came to mind.

Well, there was no reason for Lumian, who was last in his year, to have any connection with the top student.

For his sake, Bumer provided some additional explanation.

“That guy is kind of similar to you too.”

“Me? Similar to me?”

“Yeah. He doesn’t do it as openly as you, but… should I say he manages his popularity, or that he enjoys being looked up to… Anyway, showing off has become a habit for him. Of course, he does have the skills to back it up… Ptui.”

Bumer spat on the ground.

His usual feelings toward Cal Krone seemed unfavorable, showing a twisted mood.

In his place, Teoro continued the conversation.

“No one can deny his excellence. He’s the eldest son of the Crone Ducal House, famous as a knight family, and from enrollment until now, he’s never lost his top position even once. Also, as Bumer said… he is somewhat a guy who likes receiving attention.”

“That bastard even deliberately messed with me once to look good in front of girls!”

‘So that’s why he didn’t ask Cal Krone for help.’

Watching Bumer snorting and speaking, Lumian recalled past events.

Bumer was passionate enough about learning to ask for guidance the day after getting beaten by him.

He had wondered why such a guy hadn’t made a similar request to the year’s top student, but there was a reason for everything.

‘But Bumer would make a pretty good supporting role.’

Looking at Bumer, Lumian let his imagination run wild.

Rather than showing off skills against Freckled Boy, facing the large and fierce-looking Bumer while displaying flashy and cool moves would make for a much better picture.

Cal Krone seemed to know this too.

‘He’s a skilled guy.’

He didn’t know about swordsmanship, but in terms of image management, considerable experience could be felt.

There would probably be quite a lot to learn from watching him.

While having these useless thoughts, Teoro spoke to him.

“Anyway, be careful.”

“Yeah, got it. I shouldn’t talk about winning outside. The fans are terrifying.”

“The fans are one thing, but be careful of Cal Krone too.”

“Huh?”

“You haven’t faced him yet.”

“…”

“That guy is incomparably stronger than me.”

The atmosphere suddenly became serious.

Lumian hardened his expression and examined Teoro and Bumer’s faces.

Both were guys with considerable pride in their skills, yet they were showing this kind of reaction.

“How strong is he?”

“Well, I wouldn’t know. Are there any people besides the graduating seniors who have seen that guy’s full power?”

“I heard even the graduating seniors are no match for him…”

“Anyway, he’s definitely the greatest talent in Tarasan Academy’s… no, Tarasan’s entire history. No matter how strong you’ve become, it’ll be difficult… you should be careful.”

“Hmm.”

Having heard all of Teoro’s words, Lumian made a serious expression.

He could feel it from Teoro’s tone and from Bumer’s face. How highly they evaluated Cal Krone.

However.

‘It doesn’t make sense for me to worry about his skills.’

Of course, he would be impressive.

To be overwhelmingly stronger than these two, who were promising young men in their own right.

He was probably one of the top talents even in the Kingdom of Jenas. That level was truly outstanding.

But Lumian was the person who had directly raised Knight King Philip III.

That meant he was the very person who had taught the Continent’s greatest talent from childhood.

‘Still, if I speak too easily, these guys will get hurt.’

Lumian glanced at the two.

He judged that disparaging someone they thought was excellent enough to humble even their pride would not be a wise response.

He nodded his head heavily.

“Got it. I’ll work hard.”

“…Well, the one who needs to work hardest is me.”

Teoro said bitterly. Bumer also nodded with a serious expression.

They had been stimulated by two fighters who were on a different level from themselves.

But they didn’t know.

What Lumian meant by ‘working hard’ wasn’t that he would train in swordsmanship to defeat Cal Krone.

It meant he would research and practice ‘how to stand out more on stage.’

‘I’ll win this tournament and seize popularity on Cal Krone’s level!’

Lumian nodded while looking up at the sky.

Seeing his determined appearance, the two also nodded.

* * *

Clang!

Clatter-!

“Thank you for your hard work.”

“Damn… I thought I’d last a bit longer this time.”

Luke Kelton, a graduating senior, said while massaging his aching wrist. The sword he had been holding had long since flown far away.

Though he was skilled enough to receive a scholarship, this sparring match was his complete defeat.

Moreover, his opponent was even a second-year student with far less experience than himself.

At this point, harsher words might have poured out, but Luke didn’t feel particularly frustrated.

He had no choice.

As long as his opponent was Cal Krone, an existence that shattered the Academy’s common sense.

“Sigh, looks like I won’t be able to beat you even once before graduation. I should have crushed you right when you enrolled.”

“Haha. That would have been difficult back then for sure.”

“Back then? This kid doesn’t even consider his senior’s feelings…”

“Ugh, I’m sorry.”

“Kid, if you’re sorry, at least act like you’re sorry. How can you just pretend to be slightly surprised and that’s it?”

“Well, if I played along with every one of senior’s jokes, there’d be no end to it…”

“Let’s stop talking, just stop.”

“Then instead of talking, shall we spar one more time?”

“…I’m sorry.”

Cal Krone and Luke Kelton exchanged informal jokes for a while.

Not only were the two quite close, but this was also thanks to this being a training ground not open to regular students.

In the training ground open only to graduating seniors and Cal Krone, who received special treatment, even his ardent fans couldn’t enter.

For Cal Krone, who always cared about managing his image, there was no place more comfortable than here.

“Your fans should see you like this.”

“Come on, it’s not like I act that differently.”

“You definitely do act differently, man. Didn’t you put on all sorts of airs during this midterm evaluation too? I heard the girls from the humanities department went absolutely crazy?”

“No, if you put it that way…”

“Tsk tsk, it’s not like you’re going to date any of them anyway, so why live life so exhaustingly?”

“Hmm, it’s not particularly exhausting. It’s just like a habit…”

Cal Krone answered with a grin.

It couldn’t be helped.

It was just his nature. He had loved swords since childhood. And he loved receiving people’s attention just as much.

The adults who widened their eyes watching him wield his sword, the ladies who made ecstatic expressions, the peers who made frustrated faces—he couldn’t get enough of them.

Each and every one of their reactions gave Cal Krone a thrilling pleasure.

Moreover, lately this tendency had grown even stronger, making receiving attention from others more enjoyable than swordsmanship itself.

Unfortunately, there was no one in swordsmanship who could bring him such joy.

‘Of course, I’m no match for official knights or professors…’

That was only because his aura reserves were insufficient.

Given just a little time, he thought it wouldn’t be difficult to surpass them.

As for his classmates, there was nothing to say. They were all beneath him.

Teoro Shutgarn and Bumer Simpson were somewhat useful among them, but they fell far short compared to himself.

He thought that probably until he joined the Royal Knight Order or went to study abroad in the Knights Kingdom Jenas, there would be no one who could bring him joy through swordsmanship.

That was until he heard about Lumian Calard.

“Oh, speaking of which, they’re holding a swordsmanship tournament this semester.”

“I heard about it. It’s for 1st and 2nd years, right?”

“Right. You’re participating, aren’t you? Well, there’s no way an attention-seeker like you wouldn’t participate.”

“Haha, as someone aspiring to be a knight, it’s naturally good if my reputation grows. If I catch the knights’ attention, joining an order becomes easier too.”

“You could get in easily enough without that.”

“Haha, that’s true. But this time, aside from that, there’s someone I’m curious about.”

“Ah, that kid who tied for first place with you? Lumian… was it?”

“Yes. Until last year he was famously dead last, so it’s interesting.”

Cal Krone smiled slyly.

He had heard stories about the midterm evaluation from some students.

That Teoro and Bumer’s skills had improved tremendously. They were originally strong, but seemed to have grown much more than last year.

But there was someone who showed even more absurd growth than those two.

‘Lumian Calard… just how strong has he become to cause such a commotion?’

His expression hardened.

Though a smile still hung on his lips, his eyes weren’t smiling, giving off a slightly frightening feeling.

‘No matter.’

“Let’s go one more time, senior.”

“Ugh, let me rest just a little more…”

“Come on, the swordsmanship tournament isn’t far off, so please help me, quickly.”

“Hey, it’s a competition with only 1st and 2nd years, what are you worried about…”

Forcibly lifting up the grumbling Luke Kelton, he restored his cheerful expression.

Right, the midterm evaluation wasn’t enough.

The swordsmanship tournament, where no ties were possible and only one victor could shine brilliantly, was the perfect stage to imprint his majesty.

Lifting his real sword, Cal Krone thought.

‘It seems the time has come to properly show the gap once again.’

Having attention scattered here and there was not what he wanted.

Finishing his thoughts, he vigorously swung his sword.

* * *

At that moment, Lumian Calard was looking at the booklet he received from Bumer Simpson in shock.

“What the hell is this!”

Thwack!

He was so surprised that he unconsciously threw the book away.

After taking a deep breath, he muttered to himself.

“No, what is this? What is this thing?”

The cover alone was extraordinary.

An illustration that far transcended what he had imagined, something that couldn’t even be described as high-level.

The content was even worse.

The fact that Lumian, who had reached Sword Expert level, felt dizzy for a moment said it all.

He shook his head vigorously and muttered.

“Bumer, that perverted bastard, how can he look at stuff like this, ugh.”

But contrary to his words, Lumian slowly walked toward the thrown booklet.

And he picked it up and headed back to his bed.

‘Still, it would be a waste to just throw it away… maybe I’ll look at it just once?’

That night, Lumian couldn’t sleep.

Seeing him come to class with bloodshot eyes, the professor made a satisfied expression.

‘He must have stayed up all night practicing aura cultivation.’

Unlike with Tania Eloise, this was a not-so-bad misunderstanding.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————