The Failed Swordmaster - Chapter 38

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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 38 18. The Great Challenge of a Perpetual Failure (2)

Honestly, he didn’t realize it at first.

He was simply admiring Cal Krone, who displayed skills far superior to those shown in the semifinals.

However, as his gaze shifted to Lumian, who was desperately and tenaciously holding on and resisting, Sir Bucal began to feel a slight sense of unease.

‘If it hadn’t been for that last attack, I probably would have missed it completely. Just left with a nagging feeling.’

Perhaps it was for dramatic effect. Lumian’s final attack was much more obvious than before.

Watching the scene where the strike was delivered with exactly the same speed, same angle, and same force as Cal Krone’s sword, Sir Bucal became certain that Lumian was hiding his true abilities.

And he was shocked.

To manipulate a match against Cal Krone, who would be considered top-tier even in Jenas!

Could this really be the skill level of a 15-year-old knight cadet?

‘This talent surpasses even the first commander of the Black Panther Knights!’

The eunuch knight Ryan Fromhart, considered to rival even Knight King Philip III, who possessed the greatest talent in history.

Even his talent seemed to pale in comparison to this child named Lumian Calard.

Sir Bucal had to make great effort to prevent his facial muscles from twitching.

‘For now, let me be the only one who knows.’

He couldn’t understand why the Young Man was hiding his abilities, or why he chose a draw instead of victory.

But it was fortunate. His talent must not be known by many.

The true value of this gem should only be known by himself and the Kingdom of Jenas.

He quickly looked around.

Fortunately, the professors and other knights of the Kingdom of Tarasan didn’t seem to have noticed.

Good. I should also stop showing any signs and stay quiet.

With that thought, Sir Bucal clapped with a broad smile across his face.

He looked as if he was deeply moved by the fierce competition between the two cadets.

* * *

“We will now hold the award ceremony. Winners, please come forward.”

Following the Knight Department Head’s words, Cal Krone, Lumian Calard, and Teoro Shutgarn stepped forward.

There were two joint first place winners and one third place winner. As many people expected, Cal Krone and Lumian were given the honor of joint victory.

The third place winner received a plaque and prize money, while the joint winners received plaques, prize money, and small additional prizes.

“Cal Krone! Cal Krone! You were amazing!”

“Lumian Calard! Well done!”

“Teoro Shutgarn! Good work!”

Each time Sir Bucal, the specially invited high-ranking knight from Jenas, presented a plaque, many people’s cheers followed.

At this moment, everyone was united in heart and mind. The audience looked at the three participants with warm eyes, applauding and blessing their futures.

Lumian Calard, Cal Krone, and Teoro Shutgarn were all promising talents who would bring glory to Tarasan. Now that the results were decided, there was no reason to take sides and fight.

“Waaaaaaah! Amazing! You’re all amazing!”

“Seniors, you all worked so hard!”

All spectators, regardless of age or gender, sent generous cheers toward the three. Their voices mixed together to create a tremendous resonance.

Lumian quietly closed his eyes and savored their voices.

Of course, he filtered out the men’s voices. His sensitive hearing was selectively receiving only the women’s voices.

“Kyaaaah! Lumian! Good work!”

“What should I do, I think I’m going to become a fan starting today!”

“2nd Year Class E of the Knight Department, right? Should I visit sometime?”

“Hey! You can’t just visit and bother him like that!”

‘No, please do come visit!’

He couldn’t see their faces, but that was fine. Since their voices were pretty, their appearances must surely be excellent too.

Lumian opened his eyes slowly with a bright smile.

Looking at the people still cheering for him, he recalled the hardships during the Swordsmanship Competition period.

‘It was very difficult and arduous, but… I did it.’

Yes. He had done it.

He had successfully endured without being overshadowed by that insanely talented individual who drew people’s attention and interest just by existing.

This was a victory of performance and a victory of effort. If he hadn’t refined his aura image while cutting back on sleep, and if he hadn’t practiced intensively last night following Teoro’s instructions… today’s glory would never have been possible.

‘Teoro, thank you!’

Gratitude toward Teoro and satisfaction with the results made Lumian’s smile even deeper.

Seeing this, Professor Karin, who was standing next to the Knight Department Head, smiled warmly.

‘That kid. Talent aside, he’s been doing bone-grinding training in secret!’

Indeed, even if he had belatedly realized his talent, he couldn’t have reached such a level without blood-spitting effort.

He must have been conducting desperate training in places he couldn’t see since the end of last year. Then he must have gained enlightenment in an instant and made rapid progress.

‘It’s not just Lumian.’

Cal Krone and Teoro Shutgarn were equally admirable.

They too had improved far more than he had known. Effort no less than Lumian’s must have followed.

Professor Karin smiled gently.

With reddened eyes, he offered blessings for the future of his three disciples who were full of both talent and passion.

And at that moment.

“…Damn it. They’re all excited, so excited.”

Bumer Simpson, lying in the infirmary a little distance from the arena where the Swordsmanship Competition was held, wore an expression full of dissatisfaction.

Completely forgotten from people’s memories, he muttered to himself again.

“Damn it.”

* * *

Lumian Calard returned to his dormitory after finishing all the schedules.

He suppressed the urge to collapse and sleep immediately, then opened the wooden box he had received as a prize.

A blackish-colored pill revealed itself.

Lumian picked it up with his hand and brought it to his nose. A pungent medicinal smell wafted up.

‘It’s been a while since I’ve seen one.’

This was a Power Ball.

An elixir made in the Knights Kingdom Jenas, it boasted quite an expensive price.

Since resistance to its effects built up easily, it was hard to see much effect when taken more than twice, but at least for the first time, it guaranteed definite efficacy.

‘Cal Krone must have already taken one, but this is my first time.’

Lumian grinned and tossed and caught the Power Ball.

As the son of a rural lord, there was no way he could have encountered such an elixir. He was pleased with this unexpected gain and threw the Power Ball into the air again.

And he opened his mouth wide to match the timing of its fall.

Swoosh, the pill that entered his mouth instantly melted and flowed down his throat.

Sssssss-

Not long after taking the Power Ball, he could already feel the effects taking hold.

Lumian concentrated his mind and began aura training. An elixir was definitely not something to just consume carelessly.

It was important to convert the mana contained in the elixir into aura as completely as possible, and to minimize the loss of energy in the process.

However, very many aura users found this process difficult.

‘In the case of aura users, it’s hard to properly absorb even a quarter, and even those who have reached the Expert level find it difficult to take more than half.’

Of course, the case of Sword Masters was different.

As masters of aura control, they could make more than 80 percent of the effects their own.

And Lumian, who had Ryan Fromhart’s memories, was conducting aura training with a goal of 85 percent.

‘At my previous life’s level, I could absorb close to 100 percent, but… right now I’m just an Expert.’

Of course, even as an Expert, he was incomparable to other ordinary Experts.

His current low level was due to low aura reserves, not because his aura operation was unskilled.

Of course, since his physical completion and aura pathway durability were lacking, control as excellent as his previous life was impossible, but he judged that around 85 percent was sufficiently possible.

However, his judgment was ultimately wrong.

Of course, it wasn’t wrong in a bad way. Rather, he showed an absorption rate that exceeded expectations.

“Hmm… about 90 percent.”

Not bad, Lumian muttered to himself and checked his interior.

The considerably increased aura compared to before satisfied him. It seemed the quality had been improved compared to what his previous self had consumed.

‘With this much, I’ll be able to maintain aura images much more smoothly.’

Lumian nodded his head.

The Swordsmanship Competition was over, but the gazes of people directed at him were not yet finished.

To operate his Aura image for at least 10 hours a day while maintaining comfort, his current level was insufficient. He needed to train even harder.

His eyes gleaming, he devoted himself to Aura training once again.

His thirst for women’s attention was as deep as a wanderer who had roamed the desert for three days and nights.

Though the night grew deep, filled with enthusiasm, he didn’t seem to have any thoughts of sleeping yet.

And like Lumian, there were several others who couldn’t fall asleep.

Cal Krone, who had entered the Scholarship Student Training Ground, quietly muttered.

“Lumian Calard…”

And he let out a chuckle.

He was a guy he hadn’t even considered until the semifinals. No, he had thought that way even until this morning.

Though he had surprised him quite a bit, he thought it would be the same in the end. Like other challengers who had tried to catch up to him, he had concluded that he too would crumble without surpassing his full power.

It was a mistake.

And it was arrogance.

‘In terms of skill, I’m still above him.’

But when it came to the mental aspect, he couldn’t deny that he had been completely defeated.

Compared to Lumian who had worked hard, it was an undeniable fact that he had been living a lazy life.

Under the excuse that there were no competitors to stimulate him, he had been gradually rusting away.

‘Now there are no more excuses!’

Cal Krone picked up his sword.

And swung it vigorously. Diagonally, horizontally, vertically.

A tremendous aura burst forth from his body as he returned to his original intentions.

‘No longer…’

Swoosh!

‘I won’t let you catch up!’

Swoooosh!

Cal Krone repeatedly practiced basic movements in the empty training ground.

His expression showed a vitality that hadn’t been seen for quite some time.

* * *

At the time when Lumian Calard and Cal Krone were devotedly training, Tania Eloise also couldn’t fall asleep.

Sitting in a chair in front of the table with her chin resting on her right hand, she recalled the final match.

Soon, a person’s name flowed from Tania’s lips.

“Lumian Calard…”

The protagonist of this Swordsmanship Competition was undoubtedly him.

Cal Krone, Teoro Shutgarn, and Bumer Simpson had all performed well, but at least for her, Lumian Calard was the best.

That fighting spirit he had shown, that desperation.

The precious joint victory that bloomed from within!

She couldn’t help but be moved. The image of Lumian Calard smiling brightly still wouldn’t leave her mind.

‘…Of course, he is a tremendous pervert though.’

Even that seemed okay now when she thought about it.

All men are perverts anyway. There’s just a difference between whether they reveal it to others or not.

The brown envelope incident was just an accident. Rather, she could say that she had unintentionally intruded into his private life.

Of course, even with this self-brainwashing, the shock from that time still wouldn’t fade easily.

She had continuously tried to forget, but the cover of the book that Bumer had dropped remained vivid in her memory. And it kept disrupting her favorable feelings toward Lumian.

‘…If I can’t forget it, I just need to get used to it.’

So the conclusion Tania reached was to become accustomed to erotic books.

Sighing, she took out two books from the table.

They were erotic books she had secretly obtained through dark channels.

Tania planned to eliminate her aversion to Lumian by reading these erotic books tonight.

‘Right, looking at erotic stuff isn’t strange, and if you’re a man, you might want slightly more steamy content. By looking at this, I’ll understand a man’s perspective, Lumian’s perspective in more detail…’

Tania’s thoughts didn’t continue any further.

The moment she turned the cover and looked at the contents inside, she couldn’t think of anything else. Even Lumian, whom she had thought about all day, was pushed out of her mind.

Gulp.

Swallowing her saliva, she slowly turned to the next page.

She turned it, and turned it. And turned it again.

That night, Lumian Calard, Cal Krone, and Tania Eloise couldn’t fall asleep.

Thus, the Swordsmanship Competition targeting 1st and 2nd years was safely concluded.

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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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