The Failed Swordmaster - Chapter 58

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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 58 25. You’ve Changed a Lot (5)

Lumian, the young lord of Calard Estate, wore a bitter smile.

In truth, Sir Henry and the others hadn’t been this rude from the beginning.

Though they were merely bound by contract, they were still vassals. They should have been careful with their words before the lord and young lord.

However, that was only the case for ordinary estates.

Here, the story was different.

‘If I had acted selfishly like a scoundrel, I wouldn’t have received such treatment.’

A weak young lord who was not just incompetent but powerless, showing not even a grain of spirit.

Baron Calard had strictly disciplined Lumian, who had never once shown the backbone of a noble.

But that was only his behavior in front of his son.

Behind the scenes, Lumian knew that his father had been protecting him to the extent that the vassals harbored complaints.

And as such years accumulated…

‘At least when it comes to matters involving me, the vassals no longer hide their dissatisfaction.’

This was also one of the reasons why the original owner of this body had decided to commit suicide.

Of course, Lumian didn’t pity his former self.

‘In the end, it’s my fault.’

It was his fault that his father, the lord, was being disrespected.

Because he had protected his incompetent son from behind.

It was naturally his fault that he, the young lord, was being disrespected.

Because he had never once raised his head under such pressure. Because he had never even tried shouting loudly, even if it would have been meaningless defiance.

Of course, it wasn’t too late yet.

To set everything right, that is.

“There’s no need to worry about the duel.”

“What did you just say, young lord?”

“I said there’s no need to worry. There’s also no need to bring a great warrior from outside. We don’t have time for that anyway.”

“…”

Sir Henry showed a bewildered expression upon hearing young lord Lumian Calard’s words.

More than the content, his attitude was surprising.

This was the young lord who until now hadn’t been able to properly respond to anything they said, or rather, couldn’t.

His behavior had been so frustrating that they had gradually committed greater rudeness. Even so, Lumian had only bowed his head deeper.

‘But now…’

He was completely different.

His voice was clear, and his eyes held strength.

His shoulders and chest were proudly straightened, and his back was upright. Despite multiple gazes pouring down on him, he wasn’t overwhelmed by their presence.

That appearance was like a rock, no, like a mountain.

Sir Henry swallowed his dry saliva.

‘I did hear from the guards that the young lord seemed to have changed after just one semester…’

He had thought it would be something like his face brightening up a bit or him talking more.

But to think it would be to this extent.

His posture unconsciously became respectful.

Sir Henry, who had slightly bowed his upper body, carefully opened his mouth.

“When you say there’s no need to find a great warrior… are you perhaps referring to the person who came with you?”

“Hmm.”

“Right, there was that fellow.”

The vassals who heard Sir Henry’s words nodded their heads.

Certainly, he seemed to have something about him. The aura he gave off and the intimidating look on his face were extraordinary, so he was definitely judged to be someone with exceptional skills.

However, the young lord’s answer was different from their thoughts.

“No, I will do it.”

“What do you mean by that…”

“That’s completely absurd…”

“Quiet.”

“…”

The moment Lumian opened his mouth, voices filled with complaints poured out.

All of them subsided at once.

This was also surprising.

He hadn’t even raised his voice particularly loud, yet the vassals shut their mouths instantly as if their souls had been seized.

This time, even Baron Calard couldn’t help but be surprised.

It exceeded expectations.

He was even more dignified than when he had smiled with a confident attitude on his first day back.

“Father. I apologize, but may I draw my sword here?”

“What do you mean?”

“Exactly what I said. I simply mean to draw my sword.”

“…I permit it.”

Baron Calard nodded with a stern face.

He didn’t know why Lumian was making such a request, or what exactly he was trying to show.

He simply wanted to watch.

Of course, this was the same for the vassals.

Everyone in the meeting hall looked at young lord Lumian Calard without even breathing loudly.

And Lumian, before all of them.

Showed them something they had never expected.

“This can’t be!”

“Huh!”

“Is this really… true…”

“…!”

Someone made a loud noise, while someone else couldn’t make any sound at all.

However, everyone’s eyes widening was the same.

Confirming this, Lumian grinned.

‘There are various virtues of a lord, I suppose.’

Lumian recalled them one by one.

It could be the benevolence of caring for the people with compassion, or the leadership to excellently govern soldiers.

Outstanding strategy, excellent business acumen, and skilled diplomacy also fall under this. There were so many things that made a lord lordly.

That’s why father must have had a hard time. Very much so.

‘But I… don’t need to worry about this and that.’

If one thing is particularly outstanding.

There’s no need to worry about the other trivial matters.

Today, Lumian showed his vassals what he was most confident in.

No more complaints came out.

And the next day arrived.

* * *

The day of the duel for the estate’s honor dawned.

The domain priest attended to witness the results, and the villagers of Calard who heard the news late also flocked in large numbers.

Their faces were filled with worry.

“What’s all this about?”

“I don’t know either. I only heard that Baron Carayan challenged to a duel.”

“But why?”

“That’s why I said I don’t know.”

“Huh, what on earth happened. That person is such a good man…”

“Hey! If we’re talking about being good people, our lord is even better! Who are you rooting for right now?”

“No, I was just curious! This guy is making it weird!”

“Anyway, we have to win. Whatever the reason…”

“That’s right.”

All the villagers cheered for Baron Calard with one heart and one mind.

He was a good-natured lord who always cared for them and embraced them like a father. It was natural for them to wish for his victory.

This was even more so because if he lost the duel, he would have to pay the price for defeat. It was a natural course that the entire estate would bear that burden.

However, there weren’t many who expected Baron Calard to win.

“But the opponent is that famous… Jack? Jack Stewart?”

“Yes. I heard he’s an Expert, but our lord’s knights are…”

The villagers’ expressions darkened.

Though they were nothing but ignorant folk, they roughly knew the situation of the surrounding estates.

They knew that among the knights of Calard Estate, there was no one who could defeat Jack Stewart. They also knew it would be difficult to find a great warrior capable of beating Jack Stewart.

And Baron Carayan and his retainers also knew this fact.

That’s why they had come out long before the duel started and were taking a confident attitude. To savor their predetermined victory.

But then.

An unexpected turn occurred.

The people from Calard’s side slowly approaching from afar.

Among them, a knight from Carayan’s side who spotted a man with a massive build let out a cry of shock.

“Mer, Mercenary…”

“Hmm?”

“Mercenary King! It’s the Mercenary King!”

“What?”

“The Mercenary King? Who?”

“There… over there, standing on the left, the big guy wearing leather armor… that’s Morghen! The Mercenary King Morghen who recently became a Sword Master!”

“…!”

The gazes of Carayan’s people focused on one spot.

The same was true for the villagers and Calard’s people. Since the voice was loud, no one had missed what was just said.

Morghen, receiving everyone’s attention, scratched the back of his head with an awkward expression.

He said.

“There’s someone who recognizes me even in a place like this.”

It was a statement acknowledging the fact.

From that moment, dark clouds began to gather on Carayan’s faces, while the villagers’ faces began to brighten.

“They say he’s the Mercenary King!”

“A Sword Master?”

“What’s that, isn’t he an incredibly amazing person?”

“Ah, of course! If you search the entire continent for Sword Masters, there might be 50 or maybe not even that many!”

“Then will we win?”

“Ah, that’s obvious! No matter how strong Jack Stewart is, he can’t beat a Sword Master. Of course not!”

In an instant, the estate transformed into a festival atmosphere.

Even Calard’s vassals were swept up in it.

Murmuring sounds could be heard from here and there.

“Wait, that person… is called the Mercenary King? A Sword Master?”

“Is it really true? Well, it must be true since they said it like that over there…”

“How did the young lord… with such an amazing person?”

“It even seemed like that person called the Mercenary King was showing a humble attitude?”

Their surprise was natural.

Sword Master.

Great superhumans that even masters of the sword would find difficult to speak of carelessly.

No matter how weak a Sword Master might be, if they devoted themselves to the Kingdom of Tarasan, they could immediately receive an earl’s title. Of course, the treatment would be much higher than that.

In other words, Mercenary King Morghen’s actual position was higher than anyone present here.

Baron Luno Calard couldn’t help but be bewildered.

‘Just what kind of things has my son been up to during one semester?’

Just yesterday he thought there would be nothing more to surprise him, but his thoughts changed before even a day had passed.

And perhaps there might be another surprising event shortly after. Baron Calard somehow felt that would be the case.

Of course, this wasn’t meant in a negative way.

A very pleasant, mythical event that he had never experienced even in his dreams.

Thinking that such a thing would happen at his son’s fingertips, he couldn’t contain his overwhelming emotions.

“Then I’ll be going, Father.”

Whether knowing his feelings or not, his son spoke with a calm expression.

Baron Calard was already so choked up he couldn’t speak. So he nodded his head instead of answering.

Confirming this, Lumian stepped forward steadily, and Carayan’s side showed bewildered expressions.

Baron Carayan frowned and said.

“Surely, the one who came out from Baron Calard’s side isn’t the young lord?”

“That’s right. I will settle this duel.”

“…Keu, keuh, keuheuheuheuhahahahaha!”

“Puhup, hahahaha!”

“Uheoheoheoheoheoheo!”

Shortly after Lumian’s words, the people from Baron Carayan’s side burst into laughter simultaneously.

They couldn’t help it.

From their perspective, just when they thought no one could defeat a Sword Master and everything was over, the opponent had done something absurd.

It wasn’t a strategy or a scheme. It was just digging their own grave.

That’s how it looked to them. It was natural to laugh.

“No, what is this supposed to mean…”

“The young lord will fight personally? Huh…”

“Well, he has become much more reliable, but… still…”

“Ugh…”

This time, conversely, dark clouds gathered over the villagers’ faces.

They became as serious as people who had fallen from heaven to hell.

The despair they felt was so immense that their vision darkened from unhappy thoughts.

That’s what Lumian was to them.

Someone who was kind but incredibly frail, too lacking to lead anyone.

However.

The villagers didn’t know.

They didn’t know that the expression they were showing now was very similar to what Calard’s vassals who attended yesterday’s meeting had shown.

“…”

“…”

And they didn’t know the fact that those vassals who had shown such expressions were now looking at the young lord with very calm faces, without any words of concern.

“Our side will send out Sir Knight Jack Stewart as our champion.”

“Understood. Calard’s side is… Young Lord Lumian Calard, and Carayan’s side is Knight Jack Stewart. Is that correct?”

“Correct.”

“That’s right.”

“Good. Goddess Allia is watching over this duel. No cowardly means should be used, and both sides should accept the results gracefully. For reference, victory or defeat will be determined by the opponent’s death or surrender declaration. Do you understand?”

“I understand.”

“I understand.”

Both barons nodded at the priest’s words who was overseeing the proceedings.

The priest also nodded to signal that the duel had begun.

Chak!

“Haap!”

Wooooooong-!

Immediately, Sir Jack Stewart stepped forward and let out a powerful battle cry.

Then blue aura bloomed from his sword.

Though it barely covered the surface, this was unmistakably an aura sword.

Of course, it wasn’t as perfect as a Sword Master’s. However, even this was enough to draw shocked voices from the villagers.

“Aura Sword!”

“Is that, is that an Aura Sword!”

“Oh my, how can we face that!”

“Shouldn’t we withdraw now and have the Mercenary King come out instead?”

Now the villagers looked like they were about to cry.

Not a single one maintained their composure.

It was natural. They didn’t want to see their beloved estate, their lord, fall to ruin from losing this duel.

Of course, despite this, no one expected the young lord’s victory.

Their vision had now gone beyond dark to the point where they couldn’t see even an inch ahead. In a situation where they absolutely couldn’t see the future, they squeezed their eyes shut.

Wooooong…!

Whooooosh!

However.

There are things you can feel even with your eyes closed.

If it’s light so intense it pierces through closed eyelids.

If it’s a beam of light as overwhelming and magnificent as the sun rising in the night sky, then even at the end of despair, you’d have no choice but to lift your head and open your eyes again.

“…!”

“…!”

No one could move.

No one could speak.

The massive Aura Sword that rose before their eyes, incomparable to Jack Stewart’s.

Lumian, the young lord of Calard Estate, who powerfully raised it, muttered in a low, deep voice.

“Here I go.”

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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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