The Failed Swordmaster - Chapter 59

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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 59 26. The Woman I Really Wanted to Meet (1)

“It’s a lie, it’s a lie!”

Baron Carayan screamed at the top of his lungs.

His reaction was so intense that even the vassals standing around him were startled. Even Jack Stewart and Lumian Calard, who were in the middle of their duel, looked at him.

“There’s no way someone under twenty years old could manifest an Aura Sword! Sir Jack! Don’t be intimidated and face him! Don’t bring shame to the Carayan name!”

“….”

Jack Stewart didn’t respond to Baron Carayan’s words.

Of course, judging by common sense, the lord’s words were correct.

But he could never think that the Aura Sword before his eyes was fake.

‘The pressure I feel is different from a fake magic sword!’

He had felt similar pressure before.

It was when he faced a high-ranking knight from Rhodesia, one of the continent’s most powerful nations.

Having had that experience, Jack Stewart could never underestimate the young lord. If he did, his life would be in danger.

“Hmm.”

While Jack Stewart was feeling a threat to his life, Lumian stared at Baron Carayan with a hardened expression.

Something was definitely strange.

It wasn’t just about the intense reaction he had shown.

The unpleasant sensation he faintly felt whenever the baron got angry.

Realizing this, Lumian glanced toward Morghen. Morghen also nodded, reinforcing his thoughts.

‘There was something more important than the duel.’

He was annoyed. Things had become troublesome.

But after a moment, a feeling of relief washed over him.

He didn’t like that something had happened, but he thought it was fortunate that it had erupted while he was present.

‘Let’s finish the duel first.’

Lumian shook off his distracting thoughts.

He couldn’t handle the current situation carelessly either.

It wasn’t simply to win the duel. He had stood here to restore trust as the young lord.

Of course, for that, he needed an overwhelming victory.

Wooooong-!

He drew up his aura even more powerfully.

Then, for the first time in a while, his aura image manifested.

Previously, he couldn’t use it together with his Aura Sword, but it became possible after he understood the mountain’s aura.

A presence like a massive mountain began to emanate from Lumian’s body.

“Ugh, urgh!”

When people face an overwhelming presence, they feel fear. Their bodies freeze up, unable to think of anything, just staring blankly.

That’s what happened to Jack Stewart.

Even while watching Lumian approach him, he couldn’t take any action.

Of course, it wouldn’t have mattered if he had resisted.

There are few humans who could single-handedly withstand a pouring avalanche.

Swish!

Slash!

Clang-!

Lumian’s sword was swung twice, up and down.

Then Jack Stewart’s plate armor was cleanly split and fell to the ground.

Not even a speck of a scratch appeared on his skin.

But no one was unaware that this was the result of Lumian’s consideration.

The priest, who had been wearing a surprised expression, belatedly declared the result of the duel.

“In the name of Goddess Allia, I declare. The Calard Baron’s side has won!”

“Wh-whoooooooo!”

“Waaaaaaah! We won! The young lord won!”

“It’s a real Aura Sword! Woooooooh!”

The domain residents who had been watching the duel let out tremendous cheers.

It was like the howling of beasts. Their pronunciation was so garbled it was hard to understand properly.

But their emotions were clearly conveyed to Lumian and to his father, Baron Calard.

A tear formed in Runo Calard’s eyes.

‘You’ve grown… beyond recognition…!’

To his eyes too, his son felt like a mountain.

But unlike Jack Stewart, that vastness came across as reassuring.

Not only had he single-handedly blocked external pressure, but he had instantly captivated even the dissatisfied vassals and timid domain residents. This wasn’t an achievement that a mere 15-year-old boy could accomplish.

But he had done it.

Not a legendary figure, not a protagonist from a novel.

His own son.

“Lumian….”

In the end, he couldn’t help but shed tears.

Thus, the midday duel that everyone had worried about came to an end.

The winner was Baron Runo Calard. The loser was Baron Nack Carayan.

The greatest contributor was naturally Lumian Calard.

It was the moment when he, who had been the Academy’s failure and the domain’s burden, finally stood tall as an excellent young lord.

* * *

“Drink! Let’s drink!”

“Hahaha! This meat tastes amazing!”

“Bring more beer! Don’t we have more?”

“Ah, of course we do! Today the lord said not to worry and eat and drink! Uhahaha!”

“Serves him right, Baron Carayan! I heard he picked an unreasonable fight?”

“That’s what they say? Anyway, it’s fortunate. I heard the duel compensation is enormous, and when the young lord stepped forward, I thought we’d be stuck paying for sure….”

“Hey you! Be quiet! How dare you speak of our young lord in such a way….”

“Eek, I’m sorry. In that spirit, a toast to the young lord!”

“Cheers!”

On the night after the duel with Baron Carayan ended, the people of Calard Estate were all thoroughly soaked in alcohol.

This was because Baron Calard had opened the storehouse and provided unlimited bread and liquor.

The baron had been worrying about his son for ten years.

Now that it was resolved, he wouldn’t feel the least bit sorry even if expenses far greater than this went out.

There were no vassals voicing concerns either.

Having won the duel, the Carayan Baron’s side would send compensation within two months.

Ignoring this would be an act that simultaneously insulted the Kingdom of Tarasan and Goddess Allia. They absolutely couldn’t do that. Naturally, they couldn’t declare a territorial war in retaliation either.

This meant they could hold a festival for not just one day, but two or three days without any problems.

Of course, Lumian Calard’s thoughts were different.

He spoke to his adopted brother Morghen, who was participating in the party.

“You felt it too, right?”

“Yes. I’m certain. Actually, when you said you felt something strange the night before, I had some suspicions from then.”

“Then why didn’t you say anything?”

“Because there was a chance I might be wrong. Anyway, seeing and judging directly today would be much more certain….”

Having said this much, Morghen looked around cautiously.

Since he was Lumian, the hero of the victory, and the Mercenary King himself, people’s attention was always focused on them.

Fortunately, their interest had relaxed slightly now. He spoke in a low voice.

“Anyway, now it’s certain. It’s a demon.”

“That’s right. It’s 99 percent a demon.”

Lumian nodded and answered.

Thinking about it that way, all of Baron Carayan’s strange behaviors made sense.

His unnecessarily aggressive reactions, and the occasional appearance of being possessed by something.

‘The illusion magic cast on Lili Carayan can also be explained. If it’s a demon…’

Compared to human mages, demons are far more skilled in illusion-type magic that deceives and tricks others.

Probably Lili Carayan’s disguise and Nack Carayan’s mental manipulation were the work of the same culprit.

Lumian wanted to catch that bastard as soon as possible.

“Without waiting long, let’s start tonight right away. If we investigate Baron Nack Carayan, we should be able to catch the demon’s tail.”

“I figured as much and already prepared everything. I’ve marked Baron Carayan with a special scent, and I also have a magic tool that detects demonic energy.”

“What? You carry around stuff like that?”

“Of course. There are still many demon subjugation requests. Though they’ve decreased significantly compared to before…”

Ten years had passed since Knight King Philip III and Ryan Fromhart defeated the Demon King.

But there were still quite a few demons remaining on the continent. They had missed their chance to return to the demon realm and were hiding everywhere to extend their lives.

And some of them were secretly sowing seeds of chaos in the world, waiting for the day when a new Demon King would invade the continent again.

This was because the larger the negative emotions in people’s hearts grew, the wider the passage between the demon realm and human world became.

‘But this incident… doesn’t seem like it was just to cause chaos.’

Lumian wore a serious expression.

If that were the case, they would have targeted an estate of similar scale to the Carayan side, not a small-scale estate like Calard.

The actions shown by Carayan, no, by the demon… clearly seemed like there was something they wanted in ‘Calard Estate.’

Of course, what that was remained unknown.

So he planned to find out starting now.

“Good. I’m really glad you’re here. It would have taken me a long time alone.”

“Haha. Well, this much is nothing… And don’t worry too much. Judging by the aura I’m sensing, it doesn’t seem to be a very strong demon.”

“Well, that’s true. But still, don’t let your guard down…”

“Lumian, Lumian, where are you!”

“…It seems you need to go.”

Lumian smiled awkwardly at his father’s call.

This was already the third time. Whenever he had a chance, he would call him over and continuously spout embarrassing stories like thanking him for growing up well, saying he believed in him, that the vassals thought highly of him.

And he always asked to see his Aura Sword. Like a whining child.

It was completely different from his usual dignified attitude that he showed only in front of him.

Of course, Lumian didn’t dislike it.

It was just somewhat burdensome.

“…We’ll have to start once everyone falls asleep.”

“Don’t drink tonight.”

“I know, you bastard.”

Lumian bristled and walked toward Baron Calard.

That day, Lumian had to draw his Aura Sword seven times until the party ended.

* * *

“He should be sleeping by now, right?”

“Who knows. He might be too angry to sleep. Doesn’t matter, does it? We can just knock him out immediately.”

“I’d prefer not to hurt him if possible…”

Lumian, who had arrived at Carayan’s manor house, wore a pitying expression.

The Baron Nack Carayan in his memory was a person healthy in both mind and body. Strong enough that ordinary demon mental manipulation wouldn’t work on him at all.

The fact that such a person had been bewitched by a not-so-strong demon clearly explained how unstable his recent psychological state had been.

Probably that’s why he became the demon’s target.

‘As much as Lili Carayan… no, he might have been hurt even more than her.’

Even his own father cared more about him than himself.

Baron Carayan would obviously be the same. That’s what fathers were like.

“Anyway, let’s start. Lead the way.”

“Yes. And I’ve prepared sleeping incense too, so you don’t need to worry about that part.”

“Really useful. You’ve changed a lot in 10 years?”

“Haha. Follow me without being detected. Though I’m sure you’ll do fine.”

Having finished speaking, Morghen instantly erased his presence.

It was amazing skill. An ordinary person wouldn’t notice Morghen’s existence even if he passed by several times right in front of them.

While maintaining that state, he infiltrated the interior of the manor house with very fast and smooth movements. Like rainwater flowing toward a drain.

Moving like that, Morghen glanced back to look behind him.

He was worried whether his older brother was following well.

But then.

“Gasp!”

“What. Be careful.”

“…No, uh. I’m sorry.”

‘What? I thought he was far behind, but he was right behind me!’

A drop of sweat formed on Morghen’s forehead.

Of course, his older brother’s skills were improving day by day. He was someone who possessed such tremendous skill that even calling him a Sword Master seemed insufficient.

But he was still strictly within the category of Sword Expert, so he wondered how he could possibly have such stealth skills.

He wanted to stop tracking the demon right now and ask about this first.

But he couldn’t. Morghen forcibly composed his expression and headed toward Baron Carayan again.

‘That guy seems surprised.’

Lumian roughly guessed his sworn brother’s feelings.

It was natural. He had been concentrating more on purpose to see his surprised reaction.

His amazing stealth skills were none other than the utilization of his Aura Image.

Since countering Cal Krone’s attention-seeking in the finals of the Swordsmanship Competition, Lumian’s Aura Image had grown tremendously.

Beyond representing actually existing objects like flowers, mountains, and rocks, he could now even produce abstract and unclear feelings.

Being such a person, provided he had sufficient Aura reserves, he could demonstrate stealth at the level of a decent Sword Master.

He was also familiar with it since he had done it often before.

‘That demon bastard who was sneakily good only at stealth is helpful at times like this. I just need to imitate that guy’s feeling and aura as much as possible…’

Of course it was difficult work, but even copying half of it had tremendous effects.

Actually, Lumian’s expression was wrong. That ‘demon who was only good at stealth’ was one of the Four Demon Generals of the Demon King’s army. Though he was the weakest of the four.

In any case, as long as he knew that feeling, finding Lumian when he was determined to hide became an extremely difficult task. Even a Sword Master would have to be on high alert.

Of course, that wasn’t what was important right now.

He had to quickly find the baron’s location, investigate him, and find the mastermind.

Fortunately, things went smoothly.

Morghen, who had spread sleeping incense in the room where the baron was, quietly nodded.

And he carefully entered the room and began his work.

“First, take out the demon tracking device… press the button… the noisy sound… done.”

Activating the magic tool generated quite a loud noise, but since Morghen created an Aura barrier to block it, there was no problem.

Watching his quite skilled performance, Lumian gave a thumbs up. Morghen grinned and began explaining in a low voice.

“Mental manipulation requires quite a lot of demonic energy, so with the demon tracking device, we should be able to find where that bastard is hiding. Let’s capture him, torture him to find out his purpose, then kill him. Looking at it now, the brainwashing isn’t strongly applied, so if we eliminate the demon, the baron should come to his senses too.”

“True, it seemed a bit inadequate to be considered complete mental manipulation.”

“Yes. It’s likely not even mid-level. Either lower-mid level or low level… Hmm. According to the magic tool’s prediction, it’s a lower-mid level demon. The type is…”

“What? You can tell what type of demon it is too?”

Lumian asked in surprise. Morghen nodded.

“Yes. This is the new model. Of course, not all types, only famous species are registered, so don’t expect too much… Ah! It’s coming out now. Huh?”

This time Morghen looked surprised.

This made Lumian’s curiosity grow even more.

He stuck his head out to check the text that appeared on the demon tracking device, and his eyes widened as he muttered.

“S-Succubus?”

Thump.

Lumian’s excited heart began to pound.

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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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