The Failed Swordmaster - Chapter 89

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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 89 36. A Special Gift (2)

“Waaah! It’s flower petals! Pretty! So pretty!”

Semu jumped up and down, bringing his front paws forward to pick up the petals.

But he couldn’t catch them. It was illusion magic.

“Still good though. Amazing!”

Semu wasn’t disappointed.

After making his body smaller, he flew around between the petals with a bright laugh.

But suddenly the situation changed.

The flower petals that had been gently falling disappeared, and raindrops began to fall drop by drop.

Semu came down to the ground with an expression that showed he didn’t understand what was happening.

“What is this?”

The Subordinate couldn’t know.

He couldn’t understand what was gradually filling up in his heart.

He was too young to know the emotion called loneliness. Semu made a dejected expression in his uncomfortable mood.

Seeing this, Lumian shook his head.

‘Does this look too depressing and not good? No. It depends on how you use it!’

What if there’s a woman you want to walk with, but you don’t have a chance to approach her?

Or if you want physical contact but don’t have an excuse to get close?

That’s when you use this. To avoid the sudden rain, the Lady would have no choice but to share the umbrella he offers.

Lumian smiled with satisfaction and moved on to the next effect.

Swish swish swish…

This time it was snow. Not wet sleet, but fluffy snow that even made you feel warm and cozy.

This was clearly good. It was excellent for feeling the atmosphere of winter, or for creating a different taste in summer.

“Waaah! It’s snow! Snow! I’ve only seen it once before!”

Semu, who had looked depressed when it was raining, went crazy and ran around.

It looked useful for walking pets too. Though he had no plans to raise any.

‘Anyway, it’s a sword that’s perfect for me!’

It really was.

Similar center of gravity to the sword he mainly used, similar length. Even though it had been stuck there carelessly, it looked to be of good quality judging by how sharp the blade was.

He thought it might be something made by the dwarves, the craftsman race known to have gone extinct long ago.

Of course, he liked the magical effects attached to it more than the sword’s quality itself.

‘It’s fascinating.’

He didn’t know exactly how it was made, but this sword created different effects depending on the nature of the aura infused into it.

Plant and earth aura created flower petals, water aura created rain, sunlight aura created spotlights, and ice energy created snow.

What was unique was that the more he could materialize the image in his mind, the more precisely he could manipulate aura, the stronger the effect became.

‘The difficulty is harder than I thought… It’s at a level where just maintaining it is difficult?’

If even he, who had regained his past life’s skills, felt burdened, ordinary swordsmen definitely wouldn’t even be able to attempt it.

That part aroused Lumian’s curiosity.

This was definitely not a prop for creating atmosphere.

Rather, he thought it might be a training sword for aura manipulation and image materialization.

‘How did it catch my eye?’

This was also strange.

It was a sword that had been stuck in the corner of a storehouse piled with treasures that would make your eyes widen.

Nevertheless, Lumian had immediately picked up this sword first. As if he had received a revelation.

After thinking for a moment, he asked Semu.

“Semu.”

“Yes! Yes! Are you done now? I want to see more snow falling!”

“Mm, I’ll do it for you later. But, do you know anything about this sword?”

“No? This is my first time seeing it too?”

“First time seeing it?”

“There are so many treasures that I don’t really know about anything except the ones I cherish. I didn’t even know that thing existed. But can I try using it once too?”

Lumian nodded and handed over the sword.

The Subordinate, who had enlarged his size again, gripped the sword tightly with three fingers of his front paw.

The Subordinate swung the sword with a battle cry.

“Yah!”

Nothing happened.

Semu made a disappointed “Heeng” sound.

“It doesn’t work for me. How did you do it?”

“Hmm, you infuse aura into it… I guess it doesn’t work with mana?”

“I guess not… Well, it’s okay! From now on it’s Lumian’s, so show me often, Lumian!”

Hearing Semu’s words, Lumian’s expression hardened.

This Subordinate was trying to continue training him even though the matter with the Demon Clan was over. It seemed like he said it without knowing, but still.

“Got it. I’ll choose two more things and show you again.”

“Okay! Choose quickly, quickly!”

Splash!

Semu dove into the pile of gold coins stacked like a Mountain.

He worried whether diving into such a hard place might hurt him, but surprisingly he seemed fine. Rather, seeing him swim as if cutting through water made Lumian laugh.

But then the Subordinate suddenly stopped.

And after looking at Lumian with an anxious expression, he turned his gaze elsewhere.

He kept repeating that behavior.

Curious, Lumian followed Semu’s gaze.

“Wow, that’s a really big gem?”

Lumian was right.

At the deepest part of the Treasure Trove, there was a shelf divided into tiers like a podium for 1st through 5th place.

On it were placed a diamond, ruby, sapphire, emerald, and topaz in order.

They were all incredibly large in size. About the size of a young child’s head. The surroundings were decorated with smaller gems.

Lumian’s gaze turned back toward Semu. The Subordinate looked at him with anxious eyes and said.

“Um, um… Lumian.”

“Yeah.”

“I’m really sorry, really really sorry… but could you not take Whitey and Reddy, Bluey, Greeny, and Yellowy?”

“Those gems?”

“Yeah… They’re the ones I cherish most… Everything else is fine except them! I can give you anything!”

Semu spoke with a desperate expression.

Seeing that he had even given them names, his attachment to the gems seemed quite strong. Lumian burst into loud laughter.

Of course, he had no intention of taking those.

It wasn’t that he lacked material desire, but being a knight, he had more desire for equipment than such things. Having chosen one sword, he was thinking of choosing armor next.

But it would be boring to just let it pass.

Lumian slowly approached the gems. And pointing at the five gems in order, he sang a song.

“Which, one, should, I, choose, let, me, figure, it, out…”

“No!”

Whoooosh-!

Crash!

Semu breathed fire from his mouth and rammed into Lumian from behind.

It was half-serious, half-joking attack. Lumian laughed and teased Semu for quite a while longer.

It was an enjoyable time. The two were able to spend a comfortable moment setting aside all worries for the first time in a while.

* * *

“Hmm…”

“Still haven’t chosen?”

“Right. I don’t see anything suitable to give as a gift…”

Lumian nodded and said.

The second item had been decided long ago. It was a magic armor that automatically adjusted its size to fit the wearer, and he had chosen it because the protection for the private parts looked particularly good. Just wearing it made him feel reassured.

But he got stuck on the third item. Lumian quietly muttered to himself.

“For giving to Senior Tania, everything looks too excessive…”

In Lumian’s heart, the events from a few days ago still remained.

She said it was okay, that she understood, but he wasn’t okay with it. Though it was Semu’s fault, he couldn’t say he had no part in it, so he planned to apologize with a gift and return to a comfortable relationship.

‘I don’t particularly need anything anyway, so that would be better.’

But it didn’t take long for him to realize that was the wrong thinking.

Because every single item here had tremendous value.

‘Too flashy! Too expensive!’

Even if he closed his eyes and picked anything randomly, it would be the level of accessories that a duchess or marquis’s daughter would treasure.

It would be burdensome even as a wedding gift.

It was too much to give as a present to Tania, who was merely a senior.

Of course, he did think it would suit her well, and he was a bit curious to see Tania adorned with the accessories here, but still, this wouldn’t do.

Lumian shook his head and muttered.

“I really can’t choose from here. Semu, can I come back later to pick the third item?”

“Then you won’t give anything to Tania? A gift?”

“I’ll have to think of something else. I can’t choose from here. What would be good?”

“Hmm… turtle head mushroom?”

“…”

Lumian’s expression hardened upon hearing Semu’s words.

Seeing this, the little one made a puzzled expression and continued speaking.

“I tried that for the first time last time, and it was really delicious! Don’t you remember? Ah, right! I ate it all up.”

“Ah, that? Haha, it must have been delicious.”

Lumian let out an awkward laugh. Since it was Semu who said it, he had misunderstood strangely.

The little one made a puzzled expression again.

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing. That happens sometimes. But that’s a bit… isn’t there something else?”

“Hmm, gift, gift, gift…”

Semu furrowed his brow and pondered seriously.

He was grateful. Even though it wasn’t his own matter, he was trying this hard.

But honestly, he didn’t have much expectation.

He was only about ten years old, and moreover, he was a dragon, not a human. He couldn’t think that such a Semu would be able to choose an appropriate gift.

“Hmm… what does Tania need most?”

“…Well? What would it be?”

Lumian was slightly flustered by the question.

Because Semu had asked a fundamental question that was unlike a child.

But it was helpful enough. Lumian lowered his head and thought of various things.

Semu continued to give him advice.

“Hmm, and… it doesn’t necessarily have to be an object! I also received a gift from Lumian today, but that wasn’t an object! You found me a nest and that was a gift, so I didn’t receive anything but I did receive a gift… huh? What am I saying?”

Semu, whose words had gotten tangled, tilted his head to understand his own words. He too knew his words were clumsy.

However, it was enough for Lumian.

Having realized something, he patted Semu and said.

“Thank you, Semu! Now it’s solved!”

“Huh, what? Really?”

“Yeah. Thank you. Um, sorry, but could you take me back to the Academy?”

“Of course! You’re the hero who punished the demons! But before we go, please show me the snow just once more!”

Lumian drew his sword and infused it with cold aura.

After absorbing the ice demon’s demonic stone, he had become able to handle cold energy. Though his proficiency was the lowest, making Semu happy was nothing at all.

“Wow! Wow!”

Looking at Semu with sparkling eyes, Lumian smiled.

Thanks to the little one, he felt like he had chosen a proper gift.

* * *

Clang! Claaang!

Crash!

“Phew, give up already.”

“Bullshit.”

In a corner of the Scholarship Student Training Ground, two students engaged in fierce combat.

None other than Teoro and Bumer. The two glared sharply at each other and swung their swords as if to kill each other.

Though they were practice swords without sharp edges, their momentum was extremely fierce.

Several fourth-year students watching this burst into exclamations.

“Wow, they’re just crazy.”

“How are those second-years…”

“If they’re that good without being Cal Krone, how amazing must Cal Krone be?”

“I heard Lumian Calard is even stronger…”

“I’m glad I’m a fourth-year. I don’t have to compete with those guys in the swordsmanship competition.”

“Right. Really fortunate.”

The fourth-year students who had been silently watching also nodded in agreement.

They would graduate from the Academy after the second semester swordsmanship competition. Since only third and fourth-years could participate in this competition, they wouldn’t have to fight those monster-like second-years and be humiliated.

‘Damn, next year I have to compete with those guys…’

‘What do I do? Should I forfeit next year?’

On the other hand, the third-year students’ expressions were extremely dark.

They too were skilled enough to use the Scholarship Student Training Ground, but they had no confidence in facing those opponents.

Teoro Shutgarn.

Bumer Simpson.

Cal Krone.

And Lumian Calard!

The reputation of these crazy second-years was already spreading throughout the entire Kingdom of Tarasan.

Public opinion was forming among the third-years that it would be better to avoid next year’s swordsmanship competition rather than face those who had impressed even Jenas’s high knights.

‘…That can’t happen!’

But Tania Eloise didn’t want to do that.

She bit her lower lip firmly and thought.

‘I can’t avoid a match before even trying to fight!’

She was frustrated. So very frustrated.

Cal Krone was understandable, but Tania couldn’t bear the fact that she had been surpassed by the other three juniors.

At the same time, she began to regret the time she had spent during her third year.

‘If I had worked a little harder…’

She knew it too.

She prided herself on not missing what she had to do, but this year’s version of herself wasn’t as fierce as last year’s.

Just last week was like that. She couldn’t focus on her sword for even a single moment because she was paying attention to Lumian Calard. Her sword-wielding self in the training ground was just an empty shell.

‘…Now is the time to find my center.’

After watching Teoro and Bumer’s sparring for a long time, she turned around sharply.

And she returned to her spot and vigorously swung her sword.

She wanted to see Lumian.

The junior who sometimes seemed foolish but had many more admirable qualities.

When he was flirting with Leiton Wino, he was incredibly annoying, but when he spoke his beliefs in front of many people, he looked cooler than anyone else – she wanted to spend more time with that guy.

Because it was a newly begun emotion, it was even more intense. Trying to forcibly suppress the blazing spark was already exhausting.

‘But I can’t. For a while, I need to keep my distance and focus on the sword…’

It was when she was steeling her resolve like this.

Suddenly, a murmuring sound was heard. Tania frowned and turned her head.

However, her expression couldn’t help but brighten immediately.

It was because Lumian Calard had shown his face at the training grounds.

“It’s Lumian Calard!”

“Isn’t he the strongest among the second-year monsters?”

“That’s what they say. His final exam scores last time were even higher than Cal Krone’s.”

“Damn, he’s handsome too.”

“Come to think of it, all the second-year monsters are good-looking, aren’t they? Except for one.”

“Hmm. Bumer is…”

The sight of him instantly drawing everyone’s attention.

His status had completely changed from last semester.

Tania also stared at Lumian for quite a while. Without realizing it, her face turned red. Her mouth also fell slightly open.

Then she suddenly snapped back to her senses.

‘No! You fool! Get it together!’

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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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