Chapter 100. < 39. Watch Lumian Calad (2) >
'Does this make sense? The current situation?'
He couldn't understand it.
As he had told Morgan a few days ago, his current abilities had surpassed his previous life. His senses had also become incomparably sharper than immediately after his reincarnation.
Yet despite that, he had failed to identify the one who had surveyed him.
'This isn't good…….'
He didn't feel malice or hostility.
But the existence of a strong person he didn't know about.
And that such a being was secretly watching him was not at all a pleasant thing. Lumian's expression grew even darker.
'I guess I've gotten too comfortable in the Academy's peaceful life.'
He would have to be more on guard from now on.
As he made this resolution internally, he sensed the atmosphere around him change.
Everyone was looking at him.
'Oops, I made a mistake.'
Lumian wore an awkward expression.
If the gazes until now had shown interest in him, the current eyes were filled with bewilderment.
The Academy Head and the Head of the Knight Department looked even more stern.
They seemed to be thinking, 'What is that kid doing in such an important place?'
Lumian explained why he had been looking around with an embarrassed expression.
"I apologize. Everyone was so impressive that I unconsciously……."
"Cough, I apologize……."
"Hahaha. That's understandable enough. By the way, are you Lumian Calad?"
The Head of the Knight Department was about to apologize on his behalf, but at the same time, John McCart, the representative of the Zenas delegation, spoke up.
He didn't seem displeased at all. The Head of the Knight Department, who had been watching for cues, closed his mouth, and Lumian spoke instead.
"Yes, that's correct."
"As expected. I knew his eyes and presence were extraordinary…… worthy of being the next-generation talent leading Tarajan."
The people from Tarajan Academy's side opened their eyes wide and looked at John McCart.
The tendencies of Zenas knights were mostly similar. Upright, honest, and disliking pretense.
That's why his words were hard to see as mere lip service.
He genuinely held Lumian Calad in high regard. Much higher than they had thought.
'He's evaluating Lumian's potential very highly.'
'Well, the appearance he showed at the Sword Arts Festival was so intense. It must have been reported to Zenas too.'
'I heard that some second-year students including Lumian broke through the lower dan gateway after the Sword Arts Festival. If they knew this fact, each delegation's reaction would be even more intense.'
'It's a shame. To think the Sword Arts Festival was aimed at third and fourth-years…… I heard there are no talents comparable to the second-years in the upper grades…….'
Each official continued their own thoughts.
They still didn't know Lumian's true ability, nor did they know what thoughts the Zenas side had in sending a goodwill delegation.
Naturally, they couldn't know Rodizia's thoughts either.
That's why they had no choice but to be surprised by the words that followed from the Rodizia representative, Claire Cambahita.
"I too have heard much about Lumian Calad's skills. Sir Aileen Curtis didn't spare her praise. And she's someone who usually gives harsh evaluations."
"Not at all. You give me too much credit."
"No need to be so humble. Ah, Lumian. Since we've met like this, how about a handshake?"
One of Rodizia's seven Swordmasters, Claire Cambahita, offering a handshake first!
The Tarajan officials including the Academy Head looked at her with dazed expressions. To think their interest in Lumian was this high!
However, Lumian could guess her intent.
'She's curious about my ability.'
In Lumian's case, he could gauge an opponent's ability without necessarily clasping hands.
Thanks to his extreme aura control ability, he could manipulate his energy from a distance to make an assessment.
But in most cases, that was impossible.
That's why she was trying to shake hands with him, that woman.
'It's not like I can't do it.'
"It's an honor."
With an excited expression, he extended his hand with polite manners.
Claire Cambahita, wearing a gentle smile, took his hand. Then very carefully, she sent her energy flowing.
It was an attempt to gauge his ability without Lumian noticing, but it didn't work.
He moderately adjusted the aura accumulated in his dantian and left it there, while gathering the rest of his energy in his lower body to hide his full power.
'If I'm revealed to be not just an Expert but a Swordmaster, it'll become too troublesome.'
Actually, he had been half-discovered by Aileen Curtis, but still, openly revealing his ability was a bit burdensome.
While thinking these thoughts, Claire Cambahita's energy swept past his dantian.
He could see her eyes show a strange light.
Right, this much should be surprising enough.
But Lumian didn't reveal his thoughts outwardly.
He merely wore an expression of humble gratitude.
And so the handshake ended. Cambahita, holding an even deeper smile, spoke.
"I heard you're personally guiding the apprentice knights around the Academy?"
"Yes, that's correct."
"I hope the children learn a lot from watching Lumian."
"......!"
The Academy side people were surprised once again.
The nuance was as if Lumian Calad's ability was superior to the Rodizia apprentice knights.
It was hard to come to his senses. The Academy Head stood there with a face that didn't know what expression to make.
But it didn't end there.
Even Zenas representative John McCart requested a handshake from Lumian.
"I'd like a handshake too. With Tarajan's future."
"It's an honor, Swordmaster John McCart."
'This guy should roughly know my ability, so why is he doing this?'
He should have received Bukal's report by now?
He didn't know. Lumian muttered internally and repeated the exact same action as before.
His expression changed slightly as well. Seeing this, Lumian thought.
'He must have thought my aura reserves aren't that impressive compared to my swordsmanship.'
Now it didn't matter either way.
He was tired. He just wanted to go back and rest.
As he stepped back after finishing the handshake, this time Adam Harper, the representative of the Sharote Kingdom, stepped forward and requested a handshake.
Lumian sighed internally and manipulated his aura again.
But this guy didn't take any action at all.
Lumian's eyelids trembled slightly.
'What is this guy doing?'
Adam Harper was also looking at Lumian with a curious expression.
'Why is everyone so anxious to shake hands with this guy?'
He couldn't understand it.
Originally, the Sharote Kingdom hadn't participated here knowing something about Tarajan, or about Lumian and the second-year quartet.
Their sole purpose was to build connections with Zenas and Rodizia. From their perspective, Tarajan was just one of countless small and medium kingdoms.
That's why they didn't even think to evaluate Lumian's ability. In the first place, Adam Harper didn't have that capability either.
'Strange. I don't feel anything at all.'
Having finished the handshake, he returned to his seat with a still puzzled expression.
At this time, Adam Harper didn't know at all.
That in the future, there would be a day when he would tell his son, grandson, and daughter-in-law about today's events like a heroic tale.
***
The next day.
Having finished morning classes, Lumian was leading six people of similar age around here and there at the Academy.
It was the Academy guidance duty the Head of the Knight Department had mentioned. Following behind him were fifteen and sixteen-year-old apprentice knights from other countries, chatting about this and that.
'It's not as bothersome as I thought.'
He thought he'd have to introduce the entire Academy, but fortunately, that wasn't the case.
Except for a few truly important buildings and meaningful places, he only needed to go around places related to the Knight Department. Because of that, the time was much shorter than initially expected.
'Well, these kids probably aren't curious about an Academy in a small country like Tarajan either.'
Their own kingdom's facilities are probably much better.
At least Zenas was definitely better. Enough to feel sorry for comparing.
Probably Rodizia was the same. He didn't know much about Sarote, but since it was a nation with stronger national power than Tarajan, it would be similar.
Thinking this, Lumian casually looked behind him.
The faces of four men and two women came into view.
'As expected, Rodizia knights are pretty.'
Lumian wore a pleased smile.
Indeed, the reputation was well-deserved. True to their fame of being teeming with beauties, both boasted outstanding looks.
Especially one woman's appearance was remarkable.
She was tall with a cool figure, and her moderately tanned skin felt healthy. Her beautiful yet strong appearance also caught Lumian's eye.
'Should I have gone to Rodizia after all?'
No, let go of that attachment. Lumian lightly shook his head.
Now going to Aileen and saying "I want to go to Rodizia!" would be ridiculous. And actually, his heart wasn't moved as much as when he had struggled with the decision before.
Having thought this far, he furrowed his brow.
Since he was carrying out official duties anyway, he couldn't make a move. If something went wrong, the backlash would be no small matter.
Lumian decided to change the flow of his thoughts. His eyes turned toward a man looking at a statue in the Academy square.
'This guy must be their next-generation prospect.'
Lucas Young.
He didn't particularly want to remember the name of the man he'd only seen for a few days, but he had forcibly memorized it in case he got caught.
But this guy's ability was quite formidable.
He had appeared stronger than Teoro, Boomer, and even Karl Krone.
He couldn't compare to the Knight King or his previous self, but he could be considered right at the level below that.
Lumian smiled slightly.
He felt good because it seemed Zenas's future was still bright.
'Though, he does seem to have a bit of a pride issue.'
This guy's ability would be counted among the very top of his peers even in Zenas, famous as the Knight Kingdom. He had probably lived his whole life receiving the best treatment.
Yet despite that, he hadn't received attention at yesterday's meeting.
Because he himself had taken all the interest.
Whether that rubbed him the wrong way, the guy kept looking at him whenever he had a chance.
It was the same right now. The back of his head felt hot.
'Seems like the information about me didn't reach the apprentices.'
He didn't particularly want to reveal it either.
He just wanted to quietly end today's work, return to his room, and refine his senses.
Because what happened yesterday continued to weigh on his mind.
'I won't miss it next time.'
Lumian's expression turned serious.
Whether the unidentified being would watch him again, or simply disappear. He didn't know yet.
But he had to prepare.
If the same thing happened again, he would definitely catch it. After exposing its identity, he would find out exactly what intent it had in spying on him.
While lost in such thoughts, one of the kids behind him spoke up.
"Excuse me, Lumian Calad?"
It was a Sharote apprentice knight.
Throughout the tour, he had kept snickering as if dissatisfied with something.
His name was Joel Cock. Lumian looked at him and asked.
"What is it? Joel Cock?"
"No, it's just that you kept standing there blankly."
"Ah, I apologize. I was thinking about where to go next……."
Lumian bowed his head and apologized.
But Joel Cock's reaction was strange.
"Well, that could be the case. The scale is a bit cozy to introduce anything more......."
'What is this bastard?'
He wasn't openly picking a fight, but this was definitely a remark unpleasant enough to feel bad about.
Didn't it sound like he was saying Tarajan Academy was small and pathetic?
'Actually, that's true though.'
Still, it was definitely rude.
However, Lumian didn't distort his expression.
Rather, without any reaction, he just stared intently at Joel Cock.
Then the guy's eyes narrowed.
He seemed to think Lumian was picking a fight.
'Weird bastard. He's the one who made it awkward in the first place.'
Fortunately, the uncomfortable silence didn't last long.
The shortest apprentice knight from Rodizia, who gave off the most lively feeling among those gathered, opened her mouth.
"Hmm. But I think we haven't seen the most important place so far."
"What do you mean?"
"We're all people who want to become proper knights, right? Then shouldn't you introduce us to the training grounds?"
"Hmm......."
"That's right. Sir Daina is correct."
'Sir? What sir, between people who aren't even proper knights.'
When one thing rubbed him the wrong way, everything seemed disagreeable.
Looking at Joel Cock from Sharote, who was agreeing with the Rodizia apprentice knight's words, Lumian nodded.
"Very well. Then, let's go to the training grounds."
He took the lead. Then everyone followed behind Lumian as if in agreement.