Chapter 102. < 39. Watch Lumian Kalad (4) >
He couldn't believe it.
Joel Cock himself was a rising star bearing the expectations of the Charlotte Kingdom on his shoulders. Among his peers, there was no one better than him, and that was precisely why he was in this position.
Of course, he knew there were far more incredible monsters outside the kingdom, but he never dreamed that a knight cadet from Tarajan would fall into that category.
'Two years younger than me, and from a country with such a vast difference in national power. How strong could they possibly be?'
That was what he thought just one minute ago.
The situation flowed in a completely different direction.
Joel Cook sweated profusely while glancing around nervously.
"What the hell. He was acting like he was going to fight."
"Is he tucking his tail?"
"I thought foreign apprentice knights would be amazing, but I guess they're just whatever."
"Hey, what if they hear you talking trash? Speak quietly."
'I already heard! You bastards!'
He wanted to shout imposingly, 'How dare you inferior students from a small country evaluate me!'
But he couldn't do that.
Action without backing skill only invites ridicule. More than anything, Lumian Kalad, who was still looking at him with sharp eyes, weighed heavily on his mind.
His eyes, his attitude, his composure—all looked completely different from before.
Only now realizing this, Joel Cock spoke in a suppressed voice.
"……Come to think of it, I don't think that's necessary."
"Hmm…… Is that so?"
"Y-yes. It's something that could be resolved with words, there was no need to go so far as to draw swords……."
Whoosh!
At that moment, Lumian's energy rose like a wildfire.
The energy that stretched out after being tranquil like a windless field caused an even greater repercussion. All the apprentice knights standing nearby looked at him with surprised expressions.
Zenas's rising star Lucas Young was the same. Rather, he began looking at Lumian with even hotter eyes than others.
Joel Cock, directly exposed to the energy, went without saying.
Beyond sweating, he had turned pale and stammered out his words.
"I-I'm s-sorry…… I seems to have m-made a slip of the tongue today, so p-please g-generously f-forgive…… me……."
It was a badly broken sentence, but there was no difficulty understanding it.
Only then did Lumian, wearing a satisfied smile, withdraw his energy.
"Hah, haaah, hoo……."
"A-are you okay?"
"I-it's, hoo, okay……."
Joel Cock had no choice but to say he was okay.
Because Lumian kept looking at him. He felt as if he was surrounded by countless needles instead of air.
This place was extremely uncomfortable. He wanted to return immediately.
Fortunately, Lumian said he would end the academy tour here.
'Just endure a little. Just a little…….'
However, Joel Cock needed more time before he could feel at ease.
This was because Lucas Young, Zenas's apprentice knight who had been quietly watching the situation until now, took a practice sword from the weapon display rack.
"……!"
"……!"
Instantly, the atmosphere turned cold.
During the short time he picked up the sword, countless people in the training ground focused their attention on him.
The reason was unknown. It just felt like they had to.
Lucas Young was such a person. Born to attract others' attention.
'Is he someone like Karl Crone?'
No, that wasn't it.
Fortunately, the guy's face wasn't particularly handsome. His masculine features could be felt as charming, but just to that extent.
Of course, that wasn't important at all in the current situation.
The problem was that this guy, who seemed like a mix of Karl Crone and Theo Shutgarn's personalities, was burning with fighting spirit.
'Did I reveal my energy for no reason?'
Lumian made a frustrated sound.
He had just played a little strongly because Joel Cock's behavior was annoying, but he never thought it would cause this situation.
While having such thoughts, Lucas Young walked steadily toward him.
Accordingly, everyone's gazes moved. Even Theo Shutgarn, Bomer Simpson, and Karl Crone stopped their training and focused on this.
Finally, he approached right in front of Lumian and spoke in a polite tone.
"I'm sorry. To be honest, I did have some thoughts of looking down on you."
"……."
"It was a foolish thought. To arbitrarily judge someone whom Swordmaster John McCart acknowledged. I apologize."
Lucas Young bowed his head deeply. Lumian bowed his head back with a bewildered expression.
Of course, the situation didn't end there. Nothing could extinguish the heart of a rising star whose fire had been lit.
This was fully revealed through his eyes. He spoke while sending a heated gaze.
"I ask this despite being presumptuous. Lucas Young, apprentice knight of Zenas, formally requests a spar."
"……."
Lumian wore an unpleasant expression.
He had been thinking this for a while, but he didn't really want to fight.
What happened yesterday still bothered him, and he wanted to avoid a situation where he would be bothered with troublesome summons.
'If the Academy Head, Knight Department Head, and professors were all curvaceous beauties, being summoned wouldn't be bad, but…….'
They were all hunched old men obsessed with honor and desire for power.
They were faces he certainly didn't want to see many times. Thinking of them, his face frowned involuntarily.
"Huu."
But there was no way to avoid it.
Lumian briefly glared at Joel Cock. The guy flinched and took a step back.
If not for that guy, he could have ended the day peacefully.
'Can't be helped.'
Eventually, having made up his mind, Lumian turned his body.
He wasn't running away. It was an action to go to the weapon display rack and pick up a sword.
Guessing this, the cadets stirred in various places. Everyone stopped their training and flocked together, thinking that a rare spectacle they couldn't easily see was about to unfold.
Lumian didn't care. Lucas Young didn't care either.
The two of them had already grown sick of others' gazes to the point of revulsion. Within close distance, they raised their swords while watching only each other.
It was the moment when the training ground's atmosphere reached its peak.
And at that moment.
A formidable energy wave emanated from Lumian's body.
"Heup!"
Lucas Young, who had been looking at his eyes, took three steps backward.
It wasn't just stepping back. With his posture completely broken, he staggered backward.
Everyone wore puzzled expressions.
Because of the distance, because of their low level, and because Lumian's energy wave disappeared too quickly, they couldn't grasp it.
But Lucas Young was different. He had been staring at Lumian's eyes with enough concentration to make sparks fly, and therefore was able to feel it for a brief moment.
'What is this?'
He looked at Lumian with a dazed expression.
However, he wasn't looking at him.
He was only looking into the distance with a face that seemed like something serious had happened, or that he was forcibly suppressing displeasure.
"What? Just now?"
"Why is he suddenly like that?"
"Is his condition bad? He didn't do anything, but why suddenly……."
The Tarajan cadets' murmuring intensified.
It wasn't just them. The apprentice knights of Rodizia and Sarote also looked at the two with faces that didn't understand what was going on.
Lucas Young looked around with an embarrassed expression.
He didn't want to fight. It was a comment that would make him lose face, but he wanted to go into a safe place and hide right away. Until his mind calmed down. Until the anxiety disappeared.
Fortunately, his wish came true.
A low voice flowed from Lumian's mouth.
"I'm sorry, but when I drew up my aura, my body condition isn't that good. How about we arrange a separate time later?"
"……Let's do that."
"Thank you for your consideration."
Lumian bowed his head.
And he spoke to the other apprentice knights.
"This is the last part of the academy tour. Is there anything you're curious about, or any other place you'd like to go separately?"
No one opened their mouth.
Lumian's atmosphere looked too serious for that. Lumian, who nodded, spoke again.
"I'll take it as there isn't. Then I'll guide you to the dormitories."
He put down the practice sword at the weapon display rack. Lucas also did the same action belatedly.
The people quietly gathered behind Lumian. Talents from other countries with expressions like intimidated kittens followed him in single file.
Seeing this, the knight cadets withdrew with disappointed expressions.
They had high expectations but nothing happened, so it was understandable.
"Eum……."
Only Bomer Simpson was having different thoughts.
Groaning, he spoke to Theo Shutgarn.
"That Rodizia woman. The tall one."
"Why."
"Do you think I could ask Lumian to introduce me to her?"
Theo didn't open his mouth.
***
"So that's what happened."
"Yeah."
"Certainly, I understand brother's worry. However, as far as I know, such a thing hasn't happened in the past 10 years."
"Hmm……."
Lumian, who heard Morgan's words, wore a serious expression.
He couldn't help it.
It was already the second time. In two days, he felt the gaze of an unidentified strange person watching him twice.
The problem was the possibility that the existence wasn't a strange person but could be a demon.
Lumian organized his thoughts.
'If it's a powerful demon strong enough not to reveal its identity to me, a territory declaration is essential. That means the possibility that the unidentified someone is a demon doesn't exist.'
At first, he thought so.
But this was a judgment that overlooked two possibilities.
'Either they found a way to maintain power without a territory declaration, or a demon appeared who is great enough to exert tremendous power even outside their territory.'
Either way, it was an extremely dangerous matter. His expression hardened even more.
To such him, Morgan offered words of comfort.
"It's an overly sensitive reaction. Surely it couldn't be a demon? Rather, the possibility of it being a hidden master is much higher."
"……That's true, but this time I clearly felt hostility."
"Well that…… if fighting spirit is strong, it can be felt as hostility, isn't that how it is? They might have perceived brother's skill and thought 'Ah, I want to fight!'"
"……."
"It probably isn't a demon. There hasn't been such a case for thousands of years. Even if it were a Demon King, outside their territory, they wouldn't be a match for brother, would they? You're worrying too much."
"Is that so……."
"Moreover, you said you felt hostility, but didn't feel unpleasant demonic energy or malice. Is there even a demon who can hide demonic energy in front of brother?"
"There isn't."
Lumian declared firmly. This was certain.
Morgan, feeling the solidity conveyed through his tone, grinned. It was intended to relieve his brother's anxiety.
After taking a sip of beer, he spoke.
"Anyway, don't worry too much. And this time, you said you almost caught them, right? If you polish your senses a bit more for a few days, next time you'll be able to chase that rat-like fellow's tail. Since brother is the best, set your mind at ease."
"……Right. You're right. I should raise my senses later when I go inside."
"That's right. It'll work out well. You should also relax a bit. You were too tense, unlike yourself."
"That's also right."
Lumian nodded readily.
His younger brother's words were correct. Right now, he was worrying too much.
He was the best. Outside his territory, he was confident he could win even if a Demon King was his opponent, let alone the Four Heavenly Kings.
It didn't matter if they were human either. If the guy had confidence, he wouldn't have just watched for gaps and hid like now.
'While going outside the academy, I deliberately exposed many openings.'
Chuckling, Lumian relaxed his expression.
Morgan flattered from the side. His appearance, now piling up exaggerated praises saying finally the person comes alive, it's like brother, was annoying yet endearing.
But then the guy suddenly changed the topic.
"By the way brother, do you happen to know Irene Curtis?"
"……The Rodizia dispatched instructor, why?"
"Ah, she's completely my type. Ha, a healthy-looking appearance and a cheerful personality to boot! Is that woman married by any chance?"
"Probably not?"
"Good, good."
"She looks like she has high standards, will you be okay?"
"When did I ever care about that? I think after bumping into her first. Ha, I'll have to stick around the academy for a while."
Morgan ordered additional beer with a delighted expression.
Lumian, looking at his younger brother, nodded.
'As expected, he's a guy with a lot to learn from.'
***
"So, how did it look to you? Did the level seem quite decent?"
"The overall level seems much lower, but the rumored four were certainly amazing. All of them had broken through the lower gateway."
"Hoh, to that extent? Amazing. It's not easy to find such talents even in one's own country…… Indeed, Bukal was right. We need to continue building friendly relations with Tarajan."
John McCart, the total person in charge of the delegation, spoke while stroking his beard.
Certainly, Tarajan was a country worth noting. Compared to its scale, there were remarkably many excellent talents. The fact that they were all the same age drew even more interest.
'Truly a strange thing.'
"Um…… I'm sorry, but there's something I'd like to ask."
"Hm? What?"
About to continue his thoughts about the four with his eyes gently closed, Lucas Young threw a question.
Since he was usually an incomparably taciturn guy, interest stirred. John McCart spoke with a benevolent expression.
"Go ahead. Ask comfortably."
"By any chance, has Lumian Kalad…… reached the Expert stage?"
"Hohoho, so you noticed that. It seems your skill has grown further."
He spoke with a pleased face.
He couldn't help it.
At a young age, it's not easy to think that a talent from a small country would have better skills than oneself.
Nevertheless, having accurately evaluated the opponent with unbiased eyes, there was no reason not to praise.
He nodded honestly.
"That's right. Lumian Kalad has reached the Expert stage."
"……."
"It's a surprising thing. To reach Expert at an earlier age than His Majesty…… I never imagined there would be such a young man."
John McCart's face, while speaking, did not contain even a trace of displeasure or jealousy.
He was a true knight. He didn't envy talent superior to himself, and he didn't ignore or disparage a talent from another country.
The birth of a genius was a great blessing for the entire continent.
In an uneasy situation where demons might invade again at any time, the more strong knights there were, the better.
John McCart genuinely thought so. He looked at Lucas Young and spoke.
"Speaking out of old man's concern, you don't need to be too intimidated."
"……."
"It's a cliché story, but you and Lumian Kalad have only just begun walking the path of the sword. No one knows who will be ahead in the future. Even I, at an age past thirty, barely became an Expert, but I proudly rose to this position."
After taking a sip of water, John McCart continued.
"You look very anxious, but there's no need to be hasty. Walk your path uprightly. Then one day, you'll realize that those you thought were far ahead are suddenly behind you."
"I will keep that in mind."
Lucas Young bowed his head.
But his expression was still hardened. Though it was disrespectful, he couldn't empathize with John McCart's words at all.
'Ahead of that monster?'
It was impossible. That couldn't be.
In fact, the question he intended to ask Sir John McCart wasn't 'Has he reached Expert?'
'Is Lumian Kalad a Swordmaster?'
This was what Lucas Young really wanted to ask.
But he couldn't do that.
In his common sense, no, in the world's common sense, reaching Swordmaster at age 15 was an absurd thing.
'But the fear I felt today…… was incomparable to even when Sir John McCart went all out.'
Lucas Young gently bit his lower lip.
If he applied a little more strength, blood would seep out.
That's how it was. Even though much time had passed, he hadn't completely escaped the fear.
'Perhaps for my whole life.'
Lucas Young, seized by anxiety, barely raised his head.
John McCart, wearing a benevolent expression again, asked him.
"So, let's leave the story about Lumian Kalad at that. You're not saying you have no confidence in the Sword Tournament, are you?"
"Of course not."
Lucas Young nodded.
It was a gaze without a single doubt.
Anyway, Tarajan Academy's main force was the second-years.
The Sword Tournament, which only 3rd and 4th-years participated in, was nothing to worry about. The Rodizia apprentice knights were no problem either.
"Right, that's how it should be. That kind of confident appearance is what suits Zenas. I look forward to your performance in the Sword Tournament."
"Yes!"
Lucas Young answered powerfully. Thus, their conversation ended.
And after one week passed.
Finally, the Tarajan Academy Sword Tournament began.