Chapter 22. 11. Our Lumian Has Changed (2)
Late in the evening, Professor Karen was reviewing notes containing evaluations of the students under his charge.
Only a month had passed since the semester began, but there was much to revise. Given the students' young age, their learning speed was remarkably fast. Karen updated the children's evaluations with a pleased heart.
'Russ Gallen, stamina improved and thrust proficiency enhanced. The weakness of narrowed vision when excited remains.'
'Lena Willington, will has grown significantly. The weakness of unstable sword path has been improved. Lower body focused training appears necessary.'
'Theoro Shutgarn, the weakness in lower defense has been improved, the transition between attack and defense has become smoother. Growing smoothly. No advice needed at present.'
What areas had grown by how much, what weaknesses still remained, and what advice he should give to improve them.
As he wrote each one carefully, quite some time had passed.
But that was fine. Having confirmed that the majority of students were breaking through their limits and growing, as a professor, he couldn't be more proud.
Professor Karen, seeing dawn breaking outside the window, took a sip of tea and thought.
'All the children have improved, but Class E's growth is particularly outstanding.'
In truth, Class E was the class Professor Karen had been most worried about.
While there was an outstanding talent named Theoro Shutgarn holding the line, the students supporting beneath him were lacking. The consensus among all professors was that among the six second-year classes, their average skill was the lowest.
But now it was different.
The current Class E had achieved rapid growth, to the point where the evaluation of being the lowest among second-years was now meaningless.
All the children participated in classes with more enthusiasm than before, and even after class ended, they voluntarily stayed behind to devote themselves to training.
Even some students who used to have unfocused eyes were being swept up in the surrounding atmosphere and swinging their swords one more time. It was a good phenomenon.
What on earth was going on? What had moved their hearts?
Professor Karen knew the answer.
He gazed at one spot in the student evaluation notebook.
'Lumian Callad.'
Second-year's biggest troublemaker.
Failure, inferior student, country young master. Each word describing him told the story. It showed what kind of evaluation Lumian had received until last year.
But not anymore.
The frail child who had received professors' pity and classmates' contempt had grown unrecognizably during the break, and achieved another growth during the semester.
He had come to possess both the virtues of a knight and the virtues of a leader simultaneously.
'He trains harder than anyone and shows an exemplary attitude of leading by example. Furthermore, he shows thoughtful consideration by looking after classmates who lack will and skill.'
Thanks to Lumian's gentle leadership, Class E showed steep growth that surprised Professor Karen.
The children didn't seem to realize it yet, but they would probably be surprised when this mid-term evaluation ended. And they would come to trust themselves more and grow into even more excellent talents.
With a gentle smile on his lips, Professor Karen held his tea and thought.
'Thank goodness. He's doing so well that my worries from back then seem meaningless.'
In the case of geniuses who become aware of their own talent, they often become uncontrollable eccentrics.
Lumian's case had an even greater possibility of that. This was because he thought the stress accumulated over the past year might explode all at once and have a negative effect.
Fortunately, Lumian didn't do that.
Rather, he showed an amazingly exemplary appearance, even positively influencing those around him.
This was something that even Theoro Shutgarn, Class E's best talent, hadn't accomplished.
'Thanks to Lumian, our overall strength has improved a lot, so there shouldn't be any problem having an exchange match with Class B this time.'
In the past he would have been worried, but now he was looking forward to it.
With a happy expression, he picked up his pen again to create the match-ups for the mid-term evaluation.
***
"Damn it!"
"What? Class B?"
"The win or loss of the whole class is reflected in grades too? Crazy, this is too much!"
Class E students expressed their dissatisfaction after confirming the mid-term evaluation method for swordsmanship class.
That was because Class B's average skill was significantly better than theirs.
There were no Kal Krone, Theoro Shutgarn, and Boomer Simpson who were treated as the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd in the grade.
But the 4th~6th ranked students were all gathered in Class B, and those supporting beneath them were also skilled individuals who absolutely couldn't be ignored.
Being told to face off 1-on-1 against such guys, with only the side that wins more getting bonus points, groans were inevitable.
"Damn, if it's 1-on-1 they should evaluate individually, why are they counting the whole class's record?"
In particular, Big Guy's dissatisfaction was the greatest.
He considered himself to have above-average skills. Naturally, the thought followed that he might be held back by students worse than himself.
He made a fierce expression while looking at Freckles.
"Ugh, isn't it because of this bastard that I'm getting harmed too?"
"W-well, I'm planning to do my best but..."
"So what if you do your best! Your skills are terrible! Damn it, we lost. How are we supposed to beat Class B?"
Big Guy continued to complain, and other Class E students looked at him with stiff expressions.
It didn't feel good, but no one stopped him.
That was because most of them were thinking the same negative thoughts as him.
'To think I have to suffer because of those guys...'
'Damn it, it's not like I don't want to do well. But you guys aren't even in the upper ranks of Class B either.'
The atmosphere sank for both the upper ranks and the lower ranks.
The weight of swordsmanship evaluation in the Knight Department was absolute. Class E students made gloomy expressions at the evaluation method that was more disadvantageous than they had thought.
Except for two people - Theoro, who was confident he would receive good grades regardless of bonus points, and...
'If I step forward now... it'll look cool, right?'
The manipulated model student deep in his concept act, Lumian Callad.
'That Big Guy, he's useful.'
Looking at Big Guy whining like a baby, Lumian smiled inwardly.
Truly an excellent character. If he stepped forward after such a villain appeared and showed a good appearance, the effect gained would be doubled.
Of course, that's only if he led the situation well.
If he couldn't turn this depressing situation around toward hope, he would just become a tactless guy acting out.
'It's fine. I can do it.'
Lumian took a deep breath and steadied his mind.
It's fully possible. Thanks to his efforts so far, his image had risen quite a bit, and his relationship with the children had improved.
Above all, he had swordsmanship skills. For knight students, there was no weapon that exerted greater influence than swordsmanship skill.
Lumian believed in that.
He slowly moved his steps. As he inserted himself between Big Guy and Freckles, he naturally received the attention of all Class E students.
"I think... we can win."
"What, huh?"
Big Guy was flustered. When suddenly the class's best skilled person rebutted his words, his head went blank and he broke out in cold sweat.
But Lumian had no intention whatsoever of making a fool of him.
He just wanted to look cool.
He turned his gaze toward the other children and continued speaking, maintaining the gentle expression he had usually practiced.
"Of course I know Class B kids are skilled, but I don't think we need to have a bad atmosphere from now on. We've been working really hard lately, right? Even I'm different from last year. Ah, this suddenly feels like I'm bragging about myself, how embarrassing."
Lumian scratched the back of his head with an awkward smile.
An appearance much more approachable and full of gaps compared to other upper-rank students.
But that attitude came across even more intimately to the children.
"Anyway, um, what I want to say is... our probability of winning is sufficiently high. No, we can win. Though I'm lacking, I'll help even more during the remaining week."
"..."
"S-so if we all work hard together, wouldn't that be good? Haha, hahaha. I really think we can win..."
Continuing his words awkwardly and plainly, as if he hadn't stood before others much.
His voice and expression lacked strength too, so someone who didn't know him might sneer at the situation.
But Class E children knew Lumian.
They knew how hard he had worked.
They knew what amazing skills he possessed.
They knew how helpful his help was for skill improvement.
That was why even his appearance, which might seem frail at first glance, came across as trustworthy. Rather than strong and intimidating words, it was conveyed even more deeply into their hearts without rejection, as reliance.
'Put some aura in the voice too...'
There was one more small trick added to that.
Lumian in his previous life, when giving speeches before knights, would often speak with subtle energy in his voice. It was a high-level technique, but utilizing it made it possible to create an even more trustworthy voice.
"I think we can do it too."
Theoro chimed in for such a Lumian.
Looking at the children staring at him, he tossed out one more word.
"If Lumian says it can be done, I think it's possible."
With those words, he left his seat.
Naturally, he had exchanged glances with Lumian before leaving.
He thought inwardly.
'He knows quite well when to step forward now.'
Feeling proud emotions at his disciple's growth, Theoro walked quickly.
Having given strength, now it was time to step back.
"Yeah damn it, we can do it."
"Right. What are we lacking? Lumian's words are correct. We can win."
"Right. And there's still a week left. We just need to work harder than Class B guys during the remaining time."
"I need to go train right now."
"Me too! Ah, Lumian! Can you check my thrusts a bit?"
"Me too, me too! The part about counterattacking after defense keeps bothering me..."
"Teach me how to deflect attacks while turning sideways!"
The atmosphere changed.
The spark Lumian lit, Theoro made bigger. The blazing heat spread among Class E students.
Looking at the children approaching him, Lumian wore an innocent smile.
He pointed out one female student among the many students.
Because she was the prettiest.
"I'll help Emilia first. I'll help others too as time permits. Let's definitely win."
"Okay!"
"Alright! We can do it!"
Class E students ran toward the training ground all with enthusiastic expressions.
Watching their appearance from afar, Professor Karen was smiling.
***
Returning to the dorms after helping students until late at night, Lumian reviewed today's events.
Not bad. It was quite good.
The awkward yet pure, and at the same time confident appearance he had deliberately staged made his image even better.
Women's gazes had also changed. With distinctly deeper goodwill than before, it seemed one or two might even feel something more than that toward him.
'It could be a misunderstanding, but anyway, it's good. A good trend.'
Lumian, imagining various delusions for a moment.
He shook his head to brush away the thoughts.
Delusions were good, but today he planned to devote himself to aura cultivation for the first time in a while.
'Though it doesn't have much meaning...'
Still, since it was the first mid-term evaluation, he thought it would be better to care even a little.
Lumian scratched his cheek and thought.
'If I work hard all night tonight, I think I can catch up to Professor Karen.'
It wasn't a thought a knight student should have, but he was sincere.