Chapter 31. 15. This Isn't What That Skill Was Raised For
Lumian, who had been watching Kal Krone's match, delved into his memories from his previous life.
Before defeating the high-ranking demon who was the Demon King's right hand, he recalled the time when the Knight King gave a speech before his knights.
Back then, he had been armed with solidity like a rock, displaying the bravery of a lion.
At that reliable figure, all the knights, including himself, had no choice but to feel their courage multiply a hundredfold.
'It was the power of Aura.'
It wasn't simply a matter of loading his voice with Aura and spewing Aura out of his body.
He would conjure a mental image befitting the feeling he wanted to give to his opponent, and make it reality. This was a high-level technique that only those at the very peak among knights could perform.
Lumian had also frequently utilized this method.
Rather than using it to invoke trust from comrades like the Knight King, he used it to pressure enemies. Watching himself emanating presence like a giant from mythology, countless demons would often flee in terror.
'But that bastard... how can he do something like that without the help of Aura?'
It was absurd.
The energy surrounding Kal Krone wasn't Aura.
Nor was it Mana. If he had borrowed the power of magic, the Academy's magic professors would have noticed.
That's right. That was Kal Krone's own special function, created by his tremendous talent.
It was a mysterious energy born from his strong desire for attention.
- We ask once again. Due to excessive cheering, the match proceedings are being disrupted. We would appreciate it if the audience would refrain from standing up from their seats or shouting loudly.
"Kyaaaaah-!"
"Show us one more time, Kal Krone!"
"Hurry up and finish that guy off!"
"Ah, if only your touch would linger on my cheek, how wonderful would that be!"
"Sob... hehehe... so good... what should I do...!"
Despite another magical broadcast, the audience showed no signs of calming down.
On the contrary, even women who hadn't been Kal Krone's fans began looking at him with excited expressions.
Even some men made unreadable expressions, gulping as they gazed at Kal Krone's figure.
At that insane spectacle, Lumian shook his head, and the host also shook his head.
It seemed better to just start the match.
He looked at the two participants and asked.
"Is everyone ready?"
"Yes."
"Y-yes!"
Unlike the leisurely Kal Krone, the first-year student on the opposing side was trembling violently.
The host looked at him with a pitying expression. Indeed, even he felt it would be difficult to perform properly amidst such one-sided cheering.
'But what can be done, when the opponent is Kal Krone.'
Kal Krone was the best. In both skill and popularity.
The very thought of trying to defeat him was probably wrong. It might be more peaceful to just blame one's luck in the draw.
That was the common thought of most spectators and most participants.
But Teoro, Boomer, and Lumian were different.
And among them, Lumian's heart was the hottest.
He watched Kal Krone's figure with a gaze hot like molten iron dripping down.
And he devoted his entire being to capturing the image he was projecting, the atmosphere.
'The face can't be fixed.'
A thought similar to one he'd had before. A born face cannot be fixed.
It was like how something one wasn't born with couldn't be created through effort. That was why Lumian had felt deep despair looking at Teoro's face.
But Kal Krone's ability was different.
At least that could be imitated. Not as much as that bastard, and though he was still far from sufficient, the thought that he could at least approach it with effort heated Lumian's will.
'Of course, Kal Krone's talent is overwhelming...'
But the same was true for himself.
He possessed swordsmanship skills that even Kal Krone, called the strongest in Academy history, couldn't catch up to. He possessed overwhelming Aura.
Though it fell far short of his previous life's level, he thought it would be sufficiently possible to imitate Kal Krone's ability.
Clang!
Clink!
"I-I-I lost!"
"Match over! Second-year Class A, Kal Krone, victory!"
"Kyaaah! Take me!"
"Kal Krone! Kal Krone! Kal Krone!"
While Lumian was burning with determination, the match result came out. The winner was naturally Kal Krone. The first-year student picked up his sword that had flown away from a single blow and descended the stage dejectedly.
However, almost no one paid attention to him.
Most women, and even men, looked only at Kal Krone. Watching him give martial arts tournament greetings in all directions, the men muttered.
"Damn, he really is handsome."
"Son of a bitch, he really is good-looking."
"Dammit, good swordsmanship, good family, tall too. What the hell is he lacking?"
"I wish he was gay."
"Yeah, I wish he was gay too."
"Ugh, anyway, thank god I'm a senior. Don't have to compete with that guy."
"Right. Really fortunate. If it were me, I would've forfeited the moment I got on stage."
'Absolutely not.'
Their voices reached Lumian's sensitive hearing.
He shook his head.
Watching Kal Krone returning to the waiting seats, he resolved.
'Until the finals... I'll chase after him as much as possible.'
Training is the only answer.
Finishing his thoughts, Lumian closed his eyes and quietly began circulating his Aura.
***
'It feels refreshing to receive attention after a long time.'
Kal Krone, sitting in his seat, smiled with satisfaction.
He hadn't appeared before people for a while after the mid-term evaluation. Even for someone like him, being exposed to obsessive fans all day was exhausting.
But receiving attention from everyone regardless of age or gender on a properly set stage like this was different.
That was truly a pleasant thing.
Whether their attention was affection, jealousy, malice, or respect didn't matter much.
Because he was someone strong enough to endure all of that.
He continued to smile as he thought.
'The semifinal opponent is... Teoro, was it? I hope time passes quickly.'
The first-year student was too inadequate to handle him.
At minimum, it needed to be someone like Teoro. The more he defeated excellent opponents, the more brilliantly he would shine.
He was about to turn his attention to the next match with such thoughts.
From one side of the participant waiting area, a strange energy was suddenly felt.
"......?"
He frowned and turned his head. Looking closely, it was Lumian Collard. The guy who couldn't even pass his simple test, causing his interest to wane.
However, something bizarre was happening to that worthless guy's body.
'Why is the atmosphere changing so drastically?'
He couldn't understand.
One moment there was a crude feeling like stone, then suddenly a straight energy like bamboo.
Then it changed to a damp, creepy feeling like snake skin, and moments later a sharp energy like a sword spewed out.
In the end, there was no image rising at all. Just a complex, subtle energy he'd never felt before flowed out, confusing him.
"What is this?"
"What is this thing?"
"Lumian, what are you doing right now..."
"I have something I'm practicing. Just don't talk to me for a moment."
"......"
Whether the surrounding participants also vaguely felt this, they were looking at Lumian with expressions of not understanding what was going on. From the situation, even Boomer and Teoro who were close to Lumian didn't seem to grasp what was happening.
'Seems like he's preparing something diligently... but let's stop paying attention.'
Kal Krone, who watched Lumian a bit longer, turned his head.
He was just a guy below Boomer anyway. There was no reason to pay attention to an opponent who would be crushed by Boomer in the semifinals.
Woooong.
And the same was true for Lumian. He also didn't have the leisure to pay attention to Kal Krone.
Having recalled a mental image befitting himself, he quietly raised his Aura. And he strove to bring that image into reality.
'Damn, it's difficult!'
Sword, shield, rock, giant, beast, night fog. Things to pressure enemies or hide one's presence—in other words, mental images helpful for combat—instantly materialized.
But mental images women would like didn't manifest well. Because he had never thought about, never tried such things.
What knight would try to evoke the atmosphere of a rose with Aura?
What Sword Master would use their lifeblood-like Aura to create a halo effect?
On the battlefield where a handful of Aura could determine life and death, no one does such things. No, not even during training. Training presupposes actual combat.
But Lumian was different.
For him right now, there was nothing more important than this.
'I can do it. Let's not get anxious!'
Huuup, Lumian took a deep breath and circulated his Aura again.
He recalled the mental image that best matched his concept, the image he had built up. And he focused his entire being on releasing its atmosphere outward.
He couldn't express it as concretely as Kal Krone. He had the greatest attention-seeker talent in history, and he had realized it early and polished it for a long time.
Coveting his result from the start was a thief's mindset.
'But at least, if it's taking the first step... done!'
Woooong!
Lumian's eyes snapped open.
He lowered his head and scanned his body.
A fresh and pure feeling faintly lingering over his entire body.
Having succeeded in creating the atmosphere he wanted, he smiled refreshingly.
At that moment, the match host's voice rang out.
"Next! Second-year Class E Lumian Collard, and first-year Class C Jean Claire!"
Lumian rose from his seat. Taking his longsword from the display case beneath the stage, he slowly walked onto the stage.
Seeing that figure, Teoro and Boomer tilted their heads.
'Something's different from usual?'
Was all that messing around in the waiting area for this?
He didn't know exactly, but it definitely wasn't a bad feeling. No, it was good.
Somehow it drew the eye, yet didn't feel burdensome—a refreshing energy, perhaps.
And the people in the audience seats were feeling something similar.
***
Barbara Merlin, a history department student who had come to watch the swordsmanship festival following her friend, had exhaustion written all over her face.
At first, watching swords clash against swords was full of vigor and made her grip her hands with tension, making her lose track of time while watching.
But not anymore. The sharp atmosphere kept continuing, tension filled the air, and the heat radiating from surrounding people made it hard to breathe...
From time to time, pretty boys like Teoro and Kal Krone came out for a change of mood, but now it was her limit. Barbara Merlin's head was full of thoughts about wanting to go home quickly and wash up.
At that moment, a participant slowly came up onto the stage.
Barbara found herself looking at him without realizing it.
Because from the wind blowing past him, she somehow smelled fresh grass.
'No, it's different from grass smell...'
It was even more vague and warm, like opening a dresser containing childhood memories.
'What on earth is it?'
Barbara turned her head to look at her friend. Her friend was also looking at her with a similar expression.
"He said Lumian Collard, right?"
"That's right."
"He looks somehow out of place for a swordsmanship festival. He looks gentle."
"Right. I'm curious."
The two looked at the stage with more vibrant eyes than before.
And this kind of event wasn't happening only here.
Just as interest toward Lumian was rising like haze from various places in the audience seats, the host's shout rang out.
"Match begin!"