Chapter 47. < 22. Transcending Past Lives >
While training, Rumian suddenly shouted.
"Ah, I want to have sex!"
"Don't say that so loudly, you bastard!"
"Why are you like that? It was just a joke."
"You crazy bastard, who makes that kind of joke outside? Even street mercenaries wouldn't talk like that."
"There's no one here right now."
At Bumer's scolding, Rumian responded as if it was no big deal. Teoro shook his head side to side and swung his sword.
But unlike usual, no power went into his movements.
It couldn't be helped. It was difficult to show the same enthusiasm until right after the end-of-term evaluation.
At the very least, they were the only ones training—the public training grounds didn't have so much as a single ant wandering around.
Everyone was surely holed up in their rooms sleeping, or gathered in groups playing around.
Rumian shouted once more.
"Aah, se......."
"Was this guy a eunuch in his past life? Why does he keep going on about sex? When he doesn't even have dating experience."
Flinch.
Rumian flinched at Bumer's words.
Killing intent emanated from his body. Bumer realized he'd made a mistake.
'This guy is sensitive about this kind of thing.'
He didn't know why, but Rumian was particularly sensitive to the word eunuch.
He'd secretly peeked in the public bathhouse once, wondering if he was actually a eunuch, but fortunately that wasn't the case. He actually remembered feeling a bit down because it was bigger than his own.
He wasn't tall, but Rumian was a big shot.
'I need to change the subject quickly.'
Thinking that talking more about eunuchs was dangerous, he was about to change the topic when Teoro, who had been silently swinging his sword all this time, suddenly spoke up.
"Is being a eunuch better, or is missing one arm better?"
"......."
Bumer looked at Teoro with a dumbfounded expression.
And then, with a 'well, that's true' expression, he nodded his head.
He always acted cool and chic, but this guy was no different from them. He was the same kind of man, the same kind of student.
It meant that even if he made childish and meaningless jokes like now, it wasn't strange.
'Whatever, I don't know anymore.'
Bumer gave up on changing the subject. It was already too late for that.
After thinking for a moment, Bumer quietly muttered.
"Right arm? Left arm?"
"Whichever arm, it's better than being a eunuch."
Rumian said with a serious expression.
Bumer also nodded in agreement.
"Well... still, being a eunuch is a bit much."
"Then if you had to choose between someone with no arms and a eunuch?"
"......."
What's wrong with this bastard?
Bumer looked at Teoro with a dazed expression, but an immediate answer flowed from Rumian's mouth.
"Obviously having no arms is better."
"Hmm. Really?"
"Of course. Even without arms, you can do most things with your legs."
'I forgot. This bastard is the crazier one.'
Bumer shook his head as he looked at Rumian.
No matter how crazy Teoro was, he couldn't match this guy.
But it didn't end there.
Despite seeing Rumian's serious expression, Teoro threw out another question.
"Then what about having two arms but one leg missing......"
"Even if I had no limbs and was bald, it's still better than being a eunuch."
"......."
"Anyway, it's better."
Rumian spoke sadly, as if he had actually experienced being a eunuch.
Bumer clicked his tongue at that sight, but Teoro's reaction was different.
Clapping loudly three times, he looked at Rumian and spoke.
"Good. You need to have at least that kind of mindset. That way you can properly enjoy the break."
"What? Do you have some kind of plan?"
"Huh, uh? What is it?"
As the topic seemed to suddenly change, Rumian and Bumer's eyes changed.
Teoro, enjoying their attention, opened his mouth with his usual expressionless face.
"Well, I don't have a plan, but."
"No plan, but?"
"Usually after the first semester ends, there are a lot of parties and balls held. To enjoy all of those, you need to have some mental preparation. But Rumian doesn't seem to need to worry."
"There are a lot of parties?"
"Well, many students don't return to their families after the first semester ends."
Teoro's words were true.
Most students don't return home even when break starts after the first semester ends.
Since going back and forth is troublesome, they think going once a year is enough.
Therefore, during the break between the relatively good weather of the first and second semesters, there were many people and many parties. There were even cases where people came from other regions to play.
However, Rumian and Bumer didn't know this fact.
The person who was originally Rumian had no interest in that side of things, and Bumer was the type to faithfully return to his family.
'This time...... I need to enjoy it!'
'This time...... I need to stay!'
But after hearing this from Teoro, their plans completely changed.
Rumian and Bumer sparkled their eyes as they imagined the things that would happen during the break.
It was then that Teoro snickered as he looked at the two of them.
"Already full of thoughts about playing?"
"What?"
"Hmm?"
"......."
At Karl Krone's sudden appearance, the three showed unpleasant reactions.
Teoro's expression was particularly bad.
He had the recent experience of losing to him, and he felt embarrassed to have shown himself full of thoughts about playing despite that.
As if making an excuse, he added words.
"Of course, swordsmanship training is the most important. Playing is something you do in your remaining time."
'No, damn it!'
Rumian screamed inside.
He didn't particularly want to do that. He could play all he wanted, enjoy everything he wanted to enjoy, and train only in spare time.
In the first place, swinging his sword in the training grounds right now didn't help him much. It was better to accumulate aura during that time.
He was only there to help Teoro and Bumer, and giving up the opportunity to play with ladies for that was a huge loss.
"Why did you come?"
Therefore, his gaze looking at Karl Krone couldn't be pleasant.
Startled by Rumian's murderous eyes, he flinched.
"What. Why are you so sharp?"
"We're not even close to begin with. What did you come for?"
At Rumian's words, Teoro and Bumer looked at Karl Krone.
Though they weren't speaking, they had similar thoughts to Rumian.
However, Karl Krone had no intention of having a contest of will with them.
He took a step back and honestly spoke his mind.
"Originally, I trained with the graduating seniors, but."
"And?"
"During the break, all the seniors went to the knight order for practical training. So I have no partner."
"So you're saying you'll hang out with us? You've got some nerve."
"I'm not originally the type to care about that kind of thing."
Karl Krone smiled brightly and swung his sword around.
Even that simple movement was cool.
Rumian felt unreasonably irritated for some reason.
'No, that bastard has gotten even cooler since overcoming his slump.'
If the previous Karl Krone was only flashy, now he had dignity added to that.
In vulgar terms, he had a face that noble ladies would go crazy for. It was also an appearance Rumian desperately desired.
'......Still, it will help the kids, I suppose.'
This gathering was absolutely right.
It was an excellent composition that would help Teoro, Bumer, and even Karl Krone.
Since each of their swordsmanship styles, thoughts, and aura dispositions were all different, it would be even more helpful. Even if not sparring, just exchanging thoughts was enough to create plenty of room for mutual growth.
And Teoro and Bumer also vaguely knew this fact.
That was why, despite making uncomfortable expressions, they weren't driving Karl Krone away.
"......Hmm. Seeing as everyone's silent, I'll take it as agreement."
"Unlucky bastard."
"Haha, I've heard that a lot. From men. Women don't say things like that much."
"Unlucky son of a bitch."
"Son of a bitch."
Following Teoro, Bumer and Rumian spat out curses. Among them, Rumian's word choice was the strongest.
But Karl Krone maintained his easygoing attitude.
He said.
"Well then, shall we spar? Who wants to go first? Rumian?"
"Me."
"Good. First time since the Swordsmanship Festival?"
Karl Krone pointed his sword at Teoro Schutegarn. Teoro also took his stance.
It was a level of concentration completely different from when he was joking around with Rumian. A vigorous shout burst from his mouth.
Rumian, who was watching their spar, turned his head quickly.
Bumer flinched as he received his gaze.
Rumian said.
"Shall we start too?"
"......."
Muttering that he'd rather have Karl Krone, Bumer Simpson raised his sword.
That day, the four swung their swords for over three hours.
***
"No, that's not how you do it there."
"What are you talking about? Rather than dragging it out, blowing it up at once is......."
"Hmm. I'm not sure about this either."
After finishing the unexpectedly intense training, the four naturally had a meal together.
They discussed swordsmanship and aura with even more heated attitudes than before the end-of-term evaluation.
And Rumian didn't like this atmosphere.
'I want to hear what happened during last year's break......'
Rumian's mind was already in the future. There was still semester schedule remaining, but to him right now, there was no time more worthless than this.
Naturally, he had no choice but to participate in the current discussion insincerely.
However, despite that attitude, each of his words was helping Teoro, Bumer, and Karl Krone.
"Well... if I had to choose, I'd like to take Bumer's side."
"Right! Rumian spoke well. I'm correct."
"No, that doesn't necessarily mean your words are right."
"What. Speak properly."
"Hmm... what I mean is, while Bumer's words are correct in general cases, since each person is different, the method of reaching the goal is also all different, is what I'm saying."
Rumian, who had rolled up cream pasta and swallowed it, continued speaking.
"No matter how correct and easy a method is, if it doesn't fit your style well, there's no need to force yourself to do it that way. It doesn't make sense to force attack on someone who has expertise in defense, and it's a bit much to force a heavy sword on someone whose specialty is quick swordplay, right?"
"Isn't that too obvious a thing to say?"
"Why do you think the obvious is obvious. It's obvious because it's the correct answer. What's important is the standard. You need to clearly define up to what line you'll maintain your own method. There are cases where you suffer losses by stubbornly insisting only on your comfortable actions."
"Hmm......."
"In this case, Bumer, your words are right, but for reference, Teoro's method is generally safer and more stable in most situations. In the first place, your disposition is a bit... flashy, so stability is greatly lacking."
Rumian added explanation.
He didn't cite just one example. Depending on body condition, depending on a person's swordsmanship and disposition, depending on terrain, depending on various other elements, the situation changed.
Naturally, the choices to be made also changed. Rumian didn't teach them each and every process. He only laid the groundwork so the kids could think broadly about various things.
Just that much made the kids' thinking deeper.
Karl Krone said with admiration.
"Your perspective is different. Your insight is also extraordinary."
"What. Why the sudden praise?"
"No, I'm just stating facts. How is a guy like this my peer? By any chance, are you living your second life?"
"......What kind of nonsense is that. Ahem."
Rumian turned his head while coughing in embarrassment.
He did it because there was a part that pricked him, but Bumer chimed in with Rumian's words.
"Right, stop talking nonsense. If Rumian was on his second life, he wouldn't be crazy about women like now......"
"Stop."
"Ahem. Anyway, well, it's true that his insight in this area is extraordinary. He thinks deeply, broadly, and should I say flexible?"
"Hmm."
Teoro and Karl Krone nodded their heads.
As a sudden relay of praise unfolded, Rumian was flustered.
Fortunately, this atmosphere didn't last long. Karl Krone threw a question at Rumian.
"By the way, which side are you?"
"What do you mean."
"Well, the people gathered here each have their own style, right? Teoro is soft like water, Bumer is hot like fire. And I... though it's a bit much to say this with my own mouth, right now I'm trying to follow light and sharp movements like a bird."
"A sparrow?"
"Making jokes even the professor wouldn't make."
"That's why he's not popular with women."
Karl Krone and Teoro attacked Bumer. Just this moment, their chemistry was good as if they were friends of 10 years.
Karl Krone continued speaking despite Bumer fuming.
"If I had to say, well, a bird of prey. Of course, I won't stop there and will go further. Later, I'll be able to give an impression of pressure like a griffon, wyvern, or even a dragon from legends."
"That's a good goal. Having a concrete image helps."
"So what I'm curious about is which side you're pursuing. I still haven't gotten a feel for it."
Following Karl Krone's words, the other two also turned their heads toward Rumian.
Now that he thought about it, he was curious.
The other guys clearly had their own distinct styles, but Rumian didn't.
It felt like he adjusted each time according to the situation they were in. That was why, even now that a semester had passed, they couldn't grasp what the essence was at all.
Of course, that was just something that happened because Rumian had no need to reveal his full power.
He also had a disposition that formed his foundation.
The solid mental strength that allowed one to face even high-ranking demons without wavering, which had produced Zenath's great knights......
'A rock, no, a huge boulder......'
"Huh?"
Rumian, who was examining his own aura, suddenly made a stupid sound.
Question marks floated in the three people's eyes.
He had seemed like he would answer, then froze blankly, so they couldn't help but find it strange.
But at that moment, Rumian quickly sat down on the bare ground.
And took the lotus position, the basic posture of aura cultivation.
Seeing that sight, Bumer Simpson muttered as if dumbfounded.
"Don't tell me, did he achieve enlightenment?"
"He gets even stronger here? Haha."
Karl Krone burst out a hollow laugh. Teoro also snickered as he looked at Rumian.
A monster-like bastard.
That was the thought that came to mind for all three of them in common.