Chapter 71. < 30. The Four Reunited (2) >
'I can't exactly tell them the truth as it is.'
Even a Sword Expert alone would be a major incident that would shake the continent.
In this situation, there seemed to be no need to explicitly reveal that he was a Swordmaster.
Above all, he was afraid that these guys' spirits might be crushed.
'No, I can't even guess how they'd think about it.'
In the end, Rumian chose to vaguely brush it off.
However, he made it clear that he hadn't just been playing around.
"I did get a bit more handsome, didn't I? I worked hard on my training now and then to earn my keep with this face."
"Then shall we verify right away?"
"No, me first."
"Me first..."
'To think I'm this popular with men...'
Rumian made a sad expression.
Somehow, nothing had changed at all from his previous life to now.
Heaving a deep sigh, he pointed at Theoro Schutegarn first.
"First, my respected love mentor."
"Alright."
"Tsk."
"Lecherous guy."
Karl Krone clicked his tongue, and Boomer made a disparaging remark.
He didn't let it bother him. Rumian took his stance and spoke to Theoro.
"Let's see how much you've changed."
"Look forward to it."
Immediately after the words ended, a shower-like series of attacks poured down.
It was clearly improved skill.
Smiling, Rumian extended his sword to meet it.
CLANG-!
***
"That's enough. You've improved a lot."
"Haa, damn strong. Shit."
With the panting Boomer last, the sparring between Rumian and the three top students ended.
The result was naturally Rumian's complete victory.
He hadn't even broken much of a sweat.
Of course, the three of them also accepted this result as natural.
Theoro knew Rumian was an Expert, and the other two had roughly guessed it.
"Creepy guy."
"Haha. I told you. I didn't just play around. Even after going home, I mostly just trained."
"Then why did they call you back home? I thought maybe a marriage proposal had come."
"Hmm... They just suddenly said they missed me terribly. Anyway, you've all improved a lot. Especially Karl Krone."
At Boomer's sharp guess, Rumian changed the subject.
Karl Krone, whose name was called, pointed at himself with his finger.
"Me?"
"Yeah. Oh, of course Theoro and Boomer have changed beyond recognition too, but the most noticeable one is..."
"Hmm... It feels both unpleasant and pleasant at the same time. I'm annoyed but strangely want to laugh."
Karl Krone muttered with a subtle smile.
Until now, he had only received evaluations from professors or official knights. There hadn't been a single fellow student who could dare to evaluate him. So hearing words with the nuance of 'pretty good? Not as much as me though' made him feel slightly indignant.
Yet when he thought that the person saying it was Rumian, he didn't entirely dislike it.
"I don't know what you're thinking, but I'm sincere. I said exactly what I felt. If you don't think I'm being meddlesome, there are a few more things I'd like to say..."
"Say it. You're being pretty annoying right now, but I'll listen."
"No, if you don't feel like it, just..."
"Just say it."
"Well then..."
At Karl Krone's urging, Rumian nodded.
He gently and methodically explained the points he had observed. In the process, he showed consideration for parts that might offend the other person.
This was a change from his previous life.
In his days as Ryan Promhart, he couldn't speak this softly. He was direct and blunt.
But the current Rumian could treat others gently and warmly as needed. He didn't know it, but this was a quite important aspect in building relationships with people.
Before he knew it, Rumian was growing into a more attractive person, a man, than before.
Though right now, there were only three men around him.
"Hmm... Now that I hear it, you're right. It really is like that."
"Does it resonate with you?"
"Yeah. Actually, I had vaguely sensed it myself, but hearing it from you makes it feel clearer. Thanks, Rumian."
Boomer honestly expressed his gratitude. Rumian smiled with a pleased expression.
This was the guy's best quality. Honest with his emotions, and expressing them immediately without delay.
In contrast, Theoro wasn't very expressive.
Even now, that was the case. Despite Rumian's words being helpful, he only went as far as nodding.
Of course, Rumian didn't feel disappointed.
He had confirmed how much Theoro cared for him the day before the swordsmanship tournament finals.
'It's never less than what I give.'
He was sincere.
Rumian slightly closed his eyes and recalled memories with these guys.
Then Boomer broke the atmosphere.
"What are you doing? Stop showing off and help me more. I just corrected my movements right away."
"......."
"What's wrong? Thinking about the book you left at the dorm?"
"...No, that's not it. Let's spar a little later. Theoro! You come too."
Theoro, who had been swinging his sword, approached with a puzzled expression. Karl Krone also came along, perhaps sensing something interesting.
Rumian gazed at Theoro, then Boomer, once each.
Then he asked in a serious tone.
"Both of you saw the notes I sent, right?"
"Yeah."
"Uh-huh."
"And you've been practicing aura control consistently?"
"I did exactly twice as much as you told me to."
"I did three times."
"...Four times."
"Five..."
"Ah, stop. I get it, so start your aura cultivation. There's no one in the training hall so it should be fine to do it here. This time... Boomer first?"
"What. Why suddenly... oh, could it be?"
Boomer made a surprised expression.
The content of the note Rumian had left came to mind.
It definitely said, 'If you practice this method, it will help you break through the first of the three gates leading to Expert.'
'But I never thought it would be possible already...'
"Really, really right now? You can break through? What if something goes wrong and it harms your body..."
"I'll watch and judge, so don't worry. If it seems too much, stop, and if it's possible, I'll help. Keep your ears open."
"Uh..."
"If you're anxious, you can postpone. It's dangerous to do when your mind is shaken. Especially your aura has a fire temperament, so..."
"No, let's do it now! I'll calm down quickly!"
Boomer answered as if he was about to choke. At that sight, Rumian made a worried expression.
But Boomer succeeded in quickly finding his composure.
Though he always played the fool and idiot role, he was a top student with outstanding talent. Maintaining calm before cultivation was easy.
Rumian nodded and spoke softly.
"Slowly raise your aura. Slowly. That's right. First, let's circulate it a few times like now."
Boomer faithfully carried out his words. A fiery hot energy circulated through his body more slowly than usual. Then he felt even the slight distracting thoughts disappearing.
Yet among all this, only Rumian's voice came through clearly.
It was strange.
"Good. Looking at your condition, it seems you can do it sufficiently. Of course, don't let your guard down. Now, let's gather the energy as I taught you. Can you hear me?"
Boomer didn't answer. Speaking during aura cultivation was a very dangerous act.
Instead, he skillfully controlled his aura to show that he could hear.
FLICKER...
RUMBLE-!
Aura gathering like a sphere at a point appropriately distant from the wall blocking the lower dan.
Boomer compressed it, and compressed it again. Beads of sweat formed on his forehead.
"Good. You're doing well. A little more, just a little more."
Rumian cheered him on.
Then Boomer's interior, which had been heating up, found some stability.
It wasn't simply because of the voice.
It was because the water energy within Rumian's mountain aura was cooling Boomer's body.
SWISH-
Rumian, with amazing aura manipulation, protected various parts of Boomer's insides without touching the fire sphere he had created.
It was preparation for the shock that would soon follow.
Meanwhile, advice to Boomer continued.
And after a while, feeling the completed sphere, Rumian nodded.
"Good. Well done. Now you just need to explode the aura from behind and shoot the sphere. It's an incredibly easy thing. Right?"
Boomer nodded inwardly.
He had been practicing shooting spheres throughout the entire break.
Of course, he had never done it while gathering as much aura as possible like now.
Because if he failed to break through the blocked lower dan, or if the sphere flew somewhere other than the wall of the lower dan, he would suffer serious injury. Actually, until just before, he had been slightly anxious.
However, the moment he heard Rumian's calm voice, the worry in his heart disappeared as if it were a lie.
It felt like a huge mountain was supporting him from behind. It was incredibly reassuring.
Boomer shot the flame sphere toward the wall.
BANG!
KWAAAAANG!
Then the wall broke. The gate of the lower dan was pierced.
Sparks flew here and there in the internal passages, but it was fine. It was thanks to Rumian protecting him with water energy.
"Well done. Success. Since you've broken through the lower dan gate, you'll be able to move your aura in more diverse ways. I'll teach you a few paths, so remember them. Application is at your discretion."
Rumian continued explaining even after breaking through the gate. Helping him find stability, establishing a foundation, solidifying the basics.
After devoting quite some time to this, he wiped the sweat from his forehead and spoke.
"Phew, finished."
"Just now... you broke through Boomer's lower dan gate?"
Karl Krone said with a bewildered face. Theoro's expression was similar.
Rumian shook his head.
"No. Boomer did it. I just put some safety measures on a few unstable factors."
"......."
"......."
"He had the skill to break through sufficiently even if I hadn't helped."
Despite his explanation, the two couldn't escape their serious expressions.
Words made it sound easy, but there was no way they didn't know how amazing those safety measures were.
Rumian also scratched the back of his head, perhaps feeling awkward after saying it.
Then he spoke toward Theoro.
"Theoro, you practiced a lot too, right?"
"...Of course."
"Good. Let's start right away. It'll be even easier for you than Boomer. Your temperament is much more stable."
"I'm originally not inferior to that guy in any aspect."
Theoro grumbled as he sat on the floor and took his stance.
And immediately began cultivation. Rumian, who smiled slightly, said to Karl Krone.
"Nothing should happen, but watch Boomer for a moment."
"...Alright."
Karl Krone answered with a stiffly frozen expression.
In due time, Theoro went through the same process as Boomer and obtained the same result.
***
"Hmm..."
"Finished?"
"More or less."
Theoro, who gave a short answer to Boomer's words, stood up from his seat.
He went straight to find his sword and grasped it.
Then he poured his heart and soul into infusing aura.
HUMMMM-!
Then the blade of the iron sword began to shine brightly.
A completely different brightness from when simply reinforcing the surface.
It was a technique possible only when breaking through the first of the three gates leading to Expert.
Feeling an exhilarating joy, Theoro gazed at his sword for quite a while.
"Good? Is it good?"
"......."
"Hehe, I'm good. Breaking through the lower dan gate at 15, I still can't believe it..."
Boomer said while grinning widely.
Seeing that sight, Theoro let out a hollow laugh.
Of course he was happy too. But he had many other thoughts, so it was hard to smile as purely as that guy.
He still smiling, he looked toward Rumian.
He was having an intense sparring session with Karl Krone.
Boomer added an explanation.
"Karl Krone seems to have been quite stimulated. I asked earlier, and apparently they've been sparring for three hours."
"Three hours? Already? Ah, well..."
When cultivating, there are many cases where you can't feel the passage of time. Theoro made an expression of understanding.
Boomer opened his mouth again.
"Anyway, that guy is a monster too. After breaking through the lower dan, I realized. He's still much stronger than me. Rumian said so too. He said there's nothing he can really advise that guy on."
"......."
"Of course, Karl Krone won't be satisfied with just hearing that. And Rumian's skill goes without saying... Damn! I'll have to increase my training time to even follow these guys' heels."
Boomer grumbled and moved away from Theoro.
Then he swung his sword vigorously. Since there was no longer a need to protect him while cultivating, he went straight into training.
Theoro didn't look back at Boomer.
Instead, he watched their sparring a bit more.
Karl Krone, who was above him despite his frustration, and Rumian Callard, who showed skill far superior to even that guy.
But what Theoro admired now wasn't their skill.
Rumian's way of caring, pouring out incredible teachings to the point of being speechless, felt much more amazing.
'How can he do that?'
He couldn't say he had given nothing to the guy.
But compared to what Rumian had done for him, it was less than a firefly before the sun.
So he was grateful.
But at the same time, it was also burdensome.
Enough to feel considerable pressure.
One fortunate thing was that Theoro wasn't weak enough to be crushed by such emotions.
'...To repay this debt, I'll have to work even harder.'
He closed his eyes for a moment. Then he opened them.
Theoro, having settled his mind, swung his sword just like Boomer.
For himself, and for Rumian.
'First, I need to reach a similar position to him.'
He didn't know how long it would take.
It might take 10 years, or 20 years.
Perhaps it might never happen in his lifetime. Because the guy was a monster enough to leave his name in history.
But he wouldn't give up.
He would strive desperately to catch up.
To remain proudly as a friend by Rumian's side, he felt he had to do so.
And the same was true for Karl Krone.
"Haa, damn. Huff, hoo. Someday I'll, hoo, catch up to you, no, surpass you."
"Haha."
"I'm not joking. I'm serious right now."
"Of course. I don't take it as a joke either."
Rumian nodded as he looked at Karl Krone.
Theoro and Boomer also looked back once.
He genuinely thought these guys could surpass him.
'Right now I'm showing crazy growth, but...'
That was because he was recovering his previous life's realm, and eventually he would stop at the same wall.
And no one knew how long that state would last.
It could be passed in a day, or in twenty years. Perhaps it might never be passed in a lifetime.
Thinking that way, it wouldn't be strange at all if the final winner became Karl Krone. The possibility was also open to Theoro and Boomer.
So he too had to work harder without becoming complacent.
Before he ran out of things to teach these juniors full of talent, passion, and ferocity.
"Hmm. But..."
Thinking such thoughts, Rumian turned his head to look elsewhere.
Then after a while, he shouted loudly.
"Over there, how long do you intend to watch?"
"Hmm?"
"Huh!"
"Since when..."
"What. So you knew?"
The person pointed out by Rumian walked out from behind a tree.
It didn't seem like they had intended to hide all along anyway. The expression wasn't flustered.
Seeing the person who revealed their identity, Boomer muttered.
"A beauty..."
"Oh my, thank you."
The mysterious woman spread her skirt and greeted.
Rumian approached her and asked.
"By any chance... did you come from Rodicia?"
"Ah, quick witted? How did you know?"
'As expected.'
His guess was correct.
Woman, beauty, strong-looking atmosphere, the mistake at the bar.
Nothing else came to mind but Rodicia.
He let out a deep sigh.
"Since I've recognized you, let's talk quickly. Follow me."
"Me?"
"Yes, Rumian-kun."
"Why?"
"A beautiful professor is calling, do you need a reason?"
"Professor?"
"I was dispatched. I'll be in charge of swordsmanship instruction for the second semester of the second year."
The female professor made a refreshing smile.
It was a healthy smile that was beautiful and full of vitality.
"Anyway, follow me. Don't want to come?"
"No, I'm coming. I'm going first."
Rumian said goodbye to his three friends and walked toward the female professor.
She smiled again and lightly exited the training hall.
Boomer, blankly watching the professor's retreating figure, quietly thought.
'Is that guy benefiting from getting more handsome?'