Chapter 76. < 31. Being a Handsome Man is Suffering (5) >
"The new semester is wonderful!"
Boomer Simpson, a skilled swordsman who achieved the impressive feat of reaching the semifinals of the Sword Tournament, hummed a tune as he walked through the campus.
A bright smile hung on his lips.
It was all because of the newly appointed second-year swordsmanship instructor, 'Irene Curtis.'
'Pretty face, pretty voice. Hehe.'
Having flown in from Rodizia, she was beautiful enough to make her mid-thirties age seem meaningless.
Of course, true to a swordsmanship professor, she had strict and rough edges, but that was fine. Even those aspects came across as charming to Boomer.
Moreover, when he did well, she would show a refreshing smile and spare no praise, making his motivation for class surge even more.
'I want to take her class again.'
Tomorrow couldn't come soon enough. Boomer imagined hearing compliments about himself coming from her lips.
Of course, to achieve that, he would need to train even harder. This much wasn't enough to meet the standards of Irene Curtis, an Expert.
Having strengthened his resolve, Boomer let out a spirited shout. Then he walked briskly toward the training grounds.
Just then, Tanya Eloise appeared before his eyes.
Boomer opened his mouth to greet her.
"Ah......!"
However, what came from his mouth was not a greeting but an exclamation.
It was because Tanya's appearance was very different from usual.
Wearing casual clothes instead of her cadet uniform.
Wearing earrings that hadn't been seen before.
Even with light makeup on, her appearance was incredibly beautiful. So much so that Boomer momentarily lost his senses.
'Is she going to a ball or something? No, it's not that excessive of an outfit.'
But she was beautiful enough to rival that.
So beautiful that the thought of Professor Irene, whom he had just been thinking about, completely vanished from his mind.
"Ah, hello. Senior."
"......Right."
Boomer greeted her belatedly.
Tanya slightly hardened her expression and nodded. Then she walked past him.
It was an attitude that clearly showed she wasn't welcoming him, but Boomer just chuckled.
That was because it had improved compared to before.
'In the first semester, she would just frown and walk away, but now she at least acknowledges my greeting.'
A huge improvement!
Getting acquainted with her at the scholarship student training grounds during the break had been effective. His mood grew even better.
'Alright! Today feels like something good will happen!'
It was completely unrelated, but he felt like training would go well too.
Boomer began humming again as he walked.
What stopped him, however, was Tanya's voice from just moments ago.
"Lumian!"
'Lumian?'
Boomer turned around sharply.
It was at a speed that seemed to create wind. He frowned slightly as he looked toward Tanya. She was walking quickly toward Lumian, who was under the clock tower.
With a faint smile on her lips.
'What the! Why is she so different with me!'
Boomer made an expression of disbelief.
Her treatment of him was too different.
Her lips were twitching as if trying to suppress her excitement. Her eyes had long since become crescent moons.
'When she faced me, it felt like she was wearing an ice mask!'
It was like dealing with twins who looked identical but had completely different personalities.
At that enormous difference, Boomer unconsciously approached the two of them.
Because his curiosity had grown unbearable.
However, the situation didn't end there.
"Lumian-nim!"
'Huh? That person is!'
Leyton Wino, a third-year History major!
The flower of flowers, praised as the most beautiful woman in the academy, no, in all of Tarajan, was approaching Lumian. And with her face full of affection.
Boomer wore an expression as if his soul had left him from the continued shock.
He couldn't think of anything.
He just watched Lumian, Tanya, and Leyton like actors in a play.
"Huh......"
What happened next was equally surprising.
Tanya, upon seeing Leyton Wino, immediately opened her eyes wide and turned her head toward Lumian. Lumian was sweating profusely. And Leyton Wino boldly linked arms with him.
Seeing this, Tanya trembled, then wore an expression as if she had made some resolution.
Then she lightly grabbed Lumian's sleeve with her hand.
As if this was the maximum courage she could muster.
Watching this, Boomer's heart raced as if it would explode.
'What on earth is happening right now!'
After that, they disappeared somewhere.
Boomer couldn't follow them that far. The shock was too great for him to move his feet.
Having calmed his agitation belatedly, he ran quickly toward the scholarship student training grounds.
With an expression mixed with anger, envy, and jealousy.
***
"Really?"
"I'm telling you. That bastard Lumian, with Tanya-sunbae on one side and Leyton Wino on the other......"
Boomer Simpson explained what had just happened, spitting as he spoke.
Theoro listened to his story with a serious expression, and Kal Krone also showed some interest.
Having heard the whole story, Theoro nodded.
"So that's how it is."
"Yeah. I mean, I was just dumbfounded. That guy, who said we should train hard together before the semester started......"
Boomer continued grumbling. There was a slight nuance of criticizing Lumian.
He didn't bear any ill will toward him. It was simply because he was so envious.
When he felt that the guy he thought was in the same situation as him was drifting far away to a place he couldn't even reach, he felt a sense of deprivation and emptiness.
'That could happen.'
Theoro understood him.
He was still an annoying guy, but for now, sympathy arose. So he continued listening to the guy's noisy complaints.
But Kal Krone didn't.
He said to Boomer:
"You should try dating too."
"......."
"You're doing everything else, so what's the problem with meeting women? Lumian seems to have been out exercising since dawn today too. Don't pick strange faults just because you're envious, and go meet some women yourself."
Boomer was instantly deflated.
He had no strength to argue back. Kal Krone's harsh words were so powerful that he lost all motivation.
Even Theoro, his rival, felt sorry for him.
'Kal Krone, that bastard is still as tactless as ever.'
Of course, it wasn't wrong what he said.
A man's jealousy is ugly. Boomer's jealousy even more so.
But if he attacked further here, it seemed like Boomer would reach an irrecoverable state.
So Theoro changed the subject. He also had something he wanted to say.
"It's fortunate that Lumian is in a good atmosphere, but what bothers me is that it's Leyton Wino of all people."
"What? Are you crazy? He's doing well with Tarajan's most beautiful woman, and that bothers you?"
Boomer wanted to ask 'Are you jealous too?', but seeing Theoro's expression, that thought vanished completely.
He genuinely looked worried about Lumian.
Kal Krone asked:
"Why? Is there some bad rumor?"
"There is."
"Really? Hmm, is it because of her looks? Like she changes men often......"
Kal Krone muttered while stroking his chin.
That was indeed the most likely possibility. Theoro nodded as well.
"In a sense, yes."
"But well...... isn't it a bit much to worry about being dumped before they're even dating? No matter how close a friend, that's too meddling......"
"As far as I know, it doesn't just end with breaking up."
"......Tell me more details."
As the conversation showed signs of becoming serious, everyone's attention focused.
Even Boomer, who had been dejected, raised his head.
After pausing briefly, Theoro began to speak.
"I found out by chance, but......"
His words continued for quite a while. As he gave several examples, about 10 minutes passed in an instant.
But summarizing it wasn't difficult. It could be summarized in just a few lines.
1. Leyton Wino seeks out men who are suitable to play with. The targets are mainly decent and exemplary people.
2. After making them her slaves, she ruins them. Whether by crushing their dreams, breaking their principles, or corrupting them with debauchery.
3. After enjoying watching them fall apart like that, she leaves without mercy. Then she seeks out another man.
Having heard the story, Kal Krone frowned.
"She has such twisted tastes?"
"Yes."
"I don't understand. If she's that kind of woman, there's no way there wouldn't be rumors until now......"
"People in the History department roughly know. Also, she tends to choose targets who won't cause problems......"
"People who won't cause problems?"
"Commoners, provincial nobles, or those without money. Generally, men who won't be a problem even if ruined. In those cases, it's easy to form public opinion in her favor."
"Hmm, is that so......"
The two who heard the story wore serious expressions.
Actually, there was no basis for Theoro's words. They were just one-sided claims.
However, considering his usual demeanor, the truth tended to tip in that direction. He wasn't a frivolous man, after all.
'Except when he's with women.'
Because of that, he worried about Lumian.
If Theoro's words were true, he could be considered the perfect toy for Leyton Wino's tastes.
'Son of a rural lord, and a sincere cadet......'
It seemed like he'd be enjoyable to ruin.
He also thought she surely wouldn't do such a thing to the Sword Tournament winner, but he couldn't know her mind.
Having thought this far, Kal Krone spoke up.
"But...... there's nothing we can do, is there?"
"......Actually, that's true. At best, we can only give advice from the side."
But it wouldn't be very effective.
Lumian had absolutely no dating experience, yet was overflowing with desire.
There was no way he wouldn't fall for Leyton Wino's charm.
Theoro said in a serious tone:
"We can only hope Lumian doesn't cross the line. Sigh...... It would be better if he got along well with Tanya-sunbae instead."
"If what you say is true, that would be better. Anyway, let's just watch for now."
"Right."
The two nodded. Then each picked up their sword and began training.
But Boomer still sat on the bench with a serious expression.
He closed his eyes and thought.
'Even if I get toyed with mercilessly, isn't that still a gain? With a beauty like that?'
He was sincere.
He thought that if he could spend time with a woman with that kind of face and body, he wouldn't mind being ruined and discarded.
Of course, this was a thought Boomer could have only because of his meager experience with women.
He opened his eyes wide, then picked up his sword and thought:
'Lumian, you bastard!'
Boomer was still envious of Lumian.
He swung his sword with fierce speed.
***
'Let's go quickly.'
Lumian walked quickly toward the meeting place after class ended.
He had plenty of time, but he couldn't slow down. That was how much he wanted to see Leyton Wino.
He smiled faintly as he recalled her beautiful appearance.
He didn't get tired of thinking about her all day.
It was to the point where he wondered if this was happiness.
'I guess this is happiness. Happiness I could never have felt in my previous life.'
Recently, Lumian had been meeting Leyton Wino almost every day.
In the beginning, Tanya Eloise joined them a few times, but at some point, they started meeting mostly as just the two of them.
After two weeks passed like that, now they had become completely like a couple.
They hadn't confessed, but they were doing all the sweet things lovers do every day.
'If this continues, maybe......'
He might be able to date his ideal type he had dreamed of.
No, maybe even more than that!
Lumian's face flushed.
His heart, already beating fast, pounded wildly. Despite seeing her at lunch, he missed Leyton Wino unbearably.
He put more strength in his feet to walk even faster.
But just then.
Ahead of him, Tanya Eloise was walking toward him.
Lumian flinched.
'Is she coming to see me...... right? She must be, right?'