Chapter 89. < 36. Special Gift (2) >
"Wow! It's flower petals! Pretty! So pretty!"
Semu jumped up and down, reaching out with his front paws to pick up the falling petals.
But he couldn't catch them. It was an illusion spell.
"I still like it though. It's amazing!"
Semu didn't disappoint.
After shrinking his body, he flew among the petals with a bright smile.
But suddenly, the situation changed.
The fluttering flower petals disappeared, and raindrops began to fall pitter-patter.
Semu, who had descended to the ground, wore a puzzled expression.
"What is this?"
He couldn't understand.
He didn't know what was slowly welling up in his heart.
He was too young to understand the emotion called loneliness. Semu made a sullen expression amidst the uncomfortable feeling.
Seeing this, Lumi-an shook his head.
'Does this look too depressing? Is it bad? No. It depends on how you use it!'
If there's a woman you want to walk with, but no opportunity to approach her?
Or if you want physical contact, but no excuse to get close?
That's when this comes in handy. To avoid the sudden rain, the lady would have no choice but to share the umbrella he offers.
Lumi-an smiled with satisfaction and moved on to the next effect.
Swish swish swish...
This time it was snow. Not wet sleet, but fluffy snow that even felt warm and cozy.
This was clearly good. It was excellent for feeling the charm of winter, or for creating a different atmosphere in summer.
"Wow! It's snow! Snow! I've only seen it once before!"
Semu, who had looked depressed when the rain fell, was jumping around wildly.
It also seemed useful for walking pets. Though he had no plans to keep one.
'Anyway, this is a sword that fits me perfectly!'
That was truly the case.
Similar center of gravity to the sword he mainly used, similar length. Despite being stuck there haphazardly, the blade stood sharp, suggesting good quality.
He suspected it might have been made by the Dwarves, a craftsman race said to have gone extinct long ago.
Of course, he liked the magical effects imbued in it even more than the sword's quality itself.
'It's truly amazing.'
He didn't know how it was made, but this sword produced different effects depending on the nature of the aura infused into it.
Aura of vegetation and earth created flower petals, water aura created rain, sunlight aura created spotlights, and ice aura created snow.
What was particularly interesting was that the more concrete the mental imagery in one's heart, and the more precisely the aura was manipulated, the stronger the effects became.
'The difficulty is harder than I thought... Just maintaining it is challenging enough?'
If even he, who had regained the skills of his past life, felt burdened, ordinary swordsmen surely wouldn't even be able to attempt it.
That part sparked Lumi-an's curiosity.
This was certainly not a prop for setting the atmosphere.
Rather, it made him think this might be a training sword for aura manipulation and mental imagery manifestation.
'How did this catch my eye?'
This was strange too.
It was a sword stuck in the corner of a warehouse piled with treasures enough to make one's eyes pop out.
Nevertheless, Lumi-an picked up this sword first. As if he had received a revelation.
After thinking for a moment, he asked Semu.
"Semu."
"Yes! Yes! Are you done now? I want to see the snow more!"
"Hmm, I'll do it again later. But by any chance, do you know anything about this sword?"
"No? I'm seeing it for the first time too?"
"For the first time?"
"There are so many treasures that I don't really know about things other than what I cherish. I didn't even know something like this existed. But can I try using it too?"
Lumi-an nodded and handed over the sword.
The fellow, who had increased his size again, gripped the sword tightly with three fingers of his front paw.
He swung the sword with a shout.
"Yah!"
Nothing happened.
Semu made a disappointed sound, "Hee-ing."
"It doesn't work for me. How did you do it?"
"Hmm, you need to infuse aura... It seems mana alone doesn't work?"
"I guess so... Oh well! It's Lumi-an's now, so Lumi-an-nim, show me often!"
Lumi-an's expression hardened at Semu's words.
This fellow, even though the matter with the demons was over, was still trying to make him train. Though it seemed like he said it without realizing it.
"Alright. I'll pick just two more and show you again."
"Okay! Hurry up and choose, hurry!"
Splash!
Semu dived into the pile of gold coins stacked like a mountain.
Lumi-an was worried he might get hurt jumping into a hard place, but surprisingly he seemed fine. Rather, seeing him swimming as if cutting through water, Lumi-an laughed.
Then suddenly, the fellow stopped abruptly.
And after looking at Lumi-an with an anxious expression, he turned his gaze elsewhere.
He kept repeating that action.
Curious, Lumi-an followed Semu's gaze.
"Wow, huge gems, aren't they?"
Just as Lumi-an said.
In the deepest part of the treasure vault, there was a shelf with tiers like a podium for 1st to 5th place.
On it were placed, in order, diamond, ruby, sapphire, emerald, and topaz.
Each one was enormous in size. Bigger than a child's head. They were decorated with smaller gems around them.
Lumi-an's gaze turned back to Semu. The fellow looked at him with anxious eyes and said.
"U-um... Lumi-an-nim."
"Yeah."
"I'm really sorry, really, really sorry... but can you not take Whitey, Reddy, Bluey, Greenie, and Yellowy?"
"Those gems?"
"Mm-hmm... They're the ones I cherish the most... Everything else is fine except them! I can give you anything!"
Semu said with a desperate expression.
Seeing as he had even named them, his attachment to the gems seemed quite strong. Lumi-an burst into loud laughter, "Hahahaha!"
Of course, he had no intention of taking those.
It wasn't that he had no material greed, but as a knight, his desire for equipment was greater than such things. Having picked one sword, he was thinking of choosing armor next.
But it would be boring to just let it pass.
Lumi-an slowly approached the gems. Then, pointing at the five gems in turn, he sang.
"Which, one, shall, I, pick, I, won, der, if, I, can, guess..."
"No!"
Whoosh-!
Boom!
Semu breathed fire from his mouth and rammed into Lumi-an from behind.
It was an attack that was half serious, half joking. Lumi-an laughed heartily and teased Semu for a while longer.
It was an enjoyable time. The two were able to spend a comfortable moment, putting aside all worries for the first time in a while.
***
"Hmm..."
"Still haven't chosen?"
"Right. I don't see anything suitable as a gift..."
Lumi-an said with a nod.
The second item had been decided long ago. It was magically adjusting armor that automatically resized to fit the body, and he chose it because the defensive power in the vital area seemed especially good. Just wearing it gave a sense of security.
But he was stuck on the third item. Lumi-an quietly murmured.
"To give to Tania-sunbae, everything seems too excessive..."
In Lumi-an's mind, the events from several days ago still remained.
She had said it was okay, that she understood, but he was not okay. Though it was Semu's fault, he couldn't say he had no share in it, so he planned to apologize along with the gift and return to a comfortable relationship.
'I don't particularly need anything, so that would be better.'
But it didn't take long to realize that was a mistaken thought.
Because every item here possessed tremendous value.
'Too flashy! Too expensive!'
Even closing my eyes and picking anything at random, I'd get accessories that a duchess or marquess's daughter would cherish.
It would be burdensome even as a wedding gift.
It was too much to give to Tania, who was merely a senior.
Of course, he did think it would suit her well, and he did want to see Tania adorned with the accessories here a little, but still, this wouldn't do.
Lumi-an shook his head and murmured.
"I guess I can't choose from here. Semu, can I come back later to pick the third item?"
"Then you won't give Tania a gift?"
"I'll have to think of something else. I can't choose from here. What would be good?"
"Hmm... Turtle head mushroom?"
"......."
Lumi-an's expression hardened at Semu's words.
Seeing this, the fellow made a puzzled expression. Then he continued speaking.
"I ate that for the first time a while ago, it was really delicious! Don't you remember? Ah, right! I ate it all."
"Ah, that? Haha, it must have been tasty."
Lumi-an let out an awkward laugh. Since it was Semu who said it, he had a strange misunderstanding.
The fellow made a puzzled expression again.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing. Just something. But that's a bit... Isn't there something else?"
"Hmm, gift, gift, gift..."
Semu narrowed his brows and thought seriously.
He was grateful. Even though it wasn't his business, he was trying this hard.
But honestly, he didn't have high expectations.
He was only about ten years old at most, and not even human but a dragon. He couldn't think that Semu would be able to choose an appropriate gift.
"Hmm... What does Tania need the most?"
"...Well? I wonder?"
Lumi-an was slightly flustered by the question.
It was because Semu asked a fundamental question unlike a child.
But it was helpful enough. Lumi-an lowered his head and recalled various thoughts.
Semu continued to give him advice.
"Hmm, and... it doesn't necessarily have to be an object! I also received a gift from Lumi-an today, but it wasn't an object! You found me a home, and that's the gift, so I didn't receive something but I did receive a gift... Huh? What am I saying?"
Semu, whose words got tangled, tilted his head to understand his own words. He too knew his words were clumsy.
But it was enough for Lumi-an.
Having realized something, he stroked Semu and spoke.
"Thanks, Semu! It's solved now!"
"Huh? Really?"
"Yeah. Thank you. Um, sorry, but can you take me back to the Academy?"
"Of course! You're the hero who punished the demons! But before we go, show me the snow one more time!"
Lumi-an drew his sword and infused cold aura.
After absorbing the ice demon's demon stone, it became possible to handle cold energy. It was the least proficient, but entertaining Semu was nothing at all.
"Wow! Wow!"
Lumi-an smiled as he watched Semu's eyes sparkle.
Thanks to the fellow, he felt like he had chosen a proper gift.
***
Clang! Clang!
Ka-kang!
"Phew, fall already."
"Fuck off."
In a corner of the scholarship student training ground, two students were engaged in a fierce exchange.
None other than Teoro and Boomer. The two raised their eyes sharply and swung their swords at each other as if to kill.
Though they were practice swords without edges, their momentum was incredibly fierce.
Some fourth-years watching this burst into admiration.
"Wow, that's just crazy."
"How can that be second-year..."
"If they're that good without being Kal Krone, how amazing is Kal Krone?"
"I heard Lumi-an Kallad is even stronger..."
"I'm glad I'm a fourth-year. So I don't have to compete with them in the sword tournament."
"Right. Really fortunate."
The fourth-years who had been watching silently nodded in agreement.
They would graduate from the Academy at the end of this semester's sword tournament. Since only third and fourth-years could participate in this sword tournament, they wouldn't have to face the monstrous second-years and suffer humiliation.
'Damn it, next year I have to compete with those guys...'
'What do I do. Should I withdraw next year?'
On the other hand, the third-years' expressions were incredibly dark.
They too were skilled enough to use the scholarship student training ground, but they had no confidence facing those guys.
Teoro Shurtgarne.
Boomer Simpson.
Kal Krone.
And Lumi-an Kallad!
The fame of these crazy second-years was already spreading throughout the entire Tarazan Kingdom.
Rather than facing them whom even high-ranking knights of Zenas had admired, an opinion was forming among the third-years that it would be better to just avoid next year's sword tournament.
'...That won't do!'
But Tania Eloyse didn't want that.
She bit her lower lip gently and thought.
'I can't avoid a match before even fighting!'
It was frustrating. So very frustrating.
Kal Krone was one thing, but Tania couldn't bear the fact that she had been overtaken by the other three juniors.
At the same time, she began to regret the time spent during this third year.
'If I had tried a little harder...'
She knew too.
She prided herself on not skipping what needed to be done, but this year's self wasn't as intense as last year.
Just last week was like that. She was so preoccupied with Lumi-an Kallad that she couldn't focus on her sword for a single moment. Her self swinging the sword in the practice hall was nothing but a shell.
'...Now, it's time to find my center.'
After watching Teoro and Boomer's spar for a while, she turned her body sharply.
Then she returned to her spot and swung her sword vigorously.
She wanted to see Lumi-an.
A junior who sometimes seemed foolish, but had even more admirable qualities.
Though he was extremely annoying when he was all over Reiton Vino, he looked cooler than anyone when he spoke his convictions in front of many people, and she wanted to spend more time with him.
Because the feelings had just begun, they were all the more intense. Trying to forcibly extinguish the blazing flame was already difficult.
'But no. For a while, I need to keep my distance and focus on the sword...'
It was then.
Suddenly, a murmuring sound was heard. Tania frowned and turned her head.
But her expression soon brightened.
Because Lumi-an Kallad had appeared at the training ground.
"It's Lumi-an Kallad!"
"They say he's the strongest among the second-year monsters?"
"That's what they say. His final exam score was higher than Kal Krone's too."
"Damn, his face is handsome too."
"Come to think of it, all the second-year monsters are good-looking? Except one."
"Hmm. Boomer is..."
Instantly drawing everyone's attention.
A completely different status from last semester.
Tania also gazed at Lumi-an for a while. Her face turned red without her realizing. Her mouth opened slightly too.
Then she suddenly came to her senses.
'No! You fool! Get a hold of yourself!'