Chapter 92. < 37. You're the Best, Master Lumian! (2) >
'Calm down, Tania!'
She forced her trembling heart to settle.
Lumian's unexpected answer had shaken her to the core, but her current reaction was excessive. It was the kind of behavior a girl completely in love would display.
Of course, it was half true, but still, this wouldn't do.
It wasn't as if she had heard words of affection. To be at a complete loss from words that seemed more appropriate for a comrade-in-arms.
'That can't happen!'
Her pride wouldn't allow it.
But contrary to her thoughts, the excitement didn't easily subside.
She couldn't even speak properly. Her voice would definitely tremble.
If only there were some water.
However, Lumian didn't notice Tania's state at all.
'I have to somehow change Senior Tania's mind.'
Before, he hadn't known because he wasn't interested.
But now he knew. She possessed talent beyond imagination.
A junior who could reach far greater heights than now, unable to spread her wings due to wrong choices?
He couldn't accept that.
As someone who had walked the path of a knight first, he couldn't just stand by and watch.
Filled with such thoughts, Lumian didn't notice Tania's expression, her eyes, her flushed face.
He opened his mouth. His eyes filled with seriousness were a bonus.
"It's not that I only believe in you, Senior. I also believe in your potential. And I hope you'll recognize your own potential too."
"......."
"You won't regret it."
"……Will that really be the case?"
"If you're really worried, just one week. Believe in me and follow me for just one week. How about it?"
Having said this much, there was nothing else to say.
Tania nodded.
"Alright."
"Phew, thank you. For granting my unreasonable request."
"Ah, no. Rather, I should be thankful. You're helping me."
"Haha. Then let's say we're both thankful. Up we go."
Lumian rose from his seat.
Then he looked at Tania and flashed a grin.
It wasn't the kind of smile he usually wore to impress women.
It was a smile stripped of all pretense, making it appear more pure and sincere.
He said.
"Then, let's start tomorrow. You can come out in the morning before classes, right?"
"Of course!"
"Ah, and it might be a bit difficult. You should keep that in mind……."
"Don't worry. I'll practically live in the training hall all day anyway."
"Alright. Then I'll go in first."
"Yeah, go ahead."
Lumian left with those final words.
But Tania remained seated on the bench for a long while.
Lost in silent thought, she quietly murmured to herself.
"……Was there ever anyone who thought about me this much?"
She wasn't talking about daily life matters.
She was talking about swordsmanship.
In that narrow field, yet a field that was incredibly important to her, it seemed no one had cared for her as much as Lumian had.
Tania closed her eyes.
Lumian's attitude.
Lumian's expression.
Lumian's gaze.
The way he treated her was definitely filled with sincerity.
At least, that's what she thought.
Opening her eyes, Tania murmured once more.
"I suppose it's okay to believe."
She rose from the bench.
Thinking about tomorrow morning's training, it would be good to sleep early.
Light, cheerful footsteps. Tania returned to her room with a pleasant expression on her face.
***
Whoosh!
Huuuung!
A fierce wind blew.
At the ominous sound, several people in the training hall turned their heads. Tania, swinging her sword vigorously, came into their view.
However, her appearance was different from usual.
The sword she held had become much heavier.
Naturally, her swordsmanship and footwork had changed as well.
The previous movements—soft yet variable, centered on technique—had completely transformed into bold movements that actively utilized weight and gravity.
"Wow…… this is……."
"How can she be like that?"
"Just last week, she seemed like a mess, didn't she?"
"Right. I wondered what suddenly got into her, but now……."
The classmates watching this exclaimed in admiration, or rather, something closer to shock.
It was unavoidable. In just one week, Tania had mastered the heavy sword and was radiating an imposing aura with her entire body.
One of the upper-ranking third-year students shuddered.
The thought of facing Tania's sword filled him with involuntary fear.
It wasn't a feeling of being cut, but of being crushed. He definitely didn't want to face her.
'Insane! This is insane!'
It wasn't just the other students who were surprised.
Tania herself, swinging the sword, couldn't hide her bewilderment at her own achievement.
It was so different from before. Unlike the past where no matter how much she trained, it felt like disconnected threads, her current swordsmanship fit her perfectly like a tailored suit.
The crisp movements, the heavy weight—everything felt truly good. Though it was self-praise, she couldn't help but think, 'I really did have amazing talent!'
'But, there's something more important.'
Huu, letting out a large breath, Tania lowered her sword.
In the distance, Lumian was approaching.
She thought with a smile.
'Without Lumian's help, I wouldn't have achieved even half of this.'
It was true.
Among those who told her to believe in herself, how many actually took responsibility for those words?
Probably not many. Looking back at Tania's life, though not long, that had been the case.
But Lumian was different. He went beyond taking responsibility for his words—he gave her truly remarkable guidance that would surprise absolutely everyone.
The framework of heavy sword, the core of footwork, the know-how of utilizing weight and gravity.
Combat tactics for various situations, and even proper aura manipulation. Lumian taught her everything.
'He didn't just teach me, either. He instructed me at my level so I could understand easily, so I could properly digest it.'
For example, his guidance changed slightly on the first day, the second day, and each day after.
He approached differently according to Tania's level of understanding—something that couldn't even be imitated without considerable skill.
'As expected of a Sword Expert.'
It wasn't simply that level.
She even thought that perhaps he might be above Ben Barrett, the professor in charge of third-years?
And that thought was gradually becoming conviction.
'I should have listened to Lumian sooner. Getting hung up on a professor's words I didn't even like.'
While grumbling inwardly, Lumian came closer.
He said with a bright expression.
"Senior, I'm a bit late. Class ended late."
"Ah, is that so?"
"Yes. But Senior. Try taking your upper stance again."
Lumian immediately began instruction.
Tania's expression stiffened slightly.
Was it because his attitude was too stiff?
No. Rather, his serious and passionate teaching felt even better to her.
The problem was that Lumian's very seriousness made her flustered.
Even now was like that.
"Your arm angle should be like this. And your stance wider…… at this point, you can lower your center even more."
Lumian's hands touched various parts of Tania's body. Her arm, waist, even her thigh.
Tania's face reddened.
Though it was for instruction, she couldn't remain calm when touched by Lumian, a man. She glanced at Lumian with a pounding heart.
But he remained unchanged.
Strict, solemn, serious expression—only checking her movements. Not a trace of agitation.
Even if he were touching another man, he probably wouldn't be this calm.
That was quite dissatisfying.
'When he had skinship with Leighton Wino, he was dying to enjoy it!'
She couldn't compare herself to that woman who exuded sensuality wherever she went. But this was too much.
Of course, Lumian was sincerely focused on Tania, so he had no attention to spare for anything else, but as long as she didn't voice these thoughts, misunderstandings were inevitable.
Tania's expression became downcast.
'Is my body that unattractive? Or maybe…….'
She turned her gaze slightly downward.
'Is it because of my chest? Is this the problem?'
Her complexion darkened. The misunderstanding deepened.
Of course, it wasn't one hundred percent a misunderstanding, but right now, Tania was feeling self-deprecation beyond what was necessary.
Being too large wasn't good for swordsmanship as it got in the way, but she wished they were just a little bit bigger!
Her mind was in utter turmoil.
As if to prove this, her sword tip wavered more than ever before.
Lumian shook his head and spoke to Tania.
"Senior."
"Huh, yes?"
"Your condition doesn't seem very good today."
"Ah…… is that so? I, I guess it might be a bit like that."
Tania answered with an embarrassed smile.
Looking at Lumian's face, she felt ashamed.
He was pouring all his attention and effort for her sake, while she was worrying about her breast size.
Hap! She let out a shout and spoke to Lumian again.
"I'm fine now. I'll try hard again!"
"No. Let's stop here for today."
"Huh?"
Tania wore a worried expression.
Was it because of her? Was he disappointed because she hadn't shown enough enthusiasm?
Fortunately, that wasn't the case. Lumian continued immediately.
"Let's stop swordsmanship for today and move on to aura cultivation practice."
"Ah…… is that so?"
Tania looked relieved. Then she asked a question.
"By moving on to cultivation, you mean you're going to watch me cultivate directly? Not just teaching me how to manipulate aura?"
"Yes. Something seems off. In my opinion, your progress should be much faster. Hmm, perhaps there might be some problem in the cultivation process……."
Lumian wore a serious expression.
Tania couldn't understand.
She was already in a situation where not only herself but her classmates and even senior graduates were surprised by her improving skills.
Yet her progress was slow?
That couldn't be. She opened her mouth to object.
But Lumian was half a beat faster.
He looked at Tania and said.
"There are too many people here. It's dangerous for cultivation, so let's go somewhere safe. Somewhere enclosed and quiet."
"……Alright."
She nodded.
She owed her current self entirely to Lumian.
So she had to believe in him this time too.
She thought there was no problem, but surely there must be something.
She asked another question.
"But where should we go? Even the scholarship student training hall is this full, so the regular training halls must be completely packed."
"Those places obviously won't work. Ideally, we should go indoors…… hmm. That would work."
Lumian clapped his hands.
A bright expression, as if the problem was solved.
Tania looked curious, and his mouth opened to reveal something flustering.
"Let's go to my room."
"……What?"
"I said let's go to my room. It's quiet, and since it's indoors, it's safe too…… why?"
"Ah, no…… wait a moment."
Tania stammered. She turned away and touched her cheek.
To Lumian's room!
She hadn't even thought about it.
'Of course, I went there often before under the excuse of visiting him when he was sick…….'
The situation now was completely different.
Back then, it didn't matter if she entered the male dormitory. It was during class hours. So there was no chance of running into any male students.
But now, all classes had ended.
It was the time when male students would be swarming the dormitory.
In that situation, entering a man's room—Lumian's room?
'That's too…… embarrassing.'
Perhaps she was overreacting.
Others might not care at all, and maybe she was just too conscious of it because she had feelings for Lumian.
But it was definitely very burdensome. She shook her head.
"That place is a bit…… isn't there somewhere else?"
"Why? Is it because of the parrot? That guy isn't there right now."
"Ah, r-right? But just thinking about him makes me a bit…… I don't know, maybe I wouldn't be able to concentrate well?"
"Hmm…… true, that could be the case."
Lumian nodded. Tania sighed inwardly.
It was a random excuse, but it worked somehow.
Just as she was showing a relieved expression—
"Then let's go to Senior's room?"
"......."
"It would be a place that's comfortable and familiar to you, Senior Tania, so you'd probably be able to concentrate better."
Tania's mind raced quickly.
Passing through numerous male students to enter a man's room.
Pushing through numerous female students to bring a man into her own room.
Which was more embarrassing?
'Both are embarrassing!'
But there was no other way.
Lumian was serious right now. She couldn't bring up these thoughts to someone like him.
"……Alright. Let's do that."
"I hope we find a problem. If we do, your progress will speed up significantly after today."
Lumian smiled purely.
It was an appearance completely different from his usual lecherous face, genuinely thinking of Tania.