Chapter 99. < 39. Watch Lumian Kalad >
"Whew!"
Lumian Kalad let out a deep breath after escaping from the Knight Academy Head's office.
He had expected it, but it was an incredibly stifling gathering. Not only the Knight Academy Head, but five other high-ranking officials of the Academy had gathered there.
On top of that, their eyes were twinkling with interest.
If they had been the gazes of beautiful women, he would have accepted them with a smile, but every single one of them was an elderly person. It was certainly not a welcome situation.
'This kind of thing, Kal Krone would probably handle better.'
The reason the Knight Academy Head had called him was indeed because of the Sword Arts Festival. It was also correct that it involved foreign nations, specifically Zenas and Rodizia.
Lumian recalled the conversation he had with the Knight Academy Head as he exited the building.
'Oh my, Lumian Kalad! You've come? Sit down here!'
'Ah, no, Knight Academy Head. You don't have to go that far......'
'No, no! I can't have the future splendid knight who brought glory to Tarazan Academy stand. Come here and sit!'
'Brought glory to Tarazan Academy?'
'Of course! Do you remember that Sir Bercal Garcia, a high-ranking knight of Zenas, attended the Sword Arts Festival held in the first semester?'
'Yes, I remember.'
'Sir Bercal seems to have been deeply impressed by your fighting spirit and skills! To think that Zenas would initiate a proposal for friendly exchange first, I would have no regrets even if I died now! Hahahahaha!'
According to the Knight Academy Head, Zenas was greatly surprised by the performance of the four second-year students including himself.
Thanks to that, they had proposed to deepen the relationship between the nations, using participation in Tarazan Academy's high-level Sword Arts Festival as a pretext.
What was surprising was that Zenas wasn't the only one who had inserted themselves under such a pretext.
'The Kingdom of Rodizia has also decided to send a delegation for similar reasons. This too is your achievement, Lumian!'
'My achievement?'
'Indeed! It seems Dispatched Professor Irene Curtis has taken a very favorable view of you and the other second-year cadets! They're even talking about wanting to build a solid relationship in the long term. Hehe, hehehehehe!'
The Head really had looked pleased when saying this.
With good reason. Though he was praising it as his achievement, in the end, it was also his own achievement as the one in charge of the Knight Academy.
It wasn't simply a matter of the Academy's prestige being elevated, but something that would affect the future of the kingdom, so the Tarazan Kingdom itself might bestow honors.
'Perhaps the bald Knight Academy Head might become the next Academy Head.'
Of course, this wasn't what was important.
Lumian lay down on a bench in the school grounds. His expression was plastered with annoyance.
'To have me guide the Academy for students from other countries participating in the Sword Arts Festival.......'
Well, it wasn't something he couldn't do.
If he had to deal with elderly diplomatic delegations, he'd break out in hives, but walking around the school grounds with a couple of greenhorns was something he could manage well enough.
Since Rodizia's apprentice knights would be included too, he didn't have to worry about walking around with only dark-haired men.
But having one or two days of his time taken away.
What bothered him was that he wouldn't be able to guide Tania during that time.
Lumian quietly muttered.
"With Zenas and Rodizia getting involved, there must be a lot of worry......"
That would certainly be the case.
Having broken through the lower gate and become accustomed to the middle sword, Tania's victory should have been certain. There were no particularly noteworthy figures among the fourth-years.
However, with Zenas and Rodizia, the story was different.
Both nations wouldn't want to be embarrassed in foreign lands, so they would have brought talented individuals. Rather than being careless, she should train with all her might.
'Wait, surely she's not feeling intimidated right now?'
Lumian suddenly sat up from his seat.
Then he walked toward the Scholarship Student Training Hall.
As a master, he couldn't pretend not to know his disciple's crisis.
Though he now vaguely knew that his feelings weren't only that, on the surface, that was the case. His footsteps gradually quickened.
"Whew, she looks fine."
Lumian, who arrived at the entrance of the Scholarship Student Training Hall, let out a sigh of relief.
He could see Tania Eloyce in the distance. Fortunately, she didn't look intimidated at all.
Rather, she exuded the spirit, intensity, and fighting will to crush whoever her opponent might be. The atmosphere was so fierce that other cadets kept their distance with overwhelmed expressions.
'It seems she now has quite a bit of faith in herself.'
Lumian smiled with satisfaction.
The Tania who had been so overly defensive of herself that she even undermined her own confidence was gone.
Only a genius remained, being polished from a rough stone to a jewel, shining ever more brilliantly.
Thinking this, he quietly muttered.
It was a voice calling someone.
"Can you approach me secretly with your skills?"
"......Since when did you know?"
"Since before you spotted me from behind that tree and suppressed your presence."
"Wait, is that even possible?"
The man who had been sneaking up behind Lumian, Morgan, wore an expression of disbelief.
Of course, he knew that his sworn brother had already surpassed his own skills, but even so, to think he could detect someone intentionally approaching from afar.
He asked with an incredulous expression.
"By any chance, have you gotten stronger during this time?"
"Why ask about the obvious?"
"......How much stronger? Surely you haven't recovered all your former skills?"
"Hmm. Should I tell you honestly?"
"What? Why are you being like that, making me anxious."
Morgan's expression stiffened.
Though this person was his sworn brother, he was truly a tremendous monster.
With such a person building up suspense, he couldn't even guess what answer would come out.
'Did he really recover his past life's skills?'
Nah, no way. Even so, only two months have passed, that couldn't be possible.
Thinking this, Lumian delivered surprising news to Morgan.
"I think I'm actually better now than in my past life."
"......What did you say?"
"I'd say I'm about half a level higher. Though it doesn't feel like I've completely crossed the wall."
It was true.
His physical abilities were far superior now, and the amount of aura was similar. However, since mountain aura could be utilized in much more diverse ways than rock aura, this too had to be considered growth.
Moreover, his swordsmanship, which had been about 2 percent lacking, had also been completely recovered. As the saying goes, you learn while teaching—while guiding Tania, the movements that hadn't been ingrained in his body had perfectly settled into place.
If it were his current self, he would probably be able to gain the upper hand even in a match against the Knight King, with whom he had maintained an even contest.
Lumian looked at Morgan with a confident expression.
"Do you understand now? The greatness of your big brother?"
"......."
Morgan was lost for words.
He wanted to make some rebuttal, but he couldn't.
This was someone who had already contended for the strongest in the continent. Such a person was confidently saying he had grown even stronger.
Didn't that mean he had reached a level even higher than the Knight King or the Golden Dawn!
'He's so incredible that I don't even feel jealous.'
He shook his head slowly.
He now realized how absurd his own thoughts had been, trying to catch up to his sworn brother secretly. In this regard, he could never match Lumian.
'But what about with women?'
Morgan grinned.
Lumian looked at him with an expression saying 'What's with this guy?' He was about to say something, but his sworn brother spoke first.
"By the way, big brother."
"What."
"You've been staring at a female student for a while now......"
"......."
"By any chance, do you have a crush?"
Lumian looked at his sworn brother with a dumbfounded face. But Morgan didn't back down and maintained his grin.
It was childish behavior, but he couldn't help it. The sense of deprivation in swordsmanship was too strong, so he wanted to tease him at least with this.
"Hmm, she's certainly very pretty. Her figure doesn't seem to be your type, but her face makes up for it......."
"......."
"How about it, do you want me to help?"
"No, I don't need it."
'This big brother, he's pouting.'
Morgan's smile deepened.
He was feigning indifference, but he must be quite troubled inside.
He wouldn't want to show weakness to his younger brother he hadn't seen in a long time, but he probably desperately needed help too.
He quickly racked his brain. To calculate how he could tease his brother well without getting hit.
But then.
Something unexpected happened.
"Morgan."
"Yes, big brother."
"You finished the territory mercenary work well, right?"
"Huh? Ah, yes! Of course."
"Got it. We'll talk about that tonight later. I have something to do, so I'll be going."
"Huh? Huh?"
With those words, Lumian entered the training hall.
The surprising thing happened next.
The incredibly beautiful woman who had been swinging her sword diligently saw his sworn brother and gave him a bright smile.
'What! Were they friends?'
No. Not just friends!
It wasn't an expression that would be shown in such an ordinary relationship. As an expert, he could tell.
'That female student...... she has feelings for my brother?'
Rather, it seemed like Lumian held the dominant position in the relationship.
At this surprising fact, Morgan unconsciously exclaimed.
"Good heavens...... how can this be."
He didn't know what exactly had happened.
But one thing was certain.
'Big brother...... it wasn't just swordsmanship that improved while we were apart.'
Seeing Lumian Kalad whose ability to woo women had also improved by leaps and bounds, Morgan nodded.
He felt a strange mix of emotions.
A feeling like a parent watching their child become independent, both proud and regretful.
"It's a good thing, a good thing."
He quietly muttered and turned his body.
Then he slowly walked, looking around various parts of the Academy.
He was checking to see if there were any decent women.
'It's against my conscience to target students, I wonder if any pretty female professors are passing by.'
Morgan was still Morgan.
With eyes similar to when he used to roam the streets of Rodizia, he wandered the Academy alone until late at night.
***
"Oh my, you've come a long way. You've worked hard."
"Not at all. It's not that far. I'm John McCart, the person in charge of the delegation. Nice to meet you."
"I know your famous name well. How could I not know one of the 25 Sword Masters who support the Kingdom of Zenas?"
"It's just a level I reached through luck. I'm merely occupying a humble seat, so it's embarrassing."
"No, how could you say such modest words......"
One week after the notice was posted on the bulletin board.
The delegations from the three kingdoms began to arrive one after another.
The first to arrive was Zenas, but coincidentally, the representatives from Rodizia and the Kingdom of Charlotte also appeared not long after.
The Academy Head, who ended up receiving all three kingdoms' representatives at once, greeted them while sweating profusely.
"I'm Claire Cambahita, representative of the Rodizia delegation."
"The famous Sir Claire in person......"
"I'm Adam Harper, representative of the Kingdom of Charlotte."
"Oh my, nice to meet you. Though lacking, I serve as the head of this Academy."
Unexpectedly, everyone gathered in one place, but the atmosphere wasn't bad.
Originally, all three kingdoms had come with the purpose of promoting friendship with Tarazan. There was no reason to pick a fight.
'John McCart, it's been a while.'
Lumian, who participated in this gathering as the student representative, glanced at the representative of the Zenas delegation.
They weren't close, but he was someone he knew reasonably well. He had even taught him swordplay a few times.
He had felt regretful thinking he lacked talent compared to his effort, but to hear he had become a Sword Master. He felt oddly proud.
'As expected, effort doesn't betray.'
As he was thinking this, the man also turned his gaze toward him.
Lumian hurriedly lowered his eyes. As a greenhorn from a small country, he shouldn't hold his head high.
'Let's keep doing this until his gaze turns elsewhere.'
But John McCart's eyes continued to stay on Lumian.
Moreover, it wasn't just him alone.
The knights of Zenas who looked quite skilled, and all the knights of Rodizia as well, were looking not at the Academy Head but at him.
'......This is extremely burdensome.'
He had expected it, but it seemed all the high-ranking officials of both nations knew of his skills.
There wasn't much to worry about.
The relationship with Zenas was already settled thanks to the bet with Bercal, and judging by Irene Curtis's handling, it didn't seem like Rodizia would do anything to harm him either.
Lumian kept his gaze downward and maintained a modest attitude. After all, they would soon return to their respective lodgings to recover from their travel fatigue.
That's what he was thinking when it happened.
Ssssss-
An extremely secret.
Therefore, an even more chilling gaze.
Feeling this, Lumian quickly raised his head. Then he looked around.
But it was in vain. He couldn't feel anything. Even though he was the great Lumian.
'What was that? Just now?'
A situation where nothing seemed to have happened.
But something was definitely there.
Something massive, unknown, had been watching him.
Lumian's face gradually hardened.