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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 72
Chapter Title: No More Kisses
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A tremendous explosion roared as a cloud of dust billowed up, obscuring all vision.
Lumina, standing at a distance, was forced to take an involuntary step back from the sheer force of it.
Whoosh—.
Squinting, Lumina felt her hair whip around her face.
“Sir Ash!”
The attack was so destructive that she genuinely feared for Ash’s life.
Cough, cough.
Lumina let out a few small coughs from inhaling the dust and tried her best to assess the situation.
She saw something.
‘A light?’
Not just any light—it was an aura.
A typical Legion was capable of wielding mana, a power that transcended human limits.
Therefore, it was said they could easily use an aura, a form of mana.
Alternatively, since only a Sword Master could wield an aura, Lumina naturally assumed it belonged to Karayan.
At the same time, a chilling thought crossed her mind.
‘Ash may be the youngest Sword Master, but as far as I know, he still has about two years to go before he reaches that level.’
It would be impossible for Ash, who wasn't yet a Sword Master, to parry a full-force attack from a Legion.
Which meant that right now, Ash was…
As the dust began to settle, her vision cleared.
With trembling eyes, Lumina first checked to see if Ash was alive.
And her jaw dropped.
“Huh?”
The aura Lumina saw wasn’t Karayan’s.
It was Ash’s.
Thinking her vision might be blurred by the dust, Lumina blinked rapidly, wondering if she had seen wrong.
But it was no mistake.
A gray aura enveloped Ash’s wooden sword. It was an aura far too powerful for a mere training sword.
‘Already?’
Lumina wondered if her memory was faulty and mentally reviewed the information she had about Ash from her past life.
But her memory was correct.
Ash had truly awakened two years ahead of schedule.
Lumina was bewildered.
The most significant variable between her past and present lives was Lumina herself, yet she hadn’t done anything in particular to influence Ash’s growth.
Something was going wrong, very wrong.
“Ash.”
While Lumina wore a serious expression, Karayan called out to Ash.
He had been distracted by Lumina and belatedly realized he had almost killed Ash.
“Ash, are you all right?”
“…I’m fine.”
“I’m sorry. I should have controlled my strength better. That was my mistake.”
The fact that he had nearly killed his friend snapped Karayan back to his senses.
Ash showed little reaction. He himself was still dazed by the fact that he had reached the level of a Sword Master.
Surprise was etched onto Ash’s usually expressionless face.
He was so stunned that he couldn’t contain his aura.
Watching this, Karayan shouted to Lumina, who was standing a good distance away.
“I don’t know what’s going on, but it could be dangerous, so if you have something to say, say it from there.”
His head was no longer simmering. With a clear mind, he felt he could face Lumina without issue.
However, he decided to keep his distance just in case.
He felt that Lumina would probably faint just from sensing the aura.
Both father and son treated Lumina like a paper doll.
Lumina, who had been anxiously pacing, heard Karayan’s words and took a deep breath to state her business.
***
Meanwhile, the fierce duel between Karayan and Ash had shaken the mansion as if an earthquake had struck.
Thanks to that, the soundly sleeping knights had to scramble out of bed without even wiping the sleep from their eyes.
Fearing something terrible had happened between Karayan and Ash, they all rushed to the training grounds.
Although Karayan had been acting unlike himself lately, he had never unleashed his power this forcefully.
Because someone could have been killed.
But what if he had lost control?
Or what if this was a sign of him losing control?
One or two knights would never be enough to stop Karayan.
“Maybe the kids just got a little rough while sparring?”
“Let’s hope so.”
“Kids’ fights sure are brutal, brutal.”
The knights grabbed their weapons and ran in a group.
But since there were no further signs of trouble, they relaxed a bit.
Usually, when Karayan lost control, it wasn’t just one ‘Boom!’ but a series of ‘Boom! Boom! Boom-boom-boom-boom!’, so they felt the chances of him going berserk were low.
“Let’s hurry. At this rate, our youngest is going to become a Sword Master.”
Having regained enough composure for someone to crack such a joke, they arrived at the training grounds and immediately witnessed Ash’s aura.
‘A real Sword Master…!’
They were about to be stunned by the fact that their youngest had become a Sword Master.
If they hadn’t heard a young girl’s shout, that is.
“I’ll never kiss you again!”
I’ll never kiss you agaaain…
The girl’s voice echoed thunderously across the training grounds.
The knights, who had suddenly been subjected to the talk of kissing, froze in place.
And Karayan froze as well.
After a moment’s pause, Karayan dashed toward Lumina, kicking up dust.
“What are you talking about?”
“Exactly what I said! I’ll never do something like kissing you again, so please don’t hate me.”
“Hate you?”
When did I ever hate you.
Flustered, Karayan spoke in an unintentionally sharp tone.
“I was wrong.”
Lumina drooped.
Karayan was dumbfounded by the absurd situation.
“No.”
He had no idea where to even begin explaining.
I kept remembering that moment, so I couldn't bring myself to look at your face. I was afraid I’d have lecherous thoughts just by looking at you.
...is what he couldn't possibly say.
Even he had to admit he was being an idiot.
Karayan was trying to figure out how to phrase it delicately.
“She said a kiss.”
“A kiss?”
“Yeah. A kiss!”
The knights muttered the foolish conversation amongst themselves.
Though they were muttering, their voices were naturally so loud that everyone could hear.
Furious, Karayan glared at them and shouted.
“What are you all doing here?!”
“We came because we thought the Young Master had lost control! But seeing as you’re capable of normal conversation, you seem to be fine!”
“…”
“We’ll be taking our leave now. Please, continue what you were doing.”
Haha.
Somehow irritated, Karayan was about to say something.
But the quick-witted knights swarmed over to Ash instead.
“Our youngest has become a Sword Master.”
Ash, who was awkwardly holding the aura-clad wooden sword, finally managed to contain the aura.
As he did, the wooden sword turned to ash and scattered, as if it had been burned away.
Seeing this, the knights cheered, “Uwaaah!” like early humans discovering fire for the first time.
“Our youngest is a Sword Master!”
“Let’s throw a party to celebrate! A party!”
“A party!”
Waaaah—!
The large men lifted Ash into the air.
Tossed up and down, Ash floated in the air and came back down repeatedly with a dazed expression.
It seemed as if too much had happened at once for it to feel real.
Compared to others his age, Ash was on the larger side, but the knights were so burly that he looked small for his age among them.
Moreover, his dazed expression also did its part in making him look his age.
He looked like a big bear cub surrounded by hulking adult bears.
While the knights were making a ruckus, Yuri approached Lumina.
“Young Mistress. I am Yuri of the Dark Moon Knights, affiliated with the ducal house. If you don’t mind, I will escort you to your chambers.”
“But…”
Lumina glanced at Karayan.
I came all this way just to be sent back with nothing to show for it?
Something didn’t sit right with her.
“It is late. Minors need to sleep early to grow tall.”
Yuri said bluntly.
Just then, Karayan cut in.
“I’ll take her. You don’t need to worry about it.”
“Understood.”
If Karayan was going with her, there was no need for Yuri to concern herself with Lumina.
‘Looks like the Young Master’s hellish training ends today.’
Karayan leaving the training grounds was a sign that the Dark Moon Knights’ grueling training was also over.
Yuri turned away, thinking how pleased her excited comrades would be to hear this news.
“It’s late. Let’s go.”
“Huh? Yes!”
Meanwhile, Karayan seemed to have realized something after hearing Yuri’s words and urged Lumina on.
If he had his way, he would have started by silencing the knights who had found out about Lumina kissing him.
But they were already in the middle of a celebration.
Karayan didn’t want to ruin the mood.
Besides, he refused to let the already pint-sized Lumina stay pint-sized because she didn’t get enough sleep tonight.
Karayan walked on with long strides.
Lumina scurried along behind him.
Even when Lumina walked as fast as she could, practically running, she had trouble keeping up with Karayan’s normal pace.
The distance between them grew in the blink of an eye, and Lumina cursed Karayan inwardly.
“What are you doing.”
Did he read her mind?
Karayan whipped his head around.
‘Idiot, dummy, bleh.’
“I’m following you, Sir Karayan!”
Contrary to her wicked inner thoughts, Lumina beamed with a very innocent face.
Karayan, who had been staring at her face, walked over.
‘Idiot, dummy, bleh—all canceled! Canceled!’
There was no way he could have actually read her mind, but the timing was so impeccable that Lumina screamed inwardly.
Meanwhile, Karayan approached until he was right in front of her, his face looking intimidatingly stoic.
‘Opposite of idiot! Opposite of dummy! …Huh?’
He suddenly grabbed her hand.
Then he led the way, walking slightly ahead. His pace was much slower than before.
“If you keep falling behind like that, someone like me might just snatch you up.”
“Okay! I’d like that!”
‘I guess holding hands is as far as he’ll allow.’
Lumina, lost in another thought, wasn’t really listening and just agreed vaguely.
“…You’re so tiny, yet there’s nothing you won’t say. It makes me want to carry you around in my pocket.”
“?”
Unable to follow the conversation, Lumina could only stare bewilderedly at the back of Karayan’s head.
He was the one making a fuss after saying it.
Meanwhile, after Lumina left the training grounds, Huxley quickly looked around.
“Gasp! I didn’t get to see the Young Mistress’s face. Where did she go?”
“She went to bed.”
“No! I only heard her voice. If I run now…”
“You should just go to sleep, too.”
Yuri grabbed Huxley by the scruff of his neck and dragged him away.
