I Became a Crazy Swordsmanship Instructor in the Game

Chapter 51:

Illusionary Pain was a phenomenon where one felt pain in an area that hadn’t been physically injured.

Usually, it occurred in missing body parts due to accidents or injuries, but surprisingly, Philip was suffering from illusionary pain all over his body, despite not having any physical injuries.

“… Ugh.”

His neck and heart were particularly affected.

Neria’s first owner had a kind personality and didn’t enjoy causing pain to others. However, almost all attacks were focused on the neck and heart, areas that could instantly kill a person. Despite being aware of the situation, Philip couldn’t react and had to endure the pain without moving.

‘… Why don’t we explore other options? This approach is too barbaric. Who practices like this? You might end up with a mental illness.’

“But there’s no other choice. I’ve already submitted a letter requesting a duel trial to the royal family.”

‘Well, can’t you just say that the cat accidentally sent it?’

“Does that even make sense?”

‘What else can we do? Your current actions are even more nonsensical. Are you planning to leave Neria as a masterless sword? Neria can’t help you even if you throw challenges at her since she doesn’t have arms or legs!’

“Please refrain from saying such things. Understood?”

In truth, Philip knew that Neria had a point. Simply immersing himself in training might not guarantee an improvement in his skills.

“But what if Count Elloy refuses your duel request? What will you do then?”

“That won’t happen. If the purpose is to provoke a war, they can’t miss the chance to lawfully kill Oswald’s child.”

That was how duels worked in this world. The royal family’s observer would preside over the duel, and even if someone died during the trial, no physical confrontation could occur on the spot.

Even if Philip were to lose and die in the duel trial, the Oswald family wouldn’t be able to take any immediate action.

‘They’ll immediately prepare for war. Then Count Eloy will easily achieve his goal.’

Philip nodded, considering that possibility.

“I’ve thought about it again, and it’s the same. He’ll definitely show up. Whether he comes out in person or hires a champion to fight for him, Count Eloy will attend the duel trial. He might die even before that.”

‘… I wish he would get struck by lightning and die. Or maybe he falls into the toilet and dies.’

Philip chuckled at Neria’s joke.

“If things could be solved so easily, how great would that be? It would be nice if someone kills Count Eloy without anyone noticing. If that happens, I feel like I would grant any request.”

Mumbling like that, Philip embraced Neria and closed his eyes. It was time to enter the virtual space to train.

Little did he know that a black cat was quietly listening to everything from within his shadow.

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“… Mew.”

While Philip’s consciousness was in Neria’s space, Tania quietly emerged from his shadow.

While black cats could usually pass through shadows, being able to hide within a shadow was a rare ability among the black cat tribe.

It required inheriting the strong blood of past chieftains or being born with exceptional talent.

But, Tania had both of them.

Tania gracefully navigated her way through the shadowy thicket, and emerged from the mansion. Her short arms and legs moved with purpose, leading her towards the western domain of the Count Eloy.

—

In the household of the Count Eloy, Milah, a devoted maid, was diligently preparing lunch.

Renowned for her culinary skills in the village, Milah had inherited her mother’s talents, which allowed her to serve in the bustling yet manageable kitchen.

“Milah! You heedless girl! We’re running short of radish juice for the roasted duck! If you can’t even manage such details, I’ll reprimand you right away!”

The supervisor’s reproachful words echoed as Milah stirred the fragrant soup.

Milah pursed her lips. The supervisor’s tendency to blame her for any mishap involving precious ingredients like radish juice had become all too familiar, even when she couldn’t access them.

‘How am I supposed to anticipate shortages of ingredients I can’t even lay my eyes on?’

“… Very well! I’ll prepare it immediately.”

With a swift motion, the supervisor tossed two radishes in Milah’s direction. While she successfully caught one, the other met her petite head with a gentle thud.

“Ouch!”

“Have it ready within the hour. If you cause any more trouble, I’ll have you disciplined by the stablehand.”

The stout supervisor, resembling a toad, grumbled like an irritated boar. Overwhelmed, Milah could only respond with teary eyes, indicating her understanding.

Venturing into the scarcely populated backyard, Milah kindled a modest fire, setting a pot in place to simmer the radishes. To achieve the desired tenderness, she settled into a slightly hunched position, ready to patiently wait for an hour.

‘Reminiscing about the Baron.’

Originally employed by the Baronial family in the rural estate, Milah found herself here due to the downfall of the Baron’s household caused by the Count Eloy. She became a young woman seeking employment, leaving behind the fond memories of the Baron who had treated her like a cherished daughter.

As she wiped away a stray tear, a subtle rustling sound nearby caught her attention, prompting her to scan her surroundings.

“… What’s this?”

A dainty and endearing kitten was playfully rummaging through the foliage, drawing closer to Milah.

While its obsidian fur might have carried an air of foreboding, its undeniable cuteness overshadowed any concerns.

“Meow.”

“Did the alluring aroma lead you here?”

Milah’s laughter tinkled through the air as she playfully twitched her nose and let out a mischievous grin. Retrieving the pot of candy radishes, she delicately scooped a drop of its juice onto her fingertip, then playfully blew on it.

“Not exactly a luxurious treat, so don’t expect a grand portion. Fancy a taste, though?”

In the brief instant her gaze shifted, the cat vanished without a trace.

A puzzled “…Huh?” escaped Milah’s lips as she blinked, momentarily caught in an otherworldly trance. Shaking it off, she resumed her task of stirring the pot of radishes, wholly engrossed.

An hour drifted by like a whisper, the radish juice finally achieving the perfect viscosity. With a sense of accomplishment, Milah presented her creation to the chef.

“Here you have it, Chef.”

A playful smirk played on his lips as he quipped, “You didn’t sneak a cheeky sample, did you?”

Setting her eyes firmly on the task at hand, Milah defended herself. “I’m no thief, Chef.”

He leaned in, his voice a hushed tone of camaraderie, “In my experience, girls from the countryside, like yourself, often have peculiar habits. But hey, if you’re ever craving a sweet indulgence, you know where to find me.”

Milah averted her gaze, focusing on the simmering soup pot, determined to shut out his gaze that felt oddly intrusive.

The kitchen hummed with activity as the chef, now by the oven, held a vial of radish juice, ready to put the finishing touch on the center attraction of the day – a succulent roasted duck. Beside him stood his apprentice, a youthful figure destined to carry on his culinary legacy, a nephew who bore the weight of his future.

“… Count, you see, takes a particular liking to my roasted duck. It’s not just any ordinary duck; it’s the magic in the way I baste it with radish juice and employ my secret technique that renders it both succulent and delightfully crispy.”

He meticulously coached the apprentice, sharing his wisdom and insights as the masterpiece reached its final stages.

“Mind you, the Count always begins with the right leg. It’s a detail you should never overlook. The breast and belly deserve a little extra time on the heat, as he savors those moments later. As for the legs, a bit more time post-boiling ensures that the juices burst forth in an irresistible burst of flavor…”

In due time, a messenger from the esteemed Eloy family arrived to collect the perfected roasted duck.

“Given the Count’s inclination to dine in the study today, kindly prepare a bottle of fine wine and a modest salad to accompany the feast.”

A knowing smile curled on the messenger’s lips as he remarked, “Seems like the Count’s calendar is rather packed these days. Time flies, doesn’t it?”

The messenger’s position within the mansion was of such high regard that even the chef treaded lightly. As the chef emitted a humble chuckle, the messenger leveled a steady, unwavering gaze his way.

A question hung in the air. 

“And why this inquisitiveness, might I ask?”

“Oh, it’s nothing of consequence.”

The messenger instructed the maid who accompanied him to hold the plate of roasted duck, while he himself raised a glass of wine. As he vanished from sight, the chef in the kitchen let out muttered curses under his breath.

“Unbelievable. I want to foster a closer relationship, yet his arrogance knows no bounds.”

—

“Instructor, Tania is nowhere to be found.”

Philip’s tired eyes shadowed down to his cheekbones and greeted Lua with a wry smile as she entered his room in the dead of night.

For several days now, he had been attempting to engage Neria’s original owner in combat, but their blades had yet to properly clash, leaving him uneasy.

Sleep had become elusive due to this uncertainty.

“Tania? She’s known to disappear every now and then, isn’t she?”

Lua shook her head at Philip’s words.

“I’ve thoroughly searched all the places Tania frequents, but she’s nowhere to be seen. What if she’s fallen into the hands of someone malicious?”

While Philip could confidently dismiss the likelihood, he preferred that Lua remained unaware of Tania’s assassin origins.

“There’s no one in this vicinity who would stoop to that, so perhaps she paid a visit to Priscilla, the Instructor of the Magic Department. I took her there once, and they seemed to have established quite the rapport.”

Upon hearing this, Lua’s demeanor shifted towards relief. She was well aware that Philip’s judgment was rarely amiss.

“If she doesn’t reappear by tomorrow, we’ll initiate a search. Given her nature as a black cat, locating her should prove to be a swift task…”

In the midst of his sentence, Philip’s attention was seized by the sound of a window being unlatched.

“Meow.”

It was Tania, the kitten, entering through the window, playfully employing her front paws.

“Look who’s here, Tania.”

“Tania!”

Lua promptly cradled Tania in her arms, and it didn’t take long for her to realize that the feline held something in her mouth.

“Tania, what do you have there?”

It was a small, gleaming object.

“It’s a ring. Where did she come across this?”

Philip extended his hand, carefully extracting the ring from Tania’s grasp. She offered no resistance. After a thorough examination, Philip blinked.

“… A noble family’s signet ring, it appears. This isn’t an item one misplaces easily.”

While the identity of the absent-minded noble remained a mystery, they were undoubtedly entangled in a rather delicate situation.

“Huh?”

Philip was suddenly struck by a peculiar sense of familiarity as he gazed upon the emblem etched onto the ring. Almost immediately, beads of cool sweat formed on his brow.

“This… it’s the insignia of Count Eloy, isn’t it?”

How on earth did it end up adorning Tania’s collar?

Philip regarded Tania with a look akin to seeing a specter.

“Miyaa, meow.”

Tania simply swayed her tail and nestled serenely, as if silently seeking approval.

“… Lua, could you stay in the room for a moment? Bring Tania here. I’ll summon you again shortly.”

Having temporarily ushered Lua away, Philip clasped Tania’s flank and aligned her with his line of sight.

“What in the world is this? Where on earth did you come across this?”

The emblem of a noble lineage was an item that should never fall into the hands of others.

Even in the direst circumstances, the insignia or banner couldn’t be wrested away if the eldest son was captured by the enemy. Most vigilant nobles were accustomed to wearing their insignia rings even as they slumbered.

If someone had indeed taken the emblem ring, it must have been filched while he slept…

“You wished he were dead. And so I ended his life.”

Tania confirmed Lua’s complete disappearance and finally spoke. Her demeanor was akin to that of a clever child who had adeptly carried out an errand and now sought recognition through a display of innocence.

“… Um… yes, you did well.”

After contemplating for a while, Philip forced a smile, embraced her gently, and stroked her side.

The path forward remained uncertain, but there was no denying that she had acted commendably.

——-

Apologies. I was busy with Real Life stuff, so the delay.

There will be another release to compensate the loss. So happy reading.