I Became a Crazy Swordsmanship Instructor in the Game - Chapter 27:

Imagine having a plan that was bound to succeed, no matter how it was executed. How would the person responsible for carrying out that plan feel?

Although it was a one-time-use cheat code, Phillip felt a sense of ease.

‘Could a dragon really fail?’

This situation was highly unusual.

If it hadn’t been connected to demons, Phillip would have never received her assistance.

To understand the reason, one had to be familiar with the original setting.

In this world, dragons were the guardians of the continent.

Their sole duty was to protect the land called “Etoonda,” and humans were a mere part of the continent.

In the original story, dragons didn’t appear until the time of their extinction.

Phillip was aware of the “pact” between dragons and demons.

It was an agreement made by the Dragon Lord and the

Great Demon Lord to avoid an all-out war.

“You may exterminate humans, but you must never corrupt them. If you agree, we will turn a blind eye to your attacks on humans.”

“We agree.”

It was a highly pragmatic yet efficient pact.

From the perspective of dragons, humans were just a part of the continent, and there was no need for them to sacrifice themselves.

However, if humans were to succumb to corruption and side with demons, the balance of power would be shattered.

Humans had the ability to strengthen the demons’ power by offering sacrifices or practicing dark magic.

In conclusion, Neffen, the leader of Crescent, was an incubus, and incubus were one of the most suitable demons to corrupt humans.

In Privia’s eyes, it was no different from a cockroach appearing in her newly moved house.

For her, it was the kind of problem that required immediate eradication upon discovery.

While awaiting a message from Stella, Phillip carried out his academic schedule.

As a new instructor, he was more like a general worker for the entire academy than merely an instructor for lower-level students. However, since it was still early in the semester, there were no major events to handle.

Just a bit of bothersome paperwork.

“They seem eager to delegate everything to me since I’m quick to carry out their orders.”

He was currently working as a security agent due to the request of Professor Dunmer Harslan, the third-ranked associate professor in the Sword Department.

“I’ve heard a lot about you. Is this the first time we meet in person?” Professor Dunmer Harslan asked. He was a man in his late thirties and a descendant of a fallen noble lineage.

He had come a long way, starting as a lowly mercenary before rising to become a sword master for the royal family. Eventually, in his late twenties, he reclaimed his family’s position and secured a prestigious teaching position at the academy. He was the epitome of a self-made man.

However, Philip felt a strong sense of disdain and mockery in Professor Harslan’s gaze.

“Oh, yes. This is the first time we meet like this.”

“Frankly, I didn’t expect to see you stick around for so long. Your reputation, you know…”

Professor Harslan’s somewhat serious remark prompted laughter from the fifth-year students gathered in the sword master’s office.

Fifth-year students were usually around nineteen years old if they entered the academy at the typical age. As Philip was only a few years older than them, being somewhat disregarded by the younger students was understandable.

“Haha, I also consider it fortunate. Since I’ve come this far, I’ll endure a bit longer. Do you mind? Will I be by your side longer than you remain a professor?”

Philip replied with a smile, his words skillfully chosen. Professor Harslan’s eyebrows twitched slightly.

“… What do you mean by that?”

“It’s nothing. I just thought you’ll likely ascend to a higher position. I don’t think you’ll remain a professor for your entire life. I’m just saying, in case I’ve made a mistake?”

Professor Harslan forced a smile, not wanting to confront Philip directly and damage his own dignity.

‘What an audacious young brat.’

Philip’s eloquence was beyond ordinary, and Professor Harslan acknowledged that the rightful claim was on his side. However, openly attacking Philip would be detrimental to his own reputation.

‘This guy has no right to be here. How dare a lowborn scoundrel like him tarnish this esteemed academy.’

“To see me like that, huh? Should I thank you for that? Anyway, I’ll rely on you today. The students in their prime might get a bit heated during the sparring, so please keep an eye on them.”

“Yes, of course.” Philip nodded.

Today’s schedule for the fifth-year students in the Sword Department involved sparring. Around the age of nineteen, talented students typically learned to enhance their bodies with aura, and those with exceptional talents could even infuse aura into their wooden swords. Though, their output was limited.

At the Privia Academy, students started using real swords in classes from the 4th year onwards. As a safety precaution, a minimum of three instructors had to be present to supervise the sessions.

The stakes were high, and if a student didn’t act swiftly at the critical moment, they could be seriously injured.

“Alright, let’s begin. Baron, Releves, you may prepare to engage.”

“Yes, professor.”

The other students stepped back, leaving Baron and Releves at the forefront.

Philip noticed subtle eye exchanges between the two students as they held their swords. They faced each other, and respectfully bowed before commencing.

“Let the training commence.”

At Professor Harslan’s signal, Baron and Releves began their intricate dance, circling each other with their swords.

‘Master, this is incredibly dull.’

Neria whispered after about thirty seconds. Philip nodded in agreement. He could clearly discern the students’ intentions and their individual styles from their movements.

Their footwork already revealed a lot about their skill levels.

Another thirty seconds passed. Philip sighed quietly as he realized the students were holding their breath, carefully analyzing each other’s moves.

‘Do they plan to wait until an opening appears? That’s not how swordsmanship works! It’s frustrating!’

Neria’s frustration seemed palpable. Philip stifled his laughter and waited patiently for something to happen.

And then, Baron targeted his opponent’s thigh, thrusting his sword forward.

Releves skillfully parried the attack, stepping back three paces.

‘… Why is he coming towards me?’

Baron’s charge seemed directed at Philip’s direction.

And along that path, Baron lunged forward.

‘No, why is he coming for me?’

Of course, that was exactly where Philip stood.

Without drawing his own sword, Philip found himself unexpectedly exposed to Baron’s attack as he tried to evade Releves’ advance.

Baron’s sword was sent hurtling towards Philip’s upper body.

“Huh?”

Philip was taken aback but reacted swiftly. Using his injured hand, he deftly guided Baron’s sword aside, and to avoid a collision, he skillfully hooked his leg around Baron’s.

“Ouch!”

Baron, the unfortunate one, had an unexpected collision with a clumsy student who was briefly airborne. It caused him to lose his grip on his sword.

“…?”

Philip gazed at Baron with a puzzled expression.

Understanding how a student, who had received five years of advanced education at the academy, could make such a beginner’s mistake was beyond his comprehension.

However, reading Baron and Releves’ expressions, he soon grasped the situation.

Not only Baron but also Releves wore looks of defeat.

‘They were trying to make a fool out of me.’

With a wry smile, Philip approached Baron and extended his hand.

“Are you alright?”

Baron got up without taking Philip’s hand, and his face was flushed red as if ready to burst.

“It seems you need to work on your lower body training. How do you expect to defeat an opponent when you can’t even control your own body properly? Hasn’t any professor or instructor pointed that out to you?”

Philip’s words carried a slight hint of sarcasm. He glanced at Professor Harslan and the fifth-year instructors.

“No response?”

They should have immediately noticed that Baron and Releves weren’t taking the sparring seriously. However, their silence indicated that they were well aware of the situation.

Perhaps Baron had conspired with Releves beforehand to put on such a pathetic display just to embarrass Philip.

This notion left Philip feeling increasingly irritated.

There was a limit to underestimating others. He locked eyes with Professor Harslan and spoke firmly.

“Forgive my impertinence, but I believe Baron should focus on fundamental training rather than sparring, Professor.”

“… You seem unusually tense today. That’s not like you.”

“Then perhaps you should teach me how to meditate. If he makes mistakes due to tension in a situation like this, how will he fare in real-life battles where lives are on the line?”

Professor Harslan narrowed his eyes as Philip showed no signs of backing down.

“Are you implying my teaching approach is flawed?”

“It’s not about right or wrong; it’s about the results. Look at the situation. Even the first-year students I teach don’t attack the observing instructors. Shouldn’t my opinion hold value in such circumstances?”

Students might mock him on occasion, but a professor like Harslan should not have acted in that manner.

In Philip’s view as an educator, letting such behavior slide was unacceptable.

Feeling his patience wearing thin, memories of the troublemaker’s soul that he thought had vanished upon transmigration wriggled deep within his heart.

Regardless of what the students thought or said, Philip intended to resolve this matter here and now.

“I understand your perspective, but it’s my responsibility to assess my students. So, let me handle my task for now…”

‘Master. Excuse me! Over there! In the left bushes!’

The calls of Professor Harslan and Neria overlapped, but for Philip, Neria’s voice took precedence.

Philip turned his gaze in the direction pointed by Neria.

“Huh?”

A wounded black cat was limping through the bushes, its eyes fixed on Philip.

“No way. This can’t be.”

Philip recalled Stella’s words.

‘Just give me one day. I’ll gather all the capable members of the Shadow Cat Tribe and come up with a viable plan.’

As he heard that voice and saw the injured cat, Philip felt that something was seriously amiss. He quickly shouted, “Wait! I have something urgent to attend to!”

“… So, you’re just going to ignore us… What did you say?”

Startled, Professor Harslan called out as Philip hurriedly moved away.

“What’s going on?”

Nervous and pressed for time, Philip blurted out the first thing that came to mind.

“For detailed inquiries, please DM me!”

He swiftly left the swordsmanship training ground after rescuing the injured cat from the bushes.

* * *

“Philip… Sir… Is that you?”

The injured cat was clearly a stranger, yet it undeniably belonged to the Shadow Cat Tribe. Otherwise, instead of meowing, a young woman’s voice wouldn’t have emerged.

“Yes, it’s me. What’s happening?”

Thankfully, the injuries weren’t life-threatening, and Philip immediately tended to the woman whose fur was stained with blood, and whose tail was partially cut off.

“I am Lana, Chief Stella’s cousin. I feel truly embarrassed to bring this news, but….”

“It’s okay, please tell me. I’m ready to listen.”

He momentarily felt anxious, but since the dragon was an ally, the situation hadn’t changed drastically. The extent of the damage was a bit worse than he had anticipated.

However, as Lana continued speaking, Philip couldn’t help but sigh.

“The Shadow Cat Tribe… was attacked. Chief Stella was seriously injured and had to hide urgently. Due to the invaders, our clan had no choice but to abandon the village and flee.”

“Damn.”

Feeling frustrated, Philip was about to say more when he locked eyes with Lana’s tearful gaze. In those watery eyes, he found himself at a loss for words.

“You’re the only one who can help our tribe. Please, I beg you, help us….”

———-

Translator’s corner:- How am I doing guys? Are you enjoying the story so far? Please let me know in the comments.