I Became a Crazy Swordsmanship Instructor in the Game - Chapter 36:

It was an early Saturday morning.

The students from the travel department gathered at the main square, eagerly awaiting the arrival of Philip and Lua.

“… Sudden camping plans, huh? Isn’t it a bit unexpected?”

Janice Morrela furrowed her brow as she felt the weight of the backpack on her shoulders. Along with Cheryl and Stephen, she had prepared for the camping trip based on Philip’s announcement.

If they were third-year students in the Swordsmanship Department, they would have been quite accustomed to camping. However, the unfortunate reality was that the Magic Department’s students only had the opportunity to spend a night outdoors once a year.

“Still, it might turn out to be fun. No strict professors around, and I have a feeling Instructor Philip won’t mind whatever we do,” Cheryl chimed in optimistically.

“But there will be bugs, and Stephen will be there,” Janice countered, causing Stephen, who was standing nearby, to look hurt.

Stephen’s presence as a guy was something she was already familiar with, but it was a little disheartening to have him associated with bugs.

“Do you dislike my company that much?” Stephen asked, his expression showing a hint of sadness.

“Come on, don’t twist my words, Stephen. It’s not about disliking you,” Janice replied with a sigh. “I’ve asked you so many times to speak casually, but you still can’t stop using formal language.”

“I’ve called you ‘Miss’ all this time, and now you expect me to change overnight?”

Stephen tried to defend himself, but Janice just shot back, clearly annoyed.

“Don’t make excuses, Stephen.”

Thankfully, Philip and Lua appeared in the distance, rescuing Stephen from the awkward moment. Cheryl was the first to spot them and greeted them with a nod.

There was one more person with them.

“Isn’t that Professor Oswald from the Swordsmanship Department?”

Encountering a professor from the Swordsmanship Department was quite rare for a student in the Magic Department. However, Felicia Oswald was an exception.

A prodigy in swordsmanship; she had become the youngest professor in the history of Privia Academy.

During her time at the academy, as soon as she reached the third year, Felicia was already known as the strongest in the Swordsmanship Department.

She surpassed numerous students from prestigious swordsmanship families and was hailed by the Swordmaster Emil Phanoy as his disciple.

Cheryl secretly admired Felicia. It was because Felicia’s character resembled the protagonists she had enjoyed reading about in novels.

“Hello, everyone,” Felicia said with an awkward smile, waving at the magic department students.

Her presence was not without reason.

During a recent faculty meeting, there was a discussion about the inadequacy of having only one new instructor accompany the academy’s external activities.

Having received many favors from Philip, Felicia found it difficult to refuse his request.

“It seems everyone has prepared diligently,” Philip remarked, observing the students’ well-packed backpacks with satisfaction.

With their prior camping experience, the third-year students appeared to have packed supplies, scrolls, and even magical items, ready for the journey ahead.

In contrast, Lua had only brought along a sleeping bag and a few sets of clothes; her preparations seemed rather modest in comparison.

“Let’s discuss the details during the carriage ride. For now, let’s set off.”

“Yes, Instructor.”

The students replied in unison, making their way towards the academy’s main gate, where a horse-drawn carriage awaited them.

* * *

Felicia felt a slight sense of unease as she glanced around at the students. While she was confident she could engage in meaningful conversations with her own assigned students, she felt less certain about connecting with the magic department students, with whom she had limited interactions.

Sitting beside Lua, who also appeared a bit awkward, Felicia smiled warmly as she tried to answer the students’ questions, hoping to put them at ease.

Her mood turned a bit sour when she noticed Philip had opted for a seat by the window, citing the lack of space.

On the other hand, Janice Morrela faced a similar dilemma. Though the Viscount Oswald family held a reputable position, it still couldn’t quite match the prominence of the Morrela family. Moreover, Felicia was considerably older than Janice, making casual conversations a bit challenging.

Feeling determined to make a good impression, Cheryl found her courage and spoke up, eager to seize the opportunity to engage with the esteemed professor.

“Um, Professor, I heard that when you graduated from the academy, you were offered a position in the Order of the Knights…”

Felicia acknowledged the offer with a nod, a hint of nostalgia in her eyes. “Yes, it was indeed an honorable offer. However, I had my reasons for not accepting it at that time.”

Meanwhile, Janice couldn’t help but be captivated by Lua’s hair. The delicate and artistic styling, adorned with a ribbon, was simply charming.

Janice smiled warmly at the sight, finding Lua’s innocent beauty endearing.

Sitting next to Felicia, Lua struggled to keep her eyes open. Excitement about the upcoming journey had kept her awake all night.

As the carriage journeyed on, Lua couldn’t help but doze off occasionally, stifling yawns. When she caught Janice’s gaze, she responded with a sweet, instinctive smile.

The brief exchange melted Janice’s heart, and she couldn’t help but find Lua absolutely adorable.

‘She looks so young, even though she’s fourteen,’ Janice thought, attributing Lua’s youthful appearance to her petite frame and innocent demeanor.

‘Having her in the magic department would be wonderful.’

Janice mused, momentarily lost in thoughts about Lua’s potential.

However, Janice’s musings were interrupted as the carriage finally arrived at its destination.

“… Huh?”

Janice looked around, feeling momentarily dazed by the mist-shrouded lake and the serene atmosphere surrounding it.

Philip and Stephen worked together to unload the luggage from the carriage. Besides the students’ belongings, they had packed provisions like cured meat and bread, as if preparing for more than just what the students had brought.

“After we set up the campsite in a sunny spot, it’s all free time,” Philip declared.

The students and Felicia looked at him with puzzled expressions.

Their gazes seemed to question, “Why did we come all the way here if we’re not going to do anything?”

“… I was just kidding. But there are rumors that strange things happen at this lake late at night. Some claim to have seen fairies, and others believe they’ve encountered spirits. Perhaps you all can unravel the truth behind these rumors?”

Philip ignited the students’ sense of adventure. Although he already knew the secrets of this lake, he had no intention of revealing them outright.

“If we want to enjoy a leisurely lunch, we better start moving now. I’ll lend a hand, so let’s get prepared.”

Creating the campsite turned out to be more labor-intensive than they had anticipated.

First, they needed a suitable spot to build a fire, and if they wanted to avoid getting soaked by the morning dew, they had to set up tents. Fortunately, there were plenty of trees around, but using fresh logs as support was out of the question.

“Can I help?”

Felicia whispered to Philip. With her skills, she could probably single-handedly create a campsite big enough for several people, but Philip shook his head.

“Let’s leave it to the group. This way, it’ll become an experience and a memory for all of them.”

Felicia giggled, amused by what one might expect from an old professor. After all, Philip was the faculty advisor for this club, so she decided to let him have his way.

“What can I do?”

Lua asked, peering at the busy seniors.

No third-year student could think of giving instructions to a young  girl.

“Could you gather some dry branches for us? We need them for the fire,” Stephen assigned her a task.

Upon receiving the instructions, Lua nodded and vanished into the dense trees.

“Don’t go too far! It’d be a problem if she gets lost!” Cheryl called out worriedly. Philip chuckled as he witnessed the scene. He had spent a day with Lua in the mountains and forests before.

‘If I took her to Korea and made camping videos, I might become a millionaire.’

In natural settings like the mountains or forests, Lua moved like an elf, perhaps even faster and more agile than elves of her age.

Thanks to Lua’s skillful hands, a pile of dry branches quickly accumulated.

However, compared to their bustling movements, the process of building the campsite progressed slowly.

‘Should I use magic to cut the wood?’ Janice pondered.

“But if you accidentally use a spell like Wind Blade here…”

As Cheryl reminded her of the potential dangers, Janice let out a resigned sigh.

As Cheryl had pointed out, Wind Blade magic wasn’t very convenient. They didn’t know what might happen if they accidentally affected other trees.

They had no suitable supports to erect the tents.

“I think we can do without support. Can’t we just secure the cloth by nailing it into the gaps between the trees?”

Stephen suggested suddenly. It sounded quite plausible, and the girls nodded in agreement.

* * *

Philip hurriedly circled around the lake alone, moving quickly towards the opposite side where he had some business with the lake’s owner.

Pushing through the bushes and branches, Philip would soon arrive at his destination.

On the opposite side of the lake, amidst the swirling mist and between the secretive gaps of the trees, stood a solitary statue. It depicted a barefooted woman, her figure gracefully carved, and her identity held a hidden enchantment—it was a sculpture fashioned in the likeness of a fairy, residing in this very lake.

“Greetings,” Philip called out into the emptiness, and as if in response, the lake’s mist took on the shape of a woman. Her hair cascaded down to her hips, barely concealing her form.

“Hello? Who might you be?”

The woman with water-like hair inquired, and her expression was of innocence and curiosity.

“I am a traveler seeking to spend the night by this enchanting lake. Knowing this place belongs to you, I thought it proper to greet you first,” Philip replied with respect.

The woman clapped her hands in approval. “You are quite polite. I have a fondness for well-mannered guests.”

However, a hint of disappointment crept across her face. “… But this means I must give up my sole source of amusement. If I were to play tricks on you, you would discern it’s me. Please enjoy your stay and then return safely.”

The fairy of the “Singyuru Lake” held a peculiar pastime—she delighted in conjuring misty illusions to entertain visitors and relish their reactions. Yet, her intentions were never malevolent, for she had another purpose hidden within her games.

After reveling in their amusement, she bestowed them with unique gifts only she could grant, and among these rewards, some held great significance.

“No, worry not. I shall keep this encounter a secret, allowing you to savor your mischief to your heart’s content. In fact, I have a favor to ask of you. Those young ones will one day encounter all sorts of malevolent illusions and dreadful fantasies. Experiencing some beforehand might prepare them for what lies ahead,” Philip earnestly requested.

Taken aback, the fairy brought a hand to her mouth. “Really? Is that permissible?”

“Of course, as long as you avoid overly harsh pranks, especially anything that might lead them into danger, like falling into the water.”

“Hehe, understood. It has been rather dull with only lumberjacks visiting lately. I never expected young girls to come by. Playing tricks on children is the most amusing, you know.”

The fairy confessed with a gleam in her eye.

And so, an arrangement was made between the lake fairy and Philip.

“In that case, I shall contemplate the most enjoyable tricks to play on them. Remember, the secret must be safeguarded!” The fairy vanished into the depths of the lake, leaving Philip with a hint of concern.

“She seemed so thrilled. I hope all will be well.”

_________

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