I Became a Crazy Swordsmanship Instructor in the Game

Chapter 14:

Chapter 14:

Philip handed over a slender, black sword with exquisite jewels embedded in its hilt, which made it appear like a precious ornament worn by royalty.

“… What is this?”

“This sword can house a spirit. It doesn’t have a name yet, so you can give it one, Professor, as you please.”

“I can feel the presence of natural energy emanating from this sword.”

Observing the sword from a distance, Epochnel remarked. 

Philip nodded in agreement.

The sword was originally destined to fall into the hands of one of the main antagonists, ‘Spirit Princess Safina.’

Safina was an exceptional spirit user, possessing the ability to command the highest-grade fire spirits and wind at her will. She was also a master swordsman, having reached the pinnacle of swordsmanship.

As the story progressed, the protagonist and their companions would also attain the status of master spirit users, making it relatively feasible for them to overcome top-tier spirit users or masters.

However, the sword currently held by Felicia could potentially transform Safina into a fearsome and monstrous being.

It possessed the power to meld the energies of spirits and auras, giving birth to an entirely new force.

“To enable the spirit to inhabit the sword, infuse your mana into it while requesting the spirit’s assistance,” Philip explained, pondering the rarity of such a fortuitous find in Younson’s inventory.

Feeling an aura emanating from Philip that was hard to resist, Felicia decided to comply with his instructions for now.

“Uh… Sure. Can you enter for a moment?”

“Shi Ruh.”

Her request was promptly declined.

“Haha, spirits do not readily lend their power just because you ask. It takes time to build a bond, to become close, to trust each other sincerely, and to develop a true connection. Only then will they willingly offer their assistance,” Epochnel, the spirit user, elucidated with a smile. Philip sensed that something was amiss.

“Well… How long does it usually take for that to happen?”

Philip inquired, and after a brief moment of thought, Epochnel responded.

“After five long years, Silairon finally opened up to me. It may vary from person to person, but it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that it took at least two to three years. Heck, for some, it might even take decades to achieve such a connection. If I hadn’t been naturally inclined towards elves, it would have been an uphill battle right from the start.”

“No, you should have told me earlier.”

Philip was taken aback and nibbled on his lip slightly.

He couldn’t help it; his knowledge about spirits was lacking.

“… But well, never mind.”

He turned his attention to Felicia.

Awkwardly, she held the sword Philip had given her, her gaze fixed on Ignis, the fiery wolf spirit.

Even in her pure spirit form, Felicia’s kind and gentle eyes complemented the fluffy fiery wolf appearance, and it was evident that she had fallen in love with the creature.

‘Well, if she adores it that much, who am I to complain?’

Philip chuckled, his hand trembling slightly.

“… Thank you so much today, Spirit Master. If you ever need my assistance, don’t hesitate to contact the regional manager.”

“You’re most welcome.”

With a farewell, Epochnel vanished from the scene.

An uneasy silence filled the place he had just left.

“I’m also swamped with important matters, so I guess I should be off too….”

Unable to bear the silence, Lisriel hurriedly excused herself and left.

* * *

Philip rushed back to his room and cradled Neria, who was peacefully sleeping on the bed.

‘I was sleeping so peacefully….’

“Just keep resting a little longer after having a look at this.”

‘… What’s going on?’

“I’ve had an epiphany.”

“….”

With those words, Phillip channeled magic into Neria’s handle.

The process of forming the aura was familiar, but this time, it felt subtly different.

‘What’s happening? Ah, it’s cold!’

“Success,” Phillip replied.

Neria sounded alarmed as she asked, ‘…Huh? What’s going on? Master, what did you do?’

Sensing her unease, Phillip promptly withdrew the magic.

“I believe I managed to alter the nature of the magic,” he explained.

Neria seemed skeptical, asking, ‘Really? How? Is that even possible?’

Phillip elaborated, “I just encountered some spirits, and the way they manipulate natural energy is fundamentally not that different from magic. For instance, take light—it may seem distinct between sunlight and the glow of a firefly, but essentially, they belong to the same energy spectrum.”

‘Are you intentionally trying to confuse me with your explanation?’

Chuckling, he said, “If I attempted to explain this to you like I would to myself, even the Archmage wouldn’t understand. Anyway, magic ultimately involves manipulating existing energies and their wavelengths…”

‘Kyaaaaah! Kiyaaah! Ebebebebb!’

Neria suddenly screamed, interrupting Phillip’s explanation, and he decided to stop talking.

“Is it that difficult to humor me for a moment?” he asked.

“I’d much rather hear some juicy gossip from you,” Neria retorted.

“You never change,” Phillip said with a smile.

As they continued chatting, Phillip sensed someone approaching in the hallway.

“They’re coming,” he informed Neria, preparing himself to stand.

Without any warning, the door swung open. Only one person in the cottage would barge in without knocking.

“Hello, sister,” Phillip greeted the newcomer.

“….” 

Neria remained silent, apparently not in the mood to respond.

It was Felicia Oswald’s visit.

She nervously played with her hair near her ears, avoiding Phillip’s gaze. However, with a firm resolve, she eventually looked straight at him,while her lips were slightly trembling.

“All this while, why did you have to behave so badly?”

As soon as the words left her mouth, Felicia’s expression showed a sudden realization of her mistake. Phillip suppressed a laugh and managed to respond.

“I was genuinely sorry back then.”

Felicia’s eyes welled up with tears.

“If you were so sorry, then why did you do it?”

Felicia was no fool.

She knew that Phillip no longer frequented the brothel, where he used to spend more time than at home, and that he was now devotedly mentoring students.

She also noticed how much he had changed, never showing annoyance even when faced with her resentful glares.

She somehow sensed what he might have been thinking when preparing the spirit contract and mithril sword.

‘You didn’t want to see me lose, did you?’

Felicia couldn’t help but admit that she had thought that way.

Perhaps she had secretly hoped that her younger brother’s prolonged debauchery would come to an end.

Approaching Phillip, she embraced him so tightly that even his joints creaked, and he responded with a hint of awkwardness.

Soon, he could hear her voice whispering in his ear.

“If you change again, I won’t forgive you next time.”

It was the moment when their sibling feud, which had lasted for seven years, finally came to an end.

* * *

After sharing a poignant embrace of reconciliation with Felicia, Phillip returned to the backyard first.

To maintain a materialized high-ranking spirit, Felicia’s affinity was not just lacking but woefully insufficient. Therefore, Ignis, the supreme Fire Spirit, had been dismissed long ago.

“… I won’t give up. What would it take to convince him though?”

Philip gritted his teeth, determined to find a way to harness Ignis’s power in the shortest possible time.

Surely, there had to be a solution somewhere.

But for now, he needed to devise a different strategy to win the duel.

“Have you reconciled with the professor?” Instructor Diana suddenly approached and inquired. Philip could tell that she had intervened and convinced Felicia.

“Yes, thanks to you. I will repay the favor someday, Instructor.”

“No need for that. It’s just that I find it uncomfortable.”

“….”

After a brief moment of contemplation, Philip looked at Diana and proposed, “How about a duel? I have something to show you.”

Diana’s eyes widened, but upon seeing Philip’s serious expression, she nodded. She had never seen him like this before.

“If the Instructor wishes.”

They soon stood facing each other, each gripping their swords.

“Alright then, show me what you’ve got.”

Diana brandished her sword, ready for the duel.

“Watch closely, Instructor.” Philip retorted, determined to impress her.

Philip didn’t hesitate and took the initiative. His sword, wrapped in a shimmering aura, moved slowly, and Diana summoned her own aura in response.

“Hup!”

With a burst of determination, Philip aimed his sword at Diana’s side.

It was a simple horizontal strike, so Diana quickly moved to block the attack with a well-timed defense. Anticipating and countering before meeting the full force of the blow  was the foundation of swordsmanship.

She executed a perfect defense with impeccable timing, but something felt strange. She sensed an extraordinary pressure emanating from Philip’s wrist and arm.

“… Huh?”

Her gaze involuntarily shifted, and she soon realized what was happening.

Philip’s sword sliced through her aura with remarkable speed and precision, effortlessly neutralizing her defense.

She attempted to resist the force, but it overwhelmed her, causing her to lose her grip on the sword.

“…?”

Though it was a clear defeat, she didn’t experience feelings of defeat or inferiority.

For seventeen years, ever since she was ten years old, she had trained with a sword, but she had never imagined facing such an attack. She was truly astonished.

“How was that?” Philip asked.

“What do you mean?”

“Just now. The technique isn’t too complicated; I believe that a skilled instructor like you can master it easily.”

“….”

Philip looked at Diana, who was still holding her wrist with a puzzled expression.

It took a moment for Diana to come back to her senses. She still had a slightly dazed look in her eyes as she gazed at Philip intently.

“Are you saying you’ll teach me this move? This… incredible technique?”

“I simply rotated my aura to enhance the cutting power and impact. It’s almost embarrassing to call it a technique. Besides, considering you’re a close friend of my sister, why wouldn’t I teach you?”

Diana felt a sudden rush of emotions.

‘If that’s not a technique, then what do I have?’

She, too, possessed a secret technique handed down from the esteemed noble family.

It was called ‘Maelstrom,’ a technique that unleashed six consecutive attacks in the blink of an eye.

Yet, even if she had twenty other techniques like Maelstrom in her arsenal, none could compare to the one Philip had just demonstrated.

“Could it be that you personally devised this technique?” she inquired.

Philip nodded in affirmation.

“Yes, indeed. It may not be as grandiose as one would imagine for an original creation, but I named it the ‘Rotating Sword.’ Perhaps, mastering this move could give you an edge in the duel against Silver Knight? Although it’s primarily a grappling technique, it could still prove to be advantageous.”

Diana couldn’t help but emit a hollow laugh at his words.

‘A grappling move?’

She sensed no ill intentions from Philip, but Diana felt somewhat disheartened.

‘… What rotten luck.’

Unconsciously, she pouted and narrowed her eyes.

‘Why am I reacting like this?’

Philip could only offer a puzzled expression in response.

——-

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