I Became a Swordsmanship Instructor in a Romance Novel

At some point, Soi’s eyes and hair had transformed, becoming as black as a lightless hole.

Slowly, she turned to Duke Eustia and Hela.

Soi felt her body stiffen as if bound by transparent, yet strong spider threads.

Her appearance now resembled a venomous spider, dripping poison from its fangs.

She moved silently, her footsteps completely inaudible.

“Get away from me! You think you can touch someone like me?! The moment you lay a finger on me, I will tear apart your entire family and everyone you know! I will show you hell!”

“You, you little…! I knew I’d seen you somewhere! You’re that child who disappeared with Rosnante at the Eustia Banquet! That means you come from a noble family! How dare you try to deceive us?!”

Backed into a corner, all they could manage were threats and snarls.

Their pathetic display was made even more repulsive by the fact that just moments ago, Hela had been wagging her tail, eager to abandon Eustia and pledge allegiance to Yohaiden.

‘Poor Iriel.’

Soi thought, reaching out towards their heads.

These people claimed to be family to Iriel, her precious friend.

They seemingly lacked nothing—honor, wealth, power, and even the beauty coveted by all women.

Iriel, who seemed to have it all, had a family this repulsive.

What good were all those riches if the family meant to be her closest support was this hideous?

Initially, Soi felt a pang of guilt at the thought of meddling with Iriel’s family.

However, as she peered into their hearts, that guilt washed away like it was nothing.

Just as Zeke said, they would only be a negative influence on Iriel, offering no real support.

“Haaaaaargh!!”

“Aaaaaaaaaaaack!!!!”

As Soi etched Zeke’s emotions into their minds, she recalled her own family.

Their kind hearts, their warm generosity.

Her mother, who was sometimes a friend, sometimes an older sister.

Her older sister, whose occasional annoyance couldn’t hide the deep care beneath.

Even her younger brother, who, despite being at an age to run and play, understood that he was the only son and diligently helped with the family business.

Soi hadn’t lived a long life, so she couldn’t definitively say what constituted a proper family.

And then….

‘I… Actually, I’m not related to them by blood.’

After becoming the master of her emotions, Soi had recovered her childhood memories.

Even without a blood tie, even without directly reading their emotions, Soi could feel their love.

They had welcomed her, an outsider, with open arms and shared their love equally.

‘I miss them all….’

Although not much time had passed since she left, it felt like a year had gone by.

As she implanted Zeke’s emotions into Iriel’s family, Soi reminisced about her old memories.

Memories from a time long ago, when she was trapped in a pitch-black cave, consumed by constant hunger, loneliness, and fear.

Memories of being on the verge of giving up, slowly fading away, when a man found her.

He had carried her on his back, rescuing her from that inescapable abyss.

Unlike what her mother had told her when she had lost her memories, he wasn’t the person she had imagined.

He was a middle-aged man with an ordinary face, brown hair, and gray eyes.

While different from the image she held, she found herself strangely drawn to him.

‘Mister.’

Their escape route was fraught with danger.

They had to avoid monsters during the day and endure relentless attacks from Lost Hope, who sought to recapture her, at night.

He fought them off while protecting her, engaging in perilous battles time and time again.

It was an arduous journey for a child like her to endure.

Yet, Soi never once uttered a word of complaint.

“Little one, aren’t you tired?”

“I’m alright.”

His broad back, emanating a strong, unfamiliar warmth, was damp with sweat, a testament to their arduous journey.

For the first time in her life, she felt a comforting warmth emanating from him.

[Worry, Pity, Sympathy, Concern, Anger, Anxiety, Hatred, Hostility]

Occasionally, sharp emotions flickered within him, but those were directed not at her, but at those who had kidnapped her.

Soi, who had known only the dreary confines of the cave and the slimy emotions of lust and expectation, clung to the man who had rescued her, the self-proclaimed Hero Spoon as if he were her last glimmer of hope.

“Just hold on a little longer. We’re almost there.”

“Mister, where are we going?”

“It’s Hero Spoon, not Mister.”

He scratched his cheek, seemingly embarrassed.

“Anyway, you said you don’t remember your family’s names or faces, right?”

“……Yes.”

“……Those bastards, what have they done to a child…? Ah, Don’t mind what I said.”

“It’s okay, I understand.”

“So, I was thinking we should visit a mage I know. Don’t worry too much about meeting a stranger. She may seem grumpy, but she’s a good person at heart.”

The man led Soi into a mountain blanketed by lush greenery.

There, they encountered a woman.

She had completely white hair, sharp eyes, and an appearance that made it impossible to guess her age—she could have been a young woman or an old crone.

The moment she laid eyes on Hero Spoon, she erupted in anger.

“……You spoon-brained idiot! I told you to stay out of trouble! Who do you think you are, still acting like you’re in your prime?! Those guys are dangerous! You should listen to the advice of a mage! You’ll end up dead before your time! Think about your kids!”

“Hey, hey, calm down, Silerya. Say, could I trouble you with one more thing?”

“Stop making those horrible puns with my name!”

“Haha, alright, alright. Anyway, take a look at this child.”

Hero Spoon laughed off her anger with good humor.

Silerya furrowed her brow and turned her gaze towards Soi.

“What, what is this now? What did you drag in this time?”

“Hehe, I found something they were quite fond of, and well, there was this little one.”

“Hmm….”

Silerya narrowed her eyes, scrutinizing Soi.

Soi flinched, hiding behind the man’s legs.

“Hmm… What is this? Hmm, it would be best to kill this child now…. ”

“Silerya! What are you saying in front of the child?!”

As Hero Spoon roared in protest, she casually covered her ears, as if expecting his reaction.

“I wasn’t finished talking. Put your sword away; I won’t do anything you’re so worried about. You’re the only one who dares to interrupt a mage’s advice.”

“…….”

Silerya bent her knees and crouched down to meet Soi’s eyes.

Soi was terrified.

She had never encountered someone with so many emotions swirling within them.

A chaotic wave of emotions, indistinct and jumbled, washed over her.

She saw too much, yet nothing was clear.

“Hmm… You have a very interesting fate… Normally, my role would be to kill you right here… And that idiot hero would try to stop me, using his promise to receive the Shapeshifting magic… But….”

Swoosh.

Her hand, dry and rough like a withered branch, touched Soi’s head.

“Hero Spoon, I’ll be using your promise.”

“What?! Hey!”

The moment her hand made contact, Soi’s hair and eyes shifted, mirroring the man’s.

Brown hair and gray eyes.

Now, anyone would mistake Soi for a boy.

“Huh…?”

Soi’s eyes widened in surprise.

The emotions that were so clear just a moment ago were gone.

She could no longer sense them.

“Such is the meager talent of this old woman. I can only conceal it temporarily, not forever.”

The old woman smiled, her lips stretching into a wide grin.

“Ufufufufu— How interesting. Very interesting… Child, you will meet a man in the future. A man who will restore your true form. That man… will be the one to decide whether you live or die. And you… will confess your love to him.”

“What…?”

“Actually, there’s not much else I can tell you. He’s such an extraordinary and unpredictable man… Ufufufu.”

Her words were too difficult for young Soi to comprehend.

As Soi stared at her with bewildered eyes, the old woman leaned in and whispered as if sharing a secret.

“That man, you see, exists outside the narrative.

When everyone else follows their predetermined destiny, he alone walks in the opposite direction.

And those connected to him, whether big or small, will break free from their assigned roles, one by one, swept away by his wake.

But, do not worry, child. You too will be saved…”

The old woman’s face, which had been animated just a moment ago, suddenly hardened.

“Hmm!? What… What is this…?”

“What?! What’s wrong, Silerya?! What is it?!”

Hero Spoon interjected from the side.

“Hmm? Ah, no… This is… Quite… Tsk, just how many are there…? One, two, three, four… Fi… Five!? Is he insane?!”

* * *

Duke Eustia and Hela knelt, mouths agape, their eyes devoid of light.

“Soi Spoon, is it done?”

Zeke approached from behind.

Thump.

Soi’s heart skipped a beat.

She quickly turned her head, trying to hide her blushing face.

“Y-Yes, they’ll start dreaming of those emotions now. I don’t know how long their personalities will hold out, but it shouldn’t be too long…?”

“Good work. You did well.”

“N-No, it was nothing. It was all for Iriel.”

Zeke nodded in response.

Watching him from the corner of her eye, Soi was once again certain that he was her destined one.

‘He was the one who saved me when I lost my memories after being hit by the carriage.’

Among the fragments of her recovered memories was that very scene.