I Became a Swordsmanship Instructor in a Romance Novel

“Whew….”

A sound that was either a gasp of admiration or shock escaped his lips.

Duke Yohaiden’s eyes were wide, his jaw slack, and his face wore a dumbfounded expression.

Had he ever been this surprised in his entire life?

Never.

Not even when he witnessed Zeke Clayman dismember that horrifying monster into tiny pieces of flesh had he felt this much shock.

At first, when Zeke Clayman had finished his meal and told them to prepare to leave for the Lyos Mountains immediately, bringing with him a mountain of bread,

He had thought that it was just another case of an extraordinary individual not understanding the ways of ordinary people.

But what was this spectacle unfolding before his very eyes?

“M-My body, it’s… healed…!”

“Breathing is so much easier….”

“…G-God… Thank you….”

“Natalie, Mother… I… I think I can go back….”

Those who seemed on the verge of death, their life force fading,

Those whose arms and legs were broken, who thought they might never wield a sword again,

Even those whose ribs were pierced, coughing up blood with every ragged breath,

All of them, after simply chewing and swallowing the bread that had been served with water,

Rose to their feet, their faces filled with bewilderment.

And every single one of them let out cries of joy.

Transparent tears streamed down their rough cheeks.

The sight of large, burly men folding their hands neatly in front of their chests and offering prayers to the heavens was so surreal that it felt like a dream.

Duke Yohaiden could only stare in stunned silence as he watched them recover at an impossible speed, all thanks to a single piece of bread.

“…Has a miracle been bestowed upon us…? Today’s events will be passed down as legend in Yohaiden…”

“That’s not quite right.”

Just then, Zeke, who had approached unnoticed, interjected.

Duke Yohaiden turned his head and looked at him with trembling eyes.

“Who… who are you…? No, that’s not important… If this isn’t a miracle, then what in the world is it…?”

“I won’t deny that the word ‘miracle’ applies here, but to say it was ‘bestowed’ isn’t accurate. This wasn’t given to them, they achieved this miracle themselves.”

“They achieved it themselves?”

“Yes. The bread they ate simply tricked their minds. The recovery itself was their own doing.”

Zeke nodded, his eyes observing the knights as they regained their health in real time.

“Have you ever heard of the placebo effect?”

“Pl…Plac….”

“That’s not it.”

Zeke quickly cut him off, unable to bear hearing those words come out of the Duke’s mouth.

“As you can see, those with broken bones or fractures have healed quickly, but those with completely severed limbs or injuries too severe to recover from haven’t.”

“…Even their bleeding has stopped… Even the blood that was gushing from their wounds has clotted… If this wasn’t a miracle, they wouldn’t have survived the day.”

“Actually, the bread we just handed out has a special effect. It makes you believe you’re in a healthy state… Of course, it’s an incredibly powerful suggestion.”

If the ‘Saintiess’ he had traveled with on the Dave Continent was here, she might have been able to make their limbs grow back from their stumps, a miracle in the truest sense of the word.

But Soi’s abilities weren’t quite that potent.

All she could do was trick the mind into making the body follow.

Soi’s bread essentially placed a powerful hypnotic suggestion on their minds, making them believe they were in peak condition despite their critical physical states.

This strong suggestion created a dissonance between the mind and body.

The body and mind, originally in a state of balance, sharing information, were now in stark discord.

No matter how much the body tried to convey its state of crisis, it couldn’t break through the mind’s powerful hypnotic suggestion.

As a result, the body had no choice but to follow the mind’s lead to restore balance.

So, the body was essentially borrowing time from the future, accelerating cell activation and the usually lengthy self-healing process to create the illusion of real-time recovery.

Of course, this borrowing of time from the future meant that their lifespans would be shortened by a few years, but for now, this was the best they could do.

It was certainly a better option than dying from untreated injuries.

Despite Zeke’s explanation, the awe in Duke Yohaiden’s eyes only seemed to deepen.

“…The world calls it a miracle for a reason.”

“Well, now that everyone’s healthy, we should get going.”

“…I don’t think those whose lives you’ve saved will let us just leave…”

He glanced sideways to see the revitalized knights forming a line near Zeke.

Everyone present had witnessed Zeke bringing out the enormous amount of bread, so it was only natural for them to assume he was the one who had healed them.

As soon as the knights regained their health and their senses, they had wanted to grab Zeke’s hand and shower him with gratitude.

However, they hesitated to approach him directly, seeing him engaged in a serious conversation with Duke Yohaiden.

So they waited, fidgeting and shifting their weight from foot to foot.

Zeke stroked his chin, his expression unreadable.

‘Ugh, this is such a pain… Should I just let Soi take all the credit? I mean, she’s the one who actually did it… But then again, we’ll be running into the Lost Hope bastards soon, and I’d rather not reveal Soi’s abilities just yet…’

As Zeke pondered his options, a mischievous smile spread across his face.

‘Alright, fine. I guess I’ll just have to save Selena’s dad’s pride for him.’

With that, Zeke turned around and…

Thud.

He slammed the bread onto the ground.

Thump!

The loud sound drew the attention of all the knights.

They gazed up at Zeke, their eyes filled with awe, gratitude, and respect.

“Are you all feeling better now?”

“““YES!!!!!!”””

A thunderous chorus of voices answered Zeke’s question.

Just as the knights were about to erupt in a torrent of words, Zeke raised a hand to silence them.

“Hold on a moment. There’s something I need to say first.”

“It wasn’t me who healed you.”

Confusion flickered in the eyes of the knights at Zeke’s unexpected words.

“As you’ve seen, I’m skilled with a sword. I won’t deny that. But healing people is a completely different matter. Hands stained with blood can’t mend wounds.”

Zeke’s words held a strange persuasiveness, given his undeniable skills.

A young knight stepped forward, his voice filled with confusion.

“B-But, we recovered after eating the bread you gave us! If it wasn’t your doing, then whose grace are we indebted to?!”

The other knights nodded in agreement.

Zeke lowered his gaze and opened his mouth, feigning reluctance.

“It was Duke Yohaiden.”

“…Pardon?”

The young knight’s eyes widened in confusion.

Duke Yohaiden, who had been listening to the exchange, was equally bewildered.

‘Um, excuse me? What are you talking about?’

He tried to catch Zeke’s eye, hoping to convey a silent plea to play along, but Zeke simply averted his gaze.

“…All of this was by Duke Yohaiden’s will. I was merely carrying out his orders. His Grace wished to keep this a secret, but I couldn’t bear the thought of taking all the credit for something I didn’t do.”

‘When did I…?’

Duke Yohaiden furrowed his brows.

“His Grace saw you all suffering and made a difficult decision.”

“A… A difficult decision…?”

‘Well, I did decide to retreat…’

Ignoring the Duke’s internal monologue, Zeke nodded solemnly.

“Yes… It’s a closely guarded secret of House Yohaiden… A supreme elixir capable of curing any ailment.”

Zeke paused for dramatic effect.

He could hear gulps from the captivated audience.

Every single eye was on him.

“The Elixir.”

“The… Elixir!”

“My God! It actually exists?!”

Gasps and murmurs of astonishment rippled through the crowd.

The name belonged to a legendary elixir, but the miracle they had just experienced firsthand was undeniable.

No other explanation seemed possible.

Duke Yohaiden’s status as one of the three great dukes of the Empire, coupled with the existence of magic, lent an air of plausibility to Zeke’s claims.

“B-But…! It’s hard to believe that such a mythical elixir truly exists! Perhaps it’s more likely that our heroic savior, who possesses such extraordinary powers, is simply trying to downplay his own achievements…!”

“Why would I lie about something like this? I didn’t heal you. I swear it on my sword.”

Of course, Zeke wasn’t holding a sword, but a piece of bread.

And it was Soi Spoon who had actually healed them.

So technically, he wasn’t lying. Technically.

Zeke’s impassioned declaration seemed to convince the knights.

“The Elixir… You mean to say His Grace mixed that precious elixir into the bread…?”

“That’s right. Originally, the Elixir was reserved solely for the direct descendants of House Yohaiden. It’s that valuable, a treasure to be used only when a loved one is in dire need. But! Duke Yohaiden said that all of you, bearing the Yohaiden crest, are as good as family!”

The knights turned to look at the Duke, who stood beside Zeke, his mouth agape in a silent plea for help.

Zeke bowed his head respectfully towards the Duke.

“My apologies, Your Grace. I know you wished to keep this a secret for life, but I couldn’t let them remain in the dark. They deserve to know. They deserve to know who healed them, and to whom they owe their lives!”

“I… I do?”

“Yes, indeed! Of course, I understand that His Grace might face difficulties if this were to get out, but surely these fine knights wouldn’t be so loose-lipped. I can’t imagine such dishonorable men existing within these ranks!”

Zeke’s words made sense.

Their lord had broken a sacred principle of House Yohaiden for their sake.

It was an act that could potentially tarnish the reputation of their esteemed family.

And Zeke Clayman had just revealed it without his consent.

It was no wonder the Duke was dumbfounded.

But the knights who had just learned the truth, those whose lives had been saved by the elixir the Duke had used, defying even his own family’s rules…

A shiver ran down their spines, a wave of emotion washing over them.

These were the knights of Yohaiden, who had dedicated their lives to upholding the family’s honor.

They were treated well, better than most knights, and they were proud to serve under the Yohaiden banner.

But would they have willingly laid down their lives for the Duke without question? That was debatable.

They were warriors, but their own lives were precious too.

Yet, their lord thought of them in such high regard…

“““Y-Your Grace!”””

Their voices thick with emotion, the knights addressed their lord.

Everyone present, whether they had been healed or not, shared the same thought.

Duke Yohaiden’s extraordinary love for his family was renowned throughout the Empire.

Everyone knew how much he cherished his own flesh and blood.

The Yohaiden knights, a mix of commoners and lower-ranking nobles, were nothing compared to the Duke’s direct lineage.

Yet, he had called them family without hesitation and had generously shared such a precious elixir with them.

What wouldn’t they do for him now?

Their lives had been saved by Duke Yohaiden.

They owed him their lives, their very existence.

They would dedicate their lives, their everything, to serving House Yohaiden.

They had died once today, and today, they were reborn.

As true knights of the great House of Yohaiden.

Thud.

Clang.

The Knight Captain dropped to one knee, drawing his sword and planting it firmly in the ground.

Thud.

Thud.

Thud.

One by one, the other knights followed suit, dropping to one knee in unison.

A wave of genuine loyalty washed over the plain, so powerful it threatened to consume everything in its path.

And Duke Yohaiden, the recipient of this overwhelming display of devotion…

‘W-What is this?!’

…felt a profound sense of discomfort.

He had tried to interject several times as Zeke Clayman spun his tale, wanting to shout, ‘When did I ever say that?!’ But there was never a suitable moment to interrupt.

All he could do was shake his head in silent denial.

Even his own son, Sedan Yohaiden, had a transformed look in his eyes as he knelt among the knights.

‘You… You were just talking about retreating with me a while ago… You little…!’

* * *

“Long live Yohaiden!!”

“Long live Duke Pruna Yohaiden!!”

“Long live! Long live! Long live!!!”

As they prepared to depart for the Lyos Mountains, the resounding cheers echoed through the air, their enthusiasm showing no signs of waning.

Duke Yohaiden massaged his temples, a throbbing headache building behind his eyes.

Glancing at Zeke Clayman, who was shamelessly munching on a piece of bread, only intensified the Duke’s frustration.

“…What have you done…?” he hissed, his voice laced with exasperation.

“Ahem, well, about that ability I mentioned… We need to keep it under wraps. The Lost Hope scum are desperate to get their hands on it. It was unavoidable.”

“Even so, this is… problematic! You swore on your sword! What was that about?!”

“Consider it a repayment for saving your life, Your Grace.”

“…”

The Duke was speechless.

This man had saved Selena’s life, his own life, and now the lives of the entire Yohaiden Knight Order.

That made it three life debts.

Even if Zeke demanded the entirety of the Yohaiden fortune, the Duke wouldn’t have a leg to stand on.

And this was how he chose to collect? With a fabricated testimony?

What a bargain. In fact, it wasn’t just a bargain; it was a steal. He had gained the unwavering loyalty of his knights as a bonus.

Everything had worked out perfectly. It was perfect. Absolutely perfect.

Except…

This wasn’t how it was supposed to be!

He could feel the weight of the knights’ admiration and respect bearing down on him.

Duke Yohaiden was no stranger to receiving respect and praise, but this… this was unbearable.

He had simply planned to retreat with his tail between his legs!

He had considered himself lucky if even fifteen of them made it out alive.

And now? He felt like some kind of revered saint.

‘…Damn it. Damn it all…’

He could hear the knights whispering amongst themselves.

“…A hero and a saint…”

“It’s strange how that hero always seems to appear just when we need him most. His Grace must have known that losing such a selfless noble would be a grave loss for the Empire!”

“Indeed. Now I understand why someone with Zeke Clayman’s strength would follow him… I’ve never been more proud to be a knight of Yohaiden.”

“I’ll say. I’m willing to dedicate my life to serving this house.”

“I’ll become a vengeful spirit after death and protect Yohaiden for all eternity.”

“Their friendship is truly something to behold. As expected, heroes recognize heroes. Age is nothing but a number.”

Duke Yohaiden squeezed his eyes shut and muttered through gritted teeth.

“Can you please… just… step away from me?”

“As you wish.”

As Zeke Clayman stepped aside, the Knight Captain rushed towards the Duke, his eyes filled with concern.

“Your Grace, you must be careful! We don’t know what dangers lurk around us. You must always be on your guard!”

The sight of his usually level-headed comrade transformed into an overzealous sycophant was almost too much for the Duke to bear. He simply stared blankly at the sky.

‘I just… I just want to be alone right now…’

The Knight Captain continued to scan their surroundings with the vigilance of a hawk, determined to protect his lord from any potential threats.

Duke Yohaiden, unable to endure the suffocating pressure any longer, finally snapped.

“Enough!!!”

The knights fell silent, their heads tilting in unison as if awaiting divine pronouncements.

Duke Yohaiden could feel a vein throbbing in his temple.

“We are currently on a covert mission to Eustia! That’s why we even removed our armor bearing the Yohaiden crest!”

“And look at you! You’re acting like a bunch of bards singing my praises! We need to blend in, not stand out! Do you really need a lesson in subtlety?!”

Desperate to escape their unwavering gazes, Duke Yohaiden feigned anger.

Ashamed, the knights lowered their heads and fell silent.

“Ah… Y-You’re right. We’re in the middle of a secret operation.”

“Indeed. As knights, we must learn to control our emotions… Thank you for reminding me, Your Grace. I still have much to learn…”

“He’s reminding us of our duty even after bestowing such a great gift upon us… without a hint of self-interest… As expected of His Grace… I knew I made the right choice joining Yohaiden…”

“I’d die a thousand deaths for House Yohaiden.”

Their whispers, though intended to be private, still reached the Duke’s ears.

‘From now on, no matter what I say, it’ll just end up like this… I miss Selena…’

The Knight Captain, his face flushed with embarrassment, shuffled closer and spoke in a low voice.

He then proceeded to drop to both knees and bowed deeply.

“Please forgive my outburst, Your Grace. I, who should be the epitome of composure… I am ashamed of my behavior. I shall accept any punishment you deem fit upon our return…”

“…Please, rise…”

“No, Your Grace. I deserve to be punished…”

“Just… please…” Duke Yohaiden buried his face in his hands.

“Instructor, is my bread tasty?”

“Hmm, it’s not bad.”

Meanwhile, Zeke was having a pleasant chat with Soi, seemingly oblivious to the Duke’s plight.

The anguished cries of Duke Yohaiden’s conscience echoed across the plains, reaching even the distant peaks of the Lyos Mountains.