I Became a Swordsmanship Instructor in a Romance Novel

Of the three beasts that leaped forward, the one in the middle charged at Zeke ahead of the other two.

“Kraaaaaaaaaaagh!!!”

At first glance, the Homunculus just looked like a grotesquely enlarged human.

However, no one could mistake it for a human upon seeing its razor-sharp claws and fangs, its savagely gleaming white eyes, and its gaping maw.

Inside its wide-open mouth, a long, bright red tongue and a lower jaw coated with saliva came into view.

The Homunculus’s claws flew at Zeke with ferocious speed.

‘…Did Soi’s captors intend to use her like this?’

Despite the imminent danger, Zeke remained calm, observing his enemy.

‘No, that can’t be right.’

Considering the purity and size of the magic stone embedded in Soi’s heart, it was highly likely that her captors had something else in mind.

Perhaps they were after Soi’s innate ability.

《Emotion Control》

It was unclear whether the Lost Hope members were aware that this ability had manifested in Soi.

However, if they knew about Soi and her abilities, they would have been desperately searching for her.

It was a miracle that she had been able to live a normal life, baking bread with her family without a single clue.

From their perspective, it was natural for them to covet Soi’s power; her ability had limitless potential.

“Unfortunately, I don’t have time to play with you lot.”

Zeke enjoyed instilling fear in repulsive creatures like the Lost Hope and savoring their terror.

However, these creatures were no different from mindless beasts.

He had no interest in toying with them.

Moreover, a surge of intense anger, hotter than he had ever felt, was burning in his chest.

As he realized the source of this rage, a chuckle escaped his lips.

“Now, this is… Have I grown attached?”

A gruesome future flashed through Zeke’s mind: the Lost Hope successfully kidnapping Soi, torturing her, and brainwashing her.

They would have taken her family hostage and broken her spirit.

What if Soi, under their control, had pointed a blade at him?

Before he met her, Zeke wouldn’t have hesitated to strike her down.

But now, after forming a bond with Soi and witnessing her unwavering spirit as she faced life’s hardships head-on…

Zeke felt a deep sense of loathing towards this fanatical group that sought to use her as a living weapon.

“…….”

He stepped forward.

One slow, deliberate step at a time.

His movements were serene.

It was as if the sharp claws that were about to tear him apart were invisible.

Unnaturally slow movements in the face of imminent danger.

In that silence, every strand of his black hair and the fluttering edges of his clothes were etched into the minds of those watching.

Julie, the Battle Bishop of the Lost Hope, who was controlling the beasts.

Duke Yohaiden, who was watching Zeke with sweaty hands from behind.

Even the Homunculus charging at him.

None of them could tear their eyes away from him.

‘What is that bastard doing…?’

Before Julie could even finish her thought.

Just as the grotesque, sharp claws were about to pierce Zeke’s forehead.

He stopped.

The Homunculus froze mid-stride.

If it had moved even an inch closer, it might have achieved its goal.

But its massive body came to a complete standstill.

And then.

Countless red lines, like spiderwebs, spread across the beast’s entire body as if paint were splattering.

Blood gushed from those red lines, splattering onto the ground.

Thud.

Zeke lightly flicked the bread he was holding against the claws right before his eyes.

Like a tower of wooden blocks collapsing,

The beast’s massive body crumbled into small pieces.

Kugooong—!

The beast’s fragmented body scattered, kicking up dust.

Through the gaps, Zeke’s clear, black eyes stared at Julie.

***

“Wh-what… What is this…?”

Julie’s lips trembled as she struggled to speak, but the only sounds that escaped her were fragmented syllables.

Her eyes bulged as if they would burst.

Her mind refused to accept what she had just witnessed as reality.

When did he draw his weapon?

How many times did he strike in that short amount of time?

How could the Homunculus’s tough skin, thick muscles, and sturdy bones be sliced through so easily, like tofu?

Julie couldn’t comprehend any of it.

Only a hazy feeling, long forgotten, began to well up in the corner of her heart.

The primal fear of inevitable death.

Her lips and jaw trembled uncontrollably.

Thump—

Thump—

As Zeke approached with his chilling gaze,

Julie instinctively backed away.

“St-stay away!!!!”

She screamed, her voice hoarse.

Her previous composure, the composure she always maintained, was gone.

But Zeke, as if he had no intention of listening to her, continued to walk towards her.

Julie bit her lips hard.

Her teeth dug into her soft flesh, drawing lines of blood.

“Sh-Shadows!!!! St-stop him!!!!”

An order barked out in desperation.

The remaining two Homunculi charged at Zeke from both sides.

However, Zeke didn’t even spare them a glance.

He continued walking, his gaze fixed on her as if he wouldn’t let her out of his sight.

The hand holding the bread twitched for a moment, and then, as if by magic, his right arm shot out.

Swoosh—

With a faint gust of wind, the heads of the two Homunculi were cleanly sliced off.

Fwoosh!

Fountains of blood erupted from the necks of the headless beasts.

“Now that’s the look of a cornered rat.”

Zeke spoke in a cold, indifferent voice, one corner of his mouth twisted into a cruel smirk.

“Yes, that’s the expression you should be making… Since when were you ever worthy of meeting my gaze?”

“St-stay away!!!! You bastard!!!”

Unable to let him get any closer, Julie swung the red whip in her hand with all her might.

The whip sliced through the air, aiming for Zeke.

Shhwooosh!

But it too, before it could even graze Zeke, shattered into tiny pieces.

Crack!

Crack!

Crack!

The crisp sound of the ore-infused whip snapping reached Julie’s ears a moment too late.

The whip, now too short to even be called a whip, dangled uselessly from her hand.

She clutched the remnants of her weapon as if it were a lifeline, her face drained of blood.

“Don’t forget your place, Lost Hope scum.”

Zeke finally stood before her.

Julie, backing away while gasping for breath, tripped over a stone and fell back.

Thud.

As she looked up, her eyes bloodshot, she saw the man looking down at her.

“The moment you saw me, you should have scurried back to your hole.”

Julie’s eyes darted back and forth in panic.

“Like the rats you are.”

* * *

“F-father…”

Sedan Yohaiden had regained his senses and was struggling to his feet.

He crawled towards Duke Yohaiden.

The Duke stared straight ahead, his eyes wide and unblinking, his mouth agape, as if his face were paralyzed.

Sedan could understand his father’s reaction all too well.

He, too, had witnessed the divine might of Zeke Clayman.

Could that man truly be considered the same species as them?

“…What… What was that…?”

Sedan finally managed to force the words out.

As if finally registering his son’s presence, Duke Yohaiden slowly turned his head.

“…He called himself… a hero.”

Duke Yohaiden said in a trembling voice.

“…A hero.”

A being that only existed in childish fairy tales, a being that children who hadn’t yet faced the harsh realities of the world would believe in.

Yet, hearing that word, Sedan couldn’t help but agree.

Zeke Clayman.

This man had effortlessly dealt with the monsters that had toyed with the Yohaiden Knights.

And even then, it was clear that the beasts hadn’t even been fighting at half their strength.

And in the face of that despair, he had appeared.

Zeke had ended it all with a flick of his wrist, as if he were simply bored.

Instead of jealousy or admiration, emotions one would expect to feel towards someone with such extraordinary abilities, Sedan felt nothing but…

Emptiness.

All the negative emotions he had harbored towards Zeke, the suspicion that he might be a traitor…

They all vanished in an instant, as if doused with water.

All that remained was…

Bone-chilling awe, fear, and a sense of his own insignificance.

If such a man were to set his sights on their family…

They would be left with no choice but to prostrate themselves and beg for mercy.

Just like that woman, kneeling before him with a broken gaze.