I Possessed the Heroine’s Teacher

People, no matter their field of expertise, tend to develop an intuitive sense when they’ve been involved in that field for a long time. And given my own field of work, I could roughly gauge a person’s combat capabilities just by their aura. The two we were facing right now were dangerous. Although their faces and bodies were hidden under robes, I could tell from their breathing and posture.

The one who looked about 187 cm tall spoke. He seemed to be the same guy who had just sent an attack our way. Yet, I had the feeling I’d seen him somewhere before.

“So, in the end, you discovered everything up to this point.”

The moment I heard his voice, I remembered where I’d heard it before.

[…No, it’s my fault for not dodging.]

It was the guy I’d bumped into in front of the mage tower where Lorcha resided. Back then, we’d collided, and he even picked up the apples I dropped. Turns out he wasn’t some adventurer but a member of the Black Round Table. Damn it, I should have dealt with him back then…

The guy suddenly tapped the back of his neck. Ricardo and Camellia didn’t seem to understand the gesture, but I did. That spot on the neck was where I’d been injured before. I hadn’t known who was responsible at the time, but if this guy was the culprit, it all made sense. Still, it was hard to believe an adventurer could’ve grazed my neck at such a speed that I didn’t even notice. It was a theory I’d dismissed back then.

But if he’s a member of the Black Round Table, that changes everything. His presence is anything but ordinary. And it wasn’t just me who sensed it.

“Run, Werner. Go and summon reinforcements from my knight order. We’ll hold them off here.”

“Indeed… That aura is no joke. We’ll handle this, so go bring help.”

While Camellia was speaking, the shorter of the two robed figures suddenly launched a needle at us. It was as thin as a strand of hair and hard to detect, but I managed to catch it. Interrupting a conversation like that—what an insolent little bastard.

“Hey, you damn piece of trash! Can’t you see the adults are talking? What’s a tiny little brat like you trying to do, pick a fight?”

The short figure began to laugh.

“Hahaha, a tiny brat, huh? I’m probably older than you.”

“Yeah, right. Let’s see your ID, you dwarf. Or take off that robe. If you turn out to be a goblin, I might understand.”

“Hahaha, what an amusing child. Fine, I’ll show you my face.”

What appeared was a short figure with bright red hair. But his ears were longer and sharper than those of regular elves. That appearance could only mean…

“A nymph. I didn’t expect a race that supposedly lives for hundreds of years to be doing something like this…”

“You’re a sharp one, little knight. Yes, I’m a nymph. And currently, I hold the position of Meraugis in the Black Round Table.”

Damn it, I thought all nymphs ended their sentences with “…dot!” I’d practiced speaking like that for 10 minutes every day, just to sound natural when I met one. This bastard ruined all that effort. He’ll pay for that with blood.

The taller figure admonished the nymph in a calm voice.

“Meraugis, I warned you not to reveal your face carelessly.”

“It’s fine. They’re all going to die anyway.”

That nonchalant voice… This isn’t a proper nymph! My 10 minutes of daily practice—damn it!

“That Meraugis fellow is no ordinary opponent… but the man beside him… he’s the real threat.”

“Ah, yes… That presence, could it be…?”

At that moment, Meraugis suddenly launched a flying kick at Camellia. If Ricardo hadn’t intervened, her ribs would have been shattered.

The tall one spoke again, this time addressing Meraugis.

“You leave an opening like that? How foolish.”

I sent magic flying toward Meraugis.

“Lightning, crawl like a serpent.”

But just like the others, he effortlessly dodged my lightning serpent.

“You damned nymph bastard! Can’t you fight without ambushing?”

“Hahaha! Isn’t it too much to ask me not to attack when I see an opening?”

“Your tone!!! Your tone, you bastard!!!”

He was shattering my image of what a nymph should be. Just like how a martial arts story isn’t authentic if it has laser swords, an un-cute nymph isn’t authentic either.

“Gal!!!”

With a shout, I threw a knife—not at Meraugis, but at the tall one. If they attack with ambushes, we’ll respond in kind. An eye for an eye, as Hammurabi’s code dictates.

But he deflected the knife effortlessly, faster than I could see.

“Such petty tricks.”

As expected, it didn’t work. And I’d thrown it as quickly as I could… That guy could’ve been scouted as a batter for Lotte (Korean baseball’s team).

But Meraugis’s expression twisted. Damn, was he a Lotte fan, too?

“You’re ignoring me? Turning your attention elsewhere in front of me?”

“Well, of course, you damn dwarf! That guy’s overwhelmingly stronger than you.”

“What?”

“He’s leagues above you.”

“Kraaaah!!!”

Meraugis began to rage. An enraged enemy is always easier to deal with.

“I’ll kill you in the most agonizing way possible.”

“What?”

He pulled out a black orb from his robe. It had an eye-like decoration… Oh no, could it be—ah, damn it.

Before I could even react, darkness consumed my consciousness.

.

.

.

Damn, I thought I was screwed for sure. That’s definitely a cursed item from the game’s exclusive settings compendium. What was its effect again…?

While I was racking my brain, the dwarf… no, the rogue nymph Meraugis appeared before me.

“Welcome to the Jewel of Solitude.”

Oh, right, the cursed item’s name was Jewel of Solitude.

“This is a space where only one of us can leave alive. Surprised?”

“Not really, no. I’m kind of used to it.”

The place was strange. The walls and floor were completely black, yet the appearance of that damned dwarf Meraugis was vividly clear. Was this some kind of considerate feature to ensure the opponent was visible? Not that I’d mind fighting in complete darkness.

“Fang of Ice, tear through my foe.”

But no fangs of ice, not even a single shard, appeared.

Damn it, what’s going on? Is this a bug?

“Haha, you didn’t know, did you? In this Jewel of Solitude, magic and weapons are useless. For a magician like you, that’s fatal.”

Ah, so it’s a no-magic map. Well, can’t do much about that. Meanwhile, Meraugis kept babbling in his over-the-top rogue-nymph tone.

“Well, my specialties are hidden weapons, poisoning, and curses… but I’ve also got martial arts skills strong enough to kill a magician like you.”

“Ah, I see.”

“What? Have you lost your mind from fear?”

“No, I just think you’re an idiot.”

I tossed aside my fluttering robe. It’s disadvantageous in close combat, and if I used any grappling techniques, I didn’t want to give him a grip on my collar.

As I rolled my neck and shoulders, a cracking sound came out.

“What’s that sound?”

“The sound of picking up wood, you little dwarf.”

“What?”

“Wood crackling, you idiot.”

It seemed he didn’t appreciate my high-level joke.

“You’ve completely lost your mind in fear.”

“It’s just that I only need to beat you up to get out of here. What’s there to be scared of?”

“Do you think you can beat me in hand-to-hand combat?”

“Yeah, that, plus I’m deciding if I should have shrimp or chicken for dinner tonight.”

Since seafood in the capital is supposed to be fresh, maybe I should treat myself to some.

“This bastard!”

Meraugis rushed at me, enraged. The way he lost it after a bit of teasing—it’s classic loser behavior.

I thought it’d be fitting to poke his eyes out to stop him from rage-rushing in the future.

But the bastard dodged my stab and grabbed my arm.

“For a magician, your martial arts skills aren’t bad, but you’re still far from good.”

Then he twisted my arm. I could tell—it was definitely dislocated.

After twisting my arm, he backed off to create some distance.

“So? Where’s that cocky confidence from earlier now?”

I looked at my dislocated right arm. I’d planned to just play around a bit, but it seems I underestimated him because of his pathetic appearance. I’ll admit, that was my mistake.

Pop. Crack.

Meraugis shouted, “What the hell are you doing?”

“Can’t you see? I’m putting my arm back in place.”

At that facility, they had us train to pop our arms in and out repeatedly. Something like this is no big deal.

Once I could clench and unclench my fist properly, I knew it was back to normal.

“Still, I have to admit—dislocating my arm like that… you’re not half-bad.”

I slowly walked toward Meraugis.

“Damn it, what are you…?”

“Pick one.”

“What the hell are you talking about…?”

“Do you want your guts twisted until you die, or your bones shattered into dust?”