My Disciples Think I’m Strong – Chapter 37

The promised results were not announced as agreed.

However, the knights of Aus, who were watching the scene, began to chatter about their impressions of the duel, and soon enough, rumors started spreading uncontrollably.

Realizing this fact, I quickly packed my things.

Having found the hidden artifact in Aus City, there was no longer any reason for me to remain here.

I planned to hide out in Secul Village, where my home was, until the rumors died down.

That was my intention, but…

“I want to go with Lord Praus.”

Out of the blue, Urka approached me and said that.

Hearing her words, our group turned their attention toward me and Urka.

I tried to gauge her intentions by looking at her, taking a step back in surprise.

“D-Don’t glare at me like that… I’m not trying to fight or anything!”

That’s something I couldn’t exactly control.

From the expression on her face, it didn’t seem like she was making a whimsey statement. Yet, I had already determined my response long ago.

“No.”

It wouldn’t be beneficial for her, who needed to protect Duke Tori in Aus City, to follow me.

Of course, for now, demons wouldn’t be invading, but being in our respective positions would minimize the maximum variables, just like in the game.

“Why not? I’m an S-Class Adventurer. I’ll definitely be helpful for the journey.”

“I have no intention of traveling anymore.”

I was planning to give advice to the heroes and help them grow.

Since awakening as a hero, I’ve already reached the Royal Knight Order level, but still, I was just a ten-year-old child. I thought I’d watch over them so they could gradually improve their clumsy aspects.

“I still want to go.”

“Urka, if you’ve decided to listen to me, just give it up gracefully. I don’t want to hear that an S-Class Adventurer breaks promises.”

“Why? Is it because beastmen are inadequate?”

Her remark made Iris flinch. She shouldn’t be saying such pointless things; it’s unnecessary to bring down Iris’s self-esteem.

“I told you, it doesn’t matter. Do you think I would leave you here for such childish reasons?”

“Then what is it?”

I wanted to bluntly say that she needed to delay the demon lord’s commander.

While I wanted to be honest, it sounded too much like I was trying to use her, which made me reluctant to say it.

I pondered momentarily about how to respond to her question.

“…The reason you’ve been able to grow up safely until now is thanks to Duke Tori. Don’t try to betray him.”

“It’s not a betrayal. If Tori is in danger, I will not hesitate to return to Aus.”

“I’m heading back to Secul. It takes at least five days by carriage from Aus City. Would you be able to immediately reach this city when things become dangerous?”

It would be impossible.

There are very few magicians capable of using teleportation, and even if it’s Maria, mastering that space magic would take quite some time.

“That’s…”

“Besides, you’re an S-Class Adventurer. You have the duty to protect the area bordering the demon world. There’s no benefit in following me.”

“Well, that’s true, but…”

It seemed she was at a loss for words when faced with cold hard facts. She couldn’t come up with a proper response.

“I’ll tell you one thing. Protect Duke Tori. As long as he is alive, there won’t be violence during the process of abolishing slavery.”

Having said this much, Urka probably wouldn’t say anything further.

What was most important to her was presumably the abolition of slavery and the liberation of all beastmen.

“…I understand. But is it okay if I visit sometimes?”

“What?”

“I’ve been to Secul Village. I stumbled upon it on my way to the capital. I never imagined a strong person like you would be living there.”

“…”

“Well, I heard that the Fifth Sword Master, Pasma, lived as a woodcutter in a small village after leaving the world. If he was your teacher, it must have been more comfortable in a village than in a city.”

When did Pasma become my teacher?

I wanted to rebut right away, but it had already become an undeniable fact.

After all, I had used the Phantom Sword Technique, which only Pasma could.

“Anyway, I’ll drop by Secul once in a while. Will you welcome me? This much should be okay, right?”

“…I understand. If it’s just that much.”

I suppose this is something we should consider a compromise.

After all, this isn’t a game world.

“Oh, there’s Lord Praus.”

Dex, who had been quietly listening and packing, approached.

“What is it, Dex?”

“I will only accompany you this far.”

“Very well.”

I answered nonchalantly.

Now that the noisy guy would be gone, the way back would hopefully be a bit easier for me.

No more information will be leaking out either.

When I think about the information he had provided until now, I feel bringing him along was a tactical mistake.

So the only thing I needed to say to him was one thing.

I carefully approached Dex and whispered into his ear.

“Don’t spread any useless rumors.”

“If any harm comes to me due to Secret Garden in the future, you’ll have to deal with me.”

“!”

I noticed him flinch.

No, that wasn’t how I wanted to say it.

No matter how much Secret Garden tries to manage information, it is not a weak guild by any means.

Burying a person is a piece of cake, and there are always those who would dig up information no matter where I am; keeping them as enemies would do me no good.

“So what I mean is, let’s be friendly.”

“If you don’t want to have me as an enemy, it would be wise to keep that loose tongue in check.”

This situation, damn, it only ends up like this during crucial times.

I sighed inwardly and patted his shoulder as a form of encouragement.

“Ah, I understand…”

Hearing his response, I pondered what he thought of me.

From Dex’s perspective, I’ve defeated two S-Class Adventurers and have reached the level of Sword Master, not to mention I possess the strength to manipulate nature.

It has already been proven that I am above S-Class.

Even if he heard what I said, he wouldn’t act easily.

The best course of action would be not to have him as an enemy, but my big mouth wouldn’t allow that. Dammit.

*

“Thank you. This is the payment for the request.”

I shook hands with Duke Tori. There were a hundred gold coins in the pouch. Unexpectedly, that was a pretty nice haul.

It seems that Urka’s will to execute the Emperor has played a large role in this payment.

“Praulus, you must welcome me when I come to visit later. If you say you forgot, I’ll burn your house down.”

Is it something to say with a smile, to talk about burning someone else’s house?

Are you a psycho?

“…Then don’t come.”

“I’m just joking! Hehe.”

“I’m leaving now.”

“Eat well!”

“Thank you!”

Tina and Iris waved goodbye while Maria only nodded her head.

Ariel’s gaze briefly lingered on Urka while observing them.

“Ariel? Is there a problem?”

“…No, it’s nothing.”

She wore a somewhat unclear expression.

Yet, I could tell she wouldn’t answer even if I asked, so I refrained from pressing further.

And just like that, we left Aus City.

*

On the outskirts of Aus City.

As Dex made his way down the sparsely populated alleyway, a shadow leaped out as his body was covered in darkness.

“It’s been a while since we’ve met, leader.”

“Yeah.”

“How was it, that fellow named Praus?”

He was a member of the Secret Garden I had previously stationed in Aus.

As the enormous information guild goes, there were members of Secret Garden placed in each city.

“He’s a monster… No, it felt like I was looking at the hero who defeated the former Demon King.”

“A hero, you say?”

The member gulped.

“No, perhaps he really might be a hero.”

“…So what do you plan to do about him?”

“We can’t do anything against someone like that.”

As Dex recalled the moment a sword was swung through the air, a mountain exploded an instant later.

Even if it was magic, it was an unimaginable power that no human could possibly wield. Even after using such a technique, a sheer amount of mana was still being maintained.

“We will keep an eye on Praus from now on, but we won’t interfere. Of course, any information related to Praus will be treated as top secret. We’ll only disclose it if the cost is something we can gamble our lives on.”

“Understood.”

“Let’s head to the hideout.”

“Yes.”

The member answered and took off first. He turned back to glance at the alleyway entrance we had just entered.

“I look forward to your future actions, Lord Praus.”

Muttering this, Dex followed the member deep into the alley.

*

“Your Highness the Crown Prince, I received a message from the Black Light Corps’ special unit a moment ago.”

Before the Crown Prince, the leader was bowing his head as before. The Crown Prince gazed at the clouds floating leisurely.

“…Is it information about the man who fought Inkuro? The one who might be a hero?”

“Indeed.”

“Let’s hear what information you have.”

He sat in his office chair, clasped his hands, and listened intently.

“First of all, he said he is absolutely not someone to be trifled with.”

“Not someone to be trifled with? There’s no one who can’t be touched by nobility.”

Though it was an arrogant remark, the leader of the Black Light Corps could not refute it since it came from the Crown Prince, the real power of the empire.

He just lowered his head even further, for the sake of the one he serves.

Yet the next words coming from the Crown Prince were enough to astonish even him, no matter how lofty his status may be.

“Apparently, this Praus fellow simply swung his sword in the air, and a mountain has disappeared.”

“What?”

“It is presumed that he used Wind Magic, and the power is said to be comparable to when the Spirit King exerts his full strength.”

The leader began to doubt whether his subordinate had been truthful while recounting the information he had received.

“Moreover, he is said to be at the level of a Sword Master who can form an Aura Sword. In other words, the Sixth Sword Master of the empire has emerged since Pasma.”

One after another, the information left the Crown Prince speechless.

“Lastly, it’s stated that he defeated S-Class Adventurer Urka in a formal duel.”

“What? He took down two S-Class Adventurers in a short time? What could his purpose be? Why is he hunting S-Class Adventurers?”

“I can’t say for certain, but it is presumed there was a conflict within the Duke Aus’s Residence.”

“The Duke Aus’s Residence?”

The Crown Prince’s eyebrows twitched.

Since he harbored resentment against Duke Aus, who usually considered other races, he couldn’t help but reveal an unpleasant emotion.

He had been educated under an Emperor who sparked a massacre of other races, so he held a mindset that domination of other races was natural.

“Out of all the noblemen, why Tori Aus? How unfortunate.”

The Crown Prince sighed and then stared at the leader of the Black Light Corps, who remained bowing his head.

“Bring Tori Aus in front of me. I need to hear from him before encountering this Praus.”

“Understood.”

The leader moved immediately upon receiving the order.

Feeling the presence fade, he muttered softly.

“Those who are strong tend not to listen, but even S-Class Adventurers have knelt before the Emperor. Praus, you will not be an exception.”

The First Crown Prince, Chris Iter Pretéum, smiled meaningfully.