My Disciples Think I’m Strong – Chapter 68

“We’re going to the West.”

“The West, you say?”

I have three reasons for choosing the direction of the West.

The first is the growth of the Heroes.

The West is the best place to encounter Demon Tribe members to help develop the Heroes. Since the Demon World is indeed to the west of the Empire, I planned to gather experience points there to propel the Heroes to their next stage.

The second reason is artifact collection.

The artifacts in the west are largely equipment that can only be obtained in the latter stages of the game progression, so many of them are quite useful. I aim to retrieve them to further enhance the Heroes’ abilities.

The third reason is to create chaos for Duke Rexton in the West.

Now that I’ve decided to actively engage in politics, it’s crucial to expand the power of Princess Seri as much as possible.

However, there aren’t any nobles willing to trust the princess, who has nothing to show for herself. Even if I work every trick in the book right now, the likelihood of the dukes siding with her is zero.

Thus, all I can do now is to encourage them to maintain neutrality.

This way, it will be easier to sway them to my side later.

But this could disturb the narrative flow and invite too many variables.

I didn’t want to take that risk, which is why I hoped things would flow according to the game’s story.

Yet now, there’s no turning back.

I’ve declared my support for the princess and have become antagonistic toward the Crown Prince.

There’s no way to go back now.

This is a hard mode with no save load… No, “reality.”

For now, let’s prepare means to protect myself before Chris ascends as Emperor.

“What are your plans when you go to the West?”

“As an adventurer, I plan to stir things up.”

Of course, first, I need to negotiate with the money-loving noble.

*

Duke of the West, Economy Rexton.

He was responsible for managing the demon incursions in the Empire and was the lord of Rexton City, the heart of commerce.

From a young age, he was known as a genius entrepreneur for his ability to manage money and expand businesses, but players called him the “Money Obsessed.”

He was, quite literally, nuts about money.

He’d agree to anything if he had the cash, but turned his back on everything else. He was not someone to expect any compassion from.

In the Empire, he ranked second only after the royal family.

The Todiah Family held the top spot.

No matter how valuable money could be, in a world ruled by the law of the jungle, strength took precedence.

In the end, one needed power to protect wealth.

Anyway, to meet that noble, I’d need something that piques his interest.

And that item was currently in my possession.

The Aura of the Wind Sword.

The Spirit King’s Sword could be found only four times in the world. I had one of them.

This sword would be difficult to price, and I thought I could confidently demand a meeting with Rexton.

In fact, if I presented the best artifact at the Rexton Trading Company’s headquarters in the game, I would get the chance to meet Rexton.

However…

“I’m sorry, but I don’t think a meeting is possible. An edict has been issued from the Royal Family prohibiting all nobles from meeting anyone associated with Praus.”

I had just arrived at Rexton City by carriage—a place I had never visited before—and was immediately turned away.

Is this the kind of pressure I’m experiencing already? Damn that Crown Prince!

No matter how much strength I’d displayed and how strong a reputation I had built up, in the end, I was still a commoner.

In an Empire where the class system was evident, it was obvious whose orders need to be followed.

Even so, at least let me meet you! Damn it!

“However, there is no restriction on selling goods, so if you wish to sell, I can arrange for another individual to assist you.”

“…Fine.”

I retrieved the Aura.

If I couldn’t meet him in this manner, I had no choice but to resort to that option.

I had hoped for a smoother approach, but given the circumstances, this kind of variable was to be expected.

To begin with, everything I had done was likely to shake this world’s foundation, so I had no complaints.

I approached the attendant and spoke in a hushed tone.

“I would like you to convey one message, seeing as we cannot meet.”

“What is it?”

“I can solve ‘that problem’ you are currently facing.”

The top problem Rexton had at this moment.

As a money-obsessed man, he wouldn’t easily let go of something like this.

From the game’s perspective, he must have had his eye on this since before the young Heroes turned fifteen, so it should be quite timely now.

Of course, it would have been ideal to show him something incredibly valuable to meet him, but given the Crown Prince is being stubborn, I had no choice.

A bit of a hassle, but it couldn’t be helped.

The attendant tilted his head slightly but replied that he understood. Without hesitation, I turned my back. The Heroes followed me.

“There are quite a few people here, too.”

Tina remarked as we stepped out of the trading company and looked around the market.

Rexton City was as densely populated as the Capital.

Although it was relatively close to the Demon World’s border, it had never posed a threat thus far, and every year a significant amount of wealth is spent on hiring adventurers, knights, and magicians to protect its territories, allowing its people to live in peace.

“That’s because economic activities are more active here than anywhere else.”

“So what do you plan to do today?”

“Since we’ve been in a carriage for so long, we should rest first.”

“Are we heading back home, then?”

“No. We’re resting at an inn.”

“Why rest at an inn when Maria can use her teleportation magic?”

“I still have people to meet.”

My position will always be known while I’m in this city.

Surely, they would come looking for me soon enough.

No matter what, they would have to meet me, even if the Crown Prince ordered otherwise.

*

Knock, knock.

It was still before dusk.

An unexpected visitor had arrived.

“I’ll open it—”

“No, let me go. I’ll handle it.”

I stopped Iris, heading toward the door. There stood the attendant who had just turned me away, looking awkward.

“Greetings.”

“…What’s your business here?”

Considering the effort he’d gone through to find me, it was obvious why he was here, but I wanted to make sure before wasting my time.

“Duke Rexton wishes for you to bring Lord Praus.”

Good. I’ve bitten the bait.

“Understood. Let’s go, kids.”

At my words, the Heroes and Ariel started preparing as if they had been waiting for me. They organized their weapons and tidied their attire.

“One moment. His Grace only called for Lord Praus. Bringing others with you is—”

“I’ll be bringing them.”

“But—!”

“It’d be better for trust if we all go together.”

That guy doesn’t believe unless he sees it for himself.

If I prove that the Heroes are superior to S-Class, I will hold the upper hand in negotiations.

Then, things will become significantly easier.

“Hmm. It would be inappropriate to disregard orders like that.”

“Don’t worry. I’ll take responsibility. You just need to guide us.”

*

“Wow, this place is fancy!”

Ariel was gazing around the grand mansion, which was almost as large as the Imperial Palace, her eyebrows raised in surprise.

Indeed, he is one of the wealthiest men in the Empire after the royal family.

“I’ve been expecting you, Lord Praus.”

A middle-aged man in a neat suit placed his hand to his chest and bowed slightly.

He exuded dignity that suggested he was the butler of this mansion.

“Duke Rexton is working in his office. Let’s head directly there.”

It’s common practice to greet guests in a reception room, yet he’s choosing to meet in the office.

Given the importance of maintaining confidentiality in his work, one typically avoids the office for receiving guests. Duke Rexton likely had one of two reasons for such a request.

Either he was too busy with his duties to properly entertain guests or he deemed us to have little value and wished to dismiss us quickly.

Certainly, we were clearly in the latter category.

He must have already invested an unfathomable amount of money in search of solutions and still hadn’t found one, so why would he trust someone like me who just appeared out of nowhere claiming, “I can solve your problem!”?

Even so, the fact that he called me here means he at least sees me as a “strong player.”

During the slave auction duel with Inkuro, he must have been present there as well.

He was masked and unrecognizable, but it didn’t make sense for the organizer to leave his position.

Having been present, it’s reasonable to conclude he also observed my battle with Inkuro.

Therefore, he recognizes me as a formidable ally.

Now, I intended to leverage that perception.

In essence, he only trusts what he sees directly; in other words, if I demonstrate my strength in front of him, he will start trusting me.

I followed the butler toward the mansion’s office.

The butler strode effortlessly, his footsteps silent and steady as though he was modeling for a fashion show.

“This painting looks weird. The colors are all splattered. I think I could do that myself.”

Tina pointed to a painting on the wall, waving her arms in the air.

“I can’t understand human artistic value.”

“That’s not what we’re talking about, you fools.”

Iris covered the mouths of Tina and Maria. So, Iris must be the eldest sister!

“It is merely a painting worth hundreds of gold coins.”

“…Oh, really.”

The butler spoke softly but clearly couldn’t hide his displeasure.

He too must have been a noble, after all, and placing value in artworks wouldn’t be strange to imagine.

Nobles flaunted their wealth through such artworks.

“Please maintain decorum in front of His Grace.”

As we reached the office, he reminded us.

Hmm, I want to be polite, too. But given my current skills, what can I do?

Knock, knock, knock.

“Your Grace, Lord Praus has arrived.”

“Come in.”

As soon as the authorization was granted, the butler opened the door.

Seated at the desk was a bespectacled man who lifted his head. His brown hair flowed down naturally, casting a shadow of impressions upon us.

“Nice to see you, Praus. Has it really been two years since the New Year’s Feast?”

“Greetings, Duke Rexton.”

“Indeed, good to see you.”

…Damn.

The butler looked astonished at my response, and Duke Rexton raised an eyebrow. Then he burst into laughter.

“Ha ha ha ha!”

Seeing him laugh like that made me internally groan.

“What’s wrong with that guy?”

“That’s not something you should say out loud…!”

Tina confidently pointed at Rexton, only for Iris to forcefully lower her finger.

“…I’ve seen you at the New Year’s Feast, but you really are an entertaining person.”

He inserted the ink pen he was holding back into the ink bottle.

“Is that so.”

“Yes, I suppose we’re both busy, so let us get to the point.”

Duke Rexton, with his fingers interlocked, flashed a sly smile. He resembled a cunning fox.

“Could you explain to me what problem I have?”