My Disciples Think I’m Strong – Chapter 160

“I’m here today with a faucet installed with water magic and a recyclable drainage system.”

The faucet and drainage system, capable of providing both cold and hot water, came as a set.

When water flows through the drainage, it automatically purifies itself and returns to the faucet for reuse, making it a convenient tool.

“Pick an empty building and install these to create a bathhouse.”

“A bathhouse?”

“The first thing you need to do is wash yourselves clean.”

At the mention of cleanliness, a few nearby expressed reluctance. It seemed they recalled how slave traders forced them to bathe to sell them at a better price when they became slaves.

“Sure, being clean would be nice, but… Isn’t it a waste to install something like this when we don’t have any money for maintenance?”

Leoness responded with a frown, inspecting the faucet with skepticism.

“If you only think about the present, then yes.”

This is an investment—for the future.

“But what’s this round thing?”

“That’s soap.”

“Soap? Can you eat it?”

“…It’s not for eating; it makes you smell nice.”

Leoness, upon hearing my explanation, licked her lips, as if disappointed. After smelling the soap, she muttered, “It does smell nice.” Such a simple-minded one.

“But with money to buy this, we could at least get some food. The people living here need food more than luxury items.”

“This is not a luxury. When the right to exist is strengthened in the future, the treatment of Other Races will change greatly. You must maintain cleanliness to prepare for that.”

“Why must we maintain cleanliness?”

“A pleasant smell from your body improves your chances of getting a job.”

“Job…?”

The Other Races, gathered with hopes of receiving food, tilted their heads in confusion at the unfamiliar word. I looked around them and said,

“You’ll have to work under the humans you despise so much.”

“What? Are you telling us to become slaves willingly?”

The darkened slums grew restless at the mention of ‘slave.’ The Other Races pulled away from me, the only one not moving being Leoness.

Well, one can certainly detest the idea of being a slave. They are those who lost their lives to violence and oppression.

“You are not slaves. A slave is someone stripped of all freedom and dignity. How can one be a slave if they are doing work of their choice and receiving fair compensation?”

“But, asking us to work under humans… You know how much we hate them, right?”

“Your days of hunting beasts and foraging for fruits are long gone. Instead, you can now do human work and earn money. With that money, you can sustain your lives.”

I pulled out a gold coin and flicked it. Everyone present stared at the coin.

As it hit the ground with a clink, those who saw it rushed in. A bear beastman overpowered others to grab the coin, ending the competition.

“Furthermore, you understand the value of money. You cannot rely on the goodwill of others forever. Just as you sought your own food, now you must seek work. And adapt to human culture.”

“Do we really have to work under humans?”

“No one among the Other Races has the means to open a shop or own land. Working under humans is unavoidable.”

“If we don’t—”

“You will be left behind.”

Being left behind. I didn’t need to explain to those living in the wild how that word carries the weight of despair. The expressions twisting in front of me conveyed everything.

“But I don’t want to be exploited by humans anymore. I know you’re kind to our kind, but humans are evil! They always want to use us as slaves!”

Others, who had been quietly listening, seemed to agree, raising their voices. I understand the trauma of being slaves, but I wish they wouldn’t fall into paranoia.

“Indeed, humans are genuinely evil. But can you assert that you are not evil yourselves? The hunting you’ve done has taken lives too. It’s just that those weren’t sentient beings capable of speech.”

The uproar quieted in an instant.

“So stop spitting in my face. You cannot live without utilizing humans.”

“We can live without human help—”

“No, you cannot.”

I spoke firmly.

“Why? Because this is the Empire.”

It was an utterly natural logic.

Once in the world of humans, one must follow human culture. Adaptation is essential. If you fail to adapt, you will be condemned to suffer in this slum for the rest of your life, plagued by hunger and illness.

I was offering them an opportunity—a chance to survive.

“Soon, a law strengthening the survival rights of Other Races will be enacted. While it may still be unfair for those in a slave status, at least some freedom will be granted. Those who escape slavery will have the opportunity to work freely and earn money. The wise will make the right choice in accordance with my wishes.”

“So, what profit do you have in this, Lord Praus?”

“Profit?”

“Humans don’t offer goodwill without some selfish motive. They extend their hands for something in return.”

They have a good grasp of humans.

Indeed, I wasn’t extending my hand without a reason.

There are countless Other Races living in slums across other territories. Someone is likely dying from hunger at this very moment. Yet, why am I specifically helping this slum?

It’s because I am targeting the Other Races affiliated with the Resistance, not some faceless crowd.

They become useful cards for the Demon War as they train to resist humans. Helping them build a foundation could be seen as bait to use those cards more effectively.

Once the Resistance grows, the Other Races in other territories will come to their own rescue without my involvement or reason.

I was merely laying the groundwork for them to grow more comfortably and quickly.

“I believe you can get along with humans.”

“Get along with humans?”

“I have that dream, and I’m striving to make that dream a reality.”

As I said that, I gently patted the heads of Iris and Maria, who had been quietly listening beside me. Tina immediately chimed in, “Me too! Me too!”

“What I can say ends here.”

The moon had risen. It was time to head towards the seaside.

“Uh, L-Lord Praus!”

An elf, who had been quietly listening, cautiously raised her hand.

“What is it?”

“Is the job you mentioned really a proper one, not something like selling ourselves in brothels? Not something shameful to tell others… right?”

“That’s for you to decide as well.”

“Decide…?”

“You’ve seen countless things since entering the Empire. Prioritize what interests you, what you want to try. If it’s money, do the job that seems most lucrative.”

If they hadn’t been dragged off to a mining area, they would at least have visited a market and observed what others were doing. If they hadn’t, they could do so now.

“I’ll be leaving now.”

“Leaving?”

Leoness asked in a downcast tone.

“Ah, before I go, know this: you can keep that mindset of thinking humans are bad. Indeed, humans can be evil. To put it in extreme terms, they have killed their own families.”

Even in the direst circumstances, the Beastmen and Elves never committed such acts. They were those who protected their families above all.

“Yet, as long as you are in the Empire, you cannot survive without utilizing humans. Face reality.”

I’ve been rambling like I’m something special as a human, so they will certainly curse me behind my back. Most will ignore me, dismissing me as nonsense.

But that will suffice.

After all, my goal is not for some nameless extras to thrive.

*

When Praus’s party departed, Leoness immediately headed towards the Resistance’s hideout.

Several beastmen and elves, caught among the crowd, followed behind her.

“Leoness, what did you talk about with Praus?”

A bear beastman, who had just picked up a gold coin, asked.

“Plaus is now the direction we should take.”

“Huh?”

“I’ve decided to trust him. No, it’s better said I must trust him…”

Leoness trailed off, recalling the conversation they shared in private.

While she had spoken comfortably during personal matters, she hadn’t entirely opened her heart to Praus.

The reason she survived all this time was due to her suspicion. To let down her guard with someone she had met just a few days ago made no sense.

“Why? He’s a human! He can’t be trusted!”

“He’s not trustworthy, but he is undeniably a stabilizing presence.”

“But following the direction that Praus intends doesn’t make sense. It’s clear it would benefit humans!”

“Is that really so?”

Leoness thought of how Praus had patted Iris’s and Maria’s heads. His motivations seemed to hinge around those girls.

If the girls weren’t there, he wouldn’t have reached out to the Other Races; he would likely have become an enemy instead.

“Though Praus doesn’t show his emotions on the surface; it’s evident he has goodwill toward us.”

“Even so—!”

“Plaus said it himself: to use them. Without utilizing humans, you cannot survive in the Empire; I resonate with that sentiment.”

Even without Praus stating it, Leoness has been making Other Races affiliated with the Resistance work under humans, all to raise funds for war.

“And stop worrying too much. If Praus acts contrary to our beliefs, I’ll betray him without hesitation.”

Saying that, Leoness twisted one side of her mouth in a sardonic smile.

‘Well, I might be able to betray him. I can, but… I can’t shake the feeling that if I turn him into an enemy, we won’t survive. I can’t imagine surviving after betraying Praus.’

Leoness felt a chill of fear watching the killing intent that Praus showcased initially.

It sent shivers down her spine and left her defeated as if faced with something gigantic that she could not comprehend.

However, as the leader of an organization, she couldn’t show fear, so she could only phrase it as if they could win.

“Anyway, let’s use him while we can.”

Leoness carefully folded the paper with the list Praus had given her and tucked it into her pocket.

“Ah, but make sure to remember one thing.”

Stopping in her tracks, she looked back and briefly scanned the members of the Resistance who had also halted.

“The day we turn Praus into an enemy will be our last.”

It was a piece of advice from her, facing Praus directly.