My Disciples Think I’m Strong – Chapter 164

“You’re making a mistake right now. How dare you discuss the assassination of the future emperor?”

“Assassination? That’s too grand a term. I was merely speaking of reasonable steps.”

“Reasonable steps?”

“Have you already forgotten the time you experienced it once?”

“What are you talking about?”

“……Decades ago, when you harmed your own family to ascend the throne.”

“!”

“I know the power struggle was quite evenly matched back then. It was due to the fact that the Dukes were all supporting different candidates from the royal family. But you lacked the backing to even participate in the Succession War, waiting instead for your own death.”

“How do you know those facts…!”

“In the end, while the two formidable brothers were at each other’s throats, you quietly dealt the final blow, eliminating even your sister who had no claim to the throne, and ascended as emperor.”

In other words, his rise to power was merely a stroke of luck.

“How do you know all this? I thought I had erased all records of it!”

“Who knows? Why would I be aware of it?”

He shot me a fierce glare. His hands on the desk trembled slightly.

“Do you really think the nobility accepted your throne, which you seized by luck? No, they didn’t accept it at all. But instead of overpowering or killing the rival factions to overcome the aftermath of the Succession War, you chose to appease them with royal treasury funds.”

As he spoke in detail, the color drained from his face.

“You were fortunate enough to be recognized for your abilities later, but if things had gone even slightly wrong, the noble factions that supported your elder brothers would have revolted.”

The Succession War was that convoluted.

If they could have just killed the emperor and the crown prince to seat Seri on the throne, they would have done it long ago. But Princess Seri still lacked recognition among the nobility.

To be precise, it was because the Crown Prince had most of the noble influence that opportunities were few and far between.

I and Tori were trying to engage with other nobles and guide them to resolve their issues, but even that proved difficult given current circumstances.

Additionally, with our efforts to liberate other races from slavery, it seemed that many nobles held animosity towards us.

That’s why we couldn’t just recklessly kill the emperor and the crown prince. If the nobility rebelled against our treason, the Empire would descend further into chaos.

And even now, if the Demon Tribe who kept watching the human world sensed the Empire’s turmoil and invaded, I would surely lose this game.

“How can you know so much in detail? Do you have a mole in here? No, that can’t be. Those people should be dead by now….”

I drew the curtain back and approached the emperor.

“Since I’m here, there must be a White Light Corps nearby. Is it okay to share such stories?”

“……Leave.”

As the emperor whispered, I briefly heard the rustle of garments around me, sensing a presence. But soon it fell silent.

Were they really intent on killing me if the situation turned?

Even if I was considered a vital entity in the Empire, I had been too reckless.

“Explain. How do you know all these facts? Most who knew about it are dead. The current dukes don’t know the details either.”

“How did I know? There’s the Spirit King, who has lived for hundreds of years. Gaining that kind of information isn’t a problem at all.”

He fabricated a story convincingly.

At that moment, any tale would do. As long as it was persuasive, it sufficed. And if it were a reason the emperor couldn’t verify, even better.

“……Could it be the Information Guild that’s looking out for you? It’s the Spirit King, isn’t it?”

“Regardless, how I came to know this isn’t important. I have no intention of blackmailing you with that.”

“Then why bring it up?”

“I wanted to let you know that once you’re dead, the same will happen to you that you once inflicted on others.”

“What…?”

“I know you empowered the Crown Prince to prevent the Succession War you once experienced. You thought that if Chris held overwhelming power, the other brothers wouldn’t dare to threaten it.”

“You… what are you….”

“But Chris is far more sinister than you think. Surely he believes that the other princes and Princess Seri will be obstacles to his ascension and will attempt to assassinate—”

“Enough!!”

He raised his voice. The spacious office echoed with it, followed by the entrance of knights.

“Your Majesty, what’s wrong?!”

Emperor Lupin merely waved them away, not responding to them. The knights glanced between me and the emperor, bowed deeply, and then left the room.

“Hah… Are you trying to sow discord…!”

Discord, huh. It wasn’t entirely incorrect. I intended to slightly shake the trust between the emperor and the crown prince.

“No matter how many times you say that, I won’t believe you. I can clearly see you’re just trying to place Seri on the throne. Do you think I would believe that?”

“……There’s a saying I know.”

Leaning on the desk, I leaned in slightly closer to him.

“If you want to know someone’s true nature, give them power.”

I noticed his eyes darting continuously and straightened myself.

“What….”

“The Crown Prince has held power since he was a child, so discovering contrasts may not be easy. But why did he create a Black Light Corps similar to the White Light Corps? Once he becomes emperor, he could seize the White Light Corps immediately.”

Emperor Lupin remained silent. My words began to gnaw at his mind. Confusion wafted quietly in the air.

“Have you never thought about that reason? Well, I won’t bother elaborating on how much dirty work the Black Light Corps has been involved in; you likely know it better than I do.”

“……It’s legal for nobles to own private armies. There’s no reason Chris couldn’t do it. He is, after all, the next emperor.”

“You defend the sole successor too much. Sure, that’s possible. But—”

I nodded repeatedly as I observed him advocating for the Crown Prince, then I spoke firmly.

“Could you say the same when he was killing the other princes?”

Bam!

He slammed his hand down on the desk.

“In the end, all you say is mere speculation! If you want to convince me, bring evidence! Words alone don’t mean anything!”

“Evidence? Do you think such a thing exists?”

“If that’s the case….”

“If I had such evidence, the Crown Prince would have been dead by now.”

“W-What…?! You—what are you saying…!”

Lupin pointed a trembling finger at me.

After this conversation, it seemed that my thoughts were somewhat changing. This proposal might not be entirely useless after all.

“Therefore, here comes my proposal. If the Crown Prince attempts to kill the other princes, I will take responsibility for their protection.”

“What did you say?”

This was my justification.

It was a pretext under which I could strike at the Crown Prince.

If I attack the Crown Prince first, even if I win the war, my standing would be weak. But if it’s framed as protecting the other princes, an opportunity for a formal war arises.

Of course, while pretending to protect them, I had no intention of seriously safeguarding their lives.

In the end, the mindsets of both the Crown Prince and the princes were fundamentally the same.

“I’ve fought upper-class demons multiple times and quelled them. You know I’m above S-Class in skills. For me to take it upon myself to protect the princes from the Crown Prince…”

There seemed to be a moment of thoughtfulness from the emperor. His lip covered as he pondered, he looked like he was weighing the pros and cons.

“……No, we still don’t need your help. That’s a matter for our royal family to handle, even without your intervention—”

“What are you rambling about? With all the power concentrated in one place, do you really think the princes can survive?”

“Well….”

“And I’m already part of Princess Seri’s faction. Once the Succession War begins, confrontation with the Crown Prince’s faction is inevitable. Naturally, if it comes to fighting, I will give everything to crush Chris, even if it means massacring all the nobles.”

I spoke with serious intensity, my killing intent reacting visibly, leaving the emperor’s expression grim.

“Are you threatening me right now?! How dare you, a commoner—”

“But!”

I cut him off as he was trying to raise his voice to defend his pride. He fell silent. Despite the heavy wrinkles on his face, he didn’t seem truly threatening.

“But if you accept this deal, I will give up on placing Princess Seri on the throne. That way, the Succession War will not occur, and the Crown Prince can naturally become emperor. And your children will live the rest of their lives under my protection.”

If the scenario followed the game’s plot, establishing the Crown Prince was indeed inevitable.

This couldn’t be changed.

Honestly, I couldn’t think of any means to alter it.

I had tried to gather power to find a way to change it, but the only noble who could truly support Seri was Duke Aus.

Waiting for the Resistance to rise up was unfeasible. I couldn’t afford to be leisurely when the Demon War could erupt at any moment.

So, this part would have to be boldly sacrificed.

Instead, I would wait for the next opportunity. The Crown Prince himself would have no choice but to give us that chance.

“……What are the conditions?”

“The liberation of slaves from other races and the return of territories seized so they can live independently.”

If the emperor agreed to liberate slaves from other races and return the territories to the Crown Prince, there would be no reason for Seri to become empress. There would be no need for a strenuous power struggle.

Of course, I would ensure Seri’s safety with all my strength.

“Hah!”

Lupin scoffed. Then he erupted into laughter, filling the office with his mirth. I stood still, waiting for his laughter to end.

“Now that’s a proposal not worth listening to. You’re making a nonsensical offer.”

I had anticipated his rejection.

If he planned to free the slaves and return territories, he would never have attacked other races in the first place.

“You say it doesn’t add up? This could not only prevent the bloodbath among your children but bring me to your side as well. You think there’s no value in that?”

“I can’t concede the territories. Do you know how much mana stone comes from the territories seized from the other races?”

“You speak as if you carry the burden of the massacre, yet you justify it so easily.”

“The strong taking from the weak is a common occurrence in the natural world. It’s merely the other races who’ve assigned meaning to it.”

Despite my blatant harshness, he remained unfazed. Watching him rationalize it while tapping his head, I felt the urge to punch him in the nose.

“If you had never enslaved the other races, if you hadn’t taken their territories, things wouldn’t be this tangled.”

“Don’t go too far. Everything is for the sake of the Empire. Shouldn’t you, as a citizen of the Empire, care more about our Empire than the other races?”

“Our Empire? That’s a laugh. Do you think the Empire can stand strong if you turn me into an enemy?”

“……I acknowledge your strength, but if a hero like you were to bring the Empire to its knees, it would be obvious who would be most pleased.”

Are we really back to discussing the Demon Tribe now? This old man, truly a nuisance.

I couldn’t respond, and he smiled for the first time.

“Indeed, you are a hero.”

Muttering that, he tapped the desk.

“……Fine. I don’t intend to befriend you, but I have no desire to become your enemy either.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“I will grant the liberation of all slaves from other races within the Empire’s territory. As you wish. But I will prohibit Princess Seri from external activities, and I will protect her if the Crown Prince attempts to kill the other princes. That’s my limit. How about you?”

If I could achieve even the liberation of slaves, this deal wouldn’t be bad. But if the territories are not returned, the anger would never subside.

“The only way to quell the fury of the other races from the massacre would be to liberate them and return their original territories. Without that, they will forever remain a threat to the Empire.”

“I’ve already stated what my limits are.”

“……If that’s the case, it’s better to consider this deal void.”

There was no reason for me to negotiate at a disadvantage.

What I wanted wasn’t merely a compromise but for all my demands to be met. There was no need to reach for a truce.

As long as the Demon Tribe didn’t intervene, the situation was still in my favor.

“Well, it’s been nice talking. I’ll take my leave now.”

Without waiting for the emperor’s response, I turned my body. I didn’t want to talk anymore.

As I made my way towards the office door and reached for the doorknob, a voice called out from behind.

“……Do you think it’s alright to have this conversation and just leave?”

“What do you mean?”

“Praus, you should be careful not to get too arrogant. It seems you’re under the impression that the world flows easily in your favor. There are things in this world that can’t be resolved solely through power, as you well know, having gathered forces around yourself while pushing Seri ahead.”

This NPC was truly triggering murderous impulses within me numerous times.

If not for the condition that the Empire doesn’t fall in the happy ending, I wouldn’t have made such a proposal.

Hmm, should I correct that arrogant attitude of his now?

As they say, seeing is believing; I thought he’d realize if he experienced it firsthand.

“……Aren’t you the one who’s mistaken? If I had wielded my power, this Empire would have long been in shambles.”

“Hah! Then why not give it a try right away? Do you think you can win in an all-out war against the Empire?”

“Is that so? Then let’s find out.”

“What…?”

“By midnight tomorrow, the Magic Guild Facility will be destroyed. Even the Magic Guild Leader won’t be able to stop it, so it would be wise to evacuate in advance.”

It was a sort of school located within the capital of Pretéum. Most of the magicians working in the Empire were trained there.

I was planning to blow it up.

“Are you declaring war on the Empire?”

“War? Not at all. This is merely unilateral violence. People like you need to experience something firsthand to discern whether it’s excrement or something substantive. I’m merely accommodating that perspective.”

[Activating skill “Killing Intent.”]

With my eyes sharpened, I stepped closer to him again. Seeing him flinch at my presence, I placed a delivery scroll on the desk.

“If you have something important to say, use this delivery scroll to contact me. I’m curious whether you’ll still think the same way then.”