My Disciples Think I’m Strong – Chapter 10

“Did everything go well?”

I’m not sure if I can say it went well, but I’m grateful it’s the medieval era.

If it were modern times, I might have been sentenced over several months and possibly ended up in prison.

“Yeah.”

“Is that so… I’m relieved.”

“…Your face is swollen.”

I gently brushed Tina’s cheek with the back of my hand. The area that had been struck was puffed up.

“Oh, this is….”

She subtly turned her body away and covered her swollen cheek with her hand.

“Drink it.”

I offered her a potion I had bought before chasing after Tina.

I had expected to get hit since I hadn’t paid any money.

“It’s a potion. I can’t drink something this expensive….”

Upon seeing the bottle filled with a red liquid, Tina shook her head vigorously from side to side.

Thirty coins of currency would be enough for a commoner to comfortably eat for nearly a month, so it’s understandable she was shocked.

“And the swelling from getting hit will go down quickly. Even though I look like this, I’m somewhat tough.”

The reason her body was tough and healed quickly was probably due to the power of an unawakened hero.

If she didn’t have the hero’s power, she might have died long ago.

In the slums, it would be hushed up, but there would have been quite a few children who died from getting beaten by those trash.

Though the game didn’t mention their names, this fact was officially stated.

“Shut up and drink it. It’s a cheap one.”

I forced the potion into her hand and moved forward. I could hear her footsteps following behind.

“Hey, Praus.”

She, standing next to me, called my name.

“What is it?”

“Why are you trying to take me in?”

“…You are helpful to me.”

“I… can’t beg well, and I don’t have any talents that you’d want.”

Feeling she had no talents was simply because her awakening period hadn’t come yet.

The awakening period varies for each hero, but usually, it begins the moment they decide to fight demons.

“Don’t worry. What I will have you do isn’t something as ridiculous as begging. And since the moment I considered taking you in, I intended to ‘take responsibility’ for your life.”

“Responsibility….”

“You won’t suffer due to money anymore. I’ll feed you what you want, clothe you in what you wish to wear, and let you sleep in a comfortable bed.”

Though I said that, I wouldn’t be able to afford anything too expensive.

Selling artifacts could keep me fed for years, but feeding three people turned out to require more money than I thought.

It remains uncertain if my father will continue to provide financial support.

“Am I worth that much?”

Negative feelings arose in her obsidian eyes as she looked up at me. I snorted dismissively and said nonchalantly.

“Prove your value yourself. Until then, I’ll wait patiently.”

It might have been a bit too harsh for a child, but despite my wording, it was somewhat of a useful consolation.

“I understand.”

After answering like that, she opened the potion’s cap and gulped it down.

Almost immediately, the swelling on her face began to subside. At the same time, her gaze changed. Enthusiasm could be felt.

“I’ll prove my value. I will definitely become someone Praus needs.”

“Good.”

*

We headed straight to the inn.

As we were washing Tina’s body, I also intended to report to Iris.

Creeeak.

“Oh, Lord Praus, you’re here… Wait?”

As soon as I opened the door, a fox-eared girl bolted out as if she had been waiting.

Iris paused, looking at Tina beside me. Tina, surprised to see Iris, pointed at her with her finger.

“Uh, a fox!”

The meeting of the two heroes began.

Iris and Tina stared at each other for a while.

“Who is this child, Lord Praus?”

“She’s one of the other two I mentioned.”

“Ah… I see. Was sending me to the inn just to bring this child?”

Her voice sounded somewhat dissatisfied. Though her expression remained unchanged, her tail drooped down stiffly.

“That’s right. Is that a problem?”

“Ah, no. It’s not a problem… I just thought… wouldn’t it be nice if we went together….”

Iris mumbled. I sighed.

“Don’t say useless things. You don’t even know what happened.”

“…I apologize.”

“Tina.”

“Yes, yes?”

“Go wash up. The clothes you want are in this bag. Pick whatever you want to wear.”

“Got it.”

I tossed her a towel, and she caught it bewilderedly before heading to the restroom.

“Wow… oh, warm water is coming out!”

Not long after, I heard her exclaim from the bathroom.

Even if it’s true she was relying on someone else, her living conditions must not have been much different from homelessness. It’s understandable she would miss hot water.

I chuckled lightly and flopped onto the bed.

“Lord Praus.”

“Yes?”

“Can I ask about your plans for the future?”

I almost instinctively replied, ‘I don’t know.’ It seems it had become a reflex from speaking that way so often.

“…I’m participating in a slave auction.”

“A slave auction?”

“There’s an elf I need to rescue there.”

The girl is said to master all elemental attributes and is known as an Archmage.

Her power would be indispensable in a situation where she had to fight demons that wield magic freely.

“I’ve heard slave auctions are expensive.”

“That’s right. Extremely expensive.”

In fact, during my gameplay, the final auction price for the third hero was 986 gold.

The currency units differ, but it was enough money to earn from selling artifacts as there were people who needed them at this time.

However, the issue lay in the fact that the auction prices were random.

It could be cheaper than this or even more expensive, which was stated in the official strategy guide.

From what I saw in various posts, some paid 1,201 gold, while others paid 1,392 gold.

I lost count of how many times I repeated this due to such circumstances.

Every time I thought I had saved enough, the prices would refresh, leaving me frustrated throughout the entire gameplay.

Regardless, considering the random factors, I had to aim to save around 1,500 gold.

While I was calculating this in my mind, Iris’s voice reached my ears.

“…Was that elf also forcibly brought here like me?”

“That’s correct.”

The circumstances of both Iris and that elf were no different.

They had their land taken away by humans and lost the rights and dignity they were supposed to pursue, turning into slaves.

“Why are people so selfish…? We haven’t invaded human territory or caused harm to anyone. We were clearly living together well. So why do they hurt those who are living well….”

Her voice held a sense of resentment that made my heart ache. Lying on my back, I silently murmured.

“I’m sorry.”

“Humans are just like that. It’s just how it is.”

Frustration rose to my throat.

I couldn’t offer comfort, nor could I apologize on their behalf; it felt pitiful.

I wanted to soothe her feelings a bit, but my mouth wouldn’t allow it. The limits of my filtering only allowed me to express so much.

“It’s just how it is? Are you saying you understand the actions of humans who stole our land?”

I lifted my body and looked at her. Iris wore a frown.

Her determination to argue if necessary was clearly visible.

Well, with this tone, misunderstandings are bound to arise unnecessarily.

I sighed again.

“…Humans are greedy. In their pursuit of what they want, they easily trample on others. That’s why in places where humans live, crimes abound. They steal to survive and kill someone for their own existence. That is human nature.”

I couldn’t deny this fact myself.

If there were no laws in modern times, how different would the perception of crime be compared to the medieval era?

Would South Korea still be regarded as a safe country?

“Then, is that why you… no, do you mean you’re taking us in for your own gain?”

“That’s right.”

I didn’t deny it. It would be something she’d understand eventually.

“What exactly is your purpose?”

“That… I will explain when all three of you are gathered.”

“…Then can you at least tell me one thing?”

“What is it?”

“Are you planning to use us for something bad?”

Something bad? No, the opposite.

What you all will do in the future is save the world.

“If I were thinking of using you for something bad, I wouldn’t even have brought up the slave liberation talk last night.”

“….”

“Don’t worry. In the future, what you’ll do will be things you can hold your head up high for, no matter where you go.”

On the contrary, you’ll even receive admiration.

You will earn the title of S-Class Adventurer beyond just that and will be hailed as heroes.

And while fighting at the forefront, defeating numerous demons, at the very end, you will even slay the Demon King.

That’s the destiny of a hero.

“I understand.”

“When Tina comes out, we’ll go to eat. Get ready.”

“Yes, Lord Praus.”

*

“Wow… ca-can I really eat this?”

“Yeah.”

She asked, staring at the dishes placed before her.

It was just freshly roasted turkey. Iris too looked surprised by its size.

“Eat as much as you want. If you’re still hungry, you can order more.”

“Wow! The meat is so tender! It’s like it was just made!”

Tina, stuffing her mouth full of meat, couldn’t hide her excitement. Iris, watching Tina, began to tear the meat apart herself.

“It’s delicious….”

As Iris tore into the turkey meat with her sharp teeth, her eyes sparkled.

I’m glad she likes it. I was worried our conversation had turned awkward.

I dipped some bread into the bland soup, feeling relieved inside.

“I’ve never eaten such delicious meat in my life!”

She exclaimed while chewing.

“Humph.”

At the sound of laughter behind me, I glanced back to see the innkeeper smirking proudly.

I wished Tina would eat more decorously… I was drawing attention to myself.

“Tina.”

“Yeah?”

“You’re being loud.”

“…Yes.”

At my critique, she pouted, furrowing her brows, and muttered softly.

It’s a bit noisy with just one extra person. The mood maker of the hero party is indeed different.

*

That night at dawn.

When everyone had settled down.

Tina, who used to sleep on a hard floor every night, couldn’t adapt to sleeping in a soft bed. More accurately, she was unable to calm down.

The countless events that had occurred throughout the day rushed through Tina’s mind.

Tina sat up. Iris, who had been sleeping right next to her, opened her eyes slowly.

Since there were only two beds, Tina and Iris were sharing one.

“Praus. Are you sleeping?”

“……Sleep.”

Praus didn’t even turn to respond to his name, replying only in a gruff manner.

“……Thank you for today. For saving me, providing clothes, and treating me to delicious food. I feel like I can never thank you enough, Lord Praus.”

He listened silently, eyes closed.

“Will we continue to live this luxury in the future?”

In truth, it wasn’t luxurious.

Anyone working as a commoner could easily have such a life.

However, Tina hadn’t experienced even the basics of what others took for granted until now, so she felt it was relatively luxurious.

Recognizing this, Praus hesitated to affirm or deny.

“If you prove your value.”

What he had let slip out was a statement that was nowhere to be found as truth.

But Tina didn’t care about such things.

Having been under Dink, who would beat her and hurl insults, Praus’s words sounded warm to her.

“Yes! I will definitely show you! Good night.”

Tina bowed her head to Praus, who wasn’t looking at her, and lay down.

Iris, who had been quietly listening beside her, bit her lower lip and murmured.

“My value….”

*

Time passed, and the day of the slave auction arrived.

Preparations were flawless.

I had saved only 1,336 gold by selling two artifacts, Sylphy’s Ring and the Purification Stone, but this amount was certainly worth a shot at the auction.

The repairs on the artifacts were also perfect. I drew out the rusty sword.

The shining blade looked much better than my self-defense sword. After staring at it contently, I placed it back into its sheath.

I wore the necklace made from the blue stone artifact around my neck.

This sword and the stone will protect me as an S-Class Adventurer.

[Equipped “The Unbreakable Glory of the Past.”]

[You can temporarily use the skill “Absolute Defense.”]

[Wearing “Frost’s Hobby.”]

[Fire resistance increased by 50%.]

“Alright, then let’s go.”

Looking at the moon hanging in the sky, I donned a black mask that concealed my eyes and nose.