My Disciples Think I’m Strong – Chapter 141

The shadows of the Kalus Territory.

More precisely, it was the abandoned outskirts.

Just like the makeshift villages of the Pretéum Empire, the situation in the Kalus Territory was not much different. This place was home to many impoverished people, as well as abandoned Other Races and criminals hiding from the authorities.

Because of that, it became a hotspot for racial conflicts and frequent crimes, making it undeniably dangerous.

However, it was this very setting that would provide the perfect foundation for such an ‘organization’ to be established.

We continued onward towards the shanty town.

“Teacher, the deeper we go, the more uneasy I feel. Is it okay to kill if things get out of hand?”

Just before we stepped into the slums, Iris spoke up seriously.

“…Even if they initiate violence, you mustn’t kill. Just subdue them. Understood?”

No one replied. I let out a sigh.

“I brought you all along because you’re useful. If you’re thinking about causing a scene, you should turn back right now. If you get into trouble after we came together, I won’t take you to the Aioum Kingdom.”

“Hmph. That’s fine by me.”

Phoenix replied snarkily. After all, she couldn’t get involved in the Human World anyway.

“Alright, Phoenix. You won’t be getting any meals from me in the future.”

“W-What? That’s not fair!”

She protested vehemently, shaking her red hair.

“Then either follow along quietly or head to the Spirit Realm.”

“Cheh…”

In the end, Phoenix clicked her tongue and took a step back.

The tension on the faces of the group lessened a bit after witnessing our little squabble.

“Let’s move.”

I adjusted my bag and started to walk ahead. The others followed closely behind.

We strolled through an area packed with makeshift houses, hardly resembling a city, and I surveyed my surroundings.

Some tattooed men were staring at us. They looked wary of the outsiders, yet their gazes were drawn to the rather attractive members of our group.

I could see them whispering amongst themselves while keeping a close watch on us. It was annoying, but now wasn’t the time to deal with it.

As we ventured further in, the faint smell of rot began to waft through the air. The stench was unbearable, reminiscent of decaying corpses.

“…”

Noticing the frown lines deepening on the faces of my companions, it seemed they were struggling to endure it as well. Just as I was about to take a breath as quietly as possible and move forward—

Suddenly—

“Hey!”

Something abruptly grabbed my clothing. I turned to my side and couldn’t help but flinch.

A pair of dog ears on a brown-haired child were half-missing, and burn scars stretched from the right cheek down the neck.

“P-Please, human… I-I’m hungry… Could you spare some food…?”

The hand clutching me was trembling. They forced a smile, but the pain hidden behind their expression was undeniable.

“Here, kid.”

As I stood still, Iris gently pulled the child’s hand away. Then she squatted down and offered dried meat to the child. Upon receiving it, the kid began to devour it greedily.

“Take your time eating. I have some water too.”

Maria pulled out a water canteen and handed it to the child.

“…Teacher.”

“What is it?”

“Are there many kids like this around?”

“Indeed.”

“So, just like you helped me, is it okay if I help kids like this too?”

Having lived abandoned in a slum, perhaps she could empathize easily.

“Without saying anything, you came here to do just that.”

The shadowy look on her face brightened up. I sat down in front of the Beastman child, who was busy munching on the food.

“Guide me to where you live.”

To meet the person I was searching for, it would be best to stay as loud as possible. After all, I couldn’t search every corner of the slum.

“But… it would be dangerous if a human came here…”

“Don’t worry. Our Teacher is stronger than anyone else.”

Iris reassured gently.

“There are a few days’ worth of food and water for the Beastmen and Elves living here. If you guide me, I can provide that.”

“For how many days?”

While I didn’t know how long it would take, soon the issues concerning the Aioum Kingdom would be resolved, strengthening their right to live.

With strengthened rights, the working Slaves would receive much better treatment. They wouldn’t have to sleep in the cold, could eat at least two meals a day, and would receive wages.

However, those in the slums here were not included. The right to live meant consideration for those who worked enough not to die.

The state wouldn’t look after the freeloaders not contributing or demand anything from them.

Still, if I paved the way, the wise would start working to adapt to human society. That was all I could do for now.

“Do you refuse?”

“…N-No!!”

The child shook their head vigorously. Perhaps thinking they could eat as much as they want, a childlike grin broke out.

“Good. Then lead the way.”

*

It seemed there were also hierarchies even among the impoverished, with clear divisions between humans and Other Races. The brighter and more trafficked parts of the slum were mostly occupied by humans.

On the other hand, Other Races were positioned in an area right in front of the city walls, where sunlight hardly reached.

The deeper we went into the shadows, the more Beastman and Elf faces we could see instead of human ones, with most appearing to suffer from physical or mental issues. It seemed there were far more abnormalities than normal conditions.

And as soon as we firmly stepped into their territory, they began to slink toward us.

“What’s this? A human! Hey, who brought a human here?!”

“A human, huh?!”

At the mention of a human, Other Races began gathering one by one. Before I knew it, we were surrounded and couldn’t move an inch.

“Hey! Kid! Human! Are you trying to threaten us with a child?!”

One male Beastman standing beside me shouted. The others joined in, pressing me for answers. Was this one named ‘Kid’?

“N-No, everyone! This person is—”

“See, humans are rotten to the core!”

“Hah.”

As I sighed, Iris and Maria began to look worried.

“T-Teacher, um… please calm down. They don’t mean to annoy you.”

“Right. They’re probably just scared. I guess they have a lot of grievances against humans…”

The two warriors defended them and tried to calm me down.

What’s wrong with you? You were acting all tough until we got inside.

From the start, I hadn’t even planned on fighting.

At this distance, I’d probably get hit before I could even draw my sword. Why would I want to pull it out? It’s gonna hurt if I get hit.

“What’s this? Our kind is hanging out with a human?”

“Are you a slave too?”

“No! My Teacher liberated me and took me in!”

“What?”

I dug through my bag and pulled out some bread. Immediately, the gazes of the Other Races shifted to the bread. I swayed it slightly left and right, and their heads followed. From somewhere, a loud growl echoed through the air.

“I came to offer you all some food and have a chat.”

“Shut up if you want to take my food! I absolutely hate listening to whiny little brats!”

Thanks to my filtration, there was almost a fight.

“Ugh, guess I was the one thinking that.”

Phoenix added her jab unhelpfully.

*

Thanks to my filtration, a fight was nearly averted, and thanks to Iris and Maria, we safely entered the shanty town of the Other Races.

We started distributing food to them in a park that hadn’t been maintained and whose playground was rusting away. Of course, this role was left to Iris and Maria, not me.

I figured that handing it out myself would put a lot more pressure on them than if members of their own kind did it.

“Please come in line one by one. There’s plenty for everyone!”

At Maria’s shout, the Other Races lined up quietly, licking their lips. I leaned against a tree, observing them closely.

Among them, there would definitely be someone connected to the person I needed to meet. There must be someone who leads this place.

Ideally, I would like to go straight to their ‘hideout,’ but the path was more complicated than it seemed in games, so I had no choice but to rely on someone’s guidance.

After watching for quite a while, I spotted a few Beastmen in the corner whispering while glancing our way.

As soon as they made eye contact with me, they seemed to scatter as if trying to disguise their actions.

“Iris.”

I called out to Iris, who was distributing food.

“Yes! Teacher!”

Seeing her own kind brought her some joy; she seemed more energetic than usual.

“Follow me.”

“Eh?”

“Keep distributing food here.”

“W-Where are you going, Lord Praus?”

“I need to meet someone for a moment.”

This person was one of the more important ones for me. It might be a little too early, but it wouldn’t hurt to establish contact ahead of time.

“I’ll be back soon, so just wait a little. Let’s go, Iris.”

“Ah, okay.”

Iris set her food down and followed me. I started to walk in the direction of the traces of the ones who’d just scattered. And when I stopped, I found myself before a dim alley with hardly any light.

“Don’t come any closer.”

As soon as I stepped into the alley, a characteristic growl of a beast echoed alongside words that sounded like they were speaking gibberish.

All I could see was darkness. I wouldn’t have confidence in dodging if a blade were to fly my way.

Perhaps I should have brought Maria instead of Iris. I brought Iris because ‘that woman’ is a Beastman.

“I have something to discuss.”

“Ha! You human! Are you planning to take even this slum from us?!”

From the darkness, the growl came closer and closer.

“If that were the case, I wouldn’t be bringing food and talking forcefully.”

“…So, what do you want to say?”

Another male voice. It seemed that there were several people deeper in the alley.

“I want you to lead me to the ‘woman’ who guides you here.”

“What? How dare you refer to her as a woman?!”

“Hey, wait a minute.”

Perhaps noticing something, someone standing next to him stopped the furious Beastman. So, there was at least someone with half a brain here.

“How do you know she’s a woman?”

“That’s not your concern. I just need to see her.”

“She hates humans like you! There’s no way she’d meet with you!”

“True. The leader of the Resistance would have a hard time showing face, right?”

I cut him off, sneering.

“What?!”

“You bastard! How did you…!”

“Don’t make me say it twice. Bring the leader of the Resistance to me, or lead me to her directly. Otherwise, I will expose all the information I have to the public.”

Indeed, when it comes to the underworld, intimidation works wonders.

I couldn’t help but internally cackle as I gazed into the dark beyond. As if it were all within sight!