My Disciples Think I’m Strong – Chapter 146

“Ugh… How cunningly shameless…!”

That phrase sounded familiar, as if I had heard it from someone before.

“Thanks for the compliment.”

With that cheeky retort, Luke became even more incensed. However, he seemed to retain enough reasoning not to forget that he had no options left.

“So which side is it?”

I asked Luke, who was calming down and sitting back down.

“……”

He must have felt a reluctance to cast aside the nobility that followed him. Even though he had been manipulated by the Demon Tribe, it wouldn’t be an easy decision to suddenly dismiss those who had loyally served the kingdom up to this point.

But he would have to make a decisive choice once again. This time, the stakes were high.

“So finding and subduing the lackeys means… at least you know that information, right?”

“That’s correct.”

“Who are they?”

“I can’t say here.”

I glanced around as I spoke. Even if I pointed out a noble based on information known only to me, the King wouldn’t easily believe it. So for now, I had to refrain from revealing the information until I had proof of the noble and demons exchanging whispers through Surveillance Magic.

Moreover, just making them think there was a possibility they could be pointed out would be enough to make them anxious.

“I’ll take you to a private room. I’ll tell you there—”

“Your Majesty!!”

Someone stepped out from the ranks of nobility. I recognized him.

“Their words cannot be trusted! We’re already having friction with the Empire over resources, and now you expect us to seek their help! This could very well be a ploy to intentionally break trust among the nobility and create weaknesses.”

It was a brown-haired man with a ruggedly masculine appearance, bearing a scar across one side of his face as if he had been slashed by something.

He was none other than Marquis Lector, the man who wished for the downfall of House Forna more than anyone else.

His full name was Line Lector; he was the first to disclose that House Forna was in league with the demons, which elevated him to the ranks of a Marquis, and he now held significant power in the Aioum Kingdom.

Recently, he had been recognized for his contribution to creating a massive trading company that revitalized the economy.

But how would the King feel if he realized that this was all ‘manipulated’? The feeling of true betrayal would be beyond expression.

“I don’t use such petty methods. Unlike ‘someone’.”

“……”

His gaze towards me was sharp. Through a brief moment of eye contact, we both understood each other clearly.

However, if we were to judge trust based on the devoted Marquis who had sacrificed for the kingdom versus an unexpected member of an overseas delegation, it was clear which side would prevail.

Should I just expose everything right now?

I pondered for a moment before shaking my head.

If I did so, this guy would be captured, and that would be the end of it. Even if he were caught, without evidence, it would be meaningless to interrogate him.

He must have prepared contingency plans in case of capture.

Thus, it was necessary to catch whoever was pulling the strings behind him. Otherwise, he would keep running away, cutting off his tail every time. It would just be a vicious cycle.

“Petty? Are you saying that to me? You lowborn?!”

He raised his voice, pointing his finger at me.

Should I just suppress him with killing intent?

No matter how much a noble raged, he was still an ordinary person. He lacked any special powers like those of the demons; he was merely of higher status. I had no time to be cowed by the likes of him. Even now, the demons were likely on the move.

Just as I was about to speak, the Representative of the Delegation poked me in the chest. It was a signal not to step in.

“I will address that matter.”

He calmly lowered his head and spoke.

“The Empire is hoping for harmony with the Kingdom. His Majesty Emperor Lupin believes that fighting amongst humans will never lead to victory against the common enemy, the Demon Tribe. So the thought that we would stir discord among the nobility is, I believe, overly speculative.”

“Are you saying you want us to yield all resources to the Empire while hoping for harmony?”

The Representative was momentarily silent at Luke’s accusation. He understood that every word he spoke carried weight.

“In order to successfully conduct trade, we can only offer what the opposing side desires. We believe that nothing is as important to us as dealing with the demons in the Aioum Kingdom.”

“Trade, huh…”

As I mused reluctantly, the Representative continued.

“Currently, the Aioum Kingdom is not facing a direct threat from the demons, but circumstances could change at any moment. We wish to help you escape from such a situation.”

“And the reward for this trade is resource monopolization, is it?”

Without a word, the Representative bowed his head even lower, giving a silent confirmation.

After a prolonged bit of knocking on the armrest of the throne, Luke finally made a decision.

“Alright. I’ll accept that trade. But before that, I want to see if they can truly kill the demons with my own eyes.”

“What do you mean by that…?”

Luke’s finger pointed towards us.

“Prove that the rumors weren’t exaggerated. Praus. I want to see it with my own eyes.”

The Representative turned his gaze towards me. It was as if he was urging me to unleash killing intent. In that case, it would only make sense to respond.

“You want me to prove the rumors weren’t exaggerated?”

[Skill: “Killing Intent” activated.]

I glared at them with wide eyes. At that moment, I captured their familiar expressions alongside the memory of the familiar hologram.

Vague fear.
The terror of being unable to gauge the opponent.

These two emotions manifested on their faces, freezing their bodies. I glanced over them one by one, finally locking my gaze on the King.

“What is this…!”

He tried to grab the armrest to stop his trembling body, but it had already escaped his control.

“W-What do you think? K-Knight Commander?”

“Whoa…! It’s immense magical power. It’s a level that doesn’t even dare compare to the Empire’s S-Class…! It’s almost a wonder how you’re keeping it in check.”

“I-Is that so… Okay, enough! Stop it!”

At the King’s urgent command, I dispersed my killing intent. Immediately, I could hear gasps of breath from all around.

“Well… It appears you do have some power.”

“P-Praus! Simply showing a gold badge certifying the S-Class would have been more than enough…!”

“Oh, is that so?”

I belatedly recalled the gold adventurer’s badge I had received from Iris.

Still, showing it would have been less effective. Displaying it directly in front of so many people meant no one could dismiss it.

Besides, by showing this, the lackeys here would likely panic and act rashly.

“Hmph, fine. I’ll accept that offer.”

In the end, Luke agreed to the proposal, and only then did the expression of the delegation brighten.

“Everyone except the delegation from the Empire, leave.”

At his command, the knights and nobility began to exit, except for the Knight Commander. They wore distorted expressions, wary and disgusted as they glanced at me.

Finally, once even Marquis Line Lector had stepped outside, only Luke Aioum, the Knight Commander, and we remained in the room.

“Alright. Who are the Demon Tribe’s lackeys?”

“I’ve made a list. Here.”

I took out a neatly folded sheet of paper from my pocket and showed it to him. Luke squinted as he gazed at the paper.

“So what you’re saying is that you know every detail about our nobility?”

“……Well, sort of.”

It wasn’t that I knew about the nobility; rather, I only knew about their connections to the demons. I didn’t know who was who, just names. There were no illustrations, and they were hardly mentioned in the story.

“Is that information the power of the Empire?”

“Not at all. This is purely my own intel. There’s no value in relying on the Empire’s inferior information network.”

“P-Praus! That is an insult to the Empire, and further, to the face of the Emperor!”

“Hmph.”

He can take the insults. He’s the one who committed massacres for his own benefit. It’s because of him that I’m suffering like this. Before he dies, I will give him a good punch!

“Then why are you here? You have such power and information, so why are you moving according to the Empire’s wishes?”

Do you think I want to do this?

I have to stabilize the Empire before the Demon War so that it’s easier to keep fighting.

“I don’t have a duty to disclose the situation on my side.”

“……Is that so? Then recite the list.”

I handed the paper to the Representative of the Delegation. He took it reluctantly while looking at me with displeasure, then unfolded it and began to read the names listed.

“———Marquis Line Lector.”

When the name Line Lector came up at the end, it was the first time the King and the Knight Commander showed a reaction.

“Lector? Really…?”

They asked back as if they couldn’t believe it, their astonished expressions amusing to see.

“So… it hurts, doesn’t it, when you get stabbed in the foot by the axe you trusted?”

“Is that information trustworthy?”

“You can trust my intel. But if you find it hard to believe, validate the info yourself. Or you can wait for me to deliver the results.”

Since we were still strangers, building trust wasn’t possible right now. However, once results were produced, they would have no choice but to trust me.

“Your tone is rather arrogant.”

“Anyway, now that I’ve accepted your proposal, I will act as I please. During this time, your only job is to not interfere with whatever we do.”

First, I need to visit the ‘Mens Trading Company’ that Marquis Lector had used to revitalize the economy. If that demon is truly behind the scenes, there may be a ‘medium’ they used during the brainwashing process.

Finding that would be the priority.

“Hey! What do you think you are to the King?!”

A knight who could no longer contain himself shouted at me in reproach. I simply snorted and spoke proudly.

“I say the same thing even to the Emperor.”

Regardless of my will, everyone was equal in front of my mouth.

“……”

As I spoke boldly, both the King and the delegation looked at me incredulously. The heroes were chirping, “As expected of our Teacher!” which was incredibly annoying, but I brushed it off.

Silence hung in the audience chamber for a long moment, and unable to bear the awkward atmosphere any longer, I was the first to speak.

“If you keep your word, I will find the lackeys in the kingdom and bring them here, then deal with the demons controlling them.”

“……Do that.”

“Alright.”

As soon as I heard the King’s answer, I turned my body. My companions followed as I moved. We left the audience chamber, leaving the delegation behind.