My Disciples Think I’m Strong – Chapter 159

“Do they really know how much I’m holding back to work?”

“Well… I don’t know.”

“That’s not what I meant! They obviously don’t know! That’s why they don’t listen to me at all! And yet, they secretly ate all the cake! Isn’t that infuriating?! I love cake too!!”

“Oh… I see…”

“The taste of cream melting in my mouth is just so good… No! Pay attention!”

Even when I tell them to pay attention…

The conversations they have are so trivial that it’s a waste of time to listen.

“If you have no one to complain to, I told you to just talk to yourself.”

“Well, I did say that…”

But this isn’t complaining; it’s just whining, right?

Yet this girl seems like a woman, already talking to herself for quite a while. I was just making casual comments, but I was slowly getting tired of it.

“Your worries are so trivial that they make me yawn.”

“You’re saying that again. If you’re in the same organization as us, learn to speak a little more kindly. With your tone, I really can’t tell if you actually want to get along with us.”

I don’t genuinely want to be friends.

I was just saying that to provoke her emotions; it didn’t have any real significance. As long as I can use her, that’s enough for me.

“In conclusion, there’s a way to resolve your whining.”

“Whining? It’s complaining! Change that!”

“Stop saying stupid things and listen.”

“Stupid…? Even if I look like this, I was called a genius among the beasts!”

Ah… I don’t care…!

“…You must be a genius at using your body.”

The Beastman Tribe excels at physical prowess.

“How did you know? You are a genius!”

Watching Leoness impressed by such an obvious statement, I started to doubt whether the Resistance could remain intact.

“I’ve got great techniques! When everyone is below me, they can’t say a word! When I tighten my grip, they let out little moans! How cute!”

“Don’t go saying that anywhere. You’ll be misunderstood for no reason.”

“…What misunderstanding?”

Leoness tilted her head in confusion. She muttered, perplexed as she stared at me.

“Is it a misunderstanding to knock someone down and strangle them?”

“Then make sure to clarify the subject. Please.”

“Subject?”

What am I supposed to do with this dense fool…?

“I don’t know what a subject is, but showing this side of yourself to someone you’ve just met? What are you trying to accomplish?”

“Is it okay to show that kind of side after not knowing each other for long? What do you expect me to do if I make unnecessary comments?”

“Peraus wouldn’t do such things, right?”

Leoness smiled, raising the corners of her mouth. She trusted me as if she knew everything about me already.

“Don’t have blind faith. Doing that will lead to poor judgments.”

“If you have to rely on someone in this world, I think it would be Peraus.”

That was an overly emotional judgment.

Maybe it was because I had just poured out everything earlier.

The distance in our relationship had become way too close. I wonder if that’s how I can still make rational judgments.

“So, just do that with me.”

“Oh, what? You want to be treated specially?”

She poked my cheek playfully with her finger. Her fingertips seemed to avoid my nails, but with the length, it still touched my skin and stung.

“No. I am saying this because it wouldn’t be good if your emotions mixed in with the judgments you make in the future.”

“Then if you have doubts about the judgments I make in the future, Peraus can answer. The great Leoness will treat you specially.”

“Don’t need it.”

“That’s a bit harsh.”

“Anyway, this pointless talk has dragged on; if you want cake, go buy some. If you want to see the children eat heartily, feed them well. As long as you do your job well, it doesn’t matter what you do.”

It was natural to provide appropriate compensation to those who work properly.

Of course, without saying this, they would know better than anyone how important their positions were.
She wouldn’t have casually become the leader of the Resistance.

“And if you’re unsure about the decisions you make, call for me. I’ll help you move in the right direction.”

Leoness fell silent for a moment as she listened to my words. Instead, she stared intently at me.

“…About Peraus.”

“Yeah?”

“When I listen to you, it somehow feels like you know the future.”

That unexpected statement startled me without my realizing it.

“…What do you mean?”

“There seems to be certainty in every word you say. It feels like you’re saying that everything other than what you’re saying is wrong.”

“I never said anything like that.”

“I’m just saying it feels that way.”

Sharp. Is it because she’s perceptive that she can catch something like this?

“So is that why? It gives me more reassurance than any other person.”

“Really?”

“To be honest, I was pretty nervous about the idea of having you as an enemy. Wasn’t your trip to the Aioum Kingdom because of the demon extermination?”

Quick at gathering information, she was right. The demon extermination was a part of the trip, but it wasn’t entirely incorrect.

“If you became an enemy, the other races wouldn’t resist against the Empire and would crumble, right? No matter what kind of strategy you deploy. It would all be read like a book.”

“I don’t know…”

If the game presented such developments, it would have turned out that way.

If things were to deviate from the game’s script, I couldn’t help but be surprised—a bit like meeting Stella in the Aioum Kingdom.

Recalling that again made my body ache. Is the aftereffect still lingering?

“Why do you help the other races when you’re human?”

“…Because that’s the only way to survive.”

Was that too sudden of an answer? She repeated my words quietly.

“The only way to survive?”

“The story ends here. Let’s go. The others are waiting outside.”

“One last thing, can I ask you something?”

“What is it?”

“What should we do from now on?”

“First, meet the people on the list I gave you. They are trying to stir up a resistance in their own way. They will not only contribute as immediate combat power for the Resistance but also significantly ease the acquisition of information within the Empire.”

“Got it. I’ll meet them.”

That’s quite obedient now.

Did she finally understand her position clearly?

For me, it’s better if she is compliant. Irrelevant rebellion only creates variables, and it’s a hassle.

“Okay. I’ll give you a few communication scrolls; call me when things get urgent. And if you ever run short on funds, just let me know.”

“Something like… until now I’ve only protected someone, but I’ve never been protected. This feels… quite strange.”

“What’s strange about it? Originally, that’s how everyone lives.”

As I slightly smiled, Leoness widened her eyes in surprise.

“You could smile.”

“…That’s enough. The others must be waiting.”

I pulled my back away from the wall.

“…I rely on Peraus, not humans.”

I heard her mumble something softly, but I pretended not to hear and stepped outside the building.

*

“Habito.”

“Yes.”

Habito bowed deeply as he answered. Even though I couldn’t see it, I could tell how unpleasant the being looking down on him felt.

“I heard KyouKyou in the Aioum Kingdom was killed. He was your best informant, wasn’t he? He was also a means to mass slaughter the humans when needed.”

“…That’s correct.”

“And your Deputy Commander you brought back is severely injured… At least a month will be required for recovery?”

“I’m sorry. My King.”

“Sorry? That’s laughable, utterly absurd. A Commander can’t even manage his own legion?”

“I’m deeply sorry.”

Habito bowed his head low enough for it to almost touch the ground in apology.

“Is that one really that strong? The guy named Praus?”

Muttering something behind Habito, a figure clad in full armor seemed identical to any other knight. However, the aura emanating from inside the armor distinctly marked him as a Magic Beast.

His name was Lichen.
He was the commander of the Second Legion.

“Hmm. He looks strong enough? If he took one hit from Peremus and managed to see through all Pero’s attacks…”

Standing beside him, a young girl in a black fur outfit yawned. Though she looked like a little girl, she was not actually one but a demon who had lived for hundreds of years.

Her name was Ecabel, the commander of the Third Legion.

While she had a true form, the meeting room in the Demon King’s Castle was too small for her natural state.

When encountering the Demon King, it is customary to show one’s true form, but even Blas understood this about her.

“Pero’s attacks can’t be avoided simply by having good reflexes. You need to understand his attack pattern.”

“But regarding that, Peremus checked whether or not there are traitors, but in the end, he couldn’t find any.”

To be precise, he didn’t check.
He conversed with everyone related to Pero within his legion and killed them all the moment they denied any connection. He left no chance for any possibility.

Back then, he had no way to release the anger he felt toward Praus, so he took it out on them and fed their corpses to other demons to strengthen them. To avoid any demoralization within the legion.

“He’s not just Peremus; it’s Peremus ‘sir’. Damn female.”

“Eh~ Are we really going to care about ranks between us?”

“There’s nothing between you and me.”

“Then give me a baby. I’ll bear it, and then we’ll have something between us, right?”

“…You stupid woman.”

As Peremus spat out his insults, Ecabel made a surprised face as if it were ridiculous and snorted.

“You casually rape other demon women and yet won’t engage with me.”

Ecabel giggled as she poked Peremus’s thick arm. He swatted her finger away and grimaced.

“Don’t touch me. I’ll kill you.”

“Sure~ Anyway, I’ve become interested in that guy named Praus.”

‘Anyone strong enough to kill high-ranking demons surely has strong genes! I want a baby!’

Ecabel licked her lips as she imagined Praus’s face that Habito had shown her. Peremus’s forehead creased as he watched the greedy look.

“Hey. Praus is mine.”

“What? Peremus, are you gay?”

“Gay…?”

“Humans say that liking someone of the same gender is gay!”

“Shut up! Don’t joke! I could really kill you!! I’m the one who’s dying to kill that guy!”

“Then let me have some fun with him before killing him. That should be fine, right?”

“You insane woman! Do you want to give birth to a human child?”

“What I want are strong genes. I don’t care about the race.”

“Hey. Let’s stop the chit-chat here. The Demon King is listening.”

Lichen sharply warned the two, and only then did Ecabel cover her mouth with both hands. But Peremus did not.

“You’re not talking to me, are you? I have a higher rank than you!”

He shot back at Lichen’s comment. Lichen sighed at Peremus’s words.

“We hold equal positions as commanders. What’s more important than rank is our duty. And don’t flaunt your superiority with just a rank difference.”

“What did you say?”

“If you want, we could settle this right now. Want to see who’s superior?”

Lichen placed a hand on the sword hanging from his waist. The weapon pulsed as if it had a life of its own. At that, Peremus unleashed a fierce intent to kill and glared at Lichen.

Stuck between the two, Ecabel nonchalantly thought, ‘A three-way duel might be fine.’

It was then.

“That’s enough.”

“Yes!”

As Blas Weill initiated his statement from the throne, the three commanders each knelt on one knee and bowed their heads simultaneously.

“You will also listen.”

“Yes!”

“I will give you three years. Complete your legions in that time. If by then the state of your legions is still lacking, I will feed you to those who will be the next commanders. Do you understand?”

Tension swept through the commanders at the Demon King’s unilateral declaration. It made sense that there would be rejection to a matter directly related to life and death.

However, they could not voice any denial. They knew that the moment they did, they would die.

“Understood!”

“The original plan was to take a leisurely six years to strengthen the legions. But I will invade the Human World in three years. I’ve put up with enough. I don’t want to see anyone who isn’t a hero rampaging any longer.”

Thus, the variables created by Praus began to move.