My Disciples Think I’m Strong – Chapter 173

“Things are quite noisy from the morning, aren’t they?”

“Well, they’re still kids; it’s not that surprising—”

“That’s true.”

“…?”

Urka cut in and let out a deep sigh.

“I heard all about your cozy chat with Tina last night. I thought you’d send her off properly, but there you were, hugging her tightly and sleeping like lovebirds. Honestly, I was surprised at how much you resembled a couple.”

“Pfft!”

I choked a bit on my soup, and Urka shot me a sidelong glance as she tore into her bread.

“Urka… you…!”

“Did you think I wouldn’t notice? With all that sweet atmosphere you created, who wouldn’t catch on? You act all prickly when it’s just the two of us!”

I pointed at her in shock, my finger trembling from embarrassment. Sure, I might be a little jealous, but spreading rumors all over town is going too far!

Besides, I hadn’t hugged her; it was just Tina who did it unilaterally.

As I watched her snort and giggle, I suddenly realized everyone at the table was now looking at me.

Especially Seri’s expression was something else entirely.

Her mouth was smiling, but her eyes held no warmth. It felt like she was glaring at me. With that somewhat conspiratorial yet forced smile, I could tell she was desperately hiding her true feelings.

Remembering again that Seri had a yandere side sent a shiver down my spine. If she became the Empress, would I end up locked away?

“Did you also put your hands on Lady Urka? When?!”

“Huh?”

“S-So, Teacher… you were a womanizer after all?”

“I never—”

Okay, maybe I had. I did give a massage…

But we didn’t actually sleep together, so it should be safe, right?

“Why did you stop? Did you really get handsy?”

“No, I just thought she looked tense, so I helped her relax a bit.”

“Relax…?”

“So, you’re saying you gave her a massage?”

“Yeah.”

“Did you have any ulterior motives during that process?”

Hearing Iris’s pointed tone made it feel more like a hearing than a conversation.

“There was nothing! I had no such intentions—”

“Of course, you did…”

I bit my lower lip in frustration at Urka’s muttering. Could you not make this any worse? I can’t handle this!

Even as Iris and Maria noisily pressed me for answers, Tina hummed happily and spread jam on her bread.

“Teacher, would you like some?”

“Huh? Yeah, sure.”

As I reflexively accepted it, Iris and Maria gasped in shock.

“Tina! That rock-paper-scissors game was clearly only for yesterday! Are you planning to monopolize him all on your own?”

Rock-paper-scissors? Monopoly?

I stuffed the bread into my mouth and mumbled, watching the two of them confront Tina. Did they make some sort of bet among themselves?

“I’m not monopolizing! It’s just that Teacher is sitting next to me and giving me some!”

“You were always too busy eating your own, so why today…!”

“Hmm~ As a celebration for getting closer to Teacher?”

“Enough! Just switch places right now!”

“No way.”

Maria tugged at Tina’s arm, but Tina calmly resisted and kept spreading jam on her bread.

“Just eat already. You’re not a little kid.”

“If you want me to act like a little kid, I will!”

I chuckled at Iris’s comment. Are you really getting more childish?

“What’s all this fuss about just talking and sleeping together in one room…?”

“Then please join in on the fuss.”

Maria said with a sulky face.

“…How?”

“I’ll stop by tonight. Is that okay?”

“Maria, we should decide that with rock-paper-scissors.”

“Tina, you went yesterday, so let someone else have a turn.”

“Is that even allowed?!”

Ah… it’s so noisy.

If Urka hadn’t been blabbering endlessly, I could’ve enjoyed a peaceful breakfast…

As I took another bite of bread and observed their reactions and banter, a sudden question crossed my mind.

But why do these girls like me so much?

Anyone would think this game genre is some harem love drama.

Knock, knock.

In the midst of the uproar in the dining room, a rare knock echoed. The heroes froze.

The person who entered was the butler.

“Sir Duke Tori, Princess Ella Todiah has come to visit. I’ve taken her to the reception room for now; how shall I proceed?”

I was puzzled by the sudden mention of someone.

It hadn’t been long since fighting with the Emperor. The situation was still precarious, and if rumors spread that she was in contact with me, her standing wouldn’t be good at all.

In some ways, my actions could be considered treason.

It could seriously damage the Todiah family’s reputation for loyalty to the imperial family.

“Ask if she has had breakfast, and if not, tell her to come here.”

“Understood.”

The butler bowed politely and left.

Before long, a woman with hair the color of a poodle, Princess Ella Todiah, appeared. She was notably wearing a skirt.

It wasn’t an extravagant dress, but it was refreshing to see her, who usually moved around actively, in a skirt. She seemed to have applied light makeup as well.

“Ella.”

“Ah! Lord Praus, it’s been a while!”

Seeing her happily approach me with a smile after coming all the way to Duke Aus’s residence, I glanced at Tori.

He seemed to have quickly realized that Ella’s reason for visiting was me, and he wore a wry smile.

“Yes. It has been a while.”

“Huh? You’re smiling? Does that mean you were happy to see me?”

Her excitement was palpable.

“It does seem that way now that you mention it.”

“Really? Hearing you say that makes me feel good. Oh, Duke Aus, how have you been? Sorry for the late greeting—I got too excited to meet Lord Praus again.”

Ella lifted her skirt gently and bowed with grace. Tori merely waved his hand as if to say there was no need for such formalities.

“How is Princess Seri doing?”

“Ah, yes. Princess Ella doing well, I hope?”

“Thanks to Lord Praus saving me, I’m as fit as a fiddle.”

Ella shot a sidelong glance at me while saying that. Seri stared intently at Ella as if trying to figure something out, then opened her mouth a beat late.

“…I heard about that. They say nobody could heal the magical beasts, but Lord Praus managed it… I’m really glad.”

“Yes, I can’t thank you enough.”

She subtly leaned closer to me, and her pleasant smile made it hard to push her away. But she was being way too obvious.

“Ella, did you come all the way here just to see Praus?”

Urka turned around and settled down in her chair with her legs crossed. Naturally, the position revealed a secret area, but she maintained a nonchalant attitude as if it didn’t matter. Seriously, what if she wasn’t wearing any shorts or something?

“Urka, behave yourself. You think that will actually impress Lord Praus?”

“And you? Do you think coming here will impress him?”

The playful jabs were pretty fierce. If I left them alone, it felt like they’d argue all day, so I decided to change the subject.

“But Ella, is it really okay for you to be here?”

“Oh, normally, I should be out hunting monsters at the border, but His Majesty summoned me urgently. There aren’t many monsters at the border, so I came straight away.”

Not many monsters, huh?

“Upon arriving, I suddenly heard that I might have to clash with Lord Praus.”

“Is that so?”

“Fortunately, I wouldn’t have encountered you in the area I was searching. Even if I did, I probably wouldn’t have had the guts to fight. I would likely have surrendered immediately. I heard you decimated the Black and White Light Corps. Considering you subdued two groups stronger than the Royal Knight Order, we wouldn’t have had any chance in a fight.”

She shrugged and spoke casually. If the Todiah family wasn’t supportive of the empire, I could almost imagine the Emperor losing his mind.

“But what do you mean there are not many monsters?”

“Compared to a month ago, we barely see any monsters at the border. Where did they all go…?”

“When did the monsters start disappearing?”

“Well, it didn’t seem to have been too long ago. They suddenly dropped in numbers. I think it started around the time Lord Praus was dispatched to the Aioum Kingdom…”

You mean it was right after I went on a mission?

Did my actions inadvertently trigger something with the Demon King after nearly killing KyouKyou and Stella?

There were two potential reasons for the diminished number of monsters at the border:

First, most of the monsters had been eliminated in that area. However, this scenario was quite rare; they usually spawn rapidly, so it’s typically just temporary.

Second, the Demon Tribe might be killing off monsters to grow stronger. This action happened about three years before the Demon War began as they prepared to strengthen their army.

Honestly, I didn’t know the exact timing. I was just given a rough time frame from the game.

Could it be that things are shifting as I expected, and the Demon War won’t happen in a thousand years?

If that’s the case, I would need to start making requests to the Spirit Kings immediately. I had hoped to relax a bit, but it didn’t seem I would have that luxury.

Having farmed the final items, I didn’t need to gather other artifacts. While there were some trinkets that provided small buffs, it would be better to have a custom ‘handcrafted artifact’ made by the Spirit Kings themselves.

Additionally, I would need to face the World Tree ‘directly’ soon. Before the Demon War begins.

“I see. Then I suppose I can rest easy for now.”

“Yes, and that’s why I was able to come to see you! So, Lord Praus, if you have some time now, could we talk just the two of us for a moment?”

“…Okay.”

I readily accepted. I needed to gather more details about the unusual happenings at the border.

“Wait! Just a minute! Without any word, why are you trying to monopolize Praus? He needs to be with me today! We haven’t discussed the Slave Liberation at all, and I need to ask about that beastly smell too!”

“Your thoughts aren’t important. Lord Praus has agreed. You’re not attempting to use him for your own ends, are you? As if that could even be possible.”

“You little… Why do you always stay the same, no matter the time?”

“And you? You’ve also been irritating every moment, just like always.”

“What did you say?”

The two S-Class girls glared at each other, displaying their hostility. The breakfast atmosphere had ignited into a blaze.

Is this what a harem is like?
I never thought I would experience it in real life, but seeing it firsthand was intimidating.

“Excuse me, you two. Sorry, but today, Teacher will be with us.”

“Yep, Teacher should stay with us!”

“I think so too.”

Even the Heroes chimed in. I looked to the side, pointing at the girls chattering around me, and then noticed Ariel still at the table.

“Ariel, blow these brats away with the wind.”

“Hmph. Why don’t you handle it yourself? I wanted to chat for a long time too, but I haven’t been able to.”

Why are you sulking now…?
Couldn’t it have been because Tina suddenly showed up during my talk with Pasma?

I wasn’t someone who casually switched girls around by the days. Why am I the popular one?!