My Disciples Think I’m Strong – Chapter 180

“How is the establishment of the enhancement law progressing?”

“The review has been completed, and it is scheduled to be announced within a week.”

In response to Emperor Lupin’s question, the legislator replied. Just as the emperor began to nod in agreement, Chris interjected.

“Your Majesty, are you really going to go through with this?”

Caught off guard while inadvertently overhearing the report, Chris butted in cluelessly, earning a sigh from Lupin. It was disheartening to see the Crown Prince still trying to provoke Praus, especially after nearly having a meteor fall on the capital city of Pretéum.

“I promised to strengthen survival rights after resolving the resource conflict with the Aioum Kingdom. You agreed to this, didn’t you?”

“But the situation has changed! Praus has committed treason against the royal family. Instead of catering to his demands, we should expel him from the Empire immediately!”

“…Legislator, you may leave.”

Seeing that the conversation was likely to be lengthy, the Emperor made his decision. No matter how incompetent his son was, the Emperor did not wish to display any negative behavior to others.

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

The legislator quietly placed the parchment detailing the survival rights enhancement law on the desk, bowed his head, and left the office. The moment the legislator exited, Lupin glared at Chris.

“Have you really not learned anything from the last battle?”

“What?”

“Do you think we could defeat Praus? Have you forgotten how severely the White Light Corps and Black Light Corps suffered just a few days ago?”

Currently, both the White Light Corps and the Black Light Corps were in no shape to function. The Black Light Corps had suffered catastrophic damage and had even been disbanded.

“That time, Sirius betrayed us…!”

“Right, he contributed a fair bit to that. But the disparity in power was overwhelming. Didn’t you hear from the members who returned alive that only two of Praus’s disciples wiped the floor with the White and Black Light Corps? And didn’t you see it with your own eyes? That meteor!”

Lupin grimaced at the thought of the colossal meteor that looked like the sun floating in the night sky. Imagining what would have transpired had it actually fallen, he felt a chill run down his spine.

“But we have yet to reveal our full power.”

“Your full power?”

Lupin scoffed. He was greatly disappointed as he looked at his son still making excuses. The Crown Prince only appeared pitiful for failing to see reality even after that harrowing experience.

“The one withholding their full strength isn’t us, but Praus. It’s one thing that the White Light Corps and Black Light Corps lost the battle, but do you think it would have been just fine if the meteor had fallen on Pretéum?”

“Praus would never have allowed that to happen. He seems to need the Empire for some reason. If he had intended to go in with force from the start, he would have taken back the royal family by now—”

“You fool!!”

Lupin could no longer contain his frustration and erupted.

“Y-Your Majesty…?”

Chris flinched at the sudden outburst. Seeing Lupin’s fierce scowl left him completely bewildered. It was a stark contrast from the gentle demeanor his father usually displayed, even when dealing with many mistakes throughout his life.

“How could someone who is supposed to lead the Empire be so foolish!!”

Lupin realized it. The killing intent he felt when facing Praus was genuine. If things didn’t go his way, he was prepared to make sacrifices willingly.

Had it been even slightly later, the meteor would have indeed struck the magic guild facility, turning the capital into ruins, Lupin thought.

“I-I’m sorry…”

“I must have raised you wrong.”

“No! Absolutely not!”

No one dares criticize the Emperor. At least not in this setting. If Praus were here, he would have clearly stated that it was due to giving excessive rights before even doing his duty.

Having spoiled Chris simply because he was the eldest son only backfired, causing Lupin to feel exhausted looking at Chris’s arrogance.

“Stop. Leave now.”

Lupin issued an order to dismiss. Continuing the conversation with his son felt like it could cause him to explode from stress at any moment.

“Your Majesty, what on earth did you discuss with Praus to be defending him—”

“Do I look like I’m defending Praus right now?”

“Isn’t that what it seems?”

“You idiot! Do you think I enjoy this?!”

He slammed his hand on the desk and stood up. His fury could no longer be contained.

“Let’s say we expelled Praus as you suggest. Then what? Do you really think he’ll go to the Aioum Kingdom or side with the demons? Do you know what kind of mess that would create for the Empire?”

“Th-That’s…”

“I told you not to act emotionally. I have nothing more to say, so get out now.”

“Your Majesty…”

“I warned you. Don’t speak any further. Don’t make me think I’ve misjudged you.”

“Y-Your Majesty!”

Chris stood up and approached him, trying desperately to persuade his father. But with the Emperor having already shut his ears, there was no way his words would reach.

“Even if you tell me to leave!!”

“What is the matter?!”

The knights waiting at the door rushed into the office. They immediately assessed the situation by glancing at Lupin, who was looking out the window, and Chris, who was awkwardly standing around.

“Take him away.”

“Yes!”

“Crown Prince, let’s go.”

Chris glared at the back of his father, who was ignoring him. His fists trembled with suppressed anger, barely managing to contain his emotions. After bowing his head, he turned around and left the office.

“Why doesn’t he understand that Praus is a threat to the Empire? Does he even realize how terrified the Empire’s people are? He’s the one who made slaves of the other races in the first place, so why is he suddenly trying to liberate them?!”

Chris hadn’t heard the details of the deal made between Praus and the Emperor. All Lupin had said indirectly was that slave liberation would happen within the year. He had not disclosed the details of the agreement at all.

This was due to the lingering suspicion left by Praus that the Crown Prince might kill the other princes.

“Just endure it for now. Until I become the Emperor… After I become Emperor, it won’t be too late to expel Praus.”

If the Emperor were to find out, he’d feel devastated. But Chris believed he was right, and his father was wrong, and thus he walked away with purpose.

Meanwhile, the Emperor, who was left alone in his office, let out a sigh.

“Maybe I really have misjudged my child…”

Lupin muttered while looking at the slave liberation resolution placed on his desk.

“I guess I should keep an eye on Seri.”

He muttered, recalling his youngest daughter, who had turned a blind eye to the Crown Prince’s gaslighting until now.

He grew curious about why Praus showed so much interest in his youngest daughter, choosing her over the other princes.

*

Several days passed since Ella and I had our date, and the Empire officially announced the law strengthening the survival rights of other races.

While it didn’t extend as far as slave liberation, the situation began to develop in a way that forced respect towards other races. This applied equally regardless of whether one was a slave.

I asked Tori, who had attended the Duke’s meeting after the survival rights enhancement was implemented, about their reactions.

“The atmosphere isn’t bad. Duke Rexton seems eager to accept other races, thinking of using them as manpower. The Kartlord mining area is booming lately with the decrease in monsters. Duke Todiah is also contemplating training other races as knights. It’s a fact that other races are fundamentally superior to humans.”

“Is that so.”

I had expected positive reactions from the dukes who might be drawn to my side. They hadn’t been able to respond favorably due to the royal family, but with the Emperor now raising his hands in surrender, there was nothing in their way.

“Duke Kalus seems to be the only one uncomfortable with this trend. It appears he understands the survival rights enhancement, but he suspects this atmosphere could lead to slave liberation.”

It seemed the Emperor had not yet conveyed anything about slave liberation to the nobility. I could understand why, as it was a burdensome subject to announce right away.

I had no urgency and was still in a relaxed position, so it was fine.

“Among the nobility, there’s no one unaware that I want slave liberation. So at least they can make that prediction.”

Speaking of which, I should meet with the princes later.

Maria needed to have the coordinates of the princes’ rooms and be able to send signals with delivery scrolls in case of danger.

“Oh, and there’s been a lot of talk about that meteor intended to fall on Pretéum. It seems the Empire’s people are terrified, believing a disaster has come. For now, they don’t know you were the mastermind behind it, but when they eventually find out, the backlash will be significant. Are you sure you’re okay with that?”

“That was part of a calculated performance.”

“…What?”

I spoke calmly while sipping on coffee.

Tori looked at me as if waiting for me to explain what I meant. I placed down my cup. The clink echoed softly in the office.

“Because this way, there won’t be anyone who dares challenge me twice, will there? With the performance I just displayed, while the Empire’s people may not realize it, the nobility certainly will have understood that it does no good to provoke us.”

“What? That may be true, but doesn’t that bring more disadvantages than advantages? If they come to see you as a threat, you could lose your honor, and the Empire’s people might not rally behind us.”

“That doesn’t matter. What’s important is the atmosphere, not the image.”

“The atmosphere?”

“Think back to what I just said. There isn’t a single person among the nobility who doesn’t know that I want liberation for other races.”

I repeated what I had said earlier. Chris’s expression changed slightly, as if he finally understood the meaning behind my words.

“…I see. Since you’ve shown a significant liking for other races, neither the nobles nor the commoners would easily provoke them. If they were to challenge you, they could find themselves in the same situation.”

“The law being enacted doesn’t guarantee it will be followed properly. While I added a clause in the survival rights enhancement law to impose fines for discrimination against other races, discrimination is relative, making the operational effectiveness practically nonexistent. But if I demonstrate it directly through performance, people are far more likely to accept it intuitively, and they’ll have to be conscious of it whether they like it or not.”

“I think you’re quite remarkable in every possible way. Especially your cunningness, which is quite unlike a hero.”

“A hero’s title doesn’t satiate hunger, so why should I cling to it?”

I’m not a hero to begin with.

“Aren’t you worried that the Empire’s people might scorn you? They might curse you from behind for the rest of your life.”

“Once the Demon War starts, the Empire’s people and the nobility will have no choice but to seek us out.”

“Why is that?”

“The only person in the Empire holding the title of hero is me.”

It was a bold claim to assert oneself as a hero, considering I wasn’t even one at all.

I wondered to myself how someone could say such things so easily; did I need to pile on several layers of courage to assert that confidence?

“No matter what kind of ill fame I might acquire, they’ll ultimately conclude that they need my strength.”

From the recent battle, I realized just how pathetic the Empire’s military strength was.

This world was imbalanced from the get-go; without a hero, the fight against the Demon Tribe couldn’t even take place. It was clear why the Spirit Kings were only searching for heroes.

“Oh, speaking of which, what is Princess Seri up to right now?”

While discussing, Seri suddenly crossed my mind.

“She’s probably studying. Since external activities have been halted, studying is all she can do.”

Even though I had given her freedom to relax and enjoy herself, the idea of studying from dawn till dusk was something I’d never manage.

It seemed she had an overwhelming desire to be of help to me, but I wondered if it was going to wear her out.

“Right. Please continue to guide her studies.”

“But if she’s not aiming for the throne, is there really a need to study that much?”

“It’s for preparation. So that she can ascend the throne whenever the opportunity arises. No effort is wasted.”

The Crown Prince was consistent in his desire to hold power from start to finish.

Watching him attempting to dominate once he ascends as Emperor was enough to make all my affection drain away.

Although there was a possibility that reality in this world could change, if things didn’t show signs of improvement, I planned to engage in the Succession War immediately.

“I hope it won’t turn out to be a waste of time. At her age, studying isn’t what she should be doing; she should be focusing on grooming herself to prepare for marriage.”

“Indeed.”

As I turned my head at the unexpectedly heard female voice, I spotted Seri, swaying her golden hair as she approached us.

She naturally sat beside me, leaning in a bit.

“Praus.”

“…What is it?”

“You’ve given me freedom, haven’t you?”

“That’s true.”

“Does that mean I can do whatever I want with you?”