My Disciples Think I’m Strong – Chapter 19

“Hey! Praus.”

“…What is it?”

I answered nonchalantly, keeping my eyes closed as Tina spoke softly.

“I’ve really thought hard about this, you know?”

What kind of nonsense is she gearing up to say now? I could feel annoyance creeping in already.

“But I just can’t hold it in anymore!”

“Want to go to the bathroom?”

“No, I don’t?! Please show some consideration for a lady!”

She’s way too young to be called a lady…

“Then just say it quickly. I’m really tired right now.”

“Um, why did you pat Iris on the head?”

That was such an unexpected question that I involuntarily opened my eyes and looked at Tina.

Iris was staring wide-eyed, her face flushed bright red. Her ears and tail twitched nervously, as if to express her embarrassment.

‘What kind of question is that?’

“…What’s so significant about patting someone’s head?”

“!”

Iris looked blatantly disappointed, her ears and tail drooping. Ugh, this stupid filtering.

I had no intention of developing feelings for her as a heroine or anything, but it wouldn’t hurt to build rapport with someone who might become a hero in the future.

You never know when you might need help.

“Don’t overthink something that doesn’t mean anything.”

My mouth was working hard today.

Damn it, I’m almost in tears.

“Well then, can you do that meaningless thing to me too?”

“Why should I do that?”

“Because you took me in?”

“I provided you food and shelter as compensation for taking you in. I helped you clear your previous life. Are you asking for more now?”

“Hmph. I want some too…”

In the end, Tina couldn’t hold back her tears against my logic.

Honestly, I understood her request.

Having been abandoned by family at a young age, she was probably craving ‘affection’ just as much as she had experienced hunger.

In childhood, the love you receive from your parents is everything; it greatly helps one live positively for decades.

If neglected, it could lead to future lack of affection, low self-esteem, or even depression.

So, I thought I should care for her to prevent that from happening.

I sighed, but I thought it was inevitable.

“Ha… I’ll give you some praise if you do something worthy.”

“Really? You promise? If you don’t keep it, I’ll poke you with a needle on your butt!”

…Wasn’t that a thousand needles?

I barely stopped my hand that was about to reach for my buttocks.

“…Alright.”

“Kids these days are quite extreme, aren’t they?”

Dex blurted out his thought without a hint of awareness.

“Dex.”

“Yes!”

“Shut up.”

“…That wasn’t me talking?”

“Do you want to die?”

[Skill 「Killing Intent」 has activated.]

“Ah… c-cut the killing intent! We’re not serious here!”

Just as I was about to close my eyes again after finishing this trifling incident, Iris, who sat across from me, slowly raised her hand and spoke.

“Um, um… can I have that too?”

“…Yeah.”

What’s the deal with patting heads…
I’ve heard girls in that world really dislike it when you pat their heads.

…Was it that she hated it when I did? Damn.

*

The first night of camping.

We hid the carriage at the edge of the forest and lit a lamp inside the tent.

The children busily stuffed their mouths with bread, fruits, and dried meat. Alright, eat up. You need to gain some weight.

“I’ll take the first watch with Dex, so you guys get some sleep.”

“Lord Praus, I want to take a turn too!”

Maria swallowed the food she was chewing and raised her hand high. She’s desperately flailing about to be accepted as my pupil.

What can you expect from someone who has nothing to learn from, anyway…

“If you don’t sleep properly at your age, you’ll end up a dwarf. Just sleep.”

I walked outside the tent with jerky in my mouth.

A cool breeze, along with fresh air, flooded into my lungs.

I really feel it every time I breathe that the air I inhaled back in Korea was not really air. I have never felt so healthy just by breathing before.

I looked up at the sky.

The night sky, clear of clouds, was filled with shining stars. How long has it been since I saw the stars so clearly like this up in the sky?

It was the first time I felt the stars were this beautiful. My facial muscles were stiff from expression management skills, but I couldn’t help but express my admiration.

“Aren’t the stars beautiful? It feels like nature preserved as it is, and every time I see this spectacle while traveling, I think to myself that it’s good to be alive.”

“Is that so?”

“Lord Praus, are you thinking of hunting the monsters in Brih Forest?”

“I’ll kill them if necessary.”

“If necessary…? Monsters are supposed to be taken down without question, aren’t they?”

“They should be, but that’s not my goal. Unless I receive a request, it would just be meddling on my part.”

I didn’t want to face the hassle of getting interrogated for stealing a request, so I planned to preserve them as much as possible. However, if they decided to kill them, I was willing to respect that.

After all, they’re the only bastion that would protect us humans. How could I stop them?

“Got it. You really do think deeply about things.”

“Anyway, I’ll take first watch. You can take it next.”

“Understood.”

He replied and climbed onto the carriage.

“Ha ha! I’ll sleep first then.”

He seemed to have gotten quite comfortable, laughing lightly. Seeing his annoying grin made me feel a bit off.

‘If you don’t wake up on time, be ready to get slapped.’

“If you don’t wake up even when the time comes, I’ll put a hole in your throat.”

“…Please wake me up.”

He entered the tent.

I could hear voices from within.

The kids didn’t seem to think of Dex as a bad person; the conversation continued stiffly for a while.

*

Clank!

The carriage shook violently as it caught on a stone. People and cargo alike were launched into the air.

“Ow…”

“Hey, Delma, drive properly.”

“Why don’t you try driving then?”

“Can I complain while getting paid? I intentionally left you as the first watch.”

“Hmph.”

Delma snorted dismissively, continuing to drive without a moment’s rest.

I pulled back the tent slightly.

Riding a carriage that moves rapidly across a vast plain, the emotion I felt was something I hadn’t experienced in modern times.

It had already been four days of continuous travel.

“It’s desolate.”

“Isn’t it usually like that in areas away from cities?”

Beyond the vast flatlands, a massive canyon came into view. It was about the same size as the Grand Canyon in America.

Everyone looked quite fatigued from living in the carriage.

The children were merely repeating the cycle of sleeping and eating inside the carriage.

It was regrettable to think how much more comfortable it would have been in a car.

We had already traveled quite far down south over the past four days. It seemed we still needed another two days to reach our destination, but the speed was not bad.

However, we would come across an abandoned village where an artifact was hidden beforehand.

We had to stop by there.

“Delma.”

“What?”

“There should be an unused windmill along the way. Please stop when we reach it.”

“An unused windmill…? Is that it?”

I pulled back the tent and moved toward the chair where Delma was sitting. It was obscured by the trees, but I could see something resembling the windmill blades and shape built in front of Pretéum.

“Let’s take a break over there.”

The carriage entered the village.

Every single building was in ruins. Walls crumbled, and roofs collapsed. Black waste that looked like it might become a hazard was splattered across the road.

There wasn’t a hint of life at all. Some plants were growing over the walls of the buildings.

It seemed no one had lived there for at least several years.

Naturally, this was the case. This village had been ruined due to the invasion of the demon tribe that had once come to research humans.

Time had passed and the magic beasts were gone, but looking at the devastation of the village, one could gauge how harsh the attack must have been.

“It’s kinda creepy here.”

Tina peeked her head through the tent, her forehead knitted tightly. Iris and Maria were also looking around outside.

“There’s a strange smell here.”

“What are you planning to do here?”

“Not much. Just a break for now.”

I vaguely answered Delma’s question while observing the village’s scenery.

“Yet you sound like you knew there was a place like this?”

“Didn’t you see it along the way? Don’t jump to unnecessary suspicions.”

“Hmph! Have you ever answered nicely when I asked?”

I strapped two swords to my waist. I drew out the sword I hadn’t used yet.

[You have equipped 「The Unbreakable Glory of the Past」.]

[You can temporarily use the skill 「Vengeful Spirit」.]

The sword was sharper than the Unbreakable Glory of the Past. It was a similar double-edged sword, but it looked like it had been crafted solely for taking lives.

“I’ll just be gone for a moment.”

I sheathed my sword and stepped out of the carriage. Dex followed after me.

“Can I go too?”

“Not you. Stay here and look after the kids.”

We had to ensure there was enough strength left in the carriage for any potential ambush.

The three of them hadn’t become heroes yet; they were still kids like any other.

“Well then, that would mean I have no reason to follow you, right? You were the one who brought me along to gather information, after all. It would be troublesome if you refuse me like this.”

Seeing him appeal unfairly, I sighed.

“Don’t worry. I’ll show you exactly why I went.”

“…Alright. I’ll trust you this once.”

He was still looking at me suspiciously, but in the end, he folded his opinion.

Perhaps this was largely due to him being under the illusion that I was stronger than him.

Unlike modern times, this era was thick with a culture of survival of the fittest; people would often fight and kill each other, and everyone knew that provoking someone stronger than you wouldn’t yield any benefits.

“I’ll be back.”

I left my companions behind and entered the village alone.

First, let’s look for the artifact.

I moved towards the building I remembered.

It didn’t take long to discover it—within a few minutes. It was located in the deepest part, and it was the most intact house of all.

I rummaged through one of its walls, inserting my fingers into the cracks to find the Purification Stone.

I found the Purification Stone, covered in dust, unable to shine in its true form.

Once I wiped it clean, a faint purplish hue emerged.

[You have found 「Purification Stone」.]

The Purification Stone was an artifact helpful in eliminating magic beasts. If one got infected by a magic beast, they wouldn’t be able to use mana, so it was as important for adventurers as magic protection potions.

However, because the Purification Stone was not a consumable item, it was labeled an artifact since it could indefinitely erase magic beasts.

“Alright, one found. Next is—”

[Can you hear my voice?]

I raised my head at the voice that echoed in my ear.

“…?”

[I know everything you hear. You possess a sword I used frequently.]

Right. This kind of event was happening.

This event was originally an episode that would take place after Tina and Iris awakened as heroes, but it was altered due to concerns that the monsters in this world would feel stronger.

I cleared my throat.

“At one time, you were the Captain of the Royal Knight Order, favored by the Spirit King of Wind, yet you were killed by a demon lord commander and now wander this realm as a vengeful spirit with resentment towards the demon tribe… is that right?”

[…Do you know about me?]

“There’s no way anyone in the empire wouldn’t know of you.”

I snorted as though to say it was obvious.

“It’s nice to meet you, Sword Master Pasma.”

He was once called the strongest warrior of the empire.