My Disciples Think I’m Strong – Chapter 206

[Expression Management skill has been temporarily released.]

I stared blankly at Leoness, who had become a ragged mess.

It was an unreal sight.

Her body was torn, blood splattered everywhere, and her organs were rolling in the filthy dust—nothing about it felt real.

Even as I was confronted with this grotesque scene, I couldn’t tear my eyes away.

“Umm… Ariel…”

“Y-Yeah?”

“Why… why did Leoness end up like this…?”

“…It seems she couldn’t dodge the breath that Ecabel let out.”

No. That’s not the answer I wanted.

…Is this my fault?

Did I make another bad judgment call?

Why didn’t I realize? Why couldn’t I sense the beastmen coming from behind?

Was it because I was too weak? Was I too focused on Ecabel?

If I had known they were coming, I would have deployed the barrier to protect them, even if it meant pushing myself too hard.

I could have saved at least Leoness.

“Ah… ah ha… ahahaha…”

I let out a hollow laugh.

Alright, calm down. After all, she was just someone I planned to use.

The leader of the Resistance could be someone else. I could just make friends with that person again. I could swap out the pawns whenever I wanted.

After all, Leoness was just a side character in both the game and this world, and as long as I protect the Empire and the heroes, I would get to see a happy ending.

I’m sure… I can see it…

“Praus…?”

“…Damn.”

What the hell are you saying, you idiot?

If you truly thought that way, you wouldn’t feel this damn miserable.

I bit down on my lower lip hard enough that blood started to seep out, clenching my fists. I felt like I was about to cry.

“Teacher?”

I knelt, looking down at Leoness. My knee touched the ground, staining with blood, but I didn’t care at that moment.

“Leoness… you survived until the very end…”

In the game, she had lived through it all, achieving slave liberation and emerging safely independent, and she had been a comrade fighting beside me during the Demon War.

So why the hell is she dying so vainly in this world?

“What happened…?”

I pulled a potion from my bag and spilled it at her lips. But the potion reacted nothing.

It was useless for someone who was already dead.

“Damn!”

Clattering!

I threw the potion away. I couldn’t control my breathing. My excitement just wouldn’t settle.

“Teacher…”

Hearing a familiar voice from beside me, I slowly turned my head. There stood the heroes, looking helpless.

“…I’m sorry.”

Facing the heroes made me realize how out of control I was feeling. I tried to suppress the emotions that wanted to overflow.

“…Teacher, Ecabel ran away.”

“It seems so.”

I closed the eyes of Leoness, who couldn’t even do so in her last moments.

Once her eyes closed, it really sunk in that she was gone.

Guilt and sorrow made my head feel like it was going to explode.

“…Surely, there will be victims every time the demon tribe invades in the future.”

There would surely be more.

People I knew, like Leoness, might die. It could be Ella or Urka next.

In the end, even the heroes might end up perishing alongside the Demon King.

But once someone dies, there’s no bringing them back.

This is not the game world I knew. This wasn’t a place where you could come back to life after dying.

Once you die, everything truly ends.

I pushed away the hologram floating in front of me. My expression management always falters at times like this.

What good is it to show my emotions to others?

Even if I received sympathy or comfort, it wouldn’t change the outcome.

“But I will see a true happy ending. Look at everything I’ve gone through…”

A real happy ending where none of the people I know die, and I can greet them tomorrow with smiles and greetings.

But in the middle of the Demon War, it was impossible to end without casualties. No matter how strong I or the heroes were, we couldn’t protect every human.

But I was determined to do everything I could. Because this world is my reality.

My reality cannot end in tragedy.

“I won’t hesitate any longer. Absolutely not.”

I quickly wiped away the tears beginning to spill and stood up.

“Ariel.”

“Y-Yes?”

“Clean up the corpses of the beastmen here. Make them look as intact as possible. For those too mangled, bury them.”

It was too gruesome to ask the young heroes to do, given the horrors before us.

“Got it. You take a break for now.”

“And… once the situation is settled, I’m going to see the World Tree. I’ve killed Raghur, so there shouldn’t be any objections, Naiad.”

“…Very well. I permit it to enter the Spirit Realm.”

Naiad, who had been beside Iris, nodded.

If I meet the World Tree, there are countless questions I need to ask. Surely, if I get answers to those questions, I might find a solution to overcome the Demon War.

But before that, I planned to install the true emperor as per the original story. To allow the beastmen to live within the Empire.

To the beastmen, who had only recently achieved independence nearing two months, returning to the Empire would be a repulsive idea.

But the Beastmen’s Forest was no longer a suitable place for them to live. The area had been virtually destroyed by the breath released by Ecabel.

Moreover, once the demons infiltrate a place, they can return again and again.

No beastman would want to live in such a place.

“Pasma, you heard Chris’s orders to not let in the beastmen, right? If you think to stop me, I won’t use your sword any longer.”

[…Don’t worry. I plan to follow. Your attempt to exclude beastmen in the face of the threat of demons is something even I find repulsive. Though it’s not something I would say as someone who once served the royal family.]

Pasma appeared somewhat uncomfortable, but he understood.

“I will have Chris removed from the throne in a few days. If he resists, I will kill him without hesitation.”

This wasn’t a negotiation. It was a threat.

Today, I would be overwhelmed just managing the corpses and delivering them to the families. I also had to inform Princess Seri to prepare for the emperor’s enthronement.

“Of course, if there are others resisting besides the emperor, I will kill them all by my own hands.”

As I declared my intention to openly commit treason, no one opened their mouth.

This was the only way to win over the beastmen to the Empire’s side. They needed to realize that if the Empire were to fall, they would die too.

“I will follow as well.”

“Iris, I told you it’s not your concern—”

“But Teacher, you’re acting for the sake of the beastmen, aren’t you? If I were a hero of the beastmen, I would think it justifiable to intervene in this situation.”

“…Is that so?”

Reluctantly, I nodded. With her around, it would likely be easier to take down Chris’s forces.

“Is it alright if I join too, Teacher?”

“Me too! I hope you let me! Iris is my friend, and it’s only natural to help a friend in need, as it says in the books.”

Tina firmly held Iris’s hand as she spoke.

“…Fine. Do as you wish. But I will ensure that you won’t have to step forward if possible. This is a mistake born from my misjudgment.”

The variables I created are up to me to handle.

*

When I returned to the Empire’s main gate after collecting all the bodies, many gazes were shocked and vacant.

Soon, the gathered beastmen began to wail loudly as they searched for their parents or children.

Even Glair, who always held a cold and indifferent expression, stared vacantly at the horrific scene for a while.

Before long, he asked me about the situation, and I answered as thoroughly as I could. He quickly understood the seriousness of the incident, nodding heavily.

“The Todiah Family will take responsibility and ensure their safety. We will also search for any beastmen who haven’t made it out. We’ll summon magicians for a large-scale teleportation, so just rest until then.”

“…Thank you.”

My body felt relieved thanks to the potion, but my mind was wrecked, unable to easily accept the death of Leoness.

Every time I thought of her, I felt a headache coming, and I longed to fall sleep as soon as possible.

“…Praus.”

“What is it?”

Glair stopped me as I was about to leave.

“Are you planning to wage the Succession War and bring down Chris’s forces?”

“Not right away. As long as you follow my orders, I won’t kill you. But if you resist even a little, I’ll cut you down without mercy.”

“…Is that so.”

He gazed closely at my expression, as if trying to read my thoughts and feelings.

“Are you trying to convince me?”

“…How could I persuade someone stronger? It’s obvious you wouldn’t listen to me anyway.”

“You know me well.”

I laughed weakly. He looked intensely at my face, as if serious.

“…Is that rebellion worth it?”

“Seri will greatly aid in achieving harmony between humans and other races. And that harmony will surely become a significant strength in facing the demon tribe.”

“…Is that so.”

His voice was nonchalant, but he looked like he had made some resolution.

“I can’t help you with the rebellion.”

“I don’t expect you to.”

“But I won’t side with Emperor Chris. If you succeed in the rebellion, the Todiah Family will fully support Princess Seri.”

“Why is that? Shouldn’t the Todiah Family pledge loyalty to the current emperor, Chris?”

“It’s my judgment. If I’m wrong, then so be it. But I do know for certain that everything you’ve done has been for the Empire.”

Was it because I heard that from someone unexpected?

Without realizing it, my eyes widened.

“Though the methods you’ve used have been harsh and violent, you’ve always fought for the Empire. The issues with other races, while they seem like betrayal to the Empire, were actually meant to protect the Empire from the demon tribe. After all, humans alone couldn’t face the demon tribe.”

“!”

“Thus, I won’t stand in your way.”

As he finished speaking, I unknowingly clenched my fist tightly.

What is this feeling?

It feels like he’s affirming that what I’ve done is right. The feeling of being understood brought me more relief than I expected.

“…Thank you, Glair.”

“Hmph. If you’re grateful, tell me later how to break through to rank 8.”

…Always a materialistic guy, huh? Give me back that heartwarming moment.

I thought that way, yet it didn’t feel bad at all. In fact, I felt refreshed.

I felt like I had gained new motivation to move forward so Leoness’s death wouldn’t be in vain.