My Disciples Think I’m Strong – Chapter 21

“Pasma… you say? Ha, don’t make me laugh! Pasma died decades ago! How dare you not only deceive the Spirit King but also insult his beloved! I’ll kill you for this!”

Can even a Spirit King not recognize a ghost?

Perhaps it’s because he has become a fundamentally different being?

In any case, explaining this was clearly going to be a hassle.

…But wait, didn’t he just confess right in front of me?

“I-I really am!”

Ariel shows a hint of agitation in response to the emotional appeal.

Hovering in the air, she still looked at me in disbelief.

“If I’m not Pasma, how else would I have come here?”

But if this can be persuaded well enough, wouldn’t I be able to pull the Spirit King into this too?

Since I was planning to awaken Maria as a hero, if I could have her associated with the Spirit King, her abilities would surely improve faster, right?

Just as I was running such calculations in my mind, he stepped closer to Ariel.

“Ari, on the night of the full moon, I promised I’d spend my entire life with you, remember?”

Without realizing it, I slapped my forehead.

I generally wanted to let Pasma do as he pleased, but this was too much to handle.

Right, this is how it was. This kind of guy.

He casually drops a proposal-like line while lacking the courage to actually advance the relationship.

Should I just expedite the progress here?

“That… uh…”

“I remember everything we shared together. When I first became a Sword Master and cried as I embraced you, when we fought against demons together at the western border of the Demon World, and finally, when I was killed by Peremus, you remained by my side.”

Ah, here we go. Do I really have to keep listening to this?

I’m feeling down because I don’t have a girlfriend myself, and now I have to witness someone else’s romance? It’s so unfair. Seriously.

“I remember you resenting me for saying not to leave when I died, that I’d be with you for life. It was then that I realized even a Spirit King could shed tears.”

He speaks with a voice full of emotion, yet it trembles as if an earthquake were occurring.

“Pasma… is that really you? Really?”

“Yeah. It’s really me.”

“But Pasma, you died… Did you reincarnate into another body?”

“No, I’ve possessed the body of a man who had my sword. How it happened, I’m not sure, but I truly am Pasma.”

As if moving on her own, Ariel swoops down and steps on the weeds with her delicate foot.

“…Then shall I test this?”

“What?”

Wind gathers in Ariel’s grasp, and a sword similar in form to the ‘Unyielding Revenge Sword’ I held materializes. The blade is green, and the guard is shaped like leaves, making it an impressive sword.

“Wait, are you seriously trying to fight?”

“You were a Sword Master, Pasma. Show me your swordsmanship. If you really are Pasma, you should be able to do it.”

“I haven’t used it in decades. I can’t help but be dull. And this body is weak.”

“Just show me your swordsmanship. I know the body you’re in is weak. I won’t push you to your full strength.”

I sighed. It’s really hard to get one artifact.

Of course, the effect was genuinely good. No penalties involved.

Pasma grabbed the sword immediately. The aura began to flow into the blade.

“Clear blue aura… You’re definitely a Sword Master. Here I come.”

It was a light leap. The ground didn’t shatter, nor was there a loud noise. It felt like a gentle step, yet suddenly he stood before me.

Boom—!

I couldn’t react to the sword strike that came crashing down from above. With my reflexes, there was no way I could follow it.

But the one who possessed this body was someone who had once reached the heights of a Sword Master.

He twisted his body and evaded Ariel’s sword. Taking a few steps back, he created some distance.

“Seriously, this body is useless! I barely managed to dodge with my senses!”

“Then don’t use it!”

“If it wasn’t for me, you would have been split in two by that strike just now.”

I couldn’t deny that it was sad.

“I’m planning to use my muscles to their limits, is that okay?”

“That’s fine.”

First, I need to survive.

Once I gave my permission, he took the basic stance of the Phantom Sword Technique.

Concentrating, he kicked off the ground and rapidly approached Ariel.

“Head-on? How boring!”

As Pasma saw the sword falling from above, he changed tempo and accelerated.

Ariel’s sword cleaved the air. He seized the opportunity to thrust his sword toward her neck.

“Hmph. Not bad.”

Clang!

Unfortunately, the attack didn’t connect.

“Your speed is much slower than in your prime. The power is underwhelming too. But it’s certainly a sword technique that Pasma used.”

The essence of the Phantom Sword Technique was to confuse the enemy by changing tempo and speed.

Crash!

She countered one of Pasma’s strikes.

“Come at me again. I can’t judge yet.”

She waved her hand dismissively.

“It seems showing an incomplete Phantom Dance would be a good idea.”

“But—”

“There’s no easier way to prove it than that. Do it.”

The Phantom Dance, which he hadn’t completed yet, was one that Ariel had once complimented as beautiful like a dance.

In person, the movements gave off an air akin to something you’d see on a stage at a grand event.

However, due to the erratic nature of that movement, it would be incredibly difficult for any opponent to handle.

“And when it’s all over, make sure to say ‘I love you.’ It’s the thing Ariel wants to hear most.”

“…I’ll do that.”

If I were to get embarrassed here, I would’ve dropped the sword and released the possession. Thankfully, he seemed to have enough sensibility to avoid that.

He spread his legs and held the sword horizontally. The moment he took the starting position of the Phantom Dance, Ariel’s eyes widened.

“That posture is….”

“Phantom Dance.”

He swung the sword through the air, approaching her.

It might seem like a waste of energy to swing without even being in range, but this technique accelerated the more you moved and employed erratic movements to break through your opponent’s defenses.

Slice!

The dress brushed against the aura and tore slightly.

“Fast…!”

She gasped in admiration, drawing back her body. Yet, she managed to evade while smiling subtly at the movements of the Phantom Dance.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

As Pasma collided the sword a few times, he began to lose his balance. Not only was the flow of the swordsmanship disrupted, but his body had reached its limit.

“Ah… the flow has broken again. I still haven’t mastered it yet.”

“…Indeed.”

He responded painfully and sank down where he stood.

“Pasma!”

“It’s alright. The recoil from pushing my muscles to their limits hit me.”

I was in pain too. I felt like I would die from muscle soreness the next day.

My whole body felt like it had been overworked, and I could barely move. I could only twist a bit.

At this point, shouldn’t someone at least donate a potion?

“Are you alright?”

She asked as she also sat down. Naturally, she lifted my head and placed it on her thigh. The strange softness I felt at the back of my head was disconcerting.

I wanted to ask if it was alright for me to be like this, but I had no choice but to keep my mouth shut.

Since I couldn’t intrude upon the sweet moment between these two.

“Is the proof done?”

“…It was done long ago, you fool. The only person who can use the Phantom Dance is you, so of course I believe you. How could you be so clueless even after dying?”

“Ha ha… sorry. But it’s been so long since I saw you, I’m a bit excited.”

“…How have you been all this time?”

At her question, the facial muscles that had seemed like they wouldn’t move throughout my lifetime began to move and form a bitter smile.

“I wandered near the village where I died for decades. No merchant or thief passing through recognized me. I think I was continuously cursing the god for having no idea why I remained in this world after dying.”

“I see…”

“But I think I now know why I stayed in this world.”

“…What do you think it is?”

Ariel asked back. Pasma hesitated for a moment, then swallowed hard before saying.

“Ari, it was to meet you again. It was to tell you that I love you, someone who never forgot me for a moment.”

“Pasma…”

“Ari.”

“Yes.”

The gaze looking at my face changed. It became that of a woman deeply in love. It was troubling to see a lovely expression directed at me.

“I love you.”

“Yes.”

“It’s a little late, but I sincerely love you.”

“I too… I too… love you, Pasma.”

Wow, damn.

I really felt like I was suffering a huge loss in life. I should seek compensation for this.

For damages, I should be demanding a hundred gold coins.

*

“Ahem!”

After watching the two of them bloom their hearts into conversation for a few minutes, I reluctantly intruded.

I lifted my head from her thigh. During that process, my body ached, but speaking from below a beautiful maiden was a bit uncomfortable. It felt like a genuine NTR situation.

“First, let’s finish the transaction.”

“Transaction…?”

With my shift in tone, Ariel’s previously droopy eyes turned sharp with caution.

“The reason I came here was to take the item you buried for Pasma.”

“What did you say?”

“I know you buried the shoes you used at the spot where Pasma died. I came in here thinking of retrieving them.”

Malice began to creep in. It’s perfectly understandable that she’d be angry at me for trying to take something buried for her beloved.

I understand it, but why let such a good item rot?

“I can’t give you that.”

“Ari, hold on.”

“…This is confusing. Hearing two people speak from the same mouth is a little disconcerting.”

“Pasma, it’s my turn now. Don’t cut in.”

“If you don’t, I’m afraid you’ll get killed by Ariel.”

It was so plausible that I couldn’t deny it.

“When you’re not supposed to cut in, I’d really appreciate it if you would just leave it to me.”

“…Fine.”

I fell silent. Pasma took over once again.

“Ari.”

“Yes, darling.”

What? She’s already calling him darling?

Even in the presence of someone you love, is this acceptable? Is the Spirit King really into this sort of thing?

“It seems he plans to defeat the Demon Lord Peremus, who will be invading the Empire in a few years.”

“What? How? With such a talentless body?”

It was amusing that a lover would insult them as weak together.

Hey, like I care, I’m not going to save weaklings!

“No, it seems there might be someone else involved. Judging by the way he had mentioned taking me as a disciple.”

“A disciple…?”

After a moment’s thought, her demeanor changed.

“Are you truly intending to defeat the Demon Lord?”

Her tone became devoid of kindness, producing a faint laugh. A Spirit King with amusingly strict boundaries, despite sharing the same face.

“Indeed.”

“Alright… Since Pasma said so, I will allow it. However, I want to attach a condition: I hope to have opportunities to speak with Pasma from time to time. If so, you may take the artifact.”

“Then I will demand one more thing.”

“What?”

She looked at me as if I were absurd.

“I assisted in your long reunion and will help complete Pasma’s Phantom Dance. Naturally, I will also help in destroying the demons you resent. Is it a problem if I add one more condition?”

“Humans really have an insatiable greed.”

“Anyway, what I request is that there is a child with the potential to master all attributes. Teach that child.”

There typically isn’t intervention from Spirit Kings early on.

Spirit Kings tend to appear only in the latter stages to lend strength to heroes.

Typically, one would only obtain an artifact and gain the ability to use part of Pasma’s power in this episode.

But this is not a game world.

There’s no rule dictating that everything must go according to the script. In reality, there can be deviations.

“What? A master of all attributes? How boastful. Even the Archmage who is referred to among humans cannot master all attributes.”

“See for yourself whether I speak the truth or a lie. If you think it’s false, then all you’ll gain is a chance to talk with Pasma.”

Her sigh indicated that she reluctantly accepted what I said.

“…You do know how heavy it is to have a Spirit King by your side, right?”

“Is it as heavy as the world’s destruction?”

It’s ridiculous, but the game itself wouldn’t have any issues defeating the Demon Lord as long as the Three Heroes remained alive, regardless of artifacts or other help.

This troubling effort was only necessary for a smoother story progression; their presence was not essential.

In fact, it would become their role later to forge connections to summon the powers of the heroes.

Just because the Spirit Realm exists in another dimension doesn’t mean they are free from the threat of demons.

“Hah, it seems you’re just saying it’ll happen.”

“It will happen. But if you wait until you seek our help, it will be too late. I assure you.”

“Do you think you’re some all-knowing god? Even the prophecies spread among humans aren’t a hundred percent accurate!”

“The choice is yours.”

I confidently declared as I rose from my seat. My legs were trembling, but it was manageable.

“I’ll take the artifact.”

“How dare you believe you can waltz around so arrogantly!”

Ariel gritted her teeth and pointed at me.

“…If I must say, it would be the creators of this world.”

Game developers. Or should I call them gods?

As this world continues based on the information I obtained while playing the game.

I walked across the plains.

“Did I really have to say it like that?”

“I’m out of time. Now.”

I searched for a point in the ground free of weeds to sink my sword into. Lacking a shovel, this was my only option. As I dug, a pair of shoes protected by the power of a spirit was revealed.

They resembled combat boots one would see in the military.

At first glance, they appeared far from lightweight, yet the setting described them as weighing less than a hundred grams.

“I’m off.”

“I’ll go too.”

“…Do as you wish.”

“Just keep your promise. Let me talk to Pasma whenever I want.”

“I’ll consider it based on the situation.”

“Alright. And remember, this isn’t a contract. I’m just following you to converse with Pasma. Just keep that in mind. Don’t try to ask anything of me.”

“Understood.”

What is this nonsense?

I never intended to ask her for anything from the very beginning. Just having the Spirit King around is a great asset in itself.

Moreover, since I was now able to share a body with Pasma, at least until Tina wields this sword, she wouldn’t be able to let me die.

For now, that was enough.

*

We returned via carriage.

“This is Ariel, the Spirit King of Wind. We’ve decided to travel together for a while, so greet her.”

“Spirit King? What’s that?”

Tina tilted her head.

“Are you talking about the Spirit King from that book?”

Iris seemed confused.

“The Spirit King of Wind? The one of the four guardians of the World Tree?!!”

Maria looked as shocked as if she’d witnessed an omnipotent god.

“What, what, what are you doing?! Lord Praus!”

Dex was left speechless. Delma wasn’t any different.

Everyone in the carriage looked at me and Ariel with dumbfounded expressions.

“That’s the standard reaction, you filthy humans.”

Seeing their reactions, Ariel pointed at me mockingly.

“What do you know?”

I shrugged nonchalantly and climbed back into the carriage. After pulling out a cheap potion from my bag and drinking it, I immediately lay down.

“I’m going to sleep for now. Don’t disturb me. I’ll talk later.”

Hearing the sounds of the carriage starting to move again, I closed my eyes.