My Disciples Think I’m Strong – Chapter 210

“Maria.”

“Yes?”

“Set up the barrier. So we can’t be interrupted.”

It was possible that the knights patrolling inside the Imperial Palace heard Chris’s noisy chatter. Therefore, precautionary measures had to be taken in advance.

“Understood.”

No matter how great Logia was, a barrier set up by a 9th tier magician could not be breached. The knights probably didn’t even realize a barrier was put in place.

Still, we were about to kill a member of the Imperial Family. If we were caught red-handed committing regicide, it would be troublesome.

“Maria, what you’re about to witness will be quite unpleasant. If you don’t want to see it, you can come back in about three minutes.”

“No. I finally get to kill the person I’ve wanted to kill. I’ll watch closely. Of course, the one I wanted dead the most is Lupin, though. And just in case, maybe Teacher will have a hard time doing it.”

How much does she resent Chris…?

I forced a bitter smile as I stared blankly at Chris in front of me.

I already had a question in mind. I wanted to ask about his recent command to sacrifice the Beastman Tribe.

“Chris, tell me your thoughts on other races.”

This was a question I had wanted to ask for a long time. If he had even a slightly positive opinion of other races, I would consider delaying his death.

“Other races are nothing but beasts that should be used to elevate the Empire. They should kneel before the greatness of humanity and bow their heads to us.”

His voice rang out in the still silence. As Maria heard his outright thoughts, she seemed so shocked that she was left speechless.

“Are you really saying that…?!”

“Thank you. I won’t feel guilty killing you now.”

You’ve worked hard, Chris. You were trash in this world too.

Before the True Word could fully unfold, I plunged my sword into his chest.

“Cough!”

He coughed up blood. Before his eyes regained their vitality, his heart stopped. Watching him slump over, I pulled out the sword.

He was dead.

The being that had tormented me left the world so easily.

“Indeed, having you alive is a nuisance. Chris.”

Wiping the blood off my sword onto the bedding, I stepped down from the bed.

“By the way, Teacher, is it alright to kill this guy?”

You seem worried.

To be honest, as Maria said, the method itself wasn’t good.

After all, Chris was a member of the Imperial Family. He stood out more than other princes and had once been an emperor.

Killing someone like that would undoubtedly lead them to accuse us of murder and throw us into prison. They might even execute us.

Of course, if it came to that, I would respond with all my might.

But they could never pin me down. I had the justification for having to kill him.

“It’s alright. The one who broke the deal first was Lupin.”

Lupin had seen the mark on Chris’s hand, indicating he had made a pact with the Demon Tribe. There was no way he could deny it. Even if he tried, we had recorded it all with Surveillance Magic, so there was no escape.

That said, I wasn’t going to rationalize that killing him was right.

I also wanted to resolve everything with words as much as possible.

However, I couldn’t leave Chris alone after he thought of other races in such a way and made a pact with the Demon Tribe.

“Let’s head back—”

“What’s this magical energy?! Is it a barrier?!”

Just as I was about to ask Maria for a Teleport, Logia burst into Chris’s personal chamber with the knights.

“…What should we do?”

“Let’s go. After we Teleport back, remove the barrier.”

“Understood.”

I placed my hand on Maria’s shoulder. She immediately called out the Teleport spell.

So, Maria and I gracefully returned to our house in Secul after killing Chris.

*

After Praus and Maria had left, the barrier was lifted.

Everyone present, including Logia and numerous knights, held their breath.

“Your Majesty…?”

All the gazes wandered at the sight of Chris’s corpse, stained with blood, lying on the bed.

“This is…”

Logia, who had been watching the scene in disbelief, suddenly shouted.

“…This must be the doing of Praus!”

“What?”

“The barrier just now was so intricate that I couldn’t break it myself. That means a magician more skilled than me was involved. And one of Praus’s disciples, that elf, had reached the 9th tier. If it’s her, it’s possible!”

As he spoke in rapid succession, the knights began to stir.

“Immediately inform His Majesty Emperor Lupin of this! Praus has assassinated Chris! Naturally, Princess Seri… No, His Majesty Emperor Seri must be informed as well!”

Although it was still just speculation, it was the most likely scenario and there was no need to hesitate.

We could deduce this was the work of Praus unless a demon tribe attacked the Imperial Palace out of the blue.

“Stop dawdling and move quickly!”

“Understood!”

With Logia’s order, the knights began to rush into action.

It didn’t take long for the Imperial Palace to be engulfed in chaos and noise during the night.

*

“Teacher, the Imperial knights have come!”

With Tina’s shout, the door burst open.

Two knights stood beyond the open door, accompanied by a magician. They must have been in quite a hurry to send a magician too.

“Should I drive them away?! Should I throw stones so they can’t come back?!”

“Don’t do that.”

The stone you throw would be a weapon. If it hits their head, it would definitely cave in their skull.

I stopped preparing breakfast and walked towards them. Their eyes were filled with rage.

“What’s happened?”

“His Majesty Emperor Lupin has summoned you, Praus.”

“For what reason? As you can see, I’m busy.”

I pointed to my apron and put on a playful act, which only twisted the knights’ expressions further.

“What reason could there be? Are you pretending not to know?! You psycho!”

A psycho, huh…
I wonder if I appear that way to others?

Honestly, I couldn’t deny it.

I wouldn’t hesitate to commit murder to achieve my goals.

I didn’t have a shred of intention to present myself as a good person now, but being outright called a psycho was unsettling.

“You are accused of the assassination of His Majesty former Emperor Chris. Follow us quietly while you still can.”

“Hmmm. I didn’t even step near the Imperial Palace yesterday?”

“Last night, Logia said you did!”

“So…?”

“Shut up and come! This isn’t a matter for you to judge! Both Lord Logia and His Majesty Emperor Lupin have named you as a suspect!”

As Tina clenched her fists after seeing the knights place their hands on their swords, I exhaled a sigh and placed my hand on her head.

She was the one thinking of marching towards them first.

Was she willingly stepping into the tiger’s mouth?

“Alright. Let’s go then.”

“Teacher, I’ll go with you.”

“Leave your students here. Only you come.”

I nodded obediently.

I had no intention of hiding anything. I already had the upper hand in this conflict.

“Teacher, will you be alright?”

“Don’t worry. Who do you think I am?”

To be honest, going into enemy territory alone was daunting, but the heroes I knew wouldn’t remain idle.

“Tell Iris and Maria, who slept in late yesterday, where I went.”

“Understood.”

Saying this, they would probably find their way to the Imperial Palace on their own.

“Now, shall we go?”

“Don’t act like you’re just going for a walk! Do you realize you’re a criminal?!”

Ah, how noisy.

Shouldn’t they be thankful I killed the pest that would drag this world into ruin? They should be feeling guilty for taking so long to kill him instead.

I clicked my tongue inwardly and Teleported with the knights.

*

“PRAUS!! What the hell have you done?!”

The moment I arrived, Lupin’s office was filled with his furious shout.

Inside the office were Lupin, Logia, Conver, and Seri, who had all gotten up from their seats upon seeing me.

“Explain yourself immediately! Why did you kill him?! You swore to me that you would spare Chris once he stepped down from the throne! Why have you broken your promise?!”

Lupin shouted at me, unable to control his agitation, pointing a finger.

“Have the knights leave.”

I pointed to the knights seen through the office door.

“What?”

“It wouldn’t be good for the knights to be present for this conversation. Well… I don’t mind, but I don’t know about you, Lupin.”

“You bastard! Do you dare insult the Crown Prince?!”

Before the knight could draw his sword, I spoke first.

“Insult? Who truly insulted the Royal Family… No, the Empire, Lupin?”

Everyone facing me flinched and instinctively shrank back. Lupin did too.

“Praus, calm that killing intent. It only puts you at a disadvantage in this situation.”

“…Understood.”

I released my tension from my eyes.

“First, let’s talk. I’ll explain everything that happened.”

“…T-Talk! Quickly!”

“Before I do, can we ask the knights to leave? This story is likely going to quite the disappointment to the Imperial Family’s reputation.”

At my warning, he hesitated.

Even in his excitement, he remained composed, likely because he was the emperor who had led the empire for so long.

“…Logia, Seri, and Conver, you may leave.”

“But Your Majesty! If Praus has assassinated former Emperor Chris, he may attempt to kill those present!”

The knights urgently protested at Lupin’s words. But he shook his head firmly and ordered them to leave.

Once the knights exited the office, a heavy silence fell. It finally appeared to be a bit easier to speak.

“Now, let me explain. First, it’s true that I killed Chris.”

“Why did you kill him, Praus?”

Logia, already with deep wrinkles on his face, pressed further.

“Why did you kill Chris…?”

I took a short deep breath and replied.

“Because Chris made a pact with the Demon Tribe.”

At my words, Emperor Lupin placed a hand on his face, while Conver and Logia’s eyes bulged out, and Seri looked at me with a blank expression.

“And I merely fulfilled the deal I made with Lupin. It’s just that, nothing more or less.”

I presented my justification here.

“Did you…Did you make a deal with His Majesty?”

“Correct. I promised Lupin that if the empire were threatened by demons, I would protect it. As a result, I had no choice but to kill Chris.”

Yes, I had no choice but to kill him.

There were no lies. No fabricated words.

I manipulated the situation a bit to tilt it more in my favor. To have justification for my actions.

I wouldn’t spare anyone associated with demons, not even an emperor.

Just look at the similar cases occurring right next to the Kingdom. The Empire wouldn’t be an exception.

“Am I wrong, Lupin?”

Lupin, even after losing his son, seemed frustrated with himself for not being able to utter a word and eventually dropped his head.

That’s right. You knew your child had made a pact with demons but turned a blind eye.

You cannot escape responsibility, Lupin.