My Disciples Think I’m Strong – Chapter 225

“Lichen.”

“……Yes.”

Feeling a chill from Blas’s murmur, Lichen bowed his head even deeper. The clattering of armor echoed.

“Is protecting your chivalry more important than my orders?”

“I’m sorry.”

“Miles.”

“Kick!”

A purple, round creature lying next to Lichen rubbed its face against the ground in response.

“Why did you let Lichen do as he pleased?”

“……Kii….”

“Why did you fall for Praus’s schemes?”

Lichen cast a furtive glance at Peremus. Peremus let out a dismissive snort while looking at Lichen.

Although he had indeed been swayed by Praus’s words, he was also eager to prove to the Demon King that he was stronger than Peremus by boldly killing Praus.

“What’s the reason for not answering and looking at Peremus?”

“……I wanted to be the one to set up the first goal.”

“Did you not think that your first mission was about the first goal? In the end, it took two days to bring down the city wall. If it weren’t for the intervention of the 1st and 3rd Legions, it would have taken even longer!”

Lichen and Miles groaned painfully under the wrath of the Demon King, feeling as if they might be crushed by the pressure.

“I thought you would be better. Turns out you’re all the same after all.”

“……I’m deeply sorry.”

“Fine. What can be said now? The wall has collapsed, so you will destroy the Rexton territory and head for the capital. Let’s see whose legion arrives at the capital first, you or Peremus.”

“I will not disappoint you again.”

“Kiiik!”

Though Lichen and Miles showed their determination, Blas waved his hand dismissively as if he didn’t want to hear it. As Lichen rose from his seat, he thought,

‘Praus, if we meet again, I will surely tear you apart for execution.’

Once again, Praus was stacking up his karma today.

—

“Ah… it’s an unfamiliar ceiling.”

I muttered as I looked at the ceiling I had never seen before. Surely, any familiarity was just an illusion, right?

Struggling, I sat up. My joints popped during the process. The pain seemed entirely gone, but somehow my body felt weak. I’m seriously going to die.

“This is the worst morning ever…”

“It’s not morning; it’s lunch, though.”

A familiar voice answered my mumbling. Looking up, I saw Emperor Seri sitting demurely beside my bed. She smiled at me when our eyes met.

“…Seri? Why are you here?”

The teleport location I had asked Ariel to set up was placed at the second defense line, predicted along the route of the 1st Legion. So, it was as if Seri, who should be in the capital, was now at the very front lines.

“To boost the morale of the knights, I came to check on the condition of the Praus, who fought at the forefront.”

“Couldn’t you have sent others for that? What’s the point of having someone who’s supposed to give commands from the capital come all the way out here?”

“…I know I shouldn’t be doing this as an emperor, but even in this situation, I feel like I’m going crazy worrying about Praus. If it were up to me, I’d take him back to the imperial palace and keep him locked in his room.”

…Isn’t that kind of like confinement in another sense? A power-wielding yandere is quite scary…

“But since the Empire is in danger without relying on Praus, I have to reluctantly accept this…”

From her tone and expression, it was clear she was not really accepting it. I could feel her overwhelming urge to snatch me back to the capital.

“I watched everything during the operation meeting through surveillance magic. Praus’s performance left everyone in awe. He didn’t falter even with a massive magic beast commander in front of him.”

“Is that so?”

“But please don’t overdo it. The magician who treated Praus told me his condition is the worst. It’s a wonder he even fought in that state.”

“…Without overdoing it, we can’t win.”

In a war where there was a clear disparity in power, there was no winning without pushing oneself.

“Still…”

“And thus, I’m up after a few days, right?”

Ignoring Seri’s pout, I asked. She switched her expression into something serious, as if she had turned on a switch.

“It’s been two days.”

“Two days? Then what about the situation? How’s the situation?”

Two days was ample time for the demon tribe to invade and stir chaos within the Empire.

“Thanks to the last attack that Praus executed before fleeing, the demons temporarily halted their assault, giving us some time. However, the demons destroyed the city wall on the border a few hours ago. It’s estimated they’ll reach here in about four days.”

Four days, huh.

Her estimate was likely correct. The nobles’ territories between the second defense line and the border would attract the demons’ attention.

Though I felt uneasy about using them as bait to buy time, I had to remain composed. While I had induced evacuations, not everyone could be saved. There were limited magicians capable of using teleportation, so there was no way to save everyone.

Most importantly, I had to buy time until the heroes arrived.

Sacrificing the small for the greater good was currently the best option.

“Also, the third defense line is being established. The Grand Anti-Demon Magic is also being set up. But if the third line is breached, it will result in a catastrophic loss of life as the centers of each territory are destroyed.”

“What’s the current estimated death toll?”

At my question, she paused for a moment. A bitter expression emerged on her face.

“Most of those at the border died. Since the demons targeted the magicians primarily, they couldn’t retreat in time to regain their strength. We managed to save only some of the S-Class.”

“Is that so.”

There was no way to predict every aspect of a war, so it couldn’t be helped.

“…Is there any hope?”

Seri cautiously asked.

“…If my disciples return.”

With the border breached, it was now a race against time. Stopping the demons pouring in from all sides was impossible, and the situation depended on how quickly the heroes would arrive.

—

“Oh, it seems the clingy disciples are nowhere to be seen?”

“They’re growing to secure victory in this war.”

“Is that so? I hope they return as strong reinforcements.”

“Their potential surpasses mine by far. You can expect great things.”

I said as I sat on the bed, putting on my clothes hanging from the hanger. Thanks to the automatic cleaning magic, they were in perfect condition.

“Get more rest. You can still sleep.”

“…I’ve rested enough. By the way, where’s Ariel?”

“Right here.”

A figure popped up through the tent. What are you, a ghost?

“What were you doing?”

“I asked Orient to keep an eye on the movements of the legions.”

I see!

When I played the game, I often checked the mini-map to watch the legions’ movements, but now it was impossible to survey the entire Empire in reality.

I had no choice but to prepare with uncertain predictions.

However, if it was Orient, a fragment of Yggdrasil rooted firmly in this world, then it could grasp the movements just like in the game.

“What did you find out?”

“Fortunately, the legions are moving along the route that Praus predicted.”

That’s truly a relief.

If the predicted point had been wrong, I would have had to disperse the army.

“…Ariel, by any chance, what about the accessory I commissioned before?”

“Are you planning to use it in four days?”

“Well…”

“I’m continually infusing mana into it. However, whether you take it now or later, if you plan to use it in four days, the duration or efficacy won’t change.”

“Is that so?”

“Do you want to take it now?”

I nodded.

Ariel gathered energy in both her hands. With a brief flash, a bracelet with a green wind pattern appeared on her palms.

I took it and immediately put it on my left wrist.

—

[You are wearing the “Ariel’s Handcrafted Bracelet” filled with sincerity.]

[Skill “Causality Interference” activates in passive form.]

—

Causality Interference.

This was a passive skill from the game that increased skill attack power and reduced skill cooldown. However, when I once requested Ariel to wear it, it had been applied with different effects in this world.

—

[Skill penalties are reduced upon wearing.]

[Duration is 19 minutes.]

—

[18:59]
…
[18:55]

I checked the effect and then took off the bracelet. The hologram vanished entirely.

What was originally intended to be an artifact made for the hero had been inadvertently tailored to suit me.

If Peremus were to come here, I planned to use this while fighting him.

Losing at the second defense line would likely mean giving up at least six noble territories within the Empire. Moreover, if not a single key figure of the demon tribe was taken down, the situation would quickly turn unfavorable.

Thus, I needed to deal with as many commanders or deputy commanders as possible here.

“I’d like you to ask Orient how my disciples are doing.”

“Oh, that. I heard Tina gave the World Tree quite an attitude?”

“…What?”

A hero giving an attitude to the World Tree?

Tina, who became a hero by receiving the blessings of the World Tree, talking back to Yggdrasil? That was mind-boggling.

“She protested that her teacher might die and that she needed to stay by their side. Well, currently the World Tree firmly told her no, so she’s properly training.”

“Is that so.”

Please just think a little before acting, Tina…

“But if the heroes see Praus completely wrecked in this battle, they might just uproot the demons.”

As I watched Ariel giggle, I couldn’t help but feel a bit annoyed. But if she could laugh in such a situation, it meant she was composed, so I decided not to take it too negatively.

“Pass on the message to Orient.”

I took the map resting on the drawer and marked it adequately with charcoal.

“Once those guys succeed in breaking their limits, don’t send them anywhere useless; send them where I’ve marked on the map.”

I handed the map to Ariel. This threat wasn’t looming over just one location.