My Disciples Think I’m Strong – Chapter 235

Gasp. Gasp.

Why is my breath so ragged?

I teleported to the entrance of Marquis Medis House. Although the Marquis House is spacious, I shouldn’t have been running hard enough to be out of breath.

Besides, I had been exercising consistently until now. Every morning, I diligently trained my body, even when it was a hassle. It was essential to maintain the image of being strong for the heroes to utilize me easily.

So why was I out of breath now?

It was probably because I felt a vague sense of unease.

I was afraid that Praus’s father might die.

Even knowing that Paroco wasn’t my real father, my emotions wouldn’t settle down. Although I clearly recognized that this feeling belonged to Praus, it felt like my own.

Could it be the fault of Soul Fusion?

“Ella, prepare for battle as soon as we encounter the Demon Tribe.”

“Understood.”

Ella clenched her fist with the knuckles. I was genuinely grateful that she came without a fuss as soon as I called.

“I’m heading towards where I sense a presence.”

“Before entering the mansion, I felt strong magic on the third floor. It might be a good idea to check that out first.”

The magician standing behind Ella spoke. Thanks to this magician, we could teleport here.

I nodded briefly in acknowledgment and hurriedly climbed the stairs, soon reaching the third floor.

“Over there!”

We dashed in the direction pointed out by the magician. As we got closer to our destination, the smell of blood grew stronger, becoming so intense that I involuntarily grimaced.

Rounding the corner, we discovered vampire demons with white hair and red eyes in front of the room that was our objective. They looked like elves suffering from albinism.

“Praus!!”

The vampire demons shaped numerous spikes from the blood.

“Step aside. You trash.”

Ella dashed forward, throwing her fist into the air.

Boom!

The blood that was suspended in the air exploded, causing one of the demon’s bodies to wobble. One stunned demon slammed against the wall.

“Die!”

The vampire demons shot spikes at us. The magician behind me raised a barrier momentarily, blocking the spikes. He was unexpectedly capable.

“I said move!!”

Then, seizing the moment, Ella charged and punched the demon’s head, causing it to explode.

I rushed past the battered demons and entered the room.

As soon as I glimpsed the scene inside, I lost my words, repeatedly doubting whether what I was seeing was real.

The broken incident soon ceased, denying reality.

My body trembled, and my expression crumbled.

[The skill “Expression Management” has been temporarily disabled.]

[Activating the skill “Killing Intent.”]

Inside the room, countless corpses of people and those still alive begging the demons were visible.

That part was bearable.

However, the moment I saw Paroco, with a hole in his chest and unable to even close his eyes, I felt something snap inside me.

I couldn’t tear my gaze away from Paroco’s ashen eyes.

The sensation of my heart tightening made my breathing grow increasingly erratic.

I felt like I was choking, my vision growing dizzy.

No, “blurry” was a more accurate term.

As my hand moved to my face, I felt dampness on my fingers.

Tears.

Why am I crying?

Wiping away the tears that wouldn’t stop flowing, I wondered. It wasn’t like I had a deep bond with Paroco, but this was the first time I felt unable to suppress my emotions after coming here.

The reason was probably…

It felt like my real father had died.

Slowly, my gaze began to rise.

I wanted to ask right away. Why are you here?

“…S-Stella.”

Stella’s eyes were wandering.

Suppressing the emotions that were leaking out as my Expression Management skill crumbled, I spoke.

“Did you kill him?”

“…”

“Tell me. Did you kill my father?”

“Well… who knows…”

She neither confirmed nor denied.

Her ambiguous and clumsy response gnawed at my reason.

…Is that so? This is how Ariel felt.

I couldn’t help but let out a hollow laugh. Right now, I felt I wouldn’t be able to accept this situation unless I laughed.

“…Yeah. I shouldn’t have expected humanity from a girl who became a demon in the first place. I was naive.”

Before Inkuro left for the Aioum Kingdom, did he tell Stella there was a way for her to become human?

Did I have any lingering feelings for Stella?

I clearly decided to take responsibility by killing her. I intended to carry that guilt with me.

But why was I hesitating again this time?

“I should have killed you back then.”

Thinking back, that was true.

When Habito took Stella, who was dying, he threatened me, saying he would move the demons.

Then when the Demon War broke out, I should have been the first to consider my father’s safety.

Why didn’t I pay attention?

Was it because I was rushed by the sudden war?

Or was it because I trusted the knights of Marquis Medis House?

Or perhaps I thought it wouldn’t matter since he wasn’t my real father?

…No, at this point, it didn’t matter.

Whether she actually killed my father or not was irrelevant.

My father died here, and the demons were present.

The justification for killing them was enough.

“Ella.”

I equipped the bracelet given to me by Ariel.

[You equipped “Ariel’s Handmade Bracelet.”]

[The skill “Causal Interference” is activated in passive form.]

[Skill penalties are reduced when equipped.]

[Duration is 18 minutes and 55 seconds.]

[18:55]

“Yes.”

She replied. Glancing at the hallway, the heads of the vampire demons were smashed in. It seemed they had definitely been taken care of.

[You equipped “A Mirror Reflecting Others.”]

[The skill “Copycat” can be used for “3 minutes.”]

“‘Copycat.’”

[Please reflect the target you wish to imitate in the mirror.]

I shone the mirror ring at Ella.

[Target “Ella Todiah” recognized.]

[Imitating the power and skills of “Ella Todiah.”]

Stella was a tricky opponent. Depending on the situation, Ella’s strength, being S-Class, might not be enough to contend with her.

But for now, Ella was sufficient.

What I needed was reflexes to dodge the demons’ attacks and just enough power.

“Ella and you, magician, search the mansion to see if there are any demons. Please don’t come too close to this area.”

“U-Understood.”

She seemed flustered by my politeness.

The reason I wanted them to leave this place was to prevent Stella from visualizing someone else’s shame. It would be troublesome if she transformed into someone I couldn’t predict.

“You all die here. Not a single one of you will be allowed to leave.”

After closing the door, I immediately clenched my fist. As I sensed the air being drawn towards my fist, I unleashed it.

“‘Spirit Wind.’”

Paaaam!

Late to react, the head of one of the vampires exploded.

It was a skill of Ella’s filled with the mana of the World Tree. Even an elite of higher demons couldn’t withstand it.

“Die!”

With every punch I threw, another demon burst apart, splattering blood and organs everywhere.

The maids of Marquis Medis trembled, watching the massacre, but I didn’t care. Whether this became a trauma that made their daily lives difficult or not, I had no room to worry about them right now.

I had no confidence that I could endure going forward without killing them.

As the demons fell one by one, several, previously solidified in killing intent, began to move. They even tried to attack me directly, splattering blood on me and forming weapons.

“Avoid!!”

Dodging the attacking blade, I punched the demon’s abdomen.

“‘Crushing Fist!’”

Paaaam!

The moment my fist connected with their abdomen, I felt the bones and entrails shatter, and their body burst apart, splattering the ceiling with blood and guts.

“‘High-Speed Movement.’”

In an instant, I closed the distance and without hesitation, I delivered a punch to the demon’s solar plexus.

“‘Sonic Punch!’”

Once again, the shock was too much for the demon, causing its body to explode. The mana infused in my fist had crushed its insides and made them explode.

“Feel it yourselves! How terrifying and painful it is to die!”

As blood, flesh, and entrails stuck to me, saturating the air with a sticky warmth, my vision turned red, but my mind became clearer.

I clearly recognized what I was doing and accepted reality.

By the time I finished off all the demons except for Stella, a loud voice echoed from behind.

“Praus!!”

Boom!

I evaded Stella’s blade aimed at my neck. She still hadn’t transformed through visualization.

“What trickery is this? Why can’t I see your memories?”

“Why? Are you scared since you can’t transform? You’ve climbed to a higher rank while pushing others’ traumas around!”

The reason for not showing was unknown to me.

But I thought it was a good thing. Since Stella’s basic stats were lower than any of the squad leaders, I could kill her slowly and painfully.

“‘Spirit Wind!’”

Stella quickly twisted her body to dodge. There was a sound of air bursting where she had just stood.

“Scared to fight me directly?!”

“…Ha! Not being able to see doesn’t matter. I have my own traumas to bear.”

Clang!

Stella parried my punch with her sword as she shouted.

“‘Manifestation.’”

Her body contorted, gradually transforming into the silhouette I recognized. Eventually, Stella became me, wielding the gluttonous glass sword.

“You were the one who tried to kill me. Let’s see you try to block this.”

“Stop yapping.”

I swatted away the sword that was within reach and retorted, focusing my gaze as I drew the only sword remaining.

[You equipped “The Glass that Swallows Gluttony.”]

[The skill “Dynamic Action” can be used five times a day.]

[Currently stored skills]

[“Destruction—Counterattack.”]

“No matter what happens, you will die by my hand today. I will not let you live.”