My Disciples Think I’m Strong – Chapter 245

“I’ll take care of the demon tribe inside the Demon King’s Castle.”

That was as far as I could handle. Still, I wasn’t worried. They were heroes, after all—they’d slice through the enemy like tofu.

Charging up the All-Cutting Sword, I reached for the Glass Sword and pulled out a new blade.

[You equipped the “Unnamed Warrior’s Sturdy Iron Sword.”]
[Your power increases by 10%.]

With the urge for revenge gone, I needed a weapon I could use, so I got my hands on an artifact weapon.

Though it was just a beginner’s sword, compared to the ones sold in the Empire, its performance and durability were quite decent.

Besides, a sword like this would be a different story in the hands of a hero.

As the rustling from the bushes reached my ears, I felt a rumbling in the ground. While I was charging up, it seemed the demon tribe had come close.

“Teacher! Are you alright?! There are too many of them!”

“There’s no time to talk! Move now!”

“But…!”

“Your job is to kill the Demon King.”

“I know that! I just can’t bear the thought of you dying—!”

“Stop whining, Tina!”

When I raised my voice, Tina flinched.

“Do you know how many lives depend on your hands?”

“But…! If you die, it’ll all be meaningless…!”

“You are heroes! Even if I die, you must continue to push forward and take down the Demon King.”

“You can’t just say that! I’m going to quit being a hero if it means watching you die! I absolutely cannot let that happen!”

Tina, clutching my arm tightly, shouted. I could feel her determination not to let go. Please, just listen to me.

“If you see me lying dead on the battlefield like the others…”

Even now, the demon tribe was closing in. There was no time for such childish sentiments.

“Tina!”

“No! I’m not listening to anything you say!”

“Iris! Maria! Take Tina with you….”

As soon as I looked at the two heroes, I couldn’t finish my sentence. They too looked puzzled. It was an unspoken appeal to finish off the approaching demons first before dealing with the Demon King.

Damn it. Should I slap them to knock some sense into them?

…No, that kind of shock tactic wouldn’t be good in this situation. So what should I do…?

“…Tina.”

“I won’t listen to anything—”

“I am strong.”

Slowly, Tina’s head lifted. She gazed at me with a dazed expression. Gently patting her head, I spoke in the gentlest tone I could muster, as if reading her a fairy tale.

“Stronger than you.”

“That’s… I know that…”

“I will definitely survive and return to the Human World. For my happiness, too.”

“Happiness….”

“Tina, don’t you want to be happy too? The choice I’ve made is the only way to lead us to happiness.”

“…….”

She didn’t respond. She still looked uncertain. I needed to hammer this point in.

“So trust me. Have I ever let you down?”

Tina’s head shook vigorously.

“Trust me this time too.”

“…Alright. I’ll trust you, Teacher.”

Finally, she reluctantly released her grip on my arm.

“I’ll kill them quickly and be back, so just hold on a little longer.”

A little…?

That might not be enough.

The Demon King—no, Blas Weill—would make even you risk your life. But the Purification Stone should block the curses and mental attacks, so there shouldn’t be a problem.

“Don’t worry. By the time you get back, everything will be taken care of. Rather, I’ll go up to the Demon King’s Castle to lend you strength.”

So, please, don’t let impatience guide your fighting. But talking about it wouldn’t change that. The more intuitive and simple-minded they are, the more intense the performance needs to be.

Swish!

Demons began to jump out from the forest.

“Go!”

I shouted to the heroes as I drew the Glass Sword.

[You equipped “The Glass That Swallows Greed.”]
[You can use the skill “Dynamic Action” five times a day.]
[Current stored skills]
[“All-Cutting Sword”] × 5

Until now, I had always aimed the All-Cutting Sword at a ‘target.’ This was out of concern that the sword’s energy might inadvertently take lives.

That was why I had trained Tina properly before handing her the All-Cutting Sword.

But this place is different.

This is the Demon World. A place uninhabitable by humans.

In other words, I could swing at full power without any problem.

“All-Cutting Sword.”

I swung horizontally, being aware of the maximum distance and area of effect instead of just aiming at a target.

The invisible sword energy sliced the bodies of the charging demons in half, causing chaos in the forest.

Boom!

As the felled trees crashed down, countless demons fell lifelessly to the ground, staining the earth with blood.

“Does it still look like I’ll die to these weaklings?”

With this attack, I must have killed at least hundreds.

I confidently turned to ask. The hesitant gazes of the heroes were now shrouded in determination. Indeed, showing instead of telling works best.

“…No!”

“I’ll handle everything and then go up. Don’t worry, just head up first.”

“Understood, Teacher!”

“I already told you where the Demon King is, right? I hope you remember it well.”

“Don’t worry! I’ll be back!”

“I’ll be back!”

I sighed with relief as I watched the heroes run off.

Yes, all you have to do is march forward. I’ll ensure these nobodies won’t interfere with you.

Reaching out toward Tina’s departing figure, I said, “Imitation.”

[Please reflect a target onto the mirror.]

The mirror recognized Tina’s silhouette.

[Recognizing target: “Tina.”]
[Imitating Tina’s power and skills.]

Can I kill all the demons pouring out in three minutes?

Probably not. I can’t kill an unfathomable number of demons.

But I won’t die here without meaning.

I’ll make sure to return alive. Everything I do is for my own happiness.

By the way, is this what it’s like to enter my mind state?

The world looks chaotic.

The source of life. The root of all living things.

The mana and magic beast flowing through my body seemed almost tangible, like the diagrams of the human spine I’d seen in science class.

Seeing too clearly isn’t always a good thing.

At least I’m glad I can toggle this mind state on and off.

Anyway, that’s not the main point.

“Come, demons. I’ll show you hell.”

[Activating the skill “Killing Intent.”]

As I glared, the attacking demons hesitated. Prompted by their instincts, I was thankful they were frightened; when they freeze, it makes it easier for me to attack.

“Are you Prus?”

Do you even have an answer if I ask?

“If you won’t come to me, then I’ll come to you.”

I infused my sword with mana at full power. I knew I should pace myself considering the number of incoming demons, but if I become a regular person in three minutes, it wouldn’t matter.

Better to attack with full power from the start.

“Phantom Dance.”

*

As Tina effortlessly cut down a demon on the stairs, the upper half of the demon dropped to the ground without resistance.

The heroes quickly ascended the stairs without even glancing at it.

“Damn it! How wide is this place?! It’ll take ages just to find the stairs to the upper floor!”

Even though it wasn’t set up like a maze, the heroes were struggling considerably to ascend.

“Ugh, screw it! Let’s just break through!”

Tina raised the All-Cutting Sword to swing it toward the sky.

However, right on cue, armored demons burst forth. They resembled the sub-lieutenant, Lichen.

They swung their weapons threateningly at the heroes above.

“Where do these damn things keep popping out from?!”

Tina switched her stance and charged at the knights.

“Phantom Dance!”

With a speed so fast it felt like she barely brushed past, even Iris and Maria missed her movements for a moment.

There was no sound of cutting, but dozens of demons standing in front of the heroes were obliterated in their armor.

“I really don’t have time right now, so if you hinder me, I’ll kill every last one of you. No, even if you don’t hinder me, I’ll kill you.”

I spoke coldly while gazing at the demons falling down the stairs.

Shivers ran down Iris and Maria’s spines at the threatening aura emanating from Tina, a vibe one would only expect from their master, Praus.

“Let’s go. There’s no time. We have to kill the Demon King as quickly as possible and help the Teacher.”

“Right.”

The two, feeling a strange sense of relief that they were not fighting against Tina, stepped forward.

*

“The heroes are getting closer.”

Blas, sitting elegantly on his throne, flicked his black hair back. With that, his hair was neatly fixed into a slick style.

“By the way… You mentioned you knew where this was from the start. The only male who came with the heroes… that guy must be Praus—”

Bang!

Before Blas could even finish his mumbling, a colossal door burst open, slamming against the wall and breaking its hinges as it crumpled to the ground.

Boom!

The door fell heavily, sending a reverberating sound echoing throughout the Demon King’s Castle’s audience chamber.

“…Looks like some foolish heroes have arrived.”

Propping his chin and crossing his legs, he leisurely watched them enter the hall.

One human. One beastman. One elf.

The Demon King’s gaze swept over the new heroes as he chuckled darkly.

“Have you come, heroes?”

“Are you the Demon King?”

“That’s right. I am Blas Weill, the Demon King who rules the Demon World and commands all demon tribes—”

“All-Cutting Sword.”

Bang!

“Why are you still alive? Just die already.”

Tina’s strike shattered the wall behind the throne.

“Hah… Quite impressive…?”

Just before the sword energy could reach his neck, Blas blocked it with his hand, feeling a sharp pain as he glanced at his palm.

Purple blood seeped from the wound, marring his pristine white skin.

Seeing that, Blas couldn’t help but smile with glee.

“…Interesting.”

‘If that previous attack didn’t have magic wrapped around it, my wrist would have been severed and my neck would have been cut as well.’

“I understand why the sub-lieutenants died. This is what a hero really is.”

Blas healed the wound and reached out toward the heroes.

“Very well. Since you’ve come this far, I’ll personally kill you heroes in this world and shatter the Human World.”