My Disciples Think I’m Strong – Chapter 255

“Haa.”

I had climbed the hill alone and was staring up at the moon.

Even after killing thousands of demons and contributing to the defeat of the Demon King, my body felt no fatigue. It seemed the power of the World Tree freed me from the need for sleep.

Lying down brought no drowsiness, so I had no choice but to come out for some fresh air.

Just before leaving the house, I stopped the heroes who wanted to tag along, as I wanted to gather my thoughts alone.

“Haa.”

I sighed again. I couldn’t help but wonder if my sighs could cause the hill to collapse.

Chuckling at the absurd thought, I gazed at the hologram floating before me.

[Do you want to delete the skill “Expression Management”? (Deleting it will cause the hologram to disappear.)]

[YES] [NO]

The hologram was a reminder that I was Lee Han-gyeol. Thanks to it, I could perceive this world as if it were a game.

To erase such a hologram meant I would choose to live as Praus, not Lee Han-gyeol, moving forward.

Surely, this decision would alter the course of my life.

Though I felt no need to rush my choice, I couldn’t sit idly by today while the people I cared about were fighting.

So, I planned to call just two people to this spot. After conversing with them, I would decide how to frame my wish. I already had one wish figured out.

“With the authority of the World Tree, I summon the Spirit King of Wind to this place.”

The moment I whispered that softly, the wind tousled my hair and clothes. I closed my eyes and enjoyed the pleasant breeze before slowly opening them.

Before me stood Ariel, looking bewildered as she surveyed her surroundings.

“Ariel.”

“Huh? Praus? Did you just summon me?”

Ariel showed her surprise without holding back. She pointed at me with a questioning gesture.

“Yeah.”

“The only ones who can manifest a Spirit King in the Human World are its contractor or the World Tree, right?”

“I’m the contractor of the World Tree.”

“Eh?!”

She gasped, exclaiming, “That’s impossible!” with disbelief. Her reaction was frustrating in some way. Wasn’t I special too? I had just awakened in the end.

“It might sound unbelievable, but it’s the truth.”

“Well then, that means Praus strayed from the course because you contracted with the World Tree…”

“Huh?”

Is that how it interprets?

“Then when you said ‘player,’ it means someone playing a game… You’re what the World Tree called a ‘True Hero’?”

“…No. That’s a bit of a stretch.”

I shook my head from side to side, denying it. There’s no way I was a True Hero.

“But I observed while the First Spirit… Initina, took over my body, watching you fight the Demon King. I could see through Initina’s vision.”

“Really?”

“The ones who severed the Demon King’s neck were the heroes, but it was you who cornered the Demon King, Praus, wasn’t it?”

“While that’s not wrong, it seems a stretch to call me a hero.”

“Even if the heroes took credit for killing the Demon King, you, Praus… you’ve always led the charge against the demons and diminished the conflicts between humans and other races. This isn’t something anyone can do.”

“…I don’t think such a grand title suits me.”

“I think it suits you more than anyone else.”

Ariel said firmly, her strong words left me speechless. I felt shy for some reason and awkwardly scratched my cheek.

“It’s none other than you, Praus, who saved this world.”

“Ah, okay, stop it. It’s embarrassing.”

I, notoriously stingy with compliments, found this too much to bear.

“Ugh! Just accept it if I’m complimenting you!”

Ariel snapped back, raising her voice. I could see her ears, which peeked out from her blonde hair, turning red. Was she getting bold with her words?

“Ariel, this might sound a bit out of the blue.”

“Huh? What is it?”

“…I’ve received a lot of help from you and Pasma so far. If you hadn’t been there, I surely would have died before reaching the Demon King.”

Especially Pasma; he was the reason I had survived until now. It was only natural to repay such a benefactor.

“Uh, yeah… But why are you being all mushy after calling me mushy?!”

Ariel shouted at me, pointing a finger.

“Are you getting more argumentative?”

“Don’t make me stop!”

I chuckled at the sight of Ariel huffing and puffing.

“Ariel.”

“Why now?!”

“Pasma is alive.”

“…Huh?”

A blank sound slipped from her lips.

“What did you just say…?”

“Pasma hasn’t vanished. He’s still around.”

Since Yggdrasil, which governs the causality of this world, told me, it must be true.

“W-where? Where is he?!”

She couldn’t hide her excitement as she asked me, the distance between us shortening before I even realized.

“W-we met Pasma where I first encountered him.”

“That ruined village?”

“Exactly. Pasma is waiting there for us to find him again.”

At my words, Ariel’s eyes became moist, as if she was about to cry. She bit her lower lip, trying to hold back tears, but they quickly accumulated in her eyes, spilling over one drop, then two.

“Ah… I was just about to give up… But now I’m becoming attached again…”

Wiping her tears hastily, she still had a smile on her face, and hope sparkled in her eyes.

“Not lying, right?”

“Yeah, no way. Would I lie to a friend?”

I had asked Yggdrasil two questions back in the Demon King’s Castle.

One was related to the hologram, and the other was about Pasma.

I inquired whether Pasma’s lingering soul remained in this world, received a positive answer, and even found out its location. I then asked one more question.

“Then we can really meet again. Then let’s hurry and bring that broken sword…”

“No. I won’t put Pasma back in the sword.”

“What?”

If I bound Pasma to the sword, he would never truly gain his freedom. That wouldn’t be a proper repayment.

So, if we were to meet again, it was much better to give him a body rather than have him feel indirectly through me. To do that…

“I will turn Pasma into a Spirit.”

“W-what?”

“I can take some time during the process of making him a Spirit, but Yggdrasil says I can do it.”

“Yes, that’s right.”

As if she were just waiting, a little girl dressed in turquoise fairy attire popped up.

“W-world Tree?!”

“Ariel, it’s nice to see you. Thank you for your help in subduing the demon tribe and taking down the Demon King.”

“Oh, no!”

Ariel quickly bowed her head. In response, Yggdrasil smiled and waved her hand. Why was she so high-energy?

“By the way, so you were planning to make such a wish when you asked me those questions at the Demon King’s Castle! Even so, I never expected that Praus would make such a wish!”

“Well, is it possible?”

“Of course! So the first wish is to turn Pasma into a Spirit, right?”

“Exactly.”

“But are you really okay with that? You don’t want to wish for something for Praus?”

“This is a wish for me.”

Yeah. This was a wish for me.

It was a repayment to my benefactor and one of the endings I desperately wanted to see.

“This is an ending you can never see in a game. A tragic love story ending happily would never happen without ‘tuning causality.’”

In games, the heroes would triumph over the Demon King and live happily, and that would be the end.

Looking back, the ending was indeed a disappointingly bland conclusion.

“…It’s not for no reason that Praus is popular.”

“I’m not popular, though.”

“Don’t say things like a clueless, stuttering loser.”

“L-loser…?”

She hit my arm, casually tossing out harsh words.

“Then I’ll grant your first wish. Should we head there right away? Or would you like to use your second wish here right now?”

The second wish.

Should I return home, or stay here to make another wish?

“Before that, Yggdrasil, may I ask one more thing?”

“What is it?”

“How do you think the heroes can find happiness?”

At my question, she paused for a moment, and then Yggdrasil moved closer, resting her chin on her hand, pretending to ponder.

“That’s not a question for me…”

She poked my chest with her fingertip.

“It feels more like a question for Praus’s heart. You already know how to make those kids happy. Or would it be better to call it the ‘happy ending’ you mentioned?”

“…I know?”

“You do. You’re just pretending not to.”

“Pretending not to?”

“There’s no way Praus wouldn’t notice those kids’ thoughts or feelings. You’re clever. It would be cowardly to wiggle your way out now after using their feelings all this time.”

I found myself at a loss for words, precisely hit by the core point.

“Praus is just hesitating. But if you’re still doubtful, why not ask the heroes? You have ‘True Words’ three times.”

“…I see.”

“Did that answer your question?”

“Yeah. Maybe.”

“Then will you write your second wish right now?”

“No. I want to take a bit more time.”

I shook my head.

I understood the heroes’ thoughts and feelings, but my heart wasn’t settled yet.

“Okay. Do as you feel comfortable. Then shall we go retrieve Pasma’s lingering soul?”

The World Tree created a gate.

“Let’s go. To the ruined village.”

Ariel and I locked eyes, and as I took the first step, she followed suit. Her hands clasped nervously in front of her chest, fidgeting as if she were anxious.

First, let’s see the happy ending.

We stepped into the gate almost simultaneously.