My Disciples Think I’m Strong – Chapter 270

“Teacher, have you arrived?!”

As soon as Urka and I returned to Secul, the heroes welcomed us. However, that warm welcome didn’t last long. The approaching heroes were left speechless, their gazes fixated on Urka’s bulging belly.

“Uh….”

Their eyes were glued to her belly, just as mine had been the first time I met Urka.

“Teacher… what, how did this happen…?”

Iris asked, stuttering with disbelief as she pointed at Urka’s belly, demanding an explanation from me.

‘I can explain. Should we go inside and talk?’

“It happened like that.”

Damn. Aren’t there better expressions I could use?

Now that my expression management had returned, my voice felt so indifferent it was almost icy.

This damn expression management really is a double-edged sword.

[Do you think you can persuade them with those words?]

Pasma’s criticism was unwelcome. I already knew, could you just stay silent?

“Just saying it happened like that is too vague, Teacher!”

A natural counterargument came back.

As if Tina’s shout had acted as a trigger, the heroes rushed toward me. I shifted slightly to conceal Urka, just in case I had to grab my sword.

“I know. Be quiet.”

The heroes looked at me, baffled by my defensive tone.

“Urka is pregnant with my child.”

My flat statement shocked the heroes. As they stared at me, mouths agape, I continued.

“If I leave the child with Duke Aus’s Residence, it will be raised under the supervision of many servants, but that’s not what I want. This child is mine.”

Moreover, before leaving Aus Territory, Tori had told me it was fine to take Urka along, but to call him immediately if she went into labor. He said he’d bring knowledgeable doctors with him.

He was being considerate since I had no experience with childbirth.

Tori Aus really is something, the more I think about it.

“When… no way, is it from that day…?”

“I apologize for not saying anything to you all and just doing this. So—”

“Is it Urka?”

Tina’s cold voice cut me off, making me lose my train of thought.

“Urka coaxed you, didn’t she?”

“Wha—what?”

“Answer me!”

Tina’s grip on her sword trembled slightly.

“Tina.”

“Teacher, just stay quiet! It’s something I need to understand! I’m trying as hard as I can to make sense of this, so please just let me be!”

Tina’s usual carefree demeanor was replaced by an unfamiliar intensity.

“…It’s true. I coaxed Praus.”

Urka admitted willingly. The look in Tina’s eyes turned hollow as she watched Urka nod slowly.

“Praus refused, but I pushed.”

“Just as I thought!”

“Urka, this… seems too selfish.”

If they weren’t directly involved and had taken things slow, they might’ve suspected something was off between us.
We had a peculiar relationship, but we didn’t let it show in our usual demeanor, so it was probably hard for them to notice.

Especially since they were just kids.

“I’m sorry. I just grew too fond of Praus that I couldn’t help myself…”

“That’s not helpful at all right now.”

Maria joined in to pressure Urka, who retreated a step, instinctively feeling threatened.

“Hey…! I liked him first…!”

Tina mumbled to herself, twisting her body away.

“Where are you going, Tina?”

“…I need to cool my head. I think I might get angry even calling you Teacher right now.”

I watched Tina’s retreating back. Maria, staring intently at Urka, followed her.

If Maria stayed by Tina’s side, I figured it would be fine.

“Ha.”

Iris sighed, crossing her arms. She glanced awkwardly at Urka’s belly and said,

“So what are you going to do?”

“I’m going to give birth.”

“At home?”

“Yeah.”

“…Tina and Maria aren’t going to be happy about this. To be honest, I’m not either. Are you really planning to have the child at our house?”

I figured they would react that way since they did have feelings for me, as I was aware.

After all, living together, how could they not notice?

I still had to fulfill my responsibilities.

“Yeah.”

“We’re enduring this because we respect your decision, Teacher. If it weren’t for you, we would have been slaves for life. No… to be honest, we’re still somewhat indebted now. We’re receiving your teachings. So, I’m unsure how to confront you about this. I believe this is how Tina and Maria feel too.”

That’s so like Iris.

It was impressive how she maintained her composure. If I were in her shoes, I would have been completely flustered if the person I liked came back saying he impregnated another woman.

“Please be good to Tina and Maria. Urka too.”

“Yeah. I will.”

“Are you okay with this?”

“…If I stubbornly refuse too, I feel like you won’t be able to handle it, Teacher. I’ll endure.”

That was a clear ‘I’m not okay’ statement.

Iris shrugged, but her expression was far from cheerful. I hesitated to offer her comforting words but quickly decided against it.

Whatever I said would probably sound insincere right now.

“Stop acting like you’re single. Come on in.”

Since we were hesitating to make a move, I threw out the suggestion first. What a wonderful girl she was.

Thinking about serving a dinner that the kids would enjoy, I led Urka into the house.

*

By dinner time, Tina and Maria returned, clicking their tongues at the sight of Urka’s belongings in my room.

“Tsk. Sharing a room now, huh?”

“I can’t use your room, can I?”

I flipped the hamburgers, saying this. The delicious aroma made the heroes’ nostrils twitch. Seems like instinct comes first.

As I chuckled to myself, Maria spoke to Iris, who was helping with the cooking.

“Aren’t you angry, Iris?”

“Getting mad won’t change anything. You two know that we can’t do anything about what Teacher did.”

Iris spoke as if she had resigned herself to the situation.

“I know, but…! Iris, you liked Teacher too, right? You even said you wanted to hug him to sleep every night.”

“Shut up! Don’t say weird things, stupid Tina!”

As those two bickered, Urka, struggling, attempted to carry a dish, but Maria swiftly took it from her.

“…Stay still. Don’t move around for no reason.”

She complained but seemed to be trying to help all the same.

“Sorry.”

“If you’re going to apologize lightly, then why are you even doing something to be sorry for?”

Maria scoffed derisively.

Though there was still some awkwardness, I had a feeling they would adapt sooner or later. Maybe it was just my optimistic hope.

Not long after, dinner began with dishes tailored to their tastes.

“Isn’t this too simple? Trying to apologize with something so trivial.”

At least, wouldn’t it be better to say such things without eating?

They all seemed to enjoy the meal but looked a bit gloomy.

Unlike usual, the heroes focused solely on their own food, occasionally glancing at Urka but giving no further reactions.

That’s how dinner ended without any notable incidents.

“Well then, we’ll head back. Goodnight.”

After dinner, we usually sat around chatting until sleep, but tonight the heroes simply entered their rooms.

A heavy silence engulfed the kitchen.

The only sound filling the house was the water splashing from the dishes being washed.

“Praus.”

Urka, quietly sitting at the table drinking tea, called out to me.

“What’s up?”

“Um… it’s fine if I sleep alone. How about you share a room with the heroes?”

Whether she understood our situation or worried about our relationship becoming awkward, I wasn’t sure, but it felt like a redundant concern.

“If I were planning that, I wouldn’t have brought you back from the Duke’s Residence in the first place. Don’t worry. They’re confused now, but they’ll eventually understand and accept it.”

“…And if they can’t accept it?”

“I’ll work to make sure they can. As much as you’ve become precious to me, those kids are also irreplaceably dear to me.”

I said while wiping my hands clean of the grease.

I couldn’t give up on either Urka’s child or the heroes. I had to find a way to balance it all.

For the sake of the future of this world.

“Let’s wash up early tonight.”

I finished washing the dishes and shook the water off my hands.

“Go wash up first. Or should I help you?”

“I-I’m fine! I can wash up myself!”

Urka stood up. She entered my room to gather her things and hurriedly headed to the bathroom. Just before entering, she paused and turned to look at me.

“Praus.”

“What is it? If it’s about warm water—”

“I love you. And thank you.”

Having said that, Urka stepped into the bathroom before I could respond.

Soon, I heard the sound of water from inside, staring quietly at the door to the heroes’ room.

There would definitely be several conflicts between Urka and the heroes in the future.

This could very well break the harmony I had built with them. If that happened, we wouldn’t be able to defeat the Demon King, so it was essential to resolve these issues at all costs.

I would have to put in efforts I’d never made before.
Although the difficulty felt like it had suddenly spiked, I had chosen this path, so I could only accept it.

I clenched my fists, steeling myself.

Months had passed since the coexistence of the three heroes and Urka began, and when the heroes turned fourteen, a girl with black and red heterochromia was born into this world.