My Disciples Think I’m Strong – Chapter 28

I only glanced at his hand but didn’t grab it. He awkwardly clenched his fist and forced a smile.

“Why did you call for me?”

Although the Duke’s personality was somewhat detached from that of the nobility, he wouldn’t hastily arrange a meeting like this. It was safe to interpret it as him wanting something.

“Um, Lord Praus. Please use honorifics when addressing the Duke.”

The attendant cautiously advised.

‘It’s not like it’s going my way. Since we’re at it, how about the Duke speaks informally with me too?’

“Can’t you just lower your tone as well?”

Nobody in this world would refer to a Duke as “you.” It was akin to addressing him informally, which was something no one would dare do to a high noble.

Only someone with a blatant expression management skill like me would do this.

“Fine. I’ll do as you say.”

He accepted it coolly. Was it really okay for a Duke to act this way toward a commoner like me?

Feeling the immense class disparity between us, I began to wonder how he would react once he learned I wasn’t a Sword Master after all.

It wasn’t enough to simply pretend to be a Sword Master before a high noble; I had just spoken informally to him.

Isn’t this edging toward a lifetime of hard labor?

Suddenly, a cold sweat began to bead on my back.

I absolutely must not get caught. If I do, it’s the end of me.

It wouldn’t simply end with a fine.

I’d surely be torn apart or forced to live my life as a slave.

It was too late to say I was just an ordinary villager instead of a Sword Master now.

Already, I had dared to speak informally to one of the only four Dukes in the Empire.

Though this was not an intentional rumor, since it had begun, I had no choice but to keep pretending to be a Sword Master until the end. Until I die.

This is driving me crazy.

Unless I eliminate my expression management skill, the idea of committing rudeness already makes my mind dizzy.

“First, sit. You must be tired from your long journey.”

“…I’ll do that.”

“Waiter, bring out the finest desserts and tea from this establishment.”

“Understood, Your Grace.”

Once I became aware of reality, everything began to feel burdensome.

The attendant left, and the children sat at suitable spots—next to me.

…Next to me?

Tina and Iris had taken the seat beside me. Maria and Dex were sitting at another table, while Ariel hovered around looking disappointed before finally sitting next to Tina.

“Why are you sitting next to me? There are plenty of seats.”

“Protecting my teacher is my duty as a disciple!”

What’s with this sudden declaration?

“…Disciple? What are you talking about?”

“A~ Maria called Lord Praus ‘Teacher,’ so it made me want to call you that too.”

Please don’t do things I didn’t ask!

I have no intention of taking you on as a disciple, nor does Maria.

Why does the villager A always want me to be their teacher…?

“Lord Praus, I have proven my worth. Can you take me as a disciple too?”

“Tina, Iris. I have nothing to teach you. Don’t be swayed by Maria’s self-proclaimed teacher nonsense.”

Even without doing anything, they would grow stronger each time they encountered the Demon Tribe.

Thinking of the time I’d spend with them to give advice, I considered spending a few years together.

However, that didn’t mean I would take them as disciples.

After all, does it even make sense for a villager to teach the heroes saving this world?

“You always pull off amazing feats but never take in disciples. Ah! Praus, could it be?”

Tina’s brows shot up as if she had caught onto something.

Could it be that she realized I was weak?

Just as I was about to rush to cover her mouth.

“It’s to attract attention from others, isn’t it?!”

“?”

What is this crazy talk?

I stared at her in disbelief as she sparkled with excitement, making a fuss.

“I got you! That expression!”

“Pfft!”

“…Don’t split it, Ariel.”

“Oh, right. Right. Showing the Aura Sword to adventurers was to catch the world’s attention, huh! Hehehe!”

This snotty girl, who playfully mocks others, is the Spirit King defending the World Tree?

Oh, my goodness.

“Indeed, Lord Praus is entertaining.”

“Am I a clown?”

“Oh! It suits you well.”

Ariel clapped her hands in enthusiastic agreement.

Should I really hit her?

…Nah. I might end up losing my wrist.

“Why not use this opportunity to start a circus troupe?”

“Shut it. I don’t want to waste time like this.”

“Hehe. Got it.”

I turned my gaze away from the aimless Ariel. Duke Tori watched her with keen interest.

“You have a unique aura about you.”

That was Duke Tori’s assessment.

Right now, she wore a commoner’s attire while suppressing her mana, so to him, she would merely appear as a very beautiful common woman.

“Heh. This person has sharp instincts as well,”

“Who are you?”

“Sorry, but I don’t think I will reveal it.”

What a rude attitude.

If I think about it, Ariel’s demeanor also isn’t that much different from mine.

While I act this way due to my expression management skills, it seems Ariel’s personality itself is just like that, making her the worse of the two.

[Indeed, Ariel. You surely know how to draw a firm line.]

I almost chuckled at Pasma’s words.

Looks like there is still someone without their glasses off here.

“Do you not realize who is in front of you? If you dare speak down to Lord Praus—”

“Don’t try to shove human culture down my throat. You’ll regret it?”

“This girl…”

The atmosphere suddenly lowered.

From Duke Tori’s perspective, he likely felt as though a mere commoner was looking down on him.

“Wouldn’t it be better to just speak plainly, Ariel?”

“Ariel?”

At my words, Duke Tori hesitated for a moment. He seemed to dig through his mind for knowledge.

“…Could it be that you’re referring to the Spirit King of Wind, Ariel?”

I didn’t answer. Ariel shrugged.

When neither I nor her party denied it, Duke Tori’s face turned pale.

He immediately bowed his head toward her.

“My apologies. I failed to recognize the Spirit King of Wind.”

No matter if the individual is a Duke or Emperor, no human could stand against a Spirit King.

Even if S-Class Adventurers gathered to take her down, they could only force her to some extent.

To completely subdue her, one would need to be at the level of a Demon Tribe Commander or a hero powerful enough to wreck the continent.

“Could it be that Praus has contracted with the Spirit King?”

“That isn’t—”

“Essentially, that’s the case.”

Ariel cut in before I could finish. I narrowed my eyes at her.

She looked at me with a mischievous grin that began to annoy me.

[Ariel seems to have developed a taste for teasing you.]

Teasing is fine. I’m okay with that.

But saying such things before a Duke is best left unsaid.

Already, they were mistaking me for a Sword Master; what would they think if they heard I had made a contract with a Spirit King?

Besides, this city was situated in the Aus Territory governed by the Duke. If he chose to spread the rumor, it would spread across the whole territory effortlessly.

Naturally, if it spread within this vast territory, it would make its way throughout the Empire and indeed, across the entire continent of Physis, leaving no one who doesn’t know me.

Damn it. How did it come to this?

Was it when I decided to take in the three heroes?

When I killed Dink?

Or when I defended against Inkuro’s attack?

Or when I showed the Aura Sword to drive off the adventurers?

I pulled at my hair inwardly, screaming.

“Oooh! Lord Praus! No wonder! You had contracted with Lady Ariel! So that’s why you weren’t attacked when you spoke harshly!”

Another clueless noble just added fuel to the fire.

“Stop it. It’s noisy.”

“After all, you’re a teacher! Awesome!”

Tina fussed.

“I truly want to take Lord Praus as my teacher,” Iris added seriously.

“The one who mentioned using me was you, Teacher. Please keep your promise,” Maria insisted.

With the three children throwing their stubbornness at me, I felt utterly cornered.

“Go ahead, Praus.”

With a snap of her fingers, a wind wrapped around her.

As the whirlwind calmed down, she appeared in a long, flowing blonde hairstyle wearing a green dress.

Duke Tori was visibly shaken at her transformation.

Seeing through his skepticism made him utterly flabbergasted, even though Ariel seemed to care less.

“As a Sword Master, you should be able to teach Tina and Iris a lot. Moreover, since I have (verbally) contracted with the Spirit King of Wind.”

What is with all these people wanting to do as they please around me?

Why should I bear the risks of taking these children as my disciples?

I’m not even a Sword Master.

It just so happened I borrowed Pasma’s power for a moment, and the ‘Unyielding Desire for Revenge’ was a sword that belonged to Tina, not me.

Originally, I planned to have her learn the basics of swordsmanship and Phantom Sword Technique while using this sword.

But with Ariel suddenly giving me the ‘Wind Sword – Aura,’ there was no way ‘Revenge Sword’ could coexist.

“Speak properly?”

[Or are you genuinely considering contracting with me?]

I used magic to resonate my thoughts in my mind. It was telepathy.

It didn’t seem like a joke, but there was only one answer I could give.

“…I’m not doing it.”

“Hehehe. I thought you’d respond that way, Praus.”

She giggled, covering her mouth.

“With the Spirit King of Wind’s contract under your belt, even your swordsmanship level is that of a Sword Master…”

Duke Tori murmured with a hand over his mouth.

“Reminiscent of… the Sword Master that passed away decades ago.”

[Is he referring to me?]

“That is correct, Pasma.”

I inadvertently replied to his words.

“Yeah, Pasma. That was the name. Decades have passed, but you are undoubtedly the Empire’s last Sword Master, so I’d see no reason for you not to remember.”

[…It’s quite touching to realize someone still remembers me. If I had known this would happen, I should have really taken on a disciple.]

Pasma spoke with a choked voice, enveloped in sentimentality.

“Even with all the noise around me, how could I not remember?”

“Still…?”

Oops. I answered without thinking.

“Is that right? You…?”

He paused briefly.

“Were you ‘Pasma’s disciple’?”

Pasma’s disciple? What the heck is this?

“It seems Pasma had no disciples in his lifetime, but seeing one as you, it seems the rumors were not just mere whispers.”

[That’s a misunderstanding.]

Indeed, it’s a misunderstanding.

[After all, it’s Praus who’s my teacher. He completed what I couldn’t finish with the Phantom Dance!]

No, what are you sprouting now?

I couldn’t retort that because there were too many other people around.

“Why not register with the Adventurer Guild? If you are the Sword Master who contracted with the Spirit King, you could easily become an S-Class Adventurer.”

Become an adventurer?

What a crazy idea. From the moment I officially register, I’d have no choice but to watch my superiors.

Especially when the Emperor gives orders; I’d have to comply without an option to refuse. Surely, other adventurers wouldn’t complain because of the generous rewards, but my situation was different.

I’m weak.

“I have no intention of becoming an adventurer. Naturally, I don’t want to get caught up in the foolish politics of the nobility.”

“…With your abilities, it seems you aren’t inclined to step forward. Well, time is on our side, so let’s just enjoy some sweet desserts to ease the stress.”

Turning around to his words, I observed servants dressed in maid uniforms standing straight and orderly.

They held a variety of desserts in their hands. Only sweet things like cakes, cookies, and macarons were before me.

As soon as the Duke’s words finished, they sprang into action. They began setting the desserts and tea on the table.

“Please, serve it quickly.”

“Master! Master! Can we eat this?!”

Tina started to wiggle with excitement while pointing at a chocolate cake.

“W-wonderful aroma wafts through.”

Iris tried to say this calmly, but her voice betrayed her as her tail flicked excitedly.

“M-must be delicious…”

I peeked over, and I saw Maria staring in awe and swallowing.

“You may eat.”

At my command, the children began to gorge themselves on the desserts. I turned my gaze back to Duke Tori.

“Now, tell me what you would like to ask of me. You have your reason to do so.”

“…That’s not the case. This is a pure hospitality—”

“Hah!”

I scoffed.

“It’s pathetic for a high-ranking noble, a top authority governing all of Aus Territory, to come meet a mere person like me. You should stop beating around the bush and get to the point.”

At my words, the smile plastered on his face completely faded. After a brief pause, his serious demeanor returned, and he spoke.

“I want you to take down an S-Class Adventurer.”

I see. So the elite guard of Aus is about to return.

But he expects me to take out an S-Class Adventurer? Is he out of his mind?