My Disciples Think I’m Strong – Chapter 281

The next morning.

I summoned Glair Todiah to Pretéum.

At this point, he was able to use Teleport. The moment he received the scroll I sent, he came rushing over.

Initially, I had planned to meet him in the quiet of night, but considering the effectiveness of Expression Management, I deemed it too dangerous. I didn’t want any rumors of mysterious deaths floating around.

And now, in the morning, I found myself face to face with Duke Todiah at the inn where I was staying.

Glair dismissed everyone, including the innkeeper, claiming he wouldn’t allow anyone to eavesdrop on our conversation.

As a result, only Glair, the two knights he brought along, and I remained. I had sent Tina and Iris outside to play. It was their age to have fun, after all.

“I thought you were calling me to the Secret Garden. I didn’t expect a commoner to be here.”

‘Is that so?’

“Is that so.”

“Is that so…? Are you talking to me right now?”

‘No. I’m sorry. This is just due to my Expression Management Skill. I have no ulterior motives.’

“Then who else is here besides you?”

“What…?”

Yeah, I thought this might happen. Quickly apologize for that slip-up to His Grace.

‘I’m sorry.’

“Don’t sweat the small stuff.”

Damn! Expression Management, you jerk! Apologize!

In a medieval world like this, status was extremely important.

Given that slavery existed in this world, human rights were significantly low.

As a commoner named Praus addressing the Duke Todiah, the highest among the nobility, informally was akin to asking for your own throat to be cut.

“This commoner! How rude!!”

“How dare you speak informally in front of His Grace Todiah! You’ll lose your life for that tongue of yours!”

Swish—!

The two knights drew their swords.

‘No, he’s just sitting there calmly. What’s going on?’

“Informal tone? Outrageous. We’re making a deal; why should we worry about status? Who’s the one in need here? Your daughter is probably dying even now.”

“You bastard!!”

Eventually, the knights couldn’t hold back any longer, and with a stomp, they swung their swords toward my neck.

“Stop!”

However, at Duke Todiah’s command, the knights froze, their motions halted. The blade stopped perilously close to my throat.

“…You.”

He frowned, showing displeasure, but there was a strange admiration mixed in his voice.

“To remain still until the blade reaches your throat… That kind of courage is commendable. Or is it confidence you have that you can block the knights’ attack even with the blade at your throat?”

No, I couldn’t even see it coming.

“Stand down.”

At Todiah’s words, the knights glared at me as they sheathed their swords. Gradually, they moved behind Todiah, still glaring at me with harsh expressions.

Damn it. I didn’t ask for this to be thrust upon me. It’s so unfair.

“…I see now. So you’re the one.”

“What do you mean?”

“That man with the black hair who recently killed Dink. Is that you?”

Has the rumor already spread that far?

As expected of His Grace. He keeps up with the times quite well.

“You seem to have some skill, but I am the head of the Todiah family, Grand Duke of the Empire. Mind your manners. Otherwise, you will disappear from this world.”

Oh, how tearfully thankful that advice is.

‘I’ll keep that in mind.’

“You’re quite nosy.”

“…”

With my speech uncorrected to the end, Todiah looked like he would unleash magic on me at any moment.

Considering the timing, he should be around the sixth tier, so I would absolutely lose if we fought.

If we were just talking about winning or losing, that’d be a small mercy but could easily cost me my life.

But my Expression Management Skill was betraying my true feelings in a ridiculously crude manner. No lie about that.

“The reason I’m talking to a lowly creature like you is that I’ve heard there are ways to heal Ella. If that’s a lie, you will bid farewell to this life.”

That’s scary. I’m absolutely terrified.

With this, I dread what might happen after the deal is done. Are you planning to kill me once I hand over the Purification Stone? Should I cling to Ella?

I sighed inwardly, looking at Todiah.

I took out a round gemstone that emitted a faint purple glow from my pocket.

It was the Purification Stone.

“What is this…?”

“It’s the Purification Stone. It has the power to absorb magic.”

“The power to absorb magic…? Is it similar to a Magic Protection Potion?”

“The connection is similar, but the effect is on an entirely different level. A Magic Protection Potion only serves to prevent external magical infection. However, it doesn’t have the ability to treat magic that’s already infiltrated internally. It might delay the decay caused by magic, but nothing more.”

That’s why the Purification Stone is called an artifact.

Even if someone has been infected with magic, it has the power to heal them. And since it’s not a consumable, it won’t disappear, and simply having it close to the body can produce effects similar to the Grand Anti-Demon Magic scattered throughout the Empire’s cities.

“But just by having this, one can purify the magic absorbed into a person’s body.”

“W-Where did you get something like that?”

“I have no obligation to share that with you. Anyway, what I propose for the deal is this: I will give you this to—”

“I will check it at once. Hand it over—”

“Don’t move.”

I glared as the knights moved toward me.

[Skill “Killing Intent” has activated.]

“Gah!!”

“What is this Killing Intent…?!”

The knights’ bodies froze in place. Even Glair shuddered, standing up straight. Before I knew it, water particles were gathering in his grasp.

He was preparing to unleash magic at any moment.

“What the hell… what kind of immense magic power is that…!”

Immense magic power, my ass. I feel nothing at all.

‘Could you please take those knights away? I can’t speak because they keep interfering and scaring me.’

“Duke Todiah, those knights you brought with you are utterly useless trash.”

Even with the insult mixed in, the knights merely gritted their teeth in frustration and refused to retaliate.

With such low human rights, it really seems like a realm of survival of the fittest.

“Do you see me as some kind of fool?”

Reluctantly, I had to put on a facade.

I had to disguise my incapacity for an effective attack so they could maintain the illusion that I was strong.

“Just how many tiers of magician are you…?”

“We didn’t meet just so I could share my information, did we?”

I relaxed my eyes. As the hologram beside me dissolved, the atmosphere slightly eased.

“To be able to contain that immense mana… That’s just impossible for even Logia, the Magic Guild Leader…!”

“Let’s get back to the deal. We’re both busy people.”

I don’t know what kind of delusions he has, but this was sufficient for now.

“Phew…”

Including Glair, the knights were panting heavily.

Even those who were so well-trained seemed burdened by my Killing Intent.

While they were talking about magic, shouldn’t you actually feel something to react? Ugh. What a terrible game.

“Alright, first the Purification Stone… I understand it now. So what do you desire in return for handing it over?”

Having made it this far, I felt like this was a major success.

“…I need money to buy two slaves.”

“Slaves…?”

“There are some interesting ones coming out from Wyrang’s Indulgence. However, I lack the funds to purchase them, so I’m proposing this deal to you.”

“I see. You’re asking me to pay for those slaves so you can buy them, right? Since the slaves coming out of Wyrang’s Indulgence can only be procured through an auction, you’d rather use my money, as the Grand Duke, rather than risk running out of funds.”

“Glad to hear your understanding is quick.”

Let’s make sure we maintain a good relationship starting with this deal. We can do this. Let’s go for it.

“However… how do you know so much about the items coming out from Wyrang’s Indulgence? Am I mistaken?”

Items? Look at him not even treating them like people.

I had no answer to his question. I shrugged my shoulders and opted for silence.

“Thinking about it now, it’s odd. A commoner knowing the code for the Secret Garden, not buying information from the Secret Garden but instead purchasing a connecting scroll to me… It raises some questions.”

He recited each point and sat back down.

“It feels like you’ve been trying to find a connection to me from the start. That can’t be just coincidence, right?”

“…Well, regardless of how you probe, I have no intention of answering. Besides, the only conversation we need to have now is whether you accept this deal or not. That’s it, isn’t it?”

“Indeed. I must agree. No… I was made to agree. So I must agree.”

Even though he sensed my magic or whatever, at some point, all traces of his intimidation had disappeared.

“The fact that the Secret Garden leader told me to be wary of you is starting to make sense now.”

Was trying to use Todiah from the start really a dangerous idea?

But after the auction, time would be tight.

Once Stella gets involved, the Fourth Legion Commander Habito will start to entangle. Before I battle Habito, the heroes must awaken, and I must meet the former Sword Master.

If I don’t have at least that much preparation, I might just die.

“Then, before making the deal, we should confirm that this Purification Stone has an effect on my daughter, right?”

“Right. I will show you personally. Guide me to the Todiah Duke’s residence where Lady Ella Todiah is.”

“Do you think I’ll let a dangerous individual like you into the Todiah Territory?!”

The knight standing behind me pointed his sword at me.

‘Oh, could you do something about that? He’s trying to kill me.’

“Since when did a knight become the spokesperson for the Duke Todiah? Or is it okay for knights to disregard their superior? Or is that just smoke and mirrors?”

It seems my tongue might be the real killer.

When I meet the bastard who started this Expression Management nonsense, he’s going to regret it.

“…Hmph. How audacious you are. You’d better hope that stone has an effect.”

He pointed to the purple orb sitting on the table. I responded, my tone still flat.

“Don’t worry. It will definitely have an effect.”