My Disciples Think I’m Strong – Chapter 32

After things settled down, Urka started sticking to me like glue.

“What are you? That swordsmanship just now was incredible.”

She wagged her tail vigorously and followed me around incessantly.

“Get lost.”

“Hmph, I actually like guys with a harsh tongue. And subduing such men is even more delightful.”

What am I supposed to do about this, Pasma?

Urka’s peculiar obsession with strong individuals was a bizarre fixation to achieve her own goals.

[Well, well. I do have Ariel, after all.]

Don’t get any illusions about me being a virgin.

This girl just wants to fight. For her own purposes.

Pasma, who had no idea about that, simply chuckled, “Heh heh.”

Isn’t it just you who’s causing me trouble? Isn’t that the case?

“So what are you, anyway? Where’d you come from?”

“Shut it.”

“How about you take it easy?”

As I blatantly tried to avoid her, both Tina and Iris intervened simultaneously. Tina pushed Urka away as if to say not to come any closer.

“Since I’m in a good mood now, I’ll let it slide this once. There won’t be a second time.”

She showed a hint of animosity, fixing her gaze firmly on Urka while gripping her sword.

Tina blocked Urka’s attempt to approach me again.

“Try it if you want.”

“Ha, seriously… you brats…”

“Anyone who makes Lord Praus uncomfortable cannot be forgiven.”

At this point, she seemed more like a bodyguard.

“Urka, you punk! Starting trouble again?! Come here!”

“Ah, Tori! I haven’t even had a proper chat with that person yet! And that impudent brat deserves a slap!”

What kind of nonsense is that? If a regular person got hit, their skull would be crushed.

Urka was dragged away by Tori without resistance.

I guess they’ve been friends since childhood, so there was no hesitation at all.

Urka pretended to resist Tori’s strength as she got pulled into the room.

Only after the door closed and her figure disappeared did Tina release her grip on her sword.

“Tina, Iris.”

“Yes, Lord Praus.”

“Thank you.”

“Hehe! It’s my duty, Praus. I mean, Teacher!”

“Yeah, right!”

“I’ve said it countless times, but I’m not your teacher.”

I wrapped up the conversation with one last jab.

It wasn’t late at night yet, but wasn’t it a bit much for people who had been camping and on watch duty all week?

And why the hell is that punk Dex not showing up?

I slipped into the room Dex had chosen, and there he was, blissfully asleep, completely unaware of the world.

Hah. I wasn’t expecting anything from him.

Yeah, just sleep. That’s better than giving me useless information.

“Hey, L-Lord Praus…”

As I closed Dex’s door, Maria appeared behind me.

She fidgeted with her hands and darted her eyes around nervously. Those pretty light blue eyes seemed filled with guilt.

“What’s up?”

You’re not about to complain about me holding you, are you?

Honestly, it was unavoidable. If I had just pulled your arm, your shoulder might have popped out of the socket, you know?

“Th-thank you…”

She bowed her head.

‘No worries. I’m just glad you’re not hurt. I should have rescued you sooner. That must have been scary for you.’

“It’s nothing. Don’t worry about it.”

Even though I had warmer things to say, my mouth just wouldn’t let me.

“I wish I could think like that too… But, Lord Praus, why are you concerned about someone like me?”

Why am I concerned?

For some reason, I couldn’t easily answer her question.

“It’s one thing to say I knew you’d become strong, but according to Iris, even if I do become strong, it won’t benefit you in any way. Unless I’m your slave…”

Well, if you’re not around, the Empire collapses, and I die, you see?

There are plenty of reasons, but it wouldn’t be good to put this into words.

Didn’t we just fight over whether to use you or not?

I needed to find a response that met her expectations.

After a moment of thought, I spoke up with a word that sounded plausible.

“It’s because it’s my role.”

“What?”

I don’t really know why I was reincarnated. But at least they didn’t send me to this world to see a bad ending.

So this statement isn’t incorrect.

“That’s all.”

I felt like I should say more, but I decided to leave it at that. It was better than filtering it in a strange way.

“A role…? Did someone ask you to do this?”

“Do I look like someone who was asked to do something by someone?”

“That’s not quite it, but…”

“I’ll say it again, don’t worry about it. Everything will be clear in time. By then, Maria, you’ll be a true adult.”

“An adult…?”

“Yeah.”

“Could I really become such a great person?”

With time passing, anyone can become an adult, let alone a great person.

Hmm. From a child’s standpoint, adults might indeed seem great. I admired my huge father when I was little, after all.

“You will. Don’t worry.”

“Receiving such expectations makes it difficult for me. I’m not as good a person as you see me.”

“Well, I don’t know about others, but at least I don’t think you’re a bad person.”

After saying that, I patted her on the shoulder and walked away. I had to find an empty room for Maria to sleep in.

*

“Praus, are you alright?”

“Do I look alright?”

His gaze swept over my entire figure.

“…You look fine.”

Now that I look closer, he also has a thick face.

You can’t even imagine a high noble bowing their head in apology to someone.

“Looks like even Urka can’t handle a Sword Master, huh?”

“But you know, something seemed bland?”

Urka chewed on the apple the servant had brought and said.

“Bland?”

“How should I put it? Lacking strength, maybe? I checked a moment ago, and she didn’t seem to have much muscle.”

This punk was sticking to me to check my physical condition?

“There weren’t even any calluses on her hands. Anyone who’s handled a sword should have calluses, but her hands were as clean as someone who hasn’t worked a day.”

Sharp observation.

While munching on her apple, she continued to look at me.

“But her movements and Aura Sword were genuine. They were surprisingly fast. Even I couldn’t react.”

Urka’s gaze briefly shifted to Maria.

“Well, movements can become fast with a bit of training, but the Aura Sword isn’t something anyone can use, you have to reach the level of a Sword Master for that.”

“What are you trying to say?”

“I’m asking, what the hell are you? I’m curious about this. You can’t seriously have produced an Aura Sword just by picking up a sword, right? You… what kind of trick did you pull off? With those skinny muscles and pitiful strength, you couldn’t have possibly reached the Sword Master level.”

Sorry, but I did create an Aura Sword just by picking up a sword.

Although it was certainly an Aura Sword that couldn’t cut anything. But hey, at least it’s called an Aura Sword, right?

… Or not.

“Curious, huh?”

“No, I think I have a pretty good idea.”

Urka stopped me. At that moment, her expression twisted in a severe manner.

“You, you didn’t actually go all out against me, did you?”

Why does she jump to such a conclusion?

If she knew I wasn’t built like a musclehead, shouldn’t she think I pulled some trick?

“You thought I couldn’t kill you? If Tori hadn’t intervened, I would’ve killed you.”

“Oh right, right. Killing me must have been as easy as squishing an ant.”

“Do you think you could kill me?”

This mouth just wouldn’t stop. Why provoke trouble that could have been easily avoided?

“I genuinely want to kill you now, you know?”

She glared at me with fierce intent.

Tina and Iris appeared tense, ready to jump in at any moment.

I extended my hand to stop them, signaling them to hold back.

“Stop sending killing intent. You’ll die.”

[Activating Skill: Killing Intent.]

As I focused my gaze intently, Urka’s eyes widened in shock.

She had a surprised look on her face, but it lasted only for a moment.

“… Ah ha! What is this?!”

She blinked once, and the surprised expression vanished without a trace.

She was grinning. A flush appeared on her cheeks, and she couldn’t hide her excitement.

“Ah ha! So you weren’t being serious either? This is fun!”

Urka licked her lips like a beast that found its prey.

“Thinking back, those scrawny arms actually managed to block my blade, huh? You might have the potential to be a real combat type like me. Alright, then! Let’s have another go right here. This time, let’s get serious!”

As her hand instinctively went behind her back, my fist landed on Urka’s head.

Bang!

“Ouch! Why’d you hit me?!”

Urka rubbed her head with both hands, making a pouty face.

“Stop it, Urka. If you want to fight, then do it in a formal duel.”

A formal duel…?

… Wait a minute, is this what she was aiming for all along?

It seems Duke Tori wanted to officially prove that I defeated Urka.

That way, it would be easier for her to accept me.

“A formal duel? That only brings disadvantages for me, an S-Class? It would be easier to just settle this quietly in the training ground right behind us—”

“Don’t worry. Praus is the one who defeated Inkuro.”

Has that info from the capital already reached this far?

But in this situation, that wasn’t exactly good news. The fact of the matter is that it labels me as a ‘strong one.’

And that title as a strong one acts as a catalyst for Urka.

“What?! You beat that madman? Oh wow… the more I hear, the more I like it.”

“I don’t like you at all.”

“Fine! I’ll do it. A formal duel. At that time, both you and I will give it our all. And I’ll make sure to trample you down so there’s no doubt afterward.”

While I did owe something to the Duke’s residence, that part was manageable with the gold I had.

Right now, I could refuse the Duke’s proposal.

But it’s better to establish a connection with Duke Tori to abolish slavery without violence.

If I don’t, there’s bound to be violence from Iris or Maria in the process of eradicating the Empire’s slave system and liberating the other races.

That absolutely cannot happen.

A full-scale war with the Empire is one of the conditions for a bad ending.

But it’s also not good for the fact that I officially defeated Urka to become public knowledge.

The more I stand out, the higher the chance that I’ll be meeting with the high-ranking individuals.

The more that happens, the more I’ll be drawn into fights with the Demon Tribe and end up receiving fights coming at me from everywhere.

Can anything be more annoying than that?

“Is there a reason I have to do this?”

“Are you lacking motivation? Then how about this?”

She pointed to herself.

“I’ll be your trophy.”

“What?”

“If you beat me, I’ll grant you the ‘right’ to do whatever you want with me. How about that? Does that stir your interest?”

“Urka! What are you talking about?!”

Duke Tori shouted in disbelief. Others were looking bewildered by her words as well.

Especially Ariel had the strongest reaction.

“It’s just as I said. Beastmen are naturally attracted to strong individuals. But that doesn’t mean I’m saying I’d become your slave. I’ll just follow you. What do you think? Does this pique your interest?”

Urka flashed a sly smile.

Attraction or whatever, can you just disappear for real? Seriously?

Did you hold a grudge against me in your previous life? Damn you.