My Disciples Think I’m Strong – Chapter 34

In the outskirts near the city wall of Aus City, there was a duel arena.

It resembled a coliseum, vast enough to accommodate countless spectators.

In the center stood a large square platform, clearly the place where warriors engaged in combat.

“Praus, are you okay?”

Just before stepping onto the sparring arena, Tori spoke to me. Urka was looking down at me from the arena.

Had she already shifted into her beastman form? Her pupils were vertically split.

Seeing that, I opened my mouth blankly.

“Don’t worry about it.”

“You’re pretty confident. You don’t seem intimidated at all, even though your opponent is S-Class.”

What are you talking about? Can’t you see I’m scared? My legs are shaking!

“Since you’ve contracted with a fire spirit, it will be quite tricky.”

‘That’s right. This is going to be quite a challenge.’

“Have you forgotten who I contracted with?”

Someone stop my arrogant mouth, please.

“…Ha ha, I see. You have contracted with the Spirit King. Is that why you feel so confident?”

With that, I had justification for using wind magic.

No matter what skills I employed, they wouldn’t realize it was my sword’s unique ability.

“Still, you won’t be able to defeat Urka solely with the Spirit King’s power.”

“…That’s strange. Do you want me to win or lose?”

“What?”

“Your request was clearly to subdue Urka. After sending me on such a request, are you really bringing up winning or losing?”

“Ha, but…”

“You just need to watch quietly. Don’t ruin the atmosphere with unnecessary chatter.”

“Understood. I will do just that.”

His visible unease came from Urka’s unexpected proposal.

The right to do as one pleases.

When Tori heard those words, his face turned to one of shock.

I also knew why he reacted that way.

The relationship between Tori and Urka was a tragic one that could not help but be divided due to the differences of human and beastman.

To be precise, it was Tori’s choice of a noble image and the realities of politics that shattered their relationship, but I couldn’t just blame Tori alone.

At that time, that was the only way to protect Urka.

In the end, he married another woman, and everything lost its meaning, yet he still held feelings for Urka.

Thus, he likely proposed the request to subdue her so she could live.

“Urka, do you remember what you said yesterday?”

“You mean the part about having the right to do as you please?”

“Exactly.”

“Of course I remember. But here’s the thing. This is a fair duel; it’s not quite right that only one side has a penalty, is it?”

Is she asking for a wish in return?

“…What do you want?”

“If I win, you come under me.”

Under you? Is she planning to form a resistance or something?

Seeing me with Iris and Maria, it seemed she thought I had no prejudice against other races.

“Can I ask why?”

“I liked you.”

That gleaming look in her eyes showed a strange obsession.

That expression was something she should show to Tori, not me, after all.

“Fine. I accept.”

“Come up. I’ll make it worthwhile.”

I climbed the stairs and looked around the arena.

In the stands sat our party, along with the Duke’s retainers and some knights.

I stepped onto the floor of the duke.

“The rules of the duel are simple. Do not cause any hindrance that would affect future lives. And do not kill.”

Aside from that, it seemed anything goes.

It was a simple yet deadly rule.

Urka was stretching, loosening her body. Whatever else was true, she was a master at splitting her legs.

“Are you not going to stretch? You could get hurt.”

“Are you sure you have the luxury to worry about your opponent?”

“I just don’t want to hear that you didn’t properly warm up.”

I snorted and quietly drew my sword.

[“Unwavering Revenge Sword” equipped.]

[Skill “Wraith” can be temporarily used.]

[“Wind Sword – Aura” equipped.]

[Can use wind-type magic below rank 8.]

[No durability exists. An indestructible item.]

“Dual swords? Just because you have many swords doesn’t mean they’re all good.”

A person with so many daggers it raises questions of storage is giving advice?

“Don’t worry about it.”

‘Who do you think is possessing my body? Sure, I was a virgin who died without ever hugging a woman, but this person lived a whole lifetime staring only at swords.’

If it were him, he’d handle dual swords quite well.

[Friend, did you perhaps have any inappropriate thoughts?]

“Not at all.”

Such a keen fellow.

“Let me know when you’re ready. I’ll wait for you.”

I threw and caught a dagger as I spoke, feigning nonchalance.

“‘Wraith’.”

[Skill “Wraith” activated.]

“How’s your condition, Pasma?”

“Not bad.”

“Then I’ll go for a quick victory.”

I had no intention of fighting Urka for a long time.

Regardless of magical power, currently, it would be impossible for me to withstand all her strikes with pure strength. I lacked the confidence to respond to her agile movements.

So the choice I had to make was a singular one.

One-hit kill.

“Phantom Sword Technique: Ultimate.”

Pasma assumed the stance. She put strength into her legs and infused aura into them.

This action was in preparation for being pushed back while using the skill.

“Ha! Do you think I’ll give you time to use your technique?!”

As she threw a flaming dagger, she stomped the ground. Watching her close the distance rapidly with her sword, I muttered.

“‘High-Speed Movement’.”

Pasma moved my body to the spot she had just occupied.

The thrown dagger lodged weakly into the ground, sparking a fire.

“That technique…! It feels much faster than yesterday!”

Well, of course, it’s different.

Back then I was using it, and now it’s Pasma whose senses are one step above.

What you should worry about is not that.

“‘Phantom Storm’.”

A sword swung through the air.

*

“Phew… This is the feeling. Got it?”

[What on earth… Can this truly be called the Phantom Sword Technique?]

“I can do it.”

This is a technique mixed with Pasma’s Phantom Sword Technique and Ariel’s Wind Magic.

I casually glanced at the group behind me.

Ariel, Delma… and Dex, who had secretly followed, were all slack-jawed.

Other people, I could understand, but I never expected Ariel to react that way.

“What the heck is this… What have you done?”

She asked, looking at what I had caused. I turned to look in the direction Ariel was pointing.

There lay a neatly carved circular canyon.

The sight of an entire mountain disappearing seemed beyond human capability.

“It’s a simple story. I infused my magical power. That’s all.”

I waved the aura lightly as I spoke.

Just because my body is weak doesn’t mean I have no mana. With mana, I could use the artifact’s abilities as much as needed.

That’s why it’s an item that can only be obtained later on.

“I can’t believe this… Is this really you, Praus?”

“This is unexpected for me too…”

Delma and Dex murmured, staring at the changed landscape.

*

A slow sensation sliced through the air at my fingertips.

Ah, not bad.

KUKWA-KWAKWANG!!

The explosion, which started from the floor of the sparring arena, continued to one wall of the arena where there were no spectators.

From the gaping cracks of the crumbling building, the screams of citizens could be heard.

“I’m glad I could control my strength properly.”

“Yeah. Were I to use the same strength as when I was in the mountains, an entire side of the city would have been completely destroyed.”

Among us, only Pasma and I were able to speak normally at this point.

I glanced around lightly and saw that Urka, who stood facing me, Tori watching from the corner of the arena, and all those sitting in the stands were eerily silent.

Urka watched as the Phantom Storm passed, leaving wreckage in its wake.

“What are you…?”

“I told you this is my true heart. Knowing you’d die if you got hit, I intentionally aimed elsewhere.”

Pasma twisted her face in a grin. Deliberately turning her lips up, she provoked me.

But Urka wouldn’t just let that slide.

“This bastard…”

She pulled out a dagger. I pointed my sword at Urka.

“Next time I will hit you. Surrender the duel now, or you will die.”

What I wanted was exactly this!

Psychological warfare.

This was the first thing I deployed to show the absolute gap that could not be crossed, just like I did against Inkuro last time.

“Ha! How interesting, this is!”

But it seemed only the foolish Inkuro would understand this. Damn it.

I tried to go easy, but it seemed I only provoked her temper even more.

“You were really planning to kill me, weren’t you? Then I won’t have anything to say if I try to kill you instead.”

“Do you really think you can kill me?”

My arrogant tone made her veins pop at her temples. She glared at me with bloodlust.

“Okay, let’s see who dies first!”

She stomped the ground. As the cement floor cracked and fragments flew up, she rushed in without hesitation, aiming a dagger at my throat.

Clang!

As our weapons clashed in a flash of revenge fire erupted.

She quickly fitted multiple hidden daggers from her thigh onto her fingers and stabbed them into the ground.

There were popping sounds from the daggers as flames ignited.

With a whoosh, the temperature around us sharply rose.

“I’ll burn you to ashes!”

Chiiik!

The scorching flames felt like they were going to singe my skin. The swiftly sublimating ice protected my body, but I didn’t think I could endure for long.

“What now? Fire doesn’t work on me.”

Amidst that, I sighed inwardly as Pasma provoked me again. Do you understand my current condition?

“Have you prepared for fire-type resistance?”

She pressed down on me with the dagger, both of us pushing against each other. Since I was falling behind in raw strength, I started to be pushed back a little.

“Ugh!”

Just before her dagger would have overwhelmed mine, I swung another aura.

Boom―!

Unfortunately, she evaded my sword strike. Pulling back, she created distance. I staggered forward, coughing.

“If that’s all you have, I’m disappointed. S-Class isn’t supposed to be like this—”

Crack!

She clapped her hands.

“Come, Ignis.”

The moment she called the spirit’s name, flames erupted from her skin. At the same time, Urka’s hair turned a vivid red.

“You thought you could beat me with just that?”

She touched the flames on her skin, conjuring a sword made of fire.

“Flame Dance.”

“Dance, huh… Just in time, I wanted to test it out in real combat. How convenient.”

Pasma inserted her aura as she spoke. She gripped the Revenge Sword with both hands and took her position.

“Phantom Dance.”

The two of them thrust forward simultaneously, and amidst the roiling flames, Pasma and Urka clashed.