My Disciples Think I’m Strong – Chapter 49

We were standing atop Secul’s famous hill when I first possessed Praus.

“Ah… it’s cold…”

Tina bundled herself up tightly in a blanket and stomped her feet. Iris, standing beside her, exhaled puffs of breath and looked at me.

“Teacher, what are we doing here when the sun hasn’t even risen yet? Are monsters going to come out?”

“No.”

“Hmm. Then what is it? I know you think deeply about things since you’re our Teacher, but I’m a bit curious.”

“The New Year’s sunrise.”

“Sunrise?”

Since it’s the New Year, watching the sunrise is a tradition, isn’t it?

Honestly, I never expected to see it alongside game characters rather than my family.

My heart raced, yet there was a hint of sadness.

Even though my family had usually been indifferent to me, I couldn’t help but wonder what they were doing and how they were living at this moment.

“What’s so good about watching the sunrise?”

Just as I was about to get lost in my feelings, Maria’s question swiftly snapped me back to reality.

“It’s just… like a wish. You solidify your determination for the year by watching the rising sun and you can express what you hope will happen.”

“Does that culture exist in the Empire too?”

Ariel asked, controlling the winter wind to keep the children from catching a cold.

Not really. It’s a culture that only existed in the modern world I lived in.

To be honest, it was a pretty meaningless act.

“Then! Do wishes really come true?”

“If you put in the effort.”

“Is that really true?”

Iris asked seriously, unlike Tina.

When I glanced sideways, Maria wore a look of earnestness too.

I already knew what their worries were.

Since meeting me, their concerns had solely revolved around their own races.

Sometimes, they’d wake up from nightmares, screaming. During those times, I comforted them so they wouldn’t be anxious.

I’d repeated over and over that they wouldn’t suffer anymore and that their kin would soon escape their pain.

Sure, my tone might have been a bit blunt, but I did what I could.

If the heroes got out of line, it would be a problem for me.

“Are you uneasy?”

“No, that’s not it… but…”

“Iris, like I’ve said before, you will save all the Beastmen. Maria, you will surely revive the Elf Tribe.”

Of course. As long as they did what I said.

So, let’s hold hands tight until we kill our Demon King? Good things happen when we stick together, right?

Only then did their expressions relax a bit.

“It’s like… when I hear it from you, Teacher, it feels like it will really happen, and it makes me feel at ease.”

Maria spoke while looking in the direction I was facing.

“Exactly. When you say it, Teacher, it really feels like anything can be achieved.”

Iris enthusiastically agreed.

For some reason, I felt like I had to make an effort too.

How burdensome do they intend to make me feel?

“Praus, you’re quite popular with the kids~ You’re not secretly harboring ulterior motives, are you?”

“Unlike you, you have no popularity at all. Getting bullied in the Spirit Realm too, right? You’re bullied even in the Human World.”

“I wasn’t bullied?!”

I shouted in a frenzy at the accusation of being bullied. Look who’s getting mad after picking a fight first!

“If I were bullied, how could I talk to the other elemental Spirit Kings?”

“If you really had friends, they would’ve immediately listened to you the moment you spoke to the other Spirit Kings.”

Even the closest of friends won’t entertain unreasonable requests, but she wants to believe it.

Because she truly has no friends, after all!

In Ariel’s official setting, every relationship except for Pasma was listed as “not very close.”

She probably felt it herself. No way would she stick around all day just for the excuse of wanting to be near Pasma.

I had fixed times for possessing Pasma, which meant she could always come by and chat then.

There was no need for her to stay here for 24 hours straight.

Yet, her presence here was proof she craved companionship.

“W-wait… is that it? Am I… was I really bullied?”

It seems she had no self-awareness regarding it.

Ariel’s gaze turned rabid with shock.

“Teacher, does Ariel not have any friends?”

“Ugh!”

Tina’s innocent remark made Ariel sit down in defeat.

“Should I be your friend?”

Tina asked as she peered into Ariel’s face. I inadvertently stopped Tina from thrusting her knife in deeper.

This round went to Ariel—totally defeated.

I couldn’t help but snicker inside in an arrogant manner.

After kidding around for a while, Iris pointed towards the eastern mountain.

“Ah… Teacher, the sun’s coming up!”

As she said, orange light began to spread along the mountain ridge.

“It’s kind of… a magical feeling.”

“Yes.”

As I watched the sun slowly rise in the sky, I felt a mix of emotions swirling within me.

“Do we get to make a wish?”

“That’s not a shooting star. You gather your thoughts for the New Year while watching that. But if you want to wish, go ahead and do it.”

At my words, Tina clasped her hands together.

“I wish to continue living with Teacher, Iris, Maria, and Ariel just like this! Ah! And to sleep every day in a warm bed, and to eat lots of delicious food every day!”

With Tina’s pure wish as the finale, we spent a while just looking at the rising sun in silence.

*

“The New Year’s celebration is on January 10th. I’m planning to leave in three days.”

I said nonchalantly while eating my soup.

Since I needed to prepare a bunch of things in the capital, I planned to leave early.

“But isn’t it better not to go to such a celebration? I heard it’s just a social game for humans. Since you’re a commoner, won’t you just get ridiculed?”

That was a valid point.

But this was necessary.

If it were up to me, I’d want to attend the New Year’s celebration seven years from now.

By then, the Three Heroes would be strong enough that the Empire wouldn’t dare to touch them.

However, a sudden variable had arisen, so I had to visually confirm whether the scenario could progress as intended.

“I’m going regardless.”

“Um, Teacher, can I come too?”

Iris timidly raised her hand to ask.

“You may come along, but you can’t attend the celebration.”

The Imperial Palace is where the Emperor lives—the one who issued the orders for massacres against the Other Races. There’s no way for them to enter.

“But I’m worried. You’re definitely not someone who deserves to be insulted…”

“I agree with Iris. If they dare insult you, I won’t tolerate it.”

I appreciated the sentiment, but they still couldn’t defeat the entire Royal Knight Order and S-Class Adventurers.

And I wouldn’t be able to see a happy ending by turning the Empire into an enemy.

No matter how strong they were as the world’s strongest beings, they couldn’t handle the entire horde of Demon Tribes.

Like it or not, I needed the Empire’s strength.

I wasn’t expecting to go there for special treatment.

I was simply going to see if the humans I had to connect with were true to the game’s portrayal.

“…Teacher.”

Maria cautiously called out to me.

“What is it?”

“If I, for whatever reason, decide to destroy the Empire… what would you do then?”

“I would stop you.”

I answered without hesitation.

“…Is that so.”

What I hope for is coexistence, not mutual destruction.

After hearing my words, she bit her lower lip and wore a sad expression.

She was probably feeling gloomy at the thought that she might someday have to fight the one who raised her.

Honestly, the kid seems to worry more than I do.

I set down my spoon.

“Don’t worry. The next Emperor will definitely be someone who will welcome the Other Races.”

“Really?”

In the end, everything will return to the right path. Because I understand this world well.

It might take some time, but it will surely get better.

“I will make it happen. So for now, work hard to grow your skills so you can be of help. Let’s witness that moment together.”

Maria’s face lit up in an instant. The gloom that had been weighing her down just a moment ago vanished entirely.

“Yes!”

As I picked up my spoon again, I noticed Tina and Iris were pouting as if they were jealous.

“…What’s wrong?”

“Why does Maria get to say she wants to see you together! What about me, Teacher?!”

“…You’re included too.”

“See? Right, Iris!”

“Uh, yes!”

They seemed sulky that they felt excluded.

“Ah, but Teacher.”

Tina, who had taken the seat beside me, pulled at my clothes. Thanks to that, the spoon I was using to scoop up the soup wobbled and spilled on my hand.

It was a bit hot. No, it was pretty hot.

“Ah!”

Seeing that, Tina hurriedly pulled her hand away from my arm.

It really hurt, but I held it in and wiped it with a handkerchief.

If I didn’t have skills to manage my expression, my face would’ve contorted with pain.

“I-I’m so sorry! I—I didn’t mean to… P-please forgive me! I’m so sorry!”

Still haunted by that trauma, she begged for forgiveness excessively whenever she made a mistake.

This was true for both Tina and Iris, as well as Maria.

They always seemed on guard to avoid making mistakes.

Three months had passed since I’d shown my face to them.

Even so, each time they made an error, it expressed that I hadn’t been angry.

“…It’s fine. What is it you want to say?”

“Um, well… can I join you?”

As I pet her head like any other time, Tina began wriggling her hands, asking.

“…Is that alright?”

I pondered briefly over her words. I understood Tina had a purpose behind her suggestion.

After finishing my contemplation, I decided it wouldn’t be bad to have Tina as a bodyguard too.

Since it was the Imperial New Year’s celebration, many other S-Class Adventurers and famous figures would gather, so danger could lurk.

No matter how much Aura I had, my reaction speed was still that of a commoner.

Moreover, I certainly wouldn’t be allowed to carry weapons entering the Imperial Palace where the celebration was held.

In other words, I would become the weakest presence in that place.

If I took Tina with me, she would undoubtedly prove to be useful.

“Alright then. Tina shall come with me.”

“Yay!”

Tina cheered.

“…Then what should we do while you’re gone?”

Iris asked, licking her lips.

“You’ll stay at the inn near the Imperial Palace. If you come along, I’ll give you money to buy anything you want to eat.”

“W-will we not be able to visit together?”

“I’ve said it again; the Other Races cannot enter the Imperial Palace. Don’t whine.”

Plus, there were plenty of skilled Magicians at the Imperial Palace.

Even if they were disguised, the chances of getting caught were high.

It would be troublesome if I brought them and they ended up being mistaken for assassins.

“Understood. I’m sorry.”

She reluctantly nodded.

Seeing her face lacking in light, even I couldn’t help but feel my heart soften a bit.

“…Since it’s been a while since I’ve been to the capital, I plan to stay for a week. The celebration is just one day.”

Looking toward an empty space, I spoke.

There were no responses, but when I glanced at Iris, she was smiling widely and wagging her tail vigorously.

“Yay!”

Fortunately, it seemed she understood the meaning of my words.

“Why are you being so nice this time, Praus? You could have told me to ‘get lost’ like usual.”

“…Get lost.”

“No way!”

I stared incredulously at her as she provocatively stuck her tongue out.

…Oh come on, act your age, will you?

Grow up at least a few hundred years, damn Ariel.