My Disciples Think I’m Strong – Chapter 69

“……It’s about the Cartroad mining area.”

“!”

A large-scale mining area located along the western border of the Demon World.

There, gold, silver, and various rare minerals were buried, with reserves several times greater than any other mining area.

Rexton was aware of this fact and had intended to investigate the region immediately.

However, it became difficult to approach the mining area, not only because monsters were continuously pouring out but also because a Black Dragon had made its nest there.

“Oh, I thought you were just a simple strong country boy, but it seems you have some information on my side.”

He nodded a few times as if he found this commendable.

“So, what’s the deal with that mining area?”

“I’ll help you establish a mining industry.”

“What? Are you saying that knowing it’s adjacent to the Demon World? The demon tribe could invade at any moment, and the Black Dragon has made it hard to even approach.”

The Black Dragon.

A monster belonging to the Peremus Legion, it was a presence that was burdensome to face alone even for an S-Class adventurer.

Moreover, since that area was close to the Demon World, the Grand Anti-Demon Magic couldn’t be enacted due to the magic interference.

“I’ll take care of that Black Dragon. Other monsters can be easily handled by B-Class or A-Class adventurers, can’t they?”

But Heroes were different.

From the moment they awakened, they became resistant to magic, and each time they fought against a demon tribe, they gained experience and grew stronger.

“Sigh… Praus, while I know you’re strong, don’t let that lead you to recklessness.”

He sighed as if he expected such a reaction. Watching him shake his head side to side was somewhat irritating.

“I know you defeated S-Class adventurers Urka and Inkuro. However, a Black Dragon is on a different level than an S-Class adventurer. It requires organizing a raid to defeat it.”

If he could raid the Black Dragon, how would the other legion commanders and deputy commanders stand a chance?

In terms of hierarchy, there are at least ten demons stronger than the Black Dragon. How could they just individually organize raids every time?

If this were a game, the demons would be sitting still, making them vulnerable to attacks, but this was reality.

When we move, they move too.

As the Heroes grow, so do the demons.

Unless someone like Dex officially declares they’ve reached their growth limit, anyone would inevitably become stronger than they currently are.

“Recklessness… Tsk.”

I marched up to him decisively. The butler attempted to stop me, but Ekonomi gestured him to stand back.

As our gazes crossed over the work desk between us,

“If you can prove that, what will you do?”

“Prove it… hmmm.”

He leisurely stroked his chin and directed his gaze at the Heroes behind me.

“Speaking of which, I heard recently you’ve turned your newly trained disciples into adventurers. Didn’t you say they were all A-Class or above? But don’t tell me, you’re not suggesting sending them to the battlefield?”

“Sorry, but those kids are stronger than I am.”

I wonder who he’s concerned about.

Though they were all thirteen years old, they were already stronger than S-Class adventurers.

I could guarantee that.

The only being in the Empire stronger than them was the Magic Guild Leader.

In fact, the Magic Guild Leader was just one hierarchy above the Heroes, but in terms of magic capacity, the Heroes generally surpassed them.

Moreover, Maria was nurturing all elemental attributes, so in strength, she could potentially be better than the Guild Leader.

Above all, compared to the Magic Guild Leader, who was nearing their growth limit, the Heroes still had a long way to go.

“Eww, how can you be stronger than a teacher? What nonsense.”

“……”

“You dimwit Tina. When that happens, just say you understand. And what do you mean by lying to the teacher?”

Iris hastily called out Tina. In retaliation, Tina raised her voice.

“Who’s the dimwit! The one calling me dimwit is the bigger dimwit?!”

Both of you get quiet, you’re not helping at all.

Maria, watching the bickering from a distance, finally spoke up.

“Now that I think about it, Iris really seems to like the teacher.”

“What, what?”

Iris was rarely flustered. Her previously swaying tail suddenly froze in place.

“It’s just that, nothing special.”

“……I can’t not like someone who gave me hope.”

“Hmm~ I see.”

Maria responded ambiguously.

“Pfft, you guys are amusing. So… you’re strong, then.”

Rexton interrupted the amusing conversation.

“But I don’t particularly enjoy hearing absurd nonsense. So if you plan to catch the Black Dragon—”

“Is Duke Rexton around?”

Before he could finish his sentence, a strangely familiar voice rang out from behind.

His gaze shifted away from me.

Upon following his line of sight and turning around, I saw someone here who shouldn’t be present.

“Princess Ella Todiah…”

A woman with short blue hair with hints of green knocked at the door.

Why is she here?

…No, it makes sense that she would be.

She was one of the S-Class guardians of the border area in Rexton Territory, which is adjacent to the Demon World.

Since Ella had healed the magic beasts with the Purification Stone, there’s no way the royal family would leave her idle.

“Ah…! Praus!”

Recognizing me, Ella hurriedly approached. Before I could react, she closed the gap and looked up at me.

“Why are you here?”

Her eyes shone dauntingly.

“Well, um…”

“I heard you personally came to tell me that you’d deal with the Black Dragon.”

“The Black Dragon, you say?”

He shrugged theatrically. Realizing an unexpected topic came up, she glanced back at me.

“Truly, Lord Praus, you are indeed a powerful individual I recognize. With someone like you, the lesser demon tribe wouldn’t even matter, I can understand it.”

“Right. So that’s why it’s said with confidence.”

“Lord Praus, can I join you in dealing with the Black Dragon?”

“What?”

“I’m curious. With Lord Praus’s power, you could certainly take down the Black Dragon in an instant, right?”

Just how strong does Princess Ella Todiah think I am?

“Of course. The teacher could take down even a dragon as if it were a wild boar.”

But I can’t even catch a wild boar…?

Tina’s enthusiastic remark was nice but let’s not exaggerate or fabricate, okay? Otherwise, expectations just go up unnecessarily.

“Indeed, Lord Praus!”

“Chuckle, chuckle.”

Rexton merely laughed at the story unfolding freely.

Damn. Rexton.

That cunning fellow certainly knew that mentioning the Black Dragon would pique Ella’s interest.

This is really becoming a headache.

What am I supposed to do now that a newcomer is involved, and I’m so weak?

Originally, I intended to handle it using the Heroes without anyone knowing. That was my plan, and that’s why I had them trained all along.

However, if someone else is watching, I’ll inevitably have to deal with the Black Dragon.

In a world where the demon hierarchy places it in the top ten, asking me to kill a top-tier demon is maddening.

“What will you do, Praus?”

“…If I deal with the Black Dragon, what will you give me in return?”

At this point, there’s no more backing out.

I had to scrape together artifacts and take down the Black Dragon somehow.

“If you defeat the Black Dragon, I should at least give you a noble title!”

“That makes sense. If I kill the Black Dragon, I’ll ask His Majesty the Emperor to grant me a baronetcy.”

This is ridiculous.

I’m not doing this for the sake of wanting to become a noble.

“O… Teacher, a noble? Are we becoming nobles?”

“…No. I have no intention of becoming noble.”

“Oh? Opportunities for commoners to become nobles are quite rare. Yet you refuse?”

He looked at me, surprised.

It seemed Rexton thought of me as a greedy person like himself.

“I neither like the position of nobility nor do I want to be used by the royal family in the slightest.”

“I think you’re misunderstanding something. Whether noble or commoner, as long as you’re a citizen of the Empire, you must follow the royal family’s decree. Or will you be forced to be exiled?”

“Exiled? The royal family cannot exile me.”

There are various reasons for this, but the main one is:

“As long as the demon tribe exists, the royal family will be unable to abandon me.”

From the royal family’s perspective, having four people with capabilities stronger than S-Class would be immeasurable, especially during a time when the demon tribe’s influence is growing. It wouldn’t make sense to throw away that kind of manpower.

They are not foolish enough to do that.

Of course, this means if I lose my strength or become useless, they’ll force me out.

However, if we establish the princess as the empress, we could mitigate even that.

“……Such great confidence. I hope that confidence doesn’t turn into arrogance.”

“Don’t worry. I stand here to prove that.”

With the perception of being a strong individual already implanted in him, he knows my words aren’t just absurd nonsense.

So, even though I say such arrogant things now, he cannot deny it.

“So… when you’ve dealt with the Black Dragon, what do you want?”

“How about an engagement with me?”

Rexton was shocked by my abrupt bombshell announcement. I’ve already grown tired of hearing such things, so it’s not unusual for me to be unfazed.

“Wha?! Princess Todiah! That’s…!”

“Forget that.”

An engagement isn’t something just to slip into.

Watching Ella click her tongue in disappointment was quite ridiculous.

He sighed, wiping the sweat from his forehead with a handkerchief.

“Well, anyway, I’ll talk about what I need from you after you defeat the Black Dragon.”

“…Still, at least since you’re a Grand Duke, isn’t it a bit odd to call me ‘you’?”

“…Rexton.”

“You’re still leaving out the ‘Duke.’ Fine, I understand. If you prove that you have the abilities, I won’t raise any objections.”

He wouldn’t care less who increases his wealth, as he doesn’t stick to manners or dignities when it comes to money.

That makes him a person I can use to my advantage.

“I’m looking forward to it. I wonder just how strong Lord Praus really is. Knocking the Knight Commander Conver down in one blow was impressive, but the Black Dragon is a different existence. I hope you don’t end up swallowed by magic like I did.”

“…I’m aware.”

I responded, watching the trepidation that rose on her face.

The Black Dragon was a ‘trauma’ for Ella Todiah.

After all, it was the Black Dragon that infused magic into her.