My Disciples Think I’m Strong – Chapter 8

“……Lord Praus, what are you doing?”

“I don’t know.”

In the outskirts of the capital.

I was searching for a ring artifact that should be between the cracks of the wall near the Adventurer Guild, based on the information I recorded.

Its name is Sylphy’s Ring.

It’s a ring created by a fairy in the past that contained her spirit, enhancing speed-related stats.

It’s an efficient item for early game play, and the difference between having it and not having it was quite severe.

So, if you’re wondering why it’s wedged between the walls of the capital, well… honestly, I don’t know. It’s all up to the game developers, really. I only found out by reading strategy guides on the internet.

About an hour must have passed since I started looking for the ring.

“Oh, here it is.”

I found the ring, which had lost its sheen due to dust.

[「Sylphy’s Ring」 has been found.]

Does such a thing appear as a hologram? Who cares?

What mattered was that I found the artifact.

Just proving that my information wasn’t wrong made the hour spent digging worthwhile.

I rubbed the ring with a cloth. As the dust gradually cleared, the previously dull gem began to regain its color. I looked down at the subtly glowing green ring with satisfaction.

“Nice.”

I immediately slipped it onto my finger. The size adjusted itself to fit perfectly.

It adjusts to the wearer’s body, huh? I didn’t know items could do that.

Well, in a game, any item can be worn and removed at will.

[「Sylphy’s Ring」 has been equipped.]

[Overall speed stat increased by 10%.]

Every time I saw a hologram, it made me feel this world wasn’t so different from a game.

“Hmm.”

I felt lighter.

I mean, my body is still weak, but if I ever had to fight, this item would certainly help. If I can dodge even one or two hits, it’s a win in my book.

“That’s a ring, huh…?”

“Do you want it?”

“W-What? Surely not?!”

Iris jumped in surprise, waving her hands. What’s this, a seizure?

“I’ll give you something better later. Don’t covet this.”

“I-I’m fine. A beastman like me doesn’t need to wear such a thing.”

“Is that so? I actually think it suits you quite well.”

“Huh?”

“I’m going. To the next location.”

There are a total of six artifacts hidden in the capital. I’ve retrieved one, so five more to go.

I’ll collect them all before Tina finishes begging.

*

Tina was sitting in the same spot as the day before, begging.

“Not coming today…”

Considering the thirty minutes she spent talking with Lord Praus in the last two days, it was hardly anything. Yet, Praus had a significant impact on her heart.

It was mostly due to the kindness she’d never experienced before.

‘What could have happened? Or is it because of yesterday’s events?’

She fell into a gloomy mood thinking back to Praus’s words about wanting to take her in.

In fact, as soon as she heard Praus’s words, she wanted to say she wished to go with him.

But she couldn’t fully trust him yet, and she felt like she would be a burden to him, so she had to refuse.

Tina knew that a man who made her beg wouldn’t part with her easily.

‘Will I never see him again… I don’t want that…’

Just as she bowed her head tightly while holding onto her clothes, a sudden bang!

A kick sent her bowl flying.

It soared onto the road and was crushed beneath the wheels of a carriage.

“Ah…”

Tina sighed at the sight of the wrecked bowl.

‘If I lose the bowl, I’ll get beaten up badly…’

“Damn it. These beggars are everywhere!”

Tina lifted her head at the sudden insult.

Boys in clean clothes entered her view.

‘Ah, this is normal… That guy was the weird one. But…’

Having already tasted kindness, she couldn’t forget Praus.

“What’s wrong, orphan brat without parents?”

“Pfft! You’re the one being harsher!”

“Ugh, it stinks so bad I can’t stand it. Hey! Get lost, bitch!”

“I-I’m sorry!”

She apologized, but she couldn’t move.

She had lost her bowl, and she knew she’d get beaten if she left without money too.

Thunk!

Something hit her head and bounced off. It was a rock.

“Ouch!”

Tina couldn’t hold back her groans from the sharp pain. Her eyes started to tremble.

“Get lost! You stink!”

Thunk! Thunk!

What began as small stones grew increasingly worse. With every hit, she couldn’t bear the incredible pain and cried out.

‘Why do I have to live like this…?’

Tina shed tears, unsure whether they were from the pain of the stones or the lament of her miserable life, longing for one person.

‘Help me… Mr.!’

*

“What is this?”

“Clean off the rust and sharpen the dull blade. Restore the broken sword to its previous state. Can you do that?”

I set down two artifacts in front of the blacksmith owner.

Both were sword-shaped artifacts.

They were weapons that Iris and Tina would use at the beginning.

One was the best defensive weapon early on, while the other was the best offensive weapon.

“It’s possible, but your tone is quite irritating.”

Our eyes met.

Did I just feel an indiscriminate killing intent? He flinched and pulled his hands away from the counter.

“Who the hell are you?”

‘What I said was meant to be softened. Is that not good enough for you?’

“What? Are you some street punk?”

Oh damn.

Shut your mouth, will you? Just think! Only think!

“What’s going on?!”

“I’ll pay you.”

“What kind of kid are you to order me around?!”

Clink.

I dropped some gold coins. The owner’s eyes widened as he stared at me.

“Can you do it?”

“Dropping gold for repairs? Now that’s crazy.”

It was indeed a waste of gold.

Finding the third hero would cost a lot.

But these two swords are artifacts.

There were no comparable weapons early in the game. If I could revive them for just one gold coin, it would be worth the investment.

“So, will you do it?”

“Your tone is rude, and that stare is quite bothersome, but if you pay double, I can’t refuse.”

It seems that money rules in this world too. They’ll do it even when the attitude is crap.

“How long will it take?”

“Two days.”

“Alright. I’ll come back for them.”

Without hesitation, I turned away.

There was still one more place to stop by.

The Magic Shop nearby the blacksmith.

It was a shop selling magic scrolls and staves used by wizards.

I opened the wooden door. With a creak, a middle-aged woman’s voice greeted me.

“Welcome. What brings you here?”

Thump.

I placed a gem on the table she was leaning on.

“I’m thinking of embedding a gem into a staff for a magician. Is that possible?”

“This… where did you get this?”

Her voice turned bewildered as she looked at the gem.

Wizards surely see things differently. It’s a relic gem, so it’s understandable she’d be surprised.

The gem I presented her with was called “Archmage’s First Footsteps.”

When used in a staff, it significantly boosts the mana power.

“You don’t need to know. What you should tell me is if you can create a staff embedded with this gem or not.”

I had to struggle a lot just stealing that from a place filled with feral cats. I couldn’t just divulge that information casually.

Still, it did feel a bit wrong to speak informally to an older woman.

“…I see. To say it’s possible, but it will take some time to craft. Are you okay with that?”

“No problem. How much will it cost?”

“I’ll let you know when you come to pick it up.”

I nodded.

‘Trusting someone else with a relic feels a bit risky, but I have no choice since I lack crafting skills.’

“And if you run off with that, I’ll scour the entire Fishis continent to find you and kill you.”

What am I even saying to someone who looks undeniably stronger than me!

“It’s like the Royal Knight Order… No, even more than that. You have the kind of aura only S-Class Adventurers are supposed to have.”

I felt a bit intimidated, but he looked straight at me as he spoke.

S-Class Adventurers.

In terms of actual power, they were superior to the Royal Knight Order, possessing strength rivaling that of heroes.

Only seven such beings existed on the Fishis continent with such great power.

Comparing yourself to them only made me feel foolish.

“Who the hell are you? Are you the eighth S-Class Adventurer?”

“I don’t know.”

“…Adventurers are all like this, it’s disgusting. Anyway, I’ll make sure to craft this well. Don’t worry and come back in about a week.”

“I’ll do that.”

Without hesitation, I turned away again.

After leaving the Magic Shop, I looked up at the sky.

Now that I think about it, there should be an S-Class Adventurer in the Pretéum Empire at this time.

I hope I don’t run into them, but it’s inevitable to encounter an S-Class Adventurer.

That fellow will participate in the upcoming slave auction.

So, I need to prepare for that.

I glanced at the artifact items I had earned after rummaging through trash dumps and dipping my hands into sewers.

A sparkling blue ice crystal and a mysterious violet gem exuding an uncanny energy.

“Lord Praus, what is that stone for?”

“I don’t know.”

“Yes…”

Iris’s fox ears drooped. She seemed disappointed that I wasn’t sharing anything. I could understand why she might feel irritated, given my constant “I don’t know” responses.

“Iris, go back to the inn for now.”

“Huh? Why the sudden order?”

I was planning to chase after Tina from now on.

I couldn’t bring her to a place where a fight might break out.

“You’d just get in the way.”

“Is, is that so… I really am no help—”

“It’s because you’re still young. I’ll make sure you become more helpful over time, so just go back.”

“Understood.”

Reluctantly, she turned to leave.

I put the artifacts in my pocket and drew my sword. Hopefully, there wouldn’t be any need to use it.

*

As the sun began to set.

“Ugh… it hurts…”

Tina, having been pelted with stones, was making her way back to the slums with great effort. In her hand was the completely crushed steel bowl.

Thunk! Thunk!

“Ugh! Please! I’m sorry! I’m sorry!”

“Do you think the food you eat just drops from the sky?!”

From the crumbling shack, screams echoed.

Tina squeezed her eyes shut at the sound of a thug beating up another kid.

‘Ah… I don’t want to go in.’

But Tina had no choice.

With the increasingly cold weather, she risked freezing to death if she tried to sleep outside in her thin clothes, and she could only imagine how badly she’d be beaten if she didn’t come home.

A child fled from the house.

“Get out, you brat!”

A man who was blocking the doorway shouted as he turned to see Tina hesitating in front of the house.

“Oh, Tina. You managed to get two silver coins over the past few days. Let’s see how much you earned today.”

Tina squeezed her eyes shut and opened them again. Trying to calm her trembling body, she spoke.

“I’m sorry… I didn’t earn anything today.”

“Where’s the bowl?”

“It got crushed. I’m sorry.”

“What? Crushed?”

At the thug’s menacing tone, Tina’s body instinctively shrank back.

“Look up.”

At his command, Tina slowly raised her head.

Smack!

Her head whipped back as it collided with the dirt ground.

“Ugh!”

Tina’s cheek burned red. With a busted lip, she tasted blood in her mouth.

“You damn brat! I told you if you lost the bowl, I’d kill you!”

Thunk! Thunk!

He began to kick her. Though Tina curled up like a worm, she couldn’t withstand the strength of an adult man.

“Ahh! Ugh!”

‘It hurts… Please, save me… Mr., please…’

“That’s enough!”

“What now— Huh?!”

With tear-filled eyes, someone slowly walked towards her.

A familiar silhouette stepped forward, face set in a grim expression, without hesitation.

Then, a black-haired man drew his sword.

“It’s been a while since I’ve been made this angry.”

An immense killing intent began to emanate from him.

Tina looked at him and thought he resembled a hero from the fairy tales she’d seen before being abandoned by her parents.

With relief washing over her, her spirit reignited.

“Who the hell are you?!”

“I don’t need to know that.”

“What?”

“What you need to know is that from now on, I’m going to kill you.”

The power of wind began to gather around his body.