My Disciples Think I’m Strong – Chapter 82

“Praus!”

Urka suddenly jumped onto my back.

I grabbed her arms that were wrapped around my neck. I tried to shake her off, but her strength made it impossible. How did such power come from these thin arms?

“What are you holding onto?”

“I came to see you.”

“No. I came to meet Duke Tori.”

I planned to join Princess Seri’s faction and ask him to support her.

While I had the power, I knew nothing about noble politics, so I needed someone to navigate it for me. Additionally, I was also looking for someone to teach her about running the country, for she knew nothing at all.

“Can’t you just admit it?”

She tightened her embrace even more. I bit my lower lip at the intense presence I could feel on my back.

“No.”

“Hmph. For someone who says that, you’re actually happy, right? You’re not using any strength and you’re not resisting.”

That was simply because my body was weak.

The only reason I was able to take down reckless challenges until now was due to the power of artifacts, not because I was strong.

I was still weak.

“I’m just glad to see you after a long time.”

“Get off my chest. It’s getting bigger.”

“No. Let go.”

She wrapped her legs around my waist while staying on my back.

Though Urka’s body was light enough that I didn’t stumble, I needed to get her off somehow.

Otherwise, it was truly going to be dangerous. In a different sense.

“If you don’t like it, try to throw me off then? Hehe.”

“…Do you want to do that over the age of thirty?”

“Hey! What does being over thirty have to do with hugging someone after a long time?!”

Who has hugged someone after such a long time like this?

“I’m telling you not to show off with the others watching.”

“Hmm~ Are you feeling shy? You’re so strong but weak towards kids?”

“I’m just saying that the outfit you’re wearing looks mentally unhealthy for the kids.”

Despite the weather getting quite chilly, her outfit was still revealing.

She wore a form-fitting uniform that accentuated her chest, while below, she had on spats.

“Hehe, you’re a bit bashful, aren’t you?”

“You should be a little embarrassed. Aren’t you cold wearing that?”

“We Beastmen have skin that can maintain warmth even without much clothing.”

Now that I think about it, Iris also refused to wear an outer garment. She said it was too hot if she wore too many layers.

“And if I wear too much, it makes me sluggish, so I dislike it.”

I had no interest either way.

“Oh, really? So when are you going to come down?”

“I’m not coming down!”

“…Come down before you make me angry.”

“Hmph. I don’t want to~”

What the heck am I doing at thirty-two years old…
No matter how long the Beastmen live, having lived with humans, they should be maturing.

Is she doing this on purpose?

“Urka, should you stop climbing down?”

“…Is that you, Iris? You seem to have gotten stronger in the meantime.”

Unlike when she was teasing me, Urka’s voice became serious. Iris shyly scratched her cheek.

“Oh, yes. I’ve learned a lot with my Teacher always ahead of me!”

“Now I can’t go easy on you in our fights anymore, can I?”

Urka, who squinted her eyes and stared sharply at Iris, finally got off my back. Landing lightly on the ground, she turned to look at Tina and Maria behind her.

“…I guess kids raised under monsters become monsters too~?”

She seemed a bit flustered, tapping her chin with her index finger and licking her lips. I adjusted my clothing, looking at the Heroes.

“They’ll become stronger than me.”

Though I casually referred to them as my students, they were Heroes.

There was no way I could be a teacher to them, who should be the strongest in this world.

“Well, who knows? They say you dealt with the Black Dragon easily recently?”

“It wasn’t easy.”

“I heard you dealt with it in just three strikes?”

“…That’s true.”

I couldn’t deny what was stated in the documents.

“Justin, you’re strong, Praus. More than that damn Ella.”

She muttered with a complex expression.

“Speaking of which, Praus.”

“What is it?”

“Did you perhaps go easy on me when we fought? Like, to match my level?”

“…Does it even matter?”

“It does. The reason I’ve survived while protecting my rights is my ‘strength’.”

“I acknowledge your skills, Urka. No matter what anyone says, you are strong.”

It wasn’t just empty words.

She truly was strong.

It was true that she fell short compared to the Heroes, but she was undoubtedly one of the few who could stand against the Demon Tribe in this world.

“Praus is doing all the comforting. Is the sun rising from the west today? Haha.”

“…That’s right. You don’t need any comfort, do you? I shouldn’t have bothered.”

I said bluntly and turned to walk away. Just as I was about to pass her and enter the Duke’s residence, my wrist got grabbed.

“Still, I can’t defeat the Black Dragon. Let alone face a Legion Commander. No matter how much of an S-Class Adventurer I am.”

A Legion Commander, huh…

I had thought about it before when I met Urka, but it was a foregone conclusion that she would die during the Demon War.

She would die to the number four ranked ‘Creator Demon’ coming from the southwest.

Though it wouldn’t be an overwhelming defeat, the reality was that she would die without overcoming the Legion Commander.

However, thanks to her buying time against that demon, Iris, who arrived a beat later, succeeded in saving Duke Tori.

This situation mirrored Urka’s death from the game.

So I thought to twist fate to ensure she wouldn’t die until Iris arrived.

“Urka.”

“Yes?”

“Accelerate to your extreme limit. You can be faster than this.”

“What…?”

She could awaken to another level before facing death, not at the time of dying during the Demon War.

It’s absurd.

Awakening just before death, then unleashing a full-power strike, and then dying.

Such scenes may create a dramatic twist, leaving a lingering effect on many people.

But ultimately, those involved face death and grief.

Isn’t there that famous saying?

From a distance, it’s a comedy, but up close, it’s a tragedy.

I can’t turn a blind eye to the tragedies happening right next to me.

“Grow. Just because you’re an S-Class Adventurer doesn’t mean it’s the end.”

I lightly tapped the back of Urka’s hand that gripped my wrist.

That much would be sufficient to allow her to grow.

Her competitive spirit is a talent different from others.

I gently pulled my hand away and faced the butler standing at the Duke’s Residence door.

“Good to see you, Lord Praus. I was informed you wish to meet Duke Tori.”

“Where is Duke Tori?”

“He is in the reception room. You should be able to head there directly.”

“Okay. Show me—”

“Praus!!”

Crash!

I was suddenly knocked over by Urka running at me.

As I clumsily fell, I only managed to look up at the pink-haired catgirl riding on my back.

“What, what are you doing?”

“Urka, that won’t do—”

Ignoring the butler’s words, Urka exclaimed with an excited face.

“Of course, I want to be your student!”

“…What?”

I heard a gasp from behind at Urka’s declaration.

Casting a quick glance back, I saw the Heroes’ eyes bulging in surprise at her sudden announcement.

“I heard that your other students trained for a week and improved that much, and I was impressed.”

“That’s just their talent—”

“Sure it is!”

She exclaimed, thrusting her face forward. Would you just listen without interrupting, you annoying cat?

“But you said, Praus, that I can become faster.”

“That…”

“No one has ever told me such a thing. Everyone only admired my movements.”

I only knew that you could reach a higher level, having seen it in the game.

But that was all I knew.

I knew she hadn’t reached her limit yet and that she could move much faster while unleashing a finishing move just before her death.

There was nothing I could teach Urka to the extent that she’d need to become my student. I knew nothing.

After all, she was always just an ‘extra.’

There was infinitely less information on her compared to the Heroes.

There weren’t many episodes involving her, nor is it common to have much narrative on extras that meet a tragic end.

“All I can offer is advice. It’s the same for those kids too. I haven’t done anything. Just reduced their trial and error a bit—”

“That’s enough for me.”

Her lips were close. Get away from me.

[Doesn’t it seem like Praus is meddling unnecessarily?]

“I think so too…”

I fully agreed with Pasma’s remark.

What should I do with this reckless woman who only rushes in without thinking…?

“Urka, please get off your teacher.”

“Come down now.”

Tina and Maria grabbed Urka’s shoulders. They looked like they couldn’t stand watching any longer.

“But if Praus isn’t resisting at all? If he really didn’t want it, he’d have thrown me off!”

That’s because I don’t have the strength to do it.

Of course, aside from that, to be honest, having such events happen to me made my heart race.

If it were just Urka and I alone here, and the atmosphere turned romantic, I wouldn’t resist.

I’d embrace her without hesitation.

I still think I want to marry an ordinary woman and live a safe life, but ‘sex = marriage’ isn’t exactly true.

A little scummy, I suppose.

“Anyway, get down. Before I physically drag you off.”

Urka’s gaze sharpened as Maria glared at her.

“Oh? Want to try me?”

Urka’s hand slipped inside her uniform. Maria gathered the energy of the wind in her hand.

Honestly, I wanted to see the current difference between S-Class and the Heroes, but since I had a primary goal, I couldn’t waste time here.

“Stop. Urka, you’ve played around enough, so come down now.”

Moreover, I really felt like I could stand up.

With her dressing so provocatively and being up there, what guy wouldn’t get excited?

Struggling to get up, she seemed to decide that it was time to stop fooling around and willingly got off. The Heroes also relaxed their shoulders.

“Lord Praus, are you alright?”

“…I’m fine.”

Iris took my hand and helped me up.

“Urka, even if you don’t become my student, I’ll give you advice. Don’t worry. Come over once in a while when you have free time. I’ll take care of you then.”

So please don’t bump into me like this. My body can’t take it anymore.

My body is already sore. I’m not even in my twenties anymore!

“Really?”

“Yeah.”

Since we decided to change the story, it wouldn’t be bad to tweak it to the ending I want to see.

“Alright. So what do we do first?”

“I have business with Duke Tori, so behave yourself.”

“Got it!”

…I’m sorry for saying something hurtful.

I silently chuckled to myself.