My Disciples Think I’m Strong – Chapter 9

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

Huh…? Kill? Me, that person?

Sure, I was angry after seeing Tina get hit, but I never thought of killing anyone! I don’t want to become a murderer!

Of course, I did think that I wanted to smack the guy who was beating up the kids.

Anyway, words slipped out before I could stop them, and with tears welling up, I had no choice but to move.

I took a step closer to him.

“Don’t come any closer!”

The man shouted as he drew his sword.

His hand gripping the sword trembled. His legs were slightly shaking too.

Seeing his reaction, it felt like my killing intent had made him flinch.

If it stays like this, I might be able to lead the fight to my advantage.

‘Stay still. That way, I can either knock him out or do something else.’

“Stay still. I’ll slice your neck.”

Damn. The one who needs to stay still is your mouth.

I pointed my sword at him, measuring the distance.

“Do I look like a fool who will just offer my neck?!”

The man overcame my killing intent and charged at me. He was leaning forward in a bizarre manner.

Hey! Hey! Don’t overdo it! Stay right there!

While I hesitated, the man quickly closed the distance between us. In an instant, he was almost upon me.

Ah, seriously. I’ve hardly been in a fight, let alone a swordfight…

Before I knew it, he was already making a slashing motion in front of me.

Considering this situation, I have to trust the effect of Sylphy’s Ring and dodge while looking for a counter.

Just as I thought that and tried to change my stance, his foot caught on a rock. He lost his balance and began to fall forward with his sword.

Thud!

My sword pierced the man’s neck precisely.

“Cough! You bastard…! Cough!”

His face twisted in pain as blood surged from his mouth.

After several choking sounds, his eyes rolled back, and he fell dead.

What the hell is this?

How can he just run his neck onto the sword by himself!

Thinking to at least retrieve my sword, I grabbed his shoulder and pulled it out. Blood gushed from his throat.

Looking down at the man who crumpled lifelessly to the ground, there was no sign of life left in him.

“Ahhh!!”

The children, who had been stunned by the sudden situation, finally screamed.

As their screams echoed through the slums, more people began to gather.

“What’s going on?! What happened?!”

“It’s murder!”

‘Hey, I’m not guilty! That guy came at me and got stabbed!’

“He was worthless. Died without even getting a hit in on me, not moving an inch.”

Please! Don’t say anything that could cause misunderstandings!

My head felt like it was going to explode!

I looked at the blood on my sword and wiped it on the ground. I couldn’t just put it back in the sheath.

The best option would be to clean it before sheathing it, but with everyone watching, leaving the sword out didn’t seem wise.

I sheathed my sword and looked around.

Everyone had faces filled with fear. Except for one person.

“Impressive…”

Tina looked on with bright eyes, marveling at me. As she stood up, she stumbled toward me.

“W-was that your intention?”

“What do you mean?”

“You aimed for his neck just as he approached, as if you knew he would stab himself…”

No. Not at all. I had no clue.

If I could have anticipated that, I wouldn’t just be the nobody I am.

“It’s a misunderstanding.”

“Are you hiding something, mister?”

“I’m not a mister.”

Come on, calling a nineteen-year-old a “mister” is too much.

In this world, nineteen is just hitting adulthood.

“So, what should I call you?”

“Call me Praus.”

“Is that your name?”

“Yeah.”

“Then… Praus.”

Have the honorifics gone to waste?

…That’s not something I should be saying.

“What is it?”

“Anyway, thank you for saving me.”

“I just found you annoying while walking by.”

“Found me annoying…? Someone like you wouldn’t just be wandering into slums.”

She smiled slyly.

I awkwardly averted my gaze.

Tina tugged at her clothes as if to show me. I glanced at her. She had a slightly troubled look on her face.

“Now that I’ve lost my person to leech off, what should I do?”

“Why are you asking me?”

“Is your offer to take me in still valid?”

“…Of course. I tend to keep my word.”

I really hope she comes with me. I didn’t want to keep causing trouble because of Tina anymore.

“Are you planning to do anything to me?”

“I have no interest in kids. Don’t worry.”

“Okay.”

But before I leave, it feels like I need to tidy up a bit.

I can’t just leave a corpse here. With everyone looking, I couldn’t just run away either.

Even in a medieval setting, murder shouldn’t be allowed.

Just as a weird sense of guilt began to bubble up…

Suddenly, I heard a rustling sound from behind me.

Figures in golden armor appeared; the Royal Knight Order.

They must have been patrolling nearby when they heard the screams and came here.

“What’s going on here?”

“Anyone can explain. Speak up.”

No one responded to the knights. They didn’t want to say anything rash.

Everyone was shrinking under the knights’ gazes… No, why are you all looking at me?

“It’s you. You killed this man!”

‘Ah, well, that’s true. But there’s a context!’

“…Right. But he was trash who deserved to die.”

I wanted to pull my hair out in frustration internally.

I felt like I was going to explode from the filtering that wasn’t going my way.

“Hey, you with the black hair! Do you realize that murdering someone outside of an official duel arena is a crime?”

“What if I didn’t?”

I turned to face the knights squarely.

As soon as my gaze met two of the knights, they drew their weapons simultaneously.

“Put away your killing intent! Or I’ll execute you on the spot!”

The knights warned me.

Oh great… it’s tangled up more.

What does killing intent feel like for everyone to act this way when they look at me?

*

‘This guy is dangerous.’

That’s what the knights thought.

In an instant, the aura they felt from him was akin to what they’d seen when the Knight Commander was giving it his all.

It felt like standing before a massive wall, and the thought that they could end up like the corpses on the ground was deeply ingrained, leading them to be wary of Praus.

“Phew… Who are you, exactly?”

In normal circumstances, they should have been casual, but the knight decided to tread softly around Praus.

“…I’m just an ordinary commoner.”

“An ordinary commoner who can land a fatal blow on an apprentice knight with one strike?”

‘Huh? Defeat an apprentice knight?’

Confusion washed over Praus’s mind.

The name of the dead man was Dink.

He was a man who once tried to beat up several apprentice knights and was known to have quite a notorious reputation in the back alleys.

He had served his time in prison and had been living as a punk in the slums, but he was still known among the knights as a powerful individual.

‘He must have received professional training. Just the aura he showed a moment ago was far from ordinary. He’s definitely hiding his strength.’

“Well, anyway… no matter the reasoning, murder is murder. Even if the victim had a past of killing, you still have to face the authorities after ending someone’s life.”

“That’s true. Understood. I will comply with the investigation.”

Praus thought it was something he couldn’t avoid.

Whether he intended it or not, murder was murder. The punishment would be severe.

Thanks to his Expression Management Skill, he showed no emotional turmoil, but secretly felt guilty.

Just as he was about to be taken away…

“Wait!”

Tina intervened.

“Can I go with you too?”

“Who are you?”

“I’m the one who was saved by Praus.”

“Saved? …Alright, just come along.”

The knight spoke dismissively and sheathed his sword.

*

The interrogation room of the Royal Knight Order.

A dark and oppressive place where torture devices were present right next to it.

In that room, Praus was bound and undergoing questioning.

“So, what you’re saying is… you were just standing there with your sword out, and he came and stabbed himself on it?”

“That’s right. I had no intention of killing that man.”

Bang!

Utop, the knight interrogating him, slammed his hand down on the table at Praus’s confident demeanor.

“Does that make any sense?! That guy defeated several apprentice knights! You’re telling me he just stabbed himself! Give me something believable!”

“But that’s the truth.”

“Ah, this is driving me crazy. Really. Then what was the reason for the fight?”

“To save a child. Again, I must say I had no intention to kill him.”

“Even if you say it was to save a child, you drew your sword, so it can only be interpreted as having the intention to kill.”

“…What a damned situation.”

It really is a damned situation.

Praus felt wronged. He truly had no thoughts of killing.

He might have briefly thought about just killing the guy out of frustration, but his rationality was fully functioning.

He only had the good intention of stopping him from harming the kids further, and to be pushed into this situation was infuriating.

“So, what will happen to me now?”

“It’s one of two things. Either you go to jail and serve your time, or you pay a fine. Even if you go to jail, considering the victim was a convict, it won’t be for long.”

“How much would the fine be?”

“Fifty gold coins. Including the costs for cleaning up the scene.”

‘How’s that? Fifty gold coins? They’re definitely going to argue this is unreasonable!’

Fifty gold coins.

If Praus could have changed his expression, he would have been gaping and laughing hollowly.

But at the same time, he understood it.

Murder was definitely a crime, no matter the circumstances, so he had no arguments.

‘You can’t buy human lives with money…’

When in Rome, do as the Romans do, right?

Praus, knowing he’d have to spend time in prison if he didn’t meet their demands, decided to choose time over money.

What he needed more right now was to collect heroes.

‘This was an unexpected expense, but let’s think of it as a success in bringing Tina along.’

“Understood. I’ll pay with the money I have.”

‘What’s this… are you really paying?’

“…Are you really an ordinary commoner? Fifty gold coins are hard to earn even in half a lifetime for a commoner. Someone who can afford that is no commoner—”

“Better not pry into unnecessary details.”

Utop, facing Praus, took a step back.

Utop felt a chill from the subtle animosity he sensed from Praus’s emotionless face.

“…Alright. We’ll proceed that way.”

*

Knock knock knock.

Utop knocked on the door of the knight commander’s office.

“Knight Utop here. May I come in?”

“Come in.”

At the commander’s words, Utop opened the door and stepped inside. He saluted sharply and walked directly to the desk.

“I heard reports that someone killed Dink.”

The Commander, seated casually, spoke with interest. Utop stood straight and replied.

“Yes, that’s correct.”

“How was it? What was his impression?”

“Not only did he instantly kill Dink, but his unchanging expression in any situation was both a testament to his strength and made it seem like he could handle any scenario.”

The Commander listened with intrigue to Utop’s words.

“Moreover, he seemed to overwhelm the surroundings with an aura similar to yours, and when I considered the nonchalance in him paying fifty gold coins, it makes me wonder if Praus is truly a commoner or perhaps affiliated with the underworld.”

“The underworld, huh… there are indeed many unknown strong players there, so it might not be wrong.”

The Commander nodded along with Utop’s assessment.

“…Ah, is that all you observed?”

“That’s correct.”

“Understood. So that’s the impression you got. Dismissed.”

“Yes. Take care!”

After saluting, he left with a stiff posture. As the door closed, the Commander smiled wryly and stood up.

Slowly, he walked toward the window.

Outside, he saw Praus, released, talking and walking with Tina.

As he watched their figures, the Commander muttered softly.

“Even among knights, there are many who can kill Dink in one strike. But someone who can show a spirit akin to mine is rare. I’ll need to keep an eye on him.”

As he watched the increasingly distant figure of Praus, the Commander’s curiosity quietly ignited.