My Disciples Think I’m Strong – Chapter 96

In the end, the noble meeting was disrupted because Chris couldn’t hold back his anger.

“Let’s reconvene later,” Chris said as he stormed out of the room.

Nobles began to follow Chris one by one. They were all either his loyalists or nobles eager to join his ranks.

Those who belonged to Chris’s faction but didn’t move were Duke Todiah, Duke Rexton, and Count Hostis.

Actually, Count Hostis couldn’t leave due to Rexton’s watchful eye.

Among the dukes, only Duke Kalus left the meeting room to follow Chris.

Just before exiting, he shot a disdainful glance at Princess Seri and then left.

He seemed to be seeking opinions from other nobles to solve his current issues but was clearly in a foul mood due to the interruptions.

Although he had swallowed his frustration, he let out a small sigh as the situation settled.

Just as I was trying to catch my breath, Soro suddenly shoved his face in front of me.

“…What is it?”

You surprised me…!

“Fascinating, isn’t it? I should thank His Majesty for sending me here.”

“…Does that mean I don’t have to follow Crown Prince Chris?”

“Hmm~ My job was to ensure Crown Prince Chris’s safety during the noble meeting. There are knights outside in droves, so there’s really no reason for me to go. And I have no interest in a coward who can’t even say a word to his own brother.”

She said nonchalantly while shrugging her shoulders.

Isn’t this what they call being self-centered? Truly impressive business acumen.

“More importantly, I didn’t know Praus was a hero. Now that I think about it, when I returned from my mission, my younger brother showed me an official document. It said a hero defeated a Black Dragon… that was you, wasn’t it? Hmm, I guess that explains the killing intent.”

“…What are you trying to say?”

“Nothing much. I just want to see how strong you really are. If you truly have the capability to kill a Black Dragon, I won’t believe it unless I witness it myself.”

“Sorry, but I have no intention of dueling.”

Even as I said that, my hand was tightly grasping the Revenge Sword. It would be too late to react if I waited for her to make her move.

“Your words say one thing, but it seems your body disagrees.”

Soro glanced at my hand and chuckled, nodding repeatedly.

“Your expression and demeanor are calm, yet your personality seems rather combative?”

“…”

“Don’t worry. I’m not asking you to fight right now. Anyway, now that you’re on Princess Seri’s side, like it or not, you’ll eventually have to confront me, or ‘us’ someday. We can fight then; it won’t be too late.”

After patting my arm, she walked towards the exit. Just before crossing the threshold, she paused and looked back at me.

“Oh, but I’ll remember your name. Hero, Praus. If we end up fighting later, don’t disappoint me, okay?”

With those words, Soro closed the door behind her as she left the meeting room.

I slowly released the grip on my sword while listening to the sound of her footsteps fading away.

[That woman… is strong.]

I sighed at Pasma’s remark, almost inaudibly.

“…How strong?”

[To assess accurately, I would need to cross swords with her, but I might lose.]

Considering Pasma’s proficiency in martial arts, he probably wasn’t mistaken.

In the game, Soro supposedly received a rating as the strongest among S-Class when she went all out.

Thinking back, how many times had I almost died at the hands of Soro and Ter during the Resistance episode? It was truly…

“Princess Seri.”

As silence fell in the meeting room, Rexton called out to Seri, as if he was waiting for this moment.

“Yes, Duke Rexton.”

“I would like to discuss the matter concerning corruption in private. Is that alright?”

“I have no objections. Let’s go right away.”

Seri stood up from her seat.

“Wait a moment.”

A strange voice interrupted.

Despite being in this world for nearly three years, this voice sounded surprisingly unfamiliar.

When I turned my head, a man with golden hair, just like Seri’s, approached.

It was Second Prince Altero.

If Chris had a sharp impression, Altero had a gentle and rounded one.

However, like any member of the royal bloodline, he harbored similarly greedy tendencies as Chris inside.

Behind him, the Third and Fourth Princes stood awkwardly, seeming to have decided to cooperate as princes do in games.

“What’s the matter, Brother Altero?”

“Um… why did you suddenly tell Brother Chris that you wanted to be Emperor? Even without such a declaration, if you talked among brothers, it would have sufficed…”

“If we had talked, what would have changed?”

Seemed amused, Seri turned the questioning back on Altero, leaving the other princes speechless.

They knew Chris’s nature better than anyone and thus couldn’t respond.

“If someone had listened to me, I wouldn’t be locked away and monitored 24/7, and I wouldn’t be engaged against my will.”

Glair, seemingly feeling guilty, turned his head towards the wall. He moistens his drying lips, revealing his anxiousness.

“While that’s true…”

If you think about it, this all stemmed from Emperor Lupin’s issue.

By granting excessive powers and letting them be abused since their childish days, there was no way of correcting it now.

Human greed is insatiable. If they could demand more, they certainly wouldn’t voluntarily relinquish their rights.

And the princes before me were no different.

“Anyway… I was wondering if we could have a chat after a long time. What do you think?”

“If you’re going to suggest an alliance, then please stop. I already mentioned this to the most eligible heir, Brother Chris, but it applies to the other brothers as well.”

If the Crown Prince were to suddenly die or encounter an unexpected incident, the next in line would be Second Prince Altero.

So, for the youngest, Seri had to prove herself far superior to anyone else in order to ascend the throne while also eliminating all the princes.

No matter how talentless they may be, they wouldn’t give a chance to a female emperor like her.

“I consider all my brothers ‘enemies.’”

At her words, the nobles in Second Prince Altero’s faction visibly tensed up.

“What… what are you planning to do all by yourself? What’s Praus going to do?”

“I can, you know. He’s a hero, after all. There was only one time the empire faced a crisis of collapse. If you studied imperial history, you would know that.”

The scenario when the empire almost faced destruction.

That was during the first Demon War.

Fortunately, the neighboring ‘Pharaoh Kingdom’, which had a vast border with the Demon World, acted as a barrier, delaying the time for the first hero to grow stronger.

Even though he managed to defeat the Demon King after much difficulty, it’s a clear fact that the empire had suffered immense damage.

Had it not been for the Pharaoh Kingdom, the empire would have long been destroyed or absorbed by the deeply entrenched Aioum Kingdom.

“When another Demon War breaks out, it’s evident that an empire without a hero will stand no chance. Can you really say that to Praus?”

They seemed somewhat convinced, pursing their lips and glancing at Seri before suddenly pointing at me.

“Do you really trust Praus? A hero… right. I acknowledge the strength he possesses that we cannot act against. But take Praus out of the equation, and what do you have left? Do you think Praus will take responsibility for your life until the end?”

Hey, wait a minute. Don’t ask that kind of question.

I involved her to ensure smooth proceedings, intending to protect her from dying and to make her Empress by any means necessary.

However, taking responsibility for her life until the end was a separate matter.

If I were responsible for her life forever, that would mean sticking by the Emperor’s side for life.

That was a burden I never wanted to take on.

“Well, it’s hard to say. Since you tend to keep your emotions hidden, I’m not quite sure…”

Just a glance is enough to tell.

This woman is expecting something from me. Her gaze was downright peculiar.

“You have ‘utilitarian value’ to me, don’t you? Then, at least until that value dissipates, will you ensure my safety?”

Her eyes, which had narrowed slightly, now formed a perfect curve.

What a terrifying woman.

To not only see through my intentions accurately but to aim to exploit that very fact.

By accepting that I approached her to use her, she had captured my ‘weakness’ that I would have to stay by her side until her value was intact.

“That means Praus is using you. How dare a commoner disregard the royal family?!”

What is she even trying to achieve now?

This wasn’t some bold stance; it was just repulsive.

Now that she was in a disadvantaged position, she was resorting to the unfounded claims of her status, which was simply ridiculous.

I completely understood why the princes had minimal dialogue and were frequently killed with no resistance in the game.

These guys were more serious than Chris.

“What exactly did you just say to Praus—”

“When a deal is on the table, social status doesn’t matter.”

Rexton, who had been listening quietly, finally spoke up. Seri shot him an incredulous look, maintaining the creases on her face.

“What matters is whether the trading partner presents enticing offerings.”

“D-Duke Rexton…”

“Princess Seri needs Praus’s strength to expand her influence, and for whatever reason, Praus needs the assistance of Princess Seri. The two of them have struck a deal. The third party has no reason to interfere. Stay out of it.”

Well said. Thank you for such an accurate statement.

You’re the best. Now, kindly join our ranks.

“Praus, I also have something I want to discuss with you, so follow me to a private room.”

“…Hmm! Coincidentally, I feel the same way.”

Glair cleared his throat, interjecting.

“Is it really necessary to go to a private room, Economi?”

“…That’s true.”

Rexton seemed to realize something from Glair’s words and nodded.

“I would appreciate it if those who are not part of the discussion could leave. Oh, but before that, Princess Seri, is there another noble who has committed corruption?”

“There is.”

Her response was delivered with a sense of casual normality that prompted Rexton to take off his glasses and press his temples.

“Damn…”

To Rexton, money equated to trust.

Even a small sum taken without his permission could lead to an instantaneous demise.

He was not merely stingy; he was a cunning businessman.

However, he wasn’t an entirely immoral person who merely exploited others.

He worked diligently and was willing to grant ample trust to anyone who brought him monetary gain, thus receiving numerous benefits the closer their relationship grew.

No wonder nobles were eager to join Rexton’s faction.

In the end, money was paramount.

“Who is it? I’d like to detain them right here.”

“Isn’t that not how trading operates, Duke Rexton?”

Seri’s playfulness drew a chuckle from Rexton.

“…Hah, you’ve made a clever snake in just two months. Praus.”

‘That’s not a statement you should be saying.’

“Are you the only one to benefit?”

Seriously, is being rude the highest moral in this world? It’s the most useless highest moral, but still.

“Your rudeness remains unchanged over time. But unlike your words, your actions are quite earnest.”

…Is that so?

“Alright. Princess Seri, what do you intend to offer in exchange for that information?”

His expression turned icy cold. There was no hint of any emotion, looking unmistakably drab.

Having experienced countless negotiations, once he decided to strike a deal, he became more calculative than anyone else.

His experience and intuition warned him of the potential dangers in the trading landscape.

Seri smiled as she looked at me.

‘This really turned out just as you wanted it,’ it seemed to convey.

Just like her reaction, I had calculated this as well.

I anticipated that mentioning corruption would garner Rexton’s interest, and I had confidence he would press for further details.

After all, this issue was something anyone would be drawn to.

Alright, the stage is set.

The Crown Prince would have no choice but to make a decision.

Whether to keep the corrupt nobles by his side or discard them.

If he chose to keep them, he would lose Rexton, but if he let them go, he’d have to let the nobles go, too.

Whichever way he turns, his influence would dwindle.

Once his gradually stripped power crumbles down, it would eventually fall apart like a sandcastle.

Why, you may ask?

Because I will make it so.