My Disciples Think I’m Strong

“Is this the real deal?”

Looking at the hologram before me, it seems genuine, but I find it hard to believe.

“You doubt me even when I give it sincerely.”
“But I know the Spirit King’s sword is a weapon created by condensing mana over a long period. Isn’t it too easy for her to simply hand over such a weapon?”

For her to give away a weapon made over a period spanning more than a hundred years, without any compensation, it’s only natural to be skeptical.

“You know that much? Is there anything you don’t know?”
“I know most things. So what’s your real intention behind giving me this?”
“…Aren’t you going to kill the Demon Lord? With those children. I’m merely trying to contribute to that. If what you wanted was a contract with me instead of the sword, I would have refused.”

Aerial spoke nonchalantly. After staring at her for a while, I sheathed the sword.
Good is good, so I decided to accept it for now.

“More importantly, when will you let me talk to Pasma?”
“Wait. Not yet. Once everything is settled, I’ll let you if it’s safe.”
“But wouldn’t it be better for you if Pasma were the one possessing you?”

She didn’t speak falsely.
Even temporarily, I could wield the power rivaling a Sword Master’s.

However, the Revenant skill consumed a considerable amount of energy. In game terms, it felt like my HP was being directly drained rather than MP.
The main reason was that my body wasn’t built to endure Pasma’s possession.

With training, I could perhaps reduce that gap to some extent, but it would take at least a few years of dedicated strength training, if even possible.
That’s why I had intended to give the sword to Tina, but somehow, I ended up being the one using it.

“The possession skill consumes far more energy than you realize. Unless necessary or after my work is done, it’s best not to use it.”
“Tch.”
“Moreover, there are matters I need to handle right now.”

I spoke while observing the wolf carcasses strewn across the ground.
Originally, I hadn’t planned on dealing with the wolves, but having riled up the girls, I couldn’t back down now.

“Dex.”
“Yes… Lord Praus.”

He had deflated upon learning of his inability to grow stronger.
So was I, someone without the power of even an ordinary villager, supposed to commit suicide?

“How many days ago did Duke Aus issue a request for adventurers to investigate the Brihi Forest?”
“It should be about ten days now, I believe.”
“And the adventurers still haven’t gone to investigate?”
“Ah, well. The C-rank vanguard adventurers misjudged the situation and were overwhelmed by the wolves.”
“Is that so?”

It didn’t seem like a level that would overwhelm C-rank adventurers.
Were the three heroes who awakened this time abnormally strong?

“But they were planning to send a new investigation team composed of B-rank adventurers today or tomorrow.”
“I see.”

Huh…? Today or tomorrow?

This could be a problem.
If they sent a B-rank team to investigate and discovered we had arbitrarily dealt with the monsters, they would certainly demand compensation from us.

Those adventurer types would risk their lives for money, so there would be a hundred percent chance of conflict if we didn’t pay them appropriately.

To avoid unnecessary conflict, it seemed I should head to Aus immediately.

“Delma.”
“What?”

I tilted my head at Delma’s far more subdued tone compared to before our departure.

“Are you hurt somewhere?”
“Of course not.”

‘Thank goodness. You’re quite old, so it would be troublesome if you were hurt.’
“Are you already at the age for senility, old man?”
“Who are you calling senile?!”
“Don’t get riled up over nothing. More importantly, can you move the horses now?”
“…The kids are tired too. They need rest. You little brat.”
“We only need to go as far as Aus.”
“Even just going from here to Aus will take hours. It’s not possible.”

If we stayed and the adventurers showed up, it would be problematic.
Should I borrow the children’s strength if necessary?

They were no longer ordinary ten-year-olds.
If we went to the Adventurer’s Guild now, they could immediately be ranked C or B-rank. Perhaps even higher.

‘It’s a pity, when their power is needed…’
“Useless words.”
“You little—!”

I lightly dismissed Delma’s outburst.

While conflict with the adventurers seemed unavoidable, it would be better to brush it off as much as possible.
We did have strong allies and usable tools on our side, so it should be fine.

“Come here, Iris.”
“Ah, yes, sir!”

I patted the space beside me, and Iris carefully sat down. Her tail twitched restlessly, as if she were tense.

“Properly dry your hair. Otherwise, it will smell.”
“Wh, What smell—?!”

Iris’s ears perked up.

“I, I just bathed! I don’t smell!”

She vehemently denied it, lifting her clothes to check her own scent. I silently used a towel to dry her still-damp hair.
Once I had removed enough moisture, I called out to Maria.

“Maria, use wind magic to dry Iris’s hair.”
“Yes, Master!”

Is that your concept? Please tell me it is.

“Master… Is Lord Praus a mage?”

Iris asked as Maria used wind magic to dry her hair.

“She’s just calling me that arbitrarily—”
“Ugh! Praus! Why do you only dote on Iris!”

Tina cut me off in protest. She was on the verge of throwing a tantrum for being left out.

“I’m not doting on you because your hair is already dry.”
“I’ll go rinse it again!”
“There’s no need to wash your hair that often.”

Ignoring my words, I grabbed Tina as she tried to disembark from the carriage. I forcibly pulled her over and made her sit in front of me.

“You’re such a hassle, really.”

I rummaged through a bag and took out a comb. How did I end up managing the children’s hair?

“Your hair is quite damaged. It would be better to trim the damaged parts.”

I combed her hair as gently as possible to prevent further tangling. Everyone watched me with an air of surprise.

“Lord Praus, you didn’t seem like the type to do such things… It’s quite a contrast.”
“From your speech, I thought you had a foul personality. But it seems you do take care of your own people?”
“Hmph. His language is crude, but I suppose he has to do even that for a child’s wellbeing.”
[My friend, your actions are quite tender compared to your speech.]

I know it’s my own fault, but couldn’t they at least compliment me when I show a good side?
It’s making me want to shed tears of sorrow.

“L, L, Lord Praus.”
“…What is it?”

She fidgeted and twisted her fingers, her tail shyly swishing.

“Could you do me too, after Tina is—”
“Alright.”
“R, Really?”
“Yes. Wait a little.”

I spoke as I finished straightening Tina’s hair. Tina happily smiled and swung her legs back and forth, seemingly pleased.

“It’s like my mom used to do.”
“!”

Mom.
While Tina had said it innocently, mentioning parents and family was taboo for Iris and Maria.

A glance showed their expressions had frozen.
Belatedly realizing my gaze, they forced a smile, but the deep sorrow lingering in their eyes couldn’t be erased.

For them, who had lost their families in the massacre, talking about family was enough to trigger severe trauma.

“Tina.”
“Yes?”
“Do you miss your parents?”
“…I do miss them.”

Even if she had been abandoned, even after becoming a hero, longing for her parents was unavoidable.

Not because of her young age, but because she was human.
Just as the saying “blood is thicker than water” implies, familial bonds couldn’t be easily severed.

“But now that Praus is here, it’s okay. I can wear nice clothes, eat lots of tasty food, and not feel lonely when I sleep.”

Hehehe.
The pure, childlike laughter eased the frozen atmosphere.

Iris and Maria also seemed to relax a bit.

“I see.”

I responded as I finished tidying her hair.
After stopping the combing and silently observing Tina, she stood up from her spot.

“Woah, Praus is really good at this? My hair feels better somehow!”
“It didn’t get better.”
“In situations like this, just say it did. Anyway.”
“Still… It will get better from now on.”
“Hehehe!”
“Iris, come here.”

I patted the spot where Tina had been sitting. Iris carefully took a seat.
With her incredibly lush hair, even combing didn’t seem easy. I used my fingers to separate the strands before slowly brushing through with the comb.

Iris made a pleased humming sound at my ministrations.

“This is my first time experiencing this. Heheh.”
“Is that so.”

My tone was indifferent. However, Iris’s tail swished back and forth, indicating she didn’t mind.

“…Lord Praus.”
“Speak.”
“Thank you for taking me in.”
“…I only took you in to use you.”
“Even so, if you had left me there, I would have died on the spot.”

Iris’s tone was quite firm, but the emotion infused in her voice made it clear to anyone listening that she was sincere.
After tidying her lush hair, I looked down at her swishing tail.

“…Should I do your tail too?”
“Ah, no. That area is a bit sensitive…”

Iris flinched and stood up, hiding her tail. I immediately understood her reaction.
In the game, while a beastkin’s tail wasn’t an erogenous zone, it was described as a sensitive area.

“What about Maria?”
“I’m fine. I’ll go to sleep first.”
“Very well.”

Having clearly drawn the line, she entered the carriage and lay down in her bedroll.

She was simply using me to grow stronger, so she wouldn’t be taken from again by demons or humans and have her precious things taken away.
If she felt I was no longer helpful, she would undoubtedly leave first without hesitation.

Not that I particularly intended to stop her, but I did have a wish for us to get along while we were together.
If we became closer during our time together, she might even end up protecting humans.

“Then let’s start preparing to sleep. I’ll take the first watch.”
“Lord Praus, you took the first watch yesterday. Can I go first today?”
“No.”
“Hmph…”

Brushing off her opinion, I exited the carriage.

“Lord Praus! Lord Praus! They’re here!”
“…Noisy this early in the morning. If it’s the night watch, they should have—”

At Dex’s commotion, I sat up. Taking down the tent and going outside, unsavory-looking people were standing before us.
They all had swords at their waists and lightweight armor for protection.

“So it was you brats who took down the wolf monsters?”

Their arrogant demeanor screamed ‘I’m an adventurer’.
Hearing their conceited tone, I had absolutely no desire to converse with them.

Was this how others felt when talking to me?
Quite the mirror therapy.

“Answer, you brats!”

The adventurer wielding a greatsword shouted. But no one flinched.
If they knew the kind of people present here, they wouldn’t have acted like that.

Anyway, a problem had arisen, and now I had to figure out how to resolve it smoothly.
I wanted to get through this as gently as possible.