My Disciples Think I’m Strong

Duke Tori and Urkha were walking from the annex towards the main residence where they lived.

“Urkha, what are you thinking?”

Duke Tori spoke sternly, his tone different from usual. Urkha tilted her head in confusion.

“Huh? I’m not thinking anything. I just want to fight Praus, who defeated Incurou and reached the level of a Sword Master.”
“Not thinking anything, and yet you said that? Giving me the right to do as I please with you. Have you gone mad?”
“It’s not that big a deal.”

Seeing Urkha maintain her nonchalant attitude, he let out a scornful laugh.
“Are you in your right mind saying that?”
“By saying that, it sounds like I’m offering myself as a slave. I told you, not as a slave, just to follow you.”
“That’s exactly what I mean!”

His raised voice was filled with anger. The knights patrolling nearby noticed the commotion and approached.

“Is everything alright, my lord?”
“No, it’s nothing. Leave us.”
“But…”
“I said leave!”

Startled by the Duke’s uncharacteristic agitated behavior, the knights hesitated before hurriedly bowing and leaving.

“Why do you keep a beastkin by your side, my lord?”
“Shh, be quiet. She’ll hear.”

The knights scurried away as if fleeing. Watching them, Urkha opened her mouth.

‘Yes, that’s how ordinary humans react. But Praus was a bit different…’

“Tori.”
“What.”
“Did you see how he prioritized that elven child over the expensive weapon I was holding? The way he embraced her as if she was more precious than anything made me think a lot.”
“So what…”
“I never imagined there were humans like that.”
“There are many in the Aus domain who consider other races.”

Duke Tori countered, to which she nodded without denying it.

“I know. Thanks to your efforts, Tori, there are many in the Aus domain who get along well with different races. But still.”

She paused briefly before continuing.

“Most humans still view other races simply as slaves.”
“At least in the Aus domain, there are hardly any such people. Everyone is as considerate towards Urkha as I am.”

Urkha’s ears twitched, and her tail swished gently along her emotions.

She was happy at his words, but also felt a tinge of bitterness.

She clearly remembered what Tori had done to protect her.

When his father told him to abandon her, he had stubbornly persuaded him to let her stay in the ducal family – it was her most cherished memory.

Captivated by his actions, she had once deeply loved him.

But despite knowing her feelings, Duke Tori didn’t choose her and instead married a human woman.

She had stayed by his side because she loved him, but facing reality meant having to kill those feelings, which deeply saddened her.

“…I’m not just talking about the Aus domain.”

She fell silent for a moment, mumbling her next words.

“Anyway, Tori, how many would risk their lives for an elf?”
“What?”
“Of course, I’m not saying we can judge a person’s entire character based on saving a child once. It’s just, his unhesitating attitude reminded me so much of you as a child.”

She smiled faintly as she recalled the young Duke Tori who had once looked at her without a care in the world.

“That’s why I blurted that out on an impulse. There’s no other reason. The only thing I can offer is my own body, after all. Though I have made a lot of money since being recognized as an S-rank.”
“…Then what about the work you’ve been doing until now? Are you planning to leave the ducal family?”
“Ahahah! What are you saying? Are you an idiot? I’m the one who would win, you know. Do you really think I’ll lose?”

Urkha exuded a carefree attitude as she looked at Duke Tori. He didn’t think she would lose either. Or rather, he didn’t want her to.

But he had a ‘reason’ for her to lose.

“Ah, but from your perspective, it might be better if I lose?”
“…Are you still dreaming of rebellion?”

Rebellion.
A word that absolutely shouldn’t be heard by others.

His words momentarily stunned her, but she soon burst into laughter, “Puhah.”

“Rebellion? It’s nothing that grandiose. I just want to kill the Emperor who massacred our tribe and made us slaves. If it weren’t for him, I would have been living happily with my family by now.”
“I didn’t let you stay in the ducal family to rebel. Don’t you ever think about the harm you could bring to the ducal family because of your actions?”

Urkha paused at his words.
She didn’t want the ducal family that had protected her to be endangered either.

“…I won’t let any harm come to them. Even if the ducal family faces accusations, I’ll just say it was my own decision.”
“It’s not that simple. And you know you can’t do it alone. Why do you keep acting like this?”
“Only by doing this can the beastkin race be happy in the future.”
“I’ve been working hard so that various races can live peacefully in the Aus domain…”
Urkha shook her head resolutely.
“No, Tori. As long as the Emperor remains, the slave system will never disappear. The Emperor must die. Until then, the beastkin race can never be happy.”
“I’m working hard for the happiness of other races. So they won’t have to endure slave labor or sexual exploitation, and can be treated like people—”
“You vowed to abolish the slave system as soon as you inherited the ducal position. But it’s already been 20 years since then.”
“It’s because of the complicated politics between nobles. It will definitely improve someday.”
“When is that ‘someday’?”

He fell silent.
Urkha smiled wistfully, as if understanding him.

“Let’s stop this conversation. I don’t want to embarrass you.”
“Because of you, all the other races in the Empire could be massacred.”
“Even so, I believe the Empire must change. And well… this is only if there’s no one stronger than me.”

She smiled and stretched lazily before walking ahead, leaving him behind.

Duke Tori clenched his fists so tightly that blood seeped out as he watched Urkha’s retreating figure.

“Damn it…”

“So you’ve accepted the duel request?”

During breakfast at the annex, Dex asked.

“Weren’t you asleep that whole time?”
“How could I sleep in a place where information is constantly circulating? This is all about money.”

…Money-grubbing bastard.
He seemed like the type who would sell his family for money if he had to.

Then again, it was clear what could happen in this era without money.
I couldn’t entirely blame him.

“So in the end, what did you decide to do?”
“For now, I’ve accepted the formal duel. With conditions.”
“What kind of conditions?”
“Originally, formal duels are a kind of event, so many spectators gather. But for this duel, I asked to minimize the number of spectators. And not to publicize the result.”

Even at the point of having a formal duel with an S-rank, attracting attention was unavoidable. But I expected that if the result wasn’t announced, the situation wouldn’t escalate too badly.

“Why did you attach those conditions? Wouldn’t it be good for Lord Praus to receive attention?”
“I don’t want attention. I’m just doing what needs to be done.”
“What needs to be done… Could it be that you were interested in the S-rank adventurer Urkha?”

As if.

Urkha absolutely had to remain in Aus.
If the demons invaded and she was by my side only for Duke Tori to be killed, all my plans could go awry.

Regardless of what happened, she needed to stay in Aus to protect the Duke.
At the very least, she had to buy time until the heroes defeated the Demon Lords.

It felt like placing characters in suitable locations like in the game, but I didn’t know any other way.
I didn’t want to take unnecessary risks by searching for alternative methods either.

“Dex, scram if you’re going to spout nonsense.”
“Geez. Isn’t being by Lord Praus’s side the best?”
“Dex, are you bothering Praus?”

Tina, who had approached unnoticed, asked with her mouth full of food.

Come to think of it, she was quite the glutton. I wonder if my living expenses would be okay when we returned to the village later.

Intimidated by Tina’s imposing presence, Dex frantically waved his hands.

“Of course not. I was just listening to the conversation. I couldn’t hear very well from my room, who would have thought there would be soundproofing magic installed in each room.”
“Indeed. That’s why I noticed rather late too. As someone who should be of the most help to Lord Praus…”

Iris mumbled as she clenched her fist.

“I told you there’s no need to tie yourself down.”
“But about that duel, can’t I participate as a proxy? Lord Praus doesn’t necessarily have to face that person himself, right?”

Iris’s sudden suggestion drew the gazes of everyone having breakfast.

There certainly didn’t seem to be any problem with the rules, and a proxy could be appointed.

However, Urkha had expressed her desire to fight me, and the still immature heroes were far behind Urkha in terms of experience and skill.

“You can’t defeat her yet.”
“…I understand.”

Iris visibly sulked.

“But while I understand that Lord Praus is a Sword Master, can he really defeat Urkha? She’s an S-rank adventurer, after all.”

‘I can’t lose, having accepted the request.’
“Do I look like someone who would lose to anyone?”

“Of course not! Um!”
“Then eat your breakfast.”
“Mmph.”

To be honest, I was worried.
But I had a plan in mind.
Didn’t I already have a weapon that couldn’t be obtained in the current episode? I intended to use that.

“Delma, there’s a place I need to go with you during lunch.”
“…Where?”
“Somewhere quiet.”
“What are you thinking?”
“Don’t worry. I’m not planning anything untoward.”
“Can I come too?”
“No. Instead.”

I placed the money pouch Duke Tori had given me on the table. It contained 10 gold coins.

“You all do whatever you want in the city of Aus. Sleep, go shopping, do whatever you want.”

Now that the children had grown stronger, they could travel alone without issue.
Even if someone caused trouble, having established a direct connection with the Duke meant it wouldn’t be difficult to resolve.

“Um… where are you going?”

Maria asked, unusually speaking up despite normally keeping quiet.
Was it because of yesterday’s incident?

“Training for the duel. I’ll be back around dinner time.”
“Ooh, training! Can I come too?”
“You think I’d go with someone who would sell information for money?”
“Can I come?”

Aerial asked. Even if I told her not to, she would come anyway…

“…I don’t care.”
“Lord Praus, I want to be with you.”
“Enough. Eat delicious food and do what you want. It’s the freedom you’ve gained.”
“…Understood.”

And so Iris remained sullen throughout the meal, even having her food taken away by Tina, leading to a heated food debate between the two.

They were truly noisy kids.

The day of the formal duel arrived.
Two swords hung from my waist.

“Do your best, Master!”
“I can’t imagine Lord Praus losing anywhere. Go show her who’s boss.”
“L-Lord Praus, p-please win for sure.”

I patted each of the three children on the head before turning away.
The others didn’t say anything in particular, perhaps because they had witnessed my preparations and didn’t think I would lose, not even a tiny bit.

[Praus, are you ready?]
“Don’t worry. I’m fully prepared.”
[As expected of my friend. Then shall we teach that arrogant cat a lesson?]

He seemed in high spirits.
Seemingly unable to contain his emotions over the new form of the Mirage Waltz he had developed.

I headed towards the dueling grounds, hoping this would be the last time I had to fight an S-rank opponent.