My Disciples Think I’m Strong

I woke up to the sound of sobbing. I looked over at the bed next to me where the sound was coming from.

“Hick! Dad… Hick! Mom…”

Iris was curled up, crying.
Reluctantly, I got out of bed. I was still tired from sleeping uncomfortably in the carriage, and this disturbance was annoying.

“Iris.”
“Hicc! Yes, yes?!”

Just calling her name made her jolt up in a panic.
She must have been beaten every time she talked in her sleep around that Polder guy. It was truly unfortunate that her body remembered before her mind.

“You’re being noisy.”
“I’m sorry!”

She hurriedly got off the bed and repeatedly bent her waist to apologize to me. Watching her fidget, I casually asked a question.

“…Where are your parents?”
“Pardon?”
“You were calling for your parents in your sleep.”

I already knew, but I asked anyway.
To confirm if it matched the information I had about Iris’s past.

She hesitated for a while, unsure whether to tell me or not.
I waited patiently. In sensitive matters like this, I shouldn’t rush her. Even if she refused, I couldn’t say anything.
These were things that would naturally be revealed as we got closer.

“…They died when the Empire attacked the demi-human village.”
“I see.”

This also matched what I already knew.

The genocide of other races.
It was considered the worst atrocity committed by the Empire.

The current Emperor of the Pretium Empire, Rufen Ater Pretium, resented the demi-human and elf tribes that had settled in the southern regions.
He was displeased that non-humans ruled over territories he believed should be under his dominion.
So the Emperor issued a massive order for their subjugation.

The order was to kill anyone who resisted and enslave those who didn’t resist.
Through this one-sided subjugation, the Empire gained a much larger territory than before.

Those who didn’t resist after the subjugation became slaves.
Iris must have been a victim caught up in that incident.

“Don’t you resent them?”
“…Are you asking if I resent them?”

I nodded.

I know asking is just hurting my own mouth.
But they were in a position where they had to protect the Empire.

In the game, if even one of the three heroes died or the Empire fell, humanity would face extinction at the hands of the demons, resulting in a bad ending.

Considering the information I’ve received so far and the events that have unfolded, this place doesn’t seem much different from the game.

“I don’t understand why it feels like you completely understand my feelings every time you speak, Praus nim.”

She looked like she was about to burst into tears. Her frail appearance even made me want to embrace her.

“…So which is it?”
“I do resent them. Truly. But I have no power, so even if I resent them… I can only endure it.”

She clenched her fists tightly. Biting her lower lip, she trembled.

“I see. Got it. Go to sleep.”

Was her resentment directed at the Empire? Or at humans?
I didn’t want to ask that far. If it was the latter, it meant she could kill me too.
Still, the reality was that she couldn’t survive without being raised as a hero.

I lay down on the bed and turned my body away from Iris.

“…Iris.”

Without looking at her, I muttered. It was the late dawn with the moon still out, so even if I spoke softly, she would hear me clearly.

“Yes.”

It was information she didn’t need to know yet, but I intended to give her motivation to take a more proactive role.

“A prophecy, you say?”
“You will eventually liberate all demi-humans from slavery.”
“Huh? Me?”
“I wish that time would come sooner. I’m curious what a world where demi-humans are no longer looked down upon would be like.”
“…Just what do you know, Praus nim? Why are you helping me in the first place?”
“That’s all I can tell you. Now go to sleep.”
“…Yes, Praus nim. I’m sorry for disturbing your sleep.”

I closed my eyes after hearing the rustling sound from behind me.

I was on my way to buy a large loaf of bread and water for Tina.
I had left Iris at the inn, telling her to rest since she must have been exhausted in many ways. She insisted on coming along, but eventually relented with an “I understand.”

She had definitely said it would be around the market square, right?
Befitting the medieval setting, the market square was noisier and more crowded with people than anywhere else.

“Now where could she be?”

Just as I was looking around, something came rolling up to my feet.

Clang! Clink clink!

It was the familiar beggar’s bowl, nearly shattering as it reached me.

“I told you not to beg around here!”
“I’m, I’m sorry!”
“Where do these beggar brats keep coming from? Damn it, won’t you just disappear?! You’re hindering my business!”

Looking up from the bowl, I saw Tina being scolded by a merchant.

“Hey.”

At the sound of my voice, both Tina and the merchant looked my way. Tina’s face, previously obscured by shadows, lit up.

“You again—!”

[Skill ‘Intimidation’ is activated.]

I silently glared at him. The merchant flinched from my Intimidation and shut his mouth.

‘Geez, there are some things you should and shouldn’t say to a child.’
“A scumbag gentleman cursing at a child. Do you really think that’s going to help your business?”

…Huh? I didn’t intend to go that far, but I was dumbfounded after the words left my mouth, as my facial muscles showed no intention of moving.

“Wha, what did you say?”
“Tina, come here.”
“Yes, yes!”

Taking advantage of the merchant’s dazed state, she scampered over to my side. I handed her the bowl.

“Ah, thank you.”

She received it with both hands.

“Ha, putting on airs after making kids beg? You beggar brat?”
“Beggar brat? You want to die?”

Before I knew it, I had gripped my sword, intending to follow through on my words with action.

But this wasn’t the right timing.

This wasn’t a secluded area, but rather the outskirts of the market, frequently passed by people. I couldn’t draw my sword in such a public place.
In fact, patrolling knights were around, so causing trouble could lead to being arrested and thrown in jail.

“Kuhh!”

He averted his eyes, seemingly cowed by my intensity.

“Watch your mouth if you want to live long.”

While I could subdue him with just my Intimidation, I couldn’t shake the feeling of making an enemy. This tactless behavior was becoming too indiscriminate, happening more than once or twice.

In truth, such behavior would only work on the weak villagers; anyone with even a slightly aggressive disposition wouldn’t be fazed.
It seemed I needed to prepare the countermeasures I had planned as soon as possible.

“I’m leaving.”
“Yes, yes.”

I turned away, and Tina followed.

“Don’t, don’t come back!”

The man shouted from behind. Inwardly, I let out a weary sigh.

I led Tina to a bench in front of a plaza with a fountain. As I sat down, she followed suit.
Tina was wearing the same clothes as yesterday.

“Did you get hit yesterday?”
“No, I didn’t. In fact, they praised me for bringing a silver coin.”

She smiled brightly as she spoke.

“I see.”

Just like yesterday, I dropped a silver coin into the bowl she was holding.
Her eyes widened as she looked at me.

“I guess you won’t be hit and will be praised again today.”
“Ah… Um.”
“Hm?”
“Why, why are you being so kind to a beggar like me?”

Like Iris, she was distrustful, likely due to her upbringing.
I wish these children could simply accept kindness innocently without overthinking complicated matters.

‘What should I say to make her understand…?’
“Don’t ask such trivial questions.”
“I see…”

Inwardly, I berated myself. Well, with the way I spoke, it was no wonder.
Every step I took to get closer only increased the difficulty because of this uncooperative mouth of mine.

I looked away from her and handed her the bag containing bread. It was enough for her to eat for the whole day.

“Wha, what’s this?”
“Eat it. You must be hungry, right?”
“I, I can really eat it? You’re, you’re not trying to kidnap me, are you?”

Kidnap? Was that something a girl relying on thugs would say?

A rustling sound came from beside me, so I looked back at Tina.
She had placed the bag on her lap.

Glancing at me, she slowly took out a long loaf of bread.
Before putting it in her mouth, she glanced at me again, then began eating noisily. She also took out the water from the bag and drank it.

“What would you do if that were the case?”
“Kuhh kuhh!”

Choking at my question, she coughed repeatedly.
As soon as her coughing subsided, she looked up at me with an expression asking if I was serious.

“Are, are you really trying to kidnap me?”
“No. I have no intention of kidnapping you. I simply want to formally take you in. So how long do you plan to keep relying on those thugs?”

Tina hesitated to answer.

If asked who she would follow – the kind(?) person whose face she had only known for two days, or the one who had used violence against her but whom she had known for a long time – most would likely choose the latter.

No matter how much someone mistreats you, it’s human nature to not want to leave what has become familiar.

“…I’m not sure yet. I’m truly grateful for your help. But… I, I don’t know if I can trust you yet.”

I wanted to let out a deep sigh, but I understood.
In a place where the slave system was prevalent and laws were not properly established, there wouldn’t be many people with proper morals.
So it made sense for children to live distrustfully as well.

“I see. Got it.”
“Bu, but I really am thankful that you gave me money and food for my sake.”

Tina smiled and nodded her head. It was a rather friendly response.
Well, I supposed it made sense since I had been helping her in various ways.

“Play around as much as you want, then go home.”
“Hey!”

Just as I was about to get up, she grabbed my clothes. As I calmly watched Tina, she hunched over and let go of my clothes.

“I, I’ll be in the same spot as yesterday.”
“Got it.”

Without hesitation, I left her behind.
Trying to persuade her now would only burden her. Not that I had the right mouth to persuade her with in the first place.

I decided not to see her tomorrow.

My plan was to follow Tina’s trail and find out where she lived.
At the same time, I intended to observe how much violence was used if she failed to beg successfully.
If it was severe, I would have to intervene directly.