My Disciples Know That I Am Strong

Episode 3. Misunderstanding that gets worse (3)

“There will be a carriage check for a while.”

“What is it?”

“Ah, this is a special order from the Duke. He told me to investigate the wagon coming into Aus City. They’re looking for someone called ‘Prause’. If you find it, an order has been issued to bring it to you immediately.”

A drop of cold sweat ran down my spine at the sound of the voice over the tent.

Ah, did those damned adventurers talk about it right away? Rather, how did you know my name?

“Hmm. If this is the case, the information that Prause is the sixth Sword Master will not be of much value. Too bad. It was quite valuable information.”

Dex licks his lips as the information about me, which I was trying to sell for money, spreads. This guy is also a bad guy.

“This is why I don’t even want to breathe the same air as the light-mouthed ones.”

“It must be for your own good.”

“Originally, the law is like that. Still, Prause-sama knows my identity and doesn’t brag about it, so he’s someone you can trust.”

“I don’t believe you at all.”

“Ah, haven’t we been together for over a week already! Hot hot hot!”

Just as Dex’s vulgar laughter echoed through the carriage, the entrance to the tent fluttered out of nowhere.

“Is Prause here?”

“I am Prause. What happened?”

I stood up confidently. When our eyes met, the gatekeeper hesitated.

“…… Isn’t that an impersonation?”

It was Tina who responded to the gatekeeper’s words.

“There’s no way Prause would impersonate you.”

“Tina, that’s not impersonation, it’s extravagance.”

“…… Oh yeah?”

Tina scratched her head shyly at Iris’s point.

“Then what is an impersonation?”

“You’re lying. Like a name or identity.”

“This is so bad. Lie like that If you lie, you’ll have to stick a needle in your ass.”

Isn’t this really pure evil?

Obviously I didn’t mean it to anyone, but why is my butt tingling?

Iris smiles bitterly at Tina’s self-talk.

“Then Prause, Your Highness the Duke has summoned you. Can I talk to you for a second?”

“For what?”

“Yes?”

“I asked what you were calling me for.”

At first glance, a guy younger than himself is being treated as a servant, so it must be absurd even from the gatekeeper’s point of view.

But if you’re a gatekeeper of a city, even if you’re not an imperial knight, you’re a pretty strong knight. Am i okay?

“Your Highness will tell you that. Let’s go.”

“That’s not even funny. I won’t go unless I tell you the right business.”

“Does that mean you will refuse the Duke’s command?”

Life gushes from the gatekeeper. Others than me put their hands on the weapon first.

“Now that you have set foot in the Aus Territory, you’d better follow orders. Or are you thinking of committing treason now?”

‘Ah, no way. Would I?’

“I would have said I would go when I got to know the business properly.”

“How dare you dare to disrespect the Duke! I can’t forgive-“

Iris was putting her sword to the gatekeeper’s throat before she knew it. It was such a speed that she couldn’t even react without blinking.

The gatekeeper’s sword had not yet escaped from its scabbard. Just as it was, I rolled my eyes and looked at Iris.

“I don’t know who it is, but if I pull out that sword, I will kill you.”

Iris, your behavior is very commendable, but let’s not kill her? It’s scary, boy.

“Do you think it will be okay with this? You guys-“

“It should be fine.”

It was Ariel who answered the gatekeeper’s words.

“I still feel a bit overwhelmed, but I think I can still destroy one duke. I gave you my armor too.”

Ariel’s gaze briefly turns to me.

“You bastard! Are you openly plotting treason now?!”

“You sound like treason in front of the Spirit King. What is a country of insignificant people?”

“What, what?!”

“Hey, if you raise your voice one more time in front of me, will this city be destroyed?”

As Ariel looked serious, the gatekeeper bit her mouth tightly, perhaps recognizing her bleak air currents.

[Prause, prepare to stop Eri.]

“Why?”

[It is very scary when angry.]

Are you going to go public? ….

Seeing that his voice trembled, he must have been real.

Well, if it’s a spirit king that’s at the level of a legionnaire of the demons, he’ll be able to destroy an entire army with just nagging.

But am I talking rudely to such a spirit king and telling him to shut up?

…… Can I really live and die?

“I don’t think I can stop that.”

[Well, wouldn’t it be okay if it was you? Eri also enjoys talking to you.]

Aren’t you trusting too much?

I don’t have the slightest intention of NTRing, but I think it’ll be uncomfortable in many ways if I’m in it.

Still, the parties said it was okay, so I had nothing to say.

“…… Iris, stop it.”

At my words, Iris glances at me and withdraws her sword.

Only then does the gatekeeper exhale. But her tension did not let go.

“You guys are dangerous guys. You can never enter Aus City. I will issue a ban.”

“What’s up?”

Another gatekeeper holding a spear approaches.

“Here is a man named Praus whom the Duke is looking for, but all the people in the carriage are judged to be dangerous… ….”

“Really? If that’s the case, I can’t help it, but I don’t think I can let the wagon in. It would be troublesome to bring a dangerous person into the city and cause terrorism.”

I have to go in. Even to save artifacts.

I hear you can pay off a thousand-nyang debt with just one word. What kind of hard work is it because of useless skills in this world?

But once the words have been spat out, they cannot be taken back.

So now we needed evidence to explain what we were here for.

“Dex.”

“Yes. Ah, if you could ask me to deal with these guys, I could do it, but I don’t want to risk it—”

“Stop talking bullsh*t and show off your wolf ears. I will leave the explanation to you.”

“Oh, that one.”

Dex slapped the palm of his hand, took a pouch from the side of his pack, and held it out to them.

“What is this?”

“It is the ear of the wolf demon in the forest of Brihi.”

“What?!”

At Dex’s words, the gatekeepers open their pockets. I swallowed saliva after seeing dozens of ears.

“Then you… No, did you all deal with the monsters in Brihi Forest?”

“Come to think of it, adventurers said that the 6th Sword Master took care of the monster.”

“Even if they all have dirty words, they are not bad people.”

Dex smiled at the gatekeeper. If you’re going to give a compliment, just give it a compliment. Why are you cursing

“Look at the children here. Aren’t you pure?”

By the time Iris put her sword to her gatekeeper’s neck, such emotional peddling was poison.

But apart from that, the gatekeepers seemed to be worried as they brought in clear evidence.

“It seems appropriate to take them to the Duke first.”

“Dangerous?”

“But if we let go, we might be reprimanded.”

“Oh, really. I just hate being in pain.”

The gatekeeper with a spear scratched her head and then looked around at us.

“If you promise not to run amok no matter what, I will allow you to enter.”

The gatekeeper said reluctantly.

There was only one person who could answer that normally.

“I will.”

Dex answered with a smile.

* * *

Somehow, I managed to get into Aus.

“I’m really crazy, crazy! Prause! No matter how strong you are, how can anyone fight with the duke?!”

“It is not mine.”

Regardless of what I think, it’s the fluttering snout.

“Crazy… ….”

Thelma shook her head and looked straight ahead.

The carriage was moving under the guidance of the knights. The knights were watching us stiffly, as if they hadn’t completely let go of our suspicions.

Still, with the speed of the wagon drastically reduced as it entered the city, it was perfect for looking around the streets.

In Aus, I saw a sight that I hadn’t seen in Pretium.

There were a lot of beasts and elves, so it stood out.

I was good at conversing with people, and it was a more harmonious atmosphere than I thought. From the outside, it didn’t look dirty. Except for the occasional beggar.

Iris and Maria couldn’t take their eyes off the sight. Dex glanced at them before opening his mouth.

“Aus Territory is probably an area where beastmen and elves who lost their homes after being massacred in the past can live quite well.”

At his words, Iris and Maria looked at Dex.

“Why?”

“Are my people not slaves?”

Dex shook her head at Maria’s question.

“Slaves are right. Because His Majesty the Emperor made slaves of other races compulsory, the Duke had no choice but to follow. However, this is a much better place for other races to live than the capital or other areas. The owner who took other races as slaves must guarantee the right to survive as a human being. Unreasonable deprivation of rights, such as starving food or not allowing people to wash their dirty bodies, is prohibited.”

“You know better than I thought, right?”

“I’m pretty quick when it comes to the Empire.”

He answered me with a laugh, and then continued.

“Anyway, besides that, there are also owners who give money to their slaves or give them vacation days.”

“But after all, you are a slave… …. You are deprived of your freedom and cannot live your life the way you want.”

Dex was silent for a moment at Maria’s words.

“Since ancient times, when a war was waged, the defeated country was annexed by the victorious country, and people from that country were likely to become slaves.”

“That’s because you humans attacked at will!”

Maria jumps up from her seat and tries to argue with Dex. Everyone in her carriage looks at Mary. She sat down biting her lower lip, conscious of her gaze.

“I don’t know if this will be a word of consolation, but the only person who didn’t care about His Majesty and opposed the massacre is His Highness the Duke of Aus.”

“!”

“Thanks to the fact that most of the southern part of the empire is the territory of the Duke of Aus, I heard that there were frequent exchanges between beastmen and elves in the process of running the territory. It is said that when he was attacked by monsters, it was the Duke’s order to send the support of adventurers and knights.”

That’s right. He is the most upright man in the empire.

Despite having the far-high rank of duke, he was a man who devoted all his energy to taking care of his subordinates.

Thanks to that, not to mention the citizens’ loyalty to the Duke of Aus, the life satisfaction of the people in this city was higher than any other city.

— That was written in the scenario.

“Your Highness, the duke, is a person who tries to be merciful even to slaves, so it won’t be a loss to meet him. Maria.”

“Yes. There will be nothing wrong with meeting you.”

“Master… ….”

Because I am an open-minded and rational person.

Yes. He’s a good guy up to that point.

Still, isn’t it kind of like calling him as soon as he arrives in the city? It is burdensome to meet a high-ranking person.

“Here it is.”

The carriage stops at the same time as the knight walks. I got off the carriage immediately.

The place I followed after being guided by a patrolling driver was an expensive looking coffee shop that seemed like a gold coin to a cup of coffee.

If you ask me to pay for the tea, I’ll even hit the duke once. My fist hurts pretty bad?

“Go in.”

With my daughter!

“I was waiting for you. Mr Praus. And their companions.”

As soon as he entered the teahouse, a neatly dressed middle-aged guide put his hand on his chest and bowed at his waist.

“Yes.”

In response to the dignified courtesy, he responded arrogantly as usual.

“His Highness the Duke is waiting for you upstairs. You can go right away.”

Before the guide could hear our answer, he turned around and moved forward.

By the time he reached the second floor while watching his back as he climbed the stairs, a middle-aged blonde haired man in a fancy uniform and cape stood up.

The cloak was studded with a phoenix pattern that I had seen dozens of times in the capital.

“I may be a little hasty, but who is Prause by any chance?”

He says with his head stiff.

‘Me.’

“It is me.”

The Duke blinks his eyes a few times at the very natural short speech, then smiles.

“You are the sixth Sword Master of the Empire, Mr. Prause! Nice to meet you. I am the Duke of Toriaus. Welcome to my Ausu estate.”

I couldn’t help but sigh when I saw Duke Aus holding out his hand with a sinister smile.