My Disciples Know That I Am Strong

Episode 6. Don’t be lonely (End)

‘I’m always watching.’

Who the hell did you hear that from?

My memory is fuzzy. No, maybe I don’t want to think about it.

“…… What are you looking at?”

Laughs come out.

When I gently opened my eyes, I was on top of a famous hill. And a huge silhouette stood next to me.

“Prause.”

It was a voice I missed very much.

Those who want to hear it but can’t hear it again…….

“Don’t hate Dad too much.”

Dad?

My father was not in this world. Because I left my family behind in the other world.

“It was a life that could not be lived anyway.”

“What are you talking about? Who are you?”

“…… I want you to be happy.”

I furrowed my brows at Dongmunseo’s answer.

It’s just a black figure like a shadow, but for some reason I thought the silhouette was smiling.

“…… Are you Prause’s mother?”

Listening to the nuance of the words and the feeling of the conversation that remained in Prause’s memory, I was able to guess a specific person.

The shade trembled for a moment at my words.

Is it true that there is no answer?

As I stared up, the black part of the silhouette gradually lifted.

The moment I saw the black hair and eyes sparkling like obsidian, I felt a longing.

“Was it real?”

Prause’s mother is already dead.

That is an unchangeable and public fact.

Still, it was in front of me.

I gently slip my long black hair behind my ears.

“Correct answer.”

He strokes my hair gently. But I don’t feel like she’s petting me.

“You must be dead. Is this a dream?”

“You casually tell her mother that she is dead? Is she hurting her mother?”

“…… I am not Prause.”

I denied her words.

If it was in a dream anyway, it didn’t matter if I did as I pleased. Because no one will hear what I have to say

“No, you are Prause.”

She said, lazily waving her index finger from side to side. Seeing her snort and sneer made her a little annoyed.

“The outside may be the same, but the inside is a completely different person.”

“I guess now. But one day you will become a real Prause.”

“What…… ?”

At the time I was perplexed by the meaningful words, Prause’s mother, whose black parts were completely removed, crouched down in front of me.

She was at eye level with me and smiled as if she was happy in the world.

“There are many good people around Praus.”

“…… Not at all.”

I replied indifferently.

“Be happy. Certainly. Please stop forgetting me.”

“You’ve been talking about things I don’t understand.”

“What kind of habit are you talking to your mother? I think I should tell Mr. Parocco. Please give me a hard time!”

It sounds menacing, but it wasn’t scary at all.

“Haa, that’s annoying.”

I was genuinely bothered by this situation itself, but somehow a corner of my heart was cold.

* * *

While Prause was wandering in the middle of her dreams, Parocco was cooking in the kitchen.

What I learned at Marquis House was the overall work of housekeeping, the management of employees, and the management of buildings.

I tried for a year so that no criticism came out when nobles visited.

He still had things to protect himself, so he couldn’t just sit there and drink and cry.

‘I didn’t know Prause could cook so well… …. Do you want to eat something delicious?’

He was confident in his cooking skills, but looked down at the dishes Prause had prepared last night.

“What are you doing?”

A voice from behind made Paroko turn around. There stood Ariel and her three children, looking into the kitchen.

“I am cooking. I wanted to do it for her son for the first time in a long time. Of course, I never ate it.”

He showed me some peeled potatoes and said.

“…… Is that so.”

Ariel had a lot to say. She wanted to ask why she didn’t prioritize her family, her precious things.

Her own lover, Phasma, tried to protect her others and was unable to avoid a fight with Pheremus, which ultimately resulted in her death.

If she had valued her life more, if she had run away knowing that she couldn’t win, she might have been with her even now.

Such lingering, regret, and regret drew sad empathy.

“I was relieved though.”

By the time Ariel was caught up in her feelings, Faroko said while slicing potatoes.

“Because you guys are protecting Prause.”

The sound of knives pounding on cutting boards echoed through the kitchen.

“He’s blunt and doesn’t express himself well, but he’s a good kid. I hope he stays by his side so that he won’t be lonely in the future.”

“…… It’s okay if you are there. Why are you ignoring me as a father?”

In the end, Ariel couldn’t stand it.

As if to vent her emotions, she asked again and again.

“You wouldn’t be happy if I were with you, but I’m very busy with work. I’m just going to make breakfast and go.”

At Parocco’s words, she felt as if a lump inside her had exploded.

“Work… …. Shouldn’t family come first? Why are you leaving behind something precious?”

The three warriors watched Ariel’s reaction, which was rare.

The three heroes understood at once what Ariel was doing that made her react like that.

Ariel had known for a long time that the reason she was with Prause was to spend her time with Phasma, her lover in the sword.

We talked quietly in the early hours of the morning to avoid being caught, but there was no way that these girls, who had sharp senses, would not know.

I knew it, but I pretended not to know it.

Because they themselves had the experience of having to part with someone important to them.

“Thank you very much, but this is the best I can do. I don’t even have the courage to ask my son for forgiveness.”

“…… Did Prause want that?”

“Even if I don’t want to, I can’t let go of the Marquis family’s butler. If I put it down, Prause’s future life will be hard.”

Ariel lamented inwardly when she saw him not listening even though she had told her so far.

“Yes. It was useless.”

“Thank you for your heart. But really, I’d rather have you around than me.”

Paroco was convinced after talking with Prause yesterday. What Prause needs is not himself, but the people he is with.

His expression was still hard and his tone had changed, but he remembered that his attitude toward him was not bad, and he thought he was getting over it little by little.

Actually, it was because there was someone else inside Prause.

* * *

“What is this?”

As soon as I woke up, the table I saw was set with an excessive amount of food for breakfast.

“I made it. I hope it tastes good.”

Parroco said with a light smile.

White strands were visible all over his hair, as if he had started to grow older now.

“I could have made it… ….”

“All right. Doing something like this makes me feel at ease.”

“…… Is it.”

I sat down at the table. There was steaming soup.

I ate the soup.

The liver itself wasn’t bad. It was a bit boring by my standards, but originally, stimulating taste is bad for health.

I glanced at the people sitting at the table.

Both Ariel and the three warriors have strange expressions.

Even though he was eating with a smile, he looked sad.

Um. The taste isn’t bad, but did I corrupt it with too stimulating taste?

“Doesn’t it taste good? Shall I make it again?”

“No, it is delicious!”

As if starting my question, Iris hurriedly stuffed it into her mouth. Others began to eat too much, to the point of exaggeration.

I glanced at Parocco.

What happened before I woke up?

I don’t know, but it seemed like it would only ruin the atmosphere if I questioned him.

I decided to fill my mouth with food rather than talk to them again.

* * *

“…… Breakfast was delicious.”

Just before leaving, I told Parocco.

“Is that so? Don’t come again next time.”

I was briefly silent. He smiled and turned around, as if he was aware of even that.

I watched him from the spot until his lonely back, which was getting farther and farther away, was hidden by the trees.

“Is it right to send it like that… ….”

My eyes reflexively turned to Ariel’s murmur.

“What are you talking about?”

“Just. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen my father.”

“…… Have you even become friends in the meantime?”

“Isn’t Prause even welcoming his father, whom he hasn’t seen in a long time?”

“This is enough.”

There is no answer when human relationships are twisted. There is no turning back.

That’s why you have to cut it off, but you can’t cut off your family.

I can’t cut it off, so I have no choice but to leave it alone.

Now, there is nothing I can do to restore the relationship between Parocco and Prause.

I’m not the type to actively approach others, and I’m not Prause.

So this is the best.

“Do you have any regrets?”

“Regret? What does it mean to do it?”

“…… Pretend to be fine again.”

Pretending to be okay.

I’m not pretending to be okay, I’m okay.

Because I’m not the party.

If you were the person in charge, you wouldn’t have the time to pretend to be okay.

I wouldn’t have been able to endure the discomfort that comes from a relationship.

“Don’t be fussy, and train hard again.”

I was about to enter the house with those words for the last time.

But with Tina standing in front of me, I had to stop.

“What is it, Tina?”

“What should we do to keep Master from being lonely?”

What are you talking about?

I narrowed my eyes at Tina’s unexpected question. Around her, her expression hardened as if embarrassed by Tina’s direct question.

What did Parocco uselessly say…….

I sighed.

“Never mind that, just be strong.”

Take care of the worth of having you guys.

“If I get stronger, Master, won’t I get lonely?”

If you become stronger, you won’t be lonely.

It was a really absurd logic, but I was uncomfortable with continuing to mention this situation, so I gave a rough answer.

“Yes.”

Tina thinks seriously.

“Okay. I will definitely become stronger, Master, so that you won’t be lonely!”

Your eyes burn with enthusiasm.

The reason for becoming stronger was absurd, but I thought so.

Yes, you… No, all you have to do is think about getting stronger.

Don’t mind me.