My Disciples Think I’m Strong

“…Praus nim, what are you doing?”
“None of your business.”

In the outskirts of the capital.
Based on the information I had recorded, I was searching the crevices between the walls near the Adventurers’ Guild for a relic ring.

Its name was Sylphie’s Ring.
A ring made by fairies in the past, imbuing their energy into it, it had the effect of enhancing speed-related stats.

It was a very efficient item for early gameplay, making a significant difference whether you had it or not.

If you ask why it was stuck in the crevice of a capital wall, well, I honestly don’t know. It was the game developers’ decision.
I only knew about it from looking up online guides.

It took me about an hour to find the ring.

“Oh, here it is.”

I found the ring shape, coated in dirt and its luster lost.

[Sylphie’s Ring has been found.]

Did this appear as a hologram? Ah, whatever.
What mattered was that I found the relic.

To prove my information wasn’t wrong, the one hour of digging wasn’t a waste at all.

I wiped the ring with a cloth.
As the dust was gradually cleaned off, the dull gemstone gradually regained its color. I looked down with satisfaction at the faintly green-glowing ring.

“Perfect.”

I immediately slipped it onto my middle finger. The ring then resized itself to fit my finger.

So it could adjust to the wearer’s body.
I didn’t know items had such a function.

Well, in the game, any item could be equipped or unequipped.

[Sylphie’s Ring has been equipped.]
[Overall speed stats are increased by 10%.]

Every time I saw these holograms, I felt this world wasn’t much different from the game.

“Hmm.”

My body felt lighter.
Even with my frail physique, if I ever had to fight, this item would definitely help.
If I could avoid even one or two out of ten blows, it would be advantageous.

“A ring, huh…?”
“You want it?”
“No, no way!”

Iris flinched and waved her hands dismissively. What was that, a seizure?

“Later, I’ll give you something better. Don’t covet it.”
“No, no need. For a demi-human like me to use something like that would be like a pig wearing a pearl necklace.”
“Is that so? I think it would suit you quite well.”
“Huh?”
“Let’s go. On to the next one.”

There were a total of six relics hidden in the capital.
Since I had recovered one, five remained.

I planned to retrieve them all before Tina finished begging.

Tina was begging in the same spot as before.

“He’s not coming today either…”

Even if Tina added up the time she had spent talking to Praus over the past two days, it wouldn’t amount to even thirty minutes.
And yet, Praus had already made a strong impression on her, occupying most of her thoughts.
This was due to the kindness she had experienced for the first time in her life.

‘I wonder what happened? Or was it because of what happened yesterday?’

Recalling Praus’s words about wanting to take her in, she fell into a melancholic mood.

In fact, as soon as Praus had said that, Tina had wanted to say she would go with him.

But she still couldn’t fully trust Praus, and she felt like she would be a burden to the man who had shown her warmth, so she had no choice but to refuse.

Tina knew there was no way the man who made her beg would let her off easily.

‘Will I never be able to see him again… I don’t want that…’

She was gripping her clothes tightly with her head lowered when suddenly:

Clang!
Someone’s kick sent her bowl flying.

It landed on the road and was immediately crushed under a carriage wheel.

“Ah…”

Tina sighed as she looked at her flattened bowl.

‘If I lose the bowl, I’ll be beaten badly…’

“Damn it. These beggar brats are everywhere!”

At the sudden insult, Tina raised her head.
Well-dressed young boys entered her field of vision.

‘Ah, this is normal… That man was the strange one. But…’

Having already tasted kindness, she couldn’t forget Praus.

“Why are you doing that to an orphan brat without parents?”
“Pfft! You’re the one talking worse.”
“Ugh, the stench is unbearable. Hey, you bitch. Scram!”
“I’m, I’m sorry.”

She apologized, but she couldn’t move spots.
Because she knew if she lost the bowl and couldn’t bring back any money, she would be beaten to death.

Thunk! Thunk!

“Uwah! Uwaaah! I’m sorry! I’m sorry!”
“You think the food you eat falls from the sky?!”

A scream came from a dilapidated shack.
It was the sound of a thug beating another child.
Tina tightly shut her eyes at the thug’s voice.

‘Ah… I don’t want to go in.’

But Tina had no choice.
With the weather gradually turning colder, her thin clothes wouldn’t be enough for sleeping outside, or she might freeze to death. And she couldn’t imagine how badly she would be beaten if she didn’t return home for even one night.

A child came running out of the shack.

“Get out now, you brat!”

A man standing in the doorway shouted. Then he noticed Tina dilly-dallying outside.

“Oh, Tina. You brought back two silver coins over the past couple of days. Let’s see how much you brought today?”

Tina opened and closed her eyes tightly. Trying to calm her trembling body, she opened her mouth.

“I’m sorry… I couldn’t earn anything today.”
“Where’s the bowl?”
“It got crushed. I’m sorry.”
“What? Crushed?”

Tina’s body instinctively shrank at the thug’s increasingly menacing voice.

“Look up.”

At his words, Tina raised her head.

Slap!
As her head turned to the side, she tumbled onto the dirt floor.

“Eeek!”

Tina’s cheek reddened. With her mouth split, she tasted the bitter metallic flavor of blood.

“You little bitch! I told you I’d kill you if you lost the bowl!”

Thunk! Thunk!
He began kicking her. Tina curled up like a pill bug, but she was no match for an adult man’s strength.

“Akhh! Hick!”

‘It hurts… Sa, save me… Mister, please…’

“That’s enough.”
“What is it this ti- Hiiick!”

Through her tear-blurred vision, someone slowly approached.
A familiar silhouette, with an expressionless face, unhesitatingly strode forward.
Then the black-haired man drew his sword.

“It’s been a while since you’ve made me angry.”

An immense intimidating aura began emanating from him.
Seeing his appearance, Tina thought he looked like the heroes from the fairy tales she had read before being abandoned by her parents.
Tina’s eyes regained their light and relief.

“Who the hell are you?!”
“None of your business.”
“What?”
“What you need to know is that from now on, I’ll kill you.”

The forces of wind began gathering around his body.