My Disciples Became Scoundrels - Chapter 22

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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At the command, something shifted in the Knights’ eyes. They turned as one.
They seized their weapons and clashed with the skeletons, moving beyond mere defense to actively swing their blades at Dein’s word.
The skeletons were overwhelmed in moments. Though they could not be destroyed, the creatures were being driven back under the Knights’ assault.
A path opened as if the sea itself were splitting.
Dein sprinted through the corridor the Knights had carved for him. Around him, the ring of metal filled the air, yet his gaze remained fixed on the Lich above.
A sharp, killing intent rippled more distinctly than magic itself. The Lich seemed taken aback, yet still appeared composed.
Small wonder—there were no stairs leading to the upper floor. Yet Dein did not slow. He ran to the end of the narrow passage.
Dein’s eyes found the Knight standing at that end. A massive shield, gleaming white, held in his grip.
The Knight knelt on one knee, tilting the shield at an angle and raising it toward Dein.
The Knight was weeping, yet still fighting against all this sorrow.
—Clang!
The moment Dein’s foot came down on the shield, the Knight poured all his strength into thrusting him upward.
Flight. Dein soared skyward like a bird in an instant. His red cloak billowed like wings, like blood spilled by another’s hand.
Dein now hung higher than the Lich itself.
In Dein’s eyes, burning like the sun, the Lich’s image reflected—a face contorted with shock, lips forming an incantation. Yet Dein’s blade was faster.
—Crack!
Dein drove his sword straight through the Lich’s chest. He poured into that blade all the weight the Knights had borne.
Oath and conviction pierced through.
The Lich shrieked its death cry. In that terrible wail, the Dungeon’s master scattered into dust.
The Sorrow Magic had ended.
As Dein turned, the monsters fell one by one. The Knights remained standing, looking upward at him.
Dein spoke to them.
“Close your eyes in peace. Let us go home.”
At those words, the Knights fell one by one. They had reclaimed their death and their honor.
Dein drew out his Subspace Cube. As he spoke a simple incantation, the remains were drawn into it.
Silence settled over the Dungeon. He turned to where the Lich had stood. Among the pale ash and bone dust, a single red jewel glowed.
It radiated formidable magical power. He took it and made for the exit.
Outside. He felt the open air instead of the stale underground darkness.
Much time had passed—the sun was setting slowly. Soon, people began pouring from the Dungeon’s entrance.
“Master! Are you all right?”
Cesare and Jenia rushed forward and embraced Dein. He endured the sharp pain as though his ribs might shatter.
“I’m fine. Were you two unharmed?”
“Yes. We were fighting to go after you when the Corpse Dragon suddenly fell. That’s when I realized you must have done something, so we came out.”
It seemed the magic binding the Corpse Dragon had ended with the Lich’s death. The people of the Twilight Swallow Nest stared at Dein in stunned silence.
Cassian was no different. He looked at the cloak Dein wore, then opened his mouth.
“What in the world happened down there?”
“I’ll give you the full account once we return. For now, please report to the Management Bureau.”
Dein withdrew his Subspace Cube and handed it to Cassian. The Cube, containing the lives of some seventy souls, emitted a quiet, dark light.
“The fallen have all returned.”
Brief though it was, Dein had been their commander. The Knights had made a path for him; he too had to make a path for them.
The journey home. A homecoming after decades.
5. The Ones Left Behind
Around noon at the Narwhal Inn.
The first-floor tavern was already bustling.
One table had been raucous since midday—a gathering of mercenaries. Among the coarse curses and the reek of strong liquor, Cesare sipped only water.
“Christ. Got stuck with a shit employer, worked like a dog for nothing.”
“Tell me about it. Hey, Cesare. You’ve got it good. Cleared a Domus in a week, right? You’re riding high with one job.”
“Yeah?”
“A Silver Rank Dungeon—you must’ve pulled in serious coin. Buy yourself some new clothes with it. You look like a vagrant.”
“Yeah?”
At his listless replies, the mercenaries’ gazes grew curious. Cesare himself seemed indifferent.
Meanwhile, Cesare reflexively reached for a cup before setting it down. The mercenary captain’s brow furrowed.
“What’s wrong with you? You haven’t touched a drop all day. You’re killing the mood. Have a drink.”
“I made a pledge with my master not to drink.”
Silence fell over the table. Then came laughter.
“Master? Pledge? Hey, are you really Cesare? When did you become this way?”
“Why shouldn’t I change?”
Cesare touched his Acorn Necklace once. Seeing it, the mercenary captain laughed as if in disbelief and reached to snatch it.
“Why’re you wearing that tacky thing? It’s creepy—Ugh!”
Then Cesare’s hand clamped down on the Administrator’s wrist. She gasped at the crushing grip.
“Didn’t I tell you not to touch my necklace last time?”
“Damn it! I’m the Administrator!”
“So what. Are you my administrator? Half the time I’m the one filling in your gaps.”
The Administrator looked to her subordinates. Their eyes flickered with sympathy for her—and fear of Cesare.
She gritted her teeth and wrenched her wrist free.
“Just because you joined Domus now, you think you’re somebody? Sucking up to some twenty-year-old kid and calling yourself a mentor—”
Crack!
Cesare’s fist whipped across the Administrator’s head. His eyes burned bright with fury.
“Don’t touch family. Unless you want to die.”
As she fell, the mercenaries surged to their feet. One of them spat and spoke up.
“Family? Domus is family? And we’re supposed to be grateful for babysitting some orphan—”
“Yeah, thanks so much for playing nursemaid to a parentless brat.”
Cesare let out a quiet laugh and clenched his fists.
“But I’m not an orphan anymore.”
Five mercenaries rushed him. With each punch Cesare threw, another one hit the floor. The fight was over in moments.
Seasoned fighters as they were, they each took one hit from Cesare and crawled. He paid the innkeeper for his meal and said:
“Hey, clean this mess up, would you?”
“You’re being pretty gentle today, actually. Usually you leave blood all over the place.”
“I’m not just Cesare anymore—I’m Cesare Balanus now.”
Just then the door burst open. Jenia walked in. Cesare looked at her in confusion.
“What are you doing here?”
“Picking you up. The Management Bureau called for us. Master went on ahead.”
“Oh, finally getting paid, huh? Haven’t heard anything in a week. Let’s go.”
Jenia glanced around the interior of the shop. She saw the fallen mercenaries.
“Did you do that?”
“No, it was—it was self-defense! Don’t tell Master.”
“Buy me sweets.”
“I will. I will!”
Cesare hurried out, stammering. The groaning mercenaries watched his retreating figure.
The two made their way to the Management Bureau’s meeting room. Dein, who had been waiting inside, looked up.
“What trouble have you gotten into? You smell like blood.”
“Well, there was a bit of a self-defense situation. Anyway, are we finally getting our payment? How much are we talking?”
He deflected desperately, grinning. Just then a woman entered the room.
It was the Administrator of the Management Bureau. She smiled pleasantly and spoke.
“You’re Balanus Domus, correct? And you two are Cesare and Jenia?”
“That’s right.”
“We’ve received some complaints recently. Assault and property damage.”
As Dein fixed his gaze on Cesare, the younger man grew flustered. Jenia simply turned her head away, pretending ignorance.
Only Dein kept a composed expression. He asked:
“Is this regarding punishment?”
“No, I wanted to confirm some details about your work as adjutants. Cassian mentioned a few things to me.”
At the mention of Cassian’s name, Cesare’s eyes hardened.
“What, did Cassian file a complaint? Says we didn’t do the job right?”
Instead of answering, the official set down a shallow, wide box.
“Take a look for yourselves.”
At her words, Jenia cautiously opened the box. Inside were three objects.
One of them was a check. Jenia’s voice filled with excitement.
“Wow. Thirty million Batz. It was supposed to be three million?”
“Yes. The families of the deceased added their gratitude on top. They wanted me to tell you they’re grateful you brought their bodies back.”
Cesare’s face lit up as well. Then his attention shifted to the remaining items in the box.
“Isn’t that the gem Master took from the dungeon? It was called…”
It was the Transcendence Stone that Dein had obtained after defeating Lich in the dungeon. Since all dungeon rewards belonged to the client, he had given it to Cassian.
“A Transcendence Stone. It enhances magical power—quite rare. He was generous to let it go.”
As Dein spoke, he noticed the third object: a Bronze Metal Badge engraved with the name Balanus.
“At the end of the meeting, the Management Bureau decided to promote Balanus Domus to Bronze Rank.”
“What?”
Cesare made a dumbfounded noise. Dein was a little surprised himself. Only Jenia seemed unclear on the situation, glancing around uncertainly.
“Master, is becoming Bronze Rank a good thing?”
“Very much so. It usually takes at least a year to reach Bronze Rank. This is a special case.”
The administrator nodded at Dein’s words before speaking.
“Opening the third basement level after twenty years undiscovered. Recovery of fallen soldiers’ remains. Elimination of the second boss as well. We rate your overwhelming capabilities very highly.”
The woman turned over a sheet of paper as she continued.
“Your character has also been proven exemplary. The Nidus Hirundinis Crepuscularis Guild evaluated you quite favorably. And that jewel? Cassian yielded it to you.”
“Cassian? That bastard’s not the type to do something like that…….”
At those words, the administrator’s eyes narrowed as she looked at Cesare. Sensing her suspicion, Dein spoke quickly.
“Perhaps because they’re the same age, Cesare and Cassian bicker quite a bit. But the two of them are actually very close.”
“Me? Ah, no. We’re close! That bastard and I are best friends!”
When Dein pinched Cesare’s side sharply, he finally began to corroborate the story.
Whether the administrator believed him or was merely pretending, her smile remained inscrutable.
“That concludes what I needed to tell you. And before you leave, please stop by the Request Desk. We look forward to your next endeavor.”
The three gathered their belongings and descended to the first floor. Cesare spoke in an excited, loud voice.
“Wow, insane! Thirty million Batz plus a promotion and the boss reward too! Master, let’s eat something delicious today!”
“Very well. But ‘insane’ is a curse word, you know.”
“Insane……. Ah, no! I won’t use it anymore.”
Cesare grinned widely, swearing poorly nonetheless. Meanwhile, Jenia nudged his side and spoke.
“Let’s go to the Request Desk now. That lady told us to go.”
When they arrived at the Request Desk, a familiar employee was there. He handed them a sheet of paper and spoke.
“Balanus Domus, is it. There’s one Named Request that’s come in for you.”
“A Named Request? From whom?”
“Well…….”
The employee glanced at the paper and spoke with evident surprise.
“It’s from a noble house.”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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