My Disciples Became Scoundrels - Chapter 33

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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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The dead had no words. When Dein turned to look behind him, the organization’s members were annihilated as well. The Thosberi were preoccupied with the feast laid out before them.
“Jenia, take the cage with you and come this way. Let’s go.”
“Yes, Master.”
The two of them left the corpses behind and headed through the doorway. Daylight had broken without them noticing.
Jenia set the cage down gently and asked.
“Master, what do we do now? Should we take them back to their homes?”
The children hadn’t seen their faces. If that was the case, they could bury this incident easily enough. Dein placed his hand lightly on the cage.
“I’ll bring people soon. Just be patient a little longer. And I’d appreciate it if you forgot everything you heard.”
After watching the children nod their heads, Dein turned away. He smiled gently at his student.
“Now let’s go get your brother.”
It was a face you wouldn’t believe belonged to the man who had annihilated the Cartel. Jenia smiled back and took Dein’s hand—a face that looked nothing like a monster’s.
* * *
Diar’s office.
She reclined on an elegant sofa, reading through documents. Her expression was quite satisfied, as if the contents intrigued her.
After a moment of silence, Diar lifted her head.
“Come in, Dein.”
A moment later, Dein entered. His expression was calm, as though he’d come on some trivial errand. He tossed a tightly bound pouch onto the floor.
“The Blue Moon is a liquor made from processed Thosberi.”
The pouch was stained with blue blood. From inside came the sound of Thosberi gnawing.
“It’s excellent in flavor and has invigorating properties, so it sold well. But there didn’t seem to be any addictive effects.”
Diar didn’t touch it. Her gaze remained fixed on Dein, the corners of her mouth lifted.
“Thosberi, is it. Come to think of it, I heard the Cartel was annihilated. According to the children’s testimony, they were eaten by monsters.”
Diar smiled with her eyes.
“Weren’t you a bit too diligent?”
“I was diligent. The infiltration was arduous, but if I’d known they’d be devoured by monsters, I would have arrived later.”
Dein’s voice was merely composed, as though their deaths had nothing to do with him. Diar let out a soft laugh.
“You’re quite the actor. Well, I’ll find one of your students for you, as promised.”
The light in Dein’s eyes, which had been calm until now, changed. It was the look of one who had found hope.
“Yes. My students’ characteristics are…….”
“I already know. Go.”
She waved her hand as if she had no need to hear more. Diar was the sort who would discover the color of a king’s undergarments if the price was right. She would have already investigated his students thoroughly.
A faint smile appeared at the corner of Dein’s mouth. His eyes, which had been cold until just moments ago, now held warmth.
He gave a slight nod of acknowledgment and moved toward the exit. But then he paused and turned back to Diar.
“There’s one more thing I’d like to ask.”
“What is it?”
“Regarding the invasion of the city fifteen years ago—how much would it cost to investigate the ones behind it?”
There were two things Dein sought: his students, and the Invaders.
Diar would know about the Invaders. There was no information broker as capable as her.
Silence fell. The air and time seemed to stop. In the dim light, Diar’s red lips curled upward.
“That commission I won’t take. No matter what you offer.”
Her voice was resolute. What that meant was unmistakable. Dein didn’t press further and left the office.
7. The Time of Thaw
I recalled the Baroness’s room.
I recalled those eyes, burning with vengeance as she sat in that coffin of a chamber. I recalled her words—that she had tried to find those behind it and failed.
I recalled Diar’s office.
I recalled those crimson lips moving in the darkness. I recalled her words—that she would not take a commission regarding those behind it.
From the Baroness’s words, I had formed a suspicion that someone was covering up those responsible. And from Diar’s words, that suspicion became certainty.
Diar had refused the commission. The reason was clear: either investigating would cause her severe loss, or the investigation itself was impossible.
If that were so, my enemies were stronger than I had anticipated…….
“Listen, I caught this thing, got it? It was already dead before your tentacles could pierce it.”
“No way. I felt it first. Look here. These are my puncture marks.”
At the raised voices, I snapped my head up. I saw my students bickering with each other.
Before them lay a small dragon, dead. It was the boss of a Same-Rank Dungeon, but it hung limply.
My students were handling the boss like a toy. Jenia spoke to Cesare.
“Why didn’t you aim for the core? With your skills, you could take down a monster like this in ten seconds. Today you took longer because you went for the head.”
“You were in the trajectory of my Spear Throw, so I had no choice. If I went for the torso and skewered you as well, what then? However fast you are, you can’t outrun my spear.”
Though it seemed like they were arguing, there was an undertone of praise and concern in their words.
“I’m fast. I’m good with the Spear Technique now, just like you.”
“That’s funny. Let me see. I’ll check your form.”
Cesare began offering advice as he watched Jenia shape her tentacles into a spear.
In the past, the students would simply return once a match ended. Combat reviews and mutual instruction like this were rare.
I approached my disciples. I asked Cesare, who was demonstrating seriously.
“Impressive dedication. I thought you all did quite well today.”
“We need to work harder. That’s the only way to deal with the Invaders.”
I had told my disciples about the Invaders. Back then, their faces had grown grave.
Not merely angry or despairing—they were thinking about the situation with genuine seriousness.
After that, my disciples’ attitude shifted. They began teaching one another, growing stronger together.
I don’t know who the Invaders are. But the circumstances have changed since then. My disciples are growing, becoming adults.
The tightness around my mouth eased, and a smile rose to my face. I patted my disciples’ shoulders.
“Good to see. Still, let’s save the training for home. I need to report to the Administrative Bureau.”
“Yes, Master.”
After collecting the Monster Cores, we left the Dungeon. Jenia trailed beside me, asking.
“Master, but can that informant really be trusted?”
“Trustworthy enough. Why do you ask?”
“A month has passed and they haven’t found any information about the others.”
“A month is still just the beginning. It could take months, even years—we must have patience.”
It’s been fifteen years. There are no leads. So much time has passed that the search area is vast. If luck is against us, we may even have to look across other continents.
“I miss the others.”
Jenia’s expression had turned a little downcast. They must all miss their older siblings. Cesare ruffled Jenia’s hair roughly as he spoke.
“We’ll find them soon. Hey, do you remember the bet? The one who defeats the boss gets out of dishes.”
“Yeah. But I won.”
“Stop arguing. Let’s decide with rock-paper-scissors.”
“Fine. Rock, paper, scissors!”
The dishwashing duty today fell to Cesare. I wonder when he’ll finally realize he always throws rock first.
After reporting to the Administrative Bureau, we returned home. I checked the mailbox and found a letter.
It was in an elegant envelope. Could it be? I stood there and began to read its contents.
“Huh? Master. What’s wrong? What’s written there?”
Jenia rose onto her toes curiously beside me. I gripped the letter tightly before handing it over.
“It’s from Diar. She says she’s found one of my disciples.”
The letter instructed me to come to her shop tomorrow, as the commission was complete. My disciples’ eyes widened. Cesare approached excitedly.
“Master, who did she find?!”
“It’s not written. We’ll find out when we go tomorrow.”
“Ugh, why tomorrow? Why didn’t she tell you to come right away?”
Rather than frustrated, they seemed thrilled. Jenia reread the letter several times before clutching it to her chest.
I’d found a disciple faster than expected. Now I would be able to see another one of my students again.
Who could it be? How had they been living? What had they become?
I hoped they’d been well. I only wished they hadn’t suffered harshly or turned into ruffians…….
* * *
The next morning.
I was heading to Diar’s Jewelry Shop. Unusually, I hadn’t slept well at all.
My other disciples had also woken up much earlier than usual. These ones who normally slept late.
I barely managed to stop them from wanting to go to the shop at five in the morning. Besides, Diar wouldn’t open at that hour, and she only saw people by appointment.
Still, I understood the children’s anticipation. My own footsteps toward the shop were faster than usual. The moment I faced Diar, she let out a soft laugh.
“Your dark circles are particularly deep today. You always seem to sleep poorly.”
She was dressed in her usual enchanting gown, her face composed with the air of one who knows everything.
Normally I would have made small talk, but not today. I sat on the sofa and asked immediately.
“Which of my disciples did you find?”
“Arkel.”
Arkel. The moment his face came to mind, my throat tightened.
My eldest disciple, the oldest among them. Even then he was only eighteen. By now he would be thirty-three.
Arkel had always been the reliable older brother to his juniors. Though he left saying he no longer wished to look after them, I could not bring myself to hate him. I only hoped he was living well.
Diar flipped through the documents as she spoke.
“It was easier to find than I expected. Before he left the city, he frequently met with a man named Brandon.”
Brandon was one of my oldest acquaintances. He was the most trustworthy person I knew, and yet he had stayed in contact with Arkel.
But why hadn’t Brandon looked after my other disciples? His character would have been more than willing to help.
“So where is Arkel now?”
“Impatient, aren’t you. Take a breath.”
Diar smiled with her eyes as if dispensing medicine. Normally I would have let it pass, but not now.
“Tell me.”
“Good grief, you could kill someone with a look like that. Speaking of which—do you know about that case? The murder that happened fifteen years ago.”
Why was she bringing this up out of nowhere? Whether I glared or not, she continued.
“It was a terrible case. A priest from the Church and thirteen orphans they kept there—all murdered. Brutally.”
Diar handed me a document. It contained detailed information about the Church murders.
Just as she said, the method of killing was savage. It had the hallmarks of a pleasure killer.
The report noted that the killer had tried to cover it up by setting the Church on fire, but there had been a witness.
A bad feeling crept over me. Diar wouldn’t bring up something like this just for entertainment. An unease I’d buried for years began to surface, slow and insistent.
The Arkel I remembered was a good child.
The eldest who would gently stroke his siblings’ heads whenever they cried.
The disciple who rose before dawn to help his teachers.
“They barely caught him based on witness testimony. A man with grayish-blue hair and silver eyes—that’s who the murderer was, they said.”
A sadistic smile played at the corners of Diar’s mouth.
“Arkel Balanus. He’s the one who killed those thirteen people.”

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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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