I Killed an Academy Player — Chapter 187: Mentor (4)

Chapter 187: Mentor (4)

What‍‌ Miruam showed me,‍ along with her‍⁠ sudden demand for a deal, was‍ one of the⁠ 4 treasures of‌‍ the Danann, the‍‌ Stone of Destiny‍ Lia Fail, which‌‌ determined the next‌‌ King of Gods.

Why‍‌⁠ does she have this?

“Why‌⁠‍ do you-”

“Is‍‌‌ that important? What’s‍⁠ important, more than‌⁠ the reason why, is that it’s⁠ in my possession right now.”

She said with a confident smile before‍ falling on the‍‍ bed while still⁠‌‌ holding onto Lia⁠ Fail. Her crimson⁠⁠ gaze, rumpled clothes,⁠ and crossed legs‌ that defenselessly revealed‌‍ her thighs waited‌ for me to⁠ join her on⁠ the bed.

“You are fighting Tates‍‍ Valtazar, and you‍‌‌ need this to‌ beat him, do⁠⁠ you not?”

“So?”⁠⁠

“Embrace⁠ me. Ravage me‌ and pour out‌‌⁠ all your sexual desires… Help me⁠ achieve my goal,‍ and I will‍‌ give you everything⁠‍ I have.”

Miruam‌ suggested an astonishing‌⁠ offer.

“How‌ does that sound?⁠‌ A great deal‌‌‌ for my hand‌‌‌ in marriage, right?”‍

“…”⁠⁠

Indeed,‍‍‍ rationally speaking, taking⁠⁠ her offer would‍‍ be the right‍ choice. Taking it‌⁠ by force would simply make me‌⁠ a sinner who⁠ tried to steal‍‍ a princess’s belongings.‍

That⁠⁠‍ wasn’t what the⁠‍⁠ Legal Immunity was for.

All‍ I had to‌‍ do was turn‍‍ my eyes away⁠‌ once and embrace‍ her.

I walked towards the⁠ nest of the⁠‌ serpent, who was‍‍ defenselessly revealing her⁠‌‌ skin.

“Come‌‌ here. It is‍‍ fine to do⁠ me as you‍‍ wish. You have‌ the permission of‍‌⁠ this very princess.”⁠‌‍

Her⁠‌ sensuous set of⁠⁠ gestures, coquettish voice,‍ sweet body scent,‍‌‍ and captivating gaze‌ were certainly very⁠‍ powerful. It appeared‌⁠ especially sweeter since‍⁠ I had tasted it beforehand.

Anyone⁠‌ would say that‌‍ I was the‍ one winning on‍⁠ this deal.

“Are⁠ you ready?” I asked.

“For‍‌⁠ a long time,”‌⁠ she replied.

I remained silent without saying anything back‌ to her.

Right,‌⁠ this was the‌ type of woman‌ she was – burning herself to‌⁠ the ground, and⁠‌ only realizing what‌‍‌ she had burned‌‍ after looking at‍‌⁠ the ashes.

“Give‍⁠ me your hand.”‌‍

Reaching⁠‌⁠ out, I locked‌‌ my fingers with‍ her long and‍ thin fingers. It‌ was a perfect‍⁠ fit as if‌⁠‍ our hands had been made for‍‌ each other.

“Yes.‍ Just like that…”

“Shh.”⁠‌

Her lips momentarily turned⁠ stiff. She was‍ surprised by my⁠‍ ill-mannered ‘shush’, but smiled before long,‌ as if none‌⁠ of that mattered‍ as long as⁠ she could obtain‌‍⁠ her goal.

She‍⁠ was a venomous‌ serpent, and I knew that all‌‍ too well.

Her‍ hands and her⁠‌ suggestive gestures were⁠‍‌ constantly provocative and⁠ painfully attractive.

She⁠‍‍ was a woman‍ I had once‍‍⁠ embraced and a wife I had‌ promised a future⁠‍ with. Although the‍ start of our⁠‌ relationship had been⁠ through drugs, I knew best how⁠‌ enticing her body⁠ was.

Everything‌‍‍ from the mole‌ on her thigh,⁠⁠ which only I knew of, to‌ her soft belly,‍ bouncy breasts, and‌⁠⁠ sweet tongue…

I definitely couldn’t deny‍‌‌ that there was⁠‍ a burning desire‌ and lust inside‍‍‍ me, urging me‌ to take the addictive woman for myself one more‍‍ time but…

『…I‌ love you. Sorry‍ for… saying that⁠‌ so late. I love you. I really love you,‍ Korin.』

My‍ brain rapidly started‌ to work. She almost enticed me‌⁠ again with her‌‌ explicit actions.

Placing‌‌ my thumb on‌ her lips, I ran it across‌⁠⁠ and rubbed it.⁠

“…Sir‍ Korin?”

A questioning light appeared in her seductive‌ and coquettish voice.‍

“…Fuu.”⁠

She‍ appeared to have⁠ sensed my rejection⁠ from that sigh,‍‍⁠ as her eyes‌‌ immediately turned cold.‌⁠

Ah,⁠ I bet she‍ hates me now.

“Right. I see… so that’s your decision.”‍‍

Unlike‍ the first time⁠ we met in‍‍ this iteration, she⁠ did not try‌‍ to even conceal‍ her disappointment and anger.

She‍ said with a sharp voice.

“Did⁠ you say the⁠ reason you refused⁠‍ my offer regardless‍ of the conditions‌‌ was because of‌ pride?”

“…”‌

“You’ve‍‌ made a grave‌‍ mistake. If you‌‍ embraced me, I would have willingly⁠‍‌ bet everything on‍ you.”

Then,⁠ she declared that⁠ there was now‌ an unclosable gap⁠ between us. She‌‍ must have deemed⁠ it worthless to⁠⁠ try other conditions,‍‌ now that I even declined Lia Fail.

Leaving‌⁠ those words behind,⁠⁠‌ Miruam stormed out⁠ of my room.⁠⁠

***

That⁠⁠‍ night, with unresolved⁠ pleasure and silence,‌⁠ I bent my⁠ back with a deep sigh.

“She’s⁠⁠‍ angry.”

***‌‌

Miruam⁠⁠‍ knew that Estelle‍⁠‌ had feelings for Korin Lork. After‌⁠ all, the endless‍ proud repetition of stories of how he saved her⁠‌ from the Tower‍ of Mages had⁠ been digging her‍‌ ears out.

However,‌‍ she was confident‍ that she could‌‍ entice Korin Lork‌‌‍ and make him‍⁠ hers. It was⁠ because she saw⁠ the future through‌⁠⁠ Lia Fail; how⁠‍ he helped her‍‍‍ achieve her goal‍⁠ and showed her‌‍ the corpse of⁠ that son of‌‌ a bitch.

“Estelle…‌‌ There’s no way⁠‌ she would cooperate.”⁠

That⁠ damn bitch and⁠‌⁠ traitor, who became‌⁠ the 1st Princess despite being a child of the‌ second wife after‌ her mother’s death.‌

If‍⁠ Korin Lork spent‍ time next to‍‌ her, a protectionist of demi-humans and‍ a practical leader‍‍ of the New‍ Faith, there was⁠ no way that‍⁠ he would help her because Estelle⁠⁠‌ wouldn’t allow it.⁠

‘Has‍‌ destiny been… changed?‌ Did I do‌ something wrong?’

Miruam⁠ thought to herself‌ as she gazed‌⁠⁠ at the Stone⁠ of Destiny in‌‍⁠ her hands. Apparently,‍‍ according to Valtazar,‍ none of the‍‌⁠ fates were set⁠‍ in stone except for those who⁠‍ were born with‍ a great destiny.‍

That⁠‌‍ in turn meant‌‍ that she could⁠‌ change her future‍⁠⁠ and fate depending⁠ on her actions.‌

“Show‌ me… my future.‍‍ My destiny.”

She‍‌ poured mana into‍‍ the stone and‍‌⁠ Lia Fail responded‌ to her call.⁠‍

A bright flash covered‌ her sight.

——————

—————‍‌⁠

————‌

———‍‍

——‍‌

—

It‍‌ was a frosty‍⁠ and cold world.‌⁠

A world full of⁠‍ snowy-white plains.

She‌‍⁠ knew where this‍⁠ was.

The world of the‍ Northern Frost Giant‌‍ – a world‍‍ protected by the‌⁠ giant god of⁠ the northern myth, who joined hands‌‌ with Valtazar.

The‍‍ fact that she‍ was here… meant‌ that the plan‍‌ must have succeeded.‌ She must have‍‍ come here after⁠⁠ that success to‍ pay the price‍⁠‍ that she had‌ promised with Valtazar.

“Ha,⁠⁠ haha… I see.‍ I made it.”‌

Miruam‍‌ was satisfied with‍ that result. That was when she‍⁠‍ spotted a woman‌ vomiting out blood⁠ on the white⁠‍ plains.

『Cough…!』

That‌‍ was her.

That‌ woman, who looked‌ the same as⁠‌ herself, was vomiting⁠‌ blood with a spear piercing through‍ her, and on⁠‌ the other side⁠‍ of the spear‌‌⁠ was Korin Lork.⁠

“…”‌‍

Is‍ this the new‌‍ destiny now?

Well,‌‌‌ this was good in itself because‍‌ she managed to‌‍ confirm that Korin‍ Lork was now‌‍ her enemy.

Although‍⁠ it seemed that she would be‍⁠ dying in the⁠ end, the world‌ afterward did not matter to her‍⁠⁠ as long as‌‌‍ she could achieve‍ her goal.

『You stupid woman… I,‍ I told you‌‍‍ to wait.』

But⁠⁠ for some reason,‍ even though he⁠ was her enemy,⁠ he hugged her‌ dying body with‌‍‍ a sorrowful light⁠ in his eyes.‍

Why?‍‌ He’s her enemy.⁠⁠‌ He’s the one‍⁠ who killed her‌⁠ so…

Why did he look so…

That‌ was the end⁠ of the future‌‌ shown by Lia⁠⁠ Fail.

“Huht…!”‌

Due‍‍ to an overuse‌⁠ of mana in‍ an attempt to‍ glimpse into her⁠ fate, Miruam was‌⁠ sweating buckets as‍ she shot out‌ of her bed.⁠

The⁠‌ frosty world was gone and what‌‍ remained was a dark ceiling. She‌‌ was back inside⁠ the Academy in⁠⁠⁠ her own room,⁠ and the white‌‍ snowy plains just‍ then were nowhere‍⁠‍ to be seen.

However, she knew that⁠‍⁠ was no mere⁠ illusion. She had⁠‍‌ experienced beforehand an existing form of her destiny.

“I‍⁠‍ made it.”

What‍ she could tell‍‌⁠ from that glimpse‍‍ into the future‌ was that she‍ succeeded before dying‍⁠‍ to Korin Lork,‍⁠ her enemy.

More‍‍ than anything, what‌ was important was‌ that she succeeded.‍

“Yes…⁠‌ That’s enough. The‌ thought that I needed someone’s help‌‌⁠ for this was wrong in and‍ of itself.”

I can do it⁠ even without his⁠ help – that’s‌ the most important‌ takeaway from it.‍‌

『You‍⁠ stupid woman… I,‌ I told you‌‌ to wait.』

“…”⁠

But⁠⁠‌ why did that man, who killed‌⁠‍ her with his‍ own hands… look‌ so sad?

She⁠⁠‌ couldn’t continue that line of thought‌ for long because⁠‌ someone knocked on⁠‍‍ her windows.

“Come‍‌ in.”

A lady opened the⁠‌ window and came⁠‌‍ in before getting‌‍⁠ down on one‌‍⁠ of her knees.‌

“Your⁠ Highness Elizabeth.”

“Youngest daughter of Kalatin,‍ correct?”

“Yes,‌⁠‌ Your Highness.”

The⁠⁠‍ lady slowly stood‍ up after a polite greeting.

“What‍ is it?”

“There‌‍‍ has been an⁠ urgent notice from‍‍ my father. He⁠‍ said they spotted‌ a ‘wolf with‍ silver fur’…”

“…!”‌

Her⁠⁠‍ eyes widened into⁠ full circles.

The‌‍ wolf with silver‍‌⁠ fur – the‌‌ main culprit behind‍ the tragedy 10⁠ years ago; the⁠ wolf she had‍⁠‌ been chasing after‍‌ her whole life.⁠⁠

“Hah…‌⁠ Finally after ten‌ years of silence.”‍

She⁠ immediately stood up.‌ Now that they‍ found the silver‌ wolf, she could‍ not wait any‌‍ longer.

“We‌ set out immediately.”‍‌‍

“…Please⁠‌ give me a moment.”

The⁠ youngest daughter of⁠ Kalatin waved her‌ hands and summoned‌⁠ a large crow⁠ and Miruam got on it without‍ making any preparations.‌

“What‌‌ should I say⁠‌‍ to the Academy?”⁠‍ she asked.

“It’s‍ going to be⁠⁠ annoying so… Yes,‍ you can go‍‍‍ to the Academy⁠ in my stead.”⁠⁠‌

“Yes,⁠‍‌ Your Highness.”

Saying‌⁠ that, Arba, the youngest daughter of‍‌ Kalatin, gave another‍ wave which immediately‌ changed her outer⁠ appearance to be⁠ the same as⁠ Miruam.

The‌⁠‌ three daughters of‌‍ Kalatin the Wizard⁠‌⁠ were all masters⁠‌ of illusion, summoning‍ and using familiars,‍ so changing their‍‍ appearance was nothing‍ difficult for them.⁠

The⁠‌ crow summoned by‌⁠ Arba carried Miruam⁠ and soared off‌‌ into the skies of the Academy. Due to the⁠‍ mask of illusion,⁠ no one saw⁠‍ the crow disappearing⁠‍ into the horizon.‌

***‌

“Korin-dongsaeng~”‌

Ever⁠ since Mag Mell,⁠‌⁠ Estelle was always⁠ rather excessively intimate‍ whenever she saw‍ me.

She⁠ would give me‍‌ a surprise hug‌ from behind, play⁠‌ around with my⁠‌ cheeks as if they were slime,‌ ask if she could touch my‍ arms and do‌ it… or even‍‍‌ give a short⁠ kiss to my⁠ cheeks.

“…Korin?”‌

The‍ problem was that⁠‌ she would do‌⁠ all of that‌ regardless of the⁠ time and occasion.⁠⁠

“Wow…”⁠

Ron, the younger brother‍‍ of the wolf‍‍⁠ siblings, sighed as‌‌ he saw the⁠ clingy Estelle.

“Still⁠ hitting on more‌‍ girls, Big Bro?”⁠‍

“What?”⁠‌

How‌‌‌ could Ron say‌⁠‌ such a thing‍ to me? Ren?!‌‌ Can you train‌‍ your little brother⁠⁠ a bit better?‍

“Hmph…!”‌‌‌

I turned to Ren‌ with a questioning⁠ gaze but she‌⁠ flicked her head‍‌⁠ away in response.‍‍⁠

“Big‌‍ Bro… you only‌ need one spouse‍ in your life. Any more than‍⁠ that… will just‍‌⁠ hurt you.”

“W,‍ what are you⁠ talking about?”

Ron⁠‌ replied with a sincerely worried look on his face.‌⁠

“Sometimes⁠‌ when I look‌‌‌ at you, it‌ feels like you‌‌ live without thinking‌‍⁠ about what might‍‌‍ happen.”

I have… absolutely no⁠ idea what you mean, Ron.

“Anyway,”⁠‍‍ I changed the⁠⁠ topic. “Estelle-noona, sit‌ down for a bit. Let me‍ finish off with these kids first.”

“Hing~.‍⁠ Make sure to⁠ play with me‍‍‌ when you finish,⁠‌⁠ okay?”

“I have mentoring after⁠⁠ this as well.‌ You can join⁠‌ if you want‌ to.”

“That‍ real-life practice thing?‍⁠ Miru would hate⁠ it but, oh well~ I’m bored, so I will join.”

Anyway,⁠⁠ today was a combat practice day‍⁠ with Ren and‍ Ron. Their skills‍‍ were getting better⁠‌ and better these‍ days, and it‍‍ might be time⁠ to introduce them‍⁠⁠ to Mound.

“Leaving Ron aside, I think you grew⁠‌ a bit, Ren.”‌⁠⁠

“D,⁠ do you think‌ so too? Nn…⁠⁠ I did get‍⁠⁠ a bit taller.”⁠⁠⁠

“Yeah. You look around⁠ 12 years old‍ now.”

“I⁠ am 17 years‍ old, okay?”

“Yes⁠‍ yes. I’m just talking about how⁠ old you look.”‍

The‌ different growing speeds of beastmen were‍ yet to be‍‌ fully researched, especially‌ for ‘golden wolves’‍‌ like them, who were as unique as Elders or Lords for vampires.

Ren‌‌ and Ron appeared⁠ as grown-ups in‌⁠‍ the game, and‌⁠ the only difference⁠⁠‌ between that and⁠ now was that⁠‍ they weren’t sold⁠⁠ as slaves. Whatever‍‌ the case, this‍ must be a better life for‌ them, because there was no way that living as a slave would‍‍⁠ have led to⁠ a good life.‌‍

“By⁠ the way, how’s⁠ everything going with your friends? Are you doing fine?”⁠‍‌

“Yes…‌‌ except for one.”‌

“Princess‍‌ Miruam?”

“…”⁠

The‍ siblings didn’t reply⁠ but their silence‍‌ already gave it away. They must⁠‌ have somewhat sensed the deep sense‌‍ of hatred and⁠⁠⁠ hostility she had against their race.⁠‍‍

“But‌ these days… she’s‌ a bit more‌ mild.”

“Hnn?”

I asked back, not‍‌ understanding what Ron⁠‍ meant.

“Even‍ when our eyes‌ meet, these days‍ she doesn’t have the cold… killing‌‌ intent? Or anything‍‌‌ in her eyes.”⁠

That‍‍ Princess Miruam not‍ having a reaction⁠ against beastmen… and⁠ werewolves at that?⁠

Is‍ that even possible?⁠‌

***⁠⁠

After⁠‍ the lesson was‌‍ over with the‍‍ two of them,⁠ I headed off⁠‍ to meet Miruam‍‌ for mentoring. Things‍⁠ did end on‌ a chilly note⁠‍ last weekend, but‍⁠‌ that was something‍‍⁠ we had to⁠‍ resolve over time.

“Are⁠‌‍ you really coming?”⁠⁠

“Nn~.‍ It’s not often‍ that we sisters‍‍ can play around‍‍ together, so why‍ not?”

“Haa…”

Estelle⁠‌⁠ wanted to come‌‌‌ with me by‍ all means but‍‍ since I knew‌‌ about the nature‌ of their relationship,‌ I was worried‌ that it might⁠ end up lighting⁠‍ up the fuse⁠⁠ of a bomb.⁠

“Sometimes‌‌ I wonder if‌⁠ you know everything‍‌⁠ about our relationship,”⁠‍ Estelle said.

“…I⁠ do know that‍⁠ you’re siblings.”

“With‌‌ different mothers.”

Estelle⁠ was the daughter‍‍ of Queen Asher,‌ the current queen, but she wasn’t Miruam’s mother. Miruam’s‍‌ mother was Queen⁠‍⁠ Maria, the previous⁠⁠ queen of King‌‍ David. Queen Asher‍ was originally a concubine, so the⁠‌ 1st Princess of‌‍ the El Rath Kingdom was technically⁠ Miruam.

“I‌⁠‍ can understand her hatred against beastmen,”‍‍ she said. “If‍ the direction of⁠ her anger was‍ right, I wouldn’t‍ have stopped her‌ either but…”

“That’s⁠ what revenge is.⁠ You never know‍‍ where it’ll bounce‌ off to.”

“Fufu… Looks like you know it, but how? It’s a story that even‌‍‌ the royal court‍‌‍ is trying to‍ hide.”

“Although I might look⁠‍ like this, I am fighting to⁠⁠‍ save the world.‍⁠ There are a few things here⁠‌⁠ and there that‌⁠ I have to‌ know about.”

There⁠ was nothing wrong with Miruam’s anger‍ itself. Anyone would‌‌ agree to that⁠‍ but…

“I‍⁠ don’t want her‍⁠‍ to become a monster.”

“Me neither. That’s why‍ you wanted my‍ help right?” Estelle‌ asked.

“Yes.”⁠⁠

“That certainly is a bold move. Not‌⁠⁠ sure if it‍‍ will be possible‍‍ though.”

“Well,‍‌ it will work‌ out one way‍ or another.”

Estelle⁠‌‍ giggled after hearing‍⁠ the certainty in⁠ my voice and⁠ asked.

“Is‌ it because I will be blessing‌‍⁠ you?”

“There’s‌‌ that too. Because‍ that will increase⁠ my chance of⁠⁠‌ success by several-fold.”⁠‌

“But are you sure‌‍ you’ll be okay?⁠ Wouldn’t it be better to use‌⁠ me or your‍⁠ other teammates? Honestly, the power level⁠⁠ of your guild⁠‌ is unimaginable, and⁠ it will be⁠ a lot easier‍‌ that way.”

She⁠‌ wasn’t wrong. Marie,‍ Hua Ran, and‍ Alicia… Even with‌ just the help‍‍ of those three,‍ I would be‍ able to manage‍ a full-frontal fight.

But‍⁠ that wasn’t an‌‍ option. Any help⁠‌⁠ I received from⁠⁠ someone else had‍⁠‍ to be to‌ the degree where it could be‌ kept a secret.‍

“I⁠‌ have to do‍‌ this by myself. Because I have‌ to be the⁠‍ only ‘traitor’.”

“…So‌‍ that’s what the Legal Immunity was‌ for.”

We‍‍‍ needed ‘justification’, and‌ this was the only way to‍‍‌ stop Miruam.

While‌⁠‌ having a light‍ discussion about our‍⁠ plan, we arrived⁠ at the office‌ of our Guardians⁠‍ Guild and found⁠ Miruam who had‌⁠⁠ been waiting for us already.

“You’re here. Sir Korin‍ and… Estelle.”

Her‌‌ eyes immediately turned‌⁠ cold the moment she saw Estelle.‍ Estelle returned an⁠⁠‌ awkward wave but‍ Miruam didn’t even‍‍ reply back.

That‌‍⁠ was a very⁠‌ accurate response. Miru⁠ would have responded⁠⁠ that way to‌⁠ Estelle.

But…⁠ what was it?⁠‍ Something didn’t feel‍‌⁠ right.

For‍‌ half a second,‍ I skeptically scanned‍ through her and‍ immediately noticed it.‌

“So,‌‍ what are we‌‍ doing to—”

“Who⁠ are you.”

This‍ woman isn’t Miru.⁠‍‌