I Killed an Academy Player — Chapter 240: Rest (1)

Chapter 240: Rest (1)

A short break after⁠⁠ the invasion of⁠‌ the Frost Giant,⁠⁠⁠ Estelle arrived at‍⁠ the border city⁠ with her troops.⁠

– It’s the Saintess!‍

– She came to‌ visit us personally!‍

Seeing‍‍ her appear in‍ the lead on‌‍⁠ a white horse,‍ the citizens cheered⁠⁠‍ for her. Estelle⁠ appeared to have‍ a radiant halo‌‍ behind her as‍‌‍ she arrived with⁠ tens of thousands‌⁠ after integrating the‌⁠ two religions.

Actually,‌ that wasn’t just‌⁠ a figurative expression.‌‌‍ After all, her status after accepting‍ the Divinity of‌‍ Earth from the‍‌⁠ Magic Cauldron of⁠ Undry was no‌ less than that‌⁠⁠ of Korin.

That‍‍ was why the‌ mediocre crowd couldn’t‍⁠ help but feel⁠‍ awed by her‌‍ divinity.

– Saintess! Please look this way!

– You’re too beautiful,‍⁠‍ Saintess!

– It’s the real⁠ Saintess! She’s there⁠ in front of‌⁠ us!

Gazing⁠ across the crowd⁠ cheering and roaring‍ for her, Estelle⁠⁠‌ thought to herself‌ with the most‌ benevolent of expressions.⁠⁠⁠

‘Good.‌‌ My authority is‌ still unchallenged regardless.⁠⁠ I will just‍⁠⁠ have to slowly‌ alter the path⁠ of their faith.’⁠⁠

A child blessed and⁠ chosen by god.‍‍‌

Despite‍ being seen as‍ such, she was‌ at heart the‍‍ most unfaithful person⁠‍ who dreamed of‍ becoming a goddess‌⁠‍ of a new‍ world. Her followers⁠‍ would most likely⁠ faint from shock‌‌‍ if they knew⁠ that.

Estelle‍ maintained her fake‌‍‌ smile as she⁠ continued looking across,‍‌ searching for that⁠‍‌ someone who should be somewhere within⁠⁠ the crowd. And at last, she‌‍‍ found a young man in the‌ middle of the‍⁠ crowd who appeared‍ indifferent in comparison.‍‍

“Ko~rin~Do~ngsaengggg!!”

There⁠⁠ was no stopping her as soon‍‍⁠ as she found‌⁠ him. Estelle kicked‍ off the saddle⁠‌ and jumped towards him.

“Uhkk…!”‍⁠

What’s⁠ this woman doing!‍ Thinking that, Korin‌‌ took her in⁠ his arms so‌ that she didn’t⁠‌⁠ fall. Upon landing‍‍ in his embrace,‌ Estelle floated a wide smile and‍ started sucking his‌ cheek.

“You missed me, didn’t⁠‍‌ you! Tell me, ‘I missed you‌ noona,’ and I’ll‌⁠ give you a kiss!”

“You‍⁠ already did that…‍ Everyone’s watching! They’re⁠ watching us!”

“It‍‌ doesn’t matter~ Are you embarrassed? Do‍‌ you want me‍ to headpat you?”⁠

Saintess⁠ and the 1st Princess of the‍‍ kingdom. The unrelenting‌ show of affection‍⁠ from the most⁠ famous lady in‍⁠ the kingdom shocked‌ not only its⁠‍ citizens but also‍‌ the barbarians.

– What the fuck?⁠‍

– Why is the‍⁠⁠ Saintess doing that?‍‌

– Just because he’s⁠ a Unique Grade‍‍‌ knight!

– I saw that⁠ guy smiling and‍⁠⁠ giggling with other⁠ girls!

– That son of‌‍ a…!

The‍⁠ hero who saved⁠ the border city.‌‌⁠ The strongest knight⁠ of the kingdom…‌ All those titles‍ meant nothing at⁠⁠ this moment.

Receiving‍ the affection of⁠‌ the noblest lady‍‍ of the continent‍‍ publicly, right now,‍ Korin Lork was⁠ simply a target‌ of jealousy.

“How‌‌ about you let‍‍ him go? What‌‌‌ an undignified thing‌ to do for a princess.”

Miruam‌‍ said while approaching‍ them with the‌ help of a walking stick. Although‌‍⁠ she was speaking‍‌ of dignity, her‌‍ eyes were as‌ vicious as a venomous serpent.

“Oh⁠‌ my. Miru my‌‍ sister~. Are you‍‍ jealous?” responded Estelle⁠‌ without a single⁠⁠‍ change in her‍‍ expression.

Unfortunately⁠⁠ for her, however,‍ Miruam wasn’t her‍ only rival.

“Let‌ go.”

Hua⁠ Ran pulled her⁠ away from Korin‌ by force while Marie gave her‍ a squinted glare from the side.‍‍

– I’m so freaking‌‍‍ jealous.

– Wow… What the⁠ heck is with‌‌‍ him?

– Both the princesses and a noble‍‌ on top…

This was a rather‌ common occurrence and‌ an atmosphere that⁠‌ Korin Lork had⁠⁠⁠ become used to‍ at this point.‍

– T, that lucky‍‍ bastard.

“Fuu…⁠‍‌ Yeah, of course it’s gonna turn‌‌ out like this.”

His quiet sigh was⁠⁠⁠ buried under the⁠ jeers of the⁠‍ crowd.

****

The‍ border city was⁠ bustling and busy even after the⁠ reinforcements arrived.

Although‍ the battle itself‍‍ had ended as‍ a victory, there‌‌⁠ were still matters to be addressed‍‌ such as the⁠‍ broken houses, refugees‍⁠ without homes and‍ most importantly, the barbarians.

“How‌⁠ does it look?”‍ I asked.

“For‌ the time being, it doesn’t look like it will‌‌‍ be a big‌ problem.” Estelle replied.⁠‍ “Plus, they were⁠‍ saying they would‍‌‍ return to their‍‍‍ lands once this‌‍ whole thing was‍‌ settled.”

Estelle‌⁠ and I were⁠‌ sitting on the‌‌ terrace of our‌‍ designated building, having⁠⁠ a tea along⁠‍‍ with some biscuits.‌⁠⁠

“That’s⁠ good.”

“Thanks‍‍‍ to you stocking‍ enough food, dongsaeng.”

“Technically‌ that’s thanks to⁠ Marie-sunbae.”

“And⁠ it wouldn’t have⁠‍ turned out this⁠ nicely without you.”‌

“Me?”

Lowering‍‌ her cup, Estelle‍‍ explained with a smile.

“The‌ northerners have a culture of deifying⁠ warriors. What you‍‍ showed them was⁠ enough to earn‌⁠‌ their respect and⁠‍‍ admiration.”

“I’m sure they’re not‌⁠ that simple of⁠⁠ a race, though.”‍

“Yeah.‍‌ Large part is‍ of course thanks⁠‍ to them.”

Skjaldmaer.‍

They,⁠‌‌ the psychological pillars‍ of the northerners,‌ were supporting me‍‌‌ and that was why the northerners‌‍ weren’t being apprehensive‌‍‍ of us.

“Dongsaeng.‌ This is the⁠⁠‍ power of faith.”⁠‍

“…Don’t‍ tell me you’re starting this again.”‍

“Humans⁠⁠⁠ move based on‍‌ emotions and not‌‌ logic, and they⁠‌‌ have an irrationally blind faith in⁠‌‌ whatever they believe‍⁠ in. Look at the forces that⁠‌ followed me here.‌‍⁠ They were willing to risk their‍‍ life just because⁠‌ I said a few things to‌ them.”

“Not‌⁠ my favorite way‌ of wording things.”‌‍

“But‍‍ that’s the reality.”‌

She continued while looking⁠ at me with a rational yet‌⁠‍ fanatical set of eyes.

“Faith⁠‌⁠ gives power – it gives them‍‌ courage to gladly‌‍ throw themselves into‌ a pit of⁠‌ flames. That’s why⁠ we need a rightful god.”

“I’m‌ telling you; I have no plans‌ of being a god.”

This‍ noona was being‌ more and more‌ explicit ever since she acquired Undry.‍‍ At this rate,⁠ she was actually⁠⁠ on the path‍‌ of becoming the‍ leader of a sect!

I was having concerns‌⁠ about that possibility when something suddenly‍⁠ touched my ankles.‌

“Hold…”‍

“What~?⁠‍⁠ What do you‌‍ mean?”

This‍‌ woman?

Like⁠ last time, Estelle‍⁠ was playing with⁠‍ her feet beneath‌⁠ the table. It‍ seemed that she had gotten used to a weird habit…

“I⁠ heard His Majesty‍‍ gave you an‌‌ offer while I was away,” she‍ hinted.

“Don’t‌ even talk about⁠‌ it. It was‌⁠‍ a big trouble‍⁠‌ back then.”

In⁠ fact, the entire kingdom had been‌‌ in a state⁠ of confusion because‍‍‌ of that.

That‌‍‍ old man, the‍‍ Sword Emperor, arranged⁠ his army on‍ the state border;‌ Duke Marde started‍ an economic war against the royal‍‍ family; the royal family started a massive tax investigation…⁠ The country almost⁠⁠ ended up turning‍⁠ into a mess‌‌ before we even‌ began fighting Valtazar.‌

“Fufu.‌ So I’m sharing⁠⁠ the husband with‍ Miru huh~”

“That‌ would be horrible…”‍‍

Estelle⁠⁠‍ alone was already‍ a handful, so⁠‌ Miru on top‌‍‍ of that?

“Well,‍ you don’t have‌⁠ to decide just⁠‌ yet. I know‍ there are a lot of attractive girls near you,‌ so I understand⁠⁠ your hesitation. But…⁠ yeah.”

While‍⁠‌ fidgeting with her⁠‌ cup, Estelle turned‍ pink like a countryside maiden.

“If‍ after all that‌ hesitation you choose⁠‌‌ me, I would‍ be very happy.”

Her‌‍ smile appeared so‍ astounding yet pitiful…‌‍ that I almost‌⁠ lost to the‌‍ urge of giving her a hug.‌‍

****‍‍

Due⁠ to the sudden‍ influx of troops,‌ it took a long time to⁠ reorganize the army,‍ decide on our‌ path and deal⁠ with the supplies.‍‌‌ Mobilizing an army‍ was not the⁠⁠ decisive move, although⁠⁠ important, because it⁠ came at the⁠ cost of taking‌‍ a very long‍ time.

In‍‌ the original storyline‍ of the game, the player’s role⁠ was that of‍‍ a sharp throwing‍‌‌ knife; an assassination‍‌⁠ tool that dug‌ straight into the⁠‍ heart of the‌ enemy.

It⁠ was that of‌ the hero party‍ defeating the demon lord, and the‌ role of the army was to‍‍ fight against the‍ actual troops of⁠‌ the demon lord.‍‌‌

And‌‌ what a single⁠‌ hero could do‍ was limited when⁠‍ it came to‍ commanding an enormous‌⁠ group, so there‍‌ was nothing much⁠ for me to‌‌ do for the⁠ time being.

“That’s‌⁠ nice.”

As such, I was⁠ in an open-air‍ hot spring right⁠‍⁠ now.

To‌ be exact, it‌ was an open‌ bathhouse created by‌ the slave mages‌‍ under Marie’s guidance.‍⁠ Built on a hill, the white‍ snowy slopes beneath‌ were a spectacle to behold, and‍‍ it felt like⁠‌⁠ my fatigue was‍ melting away just‌ by immersing my⁠‍ body in water‌‌ with such a magnificent scenery before‍ my eyes.

‘This reminds me of‍ the times.’

There‍‌ was a time when I traveled around Hokkaido with⁠‌ my friend.

Sangwoo‌ was a baseball⁠ player, and we were going to‌ travel with just⁠⁠ the two of⁠‍‍ us to commemorate‍ his team winning the Asian Games,‍‌ but somehow, our other friends caught‍ wind of it and came along.⁠

Having⁠ Japanese sake in‍⁠⁠ an onsen with‍ friends was an⁠‍ immaculate experience.

A plate of sake‍ floating across the⁠ hot spring, drinking when we pleased‌‍ with the snowy⁠ mountain in front‍‍ was… Kya~!

“This‌‍ is the day‍‍⁠ I’ve been dreaming‍ of.”

In‌‍ fact, there was⁠‍ something I immediately⁠‍ prepared when I heard we made‍‌ an open-air bathhouse.‍⁠⁠ High-class wine of‍ the south and‍ semi-dried fish! Although‌ not at the‍‌⁠ level of sake,‌‍ it was somewhat‌⁠ similar.

“Fuu…”‌

The⁠ bath made with the combined effort‍‌ of Green Cult⁠‌‍ mages providing a concoction of herbs‍ and the mages‌ of Red Cult‍‍ boiling the water⁠ in real time was certainly incredible.‍

I could feel my‍‌ fatigue being washed away, and it⁠‍ was joyful that‌ I was here‌⁠ alone.

At⁠ the start I was a bit‍⁠‌ worried since the⁠ girls around me‍‍ tended to do‌⁠ some strange things⁠ at times, but‍ thankfully, the male⁠⁠ and the female‍‍ baths were properly‌⁠ separated.

“Some‌ booze in snow.‍‍‌ Not bad.”

There⁠‍⁠ were rest breaks like this in‌ the last iteration⁠‌‍ as well, but‍ it was a bit spooky looking‍⁠ back at them‍⁠ now because Park⁠‍ Sihu had always‌ been with me.⁠‍

“Ugh…”‍‌

A hot spring with‌ a gay person…‌ it would have‍‌ been dangerous of‍‌ me, had this been a Boys⁠‌ (Not) Love novel that I came‍‌ into.

However,⁠ I didn’t have‌ to worry about‌‍ that anymore! My‍ chastity was safe!⁠

– Crunch! Crunch!

That‌‍ was when the⁠‌⁠ sound of someone‌‌ stepping on snow‍‌ echoed from the‌⁠ other side of‌‌‍ the wooden fence‍ separating the male‌‌ and the female‌ bath.

Hmm…‌ due to being‌ an open-air bathhouse, I guess it‌‍ made sense that⁠ it wasn’t soundproof.

– Fuaahh~

An exhausted sigh echoed‌‍ from the other‍⁠ side, which gave⁠⁠⁠ away her identity.⁠

“Alicia,⁠‌‌ huh.”

Should‍ I call out‍ to her? Maybe‌ not because she might be embarrassed?⁠ I was thinking⁠ to myself when‌ splashes of water‌ reached my ears.‌

“Ahehe…!‌ So warm~”

The⁠ splosh of water⁠‍‍ being pressed down‌‍ from the surface,‌ followed by water‍⁠‌ sliding down and‌⁠ dropping back down⁠ in droplets.

…It was a sound⁠ that stirred up one’s imagination.

Instead‌‍ of using a bowl, she seemed‌ to be using‌‌ her hands to‍‍ scoop up the‌ bath water and‌‌ splash it on‌ her body, which‌ then created a waterfall traveling down‍ her reddened skin.‍⁠

Kuhum…⁠⁠ I cleared my⁠ thoughts along with⁠⁠ my throat.

Seriously,‍‌ it seemed I couldn’t escape the‍‍ fate of how⁠‍‍ creatures called ‘men’‌‍ tended to carry⁠ out indecent imaginations‌ regardless of time.⁠‌

“…”‍

The‌ constant splashes of⁠ water from the‌⁠‍ other side of⁠ the wall, that‍⁠ aroused one’s imaginations,‌⁠ knew no end.‌

That‍ wall though. It was rather shoddy‍‌ and so low that any knight‌‌ would be able‌ to jump over‌⁠ with some effort.

Although⁠‍ peeking at the‍ female hot spring⁠⁠ in open-air bathhouses used to be‍ a trend in⁠ 2D, the times⁠ had changed significantly.⁠‌‍ These days, there‌‌‌ were even talks‌⁠ about 2D human‌‍ rights, so how‍ could a man‍ possibly climb the‍‍ wooden fence to⁠ take a peek⁠ at the women?‌⁠ Even if others⁠ allowed it, I would not allow‌‌ such a sinful‌ act!!

“Wah~‌‍ Korin-ssi. I didn’t‌‌ know you were‌‍ there.”

But‌ what do you‍‌‌ do when a woman peeks at‍ the men’s hot‌‌ spring? This wasn’t mentioned anywhere in the 2D declaration⁠ of human rights!‌‍

“Alicia‍‍ you…”

In‍ an attempt to⁠⁠ tell her off,‍‌ I turned towards‌‍‍ her body that‍‍ was slightly visible‍ above the fence.

Above⁠⁠ the faint sight‌ of her cleavage⁠⁠⁠ was her skin‍ flushed from the warm water, and⁠ her wet strands‌ of hair were‌‍ going down the‌ side of her⁠‌‍ neck, sliding all‍⁠ the way down‍ to the rift.⁠

It‌⁠ was highly likely‍ that Alicia on⁠⁠⁠ the other side of the wall‌ was… having her⁠⁠‍ bare body fully‌‍‌ on display while hanging on the⁠ fence.

“A, aren’t you cold?”‍‌ I asked.

“I‌ am.”

“Then‍⁠ just… go back‌‌ into the water.”‌⁠

“Hmm…‌ I think doing‍‍ this is more‌ rewarding.”

Damn⁠⁠ it…

Alicia⁠⁠‌ this little fox!‍⁠‌ Even though she‍ used to be embarrassed of sweating,⁠‌ these days she⁠⁠ was unbelievably daring.‌‍‍

“Can⁠ I go over?”⁠

“Of⁠‍‌ course not!”

Of⁠⁠⁠ course that would⁠‍‌ be good and…⁠ Although it would‍ most certainly be‍ better than having⁠‍ a bath with‍⁠ another guy – even more so‍‍⁠ if that said‍‌ guy was after⁠‍ my chastity! I still couldn’t say yes to that‌ could I?

I had a complex⁠‍ relationship with several⁠⁠ girls and I couldn’t take advantage‌ of their feelings‍‍ since I wasn’t⁠ ready to accept⁠ them yet.

“W,‍⁠ what if other‌‍ guys came in?”

But‌‌ what I ended⁠‍ up saying was⁠‌ much more selfish‌ and self-centered.

“Ah,‍ that’s true too.”⁠

“Hurry up and go⁠ back into the‍‍‌ water. Not something a lady should⁠⁠ be doing.”

“Hehe…”‍

Alicia‍ gave a daring‌ smile before letting⁠ go of the‍‌ fence. She dropped‌‌ onto the snow‌ with a splat‌ before splattering into⁠⁠ the water.

– Korin-ssi.

“…What‍‍ is it?”

A young pair of‌‍ male and female‍ talking over the‍ fence of an‍ open-air bathhouse.

It‌‌‌ felt a bit⁠ weird and… was⁠ a stiffening experience.‌‍‌

– It’s snowing a lot.

“The‌ winter hasn’t ended yet after all.”⁠

Although⁠ the Frost Giant⁠ had retreated, the‍‍ winter had yet‍ to end. But…‌‌ I was sure⁠ it would disappear‍‌ once the final⁠ war was over.‍

I could say that‌ for sure, even‍ though the Frost‌ Giant probably wouldn’t⁠‍⁠ show himself again‍⁠‌ just like last⁠‌ iteration and the‍‌ original game.

– Even though it’s‍ not a good‍ thing that it’s‍ snowing… it’s still⁠ pretty.

“Well,⁠ it does give‍ off a special‌ feeling in this kind of setting.”

– Do you like⁠ snow, Korin-ssi?

“I⁠‌ don’t.”

– Mhmm? That was‍ a very quick‍ answer.

“I‍ have a sad‌ memory regarding snow.”‍

– What is it?‌⁠

It⁠ happened when I was 23 years‍ old. With my⁠ turn to appear⁠‍ in the Olympics‍‌ right around the corner, I smacked‍‍ that damn coach⁠⁠ of the Association,‌‍‍ got kicked out and went straight⁠ into the army.‌

I was assigned to⁠⁠‌ Cheorwon of Gangwon Province, perhaps one⁠ of the coldest‍ places in Korea, which was probably‍ enough to explain‍ things.

[Wahaha!‌ There’s trash falling‍‍‌ from the sky!‌ Uhahahaha!]

Girls‌ didn’t like listening‍ to stories about‍‌ the military because⁠‌ they couldn’t really‌‌ relate to it,⁠‌‌ and that was⁠ why I avoided‌‍ it altogether.

“Don’t‍‍‌ worry about it. I wonder if⁠ the Captain is‍ doing okay~”

I remember him saying‍ he would introduce⁠‍ me to his⁠ daughter one day.‌

Both‍‌ the Sergeant Major‌ and the Captain‌ used to cherish‌ me a lot.

There‌ was also Second‌ Lieutenant Park Yehwa.⁠‍ How many years‌ has it been⁠ since I saw‍‌‌ her crying behind⁠‍ the cookhouse and‍‍‌ cheered her up?‍⁠

[C,‌‍ Corporal Kim. Do‍‍ you have any‍ thoughts on staying in the military?]‍‌

[Madam Park. Why are‌‍ you saying the‌‌ same thing as‌‍ Captain?]

[I‌ think you… belong⁠⁠⁠ here.]

[What‌ a horrendous thing‌ to say!]

[Just‍ stay here with‌ me, okay? I’ll be a First⁠ Lieutenant in no time – I promise I’ll be‌ good to you!]‌

[Huu…⁠⁠ Captain even said‍ he would introduce‍‌ me to his‌ daughter. What are‍ you willing to‌⁠ promise, Madam?]

[U,‌‌ uhh hmm… Then⁠ what if I…]‍

Hmm…⁠ She wasn’t able to finish that⁠‍⁠ sentence in the⁠⁠ end. I guess‍‍ there was nothing‍⁠ in her hand‍‍ that could beat‍‍ a captain’s daughter.⁠‍‍

– Korin-ssi? Are you‍‍ listening to me?⁠

“Ah… Sorry. I was thinking about something⁠‍‌ else. What did you say?”

– We still have‌⁠⁠ a few days‌‍ left. Let’s play⁠ around together during‌ that time!

“Hmm…”‌‌⁠

What‌‌⁠ should we do?⁠ Was there even‌ something to do in this place?

I was about to‍ say, ‘Let’s do a mixed bath‌ together!’ as a joke but… decided‌‌ against it in⁠ fear that they⁠‌ might actually try‌ to do it.‍⁠‍

There⁠‌⁠ was nothing to‌ sightsee, with nothing‌‌ nearby apart from⁠‍ scary muscle-brain machos and snow falling‍⁠ like trash from above. Was there⁠ something fun to‍‍ do?

“Ah.”‍

There‌ was one.