I Killed an Academy Player — Chapter 243: Rest (4)

Chapter 243: Rest (4)

Me‌ dying because of‌‌ women?

It⁠‌ was so out‍‍ of the blue⁠⁠⁠ that it didn’t‍ make any sense.‍‍

“What⁠ do you… What?⁠ Me?”

“Yes.”‌

“What…‍‍‌ Huh? ME?”

“That⁠ is exactly the‍ case.”

Skuld⁠ replied firmly with‍ a smile to‍ pull me out‍⁠ of my stupor.‌

“Like,⁠ how could that…”‍⁠⁠

“I‌‌⁠ am simply telling‍⁠ you what I saw. It is‍‍⁠ only one of‌ the possibilities of⁠ your future, so⁠⁠ please don’t worry⁠ too much about‌‌ it.”

“I‍‍ can’t just not worry about that…”

How⁠‌ could I possibly⁠‌‍ die because of‍⁠ women? There was‍ absolutely no way‌ this could ever⁠ be possible!

“T,‍⁠‍ the girls are⁠ all so nice.‍‌ There’s no way‍‍‌ they would kill⁠ me…”

“From time immemorial, it‍ has been commonplace‍‍‌ for heroes to⁠ die because of‍ women.”

Looking‍⁠ at my pale‍ and expressionless face,‍ Skuld added.

“Don’t‍ worry, Sir Korin.⁠ I will make‌⁠ sure to personally‍ behead you so that you can‌‌ head to Valhalla.”⁠⁠

“I‌ don’t need you to! This is‍‌ the problem for‌ you guys! I’m⁠⁠ trying to be‌‍‍ friends and yet you’re always aiming⁠‌ for my neck!”‍‌

These⁠⁠ ladies had a strong tendency of⁠ competitively wanting to⁠‍ behead warriors they’ve⁠ acknowledged! The ‘women’‍‌⁠ mentioned in the‌ prophecy might be‌ one of them‌‍⁠ in fact!

“W,‍ who was it?”‌‌ I asked, but‍⁠ Skuld shook her⁠ head in response.⁠⁠

“I‌⁠‍ could not see‌ her face, but‌ I can assume who they might⁠‍⁠ be.”

“How?”‍

“I⁠‌‌ am a norn‌ stealing a glimpse‍‌ into destiny. The‍‌ fact that I could not see‌ their face, means‍‍⁠ they must be‍ of a higher‍ divinity or ability‍‍ than me.”

“…I,⁠ in other words?”‌⁠‌

“She could either be‌‍⁠ a goddess, or someone strong enough⁠‍ to push the⁠ entire world into‍‌‍ chaos.”

Those were tremendously hard‍ requirements to meet,‍ but there were‍ quite a few I could think‍⁠ of.

First⁠ of them was Master… Although I couldn’t possibly imagine‌ a future of⁠⁠ Master killing me,⁠‌⁠ she was still⁠‌‍ the only living‌‌ goddess of this⁠ era.

There was also Estelle…‍ the pseudo pope‌ wishing to be‍ the next Goddess‍‍ of the Earth, and to be‍‍ fair, she really‍‌ could become one‍ with the power‌‍ of her divinity.

Wait,⁠‍ damn it.

Now‌⁠ that I think‍‍ about it, Marie,‍‌ Alicia and Hua⁠ Ran were also‌ potential threats. The‌⁠ three of them‍‌ had been gifted⁠ by the three‌ Goddesses of War.‌

Could‌‍‌ these qualify them‍⁠ as a semi-goddess?‌ Well, even apart⁠ from that, they‌⁠ were strong enough⁠ to individually affect the entire world.⁠

“Don’t‍ worry too much‍‌ about it. You never know what‍ will happen in‍ life.”

Skuld’s‌‍ next words that‍‌⁠ dying in such‌⁠ a way could⁠‍ be a happy‍‌ ending in itself, hearing which gave me goosebumps.

“H,‍⁠ how could that‌ be…”

Something‍ like this had‍ never happened in⁠‌ the last iteration… and I was‌⁠ single my whole‌ life on Earth,‌⁠⁠ so why now…?

I stumbled my way⁠‌ out of her‌ tent with my⁠‌ mind full of‌‍ dizzying thoughts.

Skuld⁠‍‍ finished off by⁠⁠ saying, ‘If you‍‌ ever feel like‌ you are going⁠‌‌ to get poisoned⁠ or stabbed by⁠⁠ your partner, please‍⁠ don’t forget to‌‌ find me first~’⁠‍ and didn’t lose⁠ interest in my‍⁠ head the whole‍‍‍ time.

****

My⁠⁠ fate was to⁠ die due to women.

That⁠ sentence refused to⁠ leave my mind.‌⁠

As‍ for the reason…⁠‌ I assumed it‍⁠‍ would most likely‍ be because of‍‌ jealousy.

The‌ fact that there⁠ was a pregnant woman meant that⁠⁠‍ I had chosen‍ someone, and someone‌‍ else who couldn’t‍ sit still and⁠ do nothing must‌⁠ have decided to⁠ kill me… I,⁠ it was highly⁠⁠ likely that such‍ a horrifying thing⁠⁠ would be my‍⁠⁠ future!

Then‍ who? Who’s going to kill me?‌⁠

I couldn’t help but⁠⁠ see everything with‌‌ doubt.

“Korin?⁠ Why aren’t you‌⁠ eating your Blood⁠‍⁠ Jelly soup?”

“…Sunbae.‍⁠‌ Whose blood did‍⁠ you use for⁠‌ the blood jellies?”‍

– Flinch!

Marie’s⁠ eyes wavered from‌⁠⁠ my sudden question,‌ but she eventually⁠‍ pretended to have‍⁠ regained her calm‌ and carried a baked potato to‌⁠ her mouth.

“I,⁠‍ I don’t know‍ what you mean‍ by that question…?‍‌ Of course blood‌ jelly soups are‍ made from ox‌‍ blood.”

What‌‌ I knew, was⁠‍ that pouring a certain amount of‍ that soup could⁠‍⁠ turn mages with‌ high magic resistance⁠ into vampires and⁠⁠‍ ghouls.

‘Is‍ it Marie?”

No,‍ it can’t be.‍‍ Marie is such‍‍ a nice girl…‍‌⁠ There’s no way‍ she would do‍‌ such a thing‌ to me!

Then…⁠ is it Alicia?‌

I carefully observed Alicia, who was casually‍‍‌ stretching with no‍‌ regard to her⁠‍ armpits being in‌‍ full display.

‘It‌‌‍ can’t be her.⁠ She was open‍ about me getting⁠⁠ married to multiple‍⁠ girls.’

Considering‌⁠ her distorted personality,⁠‌⁠ she was the‌‌ type of person‌ who would invade‍ my house at‍‌ night along with‍‌ her sister if⁠ I was married‌ to someone. Wait,‌ that’s not that‍ good either…

‘Then‌⁠ is it Estelle?’‍‍

Estelle‌⁠ was extremely devoted⁠⁠‍ to me, and was even trying‍ to deify me‍ as a god for some reason.⁠ Would she try⁠⁠⁠ to kill me?‍ Probably not. I felt like she was someone who⁠‍ would kill the⁠‌ wife instead.

‘As‌⁠⁠ for Master…’

It‍‌‌ was out of‍ the question for‌ her. She was‍ the living personification‍‌ and avatar of‌⁠ justice. There was⁠‍ no way she⁠‌ would kill someone⁠ from jealousy!

That⁠‍ was absolutely unthinkable!‍⁠ I could guarantee it!

Which‍‌ means…

“You’re‍ making dinner today right? Do you‌‍ want me to⁠⁠ help?”

I asked after walking⁠ up to Hua.

Hua‍⁠ and Ran.

Although‌‌ the two of them were very⁠ docile, they had⁠ an unconditional liking‍‌ towards me.

– Slap

“Hnn?”⁠

My‌ hand, which I had used to⁠‌ reach out to⁠ her, was quickly‌ slapped away. Did‍ Hua just do⁠ that to me?‍‍ I thought you‌ liked me! I thought we were‍‍⁠ close!

When‌‌ I looked at‍ her dumbfoundedly, Hua‌‍ frowned as if she had seen‌‍ something dirty.

“Immoral.”⁠

“Huh?”⁠

W,‌⁠ what was that‌ about?

Seeing her walk towards‌ the kitchen with‍⁠‌ her back towards‌ me, I muttered.‍‌‌

“I,⁠ is this puberty?”‌⁠

““………””‍⁠⁠

Everyone‌ remained quiet despite⁠⁠ my question.

…….‍⁠

……‍

…

I continued thinking to‌ myself even after‌ the meal, but⁠⁠ I just couldn’t⁠‌‍ think of anyone‌ specific who would‍⁠ go to the lengths that Skuld‍‌ mentioned.

While‌‍ pondering to myself,‌ I was walking down the streets⁠ when I came⁠⁠ across someone.

“Sir⁠‌⁠ Korin?”

“Ah,⁠‍ Your Highness Miruam.”‍⁠

She looked like a small venom-less snake‌⁠ with her unusually⁠‌ casual dress and‌⁠ a fur coat‍‌ over it.

“…Call me Miru.”

“Sure.”‌

“…”‌‍

Even‌⁠ though she was⁠ the one asking‍ me to call‌ her by her‌‌ nickname, she looked‌‌⁠ slightly discontent when I agreed to⁠‌ do so in‌ a flash.

Others‌ might see her‍ gaze and say⁠‌ she was angry,‌‍⁠ but I could‍ tell the subtleties in her expression⁠ and emotions. She‌‍ was my previous‌⁠ wife, after all.‌⁠

“How⁠ are things going‍⁠ with the military?”‍

“Not⁠ bad. There are‍ a few backlashes‍‍ from the barbarians,⁠‍ but they’re slightly‌ flexible thanks to⁠ the skjaldmaers.”

It‌ really was great‌‌‍ that we were‍ able to win⁠ over the remaining‌‍ valkyries. If the‍⁠⁠ commander system of‍ the military had⁠‌‌ been jeopardized, we⁠‍ wouldn’t have been⁠⁠‍ able to win‌ any wars.

“By⁠⁠‍ the way, my‍ husband really has‍‌ a lot of‌‌ women.”

“Kuhum…!⁠⁠⁠ Well, that’s…”

I was about to‌ say, ‘nothing new’,‍‍‍ but decided not‍ to because that⁠ sounded like such⁠ a trash thing‍ to say.

“Hmm~.‍ At least you’re‌‍ not saying no.”‌‍

Miru⁠⁠‌ slithered forward like‍‍ a snake before⁠ suddenly pulling my‍⁠ head down by⁠⁠ the shirt.

“We’ve‌‌ done everything in⁠⁠‌ the future already,‍ haven’t we?” she‌‌⁠ whispered.

We‌ did do everything⁠ indeed. As well‌ as anything she⁠‍ could possibly imagine.‍

The‍‌ young man from⁠ Earth without any⁠ relationship experience turned‌ into an addicted⁠‍ beast craving for‌⁠ more after realizing how it felt.‌‌

“How‌⁠ lecherous.”

“Even though you say that…”

Was‌‍ she… trying to‌ have me as‌⁠ her partner even‍‍ in this life?⁠⁠ Even though there‌ was no political‌ need for it?‌

I was going through‌ such things in‌ my mind when she suddenly added with a venomous‌⁠‍ smile.

“By⁠ the way, I don’t share mine‌ with anyone. What⁠‍ can’t be mine,‍ I will shred‍‌ into pieces if‌ anything.”

“Kuhk…!”‌

Are‍ you the one⁠‍ who appeared in‌⁠ my prophecy?!

It‌ was spooky.

I…‌ really hope I can be alive‍‌ for the ending.‍‌

****⁠‍

Despite Skuld’s prophecy, I still meditated for⁠‌ the upcoming war.‌ Physical and mana⁠ training were meaningless⁠‌ beyond this point,‌‍‌ and the focus‌‌‍ therefore had to‌‍ be in getting‍‍‌ ‘enlightenment’.

〚Korin⁠ Lork (Hero)〛

Aura⁠‌‌ – { Lower‍ Unique (20,130) }

Mana‌‍ – { Lower⁠⁠ Unique (18,920) }

Specialties:‌ { Regeneration of‍‌ the Tenacious Warrior,‌ Pain Tolerance, Domain‌ Comprehension, Triple Core,⁠‍ Demonic Aura Release,‌‍‌ Herculean Strength, Intuitions‍‌‌ of a Player,⁠⁠ Ether Comprehension, Battlefront⁠ Flag Bearer }

Strength:‌ 373

Agility:⁠⁠‍ 305

Vitality:⁠‍ 300

Aura:‌⁠ 314

Mana:‌ 314

Increasing‍⁠⁠ one of them‍⁠⁠ into the ‘Unique’‌‍ realm was marvelous⁠‍ enough and yet⁠‌ both my Aura⁠‌ and Mana were‌‍ in Lower Unique.‌‌

It wasn’t an overstatement‍ to say that‍ I was 4 ~ 5 times‍⁠ stronger than the⁠⁠ player of the‍‌ original game after‍‍ a normal playthrough.‌‌‌

Besides,‌ there was more.‌‍

Thanks‍ to the Precept,‍‌ 〚I do not⁠ perceive spirits〛 I dealt 50% additional damage to physical‍ enemies.

And〚I‌ will save the⁠ world〛 made me‌ at least twice‌‍ as stronger when‍ the fate of‍⁠ the world was‌ at stake.

I was already much‍⁠‍ stronger than a normal player. In‌ fact, if the‌ Precepts were activated,‌‌ I might even‌‌ be able to‌ defeat a normal⁠‌ player party by myself.

And with these stats,‌ I should be⁠‌⁠ able to solo Tates Valtazar.

‘But‍‌⁠ Park Sihu couldn’t‌‍ beat him.’

Park Sihu was the⁠‌ God of Magic.‌‌

A sorcerer so strong‍ that even the‌⁠‌ common people called him a god.‌

Through‌⁠ magic he could suspend the world,‍‍ restructure terrain and⁠ change the weather…⁠‌ he was full⁠‍⁠ of cheats and‍‍‌ basically had hacks.‍⁠

But‍ despite that, he‍‌ lost. He lost‍ and the baton‍‍ was passed down⁠ to me.

At⁠ the start, I was blaming him‌‍ for losing despite being so strong,‌‌⁠ but over time,‌⁠ I started to‍⁠ understand the strange reason as to‍‌ how he lost.‌⁠

It‌ was because the‌⁠ enemy wishing for the end of this world, Tates⁠ Valtazar, could not⁠⁠ be defeated through⁠ strength alone.

[You⁠‍‍ have otherworldly talent.]‌‌

That⁠‍⁠ was what I heard from Lunia⁠ a long time‍ ago… and I heard something similar‌ from other people.⁠⁠⁠

[Korin, you have an‌ otherworldly talent.]

[You⁠ are similar to⁠ me. If you‍‌‍ had sought the⁠ path of the‍ sword, you could‌‌⁠ have reached the‌⁠ Heavenly Sword.]

Something‍‌ vague but different‌ to the outside‍ talent like Aura‌ and Mana – something intangible. That‍ was what created a difference.

“Damn‍‍ it. They all‍‌ love to speak in vague terms‍ and I can’t‌ figure it out.”‌‍⁠

As‌⁠⁠ expected of those⁠‍‌ lofty people, they⁠ spoke like old‌ clan elders from‍‌‍ wuxia novels that⁠‌ beat around the‍‌⁠ bush.

In the end, there⁠⁠ was only one‍ thing I could‍‌ do.

[Think‍⁠⁠ about just one⁠‌ thing, and one‍‌ thing alone. Combine‍ all of your‌⁠⁠ future aspirations and⁠‌ the Domain into‌ your profound ‘truth’.⁠⁠ Only through a harmony of the‌⁠ heart, mind and⁠‍ body added with⁠ your perception, realm‌‌‌ and truth will⁠‍ you reach the‌ ultima.]

Ultima.⁠

It‌‌ was something I had reached once‌⁠‍ in the past.⁠

“Well, it should work⁠⁠‍ out during the‌⁠ actual fight.”

I lifted my spear‍⁠‌ and stabbed forward‌‌ with my ‘truth’⁠ embedded into it.⁠⁠

– GWAAAAAAA—!

A hole appeared in‌ the sky with‌‌ the clouds breaking⁠‌ apart. It wasn’t⁠ much compared to‍ the Sword Emperor’s‍ magic show, but‌ it was a decent imitation of it.

“There‌‌ is only one‍ thing I can⁠‌‌ do. Break their‍⁠ plans to pieces‌‍ as hard as‍‌ I can.”

Doing‌‌ all I could‍ to achieve the‌ goal.

That‍‍‍ was the only⁠‌⁠ choice I had‌ from the get go.

****‍‍‍

The‌⁠⁠ days I spent⁠ taking a break‌ weren’t boring by‍ any means.

They‍ were enjoyable, and⁠‌ I hoped they‌ would last forever,‌‍‍ but they were just a dream‌⁠ that had to‌‍ come to an⁠ end. For a better tomorrow, we‍‍ had to fulfill⁠ it in the‍‌ present.

“Korin-dongsaeng…‌‌ Look at that…”‍‍

We could see it⁠⁠⁠ even from the‍‍‌ middle of the‌⁠ enormous army of‌⁠ more than 100,000⁠ men. It was⁠ gigantic.

“World⁠ Tree, Yggdrasil.”

As‍ we got closer⁠⁠ to the territory‍‌‌ of Tates Valtazar,‍ everyone was starting to pick up‌ the gigantic evergreen⁠ tree reaching towards‍‍ the ‘space’. Although‍⁠‌ I had explained‍‍ to her already,⁠ Estelle still looked‍ baffled at the‌ sight of it.‍

“I‌‍‍ was wondering how‌ a tree could‍ possibly end the‍‍⁠ world.”

Had‍‌ it been anyone⁠ else, they would‌ have ignored it⁠⁠‌ as daydreaming, but‌‍ the girls believed⁠ in what I said. However, it⁠ seemed that the⁠⁠‌ world tree was‌‍ still beyond their‌⁠⁠ imagination.

“It’s⁠ much bigger than⁠ it should be.⁠‍ I knew it…⁠‌ Things are different‍‍ ‘this time’.”

“This‍‍⁠ time?”

It‍‍⁠ was then.

“Look!”‍

“Something⁠ is coming!”

There⁠‍ was a commotion‍‌ spreading from the‌‌‍ front, but we‍ didn’t have to‍⁠ bother asking the‌‍ soldiers at the front, because everyone‍ could see the⁠⁠ monster racing across‌ the air.

[I‌⁠ am Gan Ceann, a messenger of‌ the Great One.]‌‌⁠

“…Dullahan.”‌

An⁠‍ unseelie fairy and‌ one of the top demonic beasts‌ of . They‍ were at the‌ pinnacle of demons⁠‌‌ alongside banshees, the‍ top demonic spirit,⁠‍‌ whom I could ignore thanks to⁠ my Precept.

Suddenly,⁠⁠‌ the dreary voice‍ of the dullahan‍ went through a change.

[At‌ last, you have‌ finally arrived at‌‌ the final stage.]⁠⁠

“…!”⁠‍‍

I immediately knew who⁠‌ it was. Combining‌‌ the previous and‍‍ this iteration, I had only heard⁠‍ his voice once,⁠ but it was a voice so‌‌ distinctive and powerful‍ that it was unforgettable.

Tates‌‍ Valtazar. He had‍‌‍ his eyes on⁠ us through the‍⁠ eyes of the⁠ dullahan.

[I⁠‌ have waited far‌ too long for‍‌ this moment. Do‌‌ you have any⁠ idea how long⁠⁠ I have been‍‌‍ waiting for you?]⁠‌⁠

It‍ was strange. I could instinctively sense‌‍ that he was‍ saying that to‌‍‌ me, but… what⁠‌ I couldn’t understand‍ was that there was excitement, euphoria‍‍ and joy in his voice.

Why?‍‍ He should be‍ fully aware of⁠ how disadvantageous the⁠ current situation was⁠‍ for himself, so‍⁠‍ why?

[Now⁠‍ behold, the true‍ beginning of world‍‌⁠ creation. The stage has been set. Although the cast‌ is fewer than‍ optimal, the quality‍ is fantastic…]

From a distance… I was starting to⁠ feel a strange‍ aura. The only‍ ones who felt it were people‍‍ like me who‍⁠ had divinity.

“K,‌ Korin-dongsaeng. This… isn’t‌ this a bit⁠‌⁠ different from what‍⁠ you said?”

“…”‌‌

I had no idea.‌ This was completely⁠ different.

Did‍ something like this‍⁠ happen in the‍‌ original game?

Did⁠ it happen last‌ iteration?

What‍‌‍ in the…

[The⁠‍‍ false god you‌ believe in has‍ supposedly said this.‌ The world was‍⁠ formless and empty,‌ with darkness over‍‌ the surface of‌ the deep. He⁠ said ‘Let there‌‍ be light’, and there was light.]‌⁠

This spread of divinity⁠‌ across the world‍‍‌ with the World‍⁠ Tree at the‌‍⁠ center… was a pattern I had⁠⁠⁠ never seen before.‌

[I⁠‌ shall declare instead. ‘Let there be⁠‌‍ no light’.]

In that instant.

■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■⁠⁠

■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■

■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■⁠⁠

Light‍⁠ vanished from the‍‍ world.