I Killed an Academy Player — Chapter 285: Park Sirin (2)

Chapter 285: Park Sirin (2)

The‍ important matters on⁠‌⁠ Earth had ended.⁠‌

It⁠‍‍ seemed that showing⁠ an overwhelming power‍ against Russia and‌ crushing Vladimir Horowitz,⁠ one of the‌ Three Mighty, made⁠ a huge impression‍⁠ on the world.‌

‘Well,‍‌ I guess the‌‍ biggest thing was⁠⁠‍ the nuclear missiles.’

Between⁠‌ nuclear energy and‌⁠ me, there is⁠ quite a bit of compatibility.

The‌ main destructive force‍ of nuclear weapons‍‍ the heat wave‍ and the radiation‌ was practically harmless⁠ to me thanks to the Clau‍ Solas, and the shockwave I could‌⁠ withstand with my‌‍ regeneration.

If⁠‍⁠ I took more‌ than a dozen nuclear missiles head-on‍‍‌ and still didn’t‌ die, the world‌ probably thinks there‌‌ is no way‍‍⁠ to kill me.‍⁠

“Th-This…‍ this is France’s⁠‌ dimensional portal development‍ blueprint.”

The‌ European Union.

With‌‌ the great powers gathered, I received⁠⁠ directly from them‍‍ everything related to‌‌⁠ the development of dimensional portals.

In‌⁠ that same place‌‌‍ I burned it‍‌ with runes, and⁠‍‍ the expressions of‌‌‌ the leaders who‍⁠ had invested astronomical⁠‍ amounts were worth‍ seeing.

I showed no kind of courtesy toward‍ them. After all,‍ officially I am⁠ supposed to be‍‍ a god from‍‌ another world.

“I don’t think you‌⁠⁠ turned over everything.”‍

“O-Of‍ course w—”

I interrupt the Prime‍‍‍ Minister of the⁠ United Kingdom, who‌ was sweating buckets.‍

“If‌‌‌ you want to‌ come, try it. Whoever sets one‍ foot in, I’m‌‍ going to destroy him without fail.”‌‍

“……!”⁠⁠

They‍ swallowed nervously.

The‌‍ world had witnessed‍ the fall of‌‌‍ Russia.

After‍ Vladimir Horowitz took‌ power, he concentrated everything on raising⁠ his military strength.‌‌

That‌‌ army practically evaporated⁠ entirely.

Even⁠⁠ Park Sihoo, a high-ranker they were⁠ so proud of, died without lasting‌‍ even two exchanges.⁠

“Reappearance‌ of the Demon.”‌‌

That‍‍‌ is apparently how‍ people were evaluating‍⁠‍ me.

And‍⁠ that Park Sirin,‍‍ what the hell‍ did she do on Earth to‍⁠ cause such a reaction?

Aside‌ from that, leaders⁠‍ of other countries started making proposals‍⁠ to open formal‌‌‍ relations with our‍ world.

They‍⁠ offered me pretty humiliating conditions, but‍ I rejected absolutely‍ everything.

“We‍‌ can provide advanced⁠‌ science and technology. All we ask‍ for is a small autonomous city—”‌

“I⁠‌ don’t need it.”‍‍

“This is a small⁠ show of sincerity⁠ from the United‍ Kingdom. If you‍⁠ decide to maintain‍ relations with us,‍‌ we can offer⁠ even more—”

“Do‍ I really look⁠⁠ like someone who‌⁠ needs something like‌ that?”

“Democracy‍ is an excellent⁠⁠ political system that contributes to the‍ development and well-being of civil society—”‍⁠‌

“You⁠‍ mean an addict‌‌⁠ and I would‍‌ have the same‌‍ political decision-making power?‌‌ President, I think‍‌‍ you failed mathematics.”⁠

Anyway,‌⁠ that’s how Earthlings⁠‌⁠ are. If you⁠ leave a crack,‌⁠ they think they‌ can push through.‍

Exchange with an advanced‍ civilization almost always⁠ leads to a type of semi-colonization.‍‍‍

I rejected everything and‌⁠ attended the banquet.⁠⁠

“Corin~,⁠ try this! It’s‍ too good!”

After‌‌ the meeting with‍ the European leaders,⁠ at the banquet‌⁠ organized to honor⁠‌‌ me were Marie,‍‍‌ Alisha and Hwaran.‍‍‍

— M-Marie Dunaleff…

— They say she‍ blew up the‍‍⁠ Pentagon…

— Alisha Arden destroyed all of Japan’s‍‌ Park Sihoo!

— In Western China,‌‍ the Blood God⁠‌‌ was torn apart‌⁠‍ by the Heavenly‌‍ Raksha…

The United States, Western‌⁠ China and Japan‌ were practically begging to get rid‌ of them, treating them as a calamity, and yet they still ended‌ up sending them‌‌ by plane to‍‍‍ France to negotiate.⁠⁠‍

“Is‍‍ everyone enjoying the‍⁠ party?”

“Yes,‍ Corin-ssi! The food‌‌ is amazing! This‍ lamb doesn’t even‍‍ have a strong‌ smell and it’s‍‌ super soft!”

“The⁠ pudding… is good.”‌‌

“I’m‍‌⁠ glad you’re having‌‌ fun. Hey… have⁠ you seen Erin?”‌

My⁠⁠⁠ wives shook their⁠‌ heads.

I also asked the‍ leaders, and since‌ they also hadn’t⁠ seen her, where⁠ the hell could‍‌ she have fallen?‌

“Corin.‍ I have an⁠‌ idea.”

Marie‍‍ shared her theory.⁠

“We⁠ fell in front⁠‌⁠ of dimensional portals⁠‍ in different countries,⁠‍ right? Surely Director⁠‌ Erin also fell‌‍ in one.”

“All‍‍ existing portals are⁠ already destroyed.”

The‍ ones in the‌‌⁠ United States, Japan,‍‍‍ China and Russia we destroyed ourselves.‌

And‌ we destroyed the rest by traveling‍ through countries and pressuring them.

There‍‍ were loud voices,‍‌‍ but not something‌ I needed to‍‌ take into account.⁠‌

“There’s⁠ one place we‌ haven’t gone.”

“Korea,⁠ right?”

Now‌‌‌ called Magic Empire‌ of Korea.

It‌ surely had the most advanced and‍ perfect dimensional portal.⁠

We headed there.

***⁠

Although‍ I was Korean,⁠ Korea always had‍ a complicated geopolitical position.

Seventy⁠⁠ years divided by‍‌ a troublesome sibling‍‍ country.

That‌‍‌ sibling country backed‍‍⁠ by a gigantic⁠‌‌ continental nation.

Former⁠ leader of the “Red Team”, which‍ was second place⁠ in the world.‍‌

The‍ islands across the‌⁠ sea, always looking‌‌ to betray.

And with neighbors that‍ absurd, Korea was⁠⁠ a country with‌ little land and⁠‍ population, struggling to barely be third‌ in class with‍ ranks 1, 2,‍ 3 and 4 living next door.⁠

But⁠‌⁠ now its prestige‍‌ was comparable to⁠ that of the⁠ United States.

The‍ Magic Empire of⁠ Korea.

This successor of the Republic of Korea,⁠ which self-proclaimed itself⁠⁠ empire and hegemonic⁠‍ power, occupied not‍ only North Korea,⁠‍‍ but also the⁠⁠ vast Manchurian plain,‌⁠ Gando, and half‌‌ of Beijing.

“Welcome, Mr. Corin Loch.‌‍ And distinguished guests⁠ from the other‍ world.”

The⁠ one who greeted‌ us was the⁠ Prime Minister of the Magic Empire‌ of Korea, assigned⁠‌ as Delegate of‍⁠ the Great President‍ for the past‍ year.

The‍‍ presidential system disappeared;‌ now all absolute‍ power was in‌‌ the hands of⁠‍ the Great President,‌⁠⁠ and the rest‌ was a Prime‌ Minister system.

During‌ the 6/11 coup‌‍‍ the joint removal‌ of the United‌ Democratic Party and the People Power‌ Party, this man‍ was the Prime‍‍ Minister who led⁠ it.

The‍‍⁠ congressmen who participated were turned into‍ zombies, forced to return all their‍‍‌ fortune and sentenced‌ to serve the⁠⁠ people for free‌ without free will.‍⁠

And⁠ although this Prime⁠ Minister looked normal⁠ on the outside,⁠ he had been‌‍⁠ unable to retire‌⁠‍ for more than‍ ten years, forced to work endlessly‍‌ like a slave‍‍ of the people.

Well‌ something like that.⁠

But‌ when I heard⁠⁠ he had 300‌ billion in assets‌ gained through illegal‌ real estate speculation, any pity disappeared.

“Lady Erin Danua appeared‍⁠ in our portal⁠ ten days ago.”⁠

“Really?”‌‍

As‌‍ expected, the dimensional⁠‍ portal where Erin‍ was summoned was‌ on the Korean‌⁠ peninsula’s side.

As‌‍ soon as she‌⁠ made the jump,‍⁠ she destroyed the‌⁠‌ portal and fled,⁠‍ avoiding government tracking.‌

“Are‌⁠ you sure you‌‍ put up notices?‌ Why isn’t she‍ coming to find‌⁠ me?”

From⁠ what they saw‌ of me destroying⁠ Russia, it seems‌ the Korean government was also desperately‍ looking for Erin.‌‍⁠

“With‌‍ all respect… after⁠‍ she disappeared on‌ the east coast,‍‍‌ we haven’t been‌‍ able to find‌‍ her…”

The Prime Minister was⁠‌‍ sweating buckets with‌ an uncomfortable expression.‍‍‌ If my master⁠ decides to hide,⁠‍ maybe she really‌‍ is hard to⁠ find…

“The‌ United States said‍ they had equipment‍‌ to measure energy.⁠ You couldn’t find⁠‍ her even with⁠‌ that?”

“Yes…‍ w-we have an‌‌ information exchange treaty‌‌ with the United States, so we⁠ were tracking Lady‌‌ Danua’s position in⁠ real time, but…”‌‍

Even that trace was‌‍ cut completely. As‌ if she had⁠ disappeared in a cursed triangle.

“Yeah?”‍‍⁠

More‍ or less I could figure it‍‌‍ out. It’s surely‌⁠ the direct result‍‍ of my master’s‌ will.

“Well,‍‍ I’ll look for⁠ her myself. More‌‍‍ than that, for⁠‍ now I want‍‍ to do some‌ sightseeing.”

“Sir?”⁠⁠

The⁠‍‍ Prime Minister tilted‍⁠ his head, puzzled,⁠ as if he‍‌ didn’t understand anything.⁠‍

I imagine it seems‌‍‍ strange to him that I want⁠‍ to sightsee in‍ Korea when I didn’t in any‌ other country.

“Don’t‌ worry. I have no intention of‌⁠ informing you of⁠‌ my itinerary.”

I plan to hide‌‍ my face and⁠ travel around Korea⁠ for a while.⁠‌

Well,‍ it’s nothing big,⁠ but—

It’s‌ sixteen years.

In‌⁠ the sixteen years⁠ I disappeared from⁠ Earth, how must‌ my parents and‌‌⁠ friends have lived?‍

I plan to discreetly‌⁠ tell my parents‌‍ that their son⁠‌‍ is alive and, while I’m at‍ it, to see them— I also‍ need to see‍ Younghee nuna, Hanbyul,‌‌ Seyoung, Chulho, Sangwoo,⁠ Misha and Fujiwara⁠⁠ at least once.

The⁠ others well, if‍‌ I wanted to⁠⁠‌ see everyone it‌ would take me⁠⁠ months. I’ll have‍ to leave that⁠ aside reluctantly.

Now‌‌ that I think‍ about it, Yena,‌ Chaehee and Hoyoung‌⁠ must already be‌‌⁠ university-aged.

When‍ I worked as‌ an instructor at‍‍ the taekwondo dojang,‌ they were kids who followed me⁠ a lot.

I also want to‍ stop by to⁠‍ see how they’re⁠ doing.

I wonder if that‌ old face-reader is‌ still alive.

And‌⁠ thinking of that,‌ I also remembered⁠‌ the noonas from‍‌ the gym who‌ always touched my‌‍ muscles very confidently.⁠

“Should‍ I see my‍⁠ parents at the‌ end and go see Sangwoo first?”‍‍

Sangwoo,⁠ my soulmate friend~⁠ He must already have retired from‌‍ baseball; maybe now⁠ he’s a coach or something.

······‍⁠

···⁠

“D-do you really… are‌‍‌ you my friend?”‍‌‍

“Yes~‌ Hey, you’re a coach for the‍‌‌ national team, huh? You’ve made it‌ big.”

“I-I‌⁠ can’t believe it…⁠‍ say a memory‍ only you and‍ I would know…!”⁠‍

“When‌ you got injured,⁠ I gave you‍⁠⁠ a full-body massage‌ and took care⁠ of you. Ah,‌⁠ do you remember‍‌‍ when we accidentally⁠‍ walked into the‌ gay bar in⁠‍ Hokkaido?”

“Y-you!‌⁠ You came back,‍⁠‌ my love!”

“Huh?”‌‍⁠

Sangwoo⁠ hugged me crying‍ with intense emotion.⁠ He hugged me‌‌ tight, grateful that‌‌ I was alive.‍

He‍ always had intense‍‌ ways of showing⁠‌‍ affection but well,‌⁠ sixteen years have‌ passed.

“By⁠‌ the way, did‌‍ you get married?⁠‍ If you have a child, I can give a blessing as a sun god.”

“……No.⁠⁠ I didn’t get⁠ married.”

“You⁠ didn’t get married?”⁠⁠

He‌⁠ was single. My‌⁠ friend from sixteen⁠‌ years ago was‍ still single.

And‍ he wasn’t the‌ only one.

“Isaac‌‍ Toast? It’s really‌⁠ you! Huaaaaang! Why‍‍ do you show⁠ up only now?”‍⁠

“Hey,‌⁠ Younghee nuna. She’s‍‌‍ crying again already.‌‌ I told you not to throw‍ precious jewels on‍⁠ the floor.”

“Huaaaaang! You’re saying the⁠ same things you said when we‌ were in kindergarten!”‍

Younghee‍‍ nuna also didn’t⁠‍ get married.

What‍⁠‍ the hell? It’s‌ not like this‌⁠⁠ nuna wasn’t popular.‌

······‌

···⁠

“Kim-kun…‌ long time.”

“Fujiwara~‌‌⁠ you look super‍ young. How is‍ your face not‍⁠‍ changing at all?”‌

“Kim-kun⁠⁠ did change quite‌‌‌ a bit.”

“By‍ the way, Fujiwara,‌ do you have‌ kids? I’m the⁠ sun god now,⁠ I can give‌⁠ incredible blessings.”

“I‍‌⁠ don’t have any.”⁠

“Huh?”‌⁠‍

“I‍ decided I would⁠‍ only have a child with the‍⁠‍ man I love.”‍⁠

“Oh…”‌⁠

Fujiwara⁠ was also single.

······

···‌⁠

“Kim~⁠ it’s really you!”‍

“Misha!‌‍ Hey~ you held‍⁠ up well, you’re still gorgeous.”

“Hehe,‍ I’ve been waiting‍‍ for you the‍ whole time.”

“I‍⁠ heard you naturalized‌‍ as Korean and‌ won a gold‍⁠ medal.”

“Yes!⁠‍ I wish you⁠ had been there.‍ By the way,‌ how is it⁠‌ with the women of that other⁠‍ world? Did you⁠ hook up a lot?”

“How⁠ can you still‌‍ be so shameless⁠‍ being a woman?⁠‌ Is it really⁠ true that Russian⁠‌ women have open‍‍ minds and all that?”

“I’m‌ a virgin.”

“Huh?”‌‌

What‌‍ the hell…?

All‌ of them… they‍ were handsome and‍ beautiful, so I thought they’d already⁠ be married…

I wanted nephews…

“Then I’ll be going.”⁠‍‍

“Yes…‍‍ take care over‌⁠‍ there too.”

“I‌ hope you come visit us more‍‍ often next time‌ bring your other⁠ daughters-in-law.”

“…Doesn’t‍ the number of‌ daughters-in-law surprise you?”‌

““We⁠⁠ expected you to‍ be like this⁠ anywhere you went.””‌⁠

“?????”⁠

Even‌‌ my parents seemed‌‌‍ to have lost‌‌ some faith in‌‌‌ me.

I’m planning to visit⁠ them again with‍‌ my wives, but⁠⁠ things on Earth⁠‍ turned out very different from what⁠ I expected.

“Haa,‌⁠ I never thought‌ I’d greet my⁠‍ in-laws twice.”

“Me⁠ neither.”

“…..”‍

I think I’m done⁠⁠⁠ with personal matters‍ on Earth— it’s‍ time to go.‍

I headed to the‍⁠ east coast, to⁠ look for my‌ wife who still⁠‍ hadn’t appeared.

***‍⁠

On⁠⁠ an uninhabited nameless⁠ island in the‌ East Sea.

A place with grasslands‍⁠ and well-preserved nature,⁠‌ beautiful enough for⁠‌ a postcard, but‌ so remote and⁠ surrounded by dangerous rocks that almost‍ no one approached.⁠‍

That‍‌ island had only‍‍ been modified five‍⁠‍ years ago.

When‌‍ she became the‌⁠ Great President of‌ the Magic Empire⁠ of Korea and, among so many‍‍ magical researches, built‍ a retreat house to unwind.

The‍ mansion, erected with‌‌ magic in a matter of seconds,‍‌ was placed in‌‍ a location almost‌⁠ impossible to reach, and since it‍ was built not‍ a single person‍‍ had set foot there for years.‍

And only recently, that‌ secret mansion heard a person’s voice‍ again.

“Mama,‌⁠ this! Pretty!”

A girl who expressed her emotions with‍ short words. Hair⁠‍ black as ink,‍ eyes bright like‍⁠‍ rubies, just like‌‍ her mother.

A girl whose future‌⁠‌ promised so much.‌‌

“T-that’s‌ dirty, throw it‌‌ away!”

“Kyaah!⁠‌ Nooo!”

“Hayeon!⁠ L-listen to mama,‌‌ please…”

Only six months have⁠ passed since childbirth.‌

But‍ her daughter, who‌‍ should have been‌⁠ a baby, was already as big⁠‍ as a five-year-old⁠ girl.

The first-time mother, Park‌⁠ Sirin, couldn’t handle‌‌ her.

“I’m‍⁠ hungry! I want‌‌‌ milk!”

“N-now?”

“Milk!”⁠

Sirin,‍⁠ nervous, looked around‍‌ in agitation.

It‍‍ was the first‍⁠ time she had‌‌ to worry about‌⁠ being seen in‌‌ this place that⁠ only she knew.⁠‌

“Don’t⁠ worry. She’s crying,⁠ can’t you see?”‍

With‌⁠ a gentle smile‌‌ and a sweet⁠‌ voice, Erin Danua‌‌‌ reassured her while‍ drinking tea.

“….”⁠‍

After hesitating a lot,‌‌ Sirin lowered her⁠‌ clothes and put‌⁠ her daughter to⁠‌ her breast. Even‍‌ though the girl⁠‍ already looked like⁠ a five-year-old, she‍⁠‍ was still just⁠ a one-year-old baby.‌‌

“I didn’t think… she⁠⁠ would grow so‌‌ fast.”

“She‍‍ has the blood⁠ of Dannan. We‌ are born adults from the beginning.‌‍ Hayeon is half⁠‍ divine, so she‌ is special.”

“…..”⁠‍

Sirin‍‌ still couldn’t believe‌ her daughter was‍‌ half god.

A human recognized by⁠ a divine artifact,‍‍‌ elevated to the‌ level of divinity—‌ that was the⁠⁠ father of her‌⁠ daughter, Park Hayeon.‌

“Does⁠ it… bother you?”⁠⁠⁠

It⁠⁠‍ had been more‌ than ten days⁠‍ since Erin, upon‍ sensing the energy of Dannan, arrived⁠ at the island.‌

During⁠ this time, she‍‌ helped Sirin with‌‍ Hayeon’s upbringing, ate‌‍‌ with her and⁠ drank tea by‍‌ her side.

And‌⁠‍ during that process,⁠⁠⁠ she also learned‌‌ that Corin planned‌ to marry Erin.‍

“What‍‌⁠ fault can a child have? What⁠ is pure is⁠ pure as long⁠ as it isn’t‌ tainted.”

“….”⁠‌

Sirin,⁠‍‍ who had given⁠ birth to the⁠⁠⁠ illegitimate daughter of⁠ Erin’s man, did not receive from‍ her even a single reproachful look.⁠

Even⁠‍ though she knew⁠ inside that the‍‌⁠ process had not been right, Erin‍‌ simply stroked her‌‌‍ back and told‌‍ her she did⁠⁠ well, that giving⁠‌ birth alone must have been hard.

“I…”‍⁠

“Daughter. Even if you‌ have no justice,‍ don’t drag your⁠ child into that yoke. At the‍⁠ very least, you⁠ must love her‍⁠⁠ more than anyone.”‍‍

Sirin bit her lips,⁠ unable to say‍⁠ anything.

That‌‌ woman was still‍‍ exactly the same‌‍‌ as always, she⁠‍⁠ thought with admiration.⁠‌

And⁠‌ remembered how filthy she had been⁠⁠ toward herself.

“More⁠ than that, let’s‍ prepare to welcome our visitor. That‍⁠ person should be⁠ arriving soon.”

“A-ah…”

Erin‌⁠‍ took her trembling‍ hands warmly.

And‍ then, as if‌⁠ dictated by destiny—⁠

The⁠ man walking along⁠ the shore was⁠⁠ heading straight toward⁠⁠ them.