I Killed an Academy Player — Chapter 286: Park Sirin (3)

Chapter 286: Park Sirin (3)

“Ahjussi⁠⁠ who are you?”‌‌⁠

Corin‌⁠‍ knew it the‍‍‍ instant he saw‍⁠‌ her.

Ruby-colored⁠ eyes. Naturally wild‌⁠ features.

Was‍ it possible she had grown this‍⁠⁠ much in such a short time?‍‍ Even so, his‍‌ instinct told him.

That‌‌‌ girl was his⁠⁠ daughter.

Shit.⁠⁠

Even without saying the curse out loud,⁠‌ the girl sensed‌ the tension and‌ flinched.

Corin relaxed his face‌‍ as much as⁠⁠ he could and‍ crouched down to her height.

“I’m⁠‍⁠ your mom’s friend.‍‌ My name is‍ Corin Loch you⁠ can call me‌‍ Uncle Corin. What’s‌‍ your name, little‌ young lady?”

“I’m‍ Hayeon. Park Hayeon.”

“I⁠‍‍ see. And where‌⁠ is your mom?”‍⁠

The⁠ girl pointed toward⁠‌‌ the house on‍‌ top of the⁠‌ hill.

Corin,‍ who had come⁠ to the island by following Erin’s‍‌ divine power, suddenly found himself facing‍ a daughter he‌⁠‌ never expected.

On⁠⁠ all of Earth,‌ there was only one woman who‍ could have carried‌‍ his child in‌ her womb.

“…Oppa.”‍

“Mm.”‍‍‍

Park‌ Sirin.

She⁠ came running down‌⁠ the beach, completely‍ desperate, not knowing‌ what to do‍ in front of‌ Corin.

By⁠‍‌ her side was‍‌ Erin. She had‍‍⁠ understood the entire⁠‌ situation long ago; she simply gave⁠ her husband a soft smile.

“…”‍

Corin‍ looked at the⁠⁠ mother of his‌⁠ daughter with a coldness that would⁠‌ have shocked anyone‍⁠ who knew him.‍

Sirin‌⁠ could only accept⁠‍ that stare, trembling.⁠⁠

“H-how…?”‌‍‌

She‌ didn’t dare look‍ him in the‌ eyes.

She⁠‌ was terrified of‌‍ the reproach she‍⁠ felt in his‌ gaze.

Terrified‌ of the possibility⁠ that a denial might come from⁠ his lips.

“What⁠ if by using⁠ my daughter… I can be accepted‍ again?”

Although‌ she couldn’t suppress⁠‍ that vile desire,⁠ at the same⁠ time she imagined⁠ the worst outcome.‍

What‌ if he rejected‍‍ even Hayeon?

If‌ Oppa denied Hayeon,⁠‍ she would break.‌‌‍ Just imagining it⁠ made her legs⁠ buckle.

“As⁠‍ they say, habit⁠‌‌ doesn’t disappear. Even⁠⁠ on Earth you‌ kept causing disasters.”⁠

At‍⁠ those reproachful words, Sirin shook.

Yes,⁠⁠⁠ even on Earth she hadn’t completely‍ changed.

She‌ killed when it‍ was necessary. She⁠‍ was cruel.

She‌ had excuses.

They were bad people.‍‌

They‌ were people who⁠ killed others driven‌‌‌ by greed.

After‍‍ she was accused⁠ of killing innocents,⁠‌ she unconsciously started‍‍ to aim for⁠‌ “minimum efficiency.”

In⁠ a game, maybe. But in reality,‌⁠ she never went‌⁠⁠ as far as⁠‌‌ indiscriminate killing.

For⁠ unification, for defending⁠ her country, under‌‌ the banner of‍‍ self-defense. She always⁠⁠ sought a reason.‍

It‌ was an insurance⁠ policy for when⁠⁠⁠ she reunited with‍ him again.

But⁠‌ would those excuses‍‌ work on him?‌

Corin⁠‌⁠ was good from‌⁠‍ the root. Someone‌‍ who deeply hated‍⁠⁠ seeing people die.‍‍⁠

Even‍‍‍ with evil people, he might not‍‍ forgive them.

“Well,‌⁠ that doesn’t matter‍ much. You didn’t‌ kill like a crazy psychopath, so…”⁠

“Haa…”‍‌

At⁠‌ least he didn’t⁠ deny everything. That‍ was a relief.‌⁠‌ But just as‌⁠ she exhaled in‌‍‍ relief, a large‌ hand grabbed her‍ chin roughly.

Holding⁠ her chin, Corin looked straight into‍‍ her eyes.

“But‌‍ nothing you did⁠‌ is justified.”

The⁠ older brother who‍⁠ always protected her‍ was gone completely.‌‌

In‍‌ his eyes there‌ was only distrust‍‍ and hatred.

Ah‌‌ she already knew.⁠

She‍‌ would never receive⁠‌ Oppa’s love.

They⁠⁠ would never return‍‌ to what they‌‍ were.

Corin‍⁠ released Sirin abruptly‌⁠ and looked at‌‌ the frightened Hayeon.⁠‌

“She’s⁠ my daughter, right?”‍

“Yes,‍‌ yes…”

She‍ didn’t deny it.⁠‌ She didn’t deny‍ that she was‍ his daughter. That‍ made her happy.‌ But a strange‌‍ anxiety enveloped her.

“I’m‍‌ taking her.”

“Ah?”‍‌‌

Sirin‍‌ thought she had‍ misheard.

Taking‌‌ Hayeon? Then… what‌ about me?

“You‌‌ don’t think I’m‍‌ going to take‍ a lunatic like‌‍ you too, right?”⁠‌

“Ah‌‍‍ n-no, I… I…”‍

Corin‌ stepped toward Hayeon.‍⁠⁠ The little girl, not understanding anything,‌‌ stared at him.

“O-uh?”‌‍

Corin’s shadow fell over her.

“O-Oppa…!”⁠‍

Sirin⁠‌ grabbed his pants.⁠‍ She spoke desperately.‌

“N-no.‍‍ Hayeon… my daughter…‌‍ don’t take her… I beg you…”‍

“You’re‍‌ in no position⁠⁠ to ask me‌ anything.”

He⁠⁠⁠ pushed her aside⁠ coldly and extended⁠‍ his hand toward‍ Hayeon.

“M-my daughter, you won’t‍ take her!”

A gigantic mass of‌ ether surged from⁠‍‍ an invisible space‌⁠⁠ and slammed into⁠ him. His body bounced across the‌ sand. He immediately⁠‌⁠ stood and glared⁠‍ at Park Sirin,‍‍‍ who had launched‍ him.

“Mm…”‌

Without‍‌‍ any preparation, a maximum-level spell. Yes,‌‍ she had perfected accelerated chanting; she‍ was stronger than⁠ before.

“Are‌ you going to‌‌ stop me?”

“U-ugh…”‍‌

Even⁠ though she had attacked first, her hands trembled as she faced him.⁠

She⁠ was about to‌⁠⁠ cry.

“Your‍‌ evil was only possible because you⁠ had power. The‌ same logic applies.‍⁠⁠ If you’re weaker⁠ than me, you⁠⁠ can’t demand anything.”‍‌

“O-Oppa…‌‍ I…”

Ignoring her pleading voice,‌‌ Corin opened his‍‍ subspatial storage and‌ took out the‌ silver spear.

“If‌‌‍ you think I’m the same as⁠ before, you’re wrong.”⁠⁠‍

Liuhe⁠‍ Spear.

Mountain-Breaker‍⁠‌ Art.

The‌ silver spear flew toward her, kicking⁠‍ up a storm‍⁠ of sand just‍⁠‍ from the friction‍ with the air.‍‍

Sirin‌‍‌ raised an absolute barrier with only⁠ a gesture. A wall of air‍‌ filled with mana⁠⁠ formed in front‌ of her, blocking‍⁠⁠ the spear’s direct path.

Crack!‌ Crack-crack!

The⁠⁠ art that tears⁠⁠ space. Sirin knew‍‌ it all too⁠ well.

‘It’s much stronger than‌ before but the⁠‌ simpler it is,‍ the easier it is to break.’‌

A concentration of pure‌ power invested into⁠ the throw. Its‍ strength was tremendous,‍ but with minimal⁠⁠ interference to divert the attack’s direction──‌

Claang!‌

The‌ silver spear bounced into the air.‌‌‍ Just as the⁠‍‌ twisted trajectory sent‍‌ it toward an‍ empty point, Corin‍ murmured.

“Come.”⁠⁠

The⁠⁠ spear that had‌‌ been knocked away‌‌ halted in midair. The silver spear,‍‍ engraved with the⁠⁠‍ rune of return,⁠‍ attempted to fly‌‌ back to its‌⁠ owner immediately.

Sirin⁠‌⁠ didn’t let that‌⁠ opening slip.

Inventory‍ open. Divine beast-class⁠ summoning.

The‍‍ player’s power that⁠ 98 Park Sihoo‌ had lost.

She‌‍ developed it as original magic and‍⁠ summoned her beasts.‍

The‍⁠ gray hound Bran,‌‌ the brown hound⁠‍ Scolang.

Divine beasts originally meant‌ to be trained‍ by the Tamer‌‍ class, but she‍‍ controlled them with‌‍ a simple gesture,‌‌‍ sending them charging‍ forward.

“Bran⁠‍ and Scolang? Happy⁠ to see old⁠ comrades but…”

Corin‌ grabbed a second‌ spear. Seeing that‌‍ reddish, ominous spear,‌ Sirin jolted.

“Gáe‍ Derg?”

It⁠‌ wasn’t the golden‍ spear of protection,‌ Gáe Buidhe, but‍‌‌ the cursed beast-hunting‌⁠‍ spear, Gáe Derg.⁠‍ Sirin understood once‍‌ again that this‍⁠ Corin was not‍ the one from⁠ the previous life.⁠‌

The⁠‍ spear that increased⁠ attributes to protect‌ the target was⁠ a spear to⁠⁠‍ defend his player,⁠ her.

With‌ this he made⁠ it clear that he no longer‍ had any intention‍ of protecting Sirin.

The‌‌ legendary hounds Bran‍ and Scolang, hesitating‌⁠ but obeying the order, leaped toward‍ Corin. At the‌ moment they were about to pounce‍ on him, they⁠‌ were grazed by‌⁠ the spear and⁠ cursed.

“Grr…”‍

“Khugh!”⁠

The⁠‍ beast-hunting curse.

Ignoring‌ the two weakened‍ hounds, Corin ran⁠ straight toward Sirin.‌⁠

“I’m‍ no longer who‍ I used to⁠‍ be!”

She‌‍ clenched her teeth‌ and cast magic‍‍‌ against the falling‍‌ spear.

Supreme-rank‍⁠ fire magic. A destructive power that⁠‌ manifested even before‍⁠ a special-class knight‍ could approach.

Then,‍⁠‍ Sirin realized she⁠‍ had made a huge mistake.

“Claus‍‍ Solar…”

Absolute⁠⁠ immunity to heat.‍ What Corin had‌ obtained after defeating⁠‍‌ Ohad Breas.

Although‌‍ he could not⁠⁠ use its full⁠ power due to⁠ lack of mana,⁠‍‌ the simple immunity‍ was overwhelming.

He‌‍⁠ pierced through the⁠ flames without suffering⁠‍ a single scratch, reaching her. With‍‍ that same momentum,⁠ he leapt and launched a high‌ kick at her.‍‌‌

“Keugh…!”⁠⁠

She‍ rolled across the⁠⁠ sand in an‍‌⁠ embarrassing fashion. With⁠‌ her face and‌‌‌ body full of⁠‍ sand, she barely‌ managed to stand.‌‍

Corin‌‌ watched her calmly.⁠

“As‍ a fighter, I was always more‍‍‍ talented. You’re not a warrior.”

And⁠ yet, it was‍‌‌ always Corin who‌ ended up getting⁠ hurt. It was⁠ natural—he had never⁠ considered her an enemy.

“Until⁠ now I attacked‌ you because you tried to take⁠‍‍ me by surprise,⁠ because I didn’t‌ perceive you as‌ an adversary. But‌‌ now it’s a direct confrontation.”

The⁠‌⁠ aura core inside‍‍ him spun violently.‌‌ An energy so‍ colossal that even‍‍‌ the Demon God‍ was surpassed.

“Sura?”⁠⁠

The final move of‌‍ the Six Unions‌ spear. With its‌ explosive power and⁠‌⁠ speed──

“And⁠ that’s why…”

The⁠ dark blue beast‌ smiled. In the‌⁠ next instant, he‍‍ vanished from Sirin’s field of vision.

“I⁠ can kill you without hesitation.”

The‍‌ voice came from‌‌ behind. When she looked, it was‌ already too late.‌⁠⁠

Bang!‌

The‌ blade of the‍‌ spear cut through‌‍ the air effortlessly. And it hit‌⁠ the ice detonation‍ trap Sirin had‌ placed in the‍‍ air.

Clack!‍

The‍ ice magic that froze space itself‍ halted the attack.⁠

“You’re‍⁠ the same as‌‍ ever, always preparing‌ fail-safes.”

In‌‍ the next second,‍ dozens of spells⁠⁠ exploded around Corin.⁠‍⁠

All⁠⁠‍ of them were⁠‌ explosions. Tactics of‍‌ a mage who‌ weakens in close‌ combat by triggering‍ traps.

Right⁠ before all those‍ spells activated──

Infinite⁠ Spin — Chaotic⁠‌ Spear.

Dozens‍‍ of instantaneous thrusts‌‍ per second. A speed that shattered⁠ the mana cores‍⁠‍ before the spells⁠⁠ could activate.

“Keugh…”⁠

As‌‍⁠ the magic broke,‍ Sirin used spatial‌‍ jump.

Although‍ she had never‍⁠ completely mastered spatial‍ magic, she could make short jumps.⁠

Once‌‍‌ she gained distance──⁠

The‌ Coming of Light⁠ — Aradwa.

The‌‌ spear of light‍‌ was fired.

The⁠‍ spear that always⁠‌⁠ hits, always pierces,‍ always kills, legacy‍ of Tates Valtazar. She hurled it‍‌⁠ at him.

“To that extent…?”

Are‌ you going to⁠‌‍ take my daughter?‍

Too⁠‌⁠ many things had⁠ changed.

Even⁠ their positions had‍ reversed.

The‌⁠ friendship and camaraderie‍‌ from before were⁠‌‍ now unilateral obsession⁠‍ and despair.

They⁠‍ had risked everything‌‍ for each other.⁠

Why only me… why‌‌ was I the⁠‍⁠ only one not⁠⁠⁠ chosen…?

No,‍ the reason was⁠ too clear.

A good being and an evil being⁠‍‍ cannot coexist. Even⁠ if she begged⁠ for love, he‌ would never accept what she was.

Sirin‍⁠ knew this. And even so, she⁠⁠ used forced methods.‌‍‍ Her obsession had caused this disaster.⁠

The fault was entirely⁠ hers. It was⁠‌ so obvious that‍ it could only‍ hurt.

If that spear pierced⁠‍ her now maybe⁠ he would forgive‌ her a little?‌‍

Her life was already‌ ruined. She couldn’t‌‌‍ go on. Perhaps⁠⁠ dying like this‌ would be better.‌‌

Perhaps‍‌ she could receive⁠⁠ a bit of‍‌ compassion──

— Mom!

The⁠‍ small voice she⁠ heard.

When⁠ she regained consciousness,⁠⁠ the spear of⁠ light was already about to reach⁠‌ her.

The⁠‌ spear aimed directly‍‍ at her heart—she⁠ would die. At⁠‍ that moment, Sirin‍‌ found within herself⁠ a fierce desire to live.

Magic⁠ that emerged purely‍‌⁠ by instinct.

Great⁠ Magic — Spatial‌ Rend.

The‍⁠ spear was caught‌ in the isolated space.

The‌ same method Corin⁠‌ had used against⁠ Tates Valtazar. The‌ technique was effective.‌‌‍

A colossal magic──

But‍⁠ the spear of⁠⁠ light Aradwa pierced even imaginary space,⁠‍‌ always achieving its‌⁠‌ hit.

In⁠‍‍ the game, it⁠‌‍ could only be⁠ defended by a tank using maximum‍⁠‌ defense.

In‌ a one-on-one, the⁠‌ only option was to block it‌‌⁠ with superior technique‌‍ using Gáe Derg,‍ or──

Spatial‍ Rend — Kaleidoscope.‍

Infinitely‌‌ multiplying the possible⁠‍ spaces in which⁠ the spear could‌ be lost.

“Haah…‍‍ haah…!”

Even‌⁠ for her, it⁠‍⁠ was an almost⁠⁠⁠ impossible magic. Seeing‍‍⁠ the great mage⁠⁠ block the spear,⁠ Corin smiled slightly.⁠

“You’ve⁠‌‍ improved your instinct.”⁠

“I’m…⁠‌‍ fine. I’m a disgrace… I’m a damn wretch… so…”⁠⁠⁠

Even⁠ now she loved⁠⁠ him fiercely. She would rather die‌‌ than hurt him.

But‌ she was no‍‌‌ longer the exemplary‍⁠ student Park Sirin,‌‌ nor the player⁠‌ Park Sihoo, nor the great leader⁠ Park Sirin.

She‌ was only Hayeon’s‍‌ mom.

The‍⁠ motherhood that had‍ awakened in her‌‌ forced her to⁠⁠ keep living despite‍⁠ the ruin.

“Hayeon…⁠ Hayeon… I don’t‍⁠ allow you to‌‍ touch Hayeon, oppa.‌‌ If you try‌‍ to take Hayeon…”‌

She⁠ would not allow⁠ it.

Her‌‍‍ eyes shone, and⁠‌ the mana circuits‍ in her body‌ accelerated violently.

All the previous battle‌ seemed like a game compared to‌‌‍ what she released‌‌‌ now. The colossal‌ magic pressed upon‍‌ the entire eastern⁠ coast and shattered⁠ her limitations.

A god appeared.

《Descent‍‌‌ of the Demon‌‌ God》

The‍ sea surged. The⁠ island trembled.

A gigantic magic that⁠‍ caused cataclysms simply⁠ by existing.

That‍ was the Demon‍⁠ God.

Although‌ weakened by the‍‌ precepts, it was‍‌ a power that⁠⁠⁠ had surpassed even⁠ Tates Valtazar.

Facing‌ this──

Solar‍ Manifestation.

The‌⁠ strength of a star was reproduced.‍

A temperature that devoured⁠⁠ everything it touched,‌‍ consuming moisture, oxygen,‌⁠‌ and the atmosphere,‌ growing without limit.⁠

The‌ goddess of magic⁠‍ and the god⁠‍⁠ of the sun‍⁠ clashed.

And‍ in the end.‍