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I Killed an Academy Player Chapter 297: Webtoon Special Edition – Extra 9 Corin and His Children (2)

Chapter 297: Webtoon Special Edition – Extra 9 Corin and His Children (2)

The⁠‌ typical childish fight‌‌‌ between Park Hayeon‌ and Abigail was​⁠ put down just⁠​‌ in time by‍‌‌ Park Sirin, who‌‍​ had returned to‍⁠ the Dunaleff Tower.‍‌‍

No‌ matter how colossal⁠ the skirmish between‌​‌ two descendants of​ gods might have‌​ been, in front‍⁠ of a legendary⁠ archmage capable of​‌ stopping even time⁠ and space, it‍​⁠ was nothing more‌‌ than something pointless.‍

While​​⁠ both of them,‍ restrained by Sirin,‌⁠⁠ could only move‌‌ their lips without‍ making a sound,⁠‍​ Marie and Deokgu​‍ arrived after hearing⁠ about the commotion.​‌​

“Fighting⁠ again? Abigail! Didn’t⁠‌‌ we say that⁠‌⁠ while you were‍ here you would⁠​ behave yourself!”

“Woof!‍‌‍ Grrr! Woof woof!”​‍

— Ah, that’s enough!​‍ You destroyed the​ entire floor! Brats,⁠‍⁠ grow up already!⁠​‍

“Hic…!​‍‌ Ma, Mama Marie…”‌⁠

“Uh…⁠⁠‌ Abigail started it​‌‍ first, Deokgu oppa.”‍

As⁠‍ if nothing had​⁠ happened, both lowered‍​ their heads.

Even​ though they were​‌‌ direct daughters of​​ Dannan, in the‍​ end they were​‍ still children who‍‍‌ had not even‍⁠ turned ten.

No‌ matter how much‍‍​ intelligence or talent⁠ they had, to‍​ adults they were⁠​‌ still difficult to‍ handle.

‘Good⁠ thing it wasn’t‍⁠ Hwaran mama or‍ Miruam mama.’

‘If​​‍ it had been‌⁠ Lunia mama, they’d‌ be dead.’

Even‌​‍ among the children,​‌⁠ there existed a ranking of scary⁠ moms.

Marie‌ was fairly low⁠‍‍ on that list,⁠⁠‌ but the real⁠ problem was Park​ Sirin.

“Girls,​​‌ didn’t I tell‍ you not to⁠‌‌ fight?”

“Hic…!”‌

The​​ mother of the​ firstborn, famous for‍ her terrible personality,⁠⁠ cast her characteristic⁠⁠ icy gaze, and‍ the girls instantly​‍ shrank back.

“Abigail.”⁠⁠‍

“Hic…!”‍⁠‌

“Didn’t‌ we agree that​‌‌ during your kindergarten​ vacation you wouldn’t‍ cause trouble? Estelle‍‌ unni should have⁠‍​ made that very‌ clear to you.”‌‌

“E-eh…‍​⁠ yes…”

The‍‌ tone was gentle,⁠‍⁠ but the expression⁠ was frigid.

Someone‌⁠ might say she‌​ was too harsh​​ on the children,‍​ but that was‍ simply Sirin’s nature.​‍​

“And‍‍⁠ you, Hayeon.”

“Yes,‍⁠​ yes… Mom…”

Hayeon‌‌ rubbed her hands,‌‌ wiping the sweat⁠ from her palms.‌

It‌ seemed that the⁠ spell freezing time​‍⁠ and space had⁠​​ already been undone.​‌

“You’re​ the older sister.​⁠‍ How could you⁠ grab your younger‍‍ sister by the​‍‍ hair? Is that‌ how Mom taught‌⁠ you?”

“I’m‌‍ sorry…”

After⁠ subduing both of‌⁠‌ them at once,​‍‌ Sirin began thinking‍ about how to‌‌‍ discipline them and,​ without realizing it,​‌⁠ said it out​ loud.

“Would‌‌ twenty strikes with‌ the rod be‍‌‍ enough? No… maybe​‍​ with my strength‍‌ not even that⁠⁠ would work. What‍⁠ if I use​‌ magic—”

“Y-yes,‌ Sirin! No violence!”​

Marie⁠‌​ stopped her in​​‍ horror.

“Ah,​ Marie unni. Since‍​‌ you’re strong, do⁠‍ you want to‍‌​ hold the rod?”‌

“T-that…​​‍ isn’t that a bit too much?⁠⁠ Physical punishment isn’t⁠ everything!”

“Children‌‌‍ grow up being‍​ hit. If they​ make mistakes, they‍ have to receive‍‍‍ punishment.”

“But​​​ you come from⁠​ a world where⁠ children’s rights are​ more respected!”

“I​​⁠ was from the‌⁠ last generation with‍​ corporal punishment.”

Sirin‌ had gone to⁠‌ high school just⁠​‍ before corporal punishment‍ was banned in‍ Korea.

The‌ same age as‌‌ Corin, for her,​ growing up being​‌ hit was something‍ ordinary.

“Let’s‌⁠​ do it cleanly.‌ Just ten strikes.‌‌​ They’re resilient, so‌‍‍ let’s adjust it‍ to, say, the‌‌ level of a rank-2 knight’s injury.”‍⁠

“Hic!”​⁠‍

“W-we​​​ did wrong!”

“Did‍‌⁠ you do something⁠​⁠ wrong?”

“Yes,‍ yes!”

“We⁠ did wrong!”

“If‍ you did something⁠ wrong, should you⁠‌⁠ receive punishment or‌ not?”

“D-do⁠ we…?”

“Then‌ should you be​ hit or not?”⁠⁠

“N-no…!”‍

“But‌​ did you do​⁠ something wrong?”

“We⁠ did, but…”

“Didn’t‍⁠​ you say you‍⁠ had to receive‌ punishment?”

“……”​

It‍‍‍ was a logical‍​​ trap. They did⁠‍ something wrong, so‍‍ they deserved punishment,‌‍‌ but they didn’t⁠ want to be‍‌‌ hit.

— Wow… how cruel.⁠⁠

— She blocked every‌ escape with pure‌ logic.

— Is she really‍​‍ going to hit‌ them?

— If she says⁠​ she will, she⁠‌ will. Didn’t you‌​ see the video​‌⁠ of Lady Sirin​​ beating criminals?

— Ah, that video…​​ it even appeared⁠⁠⁠ in the criminals’​​ human rights ordinance…‌‍​

Ignoring‍⁠⁠ the murmurs of‍‌ the staff, Sirin‍‍⁠ stared at them.⁠

Hayeon‌‌ and Abigail, hiccupping,​‍ were terrified. Mama⁠⁠​ Sirin was the⁠​ type who, if​​ she said she⁠⁠​ would do something,⁠⁠ did it.

When‍ Sirin acted as​‍ the great archmage​‌​ of justice, her‌⁠‍ brutal treatment of⁠ criminals had been‌ a topic of​⁠‌ discussion even at‍⁠​ Corin’s family gatherings.‍‍‍

The​ problem was that‌‍‍ Hayeon and Abigail​⁠​ had hidden and‍‍ watched that video.‍⁠

— P-please, forgive us!‌‍ There’s no need​⁠‌ to go that‌‍ far!

— What are you‌⁠ saying, you damned​‌‍ criminal? Do you​ know what I hate the most?‌

— W-what…?

— When people say​‍ there was no⁠​ need to go⁠⁠​ that far. Then‍ don’t provoke me⁠ into having to​​ do it, idiot.‌

— S-stop! Stop! Aaaah!‍⁠

— …..

— ……Sirin, that’s enough.​‌‍

— They were sons⁠‌ of bitches. Turns​⁠ out they kidnapped⁠​‍ children and sold​ them.

— That’s true… it‍‌​ was cathartic, but​ if we show‌⁠ that outside, there’ll‌ be controversy.

— I don’t think​ Sirin dongsaeng’s method⁠ is bad.

— Estelle unni, you’re‌‍‌ religious!

— Anyway, conclusion don’t‍‌​ let it get‌‍ out!

— Okay.

— Agreed.

They⁠ didn’t know that,‌‍‌ through a crack⁠​‍ in the door,⁠⁠‌ Hayeon and Abigail‌​ were spying on​ them.

Since‌ then, among Corin’s‍ children, Mama Sirin‍ became someone they​​⁠ must never anger.‍‌

“I’m‌‍ going to get‌ the rod, so‌⁠‌ don’t mo—”

“Waaah!‍‍ I hate Mom!”⁠​‍

Hayeon​‌ ran off. Seeing⁠ her, Abigail seized​​ the opportunity and‌ ran as well.⁠

“……”‍

“……”⁠​​

Sirin,⁠​​ stunned for a moment, turned her⁠‍ gaze toward Marie.‌

“Unni,​ Abigail is yours.”‌​

“Eh?⁠​⁠ Y-yes… but don’t‌ scold Hayeon too‌‌ much!”

“If‍‍‍ they don’t do‌⁠ bad things, there’s‌‍​ no reason to​ scold them.”

“Woof…‍⁠ Grrr… Woof…”

— Mom, she’s really‍‌ scary.

“Deokgu,‌‍‍ you shouldn’t fight​ with your sisters​‌ either. You’re already​​ big.”

— Woof? You understood​ me without a translator?

Leaving​​‍ behind a confused​​ Deokgu, Sirin went​‌‌ after Hayeon, who‌​ had fled.

***‍

Hayeon‌‍ headed to a secluded area of⁠ the Dunaleff Tower.⁠‌‌

An⁠ abandoned research department.​‍

Until⁠ the next project⁠ began, that empty​⁠ place had become⁠ her hideout ever‍‌‌ since she started‌ living in the‍ Dunaleff Tower.

The‌‌ only problem was⁠ that sometimes Abigail‍‍‍ came to bother⁠⁠​ her.

“I‍ hate you, Mom……”‍⁠

Hayeon‍⁠‍ was resentful toward‌ her mother for​ not taking her⁠ side.

A sense of injustice‍‌ washed over her,​‍‍ as if only‌‍ she had been⁠⁠ scolded in front⁠​ of that ill-mannered‌‌ brat.

“So⁠⁠‍ this is what‍‍ you ran away​ for?”

“Hik?!”‍⁠‌

In‌⁠ an instant, Sirin​‌ appeared behind her,‌ having caught up,​⁠ and Hayeon jumped‌‌​ in surprise.

“It’s‌⁠ a nice place.‌‌ Quiet, with good‍⁠ facilities. Oh, and​​‌ you hid your​ snacks well.”

Sirin‌​⁠ pulled out the​⁠⁠ sweets Hayeon had⁠ hidden on top​ of a cabinet.‍​⁠

Not⁠‌ even that Abigail‌⁠ had managed to‌⁠ find them!

“They’re‌‍‌ mine!”

“What⁠‌​ belongs to the⁠‍‌ daughter belongs to⁠⁠ the mom.”

“That​‍⁠ doesn’t exist!”

“Here.”‌‌⁠

When​‍‍ Hayeon, furious, lunged​​ to snatch the​ sweets, Sirin used​ the momentum to‌‍⁠ grab her and‌​ lift her up‌ in one smooth‍ motion.

Then‌​‍ she dropped heavily‌ onto a nearby​⁠​ sofa and sat‍​‌ Hayeon on her‌‍ lap.

Sirin‍‍ laughed softly as⁠ she patted her⁠‌‍ head.

It‍​ wasn’t exactly exemplary‍​⁠ behavior, but Hayeon‍ felt good, as‌‌ if her mother‍⁠ was finally on⁠ her side.

“Still,‍ since you’re the‍‍ older sister, and‌​ also stronger, you‌⁠‍ can’t bully the‌‌ little ones. That’s⁠​ wrong. Understood?”

“Because‍​‌ I’m the older​ sister? Because I’m‌‌‍ stronger?”

“Yes.‌‍‌ Older sisters have​ to protect the‍‍‍ younger ones.”

Because⁠‌‌ she was the‍⁠⁠ older sister.

Because‍​ she was stronger.‌⁠‌

Finding‍ a reason to​​‌ be kind to​⁠ her younger sister⁠⁠‌ made Hayeon feel⁠ strangely satisfied.

Didn’t⁠‍ that mean she‍ was a better‌​⁠ child than Abigail?⁠⁠

“I‍ get it! Since‌⁠​ I’m stronger than‌ Abigail, I’ll try!”‍

“That’s‍​ it, very good.‌ That’s my daughter.”‍‌​

Sirin‍ trusted that by‍‍​ now Marie would​‍ also be calming​ Abigail down.

It​ was already the‍‍ second and soon​ the third childbirth,⁠⁠‌ so perhaps she‍ had been too⁠‍ harsh.

Even⁠​‍ so, there weren’t‌⁠‌ many places like‌⁠ the Dunaleff ducal⁠‍ house, with perfect‌​ care and opportunities‍‍ for children to​‍​ interact with one‍‍ another, so Corin’s‌‍‌ children were often‍‍ sent periodically to‌‌ the Dunaleff Tower.​‍​

The⁠ final goal was​ to settle in​⁠ the royal capital,‍ but the mothers⁠ had roles spread⁠‌​ across the world.‌‍‌

‘I‍⁠ need to hurry​⁠ up with the​‌ development of the​⁠⁠ transport portal together⁠ with Lady Josephine.‍ The distance makes​ it hard for⁠‌​ me to see‍‍​ Hayeon often.’

Sirin‍⁠ wanted to grant‍ any wish to‌‌‌ her daughter, whom‌ she had finally‍‌ seen again after​ so long.

“Is‌ there anything my‍ daughter wants to⁠‌‍ do with Mom?​​ I’m going to​‌ rest for a while, so I can do whatever‍ you want with⁠ you.”

“Umm…⁠⁠‍ Mama Marie bought⁠​​ me a puzzle⁠ and I was‌‍ saving it to⁠ put together with‍⁠‍ you. And there‌​‍ are also new​ princess clothes out,‌‌ and I’m tired‌​ of always playing⁠‍‍ with dolls only‌​​ with Abigail.”

Hayeon‍ had too many‌​‍ things she wanted⁠‍‌ to do with‌⁠​ her mother.

So⁠‍‌ many that she‌ couldn’t count them⁠⁠‌ on her fingers,‍​ and she wished⁠‍ her mother would​ stay a little‌⁠ longer.

“I’d‍ like… Mom to⁠ come more often.”‍

“Hayeon……”​⁠

“I‌​‌ like that Mom​ saves other people.⁠ Everyone says Mom⁠ is amazing. But​⁠ even so… I want Mom to‌​‌ be just with‍‌ me.”

Back‍‌‌ then, it had⁠‌⁠ been just the‌‍ two of them.‍

Hayeon,⁠​‌ having inherited Dannan’s⁠​ blood, had grown​⁠‌ quickly, and during​ that process she⁠‌ had seen her‍‌‌ mother make many‌‌ mistakes.

Sirin,‌⁠ a first-time mother‍ confused by early⁠​⁠ childrearing and abnormal​ growth, always stayed‌ by her side,​​ caring only for​⁠ her.

“It’s​ Dad’s fault. Dad‌‍‌ hit Mom, and‌‌ after that everything‌​ went wrong.”

“Hayeon,‍‌‍ that……”

Yes,‌⁠⁠ that fight might⁠ have looked to‌‍ Hayeon like one-sided⁠‌⁠ violence from Corin.​

An⁠‍​ intruder who invaded⁠ the small world‌ of just two‍‍‍ people.

In‍ fact, since then‌ Sirin had been‍⁠ busy traveling the⁠​ world, leaving Hayeon​ behind.

But‌‍⁠ that was an⁠⁠⁠ atonement Sirin had‌ to pay.

The⁠ 99,997 murders she​ had committed.

Even​⁠ if the world‌‍‍ had rolled back⁠‍‌ and those deeds‍⁠‍ seemed to have‌⁠‍ disappeared, the sins‍ committed did not‌​ vanish.

‘We’ll‌‌ look for them‌​ together.’

Faced‌ with the undefined‍‌​ weight of those‍ sins, Corin had‍ said that to⁠‌‌ her.

To⁠​‍ the mother of‌​ his child, saying⁠‌‍ that even if⁠‌‌ he could not‍‍ forget, he would‍‌​ forgive her and​‌ carry that sin⁠ together with her.​

That‌ was why she‌​ had to respond‍‌ to those words.⁠⁠​

She‌ did not believe‌ in the idea​⁠​ of washing away‍‌ sins with good​‌‍ deeds.

She​​ simply strove to‍ become a different‌ person; that was‍⁠‍ all she had​‍⁠ ever been as‌⁠ a heroine of‍‌ justice.

And‍‌ in that process,‌ she neglected her‌‍ daughter. That was,‍ without a doubt,⁠ Sirin’s mistake.

“It’s‍‍ because Mom has‍⁠‌ done many things⁠ wrong.”

“Then…‌​ are you going⁠ to keep living‍‍​ apart from me?”‍​‍

“I’ll​ try to reduce​ it little by⁠‌ little. But… I’m‌ not going to⁠‌ quit.”

“Why?​ Are those people​⁠ more important than‌ me?”

At‍​‌ her daughter’s absolute​⁠ way of dividing​‌⁠ things, Sirin gently​⁠‌ shook her head.​

“For​‍​ Mom, Hayeon is‌‌ the most important​‌⁠ thing. That will‍‍ never change.”

Hayeon‌‌ held back from​ telling her to‌‌​ then always stay​⁠ by her side.⁠

Her‍ mother’s gaze, unable⁠ to give her‍‍​ everything, looked so⁠‌ sad that she⁠ couldn’t say it.⁠

Just​ as a child​ is inexperienced, a mother is too.‌

Both⁠ wanted to do‍ well, but many‌⁠ times things didn’t‌​ turn out the‍​⁠ way they wished.​‍

“And‌⁠‍ Dad?”

“Why​‌​ Dad?”

“Dad​⁠ is always away.‌​ Abigail said our⁠‌ dad is a useless jobless man.”​‌

“……Abigail​⁠ also needs to​‌​ fix the way​​‌ she talks. Who‌‍ did she learn​ that from?”

“From‍ brother Deokgu.”

“No,⁠‌⁠ that bastard… ahem…”​

Sirin⁠‍‌ hurriedly changed the‌ subject and thought‌‍⁠ about how to‍‍ explain Corin’s work‍⁠‍ to a child,‍ something difficult for‍ children to understand.‌

“Umm…‌ Dad is busier⁠⁠ than Mom. You​ say Mom is​‍ a heroine of​⁠ justice, right? Well,⁠ the original is​ Dad.”

“Dad?”​⁠

“Yes.‍​ When you grow⁠​‍ up and see​​ what Dad does,‍​​ you’ll think he’s‍‍ really amazing. He​ truly is an‍ amazing man.”

Hayeon⁠⁠ thought about her‌ father and looked⁠‌‌ at her mother’s‌⁠ gentle smile. It​‌ felt strange.

Even​​‌ when it had‌‌​ been just the‍ two of them,‌‍‌ her mother would⁠‍ sometimes stare far⁠​ beyond the sea.​‌​

Even⁠ with a child’s‌‌​ mind, Hayeon could‌‍⁠ understand that it‌‍​ was longing for​ someone.

Her‌ mother felt a deep love for⁠‍ her father.

“Then​ why did Dad‌​‍ hit Mom?”

“Umm…​‌ that’s hard to‍‍‍ explain……”

Unable‌‍​ to tell her​​‌ daughter what she⁠‌ had really done,⁠‌‍ Sirin just patted⁠ her head and‍⁠‌ summarized it.

“It’s‌​‌ just that… Mom⁠⁠ did something that⁠‍ deserved to be​‍ hit.”

Something​‌‌ that deserved to‍‌​ be hit many⁠​ times.

“Do​‍⁠ you hate Mom‍ a little less⁠​ now?”

“Y-yes!​​‍ I don’t hate‌​‌ Mom anymore!”

“But​‍⁠ earlier you said‌​ you did.”

“That…‌⁠⁠ I just said​‌​ it like that……”‍‍

“Mom​ is also sorry‍⁠ for insulting you.‍ And about saying‍‍ I’d hit you…‍​ I was only‌‌⁠ going to hit‌⁠ you a little.”‍

“Then…​‌ you really were‌‍‍ going to hit‌‌ me.”

“If‍​​ you do something​​‌ wrong, you have​ to receive punishment.”​‌

“Are⁠‌‍ you still… going‍ to hit me?”‌‌

“I⁠‌ suppose so.”

“T-then⁠ hit me. Hayeon‌ also made a mistake, so I’ll‍‍⁠ accept the punishment.”‍‌‍

Hayeon​‍‍ squeezed her eyes⁠ shut, resolute, and​⁠‍ Sirin suppressed the​‌ laughter that was​​ about to burst‍‍ out.

“Good,‌‍ that’s how you‌ talk. That’s my⁠ daughter.”

The‌​⁠ hand came closer.‌‍ Hayeon trembled as​ she felt the‍ warmth.

Flick!​⁠

“Ah!”‍⁠⁠

A finger flicked her‌​ forehead. Hayeon rubbed​‌ her reddened forehead‌‍‍ and looked at‌⁠ her mother in​‌​ confusion.

“Because‍⁠⁠ you promised to⁠ get along with‌⁠‌ Abigail.”

“Y-yes.‍⁠ I’ll get along!”​

She​ survived! Remembering the⁠ scene of her​ mother beating criminals,‌‍​ Hayeon congratulated herself​‍‍ for getting off‍‍​ lightly.

“Then,‍ Hayeon. Do you​ want to put‌‍ the puzzle together​‍ with Mom?”

“Huh?‌ Y-yes! I want‍​⁠ to!”

“And‌​‌ then we’ll go⁠‍ buy new princess⁠‍ clothes. And we’ll‌‍ play with dolls.”‌​

“I​‍ want to! I want everything!”

“And​‌ we’ll eat something​‌ delicious with Abigail‌‍‍ and brother Deokgu.”⁠

“Yes!‍ I w-wan… eh?”‍⁠

“Good!⁠​‍ Shall we do‍​‌ it step by‌⁠⁠ step?”

“Y-yes……”‌‌‌

Even⁠ though she felt‍ like she had‍ fallen into some⁠‍ kind of guided‌​⁠ interrogation, Hayeon decided‌‍ to focus on‍⁠ putting together the‍ puzzle for now.‌‌‌

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