I Killed an Academy Player - Chapter 78

[Hwaran (4)]

「Ah, daughter. “My daughter… finally… she has finally opened her eyes.”

When she opened her eyes for the first time, what she encountered was the ‘owner’ looking down at her with tears in her eyes.

Kang Yu called herself his daughter. It was called Ran. The newborn Jiangshi thought that it must have been referring to himself.

“Dad?”

I didn’t even know the meaning of the word and just copied the owner’s words like a parrot. With that alone, the owner was very happy and embraced his anger.

Maybe it was that moment. Hwa instinctively realized that he had to play Ran.

I feel like if ‘dad’ found out, he would abandon me right away.

I was afraid that they would try to find Ran. Because I inadvertently imagined the future after returning this body.

Fortunately, the memories of the original remain with her.

Even if it was clumsy, she was able to play Ran and take away Ran’s life and family.

“It’s Ran! “Are you feeling better?”

“Oh, you’re Ran? “Did you come out with dad today too?”

Living as Ran was sweet. A golden jade leaf from the prestigious Kang family.

The recovery of the unfortunate girl, who had not even seen her face due to illness until she was fourteen, was a matter of interest to the entire village.

But I knew the anger. What they are blessing and rejoicing over is Ran’s recovery, not theirs.

The false life collapsed in the smallest moment.

「You… are not my daughter.」

………….

…………

……

「First class “A strong man can kill a monster so easily!”

The first time I saw blood was in the name of destroying the sea beast that appeared in the city.

At Seongju’s request, ‘Dad’ ordered himself to murder Hae-soo. ‘Dad’s’ brother came to ‘treat’ him next to him.

He patted his head and looked satisfied.

“Good job Fire.”

He also gave me the name Fire. The burning gaze of greed entangled the girl’s entire body.

One’s own ‘usefulness’ discovered for the first time. Neglect from ‘father’ who realized that it was not his daughter.

The slaughter begins. Seongju, the imperial family, and Taoist monks made a request to Hwaran.

Monsters, demons… regardless of human beings. Whatever they want, whatever they command.

This is how Bicheon Yacha was born.

* * * *

-Shoot!

Rain and wind blowing in conjunction with the rainy season.

There is nothing to do other than idly think in the long, boring pouring rain.

But Hwaran doesn’t like having time to think. If you close your eyes for a moment, the events of that day naturally come to mind.

If you think about it, it rained like this that day too.

When I opened my eyes, I found myself on a burned out field.

The smell of sulfur and the stench of corpses were intertwined… The sky began to pour down heavy rain, perhaps stimulated by the walls of flames that collapsed and soared tall buildings.

The only living thing nearby is you.

When you start walking aimlessly amid the fragments of memories that seem to have been severed, what you see are people who have turned into charcoal.

I didn’t wonder why this happened. Maybe it was something he did.

「Fire. Kill all the humans in that land. “There should be no living things on that land.”

The last thing I remembered was the ‘owner’s’ command. My memory is confusing. Hwaran stopped thinking further, ‘as always.’

After the amulet attached to the chain burned, old memories kept coming back.

「Fire. “Where on earth is my daughter?”

“It’s my body! Give it back!」

「You are not Ran. “You’re the monster that stole Ran’s body.”

‘No…’

This body is mine. He said he put away the weak original and took it for himself. I wanted to say that.

“It was never yours. “You know that, right?”

Yes. I knew it deep down.

Fire (火) and Ran (蘭).

The two are different beings. Moreover, one of them is not even human.

The essence of fire is a monster. An evil being breathed into the body of a dying human. He is an uninvited guest in one body.

A being with two souls. In the many similar stories of people fighting for control of each other’s bodies, it was implied that they always had to lose.

The evil nature is defeated by the good nature and eventually disappears. Common stories of encouragement and punishment.

Even though she knew the ending was the same, Hwaran always looked for similar stories.

I wonder if there is a story where evil nature triumphs.

However, every time she finds the story and reads the ending, she begins to doubt and reject her own existence.

I wonder if my existence as an uninvited guest is truly evil.

“Let’s see. It’s too dark after all. I don’t want the fire to spread…”

『 ᛊ 』 ─

A rune carved into the inside of an old tree. The light was too dark to be called the sun, as if the magic power had been adjusted as little as possible.

However, it illuminates the inside of the old tree just enough. Once the brightness inside was satisfied, Corin looked around the old tree.

“Okay, I found it.”

He looked like he had found something! He stole it and handed it to Hwaran.

“Hwaran. Now…”

“…What is this?”

“Beehive. Owlbear’s nest has a beehive set up like this.”

Corin hands over a small honeycomb flowing with honey. Hwaran took it in a daze and trembled.

The Daomokpae swallowed by Jiang Lun is still tormenting her in her body. At best, it’s enough to drop the hive.

“It’s worse than I thought.”

“Don’t worry. This is it… you’ll get better soon.”

In Hwaran, Bicheon Yacha is strong.

Compared to Ran, who was just a weak girl, she was strong.

Dongajul, whose only advantage was pride, was able to maintain its dignity. How can I admit that it has now collapsed?

If even this is lost, does Fire have the right to occupy Ran’s body?

“Why are you trying to be strong? In times like this, just say thank you.”

Corinne gently pushes back the dropped honeycomb and puts her clean honeycomb in her mouth.

Although the Hwaran has the energy to lick the honeycomb in its mouth, it chews the honeycomb and stares at the other person.

With that mysterious, quiet gaze, Corin suddenly compares it with two close colleagues.

Marie and Alisha, whose expressions and gaze are easy to recognize, despite their individual personalities.

Each of the two people honestly reflects their emotions on their facial expressions.

In contrast, most of Hwaran’s gaze is close to nothingness, and emotions cannot be read.

The reflection of joys and sorrows is rare.

“What are your intentions…”

A subdued voice comes out with difficulty. But still, emotions are not involved here.

However, Corinne clearly realized that this was a serious question on her part.

And then he noticed that the girl was still trembling…

-Tup!

Take a blanket out of your backpack and cover it. Since I expected to camp to some extent, I brought it in advance.

“No need…”

“Uh-huh. Take it when it’s given to you. Or you could just bare naked and hug me like something out of a novel. It’s more effective that way, but.”

Anyway, that’s not a good idea, right? And forces Hwaran to choose between two choices.

“……”

Hwaran spends the night naked, hugging the boy, and quietly covers him with a blanket.

I hated either one, but I had no choice but to choose the lesser evil.

The party’s intentions are unknown.

Hwaran was embarrassed because he could not read Corin’s intentions.

Everyone she had ever met wanted something.

A weapon to slaughter everything, including

my lost daughter and

my healthy cousin .

I could definitely feel that this boy was hoping for something from me.

“Is there… something you want from me?”

It won’t be a family-like relationship. That is only allowed for Ran.

The value of fire is its strength as a yaksha. The body of the Diamond Buddha that will crush everything. If that’s the case, it’s understandable.

“Do you remember what I said last time?”

He said as he adjusted the disheveled blanket and covered it over his head.

“When did civilization begin?”

“If you’re going to say something riddle-like, stop it.”

Even though he remembers, Hwaran does not respond.

Traces of the ‘neighbor’ who helped the person with a broken leg until he recovered completely. Because I’m sure it doesn’t apply to me.

“Nothing much. I’m just helping you when you’re having a hard time.”

“That’s the law of human civilization. It has nothing to do with monsters like me.”

“It’s a monster that shivers because it’s cold. That’s really scary.”

“Stop playing with words and tell me your true feelings. What do you want from me?”

The silence and the gaze sent contained even murderous intent.

Lies do not apply to burning ruby eyes. There is no way there is nothing to wish for. There is nothing more disgusting than a human being who helps a monster with good intentions.

Corrin’s feelings while looking at that gaze are more pity than fear.

Hwaran’s voice was cold and self-denying.

He was painfully convinced that he was a monster who could not be loved.

Because I know the background of a girl named Bicheon Yacha Hwaran.

Would her life have been more convenient if she had been a monster who stole other people’s bodies and shamelessly preached the law of the fittest?

Not like that.

Fire was not that kind of horse.

“Do you remember when we first met?”

The union of the two souls within Corin Locke. Hwaran saw through it and said this to Corin, who was in a similar situation to herself.

“You said I am not the owner of this body. I am only a thief and a usurper. I have no rights.”

The harsh criticism can be quickly inferred when we think about this child’s agony. The target of this criticism is not Corin Locke, but himself.

“My answer is no different from then.”

There is no sin in being born.

I know the answer. However, Hwaran was caught off guard in one way.

That wasn’t a lip service meant to flatter oneself, but a sincere answer to one’s own question. I recognized it with a firm and strong gaze.

“It’s irresponsible.”

“huh?”

“It’s irresponsible. How dangerous it is to try to unleash a monster with such vague words. Both Josephine and the chairman know it.”

In rare cases, the girl’s speech becomes longer. He gave the boy a critical look, as if he was complaining to the world and taking out his anger.

“Your fancy words make a monster no longer a monster? The world is a bit different.”

“It’s definitely something I’m trying to do to save the world… but that’s secondary.”

“what?”

“I just don’t sit idly by and watch what’s in front of me. People who are destined for misfortune. For those people, I am the only player.”

“……What are you talking about.”

“If I try a little harder, I will live, but if I give up, I will die. So, well… let’s try a little harder.”

-I’m a romanticist.

“More than anything. I’m the only person in front of you right now. Then I have to do it. I’ll help you. I’ll carry you on my back and feed you at least until your broken leg heals.”

I can’t understand what he’s saying with a grin. However, my heart ached because I could feel his sincerity.

“You, you…”

Hwaran didn’t know what to say even though he was overcome by a sense of obligation to say something.

She couldn’t understand the situation of the boy in front of her, to the point where she didn’t even know what kind of expression she was making.

We’ll probably never know. How foolish you look.

“I am… “I’m scared.”

So what I’m saying from now on are Hwaran’s true feelings that he unintentionally let go.

In a world where most things in the world are insensitive, the only thing that the strongest three-year-old child fears is: having to

give back what was not originally his. It is the moment when you say,

“This… this body is not mine. It’s Ran’s. It’s not about anger. It wasn’t from the beginning. So everyone says I have to return it. ”

The family who loves Ran.

The enemies who hate Hua. The

two main characters in the story.

The soul of a monster that resides in a sick child. There will be no need to guess who is the illegal intruder.

” I have to give it back. I know. But if you give it back… what happens to me?”

Only the ‘owner’ said there was no need for that.

Would this boy do the same? Will he tell me that it’s okay for him to live. It’s okay for him to take over this body? He said he would help me, so wouldn’t that be the case?

“Answer try. Do I have to give it back?”

“I have to give it back.”

The wide-open eyes quickly sink. It’s

a very honest, reflexive answer. Because you gave back what you believed in without a moment of hesitation.

It’s unpleasant, but I understand it. Because it’s the correct answer itself. It is.

In the end, you choose Ran too.

However, my heart became frustrated because I felt like I had lost my only ally.

“Yes, you too…”

“Don’t think that giving it back is the end. Obviously, something may not be resolved right away. But surprisingly, it might end in a refreshing way. It’s not too late to watch the results of your choice.”

“What is that…”

“Hulk… No, do you remember the story of Mr. Smart Green Man? Surprisingly, there is a way to acknowledge each other and coexist. There are cases like mine, right?”

“…….”

“There was a part of you that was too scared to begin with. Since I’m about to lose my body to Ran, this is definitely mine! That mindset is wrong.

Of course you’ll be scared. Because fire and heat are different. Still, I have no choice but to hold his hand and beg for patience. “I’ll pay the deposit and rent to the owner of the house, so why don’t we live together in the same house?” Wouldn’t the odds go up a little bit?”

Nonsense. Sophistry. Easy words to listen to. There’s no way this relationship could be acknowledged with such noble words.

“The conversation… It’s something people do. You… know my essence.”

“Does it matter?”

“What?”

“It’s our choices and actions that define us. The essence doesn’t really matter.”

It doesn’t really matter whether your essence is a monster. What matters is what you choose.

“There are many humans who do worse things than monsters. There are also villains who play heroes but slaughter people behind the scenes. What matters is the choice. Always.”

This may be something he can say because he has suffered greatly.

Hwaran and the boy he believed to be a hero. Looking at those two people, Corin Locke would without hesitation call the boy who played the hero a ‘monster’. “You have not chosen anything yet

. I didn’t do it. Until then, I will help you.”

Hwaran wanted to shout out that the boy’s words were the wrong answer.

It was all his mistake.

Ignorant goodness reaching out to a wounded monster who happened to be in a pitiful situation.

I cannot give in to Ran.

It was a proposition that had been decided from the beginning. I was afraid of the outcome I would face if I backed off even a little. Even though I thought that way, I couldn’t be honest with the boy. If I did, even the

hand that was the only one extended to me would disappear.

… My heart aches

. I couldn’t hold on to that hand or shake it off.