Chapter 168
『Translator: RainTL』
༺ Side Story - Park Sihu (3) ༻
The royal palace stayed bright even in the darkest of nights. Magic lamps were brightening up the entire area around the enormous palace, with the royal knights and security patrolling the palace at all times.
There was a whole bunch of knights and yet each of them was also among the top of ❰Heroic Legends of Arhan❱. Most high-ranked guardians would be cut off at the entrance.
However, that didn’t mean anything to me.
Using shadow magic, I melted into the shadows all around the palace and easily disarmed the alarms. When I was close enough, I stopped the time, which was on the same level as the Domain for knights, and went deeper into the palace.
When I arrived at the inner court of the 2nd Princess, I found, lying down on the bed, a red witch.
Miruam Elizabeth El Rath.
The 2nd Princess of the kingdom and Valtazar’s collaborator.
A bitch with a fucked up leg who dared to snatch what’s mine.
“Who…?!”
The moment she was about to say something, I grabbed her by the neck and pressed her down onto the bed. Although I was a mage, I was stronger than most average knights after consuming all sorts of treasures and elixirs.
“Kuhk…!”
Ignoring her distorted cry, I looked at her stomach which was bulging out a little.
So that’s where…
-Hissss!
The evil hiss of a serpent echoed from behind as it rammed in with its head. I naturally had my shield on, but the venomous fangs of the serpent even managed to melt my barrier.
“Tch, already huh.”
I sliced apart the head of the snake with Wind Cutter. The venomous blood splattered on the ground and melted it but it was far from reaching me.
-Hiss…!
-Hiss…!
There were snakes all around the room which reminded me of Dun Scaith. She was able to create serpents like this already, which probably meant she was close to perfecting Midgardsormr.
I knew she had contacted the Frost Giants of the North but she was much stronger than expected.
“You have a lot prepared.”
“Of course, I would when welcoming the hero of the kingdom.”
She knew that I was coming.
“How long do you think you can last with these toys? It’ll take me less than 10 minutes to kill you.”
There would be not a single proof left behind. In fact, I could remove the entire palace and blame Valtazar for it.
Even though that might interfere with the main scenario in the future, it would work out somehow if I throned the saintess. My priority right now was to kill that serpent of a bitch.
“I made sure a letter would be sent to Sir Korin if I die. You will not be able to kill me.”
“...”
She wasn’t lying. Judging from how she had been preparing herself for me and considering the meticulous personality of this witch, it certainly was possible.
That… wasn’t good. I had to hide it until we cleared the game - I couldn’t let him find out about this.
“I knew something was strange with your eyes when looking at Sir Korin. I wasn’t expecting you to be so explicit about it though?”
“...You don’t know anything.”
Do you think I wanted to be in this body?
“How did you do it?”
“A little drug and a right mood?”
“You damn slut.”
“A hero of the kingdom and a virgin princess. It’s a good trade-off, isn’t it? But I wasn’t expecting to bear a child in one go either.”
She said while caressing her stomach as if showing off.
This crazy bitch…
“Honey might be foolish, but he’s responsible. Do you think he’ll be able to antagonize me now?”
She was talking as if it was all based on a cold-hearted and rational calculation, but I could see her face blushing when talking about Oppa.
I did know about the strange light of affection this bitch had when looking at Oppa, but I… wasn’t expecting a boss character of the other faction to do such a thing…
“Do you… really think you can be loved by him?” I asked.
“...”
I already knew what she was going to do down the line. She was going to be discarded by Oppa since he was an irritatingly generous and kind-hearted person.
“I know,” she replied. “He is a dazzling person who can’t possibly stand on the same line as pathetic ones like us.”
Don’t sneak me into the equation you damn serpent. I have been hiding it well, so if I return to Earth just like this—
“Do you really think you’re hiding it still? Jaeger Hinzpeter, and Lark Buhgman. Oh yeah~, are you hiding Marie Dunareff well?”
“...”
How did this limp bitch…
“You… saw it.”
There was only one possible explanation. Since she was Valtazar’s collaborator, if she had borrowed Lia Fail to pioneer her own destiny… there was a chance that she saw what it was that I was hiding.
But then… why didn’t she reveal it to the South?
“Do you think I won’t tell the truth to Marde Dunareff? If I told them this, you would be turning the entire South into your enemy.”
“...”
As frustrating as it was, it was the undeniable truth. Even though it wasn’t revealed in the game, Marie Dunareff… that mosquito bitch was pretty much a princess of the South. They were so powerful, that I always had trouble regulating the information so that Oppa wouldn’t find out about it.
It would become tedious if the Dunareff became an enemy. At the very least, I had to keep it a secret until the South turned into a barren wasteland by Dun Scaith’s venom.
“Let’s make a deal.”
“I knew you would say that, Sir Park Sihu.”
I wanted to rip that mouth and shred her to pieces but now was not the time. Fortunately, I had a crucial piece of information that would be very useful in keeping her mouth shut - one that was so important that Oppa had to keep it a secret from her.
Yes. I made up my mind. This bitch was going to die by Oppa’s hands. I will make her die a gruesome death before her stomach swelled up anymore - before she could give birth.
“I know what you are looking for.”
“...”
The carefree smile on the serpent’s face finally went through a change. That was natural, considering how she had been pursuing it for 10 years.
———————
Her face crumpled visibly the moment I told her everything. I was confident that this woman would never be able to let that slip.
“...”
For a moment, hesitation lingered in her eyes. She gazed down at the bulge on her stomach but soon, that light of hesitation was replaced by a vicious fire.
“If this is true… I would have to make a move. It’s a check for me. Congratulations.”
“Checkmate, more like.”
You will have no other option but to do the last thing that Oppa would allow. Your life, your background setting - everything about you has been a continuation from that incident from 10 years ago, after all.
***
It was extremely successful.
Miruam Elizabeth El Rath moved just as I planned and at last, fulfilled her dream.
10 years of obsession and madness was quite commendable. It was obvious what the venomous serpent, drunk in blood and madness, was going to do - she would have no choice but to go on a rampage even if that meant she had to turn everything in the world into her enemy.
Even though she knew of the pessimistic future ahead of her, she carried through her life's purpose.
“Cough…!”
On top of the white plain of snow was a serpent coughing out blood onto the white canvas.
A boss fight against Miruam, the Infinity Serpent. We defeated the bitch just like how it was in the game, and I intentionally instigated Oppa to stab through her with the spear.
“You stupid woman… I, I told you to wait.”
“Cough… Fufu, you’re right. You’re right but… I couldn’t. I really… wanted to bear our children. I’m… sorry. Blame your mommy…”
In Oppa’s arms was the red serpent whose body was turning cold at a rapid speed. I really hated the fact that the fake bitch was monopolizing his gaze instead of dying already.
“...I love you. Sorry for… saying that so late. I love you. I really love you, Korin.”
That fucking bitch. Hurry up and die already… instead of doing something I can’t do.
“You were my destiny. Now it’s already too late though…”
“...It’s way too late.”
-Cough!
“Knight… Korin… Kiss, me.”
Oppa was not cold enough to be able to turn down the request of a dying bitch. Every time I saw the tongue of that serpent bitch mix with my precious Oppa’s tongue, I felt my blood boiling inside.
That fucking bitch… she’s using Oppa’s weak side…
That was when her eyes met with mine. Fuck… was she going to tell him something?
Smirk.
After looking into my eyes, the woman raised the corners of her lips and silently moved her blood-stained lips.
You. Will. Fail.
“...”
Leaving behind that silent declaration, the flames of life started to leave her eyes. After realizing that she was dead, Oppa kissed her on the forehead and closed her eyes.
“Bro, we have to hurry up. The Frost Giants are on their way. Just throw that thing away.”
“...”
He didn’t reply and instead hugged the body for a long time without letting go… as if that woman was precious to him.
She was monopolizing him even after her death, that damn slut.
Well, whatever.
In the end, she couldn’t give up on her lifelong aspiration and chose to die along with the baby inside her. It was lucky. She had no choice but to do it before giving birth, because she must have sensed that it would be too late had she given birth to the child.
I’m the one who got to stay behind with Oppa, and you’re dead.
Until then… I thought it was my victory.
I thought everything was over, and that the final battle was the only thing that had to be taken care of.
………
……
…
Ah, fuck.
“Bro, calm down.”
“Calm down my ass!!”
***
“You, you…! How could you do that to people…!”
“Bro, wake up. How are these guys, people? They’re NPCs. They’re game characters.”
“You…!”
***
“You’re really driving me crazy bro. You’re driving me insane!”
“I’m… not gonna hold back anymore.”
“Your consent is not important bro. You are mine. My only real one in this fake world.”
***
It was a mythical and legendary battle. A final war with the destiny of the world on the line - a fight that would decide everything.
Victory seemed certain.
Tates Valtazar, the boss of the enemy faction had all of his Precepts taken advantage of except for the 3rd Precept, and his strength was brought down into the realm of humans.
On the other hand, Park Sihu was practically a god of magic after having everything for himself. He was a Unique Grade among Unique Grades, heaven above the heavens.
Although it was a shame that his loyal comrade and mediocre yet hard-working spearman was nowhere to be found in the final war, that didn’t seem relevant in the slightest.
That was what everyone thought except for one person - the boss of the enemy faction.
…………
………
……
…
-GOOOOHHHH——!!
The world crumbled.
Earths were crushed, seas were frozen and skies were lit up in flames.
It was a scene straight out of mythology.
The fight between Radiant Light Tates Valtazar and Park Sihu the God of Magic could only be explained as the war of gods. The difference in power was extremely evident.
Aura, mana, equipment, army, landscape, items, morale, and supporters.
We were in the lead in every way and manner possible.
Everything.
“Did you really think it was over the moment I stopped the Domain? Did you really think you won when you chopped one of my arms off?”
The man said while looking at me with a blood-stained gaze.
“You’re powerful. Indeed, it’s on a whole new level that I’ve never seen the likes of. You are probably stronger even when compared to the previous Kings of Gods. However, it seems that Destiny has decided on a different victor from us two.”
Even though I should be stronger… Even though I was at the advantage for most of the fight and even though this man should have had more injuries than I did…
“Uhk…!”
“You look unhappy with the result, but there’s no need to feel that way. No matter how many times we were to repeat this fight, it would be me that comes out on top.”
“Shut… up!”
This wasn’t how it was in the game…! With these stats, I should be able to massacre Valtazar and his faction by myself…!
“You are strong but you’re incomplete as a fighter. So what if you lose an arm…”
“...Even if your heart is about to be crushed, you should never stop until you kill your enemy…”
“...Your desire to win is terribly weak…!”
That damn bastard… saying the same thing as Oppa.
“Korin Lork, the one chosen by my Master, would have been a better foe.”
This can’t be it. Was this… was this it? Was I going to die like this?
“What a shame. Back to square one. Lia Fail won’t accept such a pathetic ending.”
-Stab!
The Spear of Light stabbed through my chest along with his strange monologue.
Ahh.
It was fading away.
The light of life… my heart…
Everything started to fade.
“O… ppa…”
I haven’t even told him yet… that I like him, and that I love him.
If I knew this would happen… maybe I should have tried telling him a lot earlier even as a male.
Just like that, my vision faded away into nothingness.
『The Player has been killed. You have failed the attempt.』
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“Hukk!”
I opened my eyes.
What I saw first was a very familiar ceiling.
“I, is this… my room?”
This familiar sight was definitely that of my room. The digital clock was letting out a noisy alarm and on top of the desk was my monitor that was still lit up.
“W, was that a dream?”
Was everything there a dream? Even though it was all so vivid?
That can’t be!
I was turning my head away from reality when my eyes landed on my monitor screen.
『You have failed. All of your play logs will be reset. Thank you very much for your long contribution.』
It was ❰Heroic Legends of Arhan❱, but it was my first time seeing a message like this…
“I… have to go.”
Kicking off the bed I set out to confirm the truth - the proof of the 3 years I had spent inside.
“Sirin! Don’t forget your meal!”
Ignoring my mom’s voice, which I heard for the first time in 3 years, I got in my car and pressed on the accelerator as hard as I could.
In less than 30 minutes, I arrived at a gym and found a trainer called Hanbyul.
“XX Oppa? He doesn’t work today. More importantly, who are you? Do you know him? W, wait! You can’t go in there! Don’t touch the address book!”
Without paying any attention to her screaming that she would call the police, I looked up and found his address. It was nearby - just 10 minutes on foot.
I immediately dashed out without getting back in my car. The asphalt heated up by the summer sun was scorching hot, but I could withstand it because I was on the path to meeting Oppa.
Because I failed, the world would have been destroyed with my death, and Oppa would have died there like me.
I came back,
So he must be back too.
What should I say?
How should I explain everything?
He was a kind-hearted person who had been so affectionate to those fake NPCs from the game, so would he forgive me for everything I did?
It’s fine.
Those bitches aren’t here.
I’m the only one here - Oppa has no one else but me.
Let’s apologize first of all.
Although I don’t feel sorry for those NPCs, let’s say it’s because I wanted to go home so badly that I had no choice while shedding some tears.
He was a kind person, so he would probably console me before long.
Because that was what he always did - providing a warm and gentle set of words whenever I was going through hard times.
This time would be no different.
I arrived at the 5-story building.
Unit 302.
This was Oppa’s home. He said he was living by himself, so maybe he was still sleeping?
My hand paused right as I was about to press the doorbell. I was in so much of a rush that I only now realized how I looked.
I was still wearing my pajamas, my shoes were nowhere to be found, my hair was disheveled and messy and I wasn’t wearing any make-up.
Should I go buy some clothes at a nearby department store? Should I get some make-up first?
No.
I can’t.
I can’t wait.
How could I possibly take so much time?
-Ding dong!
The clear sound of the doorbell echoed from inside. I gulped as a flood of regret started to soar up.
Maybe I should have dressed myself up a bit more…
***
-Ding dong!
***
-Ding dong!
***
“Huh?”
Nothing.
Was he… not home? Did he go out?
“No way…”
A sudden gush of anxiety swept past my mind.
No, no. That can’t be.
He’s just a side character. A normal extra character. I came back, so there was no way he didn’t come back.
-Kung kung kung!
“Oppa! I, it’s me Sihu! Can you open the door!?”
There was no response. My heart started to race as anxiety started to drench my body.
-Grit!
Crushing the doorknob, I pulled the door apart and raced into the house. Like that, I barged into Oppa’s house.
He wasn’t there.
The only thing I found inside the dark room was a monitor giving off a brilliant light.
“No… No, no. NO…! DON’T DO THIS TO ME!!”
The screen flashed before slowly starting to fade. On it was a sentence that shouldn’t be there.
『Sub-Player, Korin Lork, will thus begin succeeding the role of the Player.』
My world came crumbling down.
Side Story - Park Sihu END