I Killed the Player of the Academy
I Killed the Player of the Academy - Chapter 20: Marie Dunareff (1)

嗉?Marie Dunareff (1) 嗉?/b>

The boss characters of each of the arcs in 鉂癏eroic Legends of Arhan鉂?were tough foes that brought the player deeper into the immersive world. The boss of the 1st Arc, 鈥楳arie Dunareff the Vampire鈥?was a tragic character that suddenly threw one of the key aspects of this world at the player.

Her sudden appearance as a boss of the final tier, Unique Grade, allowed the player to feel just how immensely strong they were, while showing off the heroic nature of the player that allowed them to overcome the problem in the end.

At the same time, it displayed the fall of Marie Dunareff, who had resiliently held onto her human nature even at the face of such a tragic incident.

The life at the Academy, which felt like it would be all fun and games at the start of the story suddenly turned bleak and grim in an instant, and it was through this episode that the developers showed their 鈥榯rue colors鈥?/p>

That was the tragedy I had to challenge myself to, now that the player wasn鈥檛 here.

My job was to save the girl who had faced a great misfortune and a terrible end.

It was fate which even the protagonist of this world was unable to change, and that was why Park Sihu had tried to make use of this tragedy as efficiently as possible.

But was this seriously an unstoppable tragedy?

To be frank, that wasn鈥檛 really the case.

With enough preparations.

And with enough faith.

As long as we topped all that with good enough members, the unfortunate story of that one girl was actually one that could lead to salvation with relative ease.

That was why I did not want this story to follow the original plot. I did not want her story to end in misfortune like the sequences of fate which went by the name of 鈥榮cenario鈥?

Like how I resisted against the player who had insisted on efficiency, monopolization and jackpot,

I want a happy ending for her story.

So what if I am being a little inefficient?

And so what if I can鈥檛 swallow everything for myself?

And also, how is it a problem even if I can鈥檛 hit a jackpot and have fewer benefits?

Everything is fine as long as we have fewer deaths.

Do we even need a reason to save people?

This evening鈥檚 lesson was supposed to be carried out by Lady Josephine in preparation for an external mission.

It was a mandatory course of the 1st semester, where we would hear theory on practical things like camping outside and managing food, and carry out an actual external mission as a test.

鈥淒ude. Did you hear that?鈥?/p>

I was opening my book and preparing myself for the lesson when Jaeger came up and whispered at me.

鈥淲hat鈥檚 up?鈥?/p>

鈥淵ou know Hua Ran. That demonic bitch.鈥?/p>

鈥溾€︹€?/p>

It was very concerning to see Jaeger say that even though Hua Ran could fold him to death using two of her fingers. However, that was the impression which was shared by everyone inside the class.

Although she was wearing nun clothes of the church, anyone could tell that the chains wrapped around in talismans were there to restrict her.

Why would a student be wearing restrictive clothing? That naturally made them see her as a demon.

鈥淚 heard she was locked in isolation.鈥?/p>

鈥淚solation, huh.鈥?/p>

鈥淵eah. Apparently there鈥檚 actually a special facility in this Academy that locks dangerous demons inside鈥︹€?/p>

Jaeger then continued narrating several conspiracy theories, but he wasn鈥檛 completely off the mark.

There really was a special facility in this Academy that was dedicated to demons. To be fair, it was more of a rectifying facility that tried to help demi-humans control their overflowing mana and violence.

Aside from the fact that there was a barrier that somewhat suppressed their powers, it was just a fancy personal accommodation.

Hua Ran had used more power than necessary to hurt Marie so it was natural for her to receive some level of repercussion.

What I didn鈥檛 understand was why Hua Ran had started moving already.

鈥楽he should have been quietly listening to lectures鈥︹€?/p>

That was the same in the previous iteration and the game. She incited fear from the surroundings due to being a demon, but she didn鈥檛 do anything in particular and quickly went under the radar.

鈥淭hat鈥檚 why that monster鈥︹€?/p>

鈥淐alling her a monster is a bit鈥︹€?/p>

鈥淥i, aren鈥檛 demi-humans practically just demons? Do you have any demons around you, Lark? Just think about how many humans they killed鈥︹€?/p>

Lark chimed in and the conversation was about to turn long when a female professor wearing a loose robe walked in after opening the door.

鈥淗ello everyone. I am Professor Lulara Mars from Alchemy~. Deputy Principal Josephine has other things to attend today, so I will be carrying out the lecture instead~.鈥?/p>

Lady Josephine was known for not changing the schedule unless it was a serious problem.

Why would someone like her skip a lesson?

鈥業s it because of Hua Ran?鈥?/p>

Considering how Hua Ran created a big ruckus during the practical lesson, it was understandable for a special measure to be taken place.

Without thinking too much of it, I glossed over the small event.

****

锝ix Ways of the Spear锝?Fifth Style鈥?

鈥?Claaaank!

The deafening thud resonating across the training rooms probably gathered the eyes of other students. They would have crowded in if not for the privacy curtain.

It had already been 3 days since the end of the practical lesson at the hunting grounds. For the past three days, I came straight to the training rooms after the lessons and spent all my time here.

My combat strength that I tested at the hunting grounds was quite satisfactory. Even though they were still very inexperienced, I still managed to defeat Alicia Arden, a strong character, and the Golem User Kranel Luden.

However, this was still far from enough. I probably had better fighting senses than Park but my stats were weaker in comparison to how he was at this point in time.

鈥淗uu鈥︹€?/p>

Leaving aside the level I had achieved with my spearmanship, the problem was that my body couldn鈥檛 handle condensed aura. My ripped palms and the vividly protruding veins was proof.

What was fortunate, at the very least, was that the wounds left behind by the recoil from the skill was already being recovered thanks to the 鉂癛egeneration of the Tenacious Warrior鉂?

鈥業 might actually be able to recover even if my intestines were to fall out.鈥?/p>

Judging by the speed of the regeneration, it was probably at the level of a Grade 2 skill. But I didn鈥檛 get to test it as much 鈥?maybe I had to get injured on purpose just to test this out.

Condensed aura that worked in alignment with Six Ways of the Spear was a skill with way too big of a risk, but the regenerative ability came in for the clutch and offsetted the risk by a lot.

But still, the best choice was to obtain a body that could withstand the skill so here I was today, diligently training myself again.

鈥?She still hasn鈥檛 left the hospital?

鈥?Yeah. Looks like she鈥檚 still very sick.

鈥淗mm鈥︹€?/p>

The 2nd year students were looking quite strange these days. The main topic of their discussion was Marie who hasn鈥檛 shown herself for 3 days ever since the incident at the hunting grounds.

It was understandable on the first day, but ever since the second day, her roommate Isabelle was also unable to be spotted and no-one was allowed to visit Marie either.

Naturally, it would have been hard to leave unscathed after a clash with Hua Ran but鈥?Marie was the final boss of the 1st Arc. Not being able to see the first Unique Grade boss of 鉂癏eroic Legends of Arhan鉂?made me quite anxious.

鈥楽hould I try visiting the hospital?鈥?/p>

I was walking down the Academy campus with that thought in mind when I came across an unexpected person.

鈥淗ugek鈥?鈥?/p>

鈥淣n?鈥?/p>

Alicia Arden was wrapped in bandages while eating a potato croquette, and was greatly startled upon seeing my face.

鈥淲hy are you so surprised?鈥?/p>

鈥淢hmm鈥? Gulp! N, no? I am not surprised!鈥?/p>

鈥淗ave your injuries gotten better?鈥?/p>

鈥淯hh鈥?Yes.鈥?/p>

I didn鈥檛 feel sorry or anything about causing injuries. The common courtesy in the Academy was to refrain from blaming others about wounds that were caused during lessons and practices.

鈥淎re your bones fractured?鈥?/p>

鈥淣o. It鈥檚 just a few cracks. I just need to rest for a few more days.鈥?/p>

鈥淩ather than blocking condensed aura with aura, the best option is to offset it using the same resonance. There is no reason to bother blocking a dense amount of power from the front.鈥?/p>

鈥溾€︹€?/p>

Her eyes had a strange glint to them as she gazed at me.

鈥淲hat鈥檚 up?鈥?/p>

鈥淢r. Korin. Are you鈥?really a Grade 5 Knight?鈥?/p>

鈥淥h, that?鈥?/p>

I showed her my student ID card and the sign that said Grade 5 Knight.

鈥淪ee. I am a Grade 5 Knight.鈥?/p>

鈥淲, what kind of Grade 5 Knight beats a Grade 2 Knight!? Are you perhaps disguising yourself?鈥?/p>

鈥淣o, I am definitely weaker than you.鈥?/p>

鈥淵ou鈥檙e lying!鈥?/p>

鈥淚鈥檓 serious. Here鈥?鈥?/p>

I threw a sudden fist at the unbelieving Alicia. It was the fastest jab I could throw, but Alicia quickly stopped my fist with the potato croquette still in her hands.

鈥淣nn鈥?鈥?/p>

鈥淪ee that? It was meant to be an ambush but it was easy for you to stop, right?鈥?/p>

No matter how much power I put into my fist, I couldn鈥檛 take it out and all I could do was sway it back and forth a few times. It was an overwhelming difference in power and even Alicia seemed surprised by it.

Her eyes appeared to be saying that she hadn鈥檛 expected me to be this weak.

鈥淭he difference between a Grade 2 Knight and a Grade 5 Knight is like that of heaven and the earth. You are stronger than me but鈥︹€?/p>

I added a slight trick to my fist. As soon as an outburst of dense aura grazed past her palm, Alicia hurriedly retrieved her hand in a fluster.

It was too late when she belatedly raised her arms back up for a guard, and my finger was already poking into her cheek.

鈥淚 will always be the one coming out on top.鈥?/p>

鈥淯ghh鈥?Please remove your hand.鈥?/p>

There was a rare sign of blazing frustration in her expression, which was something you wouldn鈥檛 see often from someone as docile as her.

That was to be expected, because she was a successor candidate of a renowned household of swordsmanship.

No matter how low of a self-esteem she had, she would still be discontent with the gibberish from a random Grade 5 nobody.

鈥淚 once saw Lunia Arden fighting.鈥?/p>

Lunia Arden.

She was Alicia Arden鈥檚 older sister from another mother, and a competitor who was aiming for the position of a successor.

Alicia turned visibly gloomy the moment I mentioned her name.

Yes, I know about the inferiority complex you have for Lunia Arden, and your fear. The target of your admiration and terror.

The relationship of these sisters was a lot more complicated than expected.

鈥淎re you鈥?my elder sister鈥檚 acquaintance?鈥?/p>

鈥淣o. I told you I just saw her fighting from a distance.鈥?/p>

We actually fought together in the same party quite often but, well鈥?that wasn鈥檛 the case in this iteration so I wasn鈥檛 lying.

鈥淪he was strong. Probably the strongest out of all the swordsmen I know.鈥?/p>

It might be funny how a Grade 5 random person was giving out evaluations about a possible Unique Grade swordsman, but Alicia was quite serious when listening to me.

There were many things Alicia had been hearing the whole time 鈥?鈥榊ou are worse off than your sister鈥? 鈥榊our sister would have done it differently鈥? 鈥榊our sister used to do this when she was your age鈥?

The reason Alicia Arden gave up on having any hopes for her swordsmanship also stemmed from the difference in their ability and the constant comparison. But more than anything, there was probably also the vigilance and contempt she received as an illegitimate child.

鈥淏ut talent-wise, you鈥檙e better.鈥?/p>

鈥溾€︹€, uun?鈥?/p>

Alicia asked back while endearingly tilting her head. She then repeatedly blinked her eyes as if those words were completely outside of her expectations.

鈥淚 can guarantee it. Your talent in sword is superior than your sister.鈥?/p>

鈥淭, that鈥檚 impossible! There鈥檚鈥?there is no way I am better than elder sister!鈥?/p>

鈥淚t鈥檚 up to you to believe it or not, but since you are at the Academy anyway, you might as well try it seriously.鈥?/p>

鈥淎, are you really a Grade 5 Knight?鈥?/p>

鈥淚 just have a tad bit of more experience than others.鈥?/p>

For 3 years, I fought against countless monsters while clearing the scenario. None of them were weaker than me and I had never been the strong one in a fight, but鈥?/p>

None of those mountain loads of powerhouses managed to beat me.

****

I was about to sneak into the hunting grounds after a quick dinner, but noticed how rowdy the campus was.

鈥?Have you found鈥?/i>

鈥?Nope, I鈥檒l head to the outskirts.

鈥楽eriously鈥︹€?/p>

I was very unsettled. The two people that walked by just then were Professor Deina from the Magic Department and Professor Fermack Daman from the Knight Department.

They were the symbolic guardians of Merkarva Academy. Aside from them, there were also a few security guards running around and the campus was overall in a very disordered state.

鈥淒id one of the experiment subjects escape or something?鈥?/p>

Considering how Professor Deina, who carried out live experiments on dangerous beasts, was also here, it might be because of an escape of a demonic beast or a demonic spirit of the laboratory.

It was quite rare yet frequent in Merkarva Academy. Even in the game, Marie鈥檚 boss fight had taken place at the laboratory. She would move the demonic beasts of that place around as her familiars and defeating them was the 1st phase of the fight.

Well, there was still a month to go though. Away from the eyes of other students and professors, I arrived at a certain lake located at the corner of the hunting grounds.

Because of how far it was from the center, it wasn鈥檛 managed properly and there were plenty of tall weeds nearby. I was here to meet the being that was living in this place.

But first off, I had to force some water out of my eyes.

鈥淯, uhhh?鈥?/p>

While giving a noisy shout, I wobbled my body. My staggering hands were carrying the Seed of a Mandrake and鈥?/p>

鈥淥h noo! I鈥檓 falling!!鈥?/p>

I fell down in an exaggerated manner and dropped the seed into the lake.

鈥淭his can鈥檛 be! What should I do? Noooo! What am I supposed to do!! NOOOO!!鈥?/p>

I continued screaming while sneaking a glimpse.

Hitting the ground, I acted as if I was aiming for the Academy Award of Best Actor. It was definitely an amazing act but it seemed that it wasn鈥檛 spicy enough yet.

鈥淣ooo! The one and only seed left behind by my mother鈥? NUUOOOOOOOO鈥?鈥?/p>

鈥?Bubble bubble!

It鈥檚 here!

I forced out a few more tears when the center of the lake started to bubble as an old man appeared from inside.

鈥淗ohoh. Why is it that you are weeping so much?鈥?/p>

The old man appeared after being moved by my awesome act, gazed down at me with a benevolent smile.

A hidden piece that could only be used once in 鉂癏eroic Legends of Arhan鉂?which had the narrative written by the scenario team of a Korean company鈥?/p>

It was the God of Lake.

****

The Honest Woodcutter.

It was a famous fairy tale in Korea and the original was from Aesop鈥檚 Fables or something.

It was a very famous story where the God asks, 鈥榃as this what you had lost?鈥?to the woodcutter who dropped an iron ax into the lake while showing him golden and silver axes.

This God of Lake also existed in 鉂癏eroic Legends of Arhan鉂? and while walking by this lake, there would be a prompt asking, 鈥榃ill you drop any items inside?鈥?so it was quite common for players to chuck several items inside the lake.

Because the original was about golden and silver axes, most of the players threw weapons that were below the Unique Grade but鈥?it didn鈥檛 lead to any result no matter how many weapons people threw inside.

But old-timers of a game weren鈥檛 someone to be looked down on. They were people that did all sorts of wacky stuff that others would not even try!

銆嶪 tried dropping 500 trash items into the Lake today LOL銆?/b>

There was the so-called 鈥楾rashing Challenge鈥?that began by one of the players, and among the players were brave heroes who even dropped precious items inside.

And I was one of those brave heroes.

鈥淚s this golden seed yours?鈥?/p>

鈥淣o. That golden seed isn鈥檛 mine.鈥?/p>

Those nerd developers must have been giggling to themselves while wondering if anyone would ever find this hidden piece.

鈥淚s this silver seed yours?鈥?/p>

鈥淣o. That silver seed isn鈥檛 mine.鈥?/p>

What kind of mental retard would drop the Seed of a Mandrake which you had to exchange for strenuously hard-earned 100 points?

Well, that was me!

鈥淗ohoh. Then this seed must be yours.鈥?/p>

鈥淵es. That鈥檚 correct! That definitely is my seed.鈥?/p>

鈥淚 see that you are an honest man who does not get greedy from seeing gold and silver. In honor of your honesty, I shall give you all 3 seeds.鈥?/p>

鈥淥h my! Thank you very much!鈥?/p>

The God of Lake disappeared after giving me the three seeds.

Even if you dropped more items inside, this God of Lake would not show up anymore. It was a hidden piece which could only be used once.

After double-checking that the God of Lake wasn鈥檛 here, I turned to the beautiful seeds on my hands.

鉂癥ellow Golden Seed of a Mandrake鉂?/p>

鉂癢hite Silver Seed of a Mandrake鉂?/p>

鉂癝eed of a Mandrake鉂?/p>

鈥淗uhuhu! Now this is a dupe bug!鈥?/p>

Honesty is overpowered.

Mandrakes forever!