I Killed the Player of the Academy

ething from her.

 

  A lost daughter;

 

  A healthier cousin;

 

  A weapon that can destroy everything.

 

  She could instinctively tell that this boy also wanted something from her but she had no idea what that exactly was.

 

  “Do you want… something from me?”

 

  It wouldn’t be anything like a close relationship; that was something that was only permitted to Ran.
The only value Hua had was in her strength as a Yaksha – an unbreakable body that could crush through everything.

 

  If that was what he was after, she could somewhat understand his actions.

 

  “Do you remember what I said before?”

 

  While taking the blanket that was about to fall and bringing it all the way to her neck, he opened his mouth.

 

  “When do you think was the start of civilization?”

 

  “Don’t bother if you’re going to talk riddles.”

 

  Even though she remembered his words, she didn’t reply back.
It was because she was certain that his statement about the traces of another ‘person’ waiting until the ‘person’ with broken legs healed back up, was a story that did not apply to herself.

 

  “It’s nothing.
It’s just normal to help when things are rough.”

 

  “That’s how it is for human civilization.
That has nothing to do with a monster like me.”

 

  “A monster shivering from the cold, huh? So scary.”

 

  “Stop making jokes and be honest.
What do you want from me?”

 

  Her quiet gaze even contained a touch of killing intent.
Those scorching ruby-colored eyes did not permit any lies. 

 

  There was no way that he didn’t want anything from her; there was nothing more devious than the thoughts of a human who claimed they were helping a monster out of goodwill.

 

  On the receiving end of that gaze, instead of being scared by them, Korin found her pitiful.

 

  Her voice was cold, and she was in self-denial.
She was heart-chillingly certain that she was a monster that would never receive any love.

 

  Because Korin knew of the story of Hua Ran, the Heavenly Yaksha, and her background… he couldn’t help but pity her.
If she was a brazen monster that shamelessly shouted ‘survival of the fittest’ after taking over another person’s body, would her life have been a lot easier?

 

  Such a future would never come because Hua wasn’t a piece of garbage like that.

 

  “Do you remember the first time we met?”

 

  The conjoinment of two souls inside Korin Lork – after seeing through that, Hua Ran had said something to him, who was in a similar condition to herself.

 

  “You said I was not the owner of this body.
And that I’m a thief and a robber with no right over it.”

 

  The origin of her harsh criticism back then was quite simple if you were to link it back to her agony.
It was as clear as day that the target of her criticism was herself, and not Korin Lork.

 

  “My reply stays the same.”

 

  There is no sin in being born. 

 

  Hua Ran still remembered that reply, but there was something she wasn’t expecting.

 

  Rather than an insincere remark given to obtain her favor, she realized from his firm and stubborn gaze that it was a serious reply he was giving to her question.

 

  “That’s irresponsible,” she said.

 

  “Huh?”

 

  “That is very irresponsible.
Even Josephine and the Chairman know just how dangerous it is to free a monster using those ambiguous words.”

 

  It was rare for her to talk this much.
As if she was throwing her complaints and her distress at the world, she lamented while looking at the boy with condemnation.

 

  “Does a monster become less of a monster if you just talk big like that? Does the world change?”

 

  “It’s true that I am trying to do this stuff to save the world but… that’s a secondary thing.”

 

  “What?”

 

  “I’m simply trying not to ignore the things that are just there in front of me.
People with predestined misfortune; because I am the only player there is for them.”

 

  “…What does that even mean?”

 

  “If I try a bit harder, they can survive, and they’ll die if I give up.
In that case… why not try a little bit more?”

 

  – I’m a bit of a romanticist, you see.

 

  “More importantly, I’m the only one you have next to you right now.
That’s why I have to do it.
Let me help you.
I can carry you around and feed you until your broken leg heals back up.”

 

  His words with a grin were just things she couldn’t understand.
However, she could still tell the sincerity behind his words, which was why her heart stung a little in pain.

 

  “You, you…”

 

  Despite feeling the necessity to say something, Hua Ran did not know what she was supposed to say. 

 

  She couldn’t understand the boy in front of her nor the situation at hand, so much so that she didn’t even know the face she was making.
There was probably no way for her to tell just how foolish of an expression she had on her face.

 

  “I… am scared.”

 

  Her following words were her honest thoughts that Hua Ran unintentionally slipped against her will.

 

  The scariest thing for the world’s strongest three-year-old child, who was indifferent to most of the things in the world, was that one day she had to give back the thing that was never her’s.

 

  “This… is not my body.
This is Ran’s, and not Hua’s.
It was never mine; and everyone says I must give it back to her.”

 

  Ran’s beloved family;

 

  The enemies that hate Hua;

 

  Just like the protagonists of many stories that talked about two souls;

 

  The soul of a demonic beast had entered the body of a sick child.
There was no need to even bother asking others on who the illegal trespasser was.

 

  “I need to return it.
I know that, but if I give it back… what would happen to me?”

 

  Her ‘master’ was the only one who said she didn’t need to.

 

  Would this boy say the same thing? That it was okay for her to live? Would he say it was okay for her to take over this body? Wouldn’t he say that though since he said he would help her?

 

  “Tell me.
Do I have to give it back?”

 

  “You do need to give it back.”

 

  Her eyes widened into circles, before rapidly sinking back down.

  It was such an honest and reflexive response.
It was so evident that that was what he wholeheartedly believed in, so even though it made her feel unpleasant, she understood his point because that was the right solution.

 

  In the end, even he was choosing Ran.

 

  Feeling like she had lost her one and only ally, her heart felt stifled.

 

  “I see.
Even you…”

 

  “Don’t think it’ll be over with you giving it back to her.
Things might not work out immediately but it might actually be resolved in the blink of an eye.
You can wait and see through the result of your decision.”

 

  “What do you…”

 

  “Remember the story about Hulk… I mean, the smart green man? There is the possibility of mutual acknowledgement and cohabitation.
There are instances like mine as well, right?”

 

  “…”

 

  “Besides, you are a bit overly frightened by it as well.
Your mindset of, ‘Ran is going to steal this body away from me, but no; it’s mine!’ is wrong.
Of course, it’s right to be scared because Hua and Ran are different beings.
But you have no choice but to plead and constantly beg for her cooperation.
Tell her, ‘Hey boss.
I can pay the deposit and the rent so what’s wrong with living together, ey~?’ and that might increase the likelihood by a little, right?”

 

  Nonsense.
Cheap logic.

 

  That was nothing but an overly optimistic view of the future, and there was no way words would be enough to settle this relationship.

 

  Thinking that, Hua Ran raised a rebuttal.

 

  “A conversation… is meant to be between people.
You… know about my origin as well.”

 

  “Is that important?”

 

  “What?”

 

  “The things that decide who we are are our choices and our actions.
Your origin isn’t that important.”

 

  Your origin as a demonic beast is not that important; your choice is what matters.

 

  “There are plenty of people in the world that do worse things than demonic beasts.
Some wicked people even pretend like heroes while massacring people in the back.
What’s always important is your choice.”

 

  He could say that because he had suffered from that exact experience.

 

  Hua Ran, and the boy who was believed to be a hero.
Looking at the two of them, Korin Lork could say without any hesitation that the boy who was acting as the hero was the real ‘monster’ among the two.

 

  “You haven’t made any choice yet.
I can help you until you make a decision.”

 

  Hua Ran wanted to shout out loud that he was wrong, and that everything he said was but a delusion.

 

  He was just ignorant and thus kind enough to reach out to the wounded monster who happened to be put in a seemingly pitiful state.

 

  But…

 

  I cannot concede this body to Ran.

 

  That was her intention from the start because she was frightened of the future that was waiting for her if she were to pull herself back by even a little.
Despite that, she couldn’t be honest about it to the boy.

 

  Because she knew that the one-and-only hand that was being reached out to her would also vanish the moment she said that.

 

  …Her heart ached in pain.

 

  She couldn’t accept nor reject the hand in front of her.