novelVol. 1 - Ep. 19
| ← Ch.018 | Ch.020 → |
There was half of the face of a child on the ground. The young and fragile face looked like it was still screaming the fear and terror of the moment.
"This pisses me off as well."
This was a problem above a pro gamer or an arc master. He was furious as a human being.
When he saw people who won with foul or bribery, that angered him because they were dishonoring the sports. And made him swore that he would win them with his ability. But... using the lives of children made him furious beyond simple anger.
I'm sorry.
Said Sungjin to the dead children.
[Do whatever you please. It is more challenging and cool to win such an enemy. ]
He shouldn't have said that.
He knew that Riad was a tyrant who sacrifices people to the magical sword. So he decided to fight next to Ereka. But now he saw the scene...
Hahaha. Ok, this is a nasty feeling beyond the incident with the Ministry of Gender Equality.
Children were not binary data in the computer. He couldn't reload human life.
That was miserably abused and scattered under his feet.
He just realized that kind of victory he could bring by defeating the three knights and save people. And also realized what kind of darkness was coming when he couldn't.
He promised to the children.
I promise. I can't revive you guys, but at least, I will take down the blood ruler to stop her doing this again.
"But... !"
"Yes. A king has to manage the anger more rationally. I was naive. I need to grow up. But the anger that made me lose my reason."
Sungjin lightly held Ereka's shoulder.
"I don't mind that."
"Sungjin."
"I will cover you up for this mistake. Trust me."
Sungjin smiled softly.
He articulated the importance multiple times, but the princess blew it up.
The defense strategy he planned became useless.
If he was something normal, he would have been angry that his work ended up in vain. It would be less annoying if a computer project prepared for a few months has been deleted by accident,
This was not a project but a war that they had to fight with their lives.
But he smiled.
To tell the princess to stop blaming herself.
He was a man who could embrace the princess of a kingdom.
"Would it be possible?"
"Trust me and wait."
Sungjin promised.
"Hey. Let's bury the children. And then I will work on an attack strategy. Stop beating yourself."
"Yes. Princess. Sniff... woo... I will... I will help you! So... so... we will... we will..."
Jenna tried to stop her tears and raised up her tail sword.
"Yes, Sungjin. Jenna... thank you."
Ereka stood up with tears in her eyes.
They collected pieces of the bodies and buried them. Although he blood ruler's ultimate skill destroyed most of them and didn't even leave enough pieces to collect.
Sungjin started to think about sitting next to the tomb of children.
'The blood ruler Riad. '
Her strategy to kill a few dozens children to provoke Ereka was clearly valid and excellent.
She killed only a few dozens children in order to have an upper hand in a battle that could change the destiny of the country.
She deserved credit.
And so...
I will defeat you...
He was able to become a world champion fighting fair and square.
But what about arc master?
Yeah. Now I know.
In this world, the prize of the victory had nothing to compare to the sports on earth. He needed a much bigger vision to become an arc master.
Incomparably strong enemies would try to stop him with evil methods beyond imagination.
And the stake for his victory was much bigger and heavier.
Many people's life was at stake.
His first fight was to stop the blood ruler and Ereka. And now, he could see what has to be his next step and goals for his next fights.
His opponents were not a simple rival team.
His prize was not just a trophy and money.
Now I know.
We all want the victory, but the path he wanted to walk was far from the path of the blood ruler.
He wanted to win because he was competitive.
And then, he wanted to save Ereka's smile who abandoned her happiness as a girl to devote to her people.
Now there was one more reason.
He wanted to defeat Riad. Ereka had to be the king.
That had to be the first step of building his legend.
So it was ok if he couldn't use his strategies for the defense battle.
He didn't care that the blood ruler ultimate skill had absolute power.
He set a goal, he would make it.
The cool victory was not to find excuses, it was to achieve what one decided.
I will defeat you.
Sungjin promised to himself.
* * *
From that day, Sungjin started to work on new strategies. Ereka looked at him and started to pray.
Sungjin...
Every time she called him, Sungjin smiled and told her to trust him, but she knew.
Sungjin didn't need this much time when he fought against me or against the three knights.
When he promised to win against the blood ruler, it was not this long.
He already had a plan and he was adding up additional tactics. But this time was different. He said he would but he didn't yet.
And probably... no, almost certainly...
Sungjin was good, but this was not a situation where he could find an answer.
You haven't seen it with your eyes, Sungjin.
The ultimate skill of the blood ruler was more terrifying than what he had seen with the aftermath. Only Ereka who saw the moment she used the skill, the pressure, and intensity of the power
Even though you are good, This time would be impossible.
The blood ruler was way too stronger.
That was not it.
When she looked down to the training room, Jenna has dozed off with her hammer on the floor. Her tail sword started to do up and down.
"Humm... Yamm... Sungjin oppa, pat me."
"Jenna. Go to bed."
"Oh, Princess! Not yet! I want to practice more!"
Jenna woke up and held her hammer.
"Don't try too hard. Kids need sleep to become taller."
"Oh really?"
Jenna stood her tail sword but soon shook it.
"I'm fine! I can grow later. I want to practice more to attack."
Ereka couldn't stop here although she knew that Jenna always wanted to become taller.
"Jenna... take your time... if you get sick... that is a bigger problem."
"Yes. Your Highness."
Ereka dropped her teats knowing Jenna was trying to sound positive. She also knew Rittier was practicing harder than usual.
I can't make you do this impossible task.
They need to become stronger. But there was no a hero who would come to their side. There was only one way.
She called Rittier and Jenna.
"I've got something to tell you."
Rittier and Jenna held their breath, knowing Ereka was truly serious. The room was so quiet, they could hear their own heartbeat.
"I will tell how to finish the forbidden ritual to Sungjin."
"Please don't!"
"Princess!"
"I will let Sungjin decide if we need to proceed to finish. But if he has no other possibility, I will follow him."
"But your highness... that ritual... that ritual... !"
Rittier shivered his hand.
"No. Princess!"
Jenna held Ereka's leg and her tail sword shook rapidly.
"Yes. That was our last resort. I never wanted to use it. But I made a mistake, knowing the defence battle was our only hope."
"It was a mistake for sure! But Sungjin said he can cover it!"
"Do you really think it would be possible?"
"..."
No one answered.
"Even if that, it is the king's duty to stand on the front line and give her life to save her people from the risk."
She decided to become a king, not a girl.
"But..."
"So I will tell him that he can have power by taking me as a sacrifice."
So that was how to finish the forbidden ritual.
To summon a demi-devil from the other world and sacrifice a virgin to use his power.
The sacrifice had a double meaning.
A sacrifice in bed to satisfy the demi-devil...
But also a sacrifice to make the demi-devil stronger.
The former had to sacrifice the virginity.
The latter had to sacrifice the body of innocence. The life itself.
If Ereka took her fate as a sacrifice and killed herself, all her power would go to Sungjin. Although Sungjin left all his power back on the earth, with the ritual, he would get the level.
That would awaken much stronger energy mixed with his own power.
The legend says, a demi-devil from the other world has a unique class, they had other regular power of the classes; knight, warrior, assassin, wizard, supporter.
"But..."
"What I want to ask you is to take care of Sungjin when I'm gone. Don't blame him for my death."
"But..."
"He is such a nice person, so he will suffer from my death. But if you help him to rule as a king, that will be a way to save me. Which will be much better than dying as a prisoner losing rightful kingship."
Ereka showed a beautiful smile that only a person who gave up everything could show. His smile was sad, emotional and beautiful.
"Your... highness...."
"Princess..."
"I will let him take over after me. He is a strong, charming but also a nice person, so he will do much better than what I'm doing."
"What is not true! Everyone admires you, your highness!"
Rittier said, but Ereka shook her head slowly.
"They appreciate my trying, but not an acknowledgment of what I've done."
"Princess."
"Ok? Take care of them when I'm done. Promise me."
They stayed in silence. Ereka begged with her eyes to promise her.
"Yes... your highness..."
Rittier took the order.
He wanted to stop her but he couldn't.
"Oh... oh... but I don't want you to!"
Jenna ran out crying.
"Jenna!"
Ereka followed her.
Sungjin's room crashed with a big noise. Jenna ran into his arms.
"Sungjin oppa! oppa! Stop the princess! Save her..."
She cried her eyes out in her arms. She grabbed him thinking there was no one else she could trust.
"What's wrong?"
"Jenna, stop it."
Ereka tried to stop Jenna.
"But the princess... princess!"
"Rittier. Take Jenna away."
"Yes. your highness."
Ereka ordered and Rittier took Jenna to take her out.
"No! Sungjin oppa, oppa. Save my princess... !"
Rittier dragged Jenna out while she was shaking her tail sword and struggle,
Ereka asked for Sungjin's excuse.
"I'm sorry for this fuss from early morning."
"It's ok. But tell me what is this about."
Sungjin's eyes calmed down cold. He already knew half of the story deducted by Jenna's words.
"Yes. I wanted to tell you something. Actually... there is the ending part of the summoning ritual that was used to bring you here."
"The ending..."
They kept it from him until now, which means it was not good news. Sungjin understood right away.
"I decided to become a sacrifice and sacrifice myself to give all my level to you."
He was right. It was not good news.
"The legend says that the Outlander will get a unique class called the 7th unique class, so the strength is over the range. That will give us a better chance against the blood ruler."
"So you want to kill yourself?"
"If you think that is the only way, I will. And I told everyone that you will take over the kingdom. Please consider it."
Sungjin's brain started to calculate the benefit of Ereka's offer.
The 7th class.
There were unknown factors but stronger than now.
Power to control his own power not just as commanding other.
And the kingdom.
It was useful.
It was very useful.
It would be useful even after this battle.
It was clear.
But...
"No need."
Sungjin cut her.
"Please consider it as a last resort."
"I said I don't need it. End of discussion."
"But the blood ruler is too strong. If we don't make it, people will suffer. This is a fight we can't lose."
"I agree. We can't let her win."
For those kids they buried.
"So we need to consider my sacrifice as our last resort."
"No. I wouldn't."
"Sungjin..."
Ereka sighed with Sungjin's strong rejection.
She wasn't happy to be dead. She didn't really want to become a king. She had to sacrifice herself to fight against the blood ruler.
But she had no regrets, and if he could understand that, he would understand this sacrifice she was trying to make.
"I know you want an honorable victory. But as a king, this was my decision to protect what I believe in. It is not that you sacrifice me, but it is me taking responsibility for my mistake. I want you to understand."
Ereka sincerely told Sungjin with her hands on her heart.
"I know, while I was burying the children, I promised myself to protect people from the greedy evil force as well."
"Thank you."
"But still I don't need it"
Sungjin shook his head.
"Why?"
"Because you are on the top of the list."
That's why he refused her offer without hesitation.
As soon as he heard the solution, he understood the necessity of it. And how useful it was.
But didn't want it.
War required sacrifices. Especially when the enemy was much stronger.
That was reality. Cold truth.
But he didn't want that power logic to abuse others.
Moreover, he didn't want the girl he wanted to protect the most, the girl who was trying her best to be sacrificed.
So he would beat the reality with his power.
"I want to support your dreams as a king, but I want to protect your happiness as a girl."
Kill a girl that he wanted to protect to win the victory. That kind of nonsense victory was not his taste.
"What? What... what..."
"I'd rather want you to be a girl who cheers me up than a holy martyr and live a happy life."
He wanted to protect her as a girl and as a king, not one thing or another. He wanted to embrace all of her and protect her.
Experiencing an abuse of greed and power once was enough. He didn't want her to experience it again.
And it wouldn't be a pleasant experience to see the girl that he wanted to protect experiencing that in front of him.
He didn't need it.
"Bu.. but..."
Ereka blushed. Her heart was pounding. She couldn't look into his eyes.
[I want you to live. ]
Sungjin's words echoed in her head. She answered.
"It's not... abuse... my choice... you don't need to try to protect..."
"Are you going to sacrifice yourself when the enemy is weak? No, right? If you don't need to, what do you want to do? Answer me."
"I... I...."
Ereka wanted to tell him what she was thinking.
[I want to live with you for a long time happily. ]
I will be happy when he enjoys her food.
I will be happy when we go on a picnic.
I will be happy to wake him up in the morning.
I was really happy when he saved me in a desperate fight with the three knights.
That moment, she just realized.
Oh... I... I.... I love him...
That was why she was so happy to be with him. She was happy when she thought of him. And that was why she wanted to stay with him.
Although she knew how strong the blood ruler is and how much they needed her sacrifice.
She wished to have a longer time to stay next to him and love him
And to trust him with everything she had.
He was a great man who can be a real king, and that's why she loved him.
"Trust me and wait. I will defeat to protect you."
"Yes... Sungjin... I trust you."
Ereka nodded.
She knew how difficult it was but she wanted to trust him.
Because she loved him.
Thank you Sungjin.
Thank you so much for your promise.
I'm already happy that you are still going to protect me from this danger that was caused by me.
She felt so emotional.
"OK."
Sungjin tapped her shoulder with a grin.
| ← Ch. 018 | Ch. 020 → |