I Killed the Player of the Academy-Side Story 7
TL Note: These are my translations starting here, so let me know if there are any errors that need to be fixed.
Again I'm still much a amateur translator so any feedback is welcome
Next chapters should be out soon.
→ Side Story – The Agony of a Playboy (3) ←
I got scolded by my teacher.
"Do you understand? Sure, there are relationships where people share their love with multiple people, like in polygamy or polyandry."
"But that requires a deep mutual agreement and heavy consideration."
"A single man having multiple women, isn't that something that you only see happen in novels?"
"How would it feel to have the person you deeply love also share their love with other people?"
"First of all, how can Korin even handle seven wives? A man can only handle one woman──"
"I think that part will be okay. I'm the God of the Sun──"
"Hey! Are you talking back to your Master now? Since when did you have such bad manners! Huh! Your Master is getting angry now!"
"······."
When Master heard about my harem plan, she became very angry and slapped me on the arm to express her fury.
And yet, the fact that she held back her strength… that's just like her.
"Korin..."
Master held my hand tightly and looked at me with a worried look.
"My dear disciple, I know that you are a man of integrity and morality."
"Master..."
"Yeah, having to choose one out of seven girls must have been a lot of pressure on you too."
A teacher who tries hard to understand my shitty ideas...
"But that doesn't mean you can take everyone as your bride."
"B-but...!"
"I know. I know. You always try your best not to disappoint anyone. But your attitude only disappoints everyone."
"...…."
Ah, so my Master is in the anti-harem camp.
Well, of course she is. If my wife had two husbands, I would lose my mind and go crazy.
And I'd rather kill the other guy over my wife!
The same goes for women, no matter how much you love someone sharing a husband is still absurd.
Of course, there are some people who pursue such an unconventional view of love, but most people aren't like that.
Just look at Marie and Master ── they're normally very generous and understanding towards me.
Yet even those two look negatively on my harem plan, and unless I can persuade them won't be able to even get my plan started.
I had perfectly reasonable motivation to form a harem.
Survival.
Something I hadn't explicitly cared about for quite some time,
But because of this selfish reason, I would have no choice but to betray the ones I love.
* * * *
After that, I didn't give up and searched for Estelle and Miriam.
"...I'm disappointed in Korin-dongsaeng."
Estelle: rejected.
“Why should I share what is mine with others?”
Miriam: also rejected.
"Kuaaaah... This isn't working, I guess it is impossible after all."
"Well, I guess so."
Alicia comforted me by handing me some jerky.
We were at a Arden Dojo registered under Lunia's name located in the heart of Merkava City.
"Are you... okay?"
"Me?"
Of course, I explained the harem plan to Alicia as well. And...
"Sounds good to me."
Alicia accepted it easily.
"I hate to say this, but... honestly, my harem plan is a really shitty plan."
Of course, it's not like that I never dreamed of having a harem.
I'm a healthy adult male after all, who hasn't imagined having sex with multiple women?
But for love and marriage... just one person is already overwhelming enough. So a harem is just a kind of romance that's only possible in fiction.
"Um... I don't think there will be any problems?"
"No, why?"
"I think Mr.Korin would love everyone equally."
"...…."
The hell is this? What kind of love-struck fool was she to completely trust me?
"Mr.Korin, you're in good shape you know. And you've always bragged about it calling yourself the Sun and all.."
"Uh... I, I only said that to my guy friends...."
Alicia flashed a sly smile as she made a risqué joke. Ah, what a tease.
"Have you been waiting?"
Just as I was hesitating due to Alicia's boldness, Lunia approached us.
Wearing the typical revealing eastern-style martial uniform as always, Lunia flicked candy towards us.
"Eat this."
A honey bomb candy... a sign of her unchanging sisterly love.
"I'll eat it well sis!"
Alicia carefully peeled off the foil and sucked on the candy.
I watched her with satisfaction as she sat at the main seat of the dojo.
"So, a harem plan, huh?"
"Ahem... It's a bit awkward... but yes."
Lunia snapped her fingers to call me over. What this... is she going to scold me like everyone else?
"Um... Miss Lunia...."
"Call me Lunia. How long are you going to keep being so formal to me?"
"... Lunia."
Knock, knock
Lunia taps the seat next to me with her finger. Is she telling me to sit next to her?
I sit down.
"Well, that's unexpected."
"What part?"
"I never thought you'd want to start a harem, I thought you were a pretty honest guy."
"Hmm..."
Lunia has a somewhat... twisted view on love. So I thought she wouldn't have any problems with my harem plan...
"Well, I was going to take you away once my little sister had sex with you."
.......That was the plan?!
"Well, if it's my sister...."
Alicia covered her face in embarrassment. Wait, she's okay with this?!
"I thought it wouldn't be a bad idea for me to claim you first, but I guess that's out of the question."
"I've always been wondering... What exactly is the Arden family's view on love?"
"Look at my father and grandfather as 'clear water flows from the top'. You must have also heard from the old man too?"
"W-well..."
"It’s fine to say it. I know what he probably said, but I want to hear it from your own mouth."
"... to take both Lunia and Alicia for myself."
Lunia scoffed, as if she expected that. How does she take her irresponsible grandfather’s words, which clearly don’t consider her feelings?
"Well, in that regard, I share the same views as the old man."
It seems that that these people's twisted view on love seems to have been inherited from their crazy-ass grandfather.
"You know this already but in the Arden family, it’s survival of the fittest as only the strong deserve to rule. It’s so full of this distorted belief that if you’re capable, man or woman, you can take whatever you want."
"Well, for something like that, didn't both your father and grandfather only have one wife?"
At my words, Lunia snorted.
"The old geezer was a sword-obsessed pervert, that’s why."
That… that feels like multiple forms of disrespect toward the Swordmaster...
"And my father... well, he's too weak to take multiple wives, you know."
"Huh?"
"For a weak man to take multiple wives, there’s nothing more disgraceful than that."
Even Alicia agreed with Lunia's harsh assessment of her father.
"Well... that's true. He's good at business, but as a swordsman... well, I'm not so sure?"
"He wouldn't be even able to last two bouts against Alicia"
"M-maybe he could handle three?"
"Well, in short, he's not a man worth leaving behind heirs."
Uh… do you two have some unresolved daddy issues?
Actually, now I think about it, that would make a lot of sense!
"On the other hand, you're different Korin."
"You are a special-class knight, which is right before being a Swordmaster."
"They also call you the Knight of the Sun, the undisputed strongest of this era."
"So if someone like you were to take several women, who would even object?"
"Whether it's the nobility, the church, or the royal family, who could stop you if you so choose?"
"You are that strong, so don't underestimate your strength."
".... I think power and marriage are two different things."
Even setting aside Lunia and Alicia's twisted views on marriage, the idea that someone can claim multiple women just because they’re strong is an unforgivable act of arrogance.
Power doesn't justify everything.
"Exactly, and that’s why I willingly support your plan."
"Huh?"
"You yourself are rejecting the idea of taking multiple women, because you know it goes against what’s right."
"Well, of course...."
“But aren’t you contradicting yourself now?”
Lunia’s sharp gaze pierced through me.
My view on marriage has always been monogamous.
To even suggest a harem was disrespectful — no, outright rude — to the women who loved me so dearly.
"If you still are talking about forming a harem, there must be a good reason for it. Are you making this ridiculous plan just out of your greed?"
"....There's a little bit of that"
"That's just a desire that every human being has. But don't you yourself still think that it's wrong?"
"... Yeah."
"That’s why I believe in you, because it’s you. Because you’re so absurdly earnest that you wouldn’t let power get to your head or take more than you should."
Lunia smiled, gently touching my cheek.
"And that’s why I love you. That’s what makes you so lovable."
I could feel my face turn red.
My heart pounded from Lunia’s bold, heartfelt confession. This woman… isn't she a bit too intense?
"Me too! I love you too, Mr. Korin!"
Not to be outdone by her sister, Alicia clung to my arm. And just like that, I had a flower in each hand.
"Th-thank you… to both of you."
Yes, their views on marriage might be a little warped. But how could I not find them lovable, when they believe in me so deeply and offer their unwavering support?
"Well, this only applies to us sisters. We're pretty twisted after all."
"I can see that."
"Still! Isn't it good to have a bigger family! I'm sure that we can all get along well!"
"...Wouldn't that be difficult?"
Everyone else rejected me so firmly. Was it really possible to convince all of them?
"So tell me. Why did you change your mind? Why were you willing to go against your beliefs to form a harem?"
"...."
I didn't want to say it.
It felt like I’d be hiding behind a convenient excuse.
I would be whining, begging them to accept it just because of some rule.
But… without explaining the precepts, there’s no way.
Aside from the Arden sisters, everyone else has a perfectly normal view of love.
And of course they do, that’s how it should be.
But, to keep them from ending up miserable, and for my own survival.
I have no choice but to tell them now.
* * * *
Miriam boarded the carriage heading to the Korin Guardians office.
A few days ago, she had been completely taken aback by the so-called harem plan involving Korin.
Well, Estelle was more understandable. After all, this was partially a political arrangement.
It wasn’t unheard of for royalty to marry the same man, and considering the nature of the royal family, political marriages were never off the table.
Above all, she knew this proposal had been made because her father, King David, had taken a personal interest in her and pushed for it.
Although she is the second princess of the kingdom and a central figure in noble politics, she is no match for Estelle, the first princess and the only saint of the Unified Sacred Church.
If someone were to choose a bride between the two, Estelle would be the obvious pick.
“You were my destiny. I just realized it too late…”
That once-welcomed future, now just a memory of the past, wasn't something Miriam’s practical personality could lean on to make a marriage proposal.
"But..."
She took his first. She had his first child too... Even though it was a relationship that started forcefully, Korin had treated her as his partner and had loved her.
"Am I just a coward..."
Hoping to be chosen based on pity and past ties… Maybe it would have been better to just get on board with this harem plan.
"If Korin is doing this… there must be a reason."
He was a sincere man.
Despite countless temptations from other women, he had promised to love the woman who had once forced herself on him—a total fool, really.
If he had mentioned something like a harem, there must have been a reason for it.
"I probably should’ve listened to what he had to say."
While she was feeling regret, the carriage arrived. And it wasn't just hers carriage that arrived there.
"Huh? Sister?"
"Estelle...."
From a gorgeously gilded white carriage her older sister Estelle, the saintess of the Unified Church, gets out of it.
She had heard about the harem too and had supposedly rejected it outright...
"I figured… having just you around wouldn’t be so bad."
"Hmph. How generous of you."
"But still... I wonder if there's a reason why my Korin-dongsaeng brought that up."
They were sisters after all, they’d reached the same conclusion.
No, this must've been the result of the recent behavior of a man named Korin Locke.
Like it or not, he was sincere. And when a man like him suddenly deviated from his character, people assumed there was a good reason.
Clatter Clatter
Another carriage arrived. Erin who arrived via teleportation with Josephine, and Hwaran who probably ran by herself, alongside the carriage of Dunareff adorned with the symbol of a golden potato flower.
The Arden sisters also arrived on horseback, and the women silently made their way toward the office.
There, Korin Locke was waiting.
"Korin..."
Marie looked guilty, remembering how she’d bitten his neck a few days ago.
Hwaran glanced furtively at the cheek she’d slapped.
"Everyone’s here, I see."
Marie, Alicia, Hwaran, Estelle, Miriam, Lunia, and Erin.
In front of the seven women, Korin looked at their nervous expressions.
"I think everyone has been very disappointed with my behavior so far."
That's natural. What woman wouldn’t be upset after the man she loves starts spouting talk about harems?
""But seeing is believing. I’ll now show you why I had to do what I did."
With a determined look, as if he had resolved something, Korin stepped forward. After a moment of hesitation, he stood before Erin.
"Korin?"
Erin looked puzzled as Korin suddenly grabbed her shoulders.
"Master...!"
"Hii?! W-What is it?"
"Please marry me."
"Huh?"
"He’s proposing?!"
"K-Korin?!
""".......!!"""
Everyone was taken aback by Korin's sudden actions.
However, Korin ignored their reactions.
"I love you. You’ve always been the most special person to me."
"Eep…"
She was visibly melting before he even finished with the glaring stares of the other girls going completely ignored.
"Master... no, Erin!"
"Y-Yes?"
"Let’s go submit our marriage registration. Right now."
"N-Now? Isn’t this a bit fast?"
"With Erin, there's no hesitate when it’s you! You’ve always loved me, comforted me, embraced me. I'm sure I would be able to live a life without regrets! I'm sure of it!"
"Y-Yes, but this is too hasty. W-Why don’t we start with moving in together... No, dating... No... friends first... I-I mean, shouldn’t we meet each other’s parents first..."
"I can't stand it! Let's get married right now! Were you not thinking about marrying me?!"
"O-Of course I was! My dear student—"
"Please call me darling!"
"D-Darling? That’s a bit…"
"Daaaaaaarling!"
"O-Okay! O-Okay! D-Darling…!"
"Let's go file the marriage certificate! Let's go go go!!"
"Y-Yes, yes! Alright! I’ll do it! I’ll register our marriage—!"
Erin, weak to being pushed, gave in as Korin half-shouted at her. She even started looking for her seal to stamp the document.
"I knew you'd agree! That's why I got the marriage certificate in advance!"
"W-What? Really?"
Flustered but happy, Erin stamped the form, holding Korin's hand.
"Okay, once we submit this to the city hall, Erin and I will now be married."
"Huh?"
"K-Korin?"
"Wait for a sec...!"
"What the hell, Korin-dongsaeng?! What’s going on?!"
"Hold up...."
When the girls saw the marriage certificate with the stamped name, they each showed their own reactions as they realized that Korin was being sincere.
Only the sisters Lunia and Alicia remained calm amidst the chaos.
"Erin, I love you! Darling! Can I kiss you?"
"H-Here? W-With everyone watching, that’s a little…"
"Screeeeech! 'Korin is mine now'! Kiss me!'"
"Oh, okay, okay! Okay, I'll close my eyes!"
Just as they were all stunned into silence—a blue window appeared in front of Korin’s eyes.
「You are failing to uphold the precept. Applying 50% feedback.」
"Guaaaaaargh…!"
As the system message rang out, blood violently gushed from Korin’s mouth.
"Da-darling?!"
"Korin?!"
The women panicked, but the damage wasn’t over.
Korin Locke, the Sun’s Champion. The next God-King. The strongest man in the world. Just how much damage must be done to bring someone like him to the brink of death?
"Guaaaaagh! Graaaaaah! Aaaaaaagh──!"
His heart, his guts, it was as if his entire insides were being twisted into a pretzel as unbearable agony tore through him.
"N-No… C-Cancel…"
-GUAAAAAAGH!!
After vomiting what must’ve been a lethal amount of blood, Korin didn’t regain consciousness for three hours.
············
·········
······
"Well, this is what happens."
"············."
"············."
『I do not tolerate the misfortune of good people.』
The precepts that he had sworn to herself to save the world. As he declared its existence, the girls stood frozen, staring at Korin in stunned silence.
To monopolize the one they loved, or to share him and keep him alive.
They had to choose.
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