In preparation for possible retaliation, I blew up all the gates in the Forest of Elves and came back.
Creating a gate from nothing is nearly impossible, so there shouldn’t be any chance for retaliation in the future.
As a result, we returned to the academy safely.
‘Finally back to the basics!’
[Where in the heck does this novel even have “basics”?]
‘…Hey, let’s not poke the hurting parts constantly.’
However, the time we returned was quite different from what we expected.
New Year’s? Forget it.
A whole year had already passed, and there wasn’t much time left until the new semester began.
“Shinwoo, it’s already been a year.”
“Yeah, seems like we’ve blown up a lot of stuff, but nothing’s really wrapped up.”
“What are you talking about? The World Tree thing is done, right?”
“Oh, I’ll give you that.”
Forest of Elves Slayer.
That was our new title.
Then suddenly, I remembered something we needed to do.
“I’m going to meet our Kemono Friends for a bit.”
“Why?”
Hyeji looked at me with a questioning gaze.
“Since they’re refugees, we should care for them.”
“Ah, right.”
“Husband! Let’s go together!”
Elcia rushed towards me.
The only difference from usual was her boldness with skinship had increased.
When Elcia hugged me, my left arm felt heavenly soft.
‘Is this… heaven?’
[You should just go to heaven already, damn it.]
Regardless of Peace’s thoughts, Elcia clung to my left arm and rubbed her face against it.
Then she looked at me with ecstatic yet somewhat eerie eyes and said,
“Husband! You said you’d always be with me, right?”
“…Always?… Did I say that?”
“I’m really clingy.”
Without paying attention to my response, Elcia tightened her grip on my left arm and spoke up.
“I won’t let go! Not like before!”
“Stop it! Don’t make a higher bid!”
Suddenly, Hyeji grabbed my right arm.
…..
It was hard.
Like a wall.
Concrete.
‘Whoa, this is definitely extreme.’
[…Don’t say anything. You’ll really die.]
Then Hyeji cautiously glanced at me with a worried expression and said, “Shinwoo, you’re not feeling uncomfortable, are you?”
“Of course I am.”
I honestly told Hyeji my unfiltered thoughts.
“It feels way sturdier than a gauntlet.”
“You piece of trash.”
[No, just die already.]
Hyeji’s fierce assault thoroughly pummelled every inch of my right side.
Ribs, liver, thigh, neck, shin.
Each strike was a very lethal blow.
Trying to escape overwhelming violence, I attempted to pry Hyeji off.
‘Damn, this is a real death grapple.’
[Just accept your beating. For the love of God, just die.]
Hyeji wouldn’t let go, her grip only tightening.
Then, Elcia, watching this, lit up her eyes and pushed me towards the wall.
Naturally, my right arm was still held by Hyeji.
Hyeji slammed against the wall first, followed closely by me.
Then Elcia pressed her hand against the wall, looking up at me, she asked,
“Husband! Is this what they call a wall slam between lovers?”
“……That wasn’t a wall slam, it was a wall bash. Two walls mean double the impact.”
“You filthy little creatures.”
– Crash!!
Before I could even react, Hyeji bit down hard on my right arm.
Her teeth were firmly anchored in like an anchor, while with her left hand she struck my ribs.
Meanwhile, I conjured a shotgun with my right hand and aimed it at Elcia.
– Bang!
However, Elcia had grown significantly stronger since before.
In an instant, countless butterflies and thorn vines emerged to shield her.
“Hey! Hey! Hey! Damn it, that hurts so much!”
“Pfft! Hyeji can’t beat me anymore!”
“Really?”
“My ability has grown as much as my chest!”
“…Then try to block it.”
Hyeji’s eyes glinted ominously as she summoned an anti-material sniper rifle in her right hand.
This part wasn’t an issue.
She had been able to summon it before.
It was just one thing that felt off.
Hyeji was holding the anti-material sniper rifle with just one hand.
And without a support, she was aiming directly at Elcia.
Elcia, witnessing this unbelievable scene, broke out in cold sweat and said to Hyeji,
“Uh… That’s not something you should hold with one hand.”
“Since when?”
The muzzle of the sniper rifle clicked toward Elcia.
“Did you think I had to hold this with both hands? How. Ridiculous.”
“……Husband, we’re screwed.”
“Just you die, please.”
“Couples are in this together!”
“Both of you, stop acting like idiots!!!”
– Crack!!
“AAAAAH!!!!!”
Again, Hyeji’s teeth sank deep into my arm.
Hyeji’s teeth gripped me tightly, and it felt like they dug even deeper every time I moved.
Like a trap for hunting a beast.
At that moment, Hyeji struck my side with her left hand while firing the sniper rifle like a handgun with her right.
“Die.”
– BANGGGGG!!!!
The large-caliber bullet, mocking Elcia’s growth, pierced through all the butterflies and thorns she conjured and kept flying straight.
However, Elcia had definitely grown as well.
She finally started using her brain.
So Elcia said,
“Husband, deploy your AT Field!”
“Hey, you damn Ear Goblin!!”
– Ping!!!!
I used my head as armor.
Not unexpectedly, the bullet from the anti-material sniper rifle hit my head and ricocheted off.
It just so happened that the ricochet direction was not ideal.
– Crash!!
“Aaaah! Save me!!!!!”
I had no idea how the bullet’s trajectory changed.
Just judging by the results, the bullet shattered the window of the chief’s office, and the chief’s scream echoed through.
We all stopped in action and exchanged glances.
“…….”
“…….”
“…….”
“…….Should we run?”
“Go quickly!”
“Yeah.”
The decision came quickly.
Then, a rough voice seeped through the shattered window of the chief’s office.
“Who the hell is trying to kill me!!!!!!!”
“That guy in the uniform!”
I hurriedly pointed at Jeong Ahyeon, and we all took off.
Jeong Ahyeon, who was left behind, reacted a second too late, watching us flee.
“Don’t pin this on my beloved!!!!”
A little later, this incident briefly appeared in the academy’s history as the chief assassination attempt.
However, despite the chief’s vehement protests, it resulted in just fixing the shattered glass window with regular glass instead of bulletproof glass.
Many were disappointed that the chief didn’t die.
They said even the watching Ability Users sighed in disappointment, claiming they didn’t see the instigator.
It truly was a peaceful academy.
*
After a long time of running, we reached the cafeteria.
In the meantime, Elcia seemed worried about using my head as an AT Field and was gently stroking my hair.
“I’m so sorry. You’re not hurt, right?”
“I’m fine. No way I’d die from a beating.”
“Still, don’t use it recklessly.”
“……You were the one being reckless, damn it.”
“You’re the one taking the hits! And…”
Suddenly, Elcia hugged my head and said sweetly,
“I’m yours! Forever and always!”
“Mmmph!”
Honestly, I couldn’t hear what she was saying clearly.
I started to feel that heavenly softness on my face.
Breathing was getting hard because of the dense chest.
But I didn’t mind.
I was content with this.
Not a bad life at all.
‘Ah, squished. This was a good life.’
[Get up, you crazy bastard!!!]
But as Hyeji witnessed this, her eyes gleamed dangerously as she pointed the barrel at me.
“Get that eyesore away, damn it!”
“Yes!”
The softness I felt on my face vanished, and I could finally breathe again.
With a mix of joy for survival and regret over the lost chest, I moved towards our destination.
As for Jeong Ahyeon, she said she was going to submit a report to the Martial Artist Guild.
So she walked away with drooping shoulders, not wanting to go.
“Damn it. This is just so damn bad.”
Leaving behind a gloomy-faced Jeong Ahyeon, we arrived in the center of the back mountain.
At that moment, an unexpected noise reached our ears.
It sounded like someone was fighting.
As we hastily moved closer, we found the native wildlife and the newly arrived refugees from the Forest of Elves growling at each other.
It looked like there were some differences in opinion.
This kind of meaningless fight wasn’t right.
“Hey… Stand up!”
All the animals stood upright in their places.
Filled with discontent but seeing the mountain lord, no one dared to voice their objections.
I listened to the opinions of both sides.
The natives were acting territorial against the sudden arrival of the newcomers.
Meanwhile, the newcomers were begging the natives for a place to stay.
In simple terms, it was a real estate dispute.
I called forward the native boar leader and the refugee Kodiak bear leader, making them lean on each other, but they continued growling at each other.
Their emotions seemed quite deeply rooted.
To end the fight, I pulled out a magical item to mediate their reconciliation.
“Ta-da!”
Vodka.
A magical item that makes everyone honest and can turn them into friends after just a few drinks.
One of the spoils I took while picking the pockets of the elves earlier.
When they saw it, the Kodiak bear must have caught a whiff of home, as it started sniffing.
Even though the cherry blossoms hadn’t bloomed yet, the cherry trees were present, making it a suitable place for our resolution.
I began distributing the liquor and shouted loudly.
“We may differ in birth and species, but we shall die together on the same day!!!!”
At first, the animals seemed hesitant and answered with cautious growls.
However, as the drinks kept flowing, the initial tension and awkwardness disappeared, and they all cheered while gulping down the liquor.
With the liquor in me as well, I could finally converse openly with the animals.
‘As expected, alcohol is the universal communication tool!’
[This damn bastard is the protagonist…?]
Regardless, the effect was good.
The growling animals disappeared, and a lively atmosphere took over.
At that moment, the Martial Arts Deer, who had gone to awaken the spirit of harmony, also joined us.
I poured a drink for him and asked about his recent activities; he said he had been busy because of a contest.
“Good job! You’ve done great!”
I patted the Martial Arts Deer on the shoulder and poured him a drink.
He downed it quickly and suddenly chucked an arm around me before getting to the point.
He asked if I’d bought a certain Dakimakura.
‘So the Cheonma is a salesperson now.’
[Isn’t that a bit pricey?]
“I didn’t buy it because it’s expensive.”
Instead of getting mad, the Martial Arts Deer quietly showed me the price list for in-game cash items from a gacha game.
I viewed it carefully and then thought for a while before making a decision.
“Should I get it for Hyeji?”
[No!!!! You crazy bastard!!!!!]
The Martial Arts Deer nodded happily, satisfied.
However, my attempt to buy was thwarted.
Elcia and Hyeji pounced on me, laying down the threats.
“Husband! Who is this other woman?!”
“What’s this other cat about!!!”
“……Listen, girls, this man is the boss. Tread carefully.”
And she’s not a cat.
She’s a bunny girl.
Seeing my attempt thwarted, the Martial Arts Deer quietly left a purchase link for me as a note before departing.
I treasured it carefully and tucked it into my pocket.
Regardless, that day, we all bonded in the back mountain of the cafeteria.
Everyone started to cheer to celebrate this.
“Let’s go to Mars!!!!”
We were raised high into the sky and lowered repeatedly.
Then, the drunken Kodiak bear misjudged its force.
“Whoosh!!!”
“Ah, damn.”
I was sent soaring far into the heavens beyond comparison to earlier.
That day, I became a star.
