NOVEL NEXT chapter 34
34 – 034: A Better World to Die In (2)
“It’s been a while, and you don’t even greet me?”
“….”
Although the hero said it had been a while, in reality, not much time had passed.
The unicorn had been completely visible and had been sleeping for about a week since the last visit.
However, the actual time passed and the perceived time do not always match.
According to Einstein’s theory of relativity for non-virgins, time spent among non-virgins passes more slowly compared to the time spent alone by virgins.
So, although it was only a week in reality, the perceived time spent among non-virgins in the past week felt like a long period, about one to two years.
“Hmm….”
Feeling the fragrant scent of virginity after a long time, the hero involuntarily relaxed and swayed a little.
“Are you, uh, okay?”
“Well, I might have pushed myself a bit before.”
While he had recovered enough to climb roofs, he was not yet in a condition to re-enter combat.
Considering the scale of the artillery that seemed to have added another sun, it might be natural.
Originally, he needed to stay in bed and recuperate, but he insisted that being here was more healing.
Naturally, the king and the priests opposed, but in response, the hero said this.
“Being with a virgin is faster for recovery!”
A virtuous hero is a guardian of virgins.
So, being close to a virgin might help recover strength more quickly – that was his logic, and they had nothing more to say.
It was uncertain whether it was because of his mood or if it was actually the case, but the warrior was feeling very comfortable at the moment.
“Hey, what’s going on?”
However, regardless of the warrior’s mood, Yuna had a troubled expression.
Her gaze had been cast down for a while, and the hand holding the broom trembled like a willow in the wind.
Perhaps due to his experience volunteering at an orphanage, the warrior didn’t miss this change.
“Yes, yes?”
“You seem a bit down. Did something happen?”
“Oh, no. It’s nothing…”
In response to the warrior’s question, Yuna lifted her head slightly to answer, then lowered it again.
She couldn’t figure out how to respond to that question.
It wasn’t because she was afraid of him.
On the contrary, the warrior in her distorted memories, like a demon, seemed so tender, perhaps because of the fear of losing her family again.
“Could this person really kill the priestess?”
At least from the warm expression he currently showed, it was hard to imagine him killing someone for the absurd reason of being a non-virgin.
Come to think of it, did the warrior ever mistreat or disrespect Melina for being a non-virgin?
The princess Penny was unusually hostile, but there was no sign of that hostility manifesting as violence.
Perhaps it was just Yuna’s foolish delusion.
Maybe the fear of losing Melina had blinded her to the surveillance eye.
Thinking about this, in a moment of relief, the warrior spoke.
“By the way, where’s Melina?”
“What?”
“Where is Melina?”
Suddenly, Melina’s name came out of the warrior’s mouth.
The embers of confusion and fear that had subsided with that name flared up again, filling Yuna’s heart.
As fear begins to cloud her thoughts, Yuna’s mouth starts speaking on its own, unrelated to her will.
“How, how do you plan to find her…?”
“Huh?”
In response to the words that carried unclear meanings and intentions, the warrior’s head began to tilt.
“How can I…?”
“Master, are you trying to kill her?”
“Kill her?”
The repeated words only deepened the confusion.
The hero sensed a miscommunication and approached to resolve the misunderstanding.
In response, Yuna immediately knelt on the ground, clinging to the hero’s legs, and cried out.
“Please, Hero!! Please don’t kill Priestess!!”
“No, what the hell are you talking about since earlier?!”
“Don’t play dumb!! You came to kill Priestess because she’s not a virgin!!”
“….”
“…Kill her?”
At an unexpected voice from behind, Yuna and the hero turned around simultaneously.
There, Melina was looking back and forth between the hero and Yuna with a face that questioned the situation.
“You came at the right time! What in the world is this…!!”
“Priestess!!!! Take cover!!!! To the outskirts of the kingdom!!!!”
“Damn, this is getting insane….”
*****
“So, you didn’t come to kill Priestess?”
“If I had killed her just because she’s not a virgin, the kingdom would have turned into ruins.”
Hating something and killing something hated were as different as virgin and non-virgin.
I dislike non-virgins.
I won’t deny that fact, but I had no intention to kill just because someone is a non-virgin.
Of course, I have thought about it, but I can endure. Probably.
“But why would you entertain such a foolish idea?”
“…Well, did something happen? (Experience Points: 6)”
In response to Melina’s gentle inquiry, Yuna fell silent for a moment, then spoke in a small voice, as if a mouse were crawling.
“P-people said that. The hero… killed the viscount because the viscount’s daughter was not a virgin. So… I thought maybe he could kill the priestess too…”
“Sigh… Yuna, do you really think the hero would kill someone for such a reason? Right, Hero? (Experience Points: 6)”
“….”
“Hero? (Experience Points: 6)”
“Damn….
I want to curse whoever spread such baseless rumors, but I can’t deny that it’s not completely untrue.
“At least within this orphanage, such things shouldn’t happen.”
“…You should try it elsewhere. (Experience points: 6)”
“There’s no guarantee how long anyone can endure seeing something disgusting. But you!!”
Pointing at Yuna with a raised voice, Yuna flinched and lowered her body.
“Do you know what you’ve done?”
“Yes, yes? Well, um….”
“To doubt me based on such rumors. You really are an absurdly naive fool!!!”
Approaching Yuna with a raised hand, Yuna trembled and closed her eyes.
“Uh, uh?”
However, when she realized it wasn’t a fist but a warm embrace directed at her, she relaxed, shoulders sagging, and nestled into my arms.
“Even for a foolish maiden like you, I still love you.”
“…Hero. I apologize for saying this, but it’s because you keep showing this side that Yuna had unnecessary suspicions. (Experience points: 6)”
“…Isn’t this a touching scene?”
“Where? (Experience points: 6)”
If I were a maiden and heard such words from a chaste hero, I would have burst into tears right then and there.
The sentiments of a non-virgin are a bit hard to understand.
After releasing the hug and taking a step back, Yuna, with a slightly embarrassed face, retreated and said, “Hero.. Even if you hate me, please don’t hate Sister. Instead, when I grow up, I’ll offer you my virginity….”
“…Don’t even joke about such things.”
Words like offering one’s body should never come out of a child’s mouth.
It’s not originally my role to scold Yuna, but I couldn’t just let this pass.
Bending my knee to meet her gaze, intending to say something sharp, but at the moment I looked into her empty eyes devoid of any emotions, words failed me.
Caught off guard by the indescribable emotions in those pupils, Yuna spoke like she was making a move in a game.
“Anyway.. If I leave from here, I won’t last long…. So, I might as well offer myself to you, Hero.”
“…I told you not to say such things. Today, just go in. I’ll take care of the arrangements. (Experience points: 6)”
As Melina patted her back from behind, Yuna, shivering, returned to the orphanage in a trembling state.
And so, in the desolate street where brooms were carelessly thrown about, only the two of us remained.
We stood in silence for a while, the broomstick between us, avoiding each other’s gaze.
But that didn’t last long.
As a warrior devoted to preserving purity, I had something to ask her.
“Are they all like that?”
“Yuna… She’s more mature for her age. Do you know, as a warrior, that most of the slum residents are refugees? (Experience points: 6)”
She nodded, and Melina continued.
“Then it saves me the trouble of explaining. As you know, most of the slum residents are refugees, and their financial situation isn’t great. (Experience points: 6)”
Initially, there was government support for such residents, but as the frontlines solidified and the budget for the front increased, that too disappeared.
What remained was days of misery, devoid of hope for the future or employment opportunities, simply awaiting the day of death.
Local discrimination and starvation pushed them onto paths of crime, and unlike sturdy men, the only recourse for women was to open their legs.
“Pathetic as it may sound, I can’t care for those kids indefinitely. Just like a young bird eventually leaves its mother, those kids will leave the orphanage someday. Where do you think they’ll go then? (Experience points: 6)”
With no local employment and no strings to pull for orphaned children, there were no opportunities available.
For those leaving the orphanage now, their choices were limited to joining the military as meat shields or becoming prostitutes, spreading their legs.
“…In the past, the country used to support orphaned children to prevent them from turning into criminals. But as the budget for wars increased, even that disappeared. (Experience points: 6)”
“…”
“So… I’ve sold myself several times, all for the sake of those kids. But I hope at least Yuna doesn’t have to do the same. I hope she doesn’t end up like me. (Experience points: 6)”
Listening to Melina’s story, I turned momentarily to glance at the slums.
How much virgin blood has this sordid, filthy street sucked up?
How many maidens were forcibly robbed of their innocence and turned into non-virgins?
Thinking about the blood of maidens seeping into this street, I turned back and spoke to one of its victims.
“Don’t wish you weren’t like me.”
“What? (Experience points: 6)”
“I really like you, Yuna. Even in just a few days of knowing you, I can tell.”
“…That’s too much for me to handle. (Experience points: 6)”
“Not at all.”
“…Um, are you not repulsed by me? (Experience points: 6)”
To her trembling voice filled with disbelief, I reached out and held her hand in response.
“I’m not repulsed.”
The real filth lay elsewhere.
Preparing for such times, I pulled out a new lance I had carried on my back and, leaving Melina behind, began to ascend to the rooftop.
Melina asked in confusion at the sudden action, “Sir, where on earth are you… (Experience points: 6)”
“Wangseong!”
“No, what in the world are you trying to do there?!! (Experience points: 6)”
“It’s something that should have been done earlier.”
Saying that, I started running towards Wangseong.