All-Master Player Of The Academy [EN]: Chapter 117

117. The All-Master Player of the Academy – Episode 117 (117/300)

59. Running Away – 1

The jester was taken aback by Ian’s refusal.

Then Ise asked, puzzled.

“Why? He doesn’t seem like an Einherjar [a warrior who has died in battle and been brought to Valhalla].”

“My lord, my lord! Would you help this old, sick, and pitiful jester? The nights on this plain are so cold that a weak jester like me cannot endure them.”

But Ian remained indifferent.

The jester, watching him, asked, at a loss, “What can I do to be allowed in to warm myself by the fire?”

“If you’re a jester, make me laugh.”

“……Then I shall tell you all a fun and enjoyable story.”

Chuckling, he lightly tumbled and rummaged through his bag.

Inside the large bag were puppet dolls hanging from strings.

“Now, now. Once upon a time, a very long time ago…”

The jester’s hands moved skillfully.

The puppet doll in his hand, a female warrior in white armor, began to comically show off her courage and strength.

“This is the story of the most beautiful female warrior in the land of the great ones.”

The jester smiled gleefully and told her life story: the adventures she had with her twin brother, the stories of those who fell for her beauty, and the story of the glory she spread.

Perhaps it was because the jester’s eloquence and puppetry were excellent, but Ise was listening with interest.

“Then one day, this happened at a banquet she attended.”

A jester who was serving everyone insulted the banquet participants. Eventually, unable to bear it, a fight broke out, and the jester ended up cursing them all and leaving.

“It was the beginning of the cataclysm. And eventually, the cataclysm arrived.”

The jester took out another puppet doll.

“The great ones captured the jester, tortured and mocked him, and even plunged his children into despair. Naturally, they had no choice but to be angry, and that anger became a flame.”

– Whoosh!!

Quite a few puppet dolls burned down. As Ise watched this and gave a bitter smile, the jester shrugged.

“Their king was eaten by the jester’s child, a wolf, and the strongest warrior was bitten to death by the jester’s child, a snake.”

The jester grinned, as if he was very happy, as if he was very pleased. He, who had been talking quite cheerfully, suddenly erased his smile.

“And when they thought all the fighting was over, the most beautiful female warrior decided to become the king of the great ones.”

“Oh ho. And then?”

As Ise inquired with interest, the jester became even more delighted than before.

“It was enough. She was beautiful, cunning, and had a powerful twin brother.”

“Is that so? She’s an amazing woman.”

“But alas!”

The jester, trampling on the burned puppet dolls, shook his body exaggeratedly.

“The cataclysm is not over yet! There’s one more left! That is!”

A larger doll appeared from the bag. The jester showed the red giant doll and chuckled. “The last giant remains!”

“So? What happened to that female warrior? Did she become king and fight that giant?”

When Ise asked, the jester chuckled. “No!! This is the funniest part!”

He released the string holding the female warrior’s brother’s doll, and after trampling on it several times, he threw it in front of the giant doll.

“Ah ah. Her brother was torn apart and burned by the giant. And the female warrior who saw it…” He grinned. “Cried. The female warrior, who boasted courage and valor, could not even swing her sword once in front of the giant and cried in fear.”

She sat down and cried. She cried like a child. She screamed and begged for her life without even proving she was a warrior.

“And she took advantage of the giant fighting with others and ran away!!”

“There are many like that.”

When you live as a knight, you meet them all the time: the guy who used to brag about how great he was, begging for his life when all his subordinates were dead. I had already experienced it countless times.

When Ise told about what he had experienced, the jester chuckled. “Isn’t it funny? In the end, the courage she had was not her own, but only borrowed from everyone! But she acted like she was so great!”

The jester, who even trampled and destroyed her doll, bowed exaggeratedly. “How is it? Isn’t it fun?”

“It’s a mess. My score is 3 points,” Danju said cynically.

But Ise seemed to like it, as he kept asking, “So? What happened to that queen?”

“I heard she ran away to a place where no one could find her.”

“Then what about that giant? Did the giant destroy the world and it ended?”

“Ah, that’s not it. The giant who would burn everything in the world was defeated by the humans and the other children of the jester.”

“Is that so? Then what about you?” Danju’s eyes flashed behind the mask. “You suddenly appeared and told this story, so are you someone related to that jester?”

Ise had already noticed, so he reached for his sword. At their wariness, the jester was horrified and waved his hands repeatedly. “Oh my! What kind of thing is that? I’m just a jester.”

The jester bowed as if he would prostrate himself at any moment. Danju, watching him, looked at Ian.

“He doesn’t seem particularly dangerous. Shouldn’t we just let him in?”

“What happened to that jester?” When Ian, who had been silent, asked, the jester was flustered.

“Yes? That jester, that’s, well, he died.”

“Died?”

“Yes. He stabbed the person he was least friendly with at the same time and died together.”

“Really?” The jester’s expression hardened. The servility he had been wearing until just now disappeared.

Ian, facing it, continued to speak calmly. “What if that death was also a deception? A scam to deceive the enemies?”

The jester did not answer. He just stared at Ian with a blank face.

“And if you survived and are chasing after that female warrior who ran away to catch her?”

“My lord, who are you?” the jester asked in an extremely cold tone.

Ian, facing him, smiled. “Then it seems like our purpose is not much different.”

“Our purpose?”

“Did we have a separate purpose?” As Danju and Ise wondered, Ian answered nonchalantly, “I intend to defeat Freya.”

“Ah, that?”

“Well, that wouldn’t be bad either.”

The jester was dumbfounded at their conversation.

“Um, I’m the jester, so why are you trying to make me laugh?”

“Do you think I can’t?”

“Um, well, I don’t know about that.” He scratched his shaggy hair and asked, “So, can I come in?”

Ian did not answer, but Loki knew that it was permission. Coming closer with a whoop, the jester approached the campfire.

“Oh my! Thank you! I really didn’t know what to do because it was so cold.”

“You seem hungry too. Here, eat this. It’s a reward for a somewhat interesting story,” Ise said, pointing to the deer meat being grilled over the campfire.

The jester, seeing the meat he offered, began to eat it greedily. Ian, watching him, sat cross-legged and closed his eyes.

“Um, but what on earth does that person do?” When the jester asked, Danju and Ise shook their heads. To them, Ian was a mystery in himself.

“That’s… we don’t know either.”

“But what’s your name? We can’t call you Jester. You wouldn’t lie since I even gave you meat, right?” He said simply and then looked at Danju and Ian. “The Marquisate of Karza often calls for jesters or theater troupes, but jesters always cheat and lie.”

At those words, the jester was embarrassed and glanced at Ian before replying, “I’m Loki.”

* * *

One more member has been added to the group, but as expected, nothing particularly changed.

Valkyries [female figures who choose who may die in battle and who may live], monsters, and Einherjar continued to block them, and they continued to defeat them and advance.

Of course, the jester was not helpful in the fight, but he was able to take care of himself, so he did not cause any trouble in the battle.

Four days after meeting Loki, Ian’s group was able to arrive in front of a large temple.

“There are so many.”

Was it because they knew Ian’s group was coming? Hundreds of Valkyries were gathered, and the hundreds of Einherjar who followed them were also present.

Although only four people were facing an army of over a thousand, the four were not particularly afraid.

“But are you really going to defeat Freya?” When Danju asked, Ian nodded.

“Geez. But what happens here if you defeat her?”

“I don’t know. There will be someone to succeed her.” Ian looked at Loki. Startled by the gaze, he whistled and looked away.

At that moment, the Valkyries moved. It was not to fight, but just to pay homage to the person coming out of the castle.

The temple door opens. A silver-haired woman in white armor appeared through it. She was a beautiful woman with a tall height and a handsome figure. Hanging a long sword on her waist, she walked out with a confident stride and smiled as she looked at Ian’s group at the bottom of the stairs, in front of the temple.

“You are great warriors, especially you two – warriors who have won in a hundred battles, right?” Danju and Ise must have known. She said with a bright smile, “I can put you in my personal guard.”

“I am the leader of the Karza Knights. My master is only my brother, Marquis Posco Karza.”

“The Sword Flower Unit only follows the sword.”

She smiled at their cold reaction and slowly reached out her hand. As her pure white fingers beckoned, the Einherjar moved.

“Oh oh, great and beautiful Freya!”

“The goddess of warriors who has never retreated in any battle!”

“We praise you and give our lives to you here!”

As her fingers moved again, the Valkyries in the sky sang.

“Here, the master of the Valkyries will come forward. Here, the master of the Valkyries will fight.”

“And at the center of it, the most beautiful and most valiant warrior will come forward.”

Step by step, she walks out, watching her being praised by everyone. Ian coldly sneered.

“Running away, are you.”

The song stopped. The Valkyries’ faces are filled with anger. The Einherjar raised their weapons. Myahne cried as if she felt bad at the numerous killing intents.

“Myaaaa……!!”

“Ahahahahaha!! That’s right! That’s right!” Loki, who had been silent until now, shouted. Pulling out the dagger hanging around his waist, he chuckled and pointed it at Freya. “Which part of the person who ran away in the ugliest way is valiant? Ah, of course, the sight of advancing backwards was valiant.”

“Shut up.” Freya’s beautiful face hardened as she looked at Loki, as if she never expected him to be there. Her eyes flashed with shock, anger, and contempt. Even in that gaze, Loki did not stop talking.

“After others defeated the danger, you subtly appeared and tried to become the ruler, but you were a runaway who was kicked out.”

There was no second warning. Light poured out from Freya’s sword towards him. Ian lightly brushed it off and said mockingly, “Let’s end that escape here.”