Chapter 170: Sacrifice Yourself for the Happy Ending, Kim Min-su
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 170: Sacrifice Yourself for the Happy Ending, Kim Min-su
The Saintess appeared almost simultaneously with the Troll King.
The banquet hall was thrown into utter chaos by the overwhelming presence of these two newcomers.
"The King! Protect the King!"
"She is Prince Ivan's wife! We must treat her with respect, not threats! Escort her graciously!"
"Are you blind?! That's a monster! Can't you see?!"
"I told you, she's not a monster, she's Prince Ivan's wife!!!"
It was pure bedlam.
The nobles were locked in a heated debate over whether she was still his wife despite looking like a monster, or if she couldn't possibly be his wife given the Third Prince's horrified reaction.
In fact, Kim Min-su had been standing there with his jaw hanging open, unable to utter a single coherent word since the Troll King appeared.
"B-b-b-b..."
"Everyone, please calm down! This person really is Ivan's wife, Vasilisa!"
"Mhm, what that lady said is right. I'm Vasilisa-yumm."
While the Saintess's voice struggled to be heard, the Troll King's declaration pierced through the air and reached everyone's ears.
No one could ignore a voice that sounded like thunder crashing from the heavens.
The King watched the situation unfold with a consistently calm expression from start to finish.
Looking at him now, he really does seem like a system.
Perhaps he had decided that things were proceeding according to the original story's flow, as the King refused to intervene.
Thanks to the Troll King's words and the King's composed demeanor, the situation quickly began to stabilize.
"Is... is she really Vasilisa...?"
"H-haha... Could she be under... under a curse?"
"T-that's it! A curse! It's a curse! How could Vasilisa be the Troll King?! The... the Saintess was the frog, right? Right?! The Saintess was definitely the frog!"
That last part was Min-su's line.
After standing there with his mouth agape and drool practically leaking out, the mention of a 'curse' seemed to have finally loosened his tongue.
And the first thing he says is that... Well, it is Min-su.
Min-su was currently struggling to interpret the situation as positively as possible.
The Saintess looked at Min-su, took a couple of steps back, and clasped her hands as if in prayer.
Her body seemed to tremble slightly, but it looked more like she was stifling a laugh.
I can't see her expression because of the veil. Damn.
I shifted my gaze toward Scrawny and the Black Gyaru.
The Saintess revealing herself meant there was a solution.
I couldn't let them interfere with that.
But even knowing the truth, it's still surprising.
When I had checked the frog with [Deep Eyes] earlier...
I was shocked when the message 'Information on monsters cannot be identified' popped up.
It made sense why the voice I heard through my thoughts only gave repetitive, automated responses.
"This is the most critical moment for clearing this Gate. And your role is vital, Kim Min-su."
"M-me? All of a sudden?"
"No, it was always your role. Ivan only has one job, after all."
As soon as she finished her prayer, the Saintess began explaining her plan in earnest.
She spoke in a low voice that only Min-su could hear, clearly wary of the others.
"Hey, don't move."
I walked straight toward Scrawny.
The situation was in our favor, so I had to eliminate as many variables as possible.
I didn't know what Scrawny and the Black Gyaru were up to, but their expressions made it clear they weren't happy with how things were going.
"Kids these days really don't know when to stop when you go easy on them. Hey, are you crazy?"
"Stop with the childish lines and just stay still."
"And if I don't want to?"
"..."
Scrawny kept glancing back and forth between me and Kim Min-su.
Melanie would take care of the Black Gyaru even if I didn't subdue her, and even if she didn't, the girl wouldn't be able to attack me anyway.
Therefore, as long as I kept Scrawny in check, clearing the Gate was as good as done.
Look at those eyes.
The murderous intent in his eyes as he looked at Kim Min-su had been surfacing for a while, and now he wasn't even trying to hide it.
Kim Min-su was currently very vulnerable, listening intently to what the Saintess was saying.
He's a guy who loses his mind over women, so I guess I can understand, but...
Isn't it a bit much to be this unguarded when there's such thick bloodlust in the air?
"Baek Tae-yang, you are far too... arrogant."
"What?"
"I said you're arrogant."
Clap! Clap!
As soon as Scrawny clapped twice, countless greatswords materialized in the sky.
Before I could even process what was happening, the swords plunged into the ground in an instant.
Hundreds of them swarmed toward me and me alone.
"I thought long and hard about who I should kill, but then I realized I just don't have to kill you."
I'll just turn you both into cripples.
Scrawny began his move in earnest.
Fortunately, Yui had been properly disciplined and was cautiously watching my reaction.
"Tae-yang! I'll provide cover!"
"That's my wife."
"Be serious for once in a situation like this!"
"Got it."
Several things were happening at once.
The Saintess and Kim Min-su needed time to clear the Gate.
The Troll King, who knew nothing but realized staying still was beneficial.
Scrawny, who wanted to create chaos for unknown reasons, and me, who was trying to stop him.
And the King thinks this is following the 'flow'?
I glanced at the King.
He was sitting on his throne, leisurely watching the situation as if nothing were wrong.
Even though his princes were on the verge of a bloody confrontation, he remained perfectly relaxed.
I have no idea what he's playing at.
Perhaps he didn't like that I was distracted and not paying attention to him.
Scrawny glared at me, his eyes bulging.
"Don't look away. The real show starts now."
Clap, clap, clap.
With three claps, three massive harpoons appeared.
They were large enough to turn even the Troll King into a lamb skewer, and they came hurtling toward me, threatening to pierce through everything in their path.
Clang!
"What's your goal? I don't get why you're suddenly doing this."
"It's fine. You'll find out eventually while you spend the rest of your life as a cripple—"
"I... I could NEVER!!! NEVER do that!!!"
Just as I was about to charge at Scrawny after casually batting away the harpoons with my club...
Kim Min-su's scream-like shout echoed through the banquet hall.
"...?"
Even Scrawny stopped mid-clap and looked at Min-su, startled by the sheer desperation in that scream.
I also turned my head toward Min-su, sensing the familiar scent of him flying off the handle.
It was a tacit ceasefire caused by Min-su.
"You have to do it."
The Saintess's voice was firm.
"I... I really can't! Is that really the only way? No, wait, this isn't how the story goes! Saintess...! You were supposed to be the frog...!"
Kim Min-su was now down on his knees, begging and pleading.
"I have to go back to my kingdom soon. When is this gonna be over-yumm?"
And finally, the Troll King, who was crouching next to Min-su and asking questions with a bright, innocent face.
It was a total shitshow.
"...The Saintess figured out the clear condition. I'm a step too late."
"What? You know something?"
I turned my gaze back at Scrawny's cryptic words.
Another new character dropping hints... what is this story even turning into?
"It's clear that there's no point in me fighting anymore."
Scrawny said only that before moving to a far corner with the Black Gyaru.
Seeing as the rampaging greatswords and harpoons had all vanished, he seemed trustworthy enough for now.
Melanie, just in case, keep them in your sights.
Don't worry. Go check on Kim Min-su.
Thanks.
After exchanging a glance with Melanie as insurance, I immediately approached Min-su.
I hadn't wanted to get close because of his frantic shouting, but he had gone silent a few seconds ago.
"Hey... hey... Tae-yang. Can't you... can't you make another one... like you did with the sub-story? You must have a way... I can't... I can't handle the Saintess's method."
"I told you, you have to do it, Hero! You're the only one who can!"
As soon as I got close, Min-su grabbed my pant leg and started talking nonsense.
The Saintess let out a sound that was either a sigh or a scoff as she watched him.
Sub-story? Something else?
"We can see the ending right now, so why bother with a sub-story? What's going on?"
"Ah... well..."
"Saintess! Even so, how can you ask me to kiss the Troll King?! What... what does that even mean?!"
"That's it."
"A kiss?"
At my bewildered look, the Saintess continued her explanation.
"What do you think is the most basic element of a fairy tale? It varies from person to person, but the Gate views it as a 'Happy Ending'."
"A Happy Ending?"
"Yes. You know, the common phrase... 'And so, the Prince and Princess lived happily ever after.' That kind of thing."
"And that involves Kim Min-su kissing the Troll King... Ah... wait, don't tell me?"
"Yes, exactly what you're thinking."
It was a story that justified Kim Min-su's horror and Scrawny's decision to give up.
The Gate viewed the essence of a fairy tale as a Happy Ending, and usually, when a fairy tale reaches its Happy Ending—
They kiss.
In fairy tales, a kiss usually happens at the moment love bears fruit and a happy ending is promised.
This was a Gate, but a fairy tale was still a fairy tale.
Therefore, the conclusion would be reached once the main characters shared a kiss.
The point wasn't just to kiss a frog out of nowhere at the start... It had to be a kiss in front of everyone, with the princess's curse lifted, while everyone offered their blessings.
The Saintess had been aiming for this from the beginning.
In a place where everyone was gathered, with the frog's curse lifted, a kiss with the Prince.
This was the solution the Saintess proposed.
This also explained why Scrawny had stopped his attack.
He must have realized that wasting energy was inefficient when the Gate could be cleared with a single kiss.
"No! You're wrong! You're wrong! There's no way... there's no way that would work! Baek Tae-yang, say something! Take my side! Does this make any sense?! I have to! I have to kiss again! And this time, I have to do it of my own free will!!!"
"Can't you just do it quickly? I really want to see my people soon-yumm."
"You... just stay... stay quiet for a second...!"
Ignoring the banter between Min-su and the Troll King, I asked a few more questions I was curious about.
"Does it have to be of his own free will?"
"I'm not sure about that. The Gate is the one that makes the judgment..."
"Then it's worth trying other methods too, right?"
"If you can...? But what are you—"
I had my answer. Now it was time to act.
"Wh-what?! Hey! Baek Tae-yang, let go! What are you doing?!"
I tried to grab Kim Min-su by the scruff of his neck to toss him at the Troll King, but his resistance was stronger than expected.
What did he eat in this Gate to get so strong?
He wasn't like this before.
Still, he was no match for me.
After a brief struggle, I channeled more strength into my body and firmly gripped Kim Min-su's head with both hands.
"Baek Tae-yang! Let go! I said let go!"
Perhaps because the Saintess was watching, Kim Min-su resisted less than he could have, trying to avoid looking too pathetic.
That decision sealed his fate.
"Troll King! Pucker up!"
"Mwah, like this?"
"Yeah!"
"Don't! I said don't! Are you seriously insane?! Stop! Please! Stop! No! No! Don't come any closer! Don't do it! Gaaaaahhhhhhh!!!!!!!!"
The distance between the struggling Min-su and the Troll King's protruding lips rapidly closed.
The Troll's lips looked like they had been sanded down with rough concrete.
As soon as I shoved Min-su toward her, she snatched him up and licked her lips.
"We must be fated. First, a big smooch! Chuuuuuuuuuuuuu!"
"GAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!!!"
"Sacrifice yourself for the happy ending, Kim Min-su."
Leaving Min-su's screams behind, a message appeared before everyone.
Ding!
==========================================
Congratulations!
You have cleared the S-Class Gate: Classic Masterpiece 「The Frog Princess」.
==========================================
The clear message appeared. The operation was a massive success.
"Gaaaaah! Stop! Stop it! The Gate is cleared, that's enough!"
"Oh my, I was just minding my own business when I got summoned here... the math doesn't add up. I should at least enjoy this-yumm. Smooch! Mwah!"
Min-su's screams were just a bonus.