The World After the Bad Ending - Chapter 106

Isabel’s special move, unleashed with the wings of the goddess.
A special move executed with Dragonization and Thunder Summoning.
After the clash of the two special moves, amidst the thick smoke, Isabel and I stood facing each other.
The electric currents that made up my body had disappeared.

Clang!
Horns and wings shattered and scattered.
The magic engraving of the Fire Dragon suppressed the remnants of the Elder Dragon, forcibly canceling the Dragonization.
Sky Dragonization is a risky technique for me.
If I’m not careful, I might truly become a dragon.
That’s why, even after using it, I must suppress the remnants of the Elder Dragon.

As I caught my breath, Isabel came into my view.
The wings of the goddess behind her were breaking apart.

“You hesitated to use your full power, didn’t you?”
Isabel’s shoulders flinched at my question.
The moment Isabel summoned the wings of the goddess, hesitation filled her eyes.

Isabel and I are rivals.
But even rivalries come in different forms.
We were in a relationship where she challenged me, and I accepted her challenge.
As I mentioned before, my relationship with Isabel is ambiguous.
A complicated bond that can’t be easily defined.

That’s why she accidentally let herself think and say it.
That if she were to defeat me today, this relationship might break and never return.
She was afraid of feeling the same emptiness she felt the day she lost her goal and lost Lucas.
That’s why she hesitated until the very moment she drew the wings of the goddess.

“Isabel, do you understand a little now?”
I made sure Isabel clearly saw it.
That just because she awakened one wing of the goddess, it doesn’t mean I’ll fall.

“No matter what you do, I have no intention of breaking.”
That’s why I deliberately used Sky Dragonization and went all out.
Otherwise, Isabel’s anxiety would never have disappeared.

Isabel looked at me with dazed eyes.

“So look closely.”
I can’t be Lucas for you.

“I’m not Lucas.”
But I can be someone entirely different from Lucas.

Isabel.
This world isn’t made up of just Lucas.
You can live fully even without Lucas.
I’m sure Lucas would want that too.

A main heroine who proudly leads everyone on her own two feet, relying on no one.
Isabel Luna.
That’s the true version of yourself you should aim for.

“And that person is me, Hanon.”
To engrave that into Isabel, I thumped my chest.
I can’t be a childhood friend like Lucas.
But no matter what, I’ll be the rival you aim to surpass. That’s my true resolve.

Isabel’s vacant expression slowly softened.
She let out a faint laugh, then lifted her head.

“You’re right.”
A bright smile, just like usual, had returned to Isabel’s face.

“You’re not Lucas. You’re Hanon.”
Maybe she felt a little lighter.

Isabel will surely continue to grow from here on.
My role is to watch over her as she does.

‘You must think the same, Lucas.’

After finishing the ‘Blazing Butterfly Arc’ to which I had dedicated my life after quitting sports,
I conveyed those thoughts to Lucas and turned away.

The Round of 64 had already turned into a complete mess.
Even though the outcome was undecided, I would no longer have the opportunity to compete.

In front of the arena where I was descending, stood a man leading imperial mages and the Imperial Knights.
His blue hair fluttered—he was the Lord of the Blue Magic Tower.

Our eyes met.
His expression showed he had a lot to say, but he seemed to be holding back for now.

“Restrain him.”

With the Lord of the Blue Magic Tower’s command, the knights approached me.
I could feel a sharp murderous intent from them, as if they were ready to cut me down if I made a wrong move.
As expected of the Empire’s top-ranked Imperial Knights.
Even Van, known as the Lazy Genius, was no match for them.

I obediently extended my wrists, and magical handcuffs were placed on them.

I had used Elder Dragon magic in front of everyone.
It was only natural that they would take me away for judgment, as the Empire needed to show that using Elder Dragon magic is prohibited by law.

However, from the look in the Lord of the Blue Magic Tower’s eyes, I already knew my punishment.
His gaze was one of fascination, as if he were observing an unprecedentedly interesting creature.
It made sense, considering Sky Dragonization was a lost Elder Dragon magic once used by the Transcendent Sage, Zeryon.
There was no way the Lord of the Blue Magic Tower, who was obsessed with magic, would let me die.

“Hahaha! Boy, you really put on quite a show!”

At that moment, a melodious voice echoed.
The White Wood Lord appeared, her hair fluttering as she approached.

“White Wood Lord, it is too dangerous for you to get too close…”

When an Imperial Knight tried to block her, her eyes turned icy.

“Do you dare speak that way to me?”

The Imperial Knight, who belonged to the Empire’s most elite order, flinched.
The pressure radiating from her for just an instant was on another level.

“I appreciate your concern, but do not block my path.”

“…I apologize, Your Excellency. I overstepped my bounds.”

As the Imperial Knight stepped back, the White Wood Lord nodded with satisfaction.

“Prince Sweet Potato!”

At that moment, a familiar voice rang out.
When I turned my head, I saw Seron struggling against an Imperial Knight who had stopped her from coming over.
She was flailing her short legs in the air as she was held up.

“Let me go! Why are you taking Prince Sweet Potato away? Why are you putting handcuffs on him?!”
Seron shouted without backing down, even against the Imperial Knight.
She couldn’t understand the situation and was protesting with all her might.

I never expected her to take my side even in a situation like this.

“Prince Sweet Potato, you tell them! You’ve done nothing wrong to be arrested!”
Seron struggled and shouted, trying her best to get me out of this.

To her, who didn’t know the circumstances, it must have looked like I was being taken away without reason.

Click-clack—
“I suppose that’s true.”

At that moment, the sound of heels echoed.
The owner of the voice was a woman with jet-black hair flowing behind her.
The Third Imperial Princess, Iris Hyserion.
Beneath her pitch-black hair, her ruby-red eyes gleamed.

The moment she appeared, the Imperial Knights all straightened their postures.
“We greet the Third Princess.”

They were the Emperor’s swords.
Naturally, they had to show the utmost respect to the Emperor’s daughter as well.

And she wasn’t alone.
Sharin, the daughter of the Lord of the Blue Magic Tower, also approached alongside her.
Since her father had come in person, she had followed to try and smooth over the situation.

Our eyes met, and Sharin let out a short sigh.
Since she had helped me with this matter, if she wanted to avoid getting entangled, she would have to defend me.
Unintentionally, I had dragged her into this.

“You’ve all worked hard.”

Iris spoke, then turned to the Imperial Knight holding Seron.
“I’d like you to put Seron down. She’s my classmate.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

At Iris’s words, the Imperial Knight quickly set Seron down.
Finally standing on her own two feet, Seron observed the situation quietly.
She realized that Iris was intervening on my behalf.

Iris turned to White Wood Lord.
“Duke Laxid, I’d like to hear an explanation of the current situation. Would that be alright?”

Unless she were the Emperor, even a princess couldn’t treat the White Wood Lord carelessly.
Thus, Iris asked as politely as possible.
Yet, despite her respectful demeanor, a hint of annoyance was evident.

“Hmm, Third Princess, it’s a simple matter. The boy meddled with Elder Dragon magic. According to Imperial law, anyone who uses Elder Dragon magic is to be executed on the spot.”

Iris hesitated, then looked at me.
Her eyebrows furrowed slightly.
A sigh escaped her lips.

“…He had his reasons. He did it to help me.”

My eyes widened.
I never expected Iris to stand up for me like this.

‘If Iris defends me…’
It would be even harder for the Imperial Family to punish me.

“Hmm, that’s news to me.”
White Wood Lord stroked her chin with interest.
“In that case, could it be said that the boy saved the Third Princess’s life?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

“Well, well, I see. Indeed.”

The corners of her lips curled up.
It seemed White Wood Lord was already planning to use the Hero Exception Law to defend me.
She looked back at me with amusement.

“Just as I expected from the first time I saw you, a bold young man.”

I felt somewhat relieved.
It seemed I wouldn’t be facing death.

“But Third Princess, too many people are watching right now. Since there are people from other kingdoms present, we can’t just let this go.”

From her words, Iris realized that this was merely for show.
White Wood Lord had never intended to punish me according to Imperial law.
A look of relief appeared on her face.

After Iris and White Wood Lord finished their conversation, the Lord of the Blue Magic Tower turned his head.

“Sharin.”

“Ah, yes.”

At her father’s call, Sharin straightened her posture and responded.

“There’s something we need to discuss about this matter. Forfeit your individual match and come with me.”

Sharin had become entangled with me through the Elder Dragon magic.
Now, the international individual tournament was the least of her concerns.

When I looked at her apologetically, she nodded.
“Well, alright.”
Perhaps it was because Sharin never cared much about the international individual tournament to begin with.
Without saying much, she decided to follow the Lord of the Blue Magic Tower.

“Uh, uh, i-is that okay?”
Seron, the only one who didn’t understand the situation, wore a puzzled expression.

I was taken away just like that.
Isabel looked surprised, but judging from my expression, she seemed confident that everything would be fine.

As I continued to walk, my eyes met with someone’s.
A woman with blue hair was staring at me, her face twisted in anger.

Her name was Eve.
The Unyielding Azure Flame.
She was the one who had planned to eliminate my Elder Dragon magic in this international individual tournament.

But she never would have expected me to end up being taken away like this.
I hadn’t planned it either, but somehow, it turned into a fight with no set end between us.

‘Even if eliminating the Elder Dragon magic is off the table now…’
I had definitely left her with countless questions about who I was.
Until she figured out the answers herself, she wouldn’t give up on me.

I gave Isabel a nod before being escorted out of the arena.

“Duke White Wood.”
I casually spoke to White Wood Lord, who was walking beside me.
Understanding my intent, she signaled the Imperial Knights to fall back a bit.

“Alright, speak.”
Her demeanor was bold and confident, like that of a true leader.
It was precisely because of her nature that I felt comfortable revealing this information.

“There are people targeting the Saintess in today’s arena.”
I had confirmed it all with my own eyes this morning.
Those who planned the Saintess’s assassination were present, just as before.

For a moment, the playful smile vanished from White Wood Lord’s face.

“Since I’m being taken away, I want to give Your Grace the list of culprits.”

“Heh.”
She let out a sharp breath, spinning around with a flourish.

“Very well. I’ll ask how you know all this later.”
Her cape billowed behind her.
The confidence radiating from her was greater than anyone I’d ever seen.

“Alright then, as an old hero, it’s time to swing my sword once more.”

The living legend.
White Wood Lord, Laxid Anevesia.
To those who dared target the Saintess, she was about to deliver the world’s biggest humiliation.