The World After the Bad Ending - Chapter 168

Vulcan had been safely defeated.

But the work wasn’t over yet.

Boom!

Even now, the Earth Dragon was charging toward us, intent on slaughtering us all.

The situation was urgent.

As I raised my head, I saw Sentriol lowering her sword in the distance.

It seemed she had remained wary of me being Vulcan until the very end.

Meanwhile, Acredé approached hesitantly.

She let out a sigh and bestowed the Goddess’s blessing upon me.

Finally, I could breathe again.

My body, which had felt utterly shattered moments ago, now felt as though it had been pieced back together.

“Honestly, I thought we were done for.”

“I owe you one.”

As Acredé granted me her blessing, her eyes darted around swiftly.

The reason she had come here was to retrieve Narea.

So, it seemed she was searching for where Narea’s soul might be.

“Cardinal Sentriol.”

“I am the Cardinal.”

I pointed behind me as Sentriol approached at my call.

There, a staircase led to another room.

“Go with Lady Acredé. We must reach it before the Earth Dragon arrives.”

Even now, the Earth Dragon was closing in.

This situation had arisen because of the Ancient Dragon’s remnants running wild.

We needed to wrap things up and leave this place immediately.

“Understood. Then, I shall take my leave.”

“I-I’ll be back soon!”

Sentriol turned toward the staircase, carrying Acredé on her back.

Acredé waved goodbye, as if this were just another day.

Her carefree demeanor was very much like that of a Saintess.

“Wow, you’re seriously insane! You actually pulled it off.”

Just then, Musica approached me, catching her breath.

But soon, her eyes flickered around before she leaned in and whispered to me.

“Hanon, that black thing in the flames you burned earlier.”

So, she had noticed.

Musica was sensitive to souls.

Of course, she would’ve sensed the fragments of nightmares mixed within the ashes.

Instead of answering, I simply nodded.

Musica’s expression darkened immediately.

The fact that the Evil God was involved in the corruption of the Mercenary King Rozley was something even she couldn’t tolerate.

“Hah… Let’s talk more about this later when the Saintess returns.”

Musica stepped back with a troubled look.

She, too, knew this wasn’t a topic to be carelessly discussed.

“Um.”

Meanwhile, Jenia cautiously approached me.

Today must have been a bolt from the blue for her.

Just as I was about to praise her for doing better than expected—

I noticed Jenia’s eyes were shining far too brightly.

Her emotions seemed unusually heightened.

Perhaps the adrenaline from the intense battle had surged through her.

Clenching her fists tightly, she spoke to me.

“You were amazing. No—I want to say more, but… you were really, really amazing.”

Jenia spoke as though she had been deeply moved.

“You’re admirable. The way you fought without holding back, giving it your all—you’re truly a hero.”

Despite her perfectionist tendencies, Jenia was still young.

At this age, she was easily influenced by others.

“How… how can I become someone like you, Hanon-nim?”

It seemed this incident had left a significant impact on her.

Her eyes sparkled as if she had discovered a new dream and purpose.

None of the coldness I had sensed from her at our first meeting remained.

Had Jerion made that same face when he followed Olfram to save the world in the past?

But since I was Vikamen, not Olfram, I felt a complicated, ambiguous emotion.

Isabel glanced at me.

She knew my true identity.

Did Jenia?

The fact that the person who had just influenced her so profoundly was Vikamen—the very person she despised.

I’d have to tell her eventually, but figuring out how to do so was already giving me a headache.

Still, I couldn’t just ignore her question.

It was the inquiry of a young girl who had just begun to dream.

As an adult, I couldn’t brush it off.

How does one become like me?

After some thought, I gave her an answer.

“Just attend Jerion Academy.”

I genuinely had no idea.

I couldn’t exactly tell her to play the Flaming Butterfly arc, could I?

Isabel elbowed me lightly for my half-hearted response, but what else could I do?

I was doing my best.

“Jerion Academy… Yes! You’ll be there too, Hanon-nim.”

Jenia’s resolve solidified.

No doubt, she would enroll at Jerion Academy as the top student.

“I’ll be waiting.”

At least I could say that much. Jenia’s face bloomed into a bright smile.

“Yes! I’ll be there soon.”

I looked forward to her dazzling growth in the future.

“…What exactly are you planning to do later?”

Isabel whispered, but I pretended not to hear.

Boom!

At that moment, as if reminding us not to forget it, the Earth Dragon shook the canyon violently once more.

It seemed we were truly reaching our limit now.

“Jenia, with Celestial-tier magic, spatial teleportation is possible, right?”

In dungeon replays, spatial magic was an entirely different field.

But with Jerion’s Celestial-tier magic, spatial manipulation was certainly achievable.

Jenia’s gaze shifted instantly.

Perhaps because of this battle, an air of seasoned confidence had begun to emanate from her.

Her perfectionist tendencies had lessened, and her heroic qualities were emerging.

“Yes, it’s possible.”

“We need to leave before the Earth Dragon arrives. Can you prepare it?”

As soon as Acredé returned, I planned to head back aboveground immediately.

The White Woodcutter would find her own way out.

All we had to do was escape from here.

“Yes, I’ll prepare it right away.”

Jenia hurriedly began setting up the Celestial-tier magic.

Starlight flowed from her, gradually forming a magic circle.

Even seeing it again, it was a spell of astonishing power.

‘I look forward to the synergy with Sharin.’

Jenia’s Celestial-tier magic.

Sharin’s Mirae.

These two abilities had unique properties that could amplify each other.

Someday, I would witness their combined power with my own eyes.

And that day would likely be the final battle.

Boom—

Just then, another figure appeared.

“Phew… So, Vulcan has been dealt with?”

It was the White Woodcutter’s attendant.

It seemed he had also successfully taken down the Mysticism cultists.

“H-Hanon-nim!”

In the distance, Acredé was rushing back, clutching a flask engraved with the image of a goddess.

But her face was deathly pale.

For a moment, I feared she hadn’t retrieved Narea—but the flask was empty.

She had definitely recovered Narea.

Her pallor must have been due to whatever she had learned from Narea.

Meanwhile, Jenia completed her spell, unleashing a cascade of starlight.

It was time to leave the long and arduous ordeal at the Mysticism cult behind.

“You.”

Just then, Isabel approached me and spoke bluntly.

“I have something to say to you when we get back.”

“Something to say?”

As I tilted my head in confusion, Isabel slowly curled her lips into a smile.

It was the brightest smile I had ever seen from her.

“Before that.”

Her grin widened.

“I think I’ll have to lock you up for a while.”

…Huh?

And with that, Jenia’s spatial teleportation spell activated.

---

Thanks to Jenia’s Celestial-tier magic, we escaped safely.

Our destination was a spot not far from the Earth Dragon’s canyon.

Because of that, we could clearly see the rampaging Earth Dragon in the distance.

The Mysticism cult’s stronghold had been completely obliterated by the dragon.

There was no recovering from that.

At the same time, white petals scattered through the air.

Soon after, the White Woodcutter descended from the sky.

Her disheveled appearance was proof of her fierce battle with the Earth Dragon.

But since she didn’t seem seriously injured, it wasn’t a major concern.

The fact that she was already regenerating spoke volumes.

‘As expected of someone ranked among the world’s strongest.’

Even the White Woodcutter couldn’t do anything about the Evil God.

It made me realize anew just how dangerous the being I was opposing truly was.

“So, the Earth Dragon suddenly headed for the canyon—was that your doing, boy?”

“Yes. The Ancient Dragon’s remnants went berserk, so the nearby Earth Dragon must have sensed it.”

“Berserk, huh.”

The White Woodcutter landed before me and slowly stroked her chin.

Then, she raised an eyebrow slightly and studied me closely.

I felt as though I’d been stripped bare.

It was embarrassing.

“Your soul’s presence has changed.”

How could she even see that?

I had no idea just how far the White Woodcutter’s abilities extended.

“She—she fused her soul!”

At that moment, Musica blurted out as if tattling.

Better to confess before being accused.

I decided to accept it humbly.

“I fused my soul with Vulcan’s. His consciousness was devoured by the Ancient Dragon’s remnants.”

“Hah.”

The White Woodcutter let out an exasperated sigh.

Then, she raised her hand and lightly flicked my forehead.

“I’m not pleased that you risked your life like that.”

But then, she gently patted my head.

“Still, I’ll acknowledge your heroic actions more than anyone. Well done.”

A whip followed by a carrot.

A very White Woodcutter-like approach.

“We’ll discuss the details later. No point in provoking that thing unnecessarily.”

She gestured toward the still-raging Earth Dragon.

There was no telling if it might target us again.

We quickly decided to leave.

Just in time, the Blue Tower Lord and the Imperial Knights emerged from the canyon, heading our way.

They must have been waiting, ready to move at any moment depending on the situation.

We joined them safely and began our return journey.

Having accomplished a great feat, everyone seemed at ease.

Well, except for one person.

Me.

Isabel’s words after Vulcan’s defeat—

I had no idea how to deal with what lay ahead.

“U-um, H-Hanon-nim.”

Just then, Acredé spoke up.

She glanced around nervously, wearing an extremely troubled expression.

I already knew why she had approached me.

At the end of Act 5, it wasn’t Acredé but Narea who had spoken to me like this.

‘Here it comes.’

My eyes flicked toward the White Woodcutter.

She was walking over to the Blue Tower Lord and the Imperial Knights, likely discussing retreat.

Perfect timing.

Musica also had something to discuss regarding this matter.

“Lady Acredé, let’s talk in the carriage.”

“Ah, y-yes!”

Acredé nodded hurriedly.

My gaze shifted to the Earth Dragon.

Act 5 had ended before Act 4.

I couldn’t predict just how much the main story would change from here.

‘What happens to the now-empty Act 5?’

Would Act 6 be moved up, with its events unfolding in place of Act 5?

‘No, it’s certain.’

Act 5 was the setup for Act 6.

Like it or not, Act 6 had to be accelerated.

‘I never imagined the butterfly effect from saving Grantoni in Act 4 would lead to this.’

My head was spinning.

If Act 6 was moved up, the scenario I knew would end.

Would the world then regain peace?

‘Or—’

An unknown Act 7 might begin.

But this flow was beyond stopping now.

The main story was already on track—an unstoppable train.

All I could do was steer the runaway train with no brakes.

‘I’ll make it work.’

I had vowed to save the world, even suppressing Vulcan’s grudge.

I had no intention of giving up now.

But if I had to name one immediate problem—

My eyes slid toward Isabel.

She looked back at me and smiled sweetly.

Terrifying.

Isabel’s smile was too terrifying.

I don’t wanna go back to the Academy.