The World After the Bad Ending - Chapter 169
Clatter—
The sound of the carriage rattling along echoes loudly.
On the road back to the capital of Jerion.
A luxurious journey, escorted by the Blue Magic Tower Lord and the Imperial Knights.
Inside that carriage, I was carefully observing one person’s demeanor.
Only one person.
A honey-blonde girl with a pretty smile sitting across from me—
Isabel Luna.
Every time our eyes met, Isabel smiled.
Her smile was undoubtedly a beauty unmatched by anything in this world.
But right now, that smile was terrifying.
“Isabel.”
“Yes, you.”
She responds so well when called, so why is her smile so frightening?
As I pondered this, the woman sitting beside me watched with keen interest.
Long, manicured nails, an outfit adorned with ribbons everywhere, and an old pendant.
A woman with striking purple hair—Vinesha.
Vinesha leaned in close and whispered to me.
“Master, was the girl like this when she used to chase after you before?”
“……I don’t know.”
To be precise, she’s even scarier now than she was back then.
Meanwhile, Jenia, sitting beside Isabel, blinked in confusion, unaware of what was happening.
She had noticed the strange tension between Isabel and me.
Ahem, hmm.
Then, someone cleared their throat.
When we turned our gazes, there sat a woman of breathtaking beauty.
Platinum-blonde hair and a miraculously clothed, voluptuous upper body.
The noble saint—Saint Narea of the Sacred Arkrede.
“Lord Hanon, I’d like to continue the discussion we were about to have earlier.”
Here it comes.
“Vinesha, could you call Musica for me?”
“Of course.”
Vinesha readily obliged my request.
Her pendant glowed briefly before her head slumped forward.
After a short wait, the corners of her lips curled up brightly.
“Hi, hello?”
The reincarnation of Aquiline—Musica’s possession was complete.
Exchanging a silent greeting with her, I turned my attention back to Arkrede.
“Saint Arkrede, please go ahead.”
“To be precise, it’s not me but Narea who has something to say.”
Arkrede had safely retrieved Narea alongside Centriole.
Thus, Narea was once again dwelling within her body.
Narea’s words.
I had a rough idea of what they would be.
So, I glanced at the three people sitting around me in the carriage.
“Saint Narea, would it be alright if these three also listened to what you have to say?”
“Ah, i-is that alright? Just a moment.”
As Arkrede hastily replied, her demeanor shifted instantly.
The previously absent-minded expression was gone, replaced by cold, piercing eyes.
Her frosty gaze slowly swept across the surroundings.
The others only now realized she had changed, their expressions turning to shock.
The noble saint.
She had returned.
Her eyes met mine.
Though cold, there was benevolence in them.
“First, I must express my gratitude to you, Lord Hanon.”
Narea began by thanking me directly.
“Of course. Feel free to keep thanking me in the future.”
Now was the time to milk it for all it was worth.
Since I wanted to maintain a good relationship with the saint, this gratitude was well-deserved.
“Once again, I owe you my life. I hope the day comes when I can repay you properly.”
“I’d prefer if that repayment applied to what you’re about to say now.”
Seeing my reaction, she seemed to realize I already knew.
“I don’t know how you came to learn of this, Lord Hanon. Perhaps this is why you are the way you are.”
Narea took a deep breath before continuing.
“During Vulcan’s attempt at soul fusion, I discovered something I must share with you all.”
“The corrupted flames of Vulcan originated from the Evil God, didn’t they?”
Musica immediately followed up.
She had witnessed the fragments of nightmares burning when I purified the corrupted flames into ashes.
Thus, she already knew this truth.
“Aquiline, you knew.”
“I saw it myself. Hanon burned it right in front of me.”
Musica’s face twisted with displeasure.
The corrupted flames—Rozely was their former comrade.
Hearing that the Evil God was involved in their comrade’s corruption naturally left a bitter taste.
“I should’ve realized sooner.”
“Even you couldn’t have known, Aquiline. I only learned of it during the soul fusion attempt.”
Narea’s expression mirrored Musica’s.
She took another breath and continued.
“But the real problem lies elsewhere. Through Vulcan, I caught a glimpse of the Evil God. Thanks to the Goddess’s grace.”
She relayed what she had seen firsthand.
“He is preparing to descend in the Demon Palace.”
“What?”
This time, even Isabel, who had been silent, reacted.
She stared at Narea with disbelief.
Jenia was the same.
The situation was far graver than any of them had imagined.
“The Evil God… descending? That can’t be.”
“There is a vessel for his descent in this world.”
“Who is it?”
When Isabel pressed, Narea fell silent for a moment.
It was a matter she couldn’t disclose carelessly, so I understood.
Thus, I decided to ease her burden.
“Saint Narea, it’s alright. Everyone here is either a reincarnated hero or someone destined to become one.”
I could personally vouch for that.
These were the people who would fight the Evil God to the very end.
Narea and I locked eyes.
After a brief silence, she finally spoke.
“……The Third Princess, Iris Hyshion.”
The moment that name was uttered, Isabel froze.
Then, her gaze slowly turned toward me.
I remained silent, watching Narea.
Isabel’s eyes trembled.
She had realized what I had been doing by Iris’s side all this time.
“You…….”
Though her face was full of things to say, Isabel didn’t speak.
She knew now wasn’t the time.
“There must be someone around her who turned her into the Evil God’s vessel.”
Narea looked at everyone present.
“As Lord Hanon said, I can trust those gathered here.
They are my former comrades and those chosen by the Goddess.”
Determination settled on Narea’s face.
“From now on, I will return to the Holy Church and prepare to deal with the Evil God’s vessel and the one who created it.”
She turned to me.
This was her answer to my earlier remark about repayment.
“Lord Hanon, you intend to save the vessel, don’t you?”
As expected of a saint—her perception was extraordinary.
“Yes, that’s the plan.”
I had no intention of letting Iris remain the Evil God’s vessel.
She had become one against her will.
The one who turned her into the vessel—
The Duke of Roblia.
Killing him was my true goal and the scenario of Act 6.
“I will make the necessary preparations. The Holy Church will fully support you, Lord Hanon. Just say the word when the time comes.”
Narea’s support was unwavering.
“You’re really something.”
Isabel sighed and nudged my knee with hers.
“Now I think I know why my wings awakened.”
“So, about what you said earlier—”
“That’s on hold.”
I see.
“The Goddess really only knows how to make us suffer.”
Musica grumbled about the reason for her reincarnation and sighed.
Then, as if making a decision, she declared:
“I’ll go to Phanysis. If I announce my reincarnation, the Phanysis Kingdom will cooperate.”
Musica would take action on her end as well.
Sorry, Grantoni—it looks like we’ll be parting ways for a while.
Lastly—
All eyes turned to Jenia.
Jenia’s eyes darted around wildly.
Her face had turned deathly pale.
“N-Niflheim is……”
Her voice was barely above a whisper.
“……a supporter of the Third Princess.”
She looked like she was about to cry.
The Niflheim Count family had long been closely tied to the Duke of Roblia.
So, it was only natural that they supported the Third Princess.
“Wh-what do we do?”
Jenia’s face was ashen.
She couldn’t simply sever the ties her family had built over generations.
For Jenia, this was an incredibly difficult situation.
If it became known that the Third Princess was the Evil God’s vessel, everyone connected to the Duke of Roblia would be implicated.
Niflheim would be no exception.
“It’s alright.”
At that moment, I spoke.
Jenia turned to me, her face still pale.
“Jenia, you have the power to steer the Niflheim Count family yourself.”
The solution was relatively simple.
“You’re the acting family head, aren’t you? Niflheim can change direction based on your decisions.”
If Jenia withdrew her support for the Duke of Roblia, Niflheim would follow.
This was something that happened in the original timeline as well.
She would learn the truth about the Duke of Roblia and mobilize the Niflheim Count family alongside Lucas.
Though Lucas was the one who facilitated it originally, I had to take on that role now.
Jenia was more than capable.
As I explained, the color returned to Jenia’s face.
“You’re right.”
Jenia clenched her fists, her expression firming.
“All I have to do is take action.”
With this, the Duke of Roblia would lose a major ally in the Niflheim Count family.
The factions supporting the First Prince and the Third Princess were already evenly matched.
This would spell crisis for the Duke of Roblia.
And ultimately, it would force him to make his move.
Then—
Isabel, who had been silent, suddenly widened her eyes.
She whipped her head around to stare at me.
I gave her a puzzled look in return.
“You… don’t tell me.”
Isabel’s face was full of unspoken words as she alternated between staring at Jenia and me.
After a moment, she pressed her fingers to her temples and exhaled.
Clatter—
Just then, the carriage came to a stop.
Shortly after, Centriole knocked and spoke from outside.
“We’ll take a short break before continuing.”
The horses needed rest.
They couldn’t run indefinitely, so breaks were necessary.
“You. Talk to me for a second.”
Isabel abruptly demanded a conversation.
Though unsure why, I excused myself from the others and followed her out.
“What is it?”
Isabel led me to a relatively secluded spot.
After glancing back at the carriage, she asked:
“Did you attack the Third Princess from the beginning… to protect the Niflheim Count family?”
Huh?