The World After the Bad Ending - Chapter 171

An unexpected confession from Isabel.

After that, I couldn’t hide the complicated expression on my face.

First Seron, then Sharin, and now Isabel.

How did things end up like this?

Of course, I’m grateful and happy that someone likes me.

Especially if that someone is a heroine character I once admired—that makes me even happier.

But regardless, I couldn’t help but feel my head spinning.

‘Two was already pushing it…’

But now that it’s three, I’ve truly become an irredeemable playboy.

‘No, to be precise…’

I’m a harem protagonist.

Somehow, in this life, I’ve become that guy.

Could anything be more absurd?

After living my whole life without a single romantic connection, now three women say they like me.

It’s almost laughable how frustrating it is to have lost love.

If I still had love, things wouldn’t have turned out this way.

‘I decided to answer their feelings only after I’ve regained love.’

I won’t go back on that decision.

But even so, I’m not sure if I can handle this properly.

If this were a game, three choices would have appeared before me.

And depending on my choice, an ending would follow.

But this world isn’t a game.

My decisions will have far-reaching consequences.

What’s more, I can’t even rank the three of them right now.

Because all three are incredibly important to me.

‘Vikamen, I’m starting to envy you—the way you purely loved Nikita.’

Without love, I can’t even make a choice.

Right now, I’m just a harem protagonist.

As I wallowed in that bitter realization, the carriage came to a stop.

By the way, the carriage I was riding in was completely empty.

The reason was simple.

The Saintess had returned to the Rium Kingdom, saying she’d finish her business in a short time.

Now that Narea was back, she wouldn’t stand by and watch the corruption and power struggles in Rium anymore.

Musika and Vinesha had also left for Panishis.

From what I heard, they planned to revisit the cabin they lived in during their childhood.

Jenia had returned to the Niflheim Count’s household.

I could feel her desperate resolve to take control of the Niflheim family.

I doubt I’ll see her again until next year at the Jerion Academy.

As for Isabel, she went straight back to the Jerion Academy.

Though she looked like she had a lot to say to me, her academy life was more important.

Unlike me, who had a stand-in, Isabel was attending in person.

Any further delay would affect her studies.

With Isabel’s return, Hannon, who had been at the academy, also began her journey back.

She likely took measures to ensure my presence here wouldn’t complicate things.

‘Hannon… She’ll handle it well.’

Though unpredictable, her skills are undeniable.

Since some people know my true identity, she must have taken care of things accordingly.

Lost in thought, I raised my head and saw the Imperial Palace through the window.

Why had I come here instead of the academy?

The reason was simple—I needed to discuss Vulcan’s matter separately with Baekmokgong.

The corruption of Rozely, Vulcan’s past life.

And the Evil Sovereign’s vessel currently active in the Empire.

After hearing the story, Baekmokgong wore the gravest expression I’d ever seen.

“Can you swear that what you’ve just told me is the truth?”

“Yes. This is information I’ve personally verified through the reincarnations of heroes.”

Of course, it’s still just circumstantial evidence.

But all signs point to Duke Robliazh.

If we investigate, we’ll inevitably find a trail.

And that’s when we’ll need to be most cautious.

Because Duke Robliazh himself will make his move.

That’s why I came to the Imperial Palace—to discuss this further.

The person I needed to talk to had already been decided.

‘Suddenly, my stomach hurts.’

Even though the fear had faded with the loss of self-preservation, my brain still remembered the stress.

‘The First Prince.’

Lukraizen Hysirion.

The man who wielded the Empire’s highest authority—someone I had to face once again.

---

Upon arriving at the palace, Baekmokgong immediately went to report the mysticism incident to the Emperor.

Though this matter had been handled in secret, there was no reason to keep it hidden after its resolution.

Baekmokgong intended to disclose everything about the mysticism incident.

It was necessary to prevent another such group from emerging.

But that wasn’t all.

By publicly announcing the incident, they could pressure Duke Robliazh.

So Baekmokgong had to act swiftly.

Isabel would also be included in this announcement.

Of course, I couldn’t be part of it.

Hannon was still enrolled at the academy, after all.

Instead, Baekmokgong promised to arrange a separate reward for me, along with acknowledging the involvement of one additional person.

It was something I’d expected from the start, so it was fine.

Either way, Baekmokgong was incredibly busy.

That’s why I was tasked with delivering the news to the First Prince.

‘Telling a mere student to go and have a conversation with the First Prince…’

Baekmokgong must really trust me.

Thankfully, this time, I wasn’t alone.

Walking beside me was a man with blue hair.

Every palace servant we passed bowed their heads.

Even the nobles serving in the palace did the same.

The identity of the man beside me?

The Lord of the Blue Tower

Emperorion Sazaris

The Empire’s greatest mage.

In other words, my future father-in-law.

An awkward silence lingered between us.

The engagement had been arranged under his leadership.

I wasn’t sure what to say about it.

But his presence made navigating the palace much easier.

I had been publicly announced as the fiancé of the Blue Tower Lord’s daughter and was also involved in researching Jerion’s magic under him.

If the Blue Tower Lord had summoned me regarding Jerion’s magic, my presence in the palace wouldn’t seem out of place.

‘Still, this silence is uncomfortable.’

Then again, he had also heard about Duke Robliazh from Baekmokgong.

The Blue Tower Lord must have a lot on his mind too.

“How is your relationship with my daughter?”

Suddenly, the Blue Tower Lord broke the silence.

When I turned to look at him, his gaze remained fixed ahead.

The Blue Tower Lord was Sharin’s adoptive father.

But that was only a legal formality.

In truth, Sharin was his illegitimate child.

The Blue Tower Lord had sired children with various women to pass on his magical talent.

But as a noble, he couldn’t afford to leave his bloodline scattered without consequence.

So while he spread his seed, he never officially acknowledged paternity.

What he wanted were children with magical talent—ordinary ones didn’t interest him.

Thus, he never registered as their father.

However, there was one condition for the women he took:

Regardless of status, they had to show potential for bearing a child with magical aptitude.

He only slept with women who agreed to this transactional arrangement—bearing his child in exchange for compensation.

To think he used women solely for the sake of magic…

Mages truly were madmen.

Sharin was the most prodigious among his daughters.

Born to a blue-haired woman working in a brothel.

Despite her innate talent, Sharin’s environment denied her any privileges.

Yet, she inherited an overwhelming gift—Miriné.

But Sharin’s mother hid her daughter’s gift, even though she was born with it.

The reason was simple.

She had been born into poverty, sold to a brothel, and spent her life exhausting her body until she became like this.

But her daughter was born with everything she never had.

The mother couldn’t stand that.

It made her feel like her own life was nothing but a miserable failure.

So she hid Sharin and raised her in secret.

Of course, she never showed her love.

Instead, she subjected Sharin to every form of abuse imaginable.

She would even wake Sharin by beating her if she fell asleep.

Sharin’s tendency to sleep excessively now was a lingering effect of that trauma.

Yet, Sharin grew.

Her Miriné instinctively deciphered and learned magic from traveling mages.

On top of that, she was naturally brilliant.

Despite her mother’s abuse, she secretly stole magic books and sought advice from wandering mages.

The only tragic part?

Her memory was too good.

Sharin had an eidetic memory.

She could recall events from years ago as vividly as if they’d happened yesterday.

So every moment of abuse from her childhood remained fresh in her mind.

Forgetting is another form of blessing for humans.

Wounds fade into scars and eventually disappear because we can forget.

But for Sharin, every wound remained.

That was how she grew up.

Her extraordinary talent eventually became a topic of discussion in magical circles.

Naturally, word reached the Blue Tower Lord.

He sought Sharin out.

She was sitting quietly by her mother’s side as the woman lay dying of syphilis.

Sharin was eight years old at the time.

Though her mother had tormented her all her life, Sharin stayed by her side until the end.

That was Sharin’s childhood.

Afterward, the Blue Tower Lord formally adopted her as his daughter.

Everyone in the Blue Tower knew she was his biological child, but no one dared to question it.

My gaze lingered on the Blue Tower Lord.

He was the reason Sharin existed.

But he was also one of the people who had caused her the most irreparable pain.

If he had truly cared about his children, he would have sought her out sooner.

But he had no interest in any of his offspring unless they showed magical talent.

He didn’t even bother checking on them himself—he sent subordinates instead.

He was a man obsessed with magic.

That’s why Sharin didn’t like him either.

“My daughter takes after me. Her magical talent is exceptional. She has a bright future.”

Unfortunately, Sharin resembled him more than anyone else.

And she hated that.

“She’ll be an asset to you.”

No one likes realizing they’re similar to someone they despise.

My eyes met the Blue Tower Lord’s.

In him, I could see traces of Sharin.

“Sharin is in love.”

But Sharin was not the Blue Tower Lord.

The Blue Tower Lord was a madman who lived only for magic.

He acted solely for its sake.

But Sharin was in love now.

Even if the object of her love was me, the fact that she could love set her apart from him.

“And it’s dazzlingly beautiful.”

To the Blue Tower Lord, magic was the most beautiful thing.

But in Sharin’s eyes, there was another kind of beauty.

Her gaze held more than just Miriné.

“That’s why I think there are many ways she doesn’t resemble you, Lord of the Blue Tower. Sharin is cute, after all.”

The Blue Tower Lord stared at me silently.

He wouldn’t understand what I meant.

But Sharin would.

That was enough.

Then, the Blue Tower Lord’s gaze shifted past me.

For a moment, his expression froze.

What could make him hesitate?

I turned to follow his line of sight.

And my own face stiffened instantly.

Thankfully, the world hadn’t ended.

But standing there was someone capable of ending it.

“Oh? What a coincidence, Emperorion.”

He smiled as if genuinely pleased.

Jet-black hair and eyes like crimson moons.

A middle-aged man radiating an ominous aura.

Gerdio Robliazh

The final boss of Act 6 had appeared.