The World After the Bad Ending - Chapter 198

From then on, we continued advancing through the Demon Palace.

Before long, we reached the Bridge of the Holy Sea on the 6th floor.

The bridge, stretching all the way to the 7th floor, was so massive it could hardly be called just a bridge—it was large enough to build a city atop it.

This floor had the highest frequency of mental-type attacks, Apostles, and demonic beasts.

Perhaps because of that, everyone stuck close together as they fought their way through the Apostles and demonic beasts.

My eyes still lingered on Midra often, but I didn’t press him further.

He had declared it a taboo with his own mouth.

No matter how much I asked, I wouldn’t get an answer.

Since I’d confirmed he harbored no hostility, I decided to focus on conquering the Demon Palace for now.

“Vicarman Instructor! A named Apostle has appeared ahead!”

While dealing with the demonic beasts, Dorara shouted to me.

This diligent little bastard.

“Isabel, Aisha, Ban.”

I called out the names of the three martial arts students and threw myself forward.

Through the sharp glint of steel, a massive six-legged mammoth-like Apostle revealed itself.

The 6th-floor named Apostle.

Iron Legs.

Its legs were, as the name suggested, made of iron.

With its crushing weight, anyone stomped underfoot would be flattened instantly.

It swung its iron leg down toward me, who was at the very front.

I didn’t dodge.

THOOM!

A heavy weight pressed down on my entire body.

Until now, Iron Legs had crushed its opponents effortlessly with the sheer mass of its legs.

But for the first time, it felt confusion.

Beneath its foot, I was holding up its leg with both hands.

Right now, my body was bathed in every strengthening blessing the Saint could bestow.

On top of that, my steel-like physique was further enhanced by the ancient dragon’s magic.

WHOOSH!

Amidst the ancient dragon’s magic, another flame surged forth.

A flame of ash.

The Ashen Flames inherited from Vulcan.

The flames violently infused my body with power, tempering my flesh.

As a result, my vitality surged, and my muscles swelled to their limits.

“If you step on a person,”

I gritted my teeth.

“You pay the price.”

The Ashen Flames erupting from my body spread to Iron Legs.

In an instant, the searing heat forced the Apostle to shriek and raise its front leg.

At that moment, its white underbelly was exposed.

Though Iron Legs had thick hide covering its body, its belly was far less durable.

Normally, its six legs made it impossible to approach its vulnerable underside.

But with its belly exposed like this, the situation changed.

Isabel and Ban flashed past me in an instant.

Isabel spread her goddess wings, and Ban’s aura erupted like a geyser.

SLASH!

Their blades tore through Iron Legs’ belly in a single motion.

Its thin hide split open, spilling blood and entrails.

THUD!

Immediately after, Aisha took a running leap into the air.

With explosive force, she swung her greatsword like a storm.

KABOOOM!

With a deafening crash, Iron Legs toppled backward, still in the motion of raising its leg.

Aisha’s strength, amplified by the Saint’s blessing, far surpassed human limits.

A barrage of magic and spirit attacks rained down from the sky.

Iron Legs’ belly and body were utterly destroyed, sealing its fate.

Even as a named Apostle of the 6th floor, it stood no chance against us.

“Good work!”

As I caught my breath, Dorara rushed over and handed me a towel.

His eyes were shining intensely as he looked at me.

This guy, why is he acting like this?

I had a rough idea since we started descending the Demon Palace.

But the further we went, the more he seemed eager to impress me.

‘He doesn’t seem to have noticed I’m using ancient dragon magic.’

I’d kept the ancient dragon magic hidden so far.

With our current strength, we didn’t need Dragonification to push through the Demon Palace.

The ancient dragon magic had regained its reputation through Hanon’s use of it.

If I used it now, everyone would start guessing my true identity.

That’s why I’d been holding back.

I’d even wrapped Lightning Summoner in bandages to conceal it.

It wasn’t like he knew I was Hanon.

I couldn’t figure out why he was acting like this lately.

“Thanks.”

“Haha, it’s nothing!”

As I wiped my face with the towel Dorara gave me, he quickly backed away.

Watching him act so strangely, Hania approached.

“Want me to tell you why Dorara’s acting like that?”

Hania seemed to know the reason.

“I’d appreciate it if you told me quickly. I’m not used to seeing him like this.”

“Instructor Vicarman, your little sister Jenia uses divine magic, right?”

Jenia was suddenly brought up.

“Right now, a lot of magic families are sending marriage proposals Jenia’s way. The Korazin family is no exception.”

Damn it.

Even though my anger had subsided, this made me frown.

I realized Dorara’s motive.

That bastard was trying to get on my good side—as Jenia’s older brother—to secure a connection between magic families.

Suddenly, I felt irritated.

If I wasn’t careful, I might just kick Dorara off the Bridge of the Holy Sea.

I bet everyone would understand if I did.

They’d definitely understand.

“Dorara aside, the Korazin family is quite respectable. And Dorara’s magic skills are decent too.”

“His personality’s ruined, though.”

“That is a major flaw.”

Even Hania didn’t hold back in criticizing Dorara’s character.

“But liking you as much as he does is also a problem.”

“Is that a compliment?”

“A woman should be just a little twisted.”

“Ex-girlfriend jealousy is scary.”

“Enjoy it while it lasts. Later, it’ll just turn into disillusionment.”

Hania’s expression of disillusionment was a little terrifying.

“You don’t know I was expelled from the Niflheim family?”

“Even if I did, I’d still poke at it. Lady Iris forgave your sins, so there’s a chance you could return.”

No such thing as a kindness without motive, huh?

“By the way, there’s a strange rumor going around about Jenia’s marriage proposals.”

“There’s a rumor?”

“That unless the suitor is stronger than the most powerful mage at Jerion Academy, they shouldn’t even bother proposing.”

I blinked.

“Does a mage stronger than Sharlin even exist in this world?”

More importantly, why Sharlin of all people?

“Since it’s about marriage, shouldn’t the standard be reason rather than strength?”

“Damn it, that crazy Dorara. He’s seriously considering a proposal?”

Hania grinned.

“Instructor Vicarman, ancient dragon magic is still magic, you know.”

Huh?

“Who’s going to meet your little sister in a fake form?”

Hania was well-informed about royal affairs.

She already knew I’d reunited with Jenia while I was missing.

And the mage Jenia had pointed to was none other than me.

“I know the situation, but Dorara misunderstood and is acting like this because of it.”

Dorara’s wishful thinking.

“One thing’s clear now.”

I sent a silent apology to Jenia.

“Jenia’s not getting married.”

Among mages my age, the only one who could beat me was Sharlin.

I’d devoured countless opportunities to grow stronger.

Now, I stood among the strongest of my generation.

“You never know.”

Hania shrugged, leaving behind a meaningful remark.

“If you don’t want unnecessary misunderstandings, you should reveal your identity to your sister sooner rather than later.”

It was sincere advice.

After saying that, Hania walked over to the other team members.

With Iris absent, she was the leader of Team 2.

She commanded the team with practiced ease.

“These Apostle bastards are nothing special!”

In the distance, Seron swung his axe with wild confidence.

I could tell his stamina had improved significantly compared to before.

It seemed his training with Aisha was paying off.

‘Hope he doesn’t get wrecked too hard later.’

Seron was worrying me in more ways than one.

We pressed forward, defeating Apostles and demonic beasts on the 6th floor.

The bitter cold tried to block our path, but Dorara and Seron handled it well.

Thanks to the flames Eve and I wielded, the cold didn’t bother us much.

Because of that, a few kids subtly gathered around me to sleep.

I didn’t need to say who they were.

Before long, the end of the Bridge of the Holy Sea came into view.

Soon, we’d reach the 7th floor.

The environment might change, but the gatekeeper remained the same.

The 7th-floor gatekeeper had the unique trait of regenerating over time, even if destroyed.

So, we’d have to defeat it again.

“……We’re almost at the 7th floor.”

Poara, the Spirit Lord contractor, muttered nervously.

Beakirling, the highest-ranking spirit contractor, nudged him.

“What’s a Spirit Lord contractor doing being so scared? Stand tall so you don’t embarrass your spirits!”

“R-right.”

“If you’re really scared, stick close to me.”

Beakirling pulled Poara’s arm and hugged him.

The couple next to us was sickeningly sweet.

“Want to hold hands?”

Suddenly, Sharlin whispered close by.

If I held her hand here, Seron and Isabel would join in too.

The three of them had been restraining themselves in front of those who didn’t know my identity.

It’d be weird if they suddenly started showing affection to Vicarman after expressing feelings for Hanon.

That’s why they’d been quiet since entering the Demon Palace.

But even that seemed to be reaching its limit.

Lately, I’d been locking eyes with them more often.

Their gazes carried an indescribable sorrow.

If I regained my love, would I understand what their eyes were trying to say?

“The 7th-floor entrance.”

Finally, we arrived at the path leading down to the 7th floor.

“17:35.”

Dorara, ever quick, announced the time.

We had more time to spare than expected.

Our progress was faster than planned.

We could afford to push further today.

“Let’s move to the 7th floor.”

The faster we broke through the Demon Palace, the better.

There was no reason to waste time.

At my command, the kids moved swiftly.

Opening the door to the 7th floor revealed a staircase with nothing but footholds.

We descended step by step.

From the 7th floor onward, the schedule would get even tougher.

The people here had reached the 7th floor before, during the mission to rescue Isabel and me.

Because of that, the tension in the air was palpable.

But soon, that atmosphere was completely overturned.

I stopped dead in my tracks on one of the footholds.

A heavy silence fell over us.

“……This, no way.”

Isabel’s face froze.

She wasn’t the only one.

Everyone except us had the same horrified expression.

One of the footholds on the staircase we were descending—

It had been utterly destroyed.

As if someone with immense weight had leaped from it.

“Damn it.”

A curse escaped my lips.

At the same time, my gaze shot upward.

An Apostle had leaped to the surface.

We hadn’t encountered any Apostles on our way here.

From the 5th floor onward, the paths in the Demon Palace converged.

Meaning, up to the 4th floor, each group took different routes.

And that meant one thing.

The Apostle had already leaped toward another academy’s direction—not Jerion’s.

“Everyone, full speed back to the surface—now!”

The students from the other academies were in danger.