The World After the Bad Ending - Chapter 20

The second time I fainted, following the last time in the Great Forest of Spirits.

At this point, I wonder if I’ve developed a fainting passive ability or something.

‘It was because I pushed myself too hard.’

Fainting was a natural consequence.

“Hanon, it’s time to eat dinner.”

At that moment, I heard a voice in my ear.

It was Card Bellick, my roommate in the same room.

After being sent to the hospital room, I received treatment quickly.

The wounds from the sword energy healed slowly.

As a result, my treatment took longer than expected, and the healer transferred me directly back to the room.

Along with the earlier battle, even the final battle of the class.

It was such a grueling mock battle that even I, myself, was physically drained.

So today, I was focusing on recovering my body.

I could feel Card striding over and looking down at me.

Annoying.

I wish he’d just go away.

“Sweetie, if you don’t get up right now, I’m going to smother you with kisses.”

“Ugh, damn.”

His playful voice made me curse out loud.

Card placed both hands on his waist and burst into laughter.

He’s like a crazy thug.

“Hey, nice to see you. Rank 14.”

Rank 14.

That’s the rank I got from the mock battle.

Although I didn’t make it to my original goal of being in the top 10.

Instead, I achieved a huge feat by defeating Van, the lazy genius, in a serious fight.

Surely, that must have left a stronger impression in everyone’s minds than just being in the top 10.

‘And the same goes for Isabel.’

Moreover, Isabel didn’t get to fight the battle she had been eagerly awaiting.

She must have been pretty upset.

“Card, what rank are you?”

“Me? Heh, I’m 11th, higher than you.”

Card laughed arrogantly.

But knowing his secret, I just snorted.

He could have ranked higher, just like Van.

He must think now isn’t the time to reveal his hidden card.

“Who’s first?”

“Still Sharin, this time too.”

As expected.

Still, I felt a bit regretful.

I had prepared a special weapon to surpass Van and rank even higher, even beating Sharin.

But I couldn’t even use it.

‘The battle was more intense than I had anticipated.’

It’s as if this world is teaching me it’s not a game.

It was far more difficult than the game knowledge I possessed.

‘Especially.’

The fights with characters not even on my radar were harder than expected.

Extras are also just people now, in reality.

They were desperate to raise their ranks.

‘I need to broaden my perspective.’

Plans can be adjusted, but they shouldn’t go off track.

I learned a lot from this mock battle.

“So, Hanon, are you going to eat dinner or not? Since it’s mock battle day, Marie personally supervised the cooking.”

“Why did you wake me up so late? You should’ve woken me up right away. Stop slacking off.”

“Wow, the nerve is unbelievable.”

Maid leader Marie’s cooking skills are so exceptional that the royal family wants to hire her as their chef.

If we go late, the other students will take all the food, and there won’t be anything left.

I left the room with Card, playfully bickering as we went down the stairs.

Maybe it’s because the battle was pretty intense.

My body still feels stiff.

“Ah.”

As I was going down the stairs,

I happened to run into someone walking down the hallway.

The light reflected off their forehead, making it blinding.

I rubbed my eyes first.

Then, noticing what I was doing, the person widened their eyes.

“You, you!”

Her ponytail flailed with her rising anger.

The person with the exposed forehead was one of the four who badmouthed me.

It was Seron Parmia.

Among the four, Seron was the unfortunate one who fought me first.

“Hello, Rank 30.”

“Don’t call me 30! And I’m not even 30 to begin with!”

Didn’t she become Rank 30 because she lost to me?

“Seron is Rank 19,”

Card explained next to me.

How does this guy even know that?

It seems that after losing to me, Seron somehow climbed up using the remaining opportunities.

Well, she never had the skills to be stuck at Rank 29 anyway.

“Last mock battle, didn’t you have a stomach ache?”

Card grinned as he looked back at Seron.

In response, Seron glared at him with a serious expression.

“How does someone from the Magic Department like you know that?”

“I remember all the pretty girls.”

“If you keep running your mouth, I’ll rip it wide open. You butter potato-looking punk.”

Why does she always compare people to crops?

When our eyes met, Seron’s face twisted in frustration.

“What are you looking at, you burnt sweet potato?”

She’s fierce.

I quietly stared at Seron.

Seron glared right back at me without backing down.

Even after taking such a beating from me,

Her spirit hadn’t wavered.

My neck started to ache from the staring contest.

When I raised my hand, Seron’s shoulders flinched noticeably.

Her feet instinctively took a step back, and she crouched slightly.

That reaction was instinct etched into her body.

No matter how tough Seron was, there was no way she could forget what had happened today.

Watching her, I briefly massaged the back of my neck.

“Ugh!”

Realizing what she had just done, her face turned bright red.

Steam seemed to rise from her forehead.

“You’re a tomato now. A beaten-up tomato.”

I decided to give her a nickname while I was at it.

“You, you!”

Seron trembled with anger before abruptly turning her head.

Then, she ran off, tail between her legs.

Card, who had been watching, lowered his head with a curious expression.

“How did you do it? What happened to Seron?”

“I slammed her into the ground and punched her in the face.”

“Heh, she really got it. Now that I think about it, it’s kind of cute when tough girls suddenly become obedient.”

I looked at Card with a disgusted expression.

“Your hobby is gross.”

“It’s a great hobby. Even though Seron barks at others, she’s the type to become utterly weak in front of her man. Give it a try. It’ll be fun.”

I let his words go in one ear and out the other.

When we arrived at the dining hall, sure enough, it was crowded with students.

Everyone had been worn out by the mock battle.

It seemed like today was a day to stuff our faces.

I joined in and quickly got my food.

“Well done today, young master.”

As I got my food, maid leader Marie greeted me.

It looked like she was greeting each and every student.

Considering there are so many students, that’s some serious dedication.

I guess you have to be like that to become the maid leader.

“Ah, Hanon, looks like you’re late and there aren’t any seats left.”

Just as Card said, the dining hall was packed.

“Should we eat outside?”

There were tables set up outside as well.

But it seemed like a hassle since we’d have to walk a bit.

Just then, I spotted an empty seat.

“There’s one over there.”

“Wow, nice eyes.”

As I headed toward it, Card quickly followed.

Just as I set my tray down and sat,

“Oh.”

I realized a little too late who was sitting across from me.

Between the honey-blonde bobbed hair,

A pair of crimson eyes gleamed.

“…You.”

It was Isabel Luna.

Sitting beside her was Sharin, munching on the whipped cream churros that had been served as dessert.

When she made eye contact with me, she waved with her spoon.

She had no dining etiquette at all, which was very much like her.

“Yo, Isabel.”

Card greeted Isabel first.

She gave him a half-hearted nod with her eyes and then stared straight at me.

Her gaze was piercing.

Ignoring it, I sat down.

I picked up my fork and grabbed a piece of steak.

But Isabel’s sharp gaze stayed on me the whole time.

“Even a dog doesn’t bother someone while they’re eating.”

“Don’t compare people to dogs.”

“I thought you were a Labrador Retriever.”

“Pfft.”

Sharin, who was sitting next to her, stifled a laugh.

When Isabel glared at her, Sharin quickly bowed her head and finished off her churro.

“You know the result of the mock battle, don’t you.”

As expected, Isabel brought up the mock battle.

“If you’re asking for an apology because of that….”

“I don’t accept this result.”

Her crimson eyes were locked on me.

I could sense Isabel’s strong determination.

It was a firm desire to end this with her own hands.

“I’ll beat you with my own strength and get my apology then. So, come at me next time.”

I see.

I realized something.

‘Isabel is changing, little by little.’

Only now do I notice that the dark circles that always hung under her eyes have lightened.

Her once dry hair is now well-maintained, and she’s gained some healthy weight, probably from eating properly.

Even her once-chapped lips have regained a bit of color.

Isabel had been training alone all this time to win against me in the mock battle.

And to show the results of that training, she needed proper meals, sleep, and rest.

The results of training don’t show up overnight.

So ever since the day we met, Isabel must have been forcing herself to eat and sleep.

That effort is now showing.

“…Why are you smiling?”

I didn’t realize it.

I had been smiling at some point.

“I’m mocking you. That will never happen.”

Someday, until you can live your life without me.

Isabel, I have no intention of losing.

Hearing my taunt, Isabel pouted her lips and stood up.

Her tray was already empty.

She shot me a look as if she had something else to say.

“…And I’m not doing this because of you. It’s for Lucas.”

Her words carried a warning.

‘So, she heard it.’

That day when the girls picked a fight.

Isabel must have overheard what I said while confronting them.

It seems that’s made her even more defiant.

“Sharin, let’s go.”

“Mm-hmm.”

Sharin stood up, sticking a straw into her juice bottle.

When our eyes met, she gave me a slight smile.

I had promised Sharin to be Isabel’s enemy for her sake.

She must be saying I’m doing a good job.

“Here, take this.”

Sharin handed me her churro.

I frowned at it.

“That’s the one you were eating.”

“It’s delicious.”

“I already have my own.”

Sharin tilted her head and mumbled to herself, ‘But it’s tasty’, before leaving.

She’s such an odd girl.

“Junior, it looks like the seat in front of you is open. May I sit?”

As I was about to scoop some soup, I felt another presence.

When I looked up, I saw silver hair swaying.

It was Nikita Cynthia,

The vice president of our academy.

“Of course. I saved it, thinking you might come.”

I gladly gave up the seat.

“Heh, thanks, junior. It’s hard to find a seat with so many people.”

She said that and sat down in front of me.

“Junior, you did well in the mock battle. It was impressive.”

“Thank you. Did you see it?”

“The student council junior is struggling, so of course, I have to watch as a senior.”

Nikita seems to like me a lot.

“Raising your rank from 14th and 48th is no easy task. You did really well.”

Usually, I’m the one giving compliments.

Today, though, Nikita complimenting me feels strange.

“So, about the reward.”

And the most important part of the conversation came up.

“Unfortunately, it’s not for the top ranks.”

The top ranks in the mock competition refer to being within the top 10.

Nikita had promised to give the reward if I made it to the top ranks.

It’s a shame.

“I even thought about the honeymoon. It’s truly sad.”

“Sorry, but I’m not someone who can marry just anyone. I can only marry the partner my family has chosen.”

Rejected.

That makes it two confessions and two rejections.

More than that, it seems my jokes are starting to not work on Nikita anymore.

She’s probably gotten quite used to them.

Oh well.

Should I be serious for once?

“However, if you achieve something so great that even my family desires you, it might be possible.”

“I will become a hero starting today.”

“Hahaha, it’s just a joke.”

“The Cynthia family is my goal from today.”

“H-Hey, even if it’s a joke—”

“I will surely close the demonic palace and stand at the top of the world.”

“Wait, junior!?”

I should revise my plan going forward.

Seeing my serious face, Nikita seemed flustered.

“…Sometimes I really can’t tell how much of your jokes are real.”

“I’m always serious.”

“Junior, as I’ve said before, my ideal type is someone tall. If you grow taller, I might consider it.”

Nikita politely rejected me.

Three confessions, three rejections.

“Hmmm, but everything else about you is big.”

Then, Card, standing next to me, made an unnecessary comment.

I gave him a look to keep quiet, and he shrugged.

“Hey, Hanon, why does it feel like you’ve been chatting only with famous people from our school since we got to the cafeteria? Am I imagining things? You must have a magnetic charm.”

“I wish I had the power to shut your mouth right now.”

“That would take quite a bit of magic. My mouth never stops.”

“I’m planning to sew it shut while you sleep tonight.”

“Fine, I’ll sleep in another room tonight.”

What a ridiculous guy.

“By the way, junior.”

Nikita called out to me, pushing aside a carrot.

She couldn’t eat carrots due to her child-like palate.

“What’s your plan for forming the palace team?”

The palace team.

It referred to the group we’d form to enter the underground palace.

I had performed decently in the mock competition.

By now, I was sure I’d get several requests to form a team.

“Well, I haven’t really thought about it yet.”

Though in truth, I already had everything planned out.

It’s not something that can happen just because I want it to.

“Could you put Poara in the group you’re joining, junior?”

“Poara, you mean?”

Poara Silin, a first-year who made a contract with a Spirit Lord.

Thanks to this contract, he is currently promoted to a special class.

“If it’s Poara, everyone’s probably going to want him.”

“The other students have too high expectations of Poara. Excessive expectations often lead to failure.”

There’s a saying that expectations lead to disappointment.

If they place their hopes in Poara and he doesn’t meet those expectations, they’ll naturally be greatly disappointed.

That wouldn’t be good for either them or Poara.

Nikita probably wanted to bring Poara along and manage him herself.

But the third-year students go to much deeper levels than the first and second years.

She couldn’t take Poara to such a place.

“But if it’s you, junior, I don’t think that will be a problem.”

That made sense because I didn’t have any expectations for Poara at all.

“What does Poara himself think about it?”

“I subtly asked him today, and he requested it himself.”

Poara, the one with the Spirit Lord.

I thought about it for a moment, then nodded.

“Alright, let’s do it.”

There’s no reason not to take him.

Might as well take this opportunity to build a better relationship with Poara.

‘I wonder which team will extend an offer.’

Hopefully, it’ll come from the team I’ve been considering.