The World After the Bad Ending - Chapter 213

Inside a Jerion Academy hospital room.

I was facing Seron in Hanon's form.

After hearing why Seron cried, I stared at her with dumbfounded eyes.

Then, Seron, overcome with embarrassment, lowered her head with a very red face.

"I, I, I really thought Prince Sweet Potato was dead!"

Seron bit her lip, on the verge of tears again, as if she had remembered it again.

I chuckled at Seron for a moment.

"I'm alive and well like this. I was originally on my way to tell you when you woke up."

I had explained to the rest of the group why the situation had turned out this way.

I'm getting rid of Vikamun's identity and returning to Hanon's identity once again.

There is one clear advantage to this.

First, this civil war incident can be highlighted even more.

Vikamun is a person who was directly pardoned by the Third Princess.

Such a person was caught up in the Panisis civil war and met his death.

The Empire is justified in holding Panisis accountable.

In other words, the involvement of the academy students is also considered self-defense.

'Because I killed quite a few.'

Most of them are nobles from Panisis.

Their own children have met their deaths, so Panisis will never stand still.

Parents who have lost their minds will forget what they have done and shout.

However, if there are victims on the Empire's side as well, the story changes.

Rather, the Empire can drive Panisis into a corner by saying that they killed a hero who stopped the apostle's leap.

Considering that, I deliberately sacrificed Vikamun.

Thanks to that, there is a subtle war of nerves going on between the Empire and Panisis right now.

Prince Maron, along with Solbas, was safely handed over as a guest of the Imperial Family.

The civil war has not yet ended, but it was not long before the Empire and other kingdoms would eventually draw their swords.

More than anything, I don't know how Cheonhyegong will move in the future.

Cheonhyegong clearly recognizes me.

There is a high probability that Cheonhyegong was involved in this civil war as well.

If the main culprit who ruined the civil war is dead, attention will be diverted.

Besides, I am cooperating with the real Hanon.

Although he is a troublemaker, while the real Hanon is here, I can completely hide my identity and engage in outside activities.

My feet being freed means that I can act secretly.

It will be a means to strike a big blow against Cheonhyegong's sinister deeds.

Seeing these advantages, I willingly thought of sacrificing Vikamun.

"...So, doesn't that mean nothing comes back to Prince Sweet Potato?"

All my achievements become Hanon's.

When Seron mentioned that fact, my eyes flickered.

Unfortunately, I had no desire for fame or material possessions.

To be precise, I lost those things along with love.

All that remains for me is the goal of leading the world to a happy ending.

Seron knew that, so she asked.

What will be left for you when it's all over?

"It's okay."

A more calm voice than I thought came out.

"I think I can live well enough by leeching off the people around me."

With the connections I have built up at Jerion Academy, I will have no problem making a living.

When I even showed my thumb, Seron let out a long sigh.

"Then, come to our house when it's over. I'll persuade Dad."

I have a place to live in the future.

"But, Prince Sweet Potato, that means you have to use that bandage again."

Seron belatedly remembered and glared at me.

In fact, it's not just her.

All the kids who told me about my situation earlier glared at me like this.

In particular, Nikita scolded me severely when I first said it.

She scolded me for not saying such things carelessly, even if it was a lie.

After sending the cards to the first floor of Jerion, Nikita and I went out through the emergency passage.

"See you at the entrance ceremony this year."

Nikita's eyes were full of regret, but she parted ways with me safely.

Through Card's testimony, Vikamun died.

Since he died in the Magic Palace, there was no way to find the body.

However, one problem is that I have to use the Curtain bandage again in the future.

In particular, Isabel, who contributed the most to persuading me, scolded me the most.

When I subtly avoided Seron's eyes, Seron snatched my clothes.

"Are you really going to get in trouble!"

"Wait, there's a deep reason."

"We persuaded you so much to take it off, and you readily put it back on! You hothead!"

Seron's nagging continued.

But because it contained her concern for me, it didn't feel so bad.

"What are you smiling about again!"

"You're safe and sound."

"Ah, yeah, woo."

Seron broke down for a moment.

She slowly lowered the hand she was holding and pursed her lips.

"...Don't wear it every day."

"Of course. I'm not planning on wearing it when I'm in my room."

She had a slightly dissatisfied face, but Seron didn't say anything more and tapped my arm with her forehead.

She wants to express her dissatisfaction, but she doesn't feel bad either.

Thanks to the time I've spent with Seron, I can now clearly see her mood.

"Seron, and there's one more thing I want to say."

"Uh, what, what is it?"

When I became a little serious, Seron flinched.

I think I showed that side often when I was Vikamun, but somehow now I'm like this even in Hanon's form.

"I found some of my anger."

Seron's eyes slowly began to widen.

Then, she jumped in place and hugged me around the neck.

"That's great!"

She expressed her extreme joy.

I didn't know she would be so happy just because I regained one of my emotions.

"How did it happen? Why? With what?"

Then, she eagerly asked about the reason for finding anger.

"Seeing you acting all jittery made me angry."

I feel needlessly spiteful.

"Ah, seriously, what is it? I need to know what I found it with so I can find the next emotion, right?"

"Seeing you get hurt by the apostle."

Seron's eyes widened.

"I was angry at him because I thought you were killed by the apostle."

Soon after, Seron rolled her eyes.

Then, she slightly covered her mouth with her hand.

I can see her smiling even though she's covering her face with her hand.

"Do you like that?"

"Hehe, huh, good, good. Prince Sweet Potato was angry for me. That means I'm so precious, right?"

Seron shrugged her shoulders, feeling proud.

She really has a consistent personality.

"Were you angry because you thought I was dead? Huh? Huh?"

Seron clung to me, eagerly raising her toes.

It's soft and ticklish because she keeps rubbing her cheek against my cheek.

"Seron."

I wrapped my arms around Seron's shoulders.

When Seron looked up at me with wide eyes, I said to her firmly.

"Don't do that next time."

That was my true feeling.

Seron stared at me blankly and then pouted her lips.

"Prince Sweet Potato, what will you do if I'm in danger of dying?"

"I'll save you even if I have to throw my life away."

"You're being so brazen."

But she seems to be in a good mood.

"Me too. Whatever it is, my body moves first."

Seron lowered her hand and fiddled with the bracelet wrapped around my wrist.

"I can do anything for Prince Sweet Potato. Because you're the person I like the most in the world."

Seron's eyes met mine and smiled.

That smile was definitely a lovely smile.

"So I can't promise. But I don't want Prince Sweet Potato to be hurt, so I'll refrain from it."

Soon after, she tiptoed.

Seron's soft lips were pressed against mine.

For some reason, I tasted sweet strawberries.

Seron, whose lips had parted, bloomed a smile full of embarrassment and joy on her face.

"This is a promise."

"Where did you put the finger promise that people make these days?"

"It's a promise just for Prince Sweet Potato and me. Next time we make a promise, Prince Sweet Potato will do it himself!"

Seron turned away from me with a sulky face.

Then, she looked up at me askew.

"...You can do it anytime without a promise whenever you want."

Why does she say it if she's going to be embarrassed after saying it?

When I look at her, I become curious about love.

"But if you use the Curtain bandage like that, won't you lose your anger again?"

"That's not true. Once you regain a lost emotion, the Curtain bandage can't erase that emotion anymore."

To be precise, I will never forget it because I directly learned how to be angry.

No matter how much the Curtain bandage erases anger, I can cause anger again.

That's why it didn't matter if I used the Curtain bandage.

"Rather, I feel like I've realized what complete anger is, thanks to it."

It was an emotion I only knew how to express according to instinct.

Using it after accurately understanding the principle of that emotion was a completely different realm.

"That's why I feel like it's been maximized."

"Maximized."

Seron was lost in thought.

"Maximized..."

Then she soon covered her mouth and glanced at me.

"What's wrong?"

When I expressed my doubts at her gaze, Seron shook her head.

"...No, it's nothing. I just thought you'd have a hard time later."

"What hardship?"

"You'll know when the time comes."

Seron didn't say anything more and walked away with quick steps.

"More than that, then does that mean I'm the first one to help you regain your emotions?"

That's true.

"Hehehe."

Seron smiled meaningfully.

I feel like she's going to go provoke the other kids.

I was worried, but it was something I couldn't intervene in.

"Anger isn't complete yet. At best, it's just a spark that was turned off and barely rekindled."

"Anyway, I'm the start!"

Seron couldn't control her excitement.

Is she that happy that I'm regaining my emotions?

Looking at that, I think I need to keep the spark alive.

I think there needs to be another trigger for it to become a complete fire.

I hope that it's not the same thing as this time.

Creak-

At that time, the hospital room door suddenly opened.

When we turned to look at that side, there was a familiar face there.

"You."

It was Isabel.

I don't know how she knew I was here, but Isabel looked at me while breathing out.

Judging by the looks of it, she seemed to have run here in a hurry.

"The young lady has come to Jerion Academy."

"Young lady?"

Seron tilted her head, wondering what she was talking about.

On the other hand, I knew who Isabel was talking about.

"...Zenia?"

Zenia Nipleheim.

Vikamun's younger sister, and now someone I'm also related to by blood.

Zenia visited Jerion Academy.

I was able to quickly understand the reason.

"...It's because of me."

Vikamun Nipleheim.

Although he was disowned from the Nipleheim family, he is Zenia's real older brother.

That Vikamun died.

Count Nipleheim is a person who doesn't care whether Vikamun dies or not.

But someone from the Nipleheim family must take care of Vikamun's death.

Zenia, the acting countess, must have been assigned to that.

"What are you going to do?"

Isabel sighed and looked at me.

It was an uneasy look because she had already experienced the death of her own older brother.

"I don't know."

I can't be any different.

"I don't think she'll care much anyway."

Because Zenia doesn't really like Vikamun.

She might even be annoyed.

"No."

Then Isabel denied it.

"That's definitely not it."

Did Isabel see something different?

Well, Isabel might have felt something more than me, who lost my sadness and can't properly sympathize.

Anyway, well.

"I'll have to meet her."

I need to meet Zenia directly and see the situation.