The World After the Bad Ending - Chapter 41

The group test at Zeryon Academy involves defeating apostles created by magic.

The test scores are divided into three categories:

Efficiency.

Time.

Cooperation.

How efficiently and quickly can the team defeat the apostles?

And, during the process, how well did the team members cooperate?

These are the metrics used to score.

And there’s one more.

There is a grading system evaluated in a separate way.

The group test features a structure where apostles appear continuously.

So, the extent to which the team can defeat the appearing apostles is scored separately.

‘And the cooperation score evaluation has already begun.’

The cooperation score starts to decline in real time if a team is not properly assembled.

As such, forming a proper team is also part of the evaluation.

It’s the Academy’s way of encouraging students to communicate well with each other in advance.

‘It’s a ruthless academy where friendless folks can’t survive.’

For someone like me, with few connections, this scoring system feels incredibly harsh.

Does anyone think it’s easy to gather people for a team every day?

Bringing people in through deals only works a couple of times.

“Those cruel professors.”

“It’s just because Princess Sweet Potato doesn’t have any friends.”

Excuse me?

“And who’s someone with even fewer acquaintances than me to say that?”

“W-what? At least I actually know people!”

“Yeah, you knew them… until they ditched you, which is why you’re alone now.”

“They didn’t leave me; I left them!”

Seron fumed, her forehead turning red.

A puff of steam rose from her exposed forehead, almost enough to cook an egg.

Then, Seron noticed something on my hand.

“A ring I haven’t seen before. What’s that about?”

“I got it as a gift.”

Seron raised her eyebrows slightly, as if to say, ‘You?’

It was meant as a joke, but her expression looked genuinely annoyed.

“Who in the world would give you something like that?”

“Believe it or not, I’m actually quite popular.”

“Poor thing. Princess Sweet Potato, haven’t you ever looked in a mirror…”

Seron gave me a pitying look.

This girl.

“And what about you?”

I glared sharply at Seron.

“Have you ever been popular with anyone?”

Seron blinked, then flicked her tied-up red hair.

“Isn’t it obvious?”

“Not at all.”

“Hmph, look at me; I’m pretty.”

I said nothing more.

“Hey, why aren’t you saying anything? Answer me.”

Looking out the window, I saw a carriage crossing the bridge toward Zeryon Academy.

“Answer me! Even my dad says I’m the prettiest in the world!”

Today is the day of the group test.

In light of that, the Empire’s distinguished guests visited the Academy to observe the exam.

The ones visiting here this time could well be considered the most important figures in the Empire.

In the meantime, I spotted an unusually pure white carriage.

A carriage drawn by white horses.

Inside that carriage is someone crucial, someone who will help resolve the events to come.

To meet privately with the person inside, I must play a significant role in this group test.

“Seron.”

Seron, who had now let down her hair and was posing with her hands under her chin like flower petals, was there.

I looked at her as if I were disgusted.

“What’s with that pose? Aren’t you embarrassed?”

Seron’s face turned bright red.

“Hey, it’s because of you!”

“I’m off to the group test. If you’re late, I’ll remove you from the team.”

“Ah, wait for me!”

Seron quickly tied up her hair again and hurried after me.

As we walked, I noticed a familiar face in the distance.

That beautiful silver hair, which fluttered with every step, still shone with a radiant hue.

But the face beneath that silver hair had lost its former vibrancy, looking deeply somber.

“Nikita-senpai.”

When I called her name, Nikita slowly raised her head.

She looked at me and gave a gentle smile.

“Ah, hello, junior.”

Her smile lacked the energy it once had.

She had been like this ever since Nia’s death.

“You’re heading to the group test, I see,”

Nikita said, seemingly aware of where we were going.

Her face was even thinner than before, evidence that she wasn’t eating properly.

“Senpai.”

I rummaged through my bag and handed her the sandwich I’d planned to have for lunch.

“It’s a tuna sandwich.”

Looking at the sandwich I placed in her hands, Nikita shook her head.

“Thank you, but I’m okay. I don’t have much of an appetite.”

“But you’re also participating in the group test today, Senpai.”

I firmly pressed the sandwich into her hand, despite her reluctance.

“Please eat it. Otherwise, I won’t feel at ease.”

Nikita, growing thinner by the day, looked at me quietly as I made this request.

Her eyes smiled weakly.

Finally, she carefully accepted the sandwich.

“Alright, I’ll eat it. I should think of the junior who looks after me.”

With that, Nikita walked away.

Watching her retreating figure, I felt a painful ache in my chest.

Even though I know everything,

I keep silent to let the scenario proceed, weighed down by guilt.

After today’s group test, Nikita will come to know a certain truth.

She will learn that Nia Cynthia’s death was not an accident, but an assassination.

This knowledge will push Nikita toward revenge, ultimately leading her to delve into ancient dragon magic.

And I…

I must stand by and watch.

I clenched my fist tightly.

‘…It’s okay.’

I’ve already decided to save Nikita.

I can’t stop her from becoming the Dragon Girl of Calamity.

Her fate is in my hands.

I’m determined to do whatever it takes for everyone to have a happy ending, not a bad one.

So, I’ll make it happen.

“Hey, Princess Sweet Potato, are you alright?”

Maybe my expression was too stiff,

because Seron glanced over and asked.

“I’m fine. Let’s go.”

Hoping she would hold up well,

I took my steps toward the group test.

* * *

The location for the group test resembled a massive arena.

Since high-level magic, such as illusion spells, was being used to summon apostles through magic,

a spacious area was essential.

In the arena, several distinguished guests had already taken their seats.

They looked on with great interest in this group test.

“This year’s second-years are supposed to be the famous generation of Golden Flame.”

“We’ve only heard rumors until now, so this time should be interesting.”

“I heard even the first-years are remarkable, with a child from the renowned Bizbell family among them.”

“Plus, there’s one who contracted with a Spirit Lord. Truly, the Empire has a bright future!”

They eagerly discussed this generation with high anticipation.

But none of them showed any interest in the third-years.

The third-years were considered the weakest generation, and thus they attracted no attention whatsoever.

Perhaps because of that, the third-years, who would be the first to take the group test, were visibly downcast.

If they could take the test without any onlookers, it might have been fine.

But being ignored in front of the Empire’s most distinguished figures, they couldn’t help but lose confidence.

Under normal circumstances, Nikita would have tried to encourage them somehow.

But even Nikita remained silently withdrawn.

“The atmosphere among the third-years is terrible.”

At that, Card, who was watching beside me, commented.

“Tsk, if they’re so defeated from the start, they won’t perform well.”

“Hey, Potato, is this really the time to worry about others? Focus on us.”

Unlike the relaxed Card, Seron looked tense and on edge.

I realized why she was acting that way.

“Seron, your father came today, didn’t he?”

“Ugh.”

Seron swallowed nervously, clearly hit by the remark.

It wasn’t because her father was strict that she was tense.

“If I mess up here, my allowance is getting cut again.”

She was simply worried about her allowance being docked if she made any mistakes.

Honestly, how carefree she is.

“Don’t worry.”

As her teammate, I decided to reassure her.

“Even if your allowance gets cut, we won’t fall behind in the group test.”

“My allowance is the most important thing!”

Well, that’s up to Seron. It’s not my concern.

“Yaaaawn, so sleepy…”

Then, I heard a voice behind me.

The reason I hadn’t been able to move an inch up to this point.

It was because Sharin had been leaning on my back, fast asleep.

As usual, completely relaxed, she stretched with a loud groan and tilted her head.

“When do we start?”

“It’s the third-years’ turn right now.”

“Then I can sleep a bit more.”

Sharin mumbled as she leaned back against me and drifted off again.

If she’s going to sleep, she could do it somewhere else.

I still don’t understand why she insists on using my back as her pillow.

Just then, I felt a gaze and lifted my head.

Across the way, I met the eyes of Isabel, who had been watching us from afar.

The moment she saw me looking, she looked away, startled.

It seemed losing Sharin to our team had really gotten under her skin.

Ever since Sharin announced she was joining our team,

the stunned look on Isabelle’s face had been unforgettable.

‘Is Isabelle’s team the same one we saw back in the magic palace?’

Her team was well-balanced, so they were sure to get good results without any trouble.

‘As for the others…’

I shifted my gaze to another team.

There, a woman with long black hair stood quietly.

It was perhaps the strongest team across all the grades.

Team Iris.

In the front line, the head and vice-head of the Martial Arts Department.

In the rear, the second rank in Magic Studies and the head of the Special Studies Department.

Also, the second rank in Holy Healing Studies.

‘Even now…’

It’s an insane team balance.

As expected of the Third Princess, who stacked her team with her connections.

They were practically the frontrunners for the group test, an elite squad in every sense.

And they were the team we absolutely had to beat.

Otherwise, we wouldn’t catch the attention of the visiting VIPs.

The issue was, besides Iris, there were quite a few formidable teams.

‘This won’t be easy.’

As I was thinking this, Seron tugged on my collar.

“Hey, Princess Sweet Potato, come to think of it, who’s our healer for this round?”

Her eyes glinted with faint hope.

No doubt, she was expecting the Saint again this time.

“I tried to find someone from the Holy Healing Department, but no luck.”

“What?”

Seron’s eyes went wide.

Without a healer, we were basically starting at a disadvantage with our team balance.

There was nothing I could do about it.

Having teamed up with the Saint once before, the Holy Healing students all backed out, saying, ‘I can’t take a place in the team where the Saint has been.’

They were crafty believers, quick to step back to avoid any comparison.

“What were you thinking?!”

“So I found someone from Special Studies instead.”

At Seron’s groan, I looked behind me.

Right on time, someone was walking toward us.

As soon as Seron saw who it was, her face started to stiffen.

Meanwhile, Card looked over and gave a low whistle.

It was certainly an unexpected individual.

The sunlight glinted off a gleaming white skull.

“Let me introduce you. This is Grantoni from Special Studies.”

“Hehehe, hello, hello!”

A small troublemaker famous around the academy.

Grantoni.

Our team’s healer: a spirit medium.

“My allowaaaaance!”

And Seron let out a desperate wail.