The World After the Bad Ending

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The mock battles are held based on the first-year grades.

First, the initial match is against an opponent with similar statistics.

If you lose here, you will fight against a student with lower grades than your previous victory.

Conversely, if you win, you will face a student with higher grades.

If you lose a total of three matches during the tournament, your grade is recorded, and the mock battle ends immediately.

Furthermore, if you are deemed unable to fight during a match, your ranking is also finalized there.

On the other hand, there is no limit to victories.

In theory, if you keep winning, you could potentially face everyone from the bottom to the top student.

However, if a victorious student loses even once in battle, it’s all over for them.

‘Regardless of circumstance,’

There is only one goal of the mock battles.

To elevate the strong to the higher ranks.

I found myself looking at the auditorium of Jerion Academy, which was immense and filled with students thanks to spatial magic.

Students from all subjects gathered together.

Obviously, it would be packed with students.

“I’m so nervous.”

“I’m definitely going to raise my mock battle score this time.”

I could hear kids whispering among themselves.

Of course, no one spoke to me.

Instead, I felt a piercing glare from behind.

When I glanced over my shoulder, I saw Isabel glaring at me.

She had declared that she would stomp on me in the mock battle.

Thus, I was certainly burning with motivation.

‘Since I’m burning, I might as well be on fire.’

So it won’t extinguish easily.

“Ah.”

Just then, Professor Veganon Mercia, the second-year martial arts teacher, stepped onto the podium.

She looked quite normal today.

I could hear the first-year students behind me gasping as they took in her uniformed appearance.

Professor Veganon’s beautiful, pensive face was just perfect for capturing the children’s hearts.

Our professor was alright in her base form.

However, the second and third-year students knew full well that she had no brilliance to offer.

That was just her being gloomy since she couldn’t drink yesterday.

It seemed like a case of alcohol dependence.

“I am Veganon, in charge of this mock battle. Since the results will be significant for assigning groups later, I expect all students to give their utmost effort.”

Maybe she didn’t drink, but still, she seemed quite ordinary today.

But I knew.

I wondered what absurdity might spill from her mouth next.

“I’ll say this in advance, don’t end your matches awkwardly against an opponent you can actually beat.”

After hearing that, the students displayed confusion at the meaning of her words.

The third-year martial arts students sighed, while the second-years silently covered their faces.

“If you drag it out to three losses, the mock battle just becomes unnecessarily long, and I’ll get off work late.”

She was a professor whose only thought seemed to be about getting off work.

Getting off work is important, I guess.

“That’s all. Teaching assistants, guide the students.”

With that, she stepped down from the podium.

The students, already familiar with Professor Veganon, quickly guided everyone.

The areas for first, second, and third years were swiftly divided.

The second-year martial arts class at Jerion Academy had 48 members.

Originally, there were 50, but during the first year, three students, including Lucas, met their demise, reducing the number.

Thanks to my joining, we maintained the count of 48.

In other words, the grades for the second-year mock battle were ranked from 1st to 48th.

My goal was to be in the top ranks.

I had to at least make it into the top 10.

‘The problem is.’

I transferred to Jerion Academy only in the second year.

That meant my grades were not reflected anywhere.

‘Currently, my mock battle score is.’

48th place.

The absolute bottom.

“Pfft, it’s a match for the bottom.”

“I think it’d be better if the transfer student lost.”

“Staying at the bottom suits him just fine.”

I could hear the cutting remarks of the girls.

Since I faced Isabel head-on before, their gossip seemed to intensify with each passing day.

Even Isabel, who initially focused on her irritation towards me, seemed to notice their increasingly severe talk behind my back and flinched.

Despite how Isabel was, I could see her trying to intervene to stop the harsh words from those girls.

Being a gentle soul at heart, she probably found it hard to watch her friends disparage others for her sake.

“Don’t worry.”

So I made it so there was no need for Isabel to step in.

As I opened my mouth, the sharp gazes of the girls shifted towards me.

With a smirk, I only raised the corners of my mouth.

“I’ll make sure you all end up beneath me.”

“What? He really has the worst attitude.”

“Let’s see you try!”

“Heh, what an unbelievable arrogance.”

They showered me with insults in response to my blatant provocation.

If they hate me, I should give them a reason to.

“With your height, you surely have a foul temper.”

Sorry, but those remarks don’t faze me at all.

“Hmph, you probably never even had a girlfriend.”

Now that’s a serious blow.

That kind of comment is hitting below the belt.

Whoever those girls are, I’ll never go easy on them when we fight.

With a strong will, I locked eyes with Isabel.

She had a look of surprise at first, then made a determined frown.

Seeing me taking the lead in provoking hatred after trying to rein in the girls probably startled her.

“Isabel, you’re the same.”

So I tossed her a cheap provocation too.

She gazed at me for a moment before loosening her brows.

There was a seriousness in Isabel’s eyes.

“If you lose to me today, you must take back the harsh words you said about Lucas and apologize.”

At her words, I snickered.

“Not a chance.”

Even though the girls’ insults grew louder,

Isabel silently stared at me without saying a word.

Her gaze quietly traced the scar on my hand.

She might know that I’m not as easy of a target as she thought.

“48th place, Hanon Irey, 47th place, Miri Zen Aventi.”

At that moment, I heard the voice of the teaching assistant calling my name.

As I replied and walked over, another student was approaching from the opposite side.

A fellow second-year in martial arts.

Miri Zen.

His school uniform was a bit loose, and he appeared timid. His nickname was “Perennial Bottom,” Miri Zen.

Where there’s a top, there’s a bottom.

Had it not been Jerion Academy, he might have found success elsewhere.

But here, where only geniuses gather, mediocre talent inevitably leads to bitter outcomes.

“This time, I’m going to escape from the bottom.”

Miri Zen’s eyes sparked with determination as he looked at me.

Finally reaching 47th place and vowing not to lose it.

“Begin the battle.”

As the assistant announced the start, Miri Zen drew his sword.

He charged at me with a firm resolve.

Here he comes.

I dodged, leaning back to avoid the straight sword extending toward me.

The blade sliding past was quite a shock.

No matter how much of a bottom he is, he’s still a talent who entered Jerion Academy.

His sword trajectory was fairly stable.

The blade followed after me in a serpentine manner.

Each swing possessed considerable weight.

I focused solely on dodging.

Years of practice honed my steps flowed naturally from my toes.

I watched my opponent’s body and sword grip closely, pinpointing how to evade.

“Just dodging like a rat.”

“Ugh, so pathetic. Was this the best you could do?”

I could hear the jeers of the girls watching me disapprovingly.

The teacher glanced at them, which instantly silenced them.

Yet their mocking remained fixed on their lips.

Of course, I had no time to pay attention to that.

‘Though I’ve sparred with Aisha…’

This was my first battle that I absolutely had to win.

Thus, I needed to get used to combat.

To move up, I’d need to fight stronger opponents.

So I had to make the most of my past experiences.

‘Climbing up from below is an opportunity for me.’

Dodge.

Dodge again.

Dodge, and dodge once more.

My footwork became increasingly concise, and the intervals between my movements shrank.

Bickamon’s body was incredibly suited for movement.

I hardly broke a sweat.

Practicing morning drills with Aisha, who had a physique like steel, created incredible synergy with Bickamon’s natural ability.

“Huff, huff!”

Meanwhile, Miri Zen was swinging his sword with a tearful face.

Sweat poured down from his face like rain, and his sword wavered.

No matter how well one handles a sword, it means nothing if they can’t hit.

“I—”

His eyes were filled with desperation.

“I will!”

Miri Zen’s sword slashed again.

“I’ll rise up!”

His unwavering determination to escape the bottom burst forth.

The students watching our battle began to frown, one by one.

“What a trashy display.”

“Can’t you at least put up a decent fight!”

“What the hell are you doing with such a clear skill gap?”

Even though the teacher signaled them, they couldn’t bear to look away.

“When did our class start gathering only idiots like this?”

At that moment, amidst the students’ jeers, a boy spoke up.

As their gazes turned toward him, they found a guy who seemed oddly out of place compared to his peers.

He had a burly physique yet a surprisingly delicate appearance, watching my and Miri Zen’s battle with crossed arms.

He was Gaidon, the third-best in martial arts.

“That guy declared he’d rise up.”

It seemed he was perceptive.

“The battle happening now is his serious attempt to aim for top ranks.”

He addressed the other students.

“Yet you’re saying, ‘do this right’ or ‘there’s a skill gap’—it’s all nonsense.”

This academy is meant for those who want to grow strong, one way or another.

Saying not to look down on the weak is purely ridiculous.

What’s needed at Jerion Academy is strength and the ability to wield that strength.

At Magung Academy, there’s no way to plead for leniency just because you identify as weak.

“The kids who just spoke will have nothing to say once that guy gets the upper hand later.”

Thus, no one understood, and no one blamed me.

Even Isabel, wary of any potential rise I might make, quietly watched the battle.

“Huh!”

Miri Zen swung his sword once more.

His blade no longer held the same force it started with.

Desperate swings that aimed for victory only served to hasten his defeat now.

I understood the intensity behind his eyes.

Being labeled the perennial bottom thoroughly crushes one’s self-esteem.

However, I’m sorry.

I’m the one who’s feeling more desperate than anyone.

‘If I don’t rise up…’

This world heading straight for a bad ending bleeds into an even worse outcome.

‘Therefore, I must…’

I will win.

My foot stretched forward.

Thud!

Having finally ceased dodging, I stomped the ground firmly.

Miri Zen’s staggering sword brushed past my head.

At the same moment, I lunged inward toward Miri Zen.

Miri Zen was running on empty.

Furthermore, having solely focused on dodging up to this point,

he was now unprepared to respond to an attack.

In that brief opening,

I didn’t miss the chance to penetrate through.

My arms honed by strength and conditioning.

I exerted all my might into the strike.

That alone could be a weapon.

Crack!

My fist, transformed into a spear, punched directly into Miri Zen’s gut.

“Gah?!”

Along with Miri Zen’s gasp, his body bent in a U-shape.

Simultaneously, my right arm folded up, bringing my elbow into play.

Whack!

My swinging elbow collided with Miri Zen’s face.

As Miri Zen stumbled with a nosebleed, at that very moment,

my right foot swept through, tripping his legs.

With the fluidity of my movements, Miri Zen tumbled to the ground.

As he scrambled to rise,

I mercilessly forced my knee into him.

Wham!

My knee crashed into his lifted head.

With a thunderous impact, Miri Zen fell backward.

This was my first experience with an unregulated match,

but my body moved more fluidly than I expected.

Thud—

Miri Zen lay on the ground, unmoving.

Before I knew it, the kids had fallen into silence.

Amidst that silence, I glanced back at the teaching assistant, who nodded.

“48th place, Hanon, victory.”

I had reached 47th place.