The World After the Bad Ending

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A magic that makes you younger.

I instantly understood why Nia had come to the Magic Arts Academy as an associate professor.

“If you can become younger, then even adults can enter the Magung.”

Only students who haven’t reached adulthood can enter the Magung.

So, it’s a choice the world has to make in a way.

In the name of a noble mission to protect the world from the Evil Zone, students are being sacrificed.

Of course, the world also won’t simply accept this fact.

While there are certainly some exceptional individuals among the students worthy of the title ‘hero,’

the times are unpredictable.

To an older person, younger people seem endlessly young and dangerous.

They respect the young in their own way, but the anxiety that comes after assigning them tasks cannot be hidden.

More than anything, adults bear responsibility.

It’s the adult’s duty and role to create a better society for the younger ones.

Thus, the adults have struggled to deal with the Magung.

It’s a painful story, but currently, the third-year class carries the stigma of being the weakest generation.

If the next generation, and the generation after that, continues to produce talentless individuals,

the Apostle cannot be stopped, and the Apostle will open the door to the Magung.

What has been created to prevent that is precisely the magic that makes you younger.

“It looks like you’ve thought of the same method as the bandages I used.”

Bickamon is currently a third-year student.

Next year, he won’t be able to enter the Magung anymore.

But the bandages solve this problem.

The bandages are a unique item among items.

A one-of-a-kind artifact created through mystery.

Those who use the bandages can transform into anything.

This means it is also possible to make their physical age younger.

“If you use the bandages, anyone can enter the Magung.”

This is a fact only known to the players.

One might think, “Then, can’t we just put the bandages on a promising knight commander in the empire and send them to the Magung?”

If that were the case, I wouldn’t have gone through all this trouble.

“Above all, the Duke of Robliju will be scheming.”

The Duke of Robliju has already allied with the Evil Zone.

He won’t let that slide easily.

The knight commander will be killed somewhere, and the bandages will be disposed of.

Just considering this makes it impossible to give the bandages to a capable person and have them descend into the Magung.

“But the magic of becoming younger is different.”

As a magic that is actively researched in the world,

the Duke of Robliju has no choice but to comply.

If it succeeds, it could allow the entire knight order to enter the Magung.

It was a magic that the empire had no reason not to research.

Nia was in charge of studying that magic and had achieved some level of success.

And it was clear that she had temporarily come to the academy as an associate professor to test it.

“Then, what was the reason that Nia hadn’t come to the academy in my usual game route until now?”

Even in other game routes, it would have been reasonable to come for testing.

Why hadn’t Nia come and ended up getting assassinated?

“I can’t figure out where it went wrong.”

I knew there would be many variables from the moment Lucas died.

But with an entirely new character popping up, my head was in a muddle.

“What can I do if it’s complicated?”

I have to get through it.

“Princess Sweet Potato, what are you thinking about while eating?”

Seron spoke while idly waving his spoon in front of me.

“I envy how you always seem thoughtless.”

“Are you challenging me?”

“Can you actually win if you pick a fight?”

“I’d win as long as I don’t self-destruct!”

Did he forget that I lost the last time when I didn’t self-destruct?

“Look over there, it’s the Problematic Trio.”

“They’re hanging out together.”

Then I heard giggling voices from some passing kids.

I didn’t think much of it, but Seron furrowed his brows deeply.

“They don’t even realize someone saved their lives.”

Is he talking about the Forest Guardian?

Since the professors talked directly about the recent Magung transformation,

other students also knew about the Forest Guardian.

But being grateful for it was a different story.

People don’t really understand how serious something is until they directly experience it.

Even if it’s something that saved their life.

Whether they were saved or not changes their perception.

So even if professors praised us, saying we did something great,

the students who didn’t know how dangerous the Forest Guardian was were indifferent.

In fact, among the students, there were those who thought it was ridiculous to make a fuss over catching a lower-tier Apostle.

“Aren’t you mad at all?”

“What difference would it make if I got mad here?”

I had already ruined my reputation myself.

How much have I done just to provoke Isabel’s anger?

If my reputation were good, I would almost feel wronged.

“Hehe, there are those kinds of kids, and on the flip side, there are also those who are raising your reputation because of this incident, so don’t worry.”

Then Card, who had been listening from the side, chimed in.

According to Card, there were indeed people whose reputation had risen because of this.

Especially among the students, higher-tier students who were well aware of the risks of the transformation were among them.

“I don’t want to see those who tease us.”

Seron grumbled.

If that’s the case, they could just avoid hanging out with us.

I guess he doesn’t want to be alone.

“Hmm.”

At that moment, I noticed the surroundings had suddenly quieted down.

Seron, who had been grumbling, froze along with the fork he was holding.

Just as I was about to turn my head to see what was going on, I froze as well.

There stood a familiar face.

Long black hair and vividly glowing red eyes.

The most feared figure in the empire and an enchanting woman hard to take your eyes off once you see her.

The 3rd Princess, Iris Haishirion.

She stood behind me.

“The, the 3rd Princess, Your Highness.”

“Enough.”

As Seron and Card hurried to show their respects, Iris stopped them.

Her gaze dropped and then locked onto me.

“Shall we talk for a moment?”

The 3rd Princess saying she wants to talk is something I cannot refuse.

“Of course.”

I asked Seron to tidy up the trays and stood up.

Conveniently, I had just finished my meal.

She must have known this and initiated the conversation.

While all eyes in the dining room were on her, she paid no mind.

After all, she was a figure who drew attention wherever she went.

“Let’s go somewhere quiet.”

Shortly after, Iris arrived at a secluded park.

It was still lunchtime, so the students were busy eating.

Perhaps that’s why the park was mostly deserted.

Iris sat on a bench.

As I was about to formally stand in front of her, she lightly tapped the chair.

“Sit down.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

When a princess tells you to sit, you can’t refuse.

I happily sat beside her.

“Nia Cynthia.”

Then an unexpected name came out of her mouth.

“Do you know why he came to Jerion Academy as an associate professor?”

What could it mean?

She asked without giving me a glance.

Thanks to that, I couldn’t read her expression.

“Yes, I heard it’s to test magic that makes people younger.”

So I just honestly spoke as I knew.

There’s no point in fighting with the 3rd Princess.

“It’s an interesting magic. If such a thing were possible, the academy students would no longer need to sacrifice themselves.”

“Rather than a sacrifice, it’s a noble mission.”

“No matter how you wrap it, a sacrifice is still a sacrifice.”

Iris didn’t seem pleased with the situation the students were in.

“Do you really think that magic of becoming younger will succeed?”

“To be honest, it’s quite unlikely.”

The bandages are items infused with mysterious powers.

While that makes some things possible,

it’s a different story when it comes to pure magic.

Magic definitely makes the impossible possible.

But there’s always a limit to it.

“Transformation magic, if not done carefully, can result in the caster identifying with the transformed appearance, leading to a mental breakdown. It’s quite a dangerous magic.”

As she said, transformation magic is tricky.

It requires becoming that existence, not just putting on a shell.

Without realizing it, it can cause many negative impacts.

The bandages aren’t any different in this regard.

“However, if it’s the magic of becoming younger, it may be even worse.”

“You’re very skeptical.”

“Honestly, I just think it’s a waste of time to invest in such magic.”

In truth, I shared the same skepticism about this.

If such a thing were possible, the world would have conquered earlier, and the Evil Zone would have been dealt with long ago.

Yet the fact that it still hasn’t happened means there’s a reason.

‘I never saw such magic completed by the time I reached the ending.’

It’s natural for there to be a very high likelihood that it would be the same this time.

“Is there a reason you’re telling me this?”

The real question is whether there’s a need to share the current discussion with me.

I don’t have any significant connections with Iris.

While we are somewhat related by blood and other ties, this is not a conversation meant for a personal rendezvous.

“Someone is after Nia Cynthia’s life.”

My eyes slowly widened.

That’s hard to believe coming from Iris.

Iris seeks to become the emperor under the patronage of the Duke of Robliju.

That she would bring up an assassination plot against Nia Cynthia, who is part of the 1st Prince’s faction, is astonishing.

Moreover, Nia’s assassination would stem from the 3rd Princess’s side.

“…I will ask again; why are you telling me this?”

“Because I think you might be able to stop it.”

What does this even mean?

I couldn’t grasp her intentions.

I fell silent for a moment.

“Do you wish for Nia Cynthia to live, Your Highness?”

“She’s a talent for the country. Of course, I wouldn’t want her to be assassinated.”

As she spoke those words, she stood up from the bench.

“Then I hope she lives now.”

I was shocked.

Iris was more genuinely concerned for the empire than I expected.

She didn’t want the budding talent of Nia Cynthia, who could later become a significant force in the empire, to be cut down due to political reasons.

That must be the case.

No matter how much the Duke of Robliju supports her from behind,

the reason why people gather under the 3rd Princess is because she sincerely cares for the empire.

“If it’s true, I will make an effort.”

I don’t know how she plans to assassinate her.

Iris did not divulge that part either.

Iris turned to leave after that.

However, she glanced back as if something had occurred to her.

“Last time you told me something nice. Do you have anything else?”

Referring to the insomnia story she had been complaining about.

“There’s a plant called Beautiful Grass that grows in the west of the empire. If you make a candle and burn it, it emits a fragrance that helps with sleep, so it should be useful to you.”

“Thank you.”

With that, Iris departed.

Nia Cynthia had arrived at Jerion Academy.

However, the monster threatening her was still ongoing.

Originally, in the story of the Flame Butterfly, Nia Cynthia’s assassination was inevitable.

Yet right now,

I might just have stumbled upon the only chance to prevent that assassination.

If Nia Cynthia doesn’t die, then Nikita’s dark route will also cease to exist.

But the moment I stop it,

the world will drift further away from the main story.

‘I……’

What choice must I make?

My gaze turned to the sky.

If the world cannot advance towards the main story, it will perish.

Lucas, what would you have done?

I miss him, the face I never even got to see.