The World After the Bad Ending - Chapter 16



15 – Preparing for the Mock Battle Ultimate Move

Inside the magic classroom.

Sharin, who had finally finished off the red bean bread, was holding her forehead.

“You really hit me.”

“You deserved it.”

I really smacked Sharin.

She didn’t know moderation and was playing around, so she got what she deserved.

Sniffling, Sharin rubbed her forehead and glanced at me.

“You want me to keep it a secret.”

Now we understand each other.

“Yeah.”

Hearing my answer, Sharin slumped over the desk.

“Then, who are you?”

Here it comes.

Sharin’s eyes, like they contained the Milky Way, stared at me intently.

I couldn’t tell what those languid eyes were thinking.

One thing was certain, it wasn’t goodwill.

‘Sharin is Isabel’s best friend.’

Sharin has been friends with Isabel for a long time.

I am the person Isabel hates the most.

Sharin probably doesn’t like me either.

“Recently, you know, Belle always talks about you.”

“Talking behind my back, that’s a bad hobby.”

“Yeah, to be precise, she’s always mad at you.”

Sharin started to gently twist her side hair with her index finger.

“Since Lucas died, Belle’s face has always been drooping. And it got worse as the days went by.”

Isabelle was falling apart.

Lucas’s death left an irreparable emptiness and pain for Isabelle.

In a world without Lucas, Isabelle couldn’t find the meaning of life.

“She regretted it every day, cried, and barely slept. At some point, she stopped talking to me too.”

I realized anew how serious Isabelle’s condition was.

“She seemed to lose interest in everything around her.”

Recalling that day, sadness filled Sharon’s eyes.

It seemed sad to her that she couldn’t help her friend at all.

“But then you appeared, and Isabelle changed a bit.”

Sharon’s eyes turned to me again.

“She gets angry every day, doing anything to make sure you don’t disrespect Lucas.”

Anger is the most energy-consuming act.

To be angry, you need to eat three meals a day, sleep, and move your body.

Otherwise, the body cannot be properly angry.

Isabelle is currently living to pour her anger out on me.

In her meaningless life, I have taken the place of anger.

“That’s something I couldn’t do.”

No matter what form it took.

Sharon couldn’t give Isabelle a meaning to life.

“You did it.”

Now I understand why Sharon called me to be alone with her.

“I didn’t mean to. All I did was insult Lucas.”

“Yes, and that’s keeping Belle alive.”

Sharon stood up.

“Actually, I don’t really care who you are.”

She stepped forward and leaned right in front of me.

“Belle was slowly sinking because she couldn’t find a new meaning to life. But you appeared, and Belle started to come back up again.”

Sharon leaned in even closer.

The unique scent of jasmine from Sharon tickled my nose.

At some point, her soft, white hand had overlapped with mine.

“I hope you can stay in that place until Belle finds another meaning in life.”

“…Anger is not eternal.”

“I know. So I’m asking you until then. If you do that, I’ll do anything for you.”

I quietly looked at Sharin.

Sharin is not much different in height from me, who looks like Hannon.

Therefore, her small face could be seen more clearly.

Her overall pretty face with languid eyes came into view.

I don’t know what she’s thinking.

But in her eyes, staring at me quietly, there was a peculiar sensuality unique to women.

And I’m sorry, but.

Not long ago, I faced a woman with even more sensuality right in front of me.

“That request is conditional on keeping my secret, right?”

I had already noticed that much.

“…Ah.”

At that moment, a voice leaked from Sharin’s mouth.

She rolled her eyes with an expression that there was such a thing.

“…Were you really willing to do anything?”

Sharin stepped away from me.

As the jasmine scent from her body faded, I licked my lips in regret.

A woman who knows she’s pretty and uses it is dangerous.

I noted that down mentally.

“Promise?”

Sharin, feeling awkward, raised her pinky finger.

I stared at it for a moment before opening my mouth.

“Sharin, I need to get top grades in this mock battle.”

Sharin tilted her head, not knowing why I was suddenly bringing this up.

“To keep Isabel’s anger burning, I need to be in a higher rank than her, don’t you think?”

Sharin’s eyes widened.

Seeing that, the corners of my mouth lifted.

Finally, I gained the upper hand against Sharin.

“You, you’re good at magic, right?”

“Yeah, the best.”

Arrogant.

But it’s true.

Sharin’s innate eyes and her unique trait.

Mirinae

Her eyes that shine like the Milky Way whenever they catch the light.

A talent for understanding the principles and logic of magic.

Thanks to this talent, Sharin became the top student in the second year of Magic Studies.

So, I had some expectations.

“Then, what about magic engraving?”

Sharin blinked.

Her head slowly tilted.

“…That’s an ancient magic technique that was abandoned a long time ago.”

That’s true.

Magic engraving is a technique that existed before the concept of a magician was created.

This is evident from the magic engraved artifacts occasionally found in the magic palace.

“So, can you do it or not?”

Sharin slowly brought her arms forward.

Then, with a slightly emphasized upper body, she raised her eyes.

“I can do it.”

It’s just like her to show absolute confidence in magic.

As expected, I thought Sharin could do it.

“But magic engraving isn’t very efficient.”

As she said, magic engraving isn’t very efficient.

Originally, it’s only one-tenth as efficient as magic.

That’s the level of efficiency magic engraving can achieve.

Moreover, most of the magic that can be used is low-level magic.

“But, beginners can use it. And someone can engrave it directly for them.”

“`

I don’t know how to use magic.

Magic is a skill based on knowledge.

There was no way I could use magic without any knowledge.

Moreover, the body I possessed, Vickerman, is hopelessly untalented in magic.

In fact, realizing this, I have been focusing on physical training with Aisha.

‘Normally, I would completely neglect magic as well.’

But magic engraving is different.

Even a beginner can use magic engravings if they know how to infuse and inscribe magic.

Vickerman has been learning magic for a long time.

As such, he has at least the minimum conditions to use magic engravings.

‘This world has more variables than I thought.’

To prevent such variables, it’s good to have at least one usable means.

“Are you thinking of learning it yourself?”

“Yes.”

“Just bring a weapon. I’ll engrave it for you.”

“Sorry, but it’s not a weapon.”

She tilted her head.

Not a weapon? Then what is it, her expression seemed to ask.

Watching her, I smiled suspiciously.

“If you’re curious, I’ll tell you later. Watch my mock battle then.”

I’ll show you something completely unexpected.

“Huh? What’s this, Sharin and Wangnon.”

At that moment, a familiar voice was heard.

Looking towards the door, there was Card.

He still looked completely out of place in the magic department.

“What’s up? Are you here to seduce Sharin after Isabel?”

“Yeah, I almost did. But you ruined it.”

I answered roughly, and Card whistled.

So frivolous.

“Why Wangnon?”

“`

Sharin seemed more curious about the nickname Card called me than my joke.

Then Card looked at me for a moment and smiled.

“Hanun has something amazing.”

Sharin glanced back at me.

“What is it? I want to see it.”

I have no intention of showing it.

“Sharin, come to the study room after dinner. I’ll teach you there.”

I conveyed the message to Sharin and left.

If I stayed any longer, I felt I would get caught up in Sharin and Card’s pace, so I quickly withdrew.

The secret weapons were gradually being prepared.

‘Mock battle.’

Look forward to it.

I’ll cause quite a commotion.

* * *

Time flies like an arrow.

After the schedule with Sharin for magic engraving was added to my daily routine.

I started living a slightly tougher life than before.

And I praised Bikamon’s stamina again until my mouth was dry.

Stamina is national power.

In the flow of time, during the usual lunchtime.

Today, I was also working on documents with Nikita in the student council.

I wondered if it was okay for the student council to have this much work.

In the early days when first-year students join, the student council has a lot of work.

After about a month, the work will decrease.

Nikita said that from then on, we would be able to engage in student council activities a little more comfortably.

“Junior, thank you again today.”

“For what? Nikita-senpai, you’re the one working every day. I respect you.”

“Junior, you speak so beautifully.”

Compliments that come from the heart are always well received.

At that moment, a noisy sound was heard outside the student council room.

“Is this supposed to be moved to Building A?”

“Yeah, that’s right. There are a few more behind this. Let’s move quickly before lunch break ends.”

The voices belonged to the teaching assistants and members of the student council.

They were helping to prepare for the mock battle that would take place after lunch.

Nikita usually did more work than other student council members.

Everyone pushed Nikita into the student council room, telling her to take a break, which is why she was there.

I just won at rock-paper-scissors and got out of it.

A man always chooses rock.

“It’s almost time.”

Nikita looked quite excited about the mock battle.

The mock battle was a time to show the results of her efforts.

For Nikita, the embodiment of hard work, it was naturally an event to look forward to.

“It’s your first mock battle, isn’t it?”

“Yes, it is.”

I transferred here this year.

So, of course, it was my first mock battle.

From noble mtl dot com

“Have you been preparing hard? It seems like you’ve been doing a lot.”

Hearing that, I slightly raised the corners of my mouth.

Nikita then let out an exclamation of admiration.

“It looks like you’re quite confident?”

“Those who prepare every day get good results in exams.”

“Of course, I know better than anyone that you work hard every day.”

Nikita said that while tapping the table with her index finger.

It was a habit that came out when she was thinking about something.

“Hmm, the results of hard work should be rewarded. Alright.”

Nikita smiled brightly at me as if she had thought of something.

It was a beautiful smile.

“If you achieve a high rank this time, I’ll give you a reward.”

What is this, a celestial mountain?

“I’ll come in first place.”

“Hehehe, I’ll look forward to it.”

“You’re offering marriage as a prize. Of course, I have to come in first.”

“Huh? Junior, that’s not the prize I was talking about.”

“Our honeymoon will be at a southern resort.”

“Junior!?”

Nikita’s face showed a moment of confusion, then she wore a slightly annoyed expression.

“Your jokes go too far.”

“But I only make these kinds of jokes with you, Nikita-senpai.”

Hearing that, Nikita’s slightly annoyed expression softened.

“I’ll win too, so you make sure to win as well.”

Nikita’s strong encouragement continued.

In that case, I have to win.

The long-awaited mock battle begins.