The World After the Bad Ending - Chapter 17



16 – Breaking the Eternal Last Place

The mock battle is based on the first-year grades.

First, the initial match is against an opponent with equal statistical grades.

If you lose here,

you will fight a student with lower grades than your previous winning match.

Conversely, if you win,

you will fight a student with higher grades.

If you lose a total of three times in the matches,

your grades are recorded, and the mock battle ends immediately.

Additionally, if you are judged to be in an unfit state to continue during a match, your ranking ends there.

Conversely, there is no limit to victories.

In theory, if you keep winning, you can face students from the bottom to the top.

However, if a winning student loses even once in a battle, it’s over.

‘In any case, ultimately.’

The goal of the mock battle is just one.

To elevate the strong ones to the top ranks.

The auditorium of Jerion Academy came into view.

The vast auditorium, expanded by spatial magic, was filled with students.

Students from all subjects were gathered.

Naturally, it was bound to be packed with students.

“I’m nervous.”

“This time, I will definitely improve my mock exam scores.”

I could hear the children chatting.

Of course, no one was talking to me.

Instead, I felt piercing stares from behind.

When I glanced back, I saw Isabel glaring at me.

She had declared that she would crush me in the mock exam.

So, she was burning with determination.

‘If you’re going to burn, burn brightly.’

Because it won’t go out anytime soon.

“Ah.”

At that moment, the second-year martial arts professor, Beganon Mercia, stepped onto the podium.

Today, she looked normal.

Seeing her in uniform, I heard the first-year students behind me exclaim in admiration.

Beganon’s beautiful face, filled with melancholy, was perfect for stealing the hearts of the children.

Our professor’s original appearance is fine.

However, the second and third-year students know well that she has no excellence at all.

That’s just because she couldn’t drink yesterday and is feeling down.

She seems to have alcohol dependence.

“I am Beganon, in charge of overseeing this mock exam. At this academy, the results of the mock exam are very important for group assignments later, so I hope the students will give their all.”

Maybe because she didn’t drink, she seemed quite normal today.

But I know.

What absurd words will come out of that mouth again.

“Let me tell you in advance, don’t end it ambiguously with an opponent you can beat.”

Hearing the next words, the students showed confusion, not understanding the meaning.

The third-year martial arts students sighed, and the second-year martial arts students quietly covered their faces.

“If it drags on to three losses, the mock exam just gets longer. It delays my time to go home.”

He was a professor who only thought about going home.

Going home is important, after all.

“Alright, that’s it. Assistants, please guide the students.”

With that, she stepped down from the podium.

Already familiar with Professor Beganon, they quickly guided the students.

The first-year, second-year, and third-year sections were quickly divided.

There are 48 members in the second-year martial arts class at Jerion Academy.

Originally, the class was full with 50 students.

In the first year, three students, including the protagonist Lucas, were wiped out, reducing the number.

Thanks to my arrival, the number was maintained at 48.

In other words, the second-year mock battle rankings range from 1st to 48th.

My goal is to be in the top ranks.

At the very least, I must make it into the top 10.

‘The problem is.’

I transferred to Jerion Academy in the second year.

That means my grades are not reflected anywhere.

‘My current mock battle ranking is.’

48th.

Last place.

“Pfft, it’s a last-place battle.”

“If someone’s going to lose, it might as well be the transfer student, right?”

“Staying in last place suits you perfectly.”

The sharp words of the girls reached my ears.

Since the fight with Isabel.

Their backbiting has been getting worse day by day.

At first, Isabel was too busy being angry at me to care.

But recently, she seemed to realize how much worse their backbiting had become and flinched.

No matter how much Isabel tried, she couldn’t stop the harsh words of the girls.

With a gentle heart, it must have been hard for her to see her friends slandering others for her sake.

“Don’t worry.”

“`

So I made sure that Isabel didn’t have to step forward.

As soon as I opened my mouth, the sharp gazes of the girls were instantly fixed on me.

I just raised the corners of my mouth towards them.

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

“What a real jerk.”

“Go ahead and try!”

“Ha, it’s ridiculous how arrogant you are.”

At my blatant provocation, they started hurling insults.

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

“Short and with a nasty temper.”

Sorry, but such remarks don’t affect me at all.

“Hmph, looks like you’ve never had a girlfriend in your life.”

Damn, that’s a low blow.

Whoever it is, I never go easy on them when fighting.

As I steeled my resolve, I met Isabel’s eyes.

She looked startled at first, then her eyebrows furrowed.

It seemed she was trying to stop the girls from insulting me, but was surprised to see me taking the lead in earning their hatred.

“Isabel, you’re no different.”

So I threw a cheap provocation at her too.

She looked at me quietly and then relaxed her eyebrows.

A seriousness settled in Isabel’s eyes.

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

I snorted at her words.

“That’s not going to happen.”

The girls’ insults grew louder.

But Isabel just kept looking at me silently.

Her eyes quietly touched the scarred hand of mine.

Even if the others don’t, Isabel knows.

She must have realized that I’m not as easy to deal with as she thought.

“`

“48th place, Hanon Airei. 47th place, Mirizen Aventi.”

Just then, I heard the voice of the assistant instructor calling my name.

As I responded and walked towards him, a student from the opposite side also approached.

A fellow second-year student in the martial arts department.

Mirizen.

His uniform was a bit loose, and he looked timid. His nickname was “Perpetual Last Place Mirizen.”

Where there is a first place, there is also a last place.

If it weren’t for Jerion Academy, he might have been able to shine.

But in Jerion Academy, where only geniuses gather, mediocre talent ends up with such a bitter result.

“This time, I will escape from being last.”

Mirizen looked at me with determination.

Finally, he had escaped from being last, now in 47th place.

I could see the desperation in his eyes, determined not to lose his position.

“Begin the battle.”

As the assistant instructor announced the start, Mirizen drew his sword.

With firm resolve, he charged at me.

He’s coming.

I tilted my head to avoid the sword thrusting straight at me.

The sword that brushed past my eyes was quite thrilling.

Even though he was the last in the martial arts department, he was still a talent who got into Jerion Academy.

The path of his sword was quite stable.

The sword followed me, one strike after another.

Each strike carried considerable weight.

I focused solely on evading.

The steps I had learned long ago naturally unfolded from my toes.

My eyes accurately grasped how to dodge by watching his body and the hilt of his sword.

“He’s just dodging like a rat.”

“Ugh, how pathetic. And he dared to talk about winning with just that?”

I could hear the jeers of the girls who disapproved of me.

The assistant instructor gave them a look, and they quickly quieted down.

The sneer on their lips did not easily disappear.

Of course, I have no time to care about such things.

‘I have sparred with Aisha before.’

But this is my first battle where I must win.

Therefore, I needed to get used to fighting.

To move forward, I will have to fight stronger opponents.

So I must make the most of my past experiences.

‘Starting from the bottom is an opportunity for me.’

Dodge.

Dodge again.

Dodge, and dodge again.

My footwork becomes more concise, and the intervals of my movements shorten.

Bicamon’s body was very suitable for movement.

I am not out of breath.

Every morning, I trained to death with Aisha, who has iron stamina.

This created an incredible synergy with Bicamon’s innate stamina.

“Huff, huff!”

On the other hand, Mirizen was swinging his sword with a tearful face.

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

No matter how well you handle a sword, it is meaningless if you don’t hit.

“I.”

Desperation filled his eyes.

“To win!”

Mirizen’s sword moved once more.

“I will rise!”

The desperation to escape from the bottom burst out.

The children watching the battle between Mirizen and me frowned one by one.

“Pathetic.”

“At least face him properly!”

“It’s obvious there’s a skill gap, what is he doing?”

Despite the assistant’s warning, the children couldn’t bear to watch any longer and shouted.

“When did our class become filled with such idiots?”

At that moment, a man among the children’s jeers opened his mouth.

As the children’s eyes turned towards him, there stood a man whose size didn’t match his peers.

Despite his rugged physique, he had a delicate appearance and watched the battle between me and Mirizen with his arms crossed.

He was Gaidon, ranked third in martial arts.

“That guy declared he would rise to the top.”

It seems he noticed.

“The current battle means that guy is seriously aiming for top ranks.”

He scolded the children.

“But instead of doing it properly, you’re just spouting nonsense about differences in skill.”

This academy is for those who came to become stronger.

Saying not to ignore the weak here is all nonsense.

What Jerion Academy needs is strength and the ability to wield it.

In the Demon Palace, saying you’re weak and asking for leniency doesn’t work at all.

“Those who are babbling now will have nothing to say when they get beaten by that guy later.”

So, no one who understood this blamed me.

Even Isabel was quietly watching the battle, wary of me possibly rising to the top.

“Huh!”

Mirizen’s sword swung once more.

His sword no longer held the same power as before.

The sword he swung countless times to win was now hastening his defeat.

I understand the desperation in his eyes.

Being called the eternal last place thoroughly destroys one’s self-esteem.

But I’m sorry.

I’m more desperate than anyone.

‘If I don’t rise.’

This world, which has headed straight for a bad ending, will bring an even worse ending.

‘So I must.’

I win.

My foot stretched forward.

Thud!

I finally stopped dodging as I stomped on the ground.

Mirizen’s wavering sword brushed past my head.

From noble mtl dot com

At the same time, my body stretched out and dug into Mirizen’s inside.

Mirizen’s body was already exhausted.

Moreover, as a result of my continuous dodging until now,

Mirizen had become accustomed to evasion and could not react immediately to attacks.

That brief gap.

I did not miss that gap and dug in firmly.

An arm trained in stamina and muscle.

I thrust it with all my might.

That alone could become a weapon.

Crash!

My fist, which had become a spear, accurately pierced Mirizen’s abdomen.

“Ugh?!”

With Mirizen’s groan, his body bent like a character.

At the same time, my right arm folded in and my elbow swung.

Smack!

Mirizen’s face collided with my swinging elbow.

As Mirizen staggered, bleeding from his nose,

My right foot hooked his staggering leg.

Due to the fluid motion, Mirizen tumbled to the ground.

As Mirizen hurriedly tried to get up,

I mercilessly thrust my knee.

Smack!

My knee hit his rising head squarely.

With a bursting impact, Mirizen fell straight back.

It’s my first time in a match without rules.

My body moved more easily than I thought.

Thud-

Mirezen fell and did not move.

The children were already silently quiet.

In that silence.

When I looked back at the assistant instructor, he nodded.

“48th place, Hanon, victory.”

I became 47th.