The World After the Bad Ending - Chapter 29



28 – The Vice President Addicted to Praise

Nia Cynthia is coming to Zerion Academy as an assistant professor of magic.

This was completely unexpected news.

After all, in the games I have played,

Nia Cynthia has never come as an assistant professor.

‘Why?’

What influenced Nia to be called to Zerion Academy?

I can’t quite grasp it.

‘Nia Cynthia is on the side of the First Prince.’

The only reason the First Prince has an interest in Zerion Academy is one thing.

It’s when Lucas makes a significant impact.

‘Hanon Aireida was originally sent to lure Lucas.’

But Hanon did not transfer.

To be precise, I transferred pretending to be Hanon.

From that point, the First Prince lost interest in Zerion Academy.

The First Prince is not someone who values the future.

He did not want to get close to the people currently dominating the political scene.

He had no interest in the rookies who would barely enter politics in ten years.

So he willingly handed over the future talents of Jerion Academy to the 3rd Princess, Iris Hyserion.

After all, if he could recruit the current political figures.

He was confident that he would become the emperor.

‘Lucas is dead.’

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The Lucas who could attract the attention of the current 1st Prince no longer existed.

In such a situation, Nia, who would have become the closest aide to the 1st Prince, comes to the academy?

The situation didn’t add up.

“Damn this world.”

I sighed as I walked down the hallway.

It’s already hard enough to steer this world, which is facing a bad ending, towards the main story.

Now, problems are rolling in from outside Jerion Academy as well.

‘Did something change with the 1st Prince?’

There was nothing I could guess immediately.

So I was on my way to find out.

A familiar door came into view.

It was the door to the student council room.

Knock knock-

After two knocks, I slowly opened the door.

It was a consideration for the person inside.

Creak-

As I opened the door, I saw a girl holding a quill pen through the sunlight streaming down behind me.

Between the long, silver hair shining beautifully in the sunlight.

Two blue eyes, holding the sea, looked at me.

At first glance, she seemed to have a cold impression.

But as she saw me, she slowly smiled, and that impression disappeared.

“Who is this? Isn’t it the junior who excelled in the first floor labyrinth this time?”

Nikita said, as if praising me.

As Nikita said, the news of the Hanon team’s achievements had spread among the students.

It was a close call that could have resulted in many casualties, the forest keeper Sado incident.

Foreseeing this in advance and preventing it excellently without any fatalities, we were promised separate rewards from the academy.

Additionally, a full-scale investigation into the transformation of the Demon Palace began.

It’s fortunate for me that various preventive measures will be established regarding the transformation of the Demon Palace in the future.

“Only Nikita-senpai could do it.”

However, it wasn’t just our team that made a remarkable achievement.

The Nikita team, composed of third-year students.

The Nikita team achieved the feat of reaching the 6th floor of the Demon Palace.

The current record for third-year students is the 5th floor.

The Nikita team set a new record as soon as they became third-year students.

It was safe to say that the Nikita team was the most superior among the current third-year students.

But Nikita smiled bitterly at my praise.

“By the original standards, it’s an average speed. It’s not that great. Our generation doesn’t have many talents.”

As she said, the talent pool for the third-year students isn’t very good.

Just looking at last year’s graduates, they had already reached the 6th floor in their second year.

And in their third year, they achieved the feat of reaching the 8th floor.

In contrast, the current third-year students have only now reached the 6th floor.

Because of this, the current third-year students have the unfortunate nickname of being the weakest generation.

“Moreover, other juniors have also reached the 5th floor in this Demon Palace. They will soon catch up to us.”

As Nikita said, there are already second-year teams that have reached the 5th floor.

Given that they are expected to reach the 6th floor in the next Demon Palace battle.

The achievements of the Nikita team will soon be caught up.

“The talent pool of the second-year students is unbelievable.”

The second-year students include the protagonist, Lucas.

The second-year students are referred to as the generation of the golden flame.

The last princess, Iris Hyserion.

The lazy genius, Van.

The genius magician with Mirinae, Sharin.

The saint, Sirmiel Saint Eden.

Just looking at this, it’s an unbelievable talent pool.

There were still many more who had talent, and some who had not yet awakened their talent.

‘It’s only natural since it’s the protagonist’s generation.’

The protagonist is the center that leads the game’s curtain.

It was only natural that talents would be concentrated in the generation that the protagonist would lead.

Thus, the second and third years inevitably appeared in contrast.

This was also the reason why the second and third years did not get along very well.

“What does it matter to others?”

But for me, it was a good thing.

“You set a new record, Nikita-senpai. Of course, we should congratulate you.”

The record was broken.

She achieved a new result through her own efforts.

There is nothing more important than this.

Nikita’s eyes slightly opened.

And soon, her eyes slightly relaxed, and she smiled.

“Junior, you always speak so beautifully.”

It’s something only Nikita often says to me.

“Other friends say I speak poorly, though?”

“That’s strange. By my standards, you always use beautiful words. So, why don’t you try speaking to others the way you speak to me?”

“No. This is reserved exclusively for Nikita-senpai.”

“…Should I be happy about that?”

Nikita made a subtle expression.

I learned this from Sharin recently.

Unfortunately, it doesn’t work very well.

“By the way, senpai, there’s something I’d like to ask you.”

I walked up to Nikita.

And naturally, I took over some of the tasks Nikita was working on.

“What is it?”

“I heard that Nia Cynthia is coming as an associate professor of magic studies this time.”

I picked up the quill pen in front of me and started working.

“As a junior who is always indebted to you, I thought it would be good to greet her.”

“Stop it.”

And then, a cold voice came from Nikita’s mouth.

My gaze, which had been on the paper, moved towards Nikita.

Then Nikita covered her mouth with her hand as our eyes met.

It was a reaction that showed even Nikita herself didn’t know she could make such a voice.

“Ah, um, that’s not what I meant.”

Nikita waved her hand with a flustered face, trying to smooth over the situation.

But I had already noticed why Nikita had reacted that way a moment ago.

Nikita follows Nia Cynthia very well.

To Nikita, Nia is an idol, an admiration, and a wonderful older brother.

However, behind the idol and admiration, there also exists jealousy.

The Cynthia Marquis family is a magical family.

Nikita was born in such a Cynthia family without any magical talent.

The evaluation she receives from those around her is that she is a pretty doll for a political marriage.

People feel regret for what they do not have.

Nikita also wanted to be born with magical talent, and there was a time when she felt regretful about it.

Nikita is not a perfect superhuman.

No matter how good an older brother he is, somewhere deep in her heart, there was jealousy.

She just never showed it because she was mature.

But now, for the first time, that jealousy was revealed.

And the direction of that jealousy was towards me.

I am someone who endlessly praises Nikita.

When I meet Nikita, ten compliments a day are the minimum.

The only person who positively supports whatever Nikita does.

This was something Nikita had never received even as a child.

Nikita, who was more accustomed to being underestimated than praised.

At first, she didn’t know how to react to my compliments and was embarrassed.

But recently, she enjoys my compliments and even gives me a sly look to praise her.

And that is very cute.

At some point, my compliments deeply penetrated Nikita’s life.

Once having tasted praise, Nikita could no longer detach herself from it.

In such a situation.

Nia Cynthia appeared.

Nia Cynthia could be seen as Nikita’s superior counterpart in every way.

Having lived her whole life being compared to Nia.

Nikita could not have what Nia had, and Nia had everything Nikita had.

I said I wanted to join the student council because I admired Nikita.

What would happen if I saw Nia Cynthia, who is Nikita’s superior counterpart?

For a moment, Nikita imagined such a scenario.

The thought of being taken away by Nia Cynthia.

In childhood, the fulfillment of praise that I could not have was taken away.

For Nikita, it must have felt like having a cherished toy taken away.

“Nikita-senpai, I’m not going anywhere. The only one I admire is you, Nikita-senpai.”

So I decided to make it clear to Nikita.

Nia Cynthia was never in my consideration.

The only one I admire is Nikita.

Upon hearing this, the flustered Nikita slowly raised her head.

Then, as if realizing something through my words, her eyes gradually widened.

Whoosh!

And then Nikita disappeared.

To be precise, Nikita went under the desk.

It seemed she had just realized what her own words meant.

I dragged my chair and approached Nikita’s desk.

“Wait, don’t come.”

Then Nikita shouted from under the desk, covering her face with both hands.

She looked like a hamster hiding in a hole.

I naturally sat in Nikita’s chair.

“Junior, you can go home now!”

“No, I can’t. Since you doubted me, I have to make it clear today! The only one I admire is you, Nikita-senpai!”

“Junior, sometimes I hate how quick-witted you are! But why are you so clueless now?!”

“To dispel Nikita-senpai’s doubts and reveal my true feelings, I can set aside my caution for now.”

“But isn’t there no consideration for me in that!”

Nikita made a crying sound from under the desk.

Is this what sadism is?

I learned something new.

But it seems like Nikita is reaching her limit, so I should stop.

“Hmm, what is this situation?”

A new voice was heard.

Thud!

Nikita tried to stand up abruptly and hit her head on the desk.

While she was holding her head and swallowing her groans, I turned my head.

There stood a handsome man with long silver hair, the same color as Nikita’s.

And I knew well who he was.

Nia Cynthia.

The one we were just talking about had entered the student council room.

“O, Onii-sama.”

Nikita hurriedly came out from under the desk and bowed her head.

Seeing that, Nia smiled gently.

“Nikita, won’t you explain the situation?”

My brother has arrived.