The World After the Bad Ending - Chapter 32



31 – Brother, Give Me Your Brother

Nia Cynthia was assassinated.

This is a story heard during the progress of Act 3, Scene 4 of the Flaming Butterfly arc.

Act 3, Scene 4 is a resting episode where various characters are involved, and happenings with the heroines mainly occur.

And here arises the problem.

The method of Nia’s death is not recorded anywhere in the game.

It’s an obvious story.

The fact and reason that Nia was assassinated are important.

How she was assassinated was not important at all.

And that means.

‘I don’t know how Nia was assassinated.’

If it was simply sending an assassin, poisoning could be considered.

Nia is skilled enough to be active as a current royal magic knight.

It was hard to imagine someone like her being taken down by an assassin.

She would know her position is dangerous and would always be prepared.

She would always carry magic to protect herself.

If she was assassinated.

What method was used?

It has already been two weeks since Nia came to the academy.

I was still in the dark about his assassination.

I need to know how he was assassinated to prevent it.

What can I do when I know nothing?

Moreover, Nia is a professor of magic studies.

As a martial arts student, I hardly have any chance to meet him.

‘But why.’

Did Iris tell me that Nia would be assassinated?

‘What does she trust me with?’

The only time Iris and I have talked was in that hospital room.

Iris is positioned as the final boss.

Right now, I’m still far too lacking to get involved with her.

‘If she said it considering Hannon’s surrounding environment.’

That makes even less sense.

Hannon belongs to the first prince.

If Iris knew this, it would be like revealing the weakness of the third princess’s faction.

For Iris, that would be a bad move.

‘Then, it means she told me based on the actions I’ve shown so far.’

The more I think about it, the less I understand.

I feel like just going to Iris and asking her directly.

But Iris is not someone you can easily approach.

It’s doubtful if she would even answer.

‘Iris must have calculated that I could prevent the assassination in my own way.’

I have no idea what that could be.

Am I forgetting something related to Nia’s assassination from my actions at the academy?

‘She could at least hint at when the assassination would happen.’

Giving me vague information just makes my head hurt more.

Whoosh!

At that moment, a wooden sword struck up to my chin.

As I quickly tilted my head back and stepped away, the boy in front of me yawned widely.

“If you stay dazed, you’ll get hit.”

Lazy genius, Ban.

Ban was currently my sparring partner.

Today was a free sparring training session.

If you apply for a sparring match, you have to accept whoever your opponent is.

That was today’s lesson.

I asked Ban for a sparring match.

Ban’s fierce swordsmanship is something I’ve experienced enough times to handle.

That’s why I asked him.

“Sorry, I had some things on my mind. Couldn’t focus.”

“Hmm, but you’re usually serious during training. Something big must be going on.”

Ban kindly understood my situation.

He’s a generous guy in many ways.

“Come to think of it, Ban, you’ve been training with Isabel lately, haven’t you?”

I straightened my posture and struck at Ban with the edge of my hand.

Ban skillfully blocked my hand with his wooden sword.

“Yeah, she asked me herself.”

“How’s it going? Seeing any results?”

“Isabel was already skilled. She had a few bad habits, but she’s fixed most of them recently.”

It means Isabel has been getting stronger too.

“Besides, her determination is different.”

Ban looked at me intently.

It was as if he was telling me who was responsible for that.

“I’ve been thinking lately.”

Once again, my hand and Ban’s wooden sword clashed.

“Maybe you said those things to Isabel on purpose.”

“I just said it because I was displeased.”

“Even so, you were particularly harsh on Isabel.”

Why are geniuses always so perceptive?

It seemed like Ban, who observes from a step back, had come to that conclusion.

“Were you originally acquainted with Isabel?”

Ban thought I had no reason to provoke Isabel, with whom I had no connection.

“Not at all.”

There is a connection, though.

A long-standing connection built through the game.

But that’s not something I can explain.

“Is that so.”

Ban and I distanced ourselves from each other.

After the fight with the forest keeper.

I became more accustomed to using my body.

I am increasingly amazed by Vickerman’s innate talent.

If he had used his body instead of dabbling in magic from the beginning, wouldn’t Vickerman have achieved great success?

That also meant that I myself had become more accustomed to using my body.

Now, I have far surpassed my prime.

I don’t even know how much more I can grow.

From noble mtl dot com

‘To lead the story in place of Lucas, I must become stronger.’

I must continue to strive diligently.

“Isabel will become very strong in the future.”

And the characters who will play major roles in the story are the same.

“I’m sorry to Isabel, but in a way, it was a talent buried because of Lucas.

Now, it is finally blooming in earnest.”

Isabel had so much potential that even Ban highly evaluated her.

She is indeed one of the main heroines of the Flame Butterfly arc.

I hope she continues to grow without any trouble.

“You must also prepare so that you won’t be defeated.”

Isabel lives with the determination to make me apologize for insulting Lucas by defeating me.

Because of that, I could never lose to Isabel.

No matter what, I must win and burn the source of her anger.

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

Ban and I finished our sparring.

Even after that, many children continued to request sparring with Ban.

Recently, Ban has started to seriously wield his sword again.

As a student of Jerion Academy, where becoming stronger is the most important, there is no better opponent than Ban.

So, everyone is taking this opportunity to request sparring with Ban.

Among them was Isabel.

Lately, she hasn’t even made eye contact with me, but she requested sparring with Ban.

“Don’t they look great together?”

“Will spring come again for Isabel too?”

From afar, I could hear the girls whispering.

As Sharin said, it seems like Ban and Isabel have been getting involved with each other a lot lately.

‘Spring, huh.’

Would it be a bit better if Isabel liked Ban?

For whatever reason, if she just finds a reason to live, that would be fortunate for me.

“Princess Sweet Potato, let’s have a match. Today, I’ll show you who’s on top.”

Just then, Seron charged at me.

My mind is complicated in many ways.

Let’s beat up Seron and shake it off.

* * *

I went home with a refreshed mind after scolding Seron until she cried.

Seeing Seron storm off, vowing revenge, made me feel at ease.

For my mental health, how about making Seron cry once a day from now on?

It seems like a pretty good idea.

I walked familiarly and found the student council room.

When I opened the door with a creak, there were two familiar faces.

“Junior, you’re here.”

Vice President Nikita greeted me with a bright smile.

In front of Nikita was another familiar face.

And that face frowned as soon as he saw me.

Nia Cynthia.

He was Nikita’s older brother.

He’s quite stern.

“Is Professor Nia Cynthia also joining the student council this time?”

I asked casually, as it seemed like he had been visiting the student council room almost every day lately.

“I’m just here to see Nikita.”

To say so confidently that he’s here to see his younger sister.

His love for his sister is extraordinary.

I went over to Nikita and received today’s tasks from her.

Nikita was now accustomed to giving me tasks.

Nia’s eyes glared at me intensely.

She seemed displeased with how naturally Nikita and I acted without any conversation.

“If you keep staring at me like that, my face will get pierced.”

“Piercing it might not be so bad.”

It seemed she still didn’t like me.

“By the way, Professor, have you recently felt like someone was watching you or felt threatened?”

When I subtly hinted at the assassination, Nia tilted her head.

“Being watched is a common occurrence, and if you mean recent threats, there was a love letter and a doll made of hair.”

I heard something I shouldn’t have.

Love is scary.

Is this what nobles go through?

“And there’s always someone who makes me feel threatened.”

Nia smiled brightly and looked at me.

Was I the assassin all along?

“Brother, why are you so mean to the junior?”

Then Nikita scolded Nia.

No matter how much, I couldn’t just stand by as she nitpicked everything I said.

“N-Nikita?”

Nia’s lips quivered in shock as she realized Nikita was defending me instead of her.

“The junior is always helping me with my work. He must be busy with his own training, but he comes here on purpose.”

It meant to stop being so petty.

But Nia couldn’t erase the shocked look from her face.

Nia looked at me with a trembling face.

“T-That guy has ulterior motives towards you.”

Nia said, almost crying.

Nikita blinked her big eyes and looked at me.

When our eyes met, I raised my thumb with a smile.

“Yes, I still do.”

“See!”

Nia shouted with a flushed face, and Nikita let out a long sigh.

“You always say things like that, but you don’t mean it.”

And above all, you’re not my type.

I might consider it if you grow up a bit more.”

This is the second confession, fourth attempt.

“Con…sider?”

But Nia mumbled blankly as if she was fixated on something else.

I bowed politely towards Nia.

“Brother, please give me Senior Nikita.”

“Shut up!”

I was scolded.

Nia stood up.

It seemed she didn’t want to leave just the two of us, Nikita and me, alone.

Her face showed she was too shocked to stay any longer.

“I, I think I’ll be going now.”

Nia staggered out.

As I watched her back, Nikita let out a short sigh.

“You were always a wonderful brother. But lately, you’ve become strange.”

“Isn’t it because he cares so much about you, Senior Nikita?”

“That’s right. I wasn’t highly regarded in the family, but I could do what I wanted thanks to my brother.”

Nikita, who should have grown up as a puppet for an arranged marriage.

Later, Nia, the heir to the duchy, always took care of Nikita.

Nia even went to the elders of the duchy and negotiated directly.

If they didn’t let his sister do what she wanted, he would overturn everything, heir or not.

That’s how much Nia cherished Nikita.

Nikita smiled slightly, reminiscing about the past.

“It must have been because of the sense of responsibility my mother told me about before she passed away.”

Nikita’s mother passed away shortly after giving birth to her.

So at that time, her mother said.

Nia, the older brother, asked to take good care of Nikita.

Nia promised to keep this word for life and became devoted to Nikita.

“You’re a good brother.”

“Yes, sometimes a bit too much.”

Nikita said this and started moving his hand again.

As much as Nia cared for Nikita.

You could see how much Nikita also cared for Nia.

Seeing that, I recall the image of Nikita endlessly falling because of Nia’s death.

Could I stay silent watching that?

It was something I couldn’t know.