The World After the Bad Ending - Chapter 38



37 – Recruiting a Team for the Group Battle

Since the incident at the wall, Isabel had changed.

First of all, Isabel apologized for getting angry at her friends.

Her friends also apologized, admitting they had spoken too hastily to Isabel.

It was a heartwarming scene, as Isabel’s usual conduct was upright.

Isabel’s training intensity increased slightly compared to before.

However, she began to refrain from overexerting herself, even though the intensity had increased.

Her perspective broadened.

Instead of focusing on the short term as she used to,

She decided to look further, wider, and for a longer period.

Regarding this, the class commented that Isabel’s growth potential had increased.

Moreover, there was one particularly noticeable change.

Her face, which had been gradually losing its vitality, had brightened considerably.

Although not as much as before Lucas’s death, she regained her characteristic brightness.

She resumed her role as the bright heroine who encouraged everyone.

But there was one person.

There was one person she did not treat brightly.

“You, if you do that, the kids around you will be scared!”

“If they are scared by something like this, they are not fit to be students of Jerion Academy.”

“There you go again. You are too strict.”

“The other students are too lenient.”

It was me.

About a week had passed since the incident with Isabel.

Whenever Isabel saw me, she would rush over as if I was about to do something.

It seemed worse than when she fiercely criticized Lucas.

“Completely hated, huh.”

When I returned after a confrontation with Isabel, Seron clicked his tongue.

Today, during the morning class, I scolded some kids for goofing off.

Isabel argued with me like that.

“Princess Sweet Potato, why do you keep provoking Isabel?”

“I never provoked first. Isabel came at me.”

“Sweet potato, it’s because you treat Isabel differently from others.”

“Maybe she’s just hard to coexist with.”

“Is that so?”

Seron tilted his head.

Is this guy really planning to stick by my side now?

“Why don’t you try to get along with the other girls again?”

Seron is still in a cold war with the girls.

When I suggested he make peace, Seron snorted.

“I don’t really care about the other girls.”

“Sorry, I don’t care about you either.”

“Crazy, what are you saying! I just realized it’s more comfortable this way.”

Seron said that as he crossed his arms and leaned against the desk.

“When you’re among the girls, you have to be mindful whether you like it or not. It’s so hard to hold back what you want to say.”

“Can you even hold back?”

Head-butting dinosaur Seron, holding back?

What kind of world is the girls’ world?

“But with you, I don’t have to do that, right?”

“I wish you’d hold back a bit with me too.”

“I’d rather bite my tongue and die.”

What a savage thing to say.

Seron has tasted the true flavor of a lone wolf.

He should learn how to return to the pack, it’s a pity.

As I clicked my tongue and looked up, I met Isabel’s eyes.

Unlike earlier when she was harsh, her eyes were now filled with determination, and she turned her head away.

In the past, her eyes would have blazed as if ready to fight the moment they met mine.

Her attitude towards me has changed a lot.

To the kids, it might still look like we’re fighting.

But it wasn’t just anger in her eyes.

Even I can’t fully understand her emotions.

But I knew what emotion was emanating from Isabel.

‘Rivalry.’

Isabel decided to save everyone by following Lucas’s will.

I decided to save everyone to clear the disgrace of Jerion Academy caused by Lucas’s death.

The reasons for moving forward are different.

But the purpose is the same.

From there, Isabel’s sense of rivalry emerged.

‘Not bad.’

It is enough for me to play the role of kindling the flame in her heart.

Her brightness will attract many people in the future.

Many of those who were originally by Lucas’s side gathered because of her brightness.

Surely Isabel will be able to fulfill that role excellently this time as well.

‘Isabel is relieved.’

However, there was someone moving in a completely different direction from Isabel.

It was none other than Nikita Cynthia.

She was wriggling her small body to become the dragon of disaster.

Creak-

At that moment, the classroom door opened.

There stood Professor Beganon, who had left after the morning class a while ago.

“Come to think of it, I forgot to mention one thing.”

Professor Beganon scratched his head as if it was bothersome and yawned.

“There will be a group test soon.”

Act 3, Scene 5.

The curtain rises on the group test.

“This group test is an observation test, so important figures from the Empire will be coming.”

Jerion Academy is an academy established by the Empire with rigorous training.

So, the people coming for observation were all key figures of the Empire.

‘Exchange with other academies starts from Act 4.’

All the students of Jerion Academy are considered citizens of the Empire.

At the word ‘observation,’ the students began to buzz.

It was a reaction that hadn’t happened last year.

“Make sure not to cause any trouble. We can’t afford any more budget cuts for the academy.”

Is that something a professor should say?

But the brazen Beganon yawned widely and walked out.

‘If it’s a team event, we need to form a team.’

This time, we can’t team up with the first years like last time.

Since it’s a grade-level exam, we have to form teams with our own grade.

The number of people in the team event is five.

Two vanguards, two rearguards, and one healer.

My eyes met Seron’s at that moment.

Seron held up three fingers.

“We have the vanguards, you and me. We just need to find three more.”

“Where are we going to find four?”

Of course, I wasn’t looking at Seron.

Seron’s forehead turned red, realizing the meaning of my words.

As I listened to her angry voice, I fell into thought.

We need to achieve high scores in this team event.

One of the people who will be observing.

There’s someone we must get close to and secure sponsorship from.

To do that, we have to lead the team to victory.

‘Even if I lead the vanguards.’

We need someone with strong firepower for the rearguards.

The problem is, I don’t have any significant connections among the rearguards.

‘There’s one guy, but.’

He’s too free-spirited to be reliable.

‘There’s also a girl.’

But she’s even more free-spirited.

‘And we can’t use the saint’s opportunity for recovery this time.’

Last time, there was a cause to persuade the saint.

The saint is like a hidden card.

A hidden card is not something you can use recklessly.

Even if you try to use him in a team match.

From noble mtl dot com

Even if he participates, he will only fill the empty spot.

He will exert power that is not much different from that of ordinary believers for fair competition.

‘Is there no way?’

In the end, I stood up for certain victory.

“Where are you going?”

“Bread delivery.”

“Bread?”

Seron looked at me as if it was absurd.

But it was the best move for me.

＊ ＊ ＊

Nom nom-

In front of me, I see someone eagerly eating bread with a small mouth.

Hair shining in dark blue as if it contained starlight.

Earrings dangling from the ears and a star-shaped mole.

Sharin Sazarith.

She was the top student in magical studies.

“Nom nom, so you want me to join the team match as a member?”

Sharin stretched her words with a face that looked languid as usual.

She tasted the bread before my proposal and licked her fingers with her tongue.

“Why should I?”

And Sharin tilted her head.

It was a pure question about why she should join my team.

“Put down the bread you’re eating and speak.”

“This is something Hanon gave me because he likes me.”

What a delusion.

Even so, Sharin, who did not put down the bread, drew a languid smile on her lips.

“Then give me a reason to join Hanon’s team.”

Sharin, the top student in the second year of magical studies.

She must have already received numerous team competition proposals.

She is a fickle person who sometimes joins any team if she feels like it.

So, everyone tries to take a chance.

And Sharin asks them the same question.

What is the merit of her joining their team?

Their answers were always the same.

They would win first place in the team competition.

It was something anyone could say.

But I know.

“You don’t really have any interest in the team competition.”

The team competition is included in the exam scores.

So, students are desperate to get good grades in the team competition.

But what about Sharin?

Despite being the top student in second-year magic studies, she has no interest in grades.

There is only one reason why she is the top student.

The second-year magic studies professor recognized her genius in magic better than anyone else.

The second-year magic studies professor is a thorough meritocrat.

His grading method is solely based on how much magical talent one possesses.

Sharin, who has magical talent that appears once in a thousand years.

He always gave her the highest score no matter what results she produced.

Some say it is a biased judgment.

But those who major in magic studies all realize Sharin’s talent.

They understand that there is no score worthy of her talent other than being the top student.

So, Sharin is the top student despite having no interest in grades.

Therefore, those who do not understand the structure of magic studies think that Sharin is constantly striving to improve her grades.

“What merit does this team competition have for you?”

When I pointed out the blind spot, Sharin’s eyes curved.

“Hanon knows too much about me.”

“So, propose something else.”

Sharin’s eyes sparkled with interest.

“Your father.”

And Sharin’s body froze on the spot.

“I’ll teach you how to give him a blow.”

The moment Sharin’s eyes widened.

“Lin!”

The door of the empty magic classroom opened during lunchtime, and someone appeared.

A girl with honey blonde hair reminiscent of the sun.

Isabel Luna.

She suddenly appeared, and upon seeing Sharin and me, her eyes widened.

“Huh?”

A question of why the two of us were together.

Best friends and rivals.

Seeing the two of us, Isabel froze.

‘Damn.’

I didn’t expect Isabel to appear at this timing, so I was momentarily flustered and hesitated.

Silence hung between us.

Sharin froze at my words.

Isabel froze at the sight of Sharin and me together.

I froze at Isabel’s appearance.

Suddenly, the situation became a total mess.