The World After the Bad Ending - Chapter 5



4 – The Diligent Boss Character

The Dragon Lady of Disaster.

Nikita Cynthia is the final boss who exits in the third act.

Therefore, for a dramatic exit, she spans the first, second, and third acts.

Nikita is also the character with the highest importance.

The early part of the game scenario, where the most focus is placed.

This character leads to a shocking tragic narrative with the complacent judgment that she would be the heroine.

Due to the developer’s persistent obsession with plunging the user into despair.

Nikita’s character is maximized in the early stages.

So, who am I here?

A veteran who has cleared the Flame Butterfly arc 29 times.

Even if you add the times I deliberately checked the bad endings out of curiosity, the playthrough count is much higher.

In other words, I know everything about Nikita, from the trivial to her life and achievements.

I have countless routes to praise Nikita in various ways.

So, I am now a Nikita praise machine.

“I praise Senior Nikita for carrying an injured examinee to the infirmary herself during the entrance exam assistant duty.”

“Ahem, ahem, that’s just the duty of a senior.”

“I praise Senior Nikita for often wanting to eat snacks but refraining and eating tofu snacks instead because she was worried about gaining weight.”

“Uh, that, that’s just because tofu snacks are delicious!”

“I praise Senior Nikita for falling asleep in the student council room and, finding the door locked, decided to take on the remaining student council work.”

“How, how do you know that?!”

“Senior Nikita…”

“Stop!”

Nikita is a baby.

You have to praise her.

Nikita, who was dizzy from my barrage of compliments, had a dazed expression.

“Why? It’s not over yet.”

“Please, please, stop.”

She looked at me intently, holding her forehead with her hand.

“…Junior, it’s a bit creepy that you know me this well.”

Maybe I went too far.

From the middle, I just got excited and teased her too much.

I admitted my mistake honestly.

“That’s how much I sincerely respect you, Senior Nikita. As I said before, you have worked harder than anyone else.”

That’s true.

Nikita is weak to praise and strong to criticism.

But putting all that aside, the most prominent thing about her is that she is a hard worker.

And this is why I remember Nikita so fondly.

‘Nikita is unfortunately talentless.’

The disaster witch, Nikita Cynthia.

Despite being born into the prestigious Cynthia family, famous for their magic, she has no magical talent at all.

The magic power in her body is close to zero.

Perhaps because of this, she received poor evaluations from her family since childhood.

On the other hand, her older brother, Nia Cynthia, was born with outstanding magical talent.

Because of this, Nikita has lived her life being compared to him since birth.

“Nikita, you’re not as good as your brother.”

“It’s okay. Fortunately, Nikita is a girl. It doesn’t matter if she has no magical talent.”

“Nikita, take good care of your appearance. That’s your only strength.”

Her family had no expectations of her.

They only thought of using her natural beauty as a means for a political marriage.

They didn’t listen to her wishes at all.

Normally, one might have been discouraged.

No, in fact, Nikita was discouraged.

However, Nikita did not stop at discouragement.

If you lack talent, you can develop it elsewhere.

She made countless efforts to find the direction in which she had talent.

And she experienced numerous disappointments.

Nikita Cynthia is ordinary.

She has no magical talent.

She does not possess an extraordinary mind superior to others.

Her naturally small stature was a hindrance even in martial arts.

She had nothing exceptional.

Just a pretty doll.

The background of an outstanding marquis family and the reputation of a prestigious magical family were merely environments that oppressed the ordinary Nikita.

Nevertheless, Nikita did not give up.

She acknowledged that she had no talent.

So she changed her direction.

If she had no talent, she would cultivate the talent she lacked.

She would plant the seed of talent in the empty land.

Magic is a problem that cannot be solved without innate magical power.

So she set this aside and poured all her efforts into studying and swordsmanship.

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No matter what the family said, she did what she could.

This is why she could stand firm against criticism.

Moreover, because she worked harder than anyone else, she developed a desire to overcome the denial of her efforts.

She nurtured a desire for victory.

She worked hard.

With effort alone, she rose to the position of vice president at Jerion Academy, where geniuses and prodigies gather.

Even at the academy, she persistently maintained a top rank.

Her body was not naturally strong, so she often had nosebleeds from studying late into the night.

Her hands would blister from wielding the sword, and she suffered from severe muscle pain.

Despite the hardships of each day, she did not spare her efforts.

Perhaps because of this life,

She was particularly vulnerable to praise.

In the family, they treat her like a pretty doll.

At the academy, they think her high grades are because of her family’s background.

She always strives diligently.

Even if no one acknowledges her, she always strives.

I quite like this Nikita.

So I wanted to tell her.

“Nikita-senpai is someone who deserves respect and praise.”

The current her is the crystallization of her own efforts, not yielding to life.

Nikita’s lips moved slightly.

She stared at me blankly.

Judging by her flushed ears, it seemed my heartfelt praise had reached her.

“……Thank you.”

Nikita expressed her gratitude.

Instead of the lofty face she had when I first saw her,

A subtle smile that only Nikita Cynthia could make appeared on her lips.

“It’s the first time in my life I’ve received so much praise like today.

Junior, I will live a life worthy of your praise and respect from now on.”

Nikita held a rather proud smile on her lips.

She is a strong person who can live just by having someone recognize her efforts.

“You said you wanted to join the student council, right? There are a few vacant miscellaneous tasks since the third years graduated.

Originally, I was thinking of selecting a first-year applicant.”

“I will apply. I will work with all my heart, so please choose me.”

“Hmm, we need someone who will work hard. I will consider it positively.”

I somehow managed to get my foot in the door of the student council.

“Well then, I have some business in the martial arts department. Junior, see you next time.”

With those words, Nikita crossed the bridge and left.

I quietly watched her back.

Nikita Cynthia is a hard worker.

I hoped until the end that her efforts would not be in vain.

Maybe that’s why.

As I gazed at her back, many thoughts crossed my mind. I, who must lead this world to order.

Nikita Cynthia is the dragon lady of disaster.

She is the boss of Act 3 that must be defeated according to the scenario.

＊ ＊ ＊

After many twists and turns, the day finally ended.

I earned Isabel’s resentment.

And gained Nikita’s favor.

‘Is it okay to live such an extreme life?’

Given the situation, I went ahead with it, but it is indeed a rough process.

Above all, Nikita, though an enemy of Lucas, has developed a fondness for him.

Lucas’s death would not have been entirely welcome.

If she finds out that I undermined Lucas, her favorability might drop.

‘Fortunately, Nikita is not very attuned to the news within the academy.’

She is busy with student council work, studying, and wielding her sword.

Nikita has a narrow circle of acquaintances.

As such, she is less aware of the news within the academy compared to others.

Unless it’s something that happened among the third years.

It will take time for the commotion among the second years to reach her ears.

Moreover, knowing that the Cynthia family has sided with the first prince.

She will be too preoccupied to pay attention.

So, I need to quickly build up her favorability.

‘Act 3, Scene 1 has already begun.’

It started with Nikita’s brother, Nia Cynthia, siding with the first prince.

There are countless things to prepare for in place of Lucas.

‘Hang in there. Me.’

I consoled myself as I came to a sudden halt.

Where am I standing right now?

This is the male dormitory of Jerion Academy.

But the building in front of me did not look like a dormitory.

This was because it was a luxurious building that could be better described as a hotel.

Jerion Academy is a prestigious academy.

As such, many of the students come from noble families, and these families provide a lot of support.

It’s their way of asking to take good care of their sons and daughters.

Thanks to the overflowing support funds, Jerion Academy has put a lot of effort into the dormitories as well.

“Master Hannon Airey, we’ve been expecting you. I am Marie Emaris.”

As soon as I entered the entrance, a maid bowed her head and greeted me.

A middle-aged woman in a long black skirt and apron.

She is the head maid of Jerion Academy’s dormitory.

Marie Emaris.

“Your luggage has already been moved to the assigned room.”

“Thank you.”

“Master Airey, we are just mere servants, so there is no need to speak formally.”

As a Korean, it’s not easy to do so with elders.

But I guess I have to adapt.

“Got it. Please take care of me for the next two years, Head Maid.”

“Yes, we will do our utmost to assist you so that you can focus on your studies.”

With that, she began to guide me.

With each step, I realized anew.

‘This puts five-star hotels to shame.’

Why does the dormitory have a swimming pool, hot springs, and a massage room?

I expressed my serious doubts but said nothing.

After all, I had seen it often in the game.

There was nothing particularly new.

‘Wasn’t there a ghost event in the dormitory?’

Instead, I checked all the events that occur in the dormitory.

‘I have to obtain everything I can.’

I am not Lucas.

Naturally, I don’t have Lucas’s unique trait, the Flame of Determination.

‘The Flame of Determination is essential for progressing in the game, but…’

There’s nothing that can be done about something that doesn’t exist.

So, we need to find another way to solve this.

‘This is the biggest problem.’

I do have something in mind for this part.

The problem is that the most likely person is at another academy.

‘If I want to bring them over through a transfer.’

I’ll have to think of a way for that too.

Let’s take it step by step.

If all else fails, there’s the “Dean’s Secret Friend! Event” where he grants any wish once.

“This is the room where Master Airey will stay.”

Room 316.

I looked at the room and thought for a moment.

‘Room 316 for second-year students.’

Maybe it’s because there are many insignificant characters in the Flaming Butterfly arc.

As I was pondering who might be there,

Marie, the head maid, knocked.

“Master Card, are you inside?”

Card.

I blinked as I recalled that name.

‘Ah.’

And just as the name came to mind,

Creak-

The door opened, and short blonde hair fluttered.

At the same time, tanned skin and a face that looked quite fierce were revealed.

It seems like having a quiet dorm life is out of the question.

“Marie, if you want to visit, come alone next time.”

A man with a sly smile, flirting shamelessly even with middle-aged Marie.

Card Velickman.

A blonde troublemaker character who flirts with the main heroine and gets beaten by the protagonist.